For ten years after college, I worked as a campus minister. So, my income depended on the sacrificial giving of others. For those ten years, I saw God meet my every need. And for the next ten years, I wondered if God would meet my need again. I wish this struggle ended when I got another job or when my wife got promoted. But no matter how my circumstances change, I still wonder if God will be there for me.
John 6:22-34
The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw there had been only one boat. They also saw that Jesus had not boarded the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone off alone. Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.” “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus fed the crowd, turned down their demand to lead a political revolution, and walked across the Sea of Galilee to continue his ministry elsewhere. I've quietly snuck out of parties to avoid talking to someone, but Jesus' exit is in a category of its own. Nevertheless, the crowd sends out search parties until they find him in Capernaum. At first glance, they appear willing to learn from him. They call him rabbi, ask him questions, and beg him for help. But Jesus sees what they cannot. They will do or say whatever they think Jesus wants, but only if he delivers on his end of the bargain: You have to give us what we want. Imagine going to a Falcons game and Arthur Blank shows up to pay the bill for everyone in attendance. The next day, everyone goes to his house to ask what he's serving for dinner. Likewise, this crowd has just witnessed Jesus feeding many thousands of people with a peasant boy's barley loaves, and now they're asking if he can do any miracles. They want more, more, more. "Sir, give us this bread always." It sounds like the prayer Jesus taught his disciples: "Give us this day, our daily bread." And it sounds like my daily prayers. "God, help me figure out the bills." "Help me not feel lonely tonight." It's transactional. It's almost an absurd encounter: God is standing in front of them, offering them friendship, and all they can think about is getting another barley loaf. Jesus tells them they're surviving on bread but missing the point of living. It's not that he doesn't care about their practical needs. He just fed them so much food that there were baskets of it left over. When a DoorDash arrives at my house, I want my food, not a conversation. But what if God was hand-delivering the meal, and I slammed the door in his face? At every turn, Jesus refuses their transactional approach. His true character is self-giving, sacrificial love. So, it's impossible for him to trade favors for applause. He invites us to be his friends.
When you pray, are you asking God for a delivery or a relationship?
Have you ever seen God provide for you, but you still felt anxious about the future?
Think about a relationship where you felt loved for who you are, not what you do. What would it look like to have that kind of relationship with God?
Take five minutes to thank God for how he has already met your needs. Then, ask God to give you his life, that you might love him for who he is. If you're reading this with a friend, ask them if they feel like they use God or love God.
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