Imagine we are at the beach with friends and family, having a BBQ. Everyone we invited brought an unexpected guest, making the party a lot bigger than we thought. The last thing you want is to be thought of as a bad host and you are worried that your guests will think you stingy. Is there enough food to go around? The anxiety passes, as you realize that you bought more than enough food, and several of the guests also brought something to share. People are having fun, taking what they need, and are paying much more attention to the beautiful sunshine, the warm sand, and the sound of the waves. Ultimately, there is plenty of food to go around and you even have some leftovers to take home. The most profound Biblical story of abundance and generosity, the story of the loaves and fishes is also one of the most accessible and popular of all the miracles Jesus performed. In fact, the story of the loaves and fishes is the only miracle to appear in all of the gospels—something that clearly indicates its importance. When viewed in light of an earlier event in which Elisha distributed loaves of bread during a time of famine, we can learn...

Whereas Elisha had an abundance of bread to distribute, Jesus worked with only a few loaves, which he miraculously multiplied into a quantity sufficient to feed the masses. Both Elisha and Jesus think of others, and how they can participate in prospering others rather than themselves. One of the central lessons to be learned from these miracles is that when we are generous with others, abundance also flows to us. This is a spiritual law, which is clearly repeated and outlined throughout scripture to underline its importance. Having faith in God means knowing that even when times seem tough, God always does provide. In both the Old and New Testament, we see God provides more than enough.
It is also important to point out that when Jesus performs the miracle of the loaves and fishes, it was read as a clear sign that he was the Messiah. The material world can often be a gauge of God’s love for us, encouraging us to always have faith, particularly when we…