The Secret Ingredient

A Stale Bag of Gummy Bears

Are you a fan of “Chopped”? It’s a reality show on the TV Food Network where contestants try to create a winning dish using a VERY limited list of ingredients. Players whip up a feast with, say, an ostrich egg, two slices of leftover pizza, and a stale bag of gummy bears.

But the premise of the program is really nothing new. Ever hear about the time Jesus challenged His disciples to feed a few thousand folks with just a couple of fish sandwiches (Mk 6:33-44)? But also He gave them a secret ingredient that made it all possible.

(Okay, I need to put all my cards on the cutting board. One, I have NEVER seen a single episode of “Chopped.” Ever. Two, I can’t cook. Fixing a PB&J is a culinary challenge for me. I don’t want anybody think I’m pretending to be Anthony Bourdain. Are we good?)

Trying to Get Away

Before there’s ever any talk of food, we see a rather crazy scene along the beach in the sixth chapter of Mark. Christ and His crew are trying to get away for some needed R&R. They’re in a boat when the crowd suddenly spots them.

“But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them” (v33). In previous chapters, the author has made it clear that Jesus is no longer just some unknown Carpenter from Nazareth. He’s now a total rock star.

Bursting out of the Boondocks

Think Beatlemania. Cheering crowds. Paparazzi. He can’t go anywhere in public anymore. You can bet restaurants and grocery stores are out of the question. Things have escalated quickly for Joe and Mary’s oldest Son.

Jesus has burst out of the boondocks of Galilee to grab headlines with a spectacular series of miracles, healings, exorcisms, and sermons. People are flocking from everywhere to see Him, hear Him, and touch Him. He’s the hottest ticket around.

As a matter of fact, Christ is probably nearing the peak of His popularity. Why do we think so? We’re about to read the ONLY miracle we’ll find in all four Gospels (Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:33-44; Lk 9:10-17; Jn 6:1-13). An incident getting so much ink must be a big deal, don’t you think?

Who Is This Guy?

Just about everybody in Mark’s Gospel is trying to figure out just who He is. Oh, there are plenty of opinions. Could He be one of the great heroes of the OT like Elijah making an encore (Mk 6:15)? The local Roman ruler comes up with the cockamamie idea that Jesus is actually John the Baptizer back from the dead like some sort of zombie prophet (Mk 6:16).

Evil spirits never have a doubt that they’re up against anyone but “the Holy One of God” (Mk 1:24; 5:7). However He has plenty of doubters. His own mom and closest family members think He’s gone looney (Mk 3:21). Folks in His hometown don’t think He’s anything special (Mk 6:1-4).

Who Does He Think He Is?

Religious power brokers have all sorts of issues with Jesus. Can you believe He actually has the gall to forgive people of sin (Mk 2:6-7)?!? Who does He think He is…God?!? (Boy, are they gonna be surprised!)

And have you seen who He’s hanging out with? There are all sorts of reports of Him partying with the dregs of society (Mk 2:16-17). No self-respecting Sadducee, Pharisee, or scribe would be caught dead hanging out with those losers.

The Hero from Heaven

He refuses to play by any of their self-righteous rules and regs (Mk 2:18, 23-23). The religious elite eventually see Jesus as a such a threat that they accuse Him of playing for Satan’s team (Mk 3:22).

It turns out that His own cousin John is the only one who’s got Him figured out. Before Herod Antipas chops off his noggin, the Baptizer believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, the long awaited Hero sent from heaven (Mk 1:7-11).

The Original Low Speed Chase

So when folks see our Savior and His disciples in the boat, they chase them down the beach. While they may not know exactly who He is, they know one thing for certain. He can help them. John tells us it was “because they saw His miraculous signs as He healed the sick” (Jn 6:2).

In case you didn’t already know, motorless boats make terrible getaway cars. I don’t care if you’re paddling like crazy and there’s a stiff wind filling your sails. You’re only going so fast. Forget O.J. in the infamous white Bronco. This is the original low speed chase.

Calling an Audible

It’s at this point that Christ calls an audible. Remember, the original plan was to get away for a little rest and relaxation (Mk 6:31-32). The Lord takes one look at the desperation of the people and His heart breaks.

