Rev. Rev. Arun Andrews
7th February 2010 

The dictionary defines the term ‘investment’ in the following way. “Investment is a devoting, using, or giving of time, talent, emotional energy, etc., as for a purpose or to achieve something”. Through all our interactions with other people, either in word or deed, we are investing in them. Our investments can either build them up or tear them down. Our Lord Jesus is a big investor. He invested into the lives of 12 disciples, and they ultimately went on the start the biggest movement that history has ever seen. It is still going strong thousands of years later. Our Lord Jesus is investing in us even today. He thinks you are worth His investment!

The Gospel of John and chapter 6, verses 1-13, describes an incident where Jesus reached out and invested in the life of a young boy. But there was a background against which He did it. The incident took place at a time of scarcity, specifically the following scarcities.

1. Scarcity of Love (Matthew 14:15) - The disciples suggested to Jesus that He send the crowds away so that they could go into the nearby villages and buy themselves some food. They may have been hungry or tired but it is clear from this account of the incident, that the disciples did not have the Father’s heart for the crowds. In the world today we see different types of love. There is the common give-and-take-love, the increasingly common take-and-take-love and the dwindling give-it-all-love. John 3:16 epitomizes this give-it-all-love. The scarcity of love indicates our need for a divine love. Jesus said greater love had no man than this, that He gave His life for his friends. Jesus is the embodiment of divine love.
2. Scarcity of Resources (John 6:8) – In a world of adult problems, adult economics, only a young boy had a solution. The boy had 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. ‘Barley’ was the food of the poor people in those times. Martin Luther said “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that, I still possess”. Scarcity of resources indicates our need for divine resources. In John 6:35 Jesus said ‘I am the bread of life’. Jesus is the embodiment of divine provision.
3. Scarcity of faith – To Andrew, the disciple, the offering that the boy brought in, was insufficient. To Jesus, it was incredible. To Andrew the offering was too small. To Jesus, it was sufficient. To Andrew, the situation spoke of limitations. To Jesus, it spoke of opportunity. In this day and age where skepticism abounds, the believer is bombarded with arguments against the concept of faith. Ravi Zacharias says Christian faith is not a leap in the dark, it is a well placed trust in the light of the world, Jesus. Scarcity of faith indicates our need for divine revelation. John 1:9. Jesus is the embodiment of divine revelation.
   Doubt sees the obstacles, faith sees the way;
   Doubt sees the darkest night, faith sees the day;
   Doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high;
   Doubt questions ‘who believes?’ Faith answers ‘I’.

Jesus invested in the boy, as He invests in us today. He gave him

1. Security – Jesus accepted him and says to him ‘You are welcome, come to Me’
2. Significance – Jesus says to him, ‘You are precious’.
3. Self-worth – It is not what you do not have, but what you have that matters; It is not who you are not, but who you are. It is not a big faith, but faith in a big God that matters. Faith is not belief without proof, it is trust without reservation. Trust in a God who has proved Himself worthy of our trust and love.