Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Have you ever looked at what you have and thought, “This just isn’t enough?” Maybe your bank account is running low, your energy is drained, or your time feels stretched too thin. It’s easy to hold back, to cling tightly to what little we have, afraid that if we give it away, we’ll be left empty. But Jesus shows us a different way.

In Luke 9:10-17, a huge crowd follows Jesus to a remote place. It’s getting late, and the disciples are concerned; thousands of people are hungry, looking to Jesus and His disciples for leadership, and all they have is five loaves of bread and two fish. The Gospel of John tells us that even the fish and the bread didn’t belong to them, but instead, a little boy had offered all that he had to Jesus.

Imagine standing there, holding that tiny meal in your hands, looking at the sea of hungry faces. Logic says, “This just isn’t enough.” The disciples say, “Send them away,” because in their minds, there is no way this works. But Jesus takes what they have, blesses it, and starts breaking it. The food multiplies, and everyone eats until they’re full. Not only that—there are twelve baskets of leftovers!

Out beside this story in the margin of my Bible I have this line written: When you give more than you got, you’ll get more than you had.

The disciples saw scarcity, but Jesus saw abundance. They focused on what they lacked, but Jesus focused on God’s provision. And when they surrendered what little they had, it turned into more than enough. That’s how generosity works in God’s kingdom. When we give, even when it doesn’t make sense, God takes what we offer and multiplies it.

To be clear, this isn’t a money multiplication principle. Oftentimes, the thing we feel like we don’t have enough to give is time, energy, effort, attention, and yes, sometimes, money. What we get in return, though, when we step out in faith and give anyways can be far more valuable: joy, peace, hope, and celebration. And yes, sometimes God does multiply and return the time, energy, effort, attention, and money that we willingly offered back to Him in faith.

What is God asking you to give today? Maybe it’s your time, your resources, or even your forgiveness. Whatever it is, trust that when you give in faith, God will take care of the rest. Because in His kingdom, there is always more than enough.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
  

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.