“Jesus saw the huge crowd as He stepped from the boat, and He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (v34). How huge? We see a little later it’s several thousand people.

The Compassion of Christ

Christ’s compassion exceeds the size of the big crowd.The word we translate as “compassion” (Gr. σπλαγχνιζομαι/splagchnizomai) comes from the Greek root word bowels or intestines. It’s actually where we get “spleen.” In other words, Jesus is moved deep inside by what He sees lakeside.

We saw it earlier in Mark when His godly guts churn as He meets a leper (Mk 1:40). He has the same emotional reaction just before He feeds another big hungry crowd a little later (Mk 8:2).

Jesus’ Heart Breaks

Gospel writers make a point of telling us how our Savior repeatedly responds compassionately to the people He meets. Like when He heals two blind guys (Mt 20:34). His heart breaks when He sees a grieving mother going to bury her son (Lk 7:13).

It’s at the core of His story about the good Samaritan (Lk 10:33). From his prison cell in Rome, Paul feels for his friends back in Philippi “with the tender “compassion” (Gr. σπλαγχνιζομαι/splagchnizomai) of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:8).

Too Much Valium?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Christ is some expressionless religious robot. That’s sort of how He’s portrayed in some movies. Almost like He’s popped too much Valium or Xanax.

He has feelings. Deep feelings. He cries (Jn 11:35). He gets angry (Mk 11:15-16). He laughs. Where do we see that in Scripture? I’m not sure you can convince me that His point about walking around with a 2x4 in my eye came from His passion for woodworking (Mt 7:3-5).

Jesus’ Gut Reaction

Jesus cares. No one’s heart breaks more than His you’re going through hard times. It’s a big part of what it means for Him to be Immanuel or God with us (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23). Our Savior is both 100% God and 100% Man 100% of the time. Only God Himself is capable of pulling off this mathematical miracle.

Here’s the big idea. The Son of God’s gut reaction is compassion. Always was. Always is.

Sheep without a Shepherd

What got to Jesus this time is how the crowd had nobody looking out for their best interests. “They were like a sheep without a shepherd” (v24). That’s a First Century way of saying no one’s leading them or protecting them.

A couple of thousand years later, it’s really no different. Without a shepherd, we wander aimlessly. We let culture, peer pressure, and our personal desires determine where we go and what we do.

Sitting Ducks

Without a shepherd, we’re each easy marks for all sorts of predators. We might as well draw a target on our chest and call every one of our enemies so they’ll know we’re a sitting duck.

An Ancient Idea

This is an ancient idea. We actually see it more than a thousand years before Jesus. When Moses realizes he’s going to die, he asks God to give His people a new leaders so they “won’t be like sheep without a shepherd” (Num 27:17).

God Gets Involved

Another time, God blows His holy stack because of Israel’s selfish leaders. He tells Ezekiel, “My sheep have been scattered without a shepherd” (Ezek 34:5). That’s when Yahweh He must get personally involved in leading and protecting His people.

“I will rescue My flock…I Myself will search and find My sheep…I will find My sheep and rescue them…I will bring them back home…I will feed them…I will give them good pastureland…I Myself will tend My sheep…” (Ezek 34:10-16).

The Great Shepherd

It’s the same divine Caretaker King David sings about. “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews My strength” (Ps 23:1-3).

Jesus pulls no punches and makes it clear He’s that very same heaven-sent Hero. “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11). How good? Well, the writer of Hebrews takes it up a couple of notches when writing about “our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep” (Heb 13:20).

Caring for the Crowd

The Son of God wastes no time providing the people with guidance. “So He began teaching them many things” (v34). Once again, Jesus unpacks the truth of God’s love for them. It’s a mega-theme in Mark’s Gospel to this point (Mk 1:38-39; 2:13; 4:1-34; 6:2, 6).

Despite His original plans for some time away with His team, Jesus spends the rest of the day caring for the crowd. That’s when some members of the Twelve decide the people don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here.

It’s Been a Long Day

“Late in the afternoon His disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat’” (v35-36).

It’s been a long day. A VERY long day. The boys pull the Boss aside and give Him some advice. Jesus, we’re not sure if you’ve noticed but it’s getting dark and we’re in the middle of nowhere. We’ve got nothing so the best thing is tell them to leave.

