Trey H. Little

Sermon Text:  Matthew 15: 29-39

January 23, 2011

Albany, Texas

“How Many Loaves Do You Have?”

In one of my daily devotionals from this past week, the author provided a list that someone had compiled of the "best 'out of office' automatic email replies."  Take a listen to a few of them:  (1) I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Please be prepared for my mood.  (2) I will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return from vacation.  Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.  (3) Hi, I'm thinking about what you've just sent me.  Please wait by your computer for my response.  (4) I've run away to join a different circus.  (5) Sorry to have missed you, but I'm at the doctor's having my brain and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team (Dr. Jim Denison).

Turn with me to Matthew 15: 29-39 

It was near the end of 2009 and Pastor Rick Warren sent out a plea to members of Saddleback Church in Orange County, California.  He said, “This is an urgent letter unlike any I’ve written in 30 years.  On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive—leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year; unless you help make up the difference today and tomorrow” (Wall Street Journal, 5-7-10).

How would we react to a letter like that?  Would we respond with a contribution or some sort of “automatic reply” like:  “I sure hope ‘they’ get the money ‘they’ need.”  Or, “I have already given—it is time for the rest of ‘these people’ to step up.”  Or perhaps even, “Times are tough—and I don’t know what the church needs that much money for anyway.”

One of the issues the church faces today is that we have too many “automatic replies.”  When we are challenged to do something or give something out of our comfort zone—we tend to “automatically” think we can’t do it.  We aren’t qualified or we don’t have enough to give or we can’t make a difference.  When we think this way we underestimate the miraculous power of the Lord at work in and through us. 

Our text this morning suggests something completely different—it reminds us that Jesus is very capable of doing more with what we have than we could ever imagine.  It encourages us to remember that Jesus can take little and make much of it.  And it assures us that there is hope for all of us—because if Jesus can feed over 4,000 people after starting with only 7 loaves and a few fish—then surely He can qualify the unqualified. 

Picture the scene—Jesus was tired—He was hoping to just have a little time in solitude—a little time to Himself on the mountainside of the Sea of Galilee.  However, the reality was, the needs of the people never ceased.  There was always a person who could benefit from the miraculous power of Jesus.  In fact, great crowds continued to come to Him—people hoping to walk in freedom; people who longed to see with clarity; people who longed for hope and purpose; people who desired for their voices to come to life; people who knew the only Way to experience a true difference in their life was to be at the feet of Jesus.

When Jesus saw the “great crowds”—His reply, seemingly automatic, was:  “I have compassion for these people.” 

Sure, He could have said, “Listen “great crowd” I am on vacation; I’m exhausted and I’m taking a few days off…call the office and set up an appointment for next week—this is “Championship Sunday” for crying out loud!”  But He didn’t.  And that’s one of the most amazing qualities of Jesus—His ability to look beyond Himself to the greater need.  Those who were once mute were now speaking.  Those who were once lame were now walking.  Those who were once blind were now seeing.  And now the “great crowds” were praising God!!  What a beautiful picture! 

The ability to look beyond Himself to the greater need!

The compassion of Jesus was so consistent that He couldn’t possibly think about sending the “great crowds” away without feeding them.  The thought of them going away hungry was simply more than He could bear.

However, one must wonder if His disciples shared the compassion of the One they said they would follow.  In fact, did they even really believe that Jesus had the ability to do more than humanly possible?  They said, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd.”  

But, as Jesus often does, He saw the situation differently.  Jesus saw this as a teachable moment for His disciples and the great crowds.  And so He asked ‘the question.’  The question that I believe He poses to you and me every single day of our lives—“How many loaves do you have?”

Can’t you just see the disciples huddling up and beginning to figure the math…”let’s see, we have 7 loaves and a few small fish—this just doesn’t add up—it is impossible for us to feed these people…it can’t be done!”

In his commentary on Matthew, Dale Bruner gives us some sage advice.  He said, “The disciples are counting only the realities that impress them, not the Reality that should impress them most.”  Disciples should always add One (Dale Bruner, The Churchbook, p. 68).

How is your math?  Do you count on Jesus or do you just settle for not enough?  Is Jesus in your equation?

You see, for me, that is what is so intriguing about this story.  If there had only been 20 people to feed—why would the disciples would have had enough—why would they need Jesus? But there were more—and when the disciples finally brought to Jesus what they had, Jesus changed the entire equation.   But did you notice verse 36?  It said, “Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and THEY in turn to the people.”  Jesus equipped the disciples to do more than they thought they could!!!  And then, “They all ate and were satisfied!”  Over 4,000 people walked away filled-up! 

Amazing?—yes!  Should the disciples have expected less?—no!  Should we?—absolutely not!  As one author put it, “Miracles are the common currency of heaven.  The feeding of the four-thousand was just a little loose change spilling from a hole in its pocket.”

Friends, I believe Jesus desires for us to consistently count Him in!  As Christians we should be the first to show the world that God is still at work in the world.  That He is still performing miracles.  That He is still able to take what we have and use it to accomplish what He wants!

This Sunday you again have an opportunity to “bring what you have” by signing up to be a part of a ministry team here at MMPC.  Next Sunday the 2011 budget for MMPC will be presented to you during a Congregational Meeting.  As you look at that budget—I want to ask you to consider “how many loaves you have?”  But I don’t want you to stop there—I want you to then consider what Jesus can do with what you have.  But I caution you—with both of these opportunities—you are going to have to look beyond yourself—to the greater need—you are going to have to add in Jesus—and realize that together miracles will happen and lives will be changed.

Let be give you an example:  Last year MMPC “gave what they had” in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti—in the form of financial gifts to various relief efforts on the ground in Haiti—one of which was World Vision.  We sent $1,500 dollars to World Vision.  Last week I received a thank you letter from Rich Stearns—the President of World Vision.  In part, he wrote, “Your leadership and the generosity of your church have enabled World Vision to be an emissary of compassion to the people of Haiti throughout the past year.  Here are just a few of the highlights:  229,763 households received food aid in the first three months of the response.  350,448 people received urgently needed household supplies.   And 132,153 people were provided with nearly 190 million liters of drinkable water.”

Jesus took what we had and made much of it!!  When we intentionally look beyond ourselves to the greater need—we join Jesus in His compassionate, redemptive work in this world—He allows us to be conduits for His miraculous work.  What a privilege. 

Incidentally—and I close with this:  “After Pastor Rick Warren’s end-of-year appeal, Saddleback members—an estimated 10% of whom were unemployed—ended up contributing some $2.4 million to keep the church operating.  Mr. Warren said the money would go toward the church’s ministries, which include feeding more than 200,000 people.”

Friends, we too have been presented with an appeal—however, ours comes from Jesus Christ.  Jesus asks:  “How many loaves do you have?”

What will your REPLY be?

AMEN.