A Boy And His Lunch

Being in the spotlight seems easier today than ever before.

The recipe to this microwavable success is as simple as uploading a video on YouTube, TikTok, or the Gram and within minutes watching it viral out of control, launching you into the atmosphere of instant fame.

Maybe this is an overgeneralization, but the fact remains. Technology has made a small world smaller and stardom within reach of anyone with a smartphone.

In an age where most want to be standouts, one of the most sobering reminders of what true overnight success looks like comes from scripture.

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many? — John 6:9

It’s one of the most recognized miracles performed by Jesus, and it is made possible because of one unnamed boy.

It’s hard for me to imagine in the middle of the masses; no one else brought a meal for the day. Church folks like to eat! Yet, only one boy steps up with the vision and faith to believe all he has is more than enough for Jesus.

Millennials, GenX, and let’s be honest, most of humanity today are fixated on dreaming of, discovering, and doing the next “BIG” thing. However, one of the biggest miracles performed came from an average boy with his ordinary lunch.

Is it possible in our strivings for success, we have overlooked ordinary opportunities to make everyday differences?

Here are 4 lessons we can learn from a boy and his lunch:

1. Show up

So many of us are searching for success that we fail to show up and serve where we are.

Being planted and present where you are will help you see the opportunities in front of you. So instead of looking for the next. Let’s focus on now and who is in our line of sight today.

After all, tomorrow will take care of itself. So why not show up today?

2. Give what you have

It’s easy to see what we’ve been given and think it’s not enough. Making a difference in life has less to do with the “what”, and more to do with the “willing”.

Being willing is always the precursor to greatness with God.

3. Never compare

I imagine it would have been easy for our boy hero to have looked around his surroundings and excused his way out of giving because others had more or better in their hands.

Comparison is a quiet killer of opportunity. The antidote to this poison is twofold. Celebrate and concentrate:

Celebrate the gifts and blessings in others.

Concentrate on the gifts and blessings in yours.

4. Have faith

Questions will always come when you step out to make a difference. Not everyone can understand the how of your hope.

As the saying goes, little is much in the hands of God.

Truth leads to trusting God will perform His promises because of His character. Faith may not answer every question, but it gives us the answers we need.

Perhaps the best thing we can do is stop trying to become stars and be ok with being servants.

I think about the boy who offered his lunch and the lives impacted by his act. I dare to guess most of us have more than five loaves and two fish to serve others with, but even if you don’t. You still have something.

And a willingness to share something is all you need to change everything.