Here’s a little tip. Think twice anytime before telling the Lord what to do. As the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He’s got this. He’s been running the universe long before I showed up. I need to be listening and obeying. Christ doesn’t need a consultant.

Back to Disciples Again

A couple of interesting points about verse 35. First of all, the apostles of Mark 6:30 are suddenly back to being disciples again. Is that a result of getting too big for their apostolic britches?

Notice their description of this “remote place” (v35). It’s the same Greek words the NLT translates as a “quiet place” twice earlier (Mk 6:31-32). Sometimes ερημος/eremos describes a wasteland or desert. But it also can mean a lonely, quiet place of solitude.

First century writers also use the same term when talking about a pasture for grazing livestock. This piece of land isn’t tilled for farming. Keep that idea in your hip pocket. We’ll get back to that in a moment.

You Feed Them

If we flip over to John’s Gospel, he tells us this is actually a conversation with one disciple named Philip (Jn 6:5-7). Jesus asks Phil what he thinks they should do. But the Lord already had a plan. Let’s just say it’s going to be a teachable moment.

“But Jesus said, ‘You feed them’” (v37). Wouldn’t you give anything to see the look on their faces when He said this? You have GOT to be joking, Jesus! “‘With what?’ they asked. ‘We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!’” (v37).

The disciples comeback absolutely drips with sarcasm. They take a wild guess that the cost to feed the crowd at 200 denarii. In that day, a denarius is what a blue collar worker earns in a day. It would take one guy working more than six months to come up with that kind of cash.

You Can’t but God Can

Remember, the boys are fresh off their first assignment without the Savior (Mk 6:12-13, 20). He gives them a great chance to put into practice what they’ve learned along the way. Hint: It’s NOT about you. It’s ALL about what Christ can do THROUGH you.

How do you and I react when Jesus gives us a seemingly impossible assignment? What appears to be a lost cause may actually be an opportunity for God. The next time that happens, do what you can and ask God to do the rest. As Mike Lee likes to say, “You can’t. But God can.”

Doing Due Diligence

Maybe they’re hoping He would say, “Just kidding. I’ve got this.” But Jesus isn’t letting them off the hook. He keeps pushing them to make it happen. “‘How much bread to you have?’ He asked. ‘Go and find out’” (v38).

Before we jump to any conclusions, we need to do our research. He wants His disciples to do their due diligence. Look around. Ask around. You might be surprised what God has already supplied.

The boys didn’t even know what they didn’t know. They hadn’t checked to see what people may have with them. Just so you know, a little with Jesus is WAY more than a lot without Him. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Getting off Our Blessed Assurance

Over and over again, our Savior works through us to help others. That’s why He calls the church His body. We’re His hands and feet to accomplish His mission of meeting people’s needs.

It’s the convicting message of Matthew West’s song “Do Something.”

People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery

The thought disgusted me

So, I shook my fist at heaven

Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, yeah, I created you.”

If these lyrics don’t get us off our blessed assurance to do something, we’ve got problems.

Taking Inventory

After checking with the big crowd, the boys report back to the Lord. “We have five loaves and two fish” (v38). It kinda reminds me of the scene in “Apollo 13” where the engineers dump everything the crew has on board to work with onto the table.

John tells us how Pete’s brother Andrew finds a little boy who brought his lunch (Jn 6:8-9). Chances are it’s what we call today St. Peter’s fish, a variety of tilapia.

Little More than a Lunchable

The fourth Gospel also specifically says these are small loaves of “barley.” It’s the cheapest bread, only eaten by the poorest of the poor. Not exactly fresh artisanal loaves from that trendy new bakery.

In essence, they have what amounts to a couple of fish sandwiches. It’s little more than a Lunchable. Something tells me, the disciples aren’t exactly feeling optimistic at this point.

The Green Grass of Galilee

But that’s not stopping Christ. “Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred” (v39-40). “Green grass,” huh? Here in the rolling meadows near the Sea of Galilee, the Shepherd is about to feed His flock.

It Doesn’t Add up

You have to wonder what’s going through the heads of His disciples as they organize the people into various groups to eat. You don’t have to be a math major to realize two fish + five loaves + 20,0000 people just doesn’t add up to dinner.

