Daily Devotions

When it comes to the number 5 in the bible we could talk about the Pentateuch the first 5 books of the bible or about the the fact the ten commandments are divided into two groups of 5. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and relationship with God with the remaining one concerned with our relationship with others humans. We could explore the fact the Book of Psalms is subdivided into 5 sections. But I want to centre todays thinking on an almost incidental fact found in John 6:9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

In actual fact the significance lies not in the actual number, but in the fact that loaves of bread were smaller in Bible days, with three loaves being about the right amount for one man’s meal (Luke 11:5,6). This means that the boy who shared the five loaves and two fishes (John 6:9) had packed just enough to feed himself, with a little left over to share with another. But it also means that he was willing to share his provisions even when it became evident that sharing them among so many would likely mean that he himself would go hungry.

The young boy had enough food only for himself; the food was the food of the very poor - the barley loaf. Given with love, it seemed to multiply. Whatever the meaning of this miracle, one of its lessons is that God can make much of what we offer. Our attempts to live in his love and follow him are nothing without him. The small offering of the young man fed the people; we never know where our efforts to love, to help, to support others may bear fruit. 

On my own

what I have to give

doesn't amount to much

in the light of all you have given to me

and in the face of so much need.

Put together as a congregation,

what we offer you here in love

becomes more,

not simply added together,

but somehow multiplied in its usefulness.

We ask you to bless our gifts

and with the addition of your blessing,

just as it was with the loaves and fishes,

there is enough for all.

Amen