A Valuable Lesson in Ecology

After that large group had eaten, an abundance of food was left. But Jesus said, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” The lesson had two parts. Nothing is to be wasted. Gather up everything that will relieve earth’s hungry ones. And there should be the same carefulness in spiritual things. The people wanted their friends at home to share in the bread that Christ had blessed. So those who were at the feast were to give to others the bread that comes down from heaven, to satisfy the hunger of the heart. They were to repeat what they had learned of the wonderful things of God. Nothing was to be lost.HH 167.5

The miracle of the loaves teaches us to depend on God. When Christ fed the five thousand, there was no food nearby. Here He was, in the wilderness. But He knew that the large crowd would feel hungry and faint, for He was one with them in their need for food. They were far from home, and many had no money to purchase food. God’s leading had placed Jesus where He was, and He depended on His heavenly Father for the means to meet the need.HH 168.1

We too are to depend on God. We are not to plunge into difficulties and misuse the abilities God has given us. But when, after following His directions, we are brought into tight places, we are to seek help from Him who has infinite resources at His command. He will help every person who comes into difficulty because of trying to keep the way of the Lord.HH 168.2