John Piper via The Loving Meaning of the Leftovers :: Desiring God.

Money. You worry about it, don’t you? It’s the end of the month, so most low-to-middle-class people (probably most of my readers) are thinking about it. It’s a concern that constantly reminds us of its necessity and spills into every area of our lives where we desire security.

Recently, I was reading the parable of the loaves and fish (is fishes really the plural of fish?), and as Rosanna and I discussed it, I came to a conclusion that my pastor just wrote about on his blog. Doesn’t it make you happy when you come to a conclusion yourself and then find out that someone you admire has done the same?

In Mark 8, Jesus and the disciples were on a boat with a single loaf of bread. This was a great cause of concern to the disciples. How could they all eat from such a meager source?

Now, Jesus had already fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:30-44), and seven loaves and a few little fish Jesus used to feed four thousand men (Mark 8:1-10). He reminded them of this, and they still didn’t understand.

Here is what Pastor John says, and if you want a quick version of my post, read his. :o)

Understand what? The leftovers.

The leftovers were for the servers. In fact the first time there were twelve servers and twelve basketfuls left over (Mark 6:43). The second time there seven basketfuls left over—the number of abundant completeness.

What didn’t they understand? That Jesus would take care of them. You can’t outgive Jesus. When you spend your life for others, your needs will be met.

Rosanna and I had just been discussing this passage recently, and I’d never seriously considered what the twelve basketfuls represented. I came to see that they were more than enough for each server, because of what happened at the onset of the miracle:

The disciples, upon seeing the crowd following them, said:

Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. (Mark 8:36)

Jesus’ response:

But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” (Mark 8:37a)

You give them something to eat.

Just like ours would, their heads immediately go to things like cost and price and resources.

And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii [$33k-ish in today's money] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”

Jesus told them to give what they had, and He multiplied it so much so that the needs of the eater were met, as well as the needs of the server.

In 2 Corinthians 9, money is described as seed, not a treasure to be held onto. It is to be sown in the lives of people that, each day, you have opportunity to give to.

And God will not leave you hanging. He will not allow Himself to be mocked by failing to provide your needs as you seek Him and His kingdom first by, among other things, giving your money away more and more rather than hoarding it all for your own private pleasures.

So be liberated from the tyranny of the mindset that the god of this world wants you to have, that money is your source of security, not your Heavenly Father who knows that you need food and clothing. Then, give your money as seed to those who are in need.

And then, expect a miracle. It’s really that simple.