Bring Me What You Have

BRING ME WHAT YOU HAVE

a prayer to open

Here I am, Lord. Quiet my mind. Open my heart.

Give me ears to hear your invitation and the faith to respond.

[Jesus] left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

We tend to spend our thoughts and energy seeking after more—more money, more prestige, more responsibility, more love, more education. Of course, these “mores” are not necessarily unhealthy or destructive. But rarely do we ask, What might God do with what I have right now? Some of this stems from feeling inadequate, especially when we compare ourselves to others. Or perhaps we are unwilling to open our hands to give God what we see as ours. Maybe we lack imagination and belief about what he can and desires to do: multiply what we have to display his goodness, bless those around us, and increase our faith. Jesus did not fault his disciples and the crowd for having little. Instead, he said, “Bring me what you have, and I will show you that in my hands, your little is extravagant surplus.”

• What would you offer in response to Jesus’ invitation to bring him what you have? What qualities, strengths, weaknesses, skills, doubts, and possessions are yours to offer? Which things are you holding back, or what feels too insignificant or unformed for you to bring forward?
• Read this passage again slowly. What invitation related to offering whatever you have do you sense Jesus extending to you?
• Do you know someone who—whether because they feel inadequate, struggle with confidence, or even lack imagination—needs encouragement to bring whatever they have to Jesus for his use? Seek God’s guidance as to how you might invite that person to bring forward what can be multiplied in Jesus’ hands.

Loving God, thank you for the invitation to bring all I am and have to you. Give me the strength to turn away from the temptation to constantly seek after more and instead take stock of all you have given me. And as best I know how, I offer it to you. Use me and what I have to display your goodness, bless those around me, and increase my trust in you. Open my eyes to the gifts of others so I can remind them that whatever they have can be multiplied in your hands. Amen.