A Lad With No Name

All right.

Good morning, everybody.

We'll go ahead and get started here this morning.

In our Sunday school hour, we're going to start in a new series.

And I would tell you who we're going to talk about,

but we're basically going to talk about people in Scripture that had no name.

No name that was mentioned in the impact that they have.

Because, you know, sometimes we think about all those big names,

you might say in Scripture.

You know, when you think about names in Scripture,

what are some of the names that jump out to you?

Moses.

What's that?

Abraham.

Paul.

I mean, you've got a lot that really stand out.

But, you know, the reality is, is God speaks a lot about those that were not given their name,

but made a difference.

I think it's important to realize that you don't have to have a big name to make a difference for God.

And as we're going to look here this morning and talk a little bit about this,

let's go ahead and open with a word of prayer,

and then we'll get into the lesson here this morning.

So, Heavenly Father, if we just come before you today, Lord,

we just thank you for the day, for the opportunity.

Pray for those who are ill and the others that didn't feel safe traveling, Lord.

Pray just that this would be a blessing this morning as they listen online.

Lord, just thank you for what you've given to us, Lord.

Help us to be mindful that a life lived for you is the most important.

And, Lord, we just give you all the praise and glory here today.

In Jesus' name, amen.

You know, as we begin looking here at a name,

because, you know, we talk about, you know,

the importance of a name in Scripture is also there.

You know, you think about the name of Jesus.

You know, we hear a few weeks ago on Christmas,

we talked about the name of Jesus and what it means,

a name above all other names.

But, you know, Jesus also makes mention in his word about those who had no name given.

It's not that they didn't have a name,

because all of them have a name.

You know, we all are given a name.

It's that name itself is a reality because our name identifies us through our life and even beyond.

You know, none of us.

The funny thing is, is none of you get to choose your name.

Not normally anyways.

You know, nowadays you can legally change your name and you do things.

But, you know, but normally speaking, you get your name from your parents when you're born.

It's a name that you have and sometimes people don't like their name.

And other times, you know, they wish they had a different name or other things.

But the reality is you don't get to choose our name.

But we do choose what we do every day and what kind of name that we have.

You might not be able to choose your name,

but you definitely choose what is associated with your name.

What's associated with those things?

Because when people hear our name, what do they think about?

You know, when somebody hears your name in a conversation, what comes to mind?

That could be a good question to ask ourselves.

Because what it is, it represents what others perceive or understand about us.

In our name, the reputation that is built behind our name is important and it has value.

You know, consider, look over to Proverbs chapter 22 for a moment.

Proverbs 22 · chapter mention

Proverbs 22 in verse 1.

The Word of God tells us here something very important.

Here in Proverbs 22 in verse 1.

It says, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

You know, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

You know, that verse, we could spend some time just unpacking what's in there.

But the reality is, is you choose.

You have some choices that impact the reputation associated with your name.

Those things are clear.

You know, Ecclesiastes 7 says a good name is better than precious ointment.

You know, Proverbs 10, 7 says, the memory of the jest is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot.

You know, the Bible goes on.

There's many places in reference it speaks about your name and what it's talking about.

Is it just how you sign something, you know, or what the bank says ownership of something is?

When it's talking about a name, it has that reputation of what people think about when it's associated.

What comes with your name?

You know, because your name doesn't mean near as much as what the reputation is.

You know, really, Shakespeare spoke to this fact about what you call something when he said,

a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

In other words, a rose, you could change its name to whatever you want to change it to,

but it's not going to change what it is.

The same with our name.

What your name is isn't as important as the reputation and what's attached to it.

The things attached to your name.

No matter your name, it's secondary to the testimony that you have.

And we're going to look here, because this is the case with many of the characters here in Scripture,

that we don't know their names, but God, for some reason, has withheld their names from his record.

But the lessons they taught in their life are still living and instructing us today.

You know, the choices they make, you know.

So consider what Hebrews 11, 4 says.

Speaking of Abel, he says,

In being dead, yet speaketh.

You know, here's Abel, one of the first people on the earth that says,

Though he's dead, he still speaks.

The reputation, the things said about him, continue even today.

Many people know your name, or perhaps just a few,

but anything from your life will continue to speak long after your name is etched on a tombstone.

You know, you think about, we consider a lot of those from the past and what they have associated with them.

You know, think about the names that we have.

I mean, you have names and even history of our nation.

