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 among so many people?” (John 6:8-9 NRSV)
It is likely the little boy who gave up his five loaves and two fish never forgot the encounter with Jesus! He had heard the men asking if anyone had any food. He had the lunch his mother had prepared. What should he do? With a child’s open and generous heart, he opened his bag and shared his lunch with them. Imagine his surprise. He thought he was giving away his lunch, but discovered he was being invited to a feast that would feed thousands! In Jesus’ hands, that lunch became a banquet.
Donna and Gary, a childless couple in their early forties, consented to be chairpersons of their church’s capital campaign. As requested, each day they prayed the campaign prayer: “Lord, what do you want to do through us?” Nobody knew, but they had been saving for a thirty-five-foot camping trailer for several years. The time had come to make the purchase, and as they were driving to the dealer, they looked at each other and asked, “What are we doing?” They discovered God’s answer to their campaign prayer was to postpone the purchase of a trailer and contribute their savings to the campaign.
God’s leading to Donna and Gary was sealed by faith when they chose to sacrifice for their church’s campaign. Not only did their response impact them, but it had a huge impact on their church. It was not just about the money. When they told their story, the impact of their faithful response to God’s answer to their prayers inspired heart-searching prayers from other members of their church family.
Sealing God’s answer to our prayer with faith is a critical step in the journey of generosity.
A year later in a follow-up conversation with the leaders of the campaign at their church, I learned that Donna and Gary had been blessed with a “miracle child.” I called and visited with them on the phone. Joyfully, they told me of the birth of their daughter. They had all but given up hope they could ever have a family! What an amazing God we serve.
~Gregory McGarvey
Reflection
How did the boy’s experience that day impact his faith and living in years to come? Have you ever given a gift and discovered it opened a door to new relationships or experiences you could not have imagined?
Challenge
Pray with intention: “Lord, what do you want to do through me?”
From A Generous Life: 28 Days of Devotion. Copyright © 2019 Abingdon Press. All rights reserved.