Leftovers

Intro: The tired-looking woman entered the grocery store approaching the owner to ask for assistance. She told how her husband had been killed and she had nothing to feed her small family. She had nothing with which to pay but a small prayer. She handed the man a small piece of paper and he placed it on the weight side of an old-fashioned scale. He said he would give her whatever would balance the scale. To his surprise, he added food until there was no room left on the scale. Finally, he told her to bag the food herself. She did so with moist eyes and a grateful heart. When the store was empty the man examined the scales finding them broken. Still on the weight side was the small piece of paper. He turned it over and read, “Please, Lord, give us this day our daily bread.” (The Fish and The Loaves by Tim Zingale – SermonCentral.com)

I. Story in all 4 gospels – different details in each. – The disciples come to Jesus asking him to send the crowd away.

A. A business man needed $1 million to clinch a deal. He went to a church and knelt in prayer beside another man. He overheard the may praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man’s hand. The man left thanking the businessman and praising God. The businessman turned back to his prayers, “Lord, now that I have your undivided attention . . .” (No, It’s No Picnic by Marilyn Murphree – SermonCentral.com)
B. The problems of others never seem to us as important as our own. Like the disciples, we just want them to go away.
C. VS. 16 – “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

II. In the gospel of John where this same story is recorded there is an added detail involving Philip. JN 6:7 – Philip answered Jesus, “Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

A. Philip wasn’t concerned with where, he was more concerned about how. Was he concerned for the crowd or the state of the disciples treasury?
B. VS, 17 – “We have here only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.”
C. Not only is this story about a miracle, it is about TRUST! We must trust God to provide for our lives and the needs of the church. We can sit on the sidelines and watch or we can actively participate in the work of the Lord. We have time, talents and treasures – on loan from God – that are needed to carry on God’s work here in this place. Our discipleship is lived out in the context of community.

III. VS. 18 – “Bring them here to me.”

A. Jesus says, “Come to me as you are, however ill-equipped; bring to me what you have, however little, and I will use it greatly and you greatly.
B. VS. 19b – 20 Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.
C. Jesus worked through the hands of his disciples that day, using what meager resources they brought to him. He does the same today.

Conclu: When I was a child, my mother wasted nothing. We ate leftovers and when there were leftover leftovers, she had a milk carton in the freezer into which she placed them. When the container got full, she made soup.

The point is, do not hesitate to bring even your leftovers to God. From the smallest amounts God can do great things. We should not fail to do our share even it that share is small by the world’s standards.

Gaither E Bailey

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First Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Kentucky, is a member of Transylvania Presbytery of the Synod of Living Waters in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.