What’s In Your Hands?

Luke 9:12-17 records Jesus feeding 5000 men with five loaves of bread and two fish.  The result was that all ate, everyone was satisfied, and the disciples picked up 12 baskets of broken pieces leftover.  Luke didn’t give much detail about the precise way Jesus did this except to say, “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, [Jesus] gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.” (v.16)  The loaves were probably made from barley and were the size of a small biscuit.  One way Jesus could have done this miracle was by breaking the loaves in half, giving the ten halves to each of ten disciples and giving the remaining two disciples one fish each.  As the disciples handed each person the piece of bread or fish that was in their hands, another half-loaf or fish took its place until all 5000 men plus women and children had been fed.

If it happened this way, the disciples had a very active role in the miracle.  As long as they kept giving away what was in their hands, more appeared.  The daunting task of feeding a crowd of +/- 7,500 could occur when the disciples were not trying to lug around huge quantities of food that would have to be replenished.

This miracle effectively highlighted a huge Kingdom principle about giving that may have bypassed the disciples’ awareness.  God has always stressed the importance of being generous in giving.  One example was a provision in the Law God gave to Moses regarding setting Israelite slaves free in the Year of Jubilee: “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)

Though Jesus was responsible for the miracle of feeding the 5000, He positioned His disciples to experience the joy of being generously open-handed.  When hands are empty from giving, the Lord blesses by refilling them.  “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:24-25)  The crowd would have eaten nothing that day had the disciples been reluctant to give away the only piece of food in their hands.

Jesus was the epitome of, and set the standard for the open-handed approach.  He gave His life on the cross with open arms and open hands.  The Father filled Jesus’ nail-scarred hands with resurrection life that the Son continues to generously give to all who desire it.  Those of us who have received this gracious and glorious gift now likewise have something to give.  So, what is in our hands: wealth, possessions, talents, service, empathy, comfort, wisdom, unconditional love, or forgiveness?  Perhaps it is what we have personally desired the most and now fear losing.  Are we tight-fistedly clutching the gift or holding it in open hands ready to release it?  The answer likely depends upon our level of gratitude for God’s generous gift of abundant life in Christ now and His promise of life in eternity.  Is there really anything we can give away that the Lord cannot replace?  Try emptying your hands.  “Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)