When I was writing my last post about going back to work for an encore performance, I was also thinking about how this encore might be the best season yet. During the past four years, my income has decreased, but, with a pension and a new salary, I’m headed into a time of abundance. Like the disciples who collected leftovers after a miraculous feeding of thousands, I’ve been wondering if my baskets are ready for a time of abundance.
My Mysterious Mind
As congregational president of a small church, I have felt compelled to tell them, “Abundance is coming! We need to get ready.” I have used this message to encourage the strengthening of organizational infrastructure, clarification or policies and procedures, and delineation of regular tasks. Using the metaphor of a house in need of preparation for guests, I have prompted a great deal of work, all done by a faithful and hardworking group of members.
Recently, that message grew stronger in my spirit, but I don’t think it was just about our little church. The directive was personally aimed at me and my life. “Abundance is coming! You need to get ready.”
I officially started my new job on August 12th. Early in that week I received a reminder from Human Resources regarding some new hire paperwork I needed to complete. Somehow the previous email never reached me. The tone of the email was a bit urgent, with that urgency based on a need to get me a paycheck.
I was a bit confused by the rush. I knew faculty got paid on the 15th of every month and expected my first paycheck in mid-September. Nonetheless, I completed the paperwork and met with the HR office, on August 15th, to make sure everything was in order. I was told I would be receiving a paper paycheck for August because there wasn’t enough time to pay me through direct deposit.
Inquiring about the amount of the check compared to the first regular paycheck I would get in September, I was told the paper check would be bigger. My benefits would start on September 1st, with those amounts withdrawn from my September check, but only taxes would be withdrawn from my August check. Still bewildered, I questioned the amount of the check, especially since I had only been working within my contract for four days.
One-twelfth of my annual salary, I was told. They didn’t want new faculty to start working and not have any money.
I returned to my office and shortly thereafter received an email that my check was ready and I could come back to HR to get it. So, I did.
I left the contents closed in the envelope until I made it back to the safety of my office. Then, after closing the door, I looked at the check.
I had been prepared to stretch the money I had until September 15th. Now, I was holding a check I hadn’t expected. I was so dumbfounded, in fact, that I didn’t deposit the check for a whole week. I’ve never been treated with such generosity. I’m accustomed to preserving and rationing my financial resources. How do I act when in a season of abundance?
Message of Mystery Acres
My little brother raises a few beef cattle, then distributes the meat to family members and friends who are interested. He doesn’t do this for free, of course; we cover the cost of the beef and processing. But he’s reasonable, generous even. Plus, the meat is far better than anything we can buy from a store.
Our part of a recent order is ready for us to pick it up. Rather than driving the two hours to his home, my brother offered to meet us somewhere. I suggested we meet at Mystery Acres on Labor Day. This is a one-hour drive for him and a one-hour-and-twenty-minute drive for us. Plus, we can hang out in the forest and have a picnic.
We have one-fourth of a cow coming our way. Having done this once before, we know we’ll have to make room in our deep freeze. My husband has been digging out frozen foods and preparing them to make room. We’ll also have to bring our best cooler with us to Mystery Acres, so we can safely transport the beef until we get back home.
This might not be the typical message from the forest, but it does speak to the need to prepare for abundance. Like making room in the deep freeze or bringing the right cooler, when abundance is headed our way, we must get our baskets ready.
Ancient Mystery’s Voice
Jesus said, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8: 21)
There are two similar stories of abundance from the days of Jesus; both involve miraculously feeding thousands of people. These events were the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand. In both, Jesus started with a few pieces of food, which He divided among His disciples. They, in turn, shared this food with the thousands of men, which included additional thousands of women and children.
After everyone had eaten until they were full, Jesus directed the disciples to collect the leftovers. In both cases, there were several baskets full of what the people didn’t eat after they had all they wanted. In the eighth chapter of Mark, he documented a review session Jesus held with His disciples about these two miraculous feedings.
Picking up the story from verse 16, we find the disciples grumbling about not having any bread, to which Jesus asked them why they still didn’t understand. He then reviewed the facts of the leftovers by asking who many baskets were filled after the five thousand were fed.
“Twelve,” they answered.
Then, He asked for the number of baskets of leftovers after the four thousand were fed.
“Seven,” was the answer.
Finally, instead of making the point clear to them, He simply asked, again, “Do you still not understand?”
By the mysterious power of the Holy Spirit, I felt Jesus asking me that question. I pondered the review session documented in verses 16-21, and the numbers of baskets jumped off the page. Twelve! Seven! Jesus gave His disciples, and me, an object lesson about providing abundantly twelve months a year, seven days a week! We might say “24/7” to refer to something continuously, but Jesus used “12-7” to cover every day of every month.
And, He didn’t just demonstrate His interest in providing enough, no He showed His desire to provide abundantly. He stated that, as captured in John’s book, (chapter ten, verse ten) when He said He had come to provide abundant life.
