August 19, 1897

Feeding the Five Thousand

EGW

The miracle of the loaves is a lesson for Christ's followers in all time. While bearing our human nature, Christ was constantly giving, by precept and example, lessons of dependence upon God. When he fed the five thousand, the food was not nigh at hand. Apparently he had no means at his command. Here he was, with five thousand men, besides women and children, in the wilderness. He did not invite this large multitude to follow him; they came without invitation or command; but he knew that after they had listened so long to his instruction, they would feel hungry and faint; for he was one with them in their need of food. The providence of God had placed him, the Son of God, where he was; and he depended on his heavenly Father for the means to relieve his necessity.ST August 19, 1897, par. 1

And when we are brought into strait places, we are to depend on God. We are to exercise wisdom and judgment in every action of life, that we may not, by careless, reckless movements, place ourselves in trial. We are not to plunge into difficulties, neglecting the means God has provided, and misusing the faculties he has given us. If we do this, the Lord will leave us to our own mistakes. But when, after following the best knowledge that we have, we are brought into strait places, and compassed with difficulties, God will deliver us. We are not to give up in discouragement, but in every emergency we are to seek wisdom from Him who has infinite resources at his command. Often we shall be surrounded with trying circumstances, and then, in the fullest confidence, we must depend wholly upon God, and neither fail nor be discouraged. He will keep every soul that is brought into perplexity through trying to keep the way of the Lord.ST August 19, 1897, par. 2

The Safe Path

The path of duty, tho it may not always be pleasant to the natural feelings, is the only path of safety. When the Lord tests us with trials, he does not leave us to the will of the enemy. He has appointed a way of escape for us; but our faith in his pledged word must be exercised. Having the assurance of the partnership of Christ, we can overcome many difficulties. Constantly relying upon him for strength, looking to him for counsel, not trusting in self, but in God, we shall work the works of Christ.ST August 19, 1897, par. 3

The work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward, tho to all appearances it moves slowly, and means are so limited that impossibilities seem to testify against advance. The work is of God, and he will not only furnish us with means, but will send us helpers, true, earnest disciples, whose hands also will be filled with food for the starving multitude. God is not unmindful of those who labor in love to give the Word of life to perishing souls, who in their turn reach forth their hands for food for other hungry souls.ST August 19, 1897, par. 4

The disciples were bidden to feed the hungry multitude before eating themselves. After the wants of all had been supplied, the command was given, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Twelve baskets full were gathered up; and then Christ and his disciples ate of the precious, heaven-supplied food.ST August 19, 1897, par. 5

In our work for God there is danger of relying too largely upon what man with his talents and ability can do. Thus we lose sight of the one Master-worker. Too often the worker for Jesus fails to realize his personal responsibility. He is in danger of shifting his burdens upon organizations, instead of looking to and relying upon Him who is the source of all strength. But it is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God. Success is not dependent upon talent or numbers.ST August 19, 1897, par. 6

Bear Your Own Burden

In the place of shifting your responsibility upon some one whom you think more richly endowed than you are, work according to your ability, even tho you have but one talent. All our works must be wrought in God. Each one is to do his own work in the Lord's vineyard. We must not look for some one else to do the work that lies directly in our pathway. Personal responsibilities must be borne; personal duties must be taken up; personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ. And for those who do this work in faith the Holy Spirit will work as it worked for the disciples on the day of Pentecost.ST August 19, 1897, par. 7

Christ's life of constant usefulness and unselfishness is an example to us. We must forget ourselves if we would scatter blessings to those around us. As the follower of Christ bends over the sacred record of his Master's life and miracles, if he seeks the aid of the Spirit of God, he will not ask in vain for wisdom. He will discern beneath the surface jewels of truth which will captivate him; for in the life of Christ there is a richness and beauty which is not seen by the casual reader.ST August 19, 1897, par. 8

Follow God's Plans

By feeding the five thousand, Christ showed how every true believer is to be a laborer together with God. Christ's workers are to obey his instructions implicitly. They are not to plan according to their own ideas. The work is God's and his plans must be followed if we would bless others. Self-denial and self-sacrifice should be practised daily. Self can not be made a center; it can receive no honor. Every receiver should look directly to God, and should acknowledge the conversion of souls to be accomplished, not by his own efforts, but by the power of God. No sensitiveness is to be shown lest self shall not be duly acknowledged. The hours are precious; they are not to be spent in self-pleasing, but in serving God.ST August 19, 1897, par. 9