You know, when you mention the name of Abraham Lincoln, is there things associated with him?

I mean, he's dead and gone, but there's still things that speak about his life.

Or George Washington, or you could have a name, a number of, infinite number of people, you might say,

whose name still has an impact after it's on a tombstone.

Now, we need to realize sometimes that's a good name and sometimes it's a bad name.

You know, because both happen, don't they?

But we're going to look here at these ideas of a name,

because the first unnamed individual we're going to consider here is just a boy, just a lad, the Bible calls him.

His name's not given to us, but what he did, his generosity touched the lives of thousands of people.

Because we're going to talk about a boy who brought a lunch.

You know?

You know, and we don't know, you know, whether his mom made the lunch, or you don't know a lot.

We don't, we're not told anything about the lunch.

You know?

Maybe you remember in school, how many packed the lunch to school?

You know?

I mean, I think we can all do it.

You know, you remember you have a lunchbox or a bag, and your mom would write your name on it.

You know, to make sure it was identified as yours, you know?

And you had that name associated with that lunch.

And so nobody else would be mistaken about whose lunch it is.

But, you know, we understand the importance of a name.

But this lad here, even though he's not named, made a difference.

Because this lad here in John chapter 6 was carrying his five loaves and two small fishes, you know?

John 6 · chapter mention

And we understand that he was probably carrying it in something that he had brought with him.

And God used this unnamed boy to display a miraculous power associated.

Because this young man, this event here, is one of the few recorded in all four Gospels.

You know?

That's kind of like making the highlight reel, you know?

It's like when you're mentioned in all of them.

You know, here's this man with no name, this young man with no name that's mentioned in all of them.

And the multitudes went home that day full and satisfied, never even knowing the boy's name.

I mean, there's nothing about his name that we know, but there's much that we can talk about his character.

Because let's take a look here this morning in John chapter 6, here this morning.

John 6 · chapter mention

Because as we look here in John chapter 6, we'll pick up here in verse 1.

John 6 · chapter mention

It says,

You know, consider here as Jesus puts this, and we find something here about this little boy.

Anyway, his character, the boy's character stands out because Scripture doesn't record anything about this boy

other than the fact that he was there and he had a lunch.

I mean, that's not a whole lot of detail about somebody.

You know?

When you say you don't even know their name, but all you know is they had a lunch.

That's what they brought.

They're known for what they brought.

You know?

Now, when it comes to a potluck, sometimes that's good.

You know?

Some people make things, everybody wants to know who made it, you know?

And then they can pick that out.

But, you know, we see here he's looked here at, and he has a lunch.

But we're going to see something.

What he did here has something to do with his character.

Because we see the boy's character on display.

Because the choices he made reveal his character.

Because we see first thing that we find about his character that I think we can learn from

is that he had a right preparation.

He was prepared.

You know?

He came with what he knew he was going to need, you know?

That's the reason we, you know, he was a young lad.

I mean, that's one of those things you know he wasn't going to leave home without food.

If you've been around young boys, I guarantee you, they don't want to get very far from food.

You know?

That's just kind of a natural thing, isn't it?

You know?

They want to stay close to where the food is.

But he brings these five barley loaves and two small fishes.

And 5,000 men, plus the women and children, were sitting on that hillside for a good portion of the day.

And only one person still has food left.

You know, that's interesting.

Because I want you to understand what's going on here.

Because this one little boy in this entire crowd had a meal.

Now, I think we'll find there's a reason for that as you read through the Scripture.

God always answers the question of why these things are so.

And I think it was pretty logical why other people didn't have a meal left.

You know, when you read the account, you'll find those details.

But often we look forward to those moments that are kind of performance moments in life.

But there's been very little time preparing for moments.

We find this young man was prepared for the moment that he was going to be in.

He was prepared for those things.

He didn't even know what it was.

But yet he was prepared.

He didn't know why he had prepared.

You know, we don't know.

Maybe he left home with ten barley loaves and four fishes that morning and ate half of it.

You know, we don't know.

Like I said, there's a lot of things we're not told about this situation except for the fact that he had it.

That he was there.

He had a preparation.

And, you know, we understand that we want sometimes for God to use us.

But yet we don't come prepared.

You know, if you're not prepared, you're generally not going to be available to make things come about.

Preparation makes a big part in those things.

And when we neglect to prepare, especially even like today,

have you ever heard people come and I've heard this complaint about church sometimes?

Well, I just don't get anything out of it.