That’s because they’re leaving out the Secret Ingredient that makes a miracle out of a kid’s meal. A healthy heaping of the Son of God. “Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them” (v41).

An Attitude of Gratitude

The great chefs all have their favorite items to add to recipes. Everything from peanut oil to pickle juice. But that’s nothing compared what Christ cooks up in the kitchen. It’s why David sings, “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps 34:8).

Jesus lifts His face toward His Dad and blesses the humble meal. Flip over to John’s version and he tells us that our Savior “gave thanks to God” (Jn 6:11). Instead of griping about what He doesn’t have, He thanks His Father for what He does have. I think we could learn a big lesson when it comes to an attitude of gratitude.

The Ultimate Giver

The Lord begins with the bread. “Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, He kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people” (v41). Mark’s choice of words here is fascinating.

When he writes about how Jesus “kept giving,” the author uses a from of the verb describing a continual, non-stop distribution. He keeps giving and giving and giving and giving. We really shouldn’t be surprised. God is ultimate Giver. He gave His Son who gave His life for us (Jn 3:16).

An All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffet

If you think what Christ did with the bread is big deal, you ain’t seen nothing yet. “He also divided the fish for everyone to share” (v41). A pair of tilapia suddenly becomes enough for everybody.

Are we making more of this than we should? Did Jesus provide just a bit of finger food? A handful of hors d’oeuvres? A sort of Galilean tapas? Nope. “They all ate as much as they wanted” (v42). The Lord transforms extremely limited resources into an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet so big that it would make the folks at Red Lobster nervous.

A LOT of Leftovers

If that’s not crazy enough, there are leftovers!! “And afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish” (v43). Somehow, someway, they end up with more food after the meal than they had when they started. That’s a LOT of Tupperware!

This is what happens when Jesus is the Secret Ingredient.

A Sellout Crowd at the Garden

Just how large was this seaside picnic? “A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed” (v44). As if 5,000 hungry folks aren’t enough, that’s just the number of men in the crowd. Jesus feeds their families too! We’re talking about at least 15,000-20,000 people…a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden!!

Shining His Light through Cracked Pots

We need to remember that the Lord loves to do amazing stuff in and through His followers. He transforms our piddly possessions into mammoth miracles. We simply give it to Him and allow Him to do what He does best.

Each time Christ calls us out of our comfort zone, it’s a chance for Him to take center stage. I mean, if I can do it all by myself, how does that point anyone to Him? He loves to shine His light through cracked pots like you an me (2Cor 4:7).

Give it all to God no matter how little you have. Let Him use it. Let Him use YOU. 

Jesus is the Secret Ingredient.

©2017
Jay Jennings

This Little Light of Mine

Hoarding the Internet

Imagine Thomas Edison keeping the lightbulb just to himself. What if Jonas Salk decided to bogart the cure for polio and not share it with the public? I don’t even want to consider the idea of Al Gore personally hoarding the internet.

Seems pretty silly, doesn’t it? You’ve got something that could change lives of people everywhere but decide to save it all for yourself. That’s exactly the kind of selfishness and absurdity Jesus says we practice whenever His followers get greedy with the grace of God.

A Light in the Darkness

In his biography of Jesus, John Mark writes the time the Lord uses the image of light shining in the darkness to illustrate the idea to His closest followers (Mk 4:21-23). The best way to understand His point is to have our Savior sing us the lyrics of that old Sunday school ditty. It goes a little something like this…

This little light of Mine, you’ve gotta let it shine!

When and Where

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In order to understand what the Lord is about to say, we need context. That’s a fancy way of saying we need to know what’s going on.

The time is around AD 30. The place is northern Israel. More specifically near the big lake known as the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just wrapped up speaking to a crowd so big that He had to use a boat to keep from getting crushed (Mk 4:1).

Parables 101

In order to get His point across to the audience, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter uses a teaching tool called a parable (Mk 4:2). When He’s finished talking to the big crowd, Jesus’ personal posse pulls Him aside and asks to explain His word picture of seeds and soils (Mk 4:3-10).

