I Like My Something Better Than Your Nothing

They understood the problem. So when Jesus asked the disciples, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?", they were stumped. There wasn’t enough money, even if they had some place to buy food from. Jesus knew that He just wanted to see how they would handle it.

Then Andrew spoke up. "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"(John 6:9)

It wasn’t much of a suggestion. Andrew talks himself out of it before he finishes his sentence. It won’t work. It’s absurd. It’s not practical.

Yet it did. Jesus made it work. That ‘bad idea’ became a miracle that every gospel writer mentions.

A solution is better than no solution.

I often noticed in the work of the church people are experts in why things will not work. Ideas are picked apart. Plans are shot down before even fully formed. Yet, no other suggestion is given; no course of action is proposed.

Do we really think nothing is better than something?

The one talent man believed that. He let his fear convince him the best solution was to bury his talent rather than try to use it. He was condemned for it.

We can’t let fear of failure or a desire for perfection keep us from doing the things we know need to be done. The Bible has some clear command on what we are supposed to be doing as his church (Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 13:16, Galatians 6:10). Do we doubt God can make our weak attempt flourish?

Are we alright with doing nothing?

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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