Give it up, watch it grow

July 27, 2007

By Gary Rogers

“Can Jesus have what you have?”

That was basically the request put to a boy when a couple of men were trying to come up with a solution to feeding more than 5,000 people. You can find the story in all four Gospels. All the kid had were “five small barley loaves and two small fish” (John 6:9, NIV). It seemed so little to Jesus’ disciples, and probably to the boy. When the child surrendered his provision he had no idea what Jesus was going to do with it.

It is hard to give up something in hand that appears certain when you don’t know what will become of it if you relinquish it. When something has been entrusted to your care and it becomes your property, it is difficult to let go of it. Ownership is a very vital part of one’s identity in our society. We thrive on working hard, being successful, making money and acquiring possessions.

In our “ownership society” I wonder how we would respond to, “Can Jesus have what you have?” I know the first response would be the lad only had a little bread and fish, but we “own” so much more than that youngster. But look what happened to those loaves and fish. They satisfied the hunger of more than 5,000 people, and when the meal was finished there were 12 baskets filled with food. I tend to believe the kid got to take home more than a few leftovers.

From our perspective of knowing the end of the story we can say the young man made a good decision. He traded up! But we need to realize relinquishing ownership to Jesus is always the best trade in ownership we can make.

Yes, at first it is hard to let go of our “stuff,” as well as our dreams, ambitions and abilities. Surrender does not come naturally for any of us. But that which is yielded into our Savior’s hands becomes something of much immeasurably greater value. We will find our own lives fulfilled, and we will discover we are a blessing to so many others.

Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.