Seemingly Insignificant

Matthew 6:37, "But Jesus said, 'You feed them.' 'With what?' they asked. 'We'd have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!'"

Have you ever wanted to help someone? Have you ever wanted to help a large group of people?

If you grew up in church, you are probably familiar with the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish.

This story has always amazed me because it shows clearly how when we give God what we have, He will use it and multiply it.

If you've read my recent devotionals, you've heard me talk about how pro-life ministry is dear to my heart. For our world to value life again is something I dream of seeing. There are ways I've been getting involved, but I've come to find that all too often my view is too much like that of the disciples in this story rather than being like Jesus' view.

I look at the ways I'm getting involved, and my efforts seem to be what I'd call "seemingly insignificant".

When the disciples looked at the crowd in comparison with what they had to offer, they felt that their five loaves of bread and two fish were "seemingly insignificant" as well.

Imagine with me for a moment looking out and seeing 5,000 men (not including women and children). These people were hungry! They needed food, and you were told to feed them. Can you imagine standing before them with five loaves of bread and two fish and saying, "Eat up!"?

Just picturing that makes me realize how crazy I'd feel doing such a thing, yet this is what was going on.

Jesus knew how many people needed food. He knew the small amount of food that was present, but that was not an obstacle for Him. He took what they had and multiplied it to feed all those people. In the end, they even had leftovers.

Now, imagine in your own life whatever it is that seems too impossible a task to accomplish.

Maybe you feel called to something, but you feel what you have to offer is "seemingly insignificant" and you wonder if what you do will make a difference anyway.

When I was a little girl, I heard a story that stood out me enough that I still remember it today. I've posted it below.

The Boy and the Starfish

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.
Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean.
As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water.
The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied,"I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."
The boy looked down, frowning for a moment; then bent down to pick up another starfish, smiling as he threw it back into the sea. He replied,
"I made a huge difference to that one!"
~Author Unknown~



Sometimes I've felt like the disciples in Jesus' day where I felt like what I had to offer wasn't really enough to be worth while. At other times, I was like the man in the story above walking along seeing how many people needed help and thinking about how I couldn't save them all rather than thinking about the one I could make a difference for.

My hope in writing this devotional is that you will realize that whatever God is calling you to do, He is big enough to take care of it. He simply wants you to give Him all you have... even if what you have seems "seemingly insignificant". He will take that and multiply it in ways you can't even begin to imagine. Also, remember the inspiring story of the little boy and realize that you are making a huge difference to the one you are helping.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I look at what I have to give and I feel it's "seemingly insignificant". That's not at all how You see what I have, though. All You desire of me is that I give You everything I have. When I do, You always amaze me in using my small portion for great things. I pray You'll help me never underestimate what You can do. Help me also remember that even for only one, what You call me to do will make a huge difference for that one! In Jesus' Name.
Amen.