Christ not only connects the dots on the original illustration but gives them a quick lesson in unlocking these metaphors (Mk 4:11-20). Call it Parables 101. They will become the favorite tool in His teaching toolbox in order to shed light on the Kingdom of God.

Expecting a “No”

After illuminating His first parable, Christ goes on to tell them a second story about a lamp. He begins by asking them a question. “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not!” (v21).

Before we get to the parable itself, there’s something we need to see. Mark’s construction of the original Greek here actually expects you to answer “no.” He uses the little word μητι/meti, which automatically assumes an obviously negative answer.

That’s Crazy Talk!

We see it each time someone presents a premise is so ridiculous and over the top that you could never dream of it actually happening. Like if someone pitches a movie idea where a defective hot tub at a ski resort accidentally sends people back in time. Oh wait. They actually made that one. Never mind.

But when the Son of God describes scene in His story, there’s nobody listening who thinks this can ever happen. Put a lamp under basket or bed? You can just hear people respond, “That’s crazy talk! Are you out of your ever-lovin’ mind?!?”

Everyday Stuff for an Eternal Point

Once again, Jesus uses everyday stuff in order to make an eternal point. He takes household items. A lamp. A basket. A bed. A stand. These are things you’d find in the average Galilean home. He goes on to describe something you would do every evening when the sun went down.

Since we’re talking about life in the First Century, let’s make sure we know what our Savior is talking about. A “lamp” (Gr. luchnos/λυχνοσ) is a portable light source made of a burning wick soaked in oil held by a small clay pot. It’s actually something other than a candle.

No Flip of the Switch

Remember, these people are living a few thousand years before electricity. Light isn’t just one little flip of the switch away. If the sun’s not up, it’s dark. You desperately need a light source. Think back to the last time your power went out and you scrambled for candles and a flashlight.

That’s everyday life during the life of Jesus. Back in the day, your day was completely oriented around…well…the day! Before sunrise and after sunset, you would light your lamp in order to see what you’re doing or where you’re going.

How Many Pecks in a Bushel?

The next ordinary variety item is the “basket” (Gr. μοδιος/modios). The word here describes a Roman measurement of grain that equals about two gallons or eight quarts (one peck…as if anybody really knows what that is!).

This is a woven bin, bucket, or box used for carrying dry goods like grain or flour. The only time this word is used in this same illustration in other Gospels (Mt 5:15; Lk 11:33). Bible expert Alexander MacLaren believes the basket symbolizes our work life, the desire for money, power, and status. I think he’s all over it.

A First Century Recliner

Jesus also mentions a “bed” (Gr. κλινη/kline). This is any piece of furniture that allows you to recline or lie down. It literally means a recliner. But don’t make the mistake that this is your dad’s favorite La-Z-Boy for watching SportsCenter.

It could be a mattress for sleeping, a couch for relaxing, or even the piece of furniture that folks would use to lean back and eat a meal. That same Bible ninja thinks the bed symbolizes our home and where we kick back and get comfortable. Once again, I’m pretty sure he nailed it.

Well, Duh

We find the fourth household item in the answer to Jesus’ original rhetorical question. “A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine” (v21). The Greek word λυχνια/luchnia is any sort of device for holding one or more oil lamps up high. It could be anything from a fancy schmancy candelabra or simply a shelf on the wall.

Remember how Christ assumes a “no” to His original question? Well the grammar of this next sentence implies an obvious “yes” response. The idea is goes a little something like this. “You would put a lamp on stand, right? Right?!?” Well, duh. Where else would you put one?!?!

Get It High and Let It Shine

Once you ignite the light, you get up high. The higher the lamp, the brighter the room. A tall stand or well-placed ledge allows one little light to have the greatest impact in driving back the darkness. Get it high. Let it shine.

Jesus’ parable about lamps, baskets, beds, and stands has a couple of meanings. And whattaya know, they’re both related to His seed scattering story. First and foremost, it’s about letting this little light of the Lord shine brightly in our lives.

How do we know? Because our Savior says something very similar in the Sermon on the Mount. By the way, some folks wonder why Jesus seems to repeat Himself so much.

Jesus’ Most Famous Sermon

Well, there’s a pretty good chance that Christ used the same illustration at several different times and places. Most great teachers and speakers don’t just say something once and look for new material.

