Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–31)
One of the most talked about miracles of Jesus is his feeding five thousand people from five loaves of bread and two fish. Imagine being there, listening to Jesus powerfully preach with thousands of other people. It was lunchtime and everyone was hungry and cranky (hangry, if you will); the people needed to eat! But all there was to eat was a small basket of five loaves of bread and two fish from a little boy. That boy willingly offered up his small lunch to Jesus. He didn’t have enough, but what he had he gave to Jesus, trusting that he would use it for good.
We don’t know what resources our kids will have when they grow up. No matter what they have, God calls them to be generous with it. God is in the business of multiplying.
Whatever we have to offer God, he will multiply it. Whether that’s our financial resources, serving others, encouraging others, or spreading the gospel, he will take what we have capacity to give, and he will make it even more. This work requires trust and sacrifice from us; we have to give it away for God to use it. But it is not dependent on our efforts. It’s not our efforts or resources that will change lives and bring people to Jesus; it is God working through our efforts and resources.
Let’s pray that our kids are generous with their resources and giftings so that God can work through them to expand his kingdom.
Jesus, thank you for taking care of us. I pray that __________ will view their resources and gifts as a blessing from you and hold them loosely, knowing that if they offer them up to you, you will multiply them and bring more people to you. May they always remember that there are no small parts in God’s kingdom. Amen.
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