| Some years ago, we got an auditor to look into the books for our Ministry. Afterwards, while discussing his observations, he explained that he could not trace some of our assets to our cash and bank statements. For instance, he saw a PC added to the receptionist’s office during the year, but he couldn’t find documentation of approval for this “expense” by the Executives or how money was appropriated for it. Given my knowledge of accounting, I knew he was making sense but, with my knowledge of the spiritual operations in our Ministry and the lives of believers who walk with God; there was a greater sense that needed to be explained.
In John Chapter 6, we read that Jesus fed about 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Imagine that this was recorded in the Board minutes of Jesus’ Ministry; then imagine his auditors later questioning him – “Sir, we read that your Ministry fed 5000 men at a crusade in the period under review, however, we could not trace this expense to your bank statements. Could you please explain this?” Or “Sir, you have a receipt for tax remitted by your Ministry to Caesar that cannot be traced to your cash/bank statements as well?” I pondered on this and many more ‘financial accounting’ issues the auditors would have needed to clear with Jesus’ Ministry.
I explained to the auditor that the PC was a donation from one of our Partners in addition to some other things we had obtained legitimately without cash. I believe that such “issues” should not be limited to ministries. In the same way the Holy Spirit transported Phillip from Jerusalem/Gaza road to Azotus as recorded in Acts 8, believers can get legitimate results that may not be traced to their bank/cash statements. The reason that many of us do not see such supply in our lives is because we have erroneously trained our minds not to expect things that our monies cannot afford. We have learnt to depend on our salaries/ income. Jesus deliberately confronted this mindset when he fed 5000 people. Let’s read John 6:5-7 in the Cotemporary English Version.
“When Jesus saw the large crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we get enough food to feed all these people?” He said this to test Philip, since he already knew what he was going to do. Philip answered, “Don’t you know that it would take almost a year’s wages just to buy only a little bread for each of these people?”
Philip behaved like many believers do today. He saw a need and the first thing he evaluated was money and salary. But if Jesus had reasoned like Philip, then that miracle would not have seen the light of day. God never promised to supply our needs according to our salaries and bank accounts. The formula remains – my God shall supply your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). You need to build a house? It’s not compulsory that it take place 5 years from now, based on your projected income. You need to pay your children school fees and you just lost your job? There is great hope because your needs were not meant to be met according to your job supplies anyway.
Let’s adjust our mindsets. God is our source and we should worry less about the means He chooses to reach out to us. So long as you are on the same page with God regarding a need that must be met, supply is bound to follow. I believe there will always be a need in your life or a dream in your heart that will be bigger than your current cash/bank balance, so that you can experience this blessedness in Christianity. I’m not suggesting or implying that you resort to dishonest means or choose to remain idle. Like the example of our auditor, you may not be able to trace it to your cash and bank accounts, but I bet you would never have issues explaining the miracle.
– Tope S. Aladenusi |
“When I fed the five loaves to the five thousand…
When I fed the seven loaves to the four thousand…
…were there not left-overs?”
Jesus had demonstrated his ability to more than supply human needs on these two different occasions in the presence of His disciples. Yet, they (the disciples) were worried about not having bread for their trip and worse still, they misinterpreted Jesus warning about the teaching of the Pharisees to be a rebuke for their forgetfulness to take bread along for the trip!
The master of the universe, El-shaddai, the multi-breasted one- God who is more than enough was saying to them here- “remember the occasions of old when I made provisions for human needs out of nothing?”
The baskets of left-overs which Jesus instructed them to collect after the miracles of feeding so many was considered insignificantly small by the disciples though they were meant to serve as monuments; reminders of God’s mighty power. They were never supposed to doubt His ability to meet their needs; yet, here they were like many of us being very anxious and worried over bread. They had the fountain, the bread of life with them and they were worrying about the supply of bread, while Jesus wanted their hearts on more spiritual things. How could they have taught that He whose meat was to do the will of the Father was rebuking them for bread? However, we all fall into this error many times, rather than trust God to supply our physical needs while we learn spiritual truths at His feet; we beg and plead for crumbs forgetting that we are children and ALL that our Father has is ours! At moments, when we forget the works of God, and distrust the ability of our King, displaying no faith, we ought to chide ourselves like Jesus did his disciples.
This year, stay in the place of trust in God for your needs and that of your family as a whole; do not waste useful time debating whose fault it is that there is just one loaf of bread when you have the chief-multiplier who has proved himself more than sufficient on your side. Instead, take the spiritual lessons He’ll have you learn and stop being so physical in your reasoning. Think more than enough at all times, because our God is more than able to take care of you and any deficiency you may perceive in your life and he’ll rather have you in the place of worship and receptivity to his voice than hearing your groaning for what He’s already provided. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees who care more for physical appearances than what is on the inside, take time to get rooted and built up in the grace that’s for you in Christ so you can be a greater blessing to all around you.
Scripture references: Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-21, 1Timothy 6:17-19, Romans 8:32, Colossians 2:6,7
-Dr ifelayo ojo