You know what they say when we assume something, right? We have to be careful because often we make a real “donkey” out of you (U) and me (ME). I have to be careful at both home and at work that I don’t just assume that everything will be done. Assuming is when we take something or someone for granted. Whatever you do, don’t ever take your spouse for granted, just a note of wisdom here. That way you don’t end up like the beginning of U and Me.
Mark 8:14 (TNIV)
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
It’s funny to me that in the last weeks the disciples have witnessed Jesus multiply bread twice, one to feed a crowd of 5000 men and their families and again to feed a crowd of 4000 men and their families. And there was always much left over. Yet, here they are on the boat and they forget all but one loaf. Did they just assume that Jesus would feed them every meal? Were they just that forgetful? We are taught that God always provides for our needs. However, be careful about falling into the trap of assuming that all you have to do is sit back and all your needs will magically be taken care of.
The truth is, God the loving father that He is, wanting us to grow and mature, to be strong and to find true joy and true fulfillment in life, doesn’t provide EVERYTHING Himself because we would become what…….Lazy, right……Spoiled, right? BUT……God often fill the gaps when we humbly and resolutely trust in Him. Trusting in Him means that we trust also in His message of industriousness and growth, working hard to provide for ourselves and others. Bad planning and lazy living stunts our growth.
If we want health, opportunity, and ability…..WE MUST RECOGNIZE that we have also have a role in that. What we do today affects our tomorrow!
If you give your child everything and automatically meet all their needs, provide for every need in their life….what happens? What happens is they often have a poor work ethic (they expect to do nothing and still receive everything), they start to EXPECT rather than appreciate. Their pride tells them that they DESERVE rather than recognizing that in reality, if we truly got what we deserved, we wouldn’t be here at all (the wages of sin is death).
Here is something interesting: There might just be a very symbolic meaning in these numbers of loaves in the last two stories as well as this one.
Feeding 5000 + (Mark 6:42-43): Once they fed the 5000+, they were left with twelve loaves. The people Jesus was ministering to were Jews, Jesus’ own people. There were twelve tribes in Israel and this could be symbolic of a completeness and fullness in ministering to Israel.
Feeding 4000 + (Mark 8:5): They started with seven loaves. In the Bible the number seven often signified “completeness or perfection” ……AND …. was often associated with the Gentiles. The 4000 + in the crowd here were Gentiles (non-Jews). The number seven here could certainly hint at the worldwide scope of Jesus’ message. First Israel…..then the rest of the world (complete).
Then here we are left with “one loaf”. This may very also be very well symbolic. Jesus Himself is the “one loaf”, sufficient enough to meet all our needs. Jesus is indeed the “bread of life”! Here we have the disciples not planning well, or maybe assuming that everything will magically be given to them….. whatever the case…… but here we have the disciples concerned about having only “one loaf” when right there in their midst is the true “bread of life”! Again…there is a “completeness” implied.
John 6:35-40 (TNIV)
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Don’t assume or you might end up being the “donkey”. Plan ahead and be a part of God’s story rather than just assuming you will be a recipient of all the blessings. When we are a part of God’s story by caring for others, loving God, indeed, loving Jesus with all our hearts, when we apply God’s wisdom, when we trust Jesus, when we humble ourselves, when we surrender and seek God’s will over our own…….we come face to face with the TRUE bread of life…Jesus Himself!
Great stuff Jan! I love the symbolism of completeness. That is fantastic! The one true Bread of Life! Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for joining the conversation Tony! God bless ya man!