AMPLE

God is a specialist in what is ample and will supply a given need. I think the biblical record demonstrates this reality. But I think it also shows how many times man didn’t always look at things from the standpoint of it being ample.

In reality being human we all I think love to define things by whatever prevailing logic fits our frame of reference. And speaking for myself I can identify with the apostles for example when Jesus fed the five thousand using only two loaves and five fish. I think if I had been there and was passing out the broken portions I would have been wondering how long before my pouch was empty too.

If there is one thing I do appreciate it is that God, being God, isn’t bound by our limitations. He can make anything “ample” if it is his will.

In most situations I think he does work those miracles of provision in which he adds to our resources to meet our needs. Not to be too ludicrous here, but let’s face it if God was to miraculous add money to our bank account we probably would end up having some very big explaining to do to the bank as well as the IRS!

So there is wisdom is most situations for God to do things naturally and miraculous if the situation demands. But there are also those times when I think as in the biblical record he works his will in a way to help remind us that with him all things are possible. And thus we should just look to miracles for solutions.

Ample can be whatever we have with the Lord. This can be such an important lesson if we have trouble seeing God doing something through us because we don’t feel able.

The only tragedy in such situations is when we don’t grant the Lord the sovereignty of be able to work his will because we just can envision it as possible in our situation. That is I think part of the message with the parable of the servants and the talents. It wasn’t the lack of success for the one talent servant that matter it was his unwillingness to even try.

Which is the question each of us has to ask from time to time. Perhaps God is tugging at our elbow to serve him in some way. But we know ourselves and say, “I don’t have the ability to do that.” Deep down of course sometimes we might be thinking, “Hey if I try this I’m going to blow it and I can’t handle that kind of embarrassment.”

With the Lord faith is the key to his doorway. We are to trust him when his spirit nudges us in some direction. But the end results are in the Lord’s hands.

He never guarantees us that being obedient would mean success. Nor does he guarantee us that the little we have, which he wants us to use in a given situation will be added to just because we want the less than ample ability or resource as an excuse for not trying.

Hopefully we can obey the Lord and trust him to do the work as he desires. And if in our hearts he tells us what we have to be used in a given way will be ample, then we have to use it regardless of how much our mind says it isn’t enough. It is to have the peace of heart to know we were obedient regardless of the results.