You know, part of the problem is preparation.

You know, sometimes people don't serve the Lord because they weren't prepared to serve the Lord.

They weren't prepared for those things, you know.

Think about Ezra in the Old Testament.

God used him to stir the people to revival.

But God didn't use a man who just lived his life wandering through it.

Look in the Old Testament.

Go over to Ezra chapter 7 for a moment.

Ezra 7 · chapter mention

Because Ezra chapter 7 gives us a good example here of this.

Ezra 7 · chapter mention

Ezra chapter 7.

Ezra 7 · chapter mention

And we find here in verse 10, it says,

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

So in other words, we see Ezra did what?

He prepared his heart.

Now, you might say, well, that's just for the exceptional.

Let's look at the opposite.

You know, because God also speaks exactly the opposite of this.

Look over to 2 Chronicles chapter 12 for a moment.

2 Chronicles 12 · chapter mention

2 Chronicles chapter 12.

2 Chronicles 12 · chapter mention

We find an individual here by the name of Rehoboam.

King of Israel.

Verse 14 of chapter 12 of 2 Chronicles says,

What a contrast.

You have Ezra that God used mightily because he had prepared his heart.

You have Rehoboam who did evil in the sight of God because why?

He didn't prepare.

Being prepared is important.

Because how we do is only as good as our preparation.

You know, when you consider the reality of preparation, you know,

we need to look at what ways do you want God to use you in your life,

both over the course of your lifetime and even this week.

And you need to ask, what do I need to be prepared for?

Because in order to be used, you have to be prepared.

You know, it's interesting.

There's a story about President Nixon talking to Winston Churchill.

If you know anything of history, Churchill was known for his speeches.

He would make these great speeches that seemed just like off the cuff.

But there's a record about Nixon asking Churchill's son,

and he told him how much he admired the prime minister's great ability at giving

experitaneous speeches.

And so Churchill's son replied, oh yes, I've watched my father work for hours preparing those.

You know?

In other words, what people thought was off the cuff

was actually what people thought was exceptional because he was prepared.

Nobody knew it, but few.

But he was prepared for what was going to happen.

He had the right preparation, but he was also in the right place.

Look at our text there in verse 9.

Look what it says.

It says, there is a lad here.

You know, to be in the right place.

You know, the Bible doesn't indicate that this boy was with anybody.

It doesn't say he was with his friends or his parents.

He appears to be there almost by himself

because there was many things he could have chosen to do,

but he found his way to where Jesus is.

I don't know about you, but young lads,

here's a young boy, basically when they're calling him a lad,

he's probably between 10 and 14 years old.

And I don't know about you, 10 and 14 year old boys

have a tendency to wander to places.

You know?

They kind of want to go and do,

but this boy thought it was important to be where Jesus was.

You know, to be where he needed to be

that was going to make a difference.

You know?

He had chosen to do the very thing

that was going to be beneficial.

You know?

Nobody drug him there.

You know, the Bible doesn't say anything,

but it says he was there.

He was here.

He was present where he was available.

You know, he didn't need to be drugged there.

He chose to be there.

You know, Joshua made a great example of this

in Joshua 24 and verse 15,

where it says,

If it seemed evil unto you to serve the Lord,

choose you this day whom you will serve.

You know, think about the reality.

This boy made a choice of where he was going to be.

I'm glad you made a choice this morning

to be here at church.

You know?

Being here makes a difference, you know?

We shouldn't take something to keep us away.

We ought to measure how much does it take

to keep us away from something.

It puts a priority on it.

You know?

Because sometimes it doesn't take much

to keep us from doing something.

You know?

And what's that tell us?

It's not very important.

The priority you put makes a difference

in that, in the choices that you make.

And so the best way to be a testimony

to those around you is to always be

where you should be on the Lord's day.

You know?

You know, it's funny.

I guarantee you this morning

your neighbors noted that you

shoveled the driveway and left.

Amen?

They make a note.

They may not say something,

but they made a note that you

got up

and left this morning.

That it was a Sunday morning.

It's something that they see you do

all the time.

You know, that makes a statement

of being where you ought to be.

It's fulfilling what God tells us

in Hebrews chapter 10,

Hebrews 10 · chapter mention

not forsaking the assembling

of ourselves together

as the manner of some ends,

but exhorting one another

and so much more

as you see the day approaching.

You know, to be in the right place,

to have the right preparation,

but also the right people.

