Waste-Not Living

God wastes nothing. I know this fact intuitively. I spent last year in Nicaragua, Kenya, and Brazil as I prepare to be launched into full-time international missions. I am presently teaching an internationl business course for students gaining a master's degree in business administration. My first class was yesterday. As I began talking about globalization, ethics, human rights violations, imperialism, and colonialism, I never imagined how all of my recent  missionary trips abroad would enable me to teach from a truly international perspective  how integrity, equity, and ethics can be used in  a secular setting. I shared about the scriptures requried by the class syllabus,  in addition to many others, all the topics, plus several others,for almost 3 hours without stopping just based on what I experienced on the mission field.

God has opened my eyes to the fact that missionary work is really a business; there is a bottom line, and it better be in the black.God is educating me even as I teach these students; as I teach these business principles,  I am learning them as well. In fact, my students' project is launching a private all-girls school,  like the ones God has commanded me to do,complete will all the necessary guidlines for minimum wage, safety concerns, human rights concerns, etc.  I have three MBA students brain-storming the encorporation of  my school in Africa.


When Jesus wanted to feed the mulitude of 5,000,  He asked his disciples what to do: "When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do." (John 6: 5-7).  Like Phillip, it is tempting to respond with a lack of faith- looking at the multitude and not at the God who multiplies division or even Andrew, who has a bit of faith, but then allows reason to get in the way: "Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? (John 6:7-9).

However, Jesus gives simple instructions, gives thanks to His Father, multiplies the offering, and picks up the leftovers .Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

Jesus wastes nothing. He picks up the pieces, and He had the same amount with which He began the ministry: "When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. " (John 6: 12-15).

I know that God wants to take us and break us to the nations, but are we willing? Are we like Phillip saying it can't be done or we like Andrew, we start with faith but do not end with the faith?


Broken for the Nations,
MJ