Matthew 14:16, "But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat."
MATTHEW 14:15-18
The disciples were using natural reasoning and recognized that they didn't have the ability to minister to the multitude's need for food. Jesus did have the ability and the willingness to minister to their needs, so the multitude did not need to depart. All of their needs could be met through Jesus.
The same thing is true today. Some disciples today are sending the multitudes to the world to meet their physical needs (finances, health, counseling, etc.) and proclaiming that God only meets spiritual needs.
But, "they need not depart." The Lord is willing and able to heal our bodies, prosper us financially, or counsel us from His Word in any area of our life where we might have need.
Before we can be a blessing, we have to be blessed (Gen. 12:2).
One of the purposes of God's prosperity in our lives is so that we can be a blessing to others. The Scriptures instruct us to walk in God's love towards all men, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus told us to love our enemies
Matthew 5:44-46 New King James Version (NKJV)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[a] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
In Galatians 6:10 Paul places a priority on helping fellow Christians.
This does not diminish our responsibility to show God's love to non-believers. Instead, Paul is simply saying "charity must start at home."
It would be hypocritical to step over hurting brothers and sisters in the Lord to find unbelievers to minister to.
God didn't just give us something that He had; He gave Himself. And what was God's motive for giving?
It wasn't because of His need, but ours. He was motivated out of love for us (Jn. 3:16-17). NKJV
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
In the same way, we should be encouraged to give unselfishly of ourselves.
Pray for Divine appointments, to be used of God to touch someone's life today.
The same thing is true today. Some disciples today are sending the multitudes to the world to meet their physical needs (finances, health, counseling, etc.) and proclaiming that God only meets spiritual needs.
But, "they need not depart." The Lord is willing and able to heal our bodies, prosper us financially, or counsel us from His Word in any area of our life where we might have need.
Before we can be a blessing, we have to be blessed (Gen. 12:2).
One of the purposes of God's prosperity in our lives is so that we can be a blessing to others. The Scriptures instruct us to walk in God's love towards all men, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus told us to love our enemies
Matthew 5:44-46 New King James Version (NKJV)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[a] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Footnotes:
- Matthew 5:44 NU-Text omits three clauses from this verse, leaving, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
In Galatians 6:10 Paul places a priority on helping fellow Christians.
This does not diminish our responsibility to show God's love to non-believers. Instead, Paul is simply saying "charity must start at home."
It would be hypocritical to step over hurting brothers and sisters in the Lord to find unbelievers to minister to.
God didn't just give us something that He had; He gave Himself. And what was God's motive for giving?
It wasn't because of His need, but ours. He was motivated out of love for us (Jn. 3:16-17). NKJV
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
In the same way, we should be encouraged to give unselfishly of ourselves.
Pray for Divine appointments, to be used of God to touch someone's life today.
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