So back in His most famous sermon, Jesus tells His hillside audience, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:15-16).

Did you catch that? He doesn’t command His followers shine but states it as a fact. You ARE the light of the world. If we’ve placed your trust in Christ, we shine His light. We crank up the beacon of God’s goodness in our lives whenever we do good things for others.

How Bright Is My Light?

The bigger question is how well are we radiating His love, His truth, and His grace to those around us? What’s the quality of our illumination? How bright is our light? How high have we lifted His lamp?

The more I share and sacrifice, the higher I lift the light of Jesus. The more I put others’ needs ahead of my own, the brighter His light shines. And remember, the One who gets the credit isn’t us but our heavenly Dad.

Cracked Pots

That’s because it’s NOT my light but His! The only reason we are the light of the world (Mt 5:16) is because He is the Light of the World (Jn 8:12)! And Jesus absolutely LOVES shining His light through broken vessels and cracked pots like you and me.

The Apostle Paul puts it like this. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2Cor 4:7).

A Dimmer Switch on the Divine

But too many times my life is more like a dimmer switch on the divine light of Jesus. Remember what that Bible guru said about putting the lamp in the wrong places like the basket and bed?

We shove God’s light under a basket whenever we allow our work to consume us and take priority over our relationship with the Lord. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about working on Sunday. What I am talking about is giving your profession the poll position in your life.

Work Takes No Prisoners

I know, I know. You would NEVER make that mistake. Take it from somebody has. You tell yourself it won’t happen to you. Working late shouldn’t be a problem. Picking up a shift over the weekend isn’t a big deal. Hey, who couldn’t use the overtime?

If I’m not paying attention, work has a nasty habit of weaseling everything else out of the way. It takes no prisoners. That includes my faith. Especially my faith.

Instead, I need to pull His light out from under the basket and give Jesus the top priority that only He deserves. Let His lamp shine brightly for everyone to see puts my career back in then proper order.

What’s Your Sleep Number?

On the other end of the spectrum, our Savior also mentions a bed. He’s not talking about a Serta Perfect Sleeper or giving His divine endorsement to the Sleep Number Bed.

The bed symbolizes our desire for comfort and rest. Don’t get me wrong. God wants us to get our rest. Remember, He actually commanded His people get a weekly day off after 400-plus years without one (Ex 20:8).

Me, Myself, and I

The problem comes when we only focus on our R&R at the expense of everything and everybody else. Here’s the deal. Letting the Lord’s light shine is all about sacrifice. We have to get off our Blessed Assurance to make that happen.

What do the work “basket” and comfort “bed” have in common? Three things: me, myself, and I. That’s to say they’re both the result of selfishness. Some of us are prone to worship at the altar of the workplace. Some of us kick back on a comfy couch. Too many of us can pull off this selfish double without any problem at all!

Stimulating Our Curiosity

But, remember we said Jesus’ parable has second meaning as well. The other meaning has to do with how and why He loves using these simple stories. His purpose of speaking in parables isn’t to keep God’s truth hidden. It was to sharpen our attention and stimulate our curiosity.

Christ makes that glaringly apparent when He tells them, “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light” (v22). It may be out of sight now, but just you wait. What you’ll soon see will be outta sight!

Don’t Be Greedy with the Gospel

That’s because Jesus certainly isn’t being greedy with the Gospel. It’s the whole reason He’s come. Christ came from heaven in order to give. To give us overflowing life (Jn 10:10). To give His very own life.

Then just like He did we wrapping up story about seeds and soils (Mk 4:9), Jesus says once again, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (v23). It’s a mic drop moment. Hello, McFly!?!

Are You Tracking?

The Lord wants to make sure His closest followers are paying close attention. Eugene Peterson and the folks at The Message paraphrase it this way. “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” (v23 The Message). Are you tracking? Do you follow?

With that, Jesus gives us the very important reason we need to have our ears open and brains engaged. “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be give.” (v24-25).

A Spiritual Windfall

Christ tells us we get an amazing return on our investment. Whenever we apply what He tells us, we will experience a spiritual windfall! If I am truly paying attention and then applying His wisdom and guidance in my life, there’s a whole lot more where that comes from.