I confess that, despite knowing that verse about abundance, I have had a “just enough” view of God’s provision for me. I think about the manna provided to the Israelites and how they were to gather only what they needed for each day. I also focused on the Lord’s Prayer in which Jesus directed believers to ask for “daily bread.”
But, in the object lesson of Jesus feeding thousands of people and having an abundance of leftovers, I am struck by His question. “Do you still not understand?” I’ve been expecting enough-ness, while He is trying to offer too-much-ness. My failure to recognize this is probably founded in my sense of unworthiness. I don’t deserve abundance; why would anyone be so generous?
I do want more. Built inside of me and all humans is the persistent desire for more. Fueled by an insatiable drive, we continuously long for more than what we have. To that matter, Jesus began the conversation with His disciples with a warning: “Beware the yeast of the church leaders and the king” (see verse 15). In our relentless quest for more, Jesus cautioned against looking to human leaders, in the church or civil government.
Instead, Jesus is the more we are to seek, and He wants to be the source of abundance, not just enough to get by. Whether it’s material resources, endurance, peace, or joy, Jesus longs to supply more than we need. He wants us to get our baskets ready because abundance is coming!
Living in Mystery
Living in the mystery of abundance means getting your baskets ready. Which causes me to wonder: Where did the disciples get all those empty baskets? They didn’t have enough food to feed the crowds, but they somehow had baskets to collect the leftovers. The answer to that question is probably a smaller miracle than feeding thousands of people with rations for one person.
The first official day of my new job there was a new faculty welcome with snacks. I ate what I could but there were mountains of chips, fruit, and cookies leftover. Oh, how I wish I had brought an empty container for some of the surplus! At my previous job, there were always coffee cups and lids available as part of any refreshments or meals provided for us. I discovered how handy it was to fill a few cups with leftovers. If I were really serious about leftovers, I brought zippered plastic bags.
My new employer doesn’t provide those convenient coffee-cups-with-lid-containers. By the second day, I was bringing “to go boxes” from my personal supply. Because I had these “empty baskets ready,” I was able to stock up on fruit, pastries, scones, and cookies. Sadly, there weren’t any complex carbohydrates or proteins. Regardless, I was able to enjoy more of the abundance by being prepared to receive it.
What does having baskets ready to gather abundance look like as a metaphor? It means living in a receptive, expectant state of mind, heart, and spirit. Rather than being closed to an overflow of blessings, prepared to face deprivation, we are to lift our heads, open our eyes, and watch for the arrival of greater blessings.
One of the devotion books I use is not limited to the current year. On the first day of the contract for my new job, I saw a note I had written one year previous. Last year I had asked God this question:
“Should I get my hopes up about going to Evangel?
I expected a yes or no answer based on whether or not I would be getting the job. His answer, instead was:
“Yes, because it’s worse to live without hope than to be disappointed.”
Living with your baskets ready means living with hope that abundance is coming. It means praying for the something more you desire but seeking it only from one who fed thousands with crumbs. The leaders of this world are not our heroes. They may promise a “chicken in every pot” but chickens only come from the One who created them.
Expecting abundance involves looking to the One who provides more than what we need. Seven days a week, twelve months a year, the Lord wants to fill our lives to overflowing. He offers peace, joy, love, and strength beyond daily sufficiency. If we miss out, it’s because we didn’t bring any empty baskets to collect it.
As an old mom to young parents, I ask you to consider the attitude of expectancy you are modeling for your children. Do you have a “let’s have our baskets ready because God’s going to abundantly provide” or a “Be prepared to do without” mentality? Children are naturally expectant for good things. They live in joy and wonder, only learning to be pessimistic and discouraged through experience. We can help them, and ourselves, by focusing on the abundance coming on the horizon.
It really is worse to live without hope than to be disappointed. Expect abundance. Get your baskets ready to receive it. So much good is coming your way!
Connecting with Mystery
Dear Lord of All Mystery, I confess to looking down and living in doubt too much of the time. Rather than watching for abundance and living in expectation of blessings, I strive to prepare for the worst. Help me to understand how much you long to provide abundantly for me, today, tomorrow, every week, and every month of my life. Thank You for filling my empty baskets to overflowing. Amen.
Notes from Dr. Mac
If you want to do your own investigation of any of the scriptures I use, I suggest you go to Bible Gateway. This free online version of the Bible allows a search of words or phrases in various translations. I suggest you revisit Mark chapter 8, verses 14-21 for the entire review session with Jesus about the abundant feeding of thousands.
You can find previous posts of my work at my ARCHIVE and organized compilations in the My Books section. You can also find Mystery’s Voice on Spotify.
I want to know what you’re thinking! You can email me at: Dear Dr. Mac or leave/send a message (see below). I love hearing from you!
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