You know, look here at verse 8

here in our text.

Notice what it says.

And one of his disciples, Andrew,

Simon Peter's brother,

said unto him,

There is a lad here.

You know?

When Jesus asked the disciples

to get food to feed the hungry people,

it just so happened

that the only person with food

was standing next to Andrew.

You think that was coincidence?

You know?

We find here that it tells us

that Jesus already knew

what he was going to do.

The Lord would have known

long before anyone got hungry

that the only food available

was that little boy's lunch,

and he was going to use it

to make the need.

He was going to use it

to provide what was needed,

and Jesus knew

the boy with the lunch

wouldn't get lost in the crowd.

He knew the boy wasn't just

looking for friends or activities

or trouble to get into.

The boy was there

looking to hear Jesus,

and Jesus knew the boy

was going to get as close

to someone

who was already close to Jesus.

You know?

When we associate ourselves

with the right kind of people,

we put ourselves in positions

where God can use us.

You know, who you associate with

makes a difference.

Here's this young lad

wanted to associate

with Andrew.

He wanted to be close

to one that was close to Jesus.

You know, the friends

that we make

make a difference.

You know, the Bible,

consider what Proverbs tells us.

Proverbs 13, 20,

says,

He that walketh with wise men

shall be wise,

but a companion of fools

shall be destroyed.

You know?

Who you choose

to hang out with

makes a difference.

It influences us

and influences others

also.

You know, God isn't looking

for people

who are sleeping in

on Sunday

or wasting their time

on the internet

to use it

for His work.

You know, people,

God uses people

who are willing

to be available

to be used,

that are looking

to be used,

that are in the right place,

prepared to do

the right things.

You know,

consider Psalm 1

in verse 1,

it says,

Blessed is the man

that walketh not

in the counsel

of the ungodly,

nor standeth

in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth

in the seat

of the scornful,

but his delight

is in the law

of the Lord,

and in His law

doth he meditate

day and night.

You know?

Being prepared

and being around

the right people

walketh not

after the counsel

of the ungodly.

You know?

You know,

when you're raising

your kids,

what's one thing

you tell them?

You need to be careful

with your friends

that you keep.

You know,

your friends

can get you in trouble.

You know?

I can tell you,

I've seen many people

who've gotten lives

messed up

because somebody

they hung out with

chose to do.

You could go down here

to the county jail

or the state jail

and they're going

to find people

in there

that are there

because of the people

they chose

to hang out with.

Because the people

they hung out with

did something

and they got put in jail

because they were

an accomplice to something.

because of the people

they hung out with.

I know people

personally who have

had jail issues

because of that.

Somebody they were with

stole something.

It was big enough

it was on a trailer

and they took

the whole trailer

and the guy said,

well,

they told me to pick it up

so he didn't think

anything about it

and he found out later

the guy stole it.

But since he was present,

guess what?

Accomplice.

The friends you keep

can have an impact.

If you want to have

an impact for God,

you need to hang around

people who are going

to have a godly impact.

To do those things.

You know,

he had the right patience.

You know,

as a kid,

do you ever eat your lunch

before lunchtime?

You know?

Yeah,

as a kid.

Jared's like,

glad mom's not here.

You know?

This miracle appears

to take place

sometime here

in the late afternoon

just before the people

were making their way home.

You know,

Matthew 14

tells us that

it was evening.

Luke 9 says

the day was wearing away.

In other words,

this is not lunchtime.

It's at the end of the day.

You know,

I think the reason

a lot of people

didn't have much left to eat

because they were there

all day

and what'd they do at lunch?

They ate their

lunch.

You know?

They'd already eaten

what they'd brought.

So now,

if the day is weary,

it's dragging on

and now they don't

have anything.

You know,

it's possible

there were other people

that day

who had brought food

and they'd already

eaten it

earlier in the day

which would make

logical sense

that that would happen.

You know,

as you're sitting there

and Jesus is speaking,

I imagine people

were munching,

you know,

it's just something

that people naturally do

especially if you're

someplace for a long time.

You know?

It comes natural.

It's just like us

when we hang out

we do what?

We eat.

You know?

Food is associated

with fellowship.

The two seem to tie together.

I don't care

who or what,

it's a human thing,

isn't it?

That those things

tie together

in what we do.

And so we realize,

you've probably noticed

in Scripture

and no doubt

in your own life,

that God's timing here

though is always perfect

because the boy

waited for the right time

and everyone experienced

the benefits

of him being

in the right place

at the right time

ready to serve

the Lord.

