12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

I read a joke of a lady who fell out of a second story window and landed in the garbage truck that was slowly moving past the house.  Half buried in the middle, she tried without success to get the drivers attention.  A foreign diplomat standing on the sidewalk saw her and commented indignantly “Another example of how wasteful Americans are.  That woman looks like she’s good for at least another 10 years.”       

Following the miraculous meal on the hillside, the disciples were instructed to collect the leftovers so no waste. We have a problem with being wasteful people and the food that’s going into garbage cans can feed millions of hungry people in the world.  Overconsumption is a sin.  Be satisfied to be full.  Eat what you will, but don’t throw out the excess.       

12 basketfuls remained, I think, for two reasons.  First, to show there was abundantly more than what was needed. Jesus started with a meager amount and ended up with much and second, each disciple was able to have a basket for their provisions for the following day.   

The message is true.  We grow by sharing and increase by giving.  God is the one who is able.  

After receiving bread and fish the people were ecstatic.  They thought He was the prophet to come. They wanted a king to free them from Roman domination. They wanted to make Jesus a king.  That was not the mission of Jesus for this time.  He was to come as Savior. Next time He comes as King over all. 

People try to lay aside the plan of God and adopt another plan which they think is better.  He was to glorify His Father, redeem the people from their sins by going to the cross, and paying for our redemption with His blood. He was to be buried and rise again three days later.  Through that plan was the redemption of the world and overtaking of the powers of Satan.  That was His mission.  No one was going to stop Him no matter how well meant they were.  The crowds followed Him for the wrong reasons. They wanted entertainment and food, miracles and signs.  

Application:  Jesus does not receive our full worship and allegiance because there are far too many other things that are important to us. Where do we thwart the plan of God in our lives today?  

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Oh how abundangly You have blessed us in this nation.   Let me never be wasteful and give me a spirit of generosity so much so that my left hand doesn't know what my right hand is doing.   (Matt 6:3)

Dale