Inadequacy

Bible In A Year | Read: Luke 9

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Luke 9:12-17

Overview of Chapter

Jesus takes a number of steps to strengthen his followers. He sends them out for ministry on their own; asks them about who he is; prepares them for his death; and challenges their pride and willingness to sacrifice for him. Despite their time with Jesus, their maturation is still incomplete.

Many become impatient with themselves and their own failings. Yet our development has been overseen by leaders far more flawed than Jesus. When we fail to “get it” sometimes, we need to realize we aren’t alone.

Thoughts on the verses

There are so many moments we don’t feel like we’re enough. You might feel that way when you look at your bank account or check your grades. It happens a lot when we compare ourselves with others and it seems that they are doing so much better than us. When we feel like we don’t measure up, we’re being boxed in by our inadequacies. 

In one of the most epic scenes in Luke, a large crowd of over 5,000 people gathered to hear Jesus teach. As the day went on, the disciples quickly realized they had inadequate food supplies. They tried to put the problem off on someone else by sending them away. But Jesus had a different approach. He asked them to take an account of what they did have. He took what they had, miraculously multiplied it, took care of everyone present, and left them fully satisfied.

Feeling inadequate can actually be a good thing if we let it lead us to Jesus. When we look to achievement, accumulation, or anything other than Jesus for our soul’s satisfaction and significance, we will always box ourselves in with inadequacy. They can’t satisfy. They’re not enough. But Jesus is enough. We can take our ‘not enough’ to Him and watch Him do a miraculous work in us as he satisfies our every need.

Action Steps

Bible: What is God showing me?  What am I going to do about it? 

Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.