Because we understand

that God's timing

is always perfect.

He's never early

and he's certainly

never late.

God always provides

at the right time.

You know,

Ecclesiastes 3.1 says,

for everything there is

a season and a time

to every purpose

under heaven.

You know,

when we realize

that God's timing

is definitely different

from our timing.

You know,

that's one of the things

as a Christian,

as one that follows Christ,

you need to keep in mind

that God's timing

is not always our timing.

Or should I say,

our timing is not always

God's timing.

Might be a better way

of putting it.

We want to be on our time.

You know,

we want everything centered

about how we think

and what we want

and want to get

that accomplished.

You know,

but consider what Isaiah 55

tells us.

It says,

for my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways,

saith the Lord.

As for the heavens

are higher than the earth,

so are my ways

higher than your ways

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.

You know,

waiting on God

is important.

To know God's timing

and to wait

and to see God work

because when we prepare

yourself

for what God would have,

you know,

that's preparing

by spending time

with Him,

being in the right place,

staying faithful

in your home

and in church,

fellowship with the right people,

make good and godly friends

who will encourage you

spiritually

and then let God work

because those things

play out

and you know,

we see here

that these four priorities

are part

of your character.

God's going to use you.

You know,

when you see the character

of this young man,

when you have

that same character,

God can use you.

When you're prepared

in the right place,

ready for the right things

and have the patience

to wait upon God

to do it.

You know,

Psalm 37, 7 says,

rest in the Lord

and wait patiently

for Him.

So we see the boy's character

but we also

see the boy's charity.

See the boy's charity.

when they say

that the weight

of a man's heart

is through his stomach,

I would add

the way to know

a little boy's heart

is to see what he does

with his lunch.

You know,

because think about this,

here's a young boy

that was just as hungry

as everybody else

but he was willing

to give it.

That makes an interesting

statement, doesn't it?

Because this young man,

Jesus used

the little boy's generosity

to reach the hearts

and minds

of 5,000 men

plus women and children

as they got their

stomachs filled

from what Jesus made

from a small meal.

I want you to notice here

he gave willingly.

You know,

that's important.

The willingness

of giving.

You know,

we don't know

if Andrew asked

the boy for his lunch

or if the boy

offered it on his own

but the very least

we know

there was no resistance

on the part of this boy,

no desire for negotiation,

no what's-in-it-for-me attitude.

The Bible says

that he was willing

to give.

You know,

think about how would

this story have been different

if the boy wouldn't

have been willing to give?

Would have turned

the whole thing around,

wouldn't it?

His charity,

his desire,

his boy gave his lunch

willing to see

what God would do.

You know,

willing to say,

hey,

this is what I have.

What can God do with it?

You know,

sometimes I think

we begin to withhold

from God

things thinking

what we want to do

with it

and saying,

God,

this is what I have.

What can you do with it?

This is what I have

available

for you to use.

Because sometimes

we hold back

from God

thinking we need it

when God says,

look what I can do

if you're willing

to give.

What are you trying

to negotiate?

Have you ever

tried to negotiate

with God?

I won't ask

for a raise of hands.

That seems to be

something else.

You know,

well,

Lord,

if I give this,

I expect this.

You know,

people do it often.

I would venture

to say we're probably

all guilty

at one point

or another.

That you try

to negotiate

with God.

You say,

well,

what do people,

I guarantee you,

I've seen it

over the years.

I've seen people

as soon as life

gets turned upside down,

they show back up

at church saying,

God,

I'm going to get

back in church.

You just make

everything right.

Yeah,

you might be doing

something right,

but you're not

doing it for the

right reason.

You're not doing

it because you

love the Lord.

You're doing it

because you're

trying to negotiate.

You're trying

to manipulate.

That's not being

willing to do

what God's asked

you to do.

You know,

we talk about

people willing

to give.

I mean,

when you consider

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

where the apostle

Paul talks about

the churches

of Macedonia

and he makes

a statement,

he says,

out of their

deep poverty

they were willing

to give,

it wasn't

out of their

abundance,

it wasn't

out of the

fact that

they had

surplus.

Paul makes

a note

there in

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8,

look over there

in 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

and down in

verse 1,

it says,

moreover,

brethren,

we do you

to wit

of the grace

of God

bestowed upon

the churches

of Macedonia

how that in

great trial

of affliction

the abundance

of their joy

and their deep

poverty abounded

under the riches

of their liberality.

