A Little Boy Loses His Life

Luke 9:10-17
After Jesus has been teaching the crowds for most of the day, night begins to fall and the crowds are in need of food, of nourishment.  This is a desolate place and there is no source of food (vs. 12).  Jesus instructs them to find what they do have and bring it to him (Mark 6:38).  Let us take the perspective of the little boy who possesses these five loaves and two fish (John 6:9).  He has come to a desolate place to hear Jesus, and he has come prepared, bringing with him a full meal.  He has wisely planned ahead and provided for himself, knowing this will be needed where he is going to hear Jesus.  Then, suddenly, several men (the disciples) approach you, asking for your only meal, and not just some of it, but all of it.  Every loaf and every fish filet.  Why?  Because Jesus is asking for it and they are going to try and feed as many people as possible.  This boy must have thought, as we would also, that this is ridiculous.  After all, there are thousands of people here and his meal is so meager it will not make a difference for anyone, and most likely he himself will have to go without, as there will be nothing left for him after his meal is divided amongst the crowd.  Wouldn't he be wiser to eat what will sustain him and then give what is left to help sustain others?  If he is forced to go without, how will he be able to help anyone else?  He has come prepared, knowing this meal would be needed.  He is the wise one, why should he suffer because all these other people are unprepared and foolish?  But he doesn't react this way.  He gives Jesus everything he has, his entire meal, his entire means of provision and sustenance, not knowing if he will see any of it again, not knowing if he will now go hungry or if anyone will be helped, not knowing what he will do next, nothing.  He simply trusts and gives Jesus exactly what he asks him for, not holding back anything back for himself or taking his fill first then giving Jesus what is left.  And Jesus takes this meagrest of meals and this boy's sacrifice and multiplies beyond what anyone, including this boy, must have thought possible, feeding thousands of hungry men and women.  And Jesus didn't simply give a piece here and a piece there, just trying to help as many people as possible get a simple morsel, but he feeds them until they are satisfied, and then some (vs. 17).  This is a tangible example of what Jesus was trying to teach them, that it is only in losing, in giving up everything without hesitation and without self-interest, fully trusting in him and his ability and not our own, that he is able to multiply our offering to feed and satisfy thousands and thousands of hungry people.  If this boy would have done as we would today, he would have helped himself and then maybe helped a few other people with his leftovers.  But by entrusting it ALL to Jesus, thousands are satisfied, including this boy.  What an incredible example of what he then teaches about in verses 21-27.  It is in losing our provision, our means, our very lives that we are then able to be multiplied by Jesus himself into nourishment for thousands of souls, there is no other way (John 12:24).  It is in saving our lives, in profiting and providing for self, in storing up for future use that we forfeit what God can and will do, and in the end lose everything.  If this boy had decided to sustain his own life and, essentially, gain his own "world", then he would have forfeited, not only himself, but also the thousands around him who were hungry and without.  And take notice that Jesus does not ask him to share his meal or part with what he can or is willing.  Jesus asks him to give his entire meal, and not to others directly, but to Jesus himself.  We must take notice of this or we will end up losing our lives, but it won't be for Jesus.  We are told to lose our lives for Jesus and the gospel first, and then he will divide it amongst the hungry.  It must be this progression.  And this is exactly what Jesus has asked for (Luke 14:33, Mark 10:21), so we must not delude ourselves into thinking this is unique to this boy or that day, or Jesus, or that by giving even extravagant leftovers we are offering Jesus everything (Acts 5:1-11).  The question is are we willing to entrust him with our five loaves and two fishes, our everything, trusting he will multiply it.  Is he worth everything (Luke 12:41-44)?  Can he be trusted?  If not then we had better save some back for ourselves.  If he can be trusted, then must give everything now, or else lose everything later.