March 3, 2023 — Am I Supposed to Pass it on?

“The other day,” Stan said, “we talked about when Jesus fed the five thousand with just a little bit of bread and a few fish.”

“We did,” I replied, “About how Jesus looked up to heaven and how that’s a model for us. [Note to reader: see the posting for February 22, 2023, “Looking in the Wrong Place or in the Wrong Direction?”].

“You’re right,” Stan said. “This morning I’d like to focus on a different part of that same story and how it relates to me and my faith walk.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“After Jesus looked up to heaven, blessed the food, and broke it into pieces for the people, He gave the food to the disciples, but it wasn’t for them. I think it’s to be the same thing with me.”

“What same thing?”

“Jesus gave the pieces of the bread and the fish to the disciples for them to pass on to the hungry crowd, not keep it for themselves.”

“Oh,” I said. “That’s kind of like what happens with Cook and Ricky when we order breakfast.”

“You’re right,” Stan replied. “When Cook fixes our breakfast, he gives it to Ricky to give to us. He doesn’t give it to Ricky so he can eat it himself.”

“And,” I added, “when God gives us something, we’re supposed to look to see if He wants us to pass it along to someone else, rather than just keep it for ourselves. Is that right?”

“That’s what I see, my friend,” Stan replied. “And I think that applies to everything God provides, both physically and spiritually.”

“Both?”

“Yeah,” Stan said. “Let me give you an example. At one point in my life, I had a friend to whom God had given the gift of salvation which she accepted. Then she passed it on to me by telling me about it. I’m to do the same thing. How else is anyone going to know about God’s free and gracious gift unless someone passes it on by telling them?”

“You’re right,” I replied. “Same with me. I came to faith because someone told me. Someone passed it on.”

“Exactly,“ Stan said. “And with God’s provision of physical things, I think I’m supposed to look at why He has blessed me with what He has. Is it just for me, or does He want me to pass it along to other people?”

“And when you look,” I replied, “what do you usually see?”

“That it’s not just for me,” Stan said. “I’m supposed to pass it on!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the multitude. Luke 9:16.

Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.

And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing. Genesis 12:2.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for blessing the world by giving your only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him can have life eternally with you. Thank you for those who shared with me that truth so I could accept it. Thank you, too, for all of the blessings you pour into my life, both spiritual and physical. I confess that too often I keep those blessings for myself, rather than passing them on to others. Please forgive the foolishness of that. Help me to follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, pass on all you provide, just as you intend. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him? If no, why? Why do you want to remain separated from God for all of eternity? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with passing along to others the blessings God has provided for you? Do you tell others about the blessing of life eternally with God? How’s about physical blessings? Do you tend to want to keep them for yourself and for your own enjoyment when God may want you to pass them on? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?