What Abraham, a Boy’s Lunch, and Jesus Teach Us About Giving
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re discovering a powerful biblical principle: God delights not in equal amounts, but in equal surrender. This truth transforms how we understand stewardship, generosity, and faithful living.
Three Examples of Complete Surrender
Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern repeated. Let’s examine three powerful examples:
Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22)
Abraham laid his son Isaac on the altar, willing to give everything—his entire inheritance, his family line, his future. God provided a ram at the last moment, but Abraham’s heart was fully surrendered. He held nothing back, trusting God completely even when it made no logical sense.
The Boy with Five Loaves and Two Fish (John 6:1-14)
We often focus on the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 people, butwe forget about the boy. He was the only one who had lunch that day. While everyone else came unprepared, this boy had his meal. And what did he do? He gave up everything—his entire lunch, holding nothing back.
Look at what Jesus did with his complete surrender. He fed 5,000 people with plenty left over. The boy’s willingness to give all he had became the catalyst for one of Jesus’ most famous miracles.
Jesus Himself – The Ultimate Example
These stories all occurred in the last week of Jesus’ life. He knew that in just a few days, He would sacrifice His life on the cross. He would give what? Everything for us.
If anybody had the right to talk about biblical stewardship, it was Jesus. He knew what it meant to sacrifice. He knew what it meant to surrender. And He didn’t just teach it—He lived it completely.
The Pattern of Faithful Surrender
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, our “Just 3” mission—Study, Share, Serve—is built on this principle of complete surrender:
Study to Love and Know God: Like Abraham, we surrender our understanding and trust God’s wisdom even when it doesn’t make sense.
Share to Know and Love Others: Like the boy with the lunch, we give what we have, trusting God to multiply our efforts.
Serve – Love in Action: Like Jesus, we lay down our lives in service to others, holding nothing back.
Faithful Living in Different Seasons
Here’s an important truth: faithful living looks different in different seasons of life.
Abraham’s surrender looked like being willing to sacrifice his son. The boy’s surrender looked like giving up his lunch. The widow’s surrender (Luke 21:1-4) looked like giving her last two coins. Jesus’ surrender looked like the cross.
Your surrender might look like:
- A young parent sacrificing sleep to serve in children’s ministry
- A retiree giving time to mentor the next generation
- A professional using their skills to advance kingdom work
- A student sharing faith with classmates despite social pressure
- A family giving financially even when the budget is tight
The amount varies. The cost differs. But the principle remains: equal surrender.
What God Values
God doesn’t compare your gift to someone else’s gift. He doesn’t measure your service against another person’s service. He looks at your heart and asks: “Are you holding anything back from Me?”
2 Corinthians 8:12 says, “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”
God isn’t asking you to give what you don’t have. He’s asking you to surrender what you do have—completely and trustingly.
The Reward of Surrender
When Abraham surrendered Isaac, God provided a ram and reaffirmed His covenant promises. When the boy surrendered his lunch, Jesus performed a miracle. When the widow surrendered her last coins, Jesus immortalized her faith in Scripture. When Jesus surrendered His life, He purchased our salvation.
Surrender always leads to blessing—though not always in ways we expect or on our timeline. The blessing might be:
- Spiritual growth and deeper faith
- The joy of seeing God work through your obedience
- Eternal rewards that far outweigh temporary sacrifice
- The privilege of participating in God’s kingdom work
Living Out Equal Surrender
At Lakeview Christian Church, as we approach our 100th year of ministry, we recognize that our legacy is built on generations of believers who understood equal surrender. They gave differently based on their seasons and resources, but they all gave completely.
The question for each of us isn’t “How much am I giving compared to others?” The question is “Am I surrendering everything to God?”
This week, ask yourself:
- What is God asking me to surrender?
- Am I holding anything back from Him?
- Do I trust Him enough to give my all?
- How can I practice equal surrender in my current season?
Remember, God delights not in equal amounts, but in equal surrender. Whether you’re giving two coins like the widow, a lunch like the boy, or your very life like Jesus, what matters is the completeness of your trust and the willingness of your heart.