For to their

power I bear

record,

yea,

and beyond

their power

they were

willing of

themselves.

I mean,

think about

the reality

of that passage

when it says

that they

didn't give

to the saints

that were

suffering in

Jerusalem

with full

pockets,

they gave

knowing it

was going

to cost

them something

too.

They were

willing to

give the

goodness

and the

blessing

of God

awaits

believers

who have

a willing

heart.

You know,

stinginess

and stubbornness

always have

a bitter

end.

You know,

look at

Isaiah chapter

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

1 for a

moment.

Isaiah chapter

Isaiah 1:19

1 verse 19

tells us this,

if you be

willing and

obedient you

shall eat

the good

of the land

but if you

refuse and

rebel you

shall be

devoured

with the

sword for

the mouth

of the

Lord hath

spoken it.

But notice

that if you

be what?

Willing

and obedient.

That's

important.

He gave

willingly.

He was

willing and

obedient but

he also

gave wholly

or completely.

This boy

had given

three loaves

and one

fish.

You know,

he very easily

could have

gave smaller

amount.

I mean,

you think about

that of what

was happening.

He said he

had five loaves

and two

fishes.

He could have

said,

hey,

I'll trade

this in here.

I'll give you

half of it

or at least

some of it.

You know,

that's pretty

generous.

You know,

but he

didn't,

even though I

believe the

Lord could have

fed them

all on

whatever the

boy gave.

Matter of

fact,

Jesus had

already proved

he could

feed them

without

anything.

I mean,

here's the

one that

spoke creation

in that the

process of

what he was

doing wasn't

the issue.

I mean,

Jesus could

have fed

the whole

crowd without

the boy,

but he

wanted to,

he already

knew what

he was going

to do and

there was a

purpose behind

it.

You know,

he wasn't

generous with

the lesser

amount.

He made

the entire

dynamic.

He was

willing to

give it

to the

Lord.

He's willing

to give

all.

You know,

sometimes I

think instead

of like this

boy,

we like to

hold things

back from

God.

To say,

God,

you can have

this part

and this

part,

but not

this part

of my

life.

We want

to hold

things back

instead of

God,

I want to

give it

all to

you.

So often

we focus

on what

we are

giving

God,

but God

really is

more focused

on what

we are

keeping.

What are

we holding

back?

What are

we keeping

from him?

You know,

consider the

importance of

this.

If you

remember back

in 1 Kings

1 Kings 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3,

a pretty

famous passage

of scripture

where you

have Solomon

has two

harlots who

lived in the

same house

and each

had given

birth to

a son.

And a few

days apart,

one of the

babies died

in the night.

So the

mother of the

dead baby

exchanged the

two children

when the

other mother

woke up

to feed

her son

and he

was dead

but upon

further

examination

she realized

that it

was not

her son

and there

was an

argument

and exchange

that took

place.

And so we

find here

that they

come before

King Solomon

and when

the matter

was brought

before King

Solomon he

declared divide

the living

child in two

and give

half to the

one and

half to the

other.

You know?

Now that

would have

been great

advice if you

were talking

about the

apple pie or

the gallon

of ice cream.

you know?

But I want

you to

understand

this was a

living human

being but

notice the

response.

The mother

was very

willing to

say I

would much

rather I

will give

him up

if he

lives.

She's willing

to give

everything for

the sake

of another.

You know?

Because a

divided baby

is no baby

and guess

what?

A divided

life is no

life.

God doesn't

desire just

to be part

of our

life or a

few hours

on Sunday.

He desires

our whole

self.

He desires

all of us.

You know?

Consider

Deuteronomy

5 and

or excuse me

Deuteronomy

6 and

verse 5

where it

says thou

shalt love

the Lord

thy God

with all

thy heart

with all

thy soul

and with

all thy

might.

The key

word there

is all.

Not

some

but all.

He gave

willingly,

he gave

wholly,

he gave

wisely.

You know?

Verse 12

there in

John chapter

John 6 · chapter mention

6 says when

they were

filled.

You know,

what a great

decision this

turned out to

be for the

little boy.

You know,

in verse 12

certainly would

have included

the little

boy.

He was

filled right

along with

the rest

of the

multitude.

In other

words,

he was willing

to give

all and

still got

everything

he wanted.

You know?

Everything

for the meal

he left

full.

