Trust is important. What is a relationship if it doesn’t involve trust? I read this passage this morning and I can’t help but to see an object lesson in trust. Jesus understands the importance of the disciples trusting in Him, with their time with everything. Let’s think about this for a moment, we say we believe in God, we say we trust him. But in really we are always praying with a backup plan or we only trust him as far as my wallet.
Trust has to be built up, trust must be invested. Trust has to be tested in order for trust to grow. We built trust like a savings account, over a long period of time we build our trust accounts with someone and any time we are let down we withdraw from that account. There is no difference with Jesus; He wants us to trust him. But to do that you have to invest, you have to actively trust him.
This morning passage is in Mark 6:30-45…
Jesus sent out the disciples, they return to Jesus and start to tell them about what had happened to them. But the crowd of people started to gather and it was impossible to eat, let alone share what had happened. So Jesus suggests they get into the boat and look for some where quiet. But the crowd still follows from the shore; in fact it starts to grow.
Jesus see’s the crowd for what it is, sheep without a shepherd and he has compassion on them. He begins sharing with them, teaching them and it starts getting late in the day. So the disciples start trying to convince Jesus to send the people away, telling him it’s too remote here, send them away so they can get some food, it’s getting late.
I love the disciples! Isn’t that how we are still today? You could have Christ standing right in front of us and someone will say “I hope he doesn’t preach past noon…I’m no different, it’s in all of us. But this is what the disciples do; they try and get Jesus to send the people away by mentioning they need to eat.
Jesus being who he is naturally sees and opportunity to teach the disciples and tells them to feed the people. Now this next part is so us v.37, the accountant of the group says it would take eight months wages to feed this crowd, are you suggesting we go and buy the food?
Jesus sizing the opportunity says how much food do you have? They come up with five loaves and two fish. The crowd in front of them numbers well over five thousand, because they only counted the men. So image for a moment the disciples where thinking when Jesus tells them to have everyone sit down. Jesus looks to heaven and gives thanks and feed the crowd, and afterwards there is twelve baskets full of bread and fish. Everyone ate to they were satisfied.
Trusting Jesus with our Time
The first point I take from this story is trusting Jesus with our time. The disciples returned and are excited to tell their stories. But Jesus slows them down, tells them to, “"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Jesus was interested in their stories, but he understood the importance of getting away and resting. How many of us run at break neck speed and never rest. Yet here is Jesus saying here let us get away.
When we think about time away most of us think vacation time, but what about every day time, weekly getting some time with Jesus. Jesus wanted to spend time with the disciples and hear their stories away from the crowd; he wants this from us even today. When was the last time you went away somewhere quiet and just prayed, just too spent time with God. The crowd was there, it was always there for Jesus, but here we see Jesus purposely trying to get away for some ‘quiet time”, just him and the disciples.
Compassion on the Crowd
But the crowd followed them and Jesus was moved by compassion. Jesus saw the need of the crowd and was moved to help. He took the time to teach the crowd, to meet their pressing need. He also took the opportunity to teach the disciples. The disciples where the ones who suggested to send the crowd away so they could get something to eat. Jesus just took what they had suggested and turned it into an opportunity to teach the disciples about trusting God to provide.
Jesus tells them to feed the crowd, which was impossible. Jesus takes what they have and feeds everyone and provides enough for the next day. Jesus takes what is equal to a dinner roll and two small dried fish and feeds over five thousand people. Jesus can take what little we have and do so much more. One area I think about is our finances.
I was reading a few days ago how only five percent of Americans give 10% of their income to their church or charity. Looking at the economy I’m sure that number will only shrink more.
I haven’t preached many sermons about money; I have never been comfortable with the idea. But I do believe it is a trust issue. If we say we trust Jesus with our lives, our children, our jobs, we need trust him with our money, which is hard for us. I have had to learn this by trusting Jesus myself.
Years ago I began tithing my money, giving 10% to my church right off the top. Sharon and I decided we were going to trust Jesus with everything. Through the years there has been times when it was very difficult, but through time we have learned to trust and God has never let us down.
Many of you know the story of how I got here, but some of you don’t. In January 2006 I was in the Air Force, pastoring a small church in Yuba City and going to school. I knew something had to give and I felt God calling me out of the Air Force. I went to my commander and said it was time for me to retire. So there I was, wife and three kids, nowhere to live, no job, no plan…I only knew God was calling me. As my retirement date approached, I got job offers from several defense contractors who wanted to pay me very well.
But I turned them down, because I felt called to ministry and I knew God would take care of us. On my retirement day, I still didn’t have anything lined up and people thought I was crazy. After my ceremony Pastor Neely was in attendance and he approached me and told me he had a possible ‘job’ opportunity if I was interested. A week later he told me how he wanted to have me work with him for a year and then take over as pastor of this church. Sharon and me sat down and figured out exactly how much money we needed to make it, no frills, just make it. We came up with the figure of $2000 dollars a month and I met with Pastor Neely the next morning. He had no idea of the figure Sharon and I had come up with and Pastor Neely didn’t waste time saying the church could offer $2000 a month. The rest is history, Sharon and I were able to buy a house and work here.
I believe God has blessed us and continues to bless us over and over again because we have trusted him. He is able to take what we give and do so much more with it and at the same time meet all of our needs and more.
So this morning...
When Jesus was alive no one believed him, when he said he was the Son of God. He was rejected by all and even the disciples had trouble believing. Yet Jesus took the opportunities to prove who he was. He looked at the crowd and had compassion, he took what little they had and turned it into a feast with baskets left over. He proved over and over again he could provide.
You find yourself looking at your check book, trying to figure out how you’re going to fill your tank with gas, buy food and pay the bills. You’re so busy and there never seems to be enough time and everyone is demanding more from you. Jesus see’s you and has compassion, he want to help you. But it starts by trusting him. Trusting him with the impossible, trusting he can take a little and turning it into something only he could do.
But trust has to be tested; trust has to be built up. This morning I’m asking to too trust Christ. If you don’t have a quiet time with, make it a priority. Find a time where you can spend time with God. Go for a walk, get up 15 minutes earlier, lock yourself closet…do what it takes and see what God can do. If you never have tithed before, start today. Trust God to provide for you when it seems impossible. Trust God to provide, trust God to meet your needs, trust him this morning.
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