That happens by giving ourselves away. The Son of God doesn’t give His grace to us with the idea that it stops with us. We give and keep on giving. He calls us to be rivers of His goodness, not reservoirs of greed.

Selfish or Selfless?

On the other hand, the Lord warns us against selfishness. “But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them” (v25).

If I wrap my arms around what my Savior tells me, then there’s more of His goodness to come! But if I put a death grip on His gifts, I’ll lose what I already have. Think of it this way. Share what He gives! Otherwise you’re wasting your time. God will give it to somebody who will pass it along.

Generous Giver or Greedy Getter?

Jesus’ big idea from this little lesson about lamps, baskets and beds is all about generosity. Shine His light. Get it high. Make it bright. Pass it along.

Follow the Lord’s example. Be a generous giver, not a greedy getter. Be selfless, not selfish. Whatever He lavishes on you and me is NOT meant to be hoarded.

How dark would our lives be if Edison kept the light bulb to himself? How much suffering would there be if Salk didn’t share his discovery? What if Al Gore…well, get where I’m going. Let’s get out there and lift the lamp of God high.

This little light of Mine, you’ve got to let it shine!

©2017

Jay Jennings

How to BE Rich

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1Tim 6:18).

God wants you to be rich. So much so that He commands it through the Apostle Paul. Sweet! Who couldn’t use a little more jingle in their pocket? Well, pump your brakes before you believe the man from Tarsus is all about the so-called prosperity gospel. Not even close. Nope, instead of turning Almighty God into supernatural vending machine, He wants us to realize He’s ALREADY blessed us. God wants us to be rich. NOT get rich. BE rich. So since we’re ALREADY rich, what are we supposed to do with our wealth? 

In a letter to his protege Timothy, Paul passes along God’s rules for the rich over in chapter six. Specifically verses 17-18. He begins by warning against getting cocky because of cash. Don’t get duped by the money mirage. Realize that our incredibly generous God wants us to enjoy all that He gives. Here in verse 18, the apostle tells us what to do now that we’ve been on the receiving end of supernatural blessing. “They are to be do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (v18). God wants you to be rich.

Before we go any further, I need to give credit where credit is due. And that credit goes to Andy Stanley. He literally wrote the book on this topic. Okay, God inspired Paul to write the verse that inspired Andy to write the book. But back in 2013, Andy wrote “How to Be Rich: It’s Not What You Have but What You Do with What You Have.” Each year he preaches a message on generosity he calls “Be Rich.” A huge chunk of what I’m writing has Andy’s very talented (and generous!) fingerprints all over it.

Before we dig into more of God’s rules for the rich, it’s probably a good idea to understand what’s going on in this letter. Paul is writing to Tim, the young pastor he’s left in charge as the servant/leader of the Ephesian church (1Tim 1:1-3). The apostle has hit the road to Macedonia, probably to help churches there in places like Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. These were all stops on Paul’s second Mediterranean tour (Acts 16:11-17:15). While he’s gone, Paul makes Tim the lead pastor in Ephesus.

But the Ephesian church is a shadow of her former self. Paul had spent three years in the city telling everyone who would listen about Jesus through blood, sweat, and tears (Acts 20:31). But not long after he left, a team of spiritual hucksters weaseled their way into the congregation and distracted folks from following Jesus (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3). The sad part is that Paul could see it coming and warned the Ephesian leaders (Acts 20:29-30).

These false teachers completely corrupted God’s teaching about money. They saw religion as a get-rich-quick scheme (1Tim 6:5). In their mind, there’s no business like God’s business. Paul reminds Pastor Tim of the dangers of greed and how it results in a fatal case of human root rot (1Tim 6:9-10). With that in mind, this church desperately needs to correct the wealthy members of the congregation about what God expects from those who are “rich in this present age” (1Tim 6:17). 

Maybe you think you’re off the hook on this one. You certainly don’t feel “rich in this present age.” Paul MUST be talking to people Donald Trump and Warren Buffett, right? Yes, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion he’s talking to you too. I KNOW he’s talking to me. Here are the numbers. If you make $40,000 each year, you’re in the top four percent of wage earners in the world. Increase that to $48,000 annually, and you’re in the top ONE percent of money makers on the planet. I’m no statistician, but I’m pretty sure that makes most of us “rich in this present age.”

