Devotion 4: A Boy’s Lunch

January 30, 2025 5:00 AM
Lesson Four | Devotion 4: A Boy’s Lunch  
Jill Osmon 

Whenever we study about giving, my grandparents instantly come to my mind. They were not wealthy people (by the world’s standards), but they were generous with their money, time, love, and wisdom. We automatically think of money when it comes to giving, and for good reason. The Bible is certainly clear about God’s command to give of our money.  

In today’s culture, money is essential to living well. We cannot exist without money, but it is not the only way we are called to give. Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” One of the most profound concepts that my grandparents taught us is that giving your time and resources produces an abundance. It is an abundance of love, empathy, opportunities to give the Gospel, and bringing God glory. 

We see this in the life of Jesus. In John chapter 6, we find a small boy willing to give what he had (small in comparison to what was actually needed), and Jesus took it to provide for a multitude of people. John 6:1-14 records, “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’ Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’” 

Jesus could have provided food for the crowd without the small boy’s offering, but He offered up an opportunity for this small boy to give and see his gift be multiplied over and over again. 

Our giving (whether money, resources, or time) may seem small in the larger picture of what others can offer, but we know that God will take our offerings and multiply them farther and greater than we could ever do on our own. However, it requires us to actually give. Do not compare your offering to others. It does not matter what they are giving; it only matters that we take what God has given us and offer it back to Him to use for His glory and the furtherance of the Gospel. If we decide to keep to ourselves what God has given us, we withhold from ourselves the blessing of being used by God. 

What gift (big or small) do you have that you may be holding onto because you are comparing it to others or want to keep it for yourself? Let this be a challenge to you. Ask God to reveal to you the areas in your life where you need to give and the opportunities to put that into practice.  

Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon
Polygon