Lessons from the Bread (Mark 6:30-44)

Excerpts from a sermon preached on May 30, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs by Pastor Joe Alain.

Occasion: Memorial Day, Observing the Lord’s Supper
Sermon: Lessons from the Bread (Original Title: “Full Measure of Devotion”)
Scripture Reading: Mark 6:30-44 (Focal verse, 37)
Jesus was teaching the disciples a valuable lesson about compassion, sacrifice and devotion, qualities that Jesus Himself exhibited in his earthly life. However, the disciples were not quick to learn these lessons as verse 37 reveals. The disciples did not want to be bothered with the great needs of the people. Their involvement was too costly, too inconvenient, it required too much effort.

There are some powerful lessons from the bread that serve as motivations for living sacrificially.
1. Lesson #1: Little with God Is Much
“What do you have?” Jesus asked (v.38). Five loaves of bread plus two fish does not look like much but with God it equals unlimited potential. God does not ask us to give what we do not have, but He does ask to give what we do have. Fully devoted believers share what they have with others. Sometimes having too much is a hindrance to God working. God often does His best work when we give Him our little. And our little with God is much.

2. Lesson #2: That which Is Given to God Is Never Lost
Sacrifice involves loss but actually you never lose what is given to God. We give only what God has already given. We fear being fully devoted to God because we fear losing something, yet just the opposite is true. By giving our life away we gain it. Instead of loss, there were leftovers.

3. Lesson #3: You Don’t Know what You Have until You Use It
The miracle, the potential is unseen until the disciples use what they have. Faith is seen in the act of giving to God our little. Only then does God work with what we have given to Him. What areas or our lives does God want to do something extraordinary? He’s waiting for us to give Him our little. Where do you desire God to work in your life? That is the area that you need to give to God. It’s amazing how God works in response to our giving to Him. When we give Him priority in our finances, He turns our financial situation around. When we give Him priority with our time, it’s amazing how God relieves us of the stress we carry about our time. When we give Him our talents, God takes our little and blesses others in ways that we could never imagine.

When the disciples gave their little to Jesus, He multiplied the loaves and the fish and all were satisfied. Your devotion, your sacrifice makes a difference in the lives of people. May the sacrifice that Jesus made for us motivate us to give to God our “full measure of devotion.”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe