Matthew 14:14-21

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”  But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”  And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”  He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.  Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Fundamental No. 1 – Seeing the Need & Having Compassion

Christ’s example:

• Sensitivity to the need
• Compassion for the need

Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many

Disciple’s example

• Aware of the need
• Resources inadequate for the need

Fundamental No. 2 – Being Willing to Minister

Christ’s command

Matt. 16:24-25 – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Luke 12:33 – Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

Galatians 6:9-10 -And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Disciples response – “We have little to give”

Fundamental No. 3 – Looking to Christ for the Resources

Disciple’s Example – they brought what they had to Christ.

Prov. 3:9 – Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase.

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

1 Corinthians 16:2 – On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:  “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

Christ’s Example

• He took what was available
• He thanked God for what was available
• He used what was available
• He trusted God to do the rest

 Disciple’s Part

• To share what they had
• To be wise with what they had