He didn't

lack

anything

by giving

all to

the Lord.

You know?

This little

boy

was willing

to give

to the

Lord and

was willing

and received

in return

his stomach

was full.

You know?

This is a

better deal

than the buffet.

He gave

what he had

and got

far more.

it's a

principle

that we

can realize

because God

will always

do more

with what

we give

him

than we

could have

done with

it ourselves.

God

promises to

give more

than we

give.

It's not

merely a

promise about

our money

but it's

a surety

with respect

to our

time,

our talents,

our treasures,

and everything

that we

possess.

You know,

look over

in Luke

Luke 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6.

Luke chapter 6

Luke 6 · chapter mention

in verse 38

tells us this.

It says,

give and it

shall be

given unto

you.

Good measure

pressed down,

shaken together,

and running

over shall men

give into your

bosom.

For with the

same measure

that you meet

with all,

it shall be

measured to

you again.

Now,

I like to

call this

verse the

scoop shovel

effect.

You know,

the size

shovel you

choose to

give to

God is

the same

size as

the shovel

he uses

to give

back.

Because,

you know,

sometimes,

you know,

it's kind of

like in the

kitchen,

you know,

certain things

you only want

a small bit

of.

You know,

have you ever

seen them

little grapefruit

spoons?

You know,

how many know

what a

grapefruit

spoon is?

It's that

little dinky

spoon with

the serrated

edges on

the side

of it,

and that's

so you can

dig the

grapefruit

out of

there.

You know,

then you

have a

tablespoon

and teaspoons

and what's

unique about

all the

different spoons,

there's what,

they're all

different sizes

for different

purposes.

you know,

now certain

things you

like,

you know,

when you're

eating ice

cream,

you don't

want to

have a

grapefruit

spoon.

You know,

most people,

I've seen

very few

people deal

out ice

cream with

a grapefruit

spoon.

Most of

them get

an ice

cream scoop.

Have you

ever noticed

that's one of

the biggest

spoons in

the drawer?

They're usually

broad and

wide and,

you know,

what this

verse is

saying,

what spoon

you want

to get

out,

to give

to God,

God's

going to

in turn

use that

same size

spoon.

You know,

if you use

a grapefruit

spoon,

you don't

get a

whole lot.

Use an

ice cream

scoop,

you have

a lot.

Very simple.

It's a

great picture.

You know,

when we

understand of

what we

have,

because in

our life,

our time,

our talents,

our treasures,

are really

caught up in

this little

boy's lunch

as a picture.

Because what

are we willing

to give

to the

Lord?

Because what

we have

there is a

decision,

are you

going to

keep it,

or are

you going

to give

it?

The question

is are we

going to

give it

to the

one who

provided it

in the first

place,

and watch

him multiply

and bless

it,

and not

only for

our benefit,

for the

benefit of

the multitude

around.

You know,

this young

boy,

we don't

even know

his name,

but he

benefited

thousands

of people,

because he

was willing

to give.

He was

willing to

give.

You know,

so if we

want to

reap those

blessings,

let us

take a

lesson from

this boy.

We need

to prepare

ourselves to

be used

of the

Lord,

you know,

to invest

our time

seeking him

through his

word and

spending time

in prayer.

You know,

we need to

be in the

right place.

We need to

be,

let's speak

of being

faithful in

our homes

and serving

the Lord

and being

in church,

being where

we ought

to be.

You know,

do we need

to seek

fellowship

with people

who are

already close

to the

Lord?

We need

to patiently

trust his

plan and

his timing,

and we need

to be prepared

ourselves in

the ways that

we will prepare

to give at

the right time.

Our heart

will be prepared

to give as

this boy did

willingly,

wholly,

and wisely

for the

Lord.

You know,

this morning

it's a good

time to ask

ourselves as we

enter into a

new year,

are you

withholding

something of

your life

from God?

Are you

willing to

trust that

he could do

more with

it than

you could?

You know,

we need to

consider,

will we

ask God

to take

what little

we have

and do

something

big?

So I

believe God

can take

little things

that we're

willing to

give and

do big

things that

not only

impact us,

but impact

thousands of

others.

This little

boy with

no name

brings forth

that very

principle.

Something to

consider as we

enter a new

year.

Is there

something you're

holding back

from God

that you need

to give?

Turn over to

him in your

life.

Let's pray.

Heavenly

Father,

as we

just

humbly

come before

you this

morning.

Amen.

Amen.