Don't Count the Cost, Count the Loaves

Mark 6:34-44, NIV

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Is there something God has asked you to do that you feel you don’t have enough for?

Not enough time?

Not enough qualifications?

Not enough connections?

Not enough money?

Not enough experience?

Me too. But here’s my message to you today: don't count the cost, count the loaves. 

Counting the cost can cost us the miracle.

If God has asked you to do something, find out what you have in your hand right now. Then put it in God’s hands, and do the thing! If you don't, you'll never see what's waiting on the other side. Never let the cost outweigh the call.

Oh Lord, may we never let the cost outweigh the call. Help us to see what we have in our hand and realize that you can do more with it than we could ever imagine. Amen.