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Keeping it simple

Keeping it simple. Matthew 14.13-21

Sometimes when we have a ‘situation’, we want to make sure we use the right words to pray and approach God…have you ever noticed that? In my years of ministry and teaching, sometimes I have endeavored to present a simple truth in a more creative, detailed manner so I could capture the attention of my listener. But I shall never forget a morning in Long Beach, California, just before I stepped up to encourage a large group of homeless folks who came together in the basement of the old Friends’ church, when the Duke of Earl (my bodyguard), had some clear instruction for me.

Visualize this—with his large black hands, and long strong fingers spread apart just a bit, he gestured a pressing down motion, and said, ‘Chris-teeeen, just keep it simple.’ Keep it simple.

Sometimes we want to gussy up a message we have to share, or even an event we wish to describe to another, or a Bible teaching, but the truth is meant to be s-i-m-p-l-e.

Matthew describes the next scenario: “When he heard it [that is, when Jesus heard about the gruesome death of John-the-Baptist], he went away by boat to a deserted place, quite alone.Then the crowds heard of his departure and followed him out of the towns on foot. When Jesus emerged from his retreat he saw a vast crowd and was very deeply moved and cured the sick among them.

As evening fell his disciples came to him and said, “We are right in the wilds here and it is very late. Send away these crowds now, so that they can go into the villages and buy themselves food.”“There’s no need for them to go away,” returned Jesus. “You give them something to eat!”“But we haven’t anything here,” they told him, “except five loaves and two fish.”To which Jesus replied, “Bring them here to me.”He told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish in his hands, and, looking up to Heaven, he thanked God, broke the loaves and passed them to his disciples who handed them to the crowd. Everybody ate and was satisfied. Afterwards they collected twelve baskets full of the pieces which were left over. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, apart from the women and children. Matthew 14.13-21, JB Phillips

Jesus s-i-m-p-l-y says, ‘whatever you’ve got, bring it to me.’ It will be enough. I will use it.

Ah, the simplicity harkens back to Jesus’ miracle at the wedding in Cana. Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to him at the celebration and presented a situation—the wedding party had run out of wine—a disgrace in first century Palestine. Mary did not tell Jesus what to do or how to do it, or that he should come up with the solution to the problem. She s-i-m-p-l-y told Jesus, “They have no more wine.” It seems to me that we have missed the simplicity of that. When I hear folks pray aloud, they not only list the problem/or sickness/or trial, but they also instruct Jesus what he should do about it in order to answer their prayer. And then I see in my mind’s eye the Duke saying, “Keep it simple, Chris-teeeeen.”

And so as the people followed Jesus out to the countryside ~ our compassionate Lord looks across the expanse of the people, sees their needs and heals many of them, and even thinks about the hunger that will soon beset them. Jesus, whose heart was broken with news of John, looks past his own feelings and has compassion for all of the people. Jesus wants to tend to their needs – is that not so like Jesus? In spite of his own heartache at losing John, he thinks of others who are hurting and in need.

What did the disciples have at their disposal to feed the throngs? Five loaves and two fish, but at Jesus’ request, they were surrendered into his hands.

What’s your situation? Once you bring whatever you hold in your hands and give it to the Lord of Lords, he can take it, turn it, and do the miraculous with it. S-i-m-p-l-e. Why does Jesus do the miraculous with what we hand to him? Because he is good and compassionate, and only looks for an opening to show us that about himself.

I’ve always loved the scene with Moses in the Sinai, in which he was called by God, and he would never be the same. God said to him, ‘What’s in your hand?’ ‘Staff.’ God says, ‘throw it down, Moses.’ The staff becomes a snake. ‘Pick it up’ …it becomes a staff again. The staff – identity, income, influence …‘If you lay it down, I will make it come alive … watch what happens,’ God to Moses. Yes, yes, yes. S-i-m-p-l-e. Whatever you have in your hand, surrender it to God.

So, might I be so bold as to ask you a question: what’s in your hand, that you might surrender it to God, and let him use it? He used the fish and the loaves, he used plain old water to turn it into wine … and you? Gifts, talents, trials ~ all submitted to a compassionate God can be used to build up another, to strengthen your faith, to do the miraculous. Oh, he is good – so good indeed.

Christine Todd DiGiacomo

**So what’s in your hand that can be used of God?

Keeping it simple

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