As seven year-old Jedrick lies in the hospitable bed, awaiting surgery, his mother gently strokes his hand. Jedrick has needed surgery for a hernia since birth, but medical care was unavailable in his homeland of Venezuela. Finally, in desperation, they joined the thousands of other Venezuelans fleeing to nearby Columbia in hope of finding a better life. Now, thanks to the good men and women of the US Navy hospital ship Comfort, Jedrick is getting the surgery he so desperately needs.
As I watched this story on NBC I was once again overwhelmed by the plight of people like Jedrick and the millions throughout the world who do not have adequate medical care, enough to eat, clean water to drink, or even a safe place to lay their heads.
The needs in this world are overwhelming. I understand how the disciples must have felt when Jesus, feeling compassion for the 5000 people who’d come to hear him speak, said to the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” Mark 6:37 NIV. Their task seemed impossible, just as the task before us seems impossible today.
As we look at the needs around us, God’s command to us in Isaiah 58 seems ridiculous. How are we, with our meager resources, supposed to “loose the chains of injustice…set the oppressed free…share [our] food with the hungry and…provide the poor wanderer with shelter”?
The answer is, we can’t. As Matthew 19:26 reminds us,“With man this is impossible…” but it doesn’t end there. Jesus goes on to say, “…with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.
In this time of giving, do not let the overwhelming needs around leave you disheartened and discouraged. Instead, give what you can of your time and resources and let God do the rest. Take your “five loaves and two fishes” to Jesus and prepare to be amazed! He will take your meager efforts and multiply them a thousand fold!
But, when this happens, don’t just sit back and watch! The disciples work wasn’t ended when Jesus blessed the food. They still had to hand it out. Likewise, God may multiply your offering, but He still wants you to share it with the world! So, pick up your basket and get to work!
God bless and have a great day!