The Math of the Gospel

Much of the New Testament involves numbers: 12 apostles, the first-day-of-the-week resurrection, feeding the 5,000.

It’s that last number I draw your attention to in Luke 9:10 and following. Consider the math of it. It was late in the day. The place was remote. The people were getting hungry. And the Jewish tradition was for a rabbi to feed his disciples.

The apostles were getting nervous. “Send the crowds away,” they recommended. But Jesus said, “You feed them!”

The disciples did the math. “We’ve only got five loaves and two fish!”

The arithmetic of the apostles was this: “If I have a little I can do a little. If I get more, I can do more. But if I have a lot, I can do a lot.”

Ah, but how wrong they were proven to be. For Jesus took their paltry resources, looked to heaven, gave thanks to God, a

“They all ate….. as much as they wanted.” Then the disciples took up the leftovers…twelve baskets full!

Now wait a minute! The math doesn’t add up. They started with 5 loaves, fed 5,000, yet ended up with 12 baskets full. How can this be?

It’s God’s arithmetic for ministry. One begins with a little, has enough to do the job, and has more left over.

You see, God created the universe out of nothing. He can do a lot with a little. And he can do even more with less.

Witness: The Widow’s Mite or Gideon’s Army, or the widow who fed Elijah from her meager pot; or you; or me.

Act with what you have, little as it may be. Don’t look at what you don’t have, at what you can’t give. Look at what’s in your hand. Look at God. Then start.

Christians should never tell God how big the crowd is. Rather tell the crowd how big God is. And remember. Remember those twelve baskets full.