So if that’s you (and it most certainly is me), the apostle tells us “to do good” (v18). This is actually one word in the original language: agathoergeo. It’s a compound word meaning “excellent (agatho-) work (-ergeo).” It means to show kindness, provide benefits, be generous with your possessions, or act rightly. God is calling us to do what people desperately need, not what they necessarily want. There’s an importance difference between the two. In the words of a Spike Lee joint, “Do the Right Thing.”

Paul then tells us “to be rich in good works” (v18). The Greek verb here (Gr. plouteo) paints a picture having in abundance, being richly supplied, and affluent. This is the fourth time the former Pharisee uses a variation on the word “rich” in these two verses. “As for the rich (Gr. plousios)” (1Tim 6:17). We shouldn’t put our trust “on the uncertainty of riches (Gr. ploutos)” (1Tim 6:17). Instead put our hope in “God, who richly (Gr. plousios) us with everything to enjoy” (1Tim 6:17). Last but not least, he commands us “to be rich (Gr. plouteo) in good works” (v18).

Each one of these words comes from a root word that means to be filled and overflowing. Picture someone filling a glass of beer from the tap and the excess brew is spilling over the sides. It’s having so much that it’s more than a bit sloppy. Are you so generous that your blessing is just a little messy? Jesus even commanded us to be sloppy givers so that our Heavenly Dad will overwhelm us in His blessing, “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap” (Lk 9:38). Running over. In your lap. Sure sounds like a messy blessing to me!

Since I AM rich, how am I supposed to BE rich? Specifically, Paul commands us to overflow “in good works” (v18). If I’m wealthy, let me make the Forbes 400 of helping others. As a matter of fact, we can do that no matter what kind of 401k we have socked away. I can bless without a stack of Benjamins. I can help. I can pray. I can sit with a friend who’s hurting. To “be rich in good works” is shine God’s light and spread His salt wherever we go. Make sure the light is bright and you’re not stingy with the salt. That’s what it means to be rich.

Make no mistake about why we do do good works. It’s not to pile up enough brownie points so God will save us. Helping others isn’t like building up frequent flyer miles. It doesn’t work that way. We’re not saved BY our good works but to DO good works. That’s exactly Paul’s point in one of the most famous passages on grace (Eph 2:8-10). Jesus worked to save us so that we could respond with good works as an act of worship. In other words, Christ did the ultimate good work that we could never do for ourselves. 

Paul goes on to give us a couple of ways we can be rich. We’re “to be generous and ready to share” (v18). I can tell you that after an in-depth word study of the Greek here, the original language means…wait for it…“to be generous and ready to share!” Instead of being a tightfisted miser, God calls His people to be extravagant givers. Openhanded. Unselfish. 

Here are a couple of words that are going to make a few of us uncomfortable. Liberal. Promiscuous. Yeah, you read that right. If the church was truly liberal in her giving, we wouldn’t need to “Feel the Bern” in an election year. What would our communities, towns, and cities look like if God’s people were recklessly promiscuous with our resources to those marginalized by society? That’s exactly why Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Lk 12:48). Be liberal. Be promiscuous. With your resources, that is. That’s what it means to be rich.

Here’s the big idea. God overflows to us so that we can overflow to others. Jesus is liberal and lavish to me so that I can be liberal and lavish to others. The lyrics of John Mark McMillan’s song “How He Loves” makes me wonderfully uncomfortable. He describes the grace of Jesus as “heaven meets earth with a sloppy wet kiss.” A few thousand years before that, King David’s wrote what many believe is his best song ever. He sings about how God is so unbelievably generous toward him that “my cup overflows” and “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps 23:5-6). Jesus is incredibly messing in His blessing to you and me. Why shouldn’t we be the same?

God has created us in His image (Gen 1:26-27) and is conforming us into the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). A big part of His image is as the ultimate Giver. God the Father gave His Son. God the Son gave His life. God is ridiculously generous to you and me. Sloppy. Messy. Liberal. Promiscuous. He’s calling us to do the same. He’s calling us to BE rich.