Enough for Missions?

Harold C. Loucks (January, 2003)

Philip and Andrew both faced a classic mission problem. The Lord Jesus had just requested that they feed five thousand men and their families (Luke 9:13); however, there was not enough human resources to meet the need. The accountant-minded Philip understood that their limited financial resources would never be sufficient to buy enough food to satisfy that many people (John 6:7). The practical-minded Andrew echoed the same sentiments when he knew a little boy's lunch could never compare to the overwhelming need (John 6:9). However, the Sovereign-minded Lord requested that the insignificant amount of food be surrendered to Him (Matthew 14:18). The limited resources thus became more than enough for the task of feeding such a multitude. From this well-known miracle, each of us -- pastors, churches, mission boards, and congregations -- can encounter, assess, and resolve today's mission crisis.

By confronting this obstacle of not having the means to support all the missionaries whom the Lord calls to the regions beyond, we immediately recognize that the vast multitudes have yet to hear of Jesus for the first time. Accordingly, there are many in this country who have heard, but they need to hear again of salvation in hopes that they will come to Christ. The Lord commands that we take the Gospel to all the world. They are without the Bread of Life, and He directs us to "Give them to eat" (Luke 9:13). In respect to the Great Commission, many people answer the call to go to distant lands but lack the financial means. It rightfully falls upon the church to send them. At this point, we echo the cries of Philip and Andrew that our mission resources are "not sufficient for them."

While analyzing this quandary of what we can do about our lack of finances, we regretfully acknowledge that money and current budgets only stretch so far. Obviously, pastors and church members have to turn missionaries away. Missionaries sympathetically understand that churches can only support so many families regardless of the size of the mission giving and faith promise in that church. Furthermore, the pastors and churches face many other financial concerns such as a Christian school, additional staff members, and building needs. Then to add to the pressures of giving, some families lose their income due to economic changes that seemingly are all too prevalent in today's society. However, in the final analysis, it is still the reality of not having enough human resources to meet the ever-increasing burden of world missions.

In correcting this dilemma of not having enough to go around, we must prayerfully review the lessons before us in this miraculous feeding. The Lord had His disciples take up a willing offering (Mark 6:38), surrender it to His control, and wait upon Him to reproduce it beyond expectation. If missions is truly the heartbeat of God, then herein lies the key to solve the mission question. You present yourself in dedication to the Lord (II Cor. 8:5) and then ask what He would have you do for missions. By doing this, you are offering what limited resources you are able to devote and are patiently waiting upon the Lord to enlarge your giving. If the Lord can multiply five loaves and two small fishes into a banquet for thousands of people, then surely He can increase your giving to faithfully support more missionaries. In other words, we can take up the challenge to exercise our faith, fervently pray, and trust the Lord to multiply our mission giving which will result in seeing the needs met.

In reality, there has always been enough for missions because our Heavenly Father "owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth in every mine." Missionaries must never be discouraged because a church has to forego supporting them; pastors and churches need not apologize because they do not have extra money to provide for a new missionary. Each current mission project becomes a unique opportunity for us to exercise our faith for the Lord in this giving endeavor. By lessons from the feeding of the five thousand, we have faced, evaluated, and solved this classic missionary problem. The Lord will transform it all into a timeless blessing by multiplying our limited resources so that many more missionaries can receive their needed support and go where God has called them.