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One of the earliest memories I have of Sunday School is being taught the story of the loaves and fish. I loved this story!

Five thousand people followed Jesus out into the middle of the desert. He taught them all day, and at the end of the day, they were all hungry. The disciples told Jesus to send them all away. Instead, Jesus told the disciples that they needed to feed the people.

Out of that huge crowd, one little boy had brought a packed lunch, and inside were five small loaves of bread and two dried fish. The little boy brought his lunch to Jesus and said, “Lord, you can have this.”

Jesus took the bread and fish. He prayed, broke it, blessed it, and multiplied it. He tore it apart and began to feed everybody. It fed all 5,000 people! There were 5,000 witnesses to this miracle. Not only did the small meal feed 5,000; when they picked up the leftovers at the end, there were twelve baskets full of fish and loaves!

Jesus often used miracles to teach a truth, and the truth He teaches here in this story is: “Whatever you give to God, He multiplies.”

If you give God your talent, He will multiply your talent. If you give God your energy, He will multiply your energy. If you give God your time, He will multiply your time. If you give God your money, He will multiply your money. If you give God your relationships, He will multiply your relationships. Whatever you give to God, He will multiply and give it back.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (RSV). God always gives you more than you need, more than you anticipate, more than you can imagine. He took what the boy gave Him. He broke it, He blessed it, and He used it.

That is what God does in your life. The hard part is the breaking part. But when God takes you and breaks you, He will then bless you. He will bless you and use you to bless others. So, cast your bread on the waters today, and watch God multiply it!

Lt. Col. David Godkin
Divisional Commander
Queensland
June 2016