In this act of supplying the temporal necessities of a hungry multitude is wrapped up a deep spiritual lesson for all Christ's workers. Christ received from the Father; he imparted to the disciples; and they imparted to the multitude. All who are united to Christ will be doers of his word, receiving the bread of life, the heavenly food, from Christ and imparting it to others.ST August 19, 1897, par. 10

An Object Lesson

Our Saviour's example is an object lesson to us. In full reliance upon God, he took the small store of loaves, and, altho there was but sufficient for himself and his disciples, he commenced to place the food in their hands, bidding them distribute to the people. The food multiplied in his hands; and the hands of the disciples, reaching out to Christ, himself the Bread of Life, were never empty. The little store of food was sufficient for all. So we are to rely implicitly upon Christ for our supplies.ST August 19, 1897, par. 11

Our Saviour placed in the hands of his disciples the food for the people, and as they emptied their hands, they were again filled with the food, which multiplied in Christ's hands as fast as it was called for. The disciples were channels of communication. This should be a great encouragement to the disciples of Christ today. Christ is the great center, the source of all strength. His disciples are to receive their supplies from him. He has given his life for the life of the world, and he says, “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life.”ST August 19, 1897, par. 12

A Paul may plant, and an Apollos water, but God only giveth the increase. This is so that no man may boast. The most intelligent, the most spiritually-minded, can bestow only as they receive. Of themselves they can manufacture nothing for the needs of the soul. We can impart only that which we receive from the hands of Christ; and we can receive only as we impart to others. As we continue imparting, we continue to receive; and the more we impart, the more we shall receive. Thus we may be constantly believing, trusting, receiving, and imparting.ST August 19, 1897, par. 13

God is the treasure-house of all wisdom, and the humblest worker that depends on this undiminished supply will be able to work the works of Christ. If the aim of the worker is to glorify God, there will be abundant channels of usefulness opened for him, in which he may work with all hope of success. God has provided such helpers for him in the heavenly intelligences, that failure will not be seen or mentioned. Christ has promised, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” If God be for us, who can be against us? If Christ is our companion, because we wear his yoke and lift his burdens, we shall gain advanced victories. The opposition of men will be strengthless, and their wisdom weakness, as the disciples of Christ reach out their empty hands of faith to One who is always ready to impart. Men may oppose, but no weapon can prosper that is formed against those who are imbued with the love of Christ, and armed with the Gospel weapons.ST August 19, 1897, par. 14

More Precious than Gold

This miracle contains lessons of more value to us than silver or gold. Carried out in experience, they would never lose their force. The work of the Holy Spirit is to impress the minds of those who should live in all generations with the importance of these lessons. It was God's design that they should sound down the line to our time.ST August 19, 1897, par. 15

We need to receive more of the heavenly grace, that we may have more to impart to others. Thirty years after the day of Pentecost the apostle Paul wrote: “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.” If in that short time the work had extended so far through the cooperation of the heavenly intelligences, should we not take courage? Christ has promised, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” “I will pray the Father,” he said again, “and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.”ST August 19, 1897, par. 16

As the disciples of Christ, do we act a part in the great work of saving souls for whom he has died? Do we point them to the Lamb of God, that they may believe in him, and have everlasting life? The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work, but if we will move forward in faith, believing in the all-sufficient power of God, abundant resources will open before us. If the work be of God, he himself will provide the means for its accomplishment. He will reward honest, simple reliance upon him. The little that is wisely and economically used in the service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting. In the hand of Christ the small supply of food remained undiminished until the famished multitude were satisfied. Shall we not, as servants of Christ, learn to impart as we receive from him? If we go to the Source of all strength, with our hands of faith outstretched to receive, we shall be sustained in our work, even under the most forbidding circumstances, and shall be enabled to give to others the Bread of Life.ST August 19, 1897, par. 17

Mrs. E. G. White