Resource Assessment

GETTING STARTED

The story of David and Goliath has always been a good challenge for me. I love that a young boy with nothing but a sling shot seems so confident as he prepares to do battle with a huge man with armor, a sword, and a shield. What gave David such courage? Any rational resource assessment would cause most people to run away or throw up their hands in despair. The disciples in today’s passage face a seemingly impossible task with a significant resource deficit.

  • When was the last time that a need in your life seemed to far outweigh your resources?

READ THE WORD: JOHN 6:1-9 (ESV) 

6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Why were people flocking to Jesus?
  2. What was the assumption behind Jesus’ question to Philip in verse five?
  3. Both Philip and Andrew answered Jesus’ question. What were their assessments of the situation?
  4. What need do you have today where your resources seem too few to meet the need? How might going to Jesus make a difference?

RESPOND TO GOD

Phillip and Andrew were right about their situation. If left to themselves to feed so many people, they were up a creek. They only had the means to feed just a few—and barely enough for themselves. What they missed in their assessment was that God was sitting in their circle. They forgot to include the God of creation in their understanding of the resources available. David understood that in his battle with Goliath. With God, the impossible is possible. Be convinced of this today because God wants to use you in the world. You may be small and you may lack the wisdom, resources, strength or courage, but if God is with you, the only failure is not trying.

  • Ask God to show you where he might want to use you. Confess any fear or lack of faith you might have.
  • Ask God to glorify himself through you as you take steps of faith to love and serve others.