CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
All the disciples could see was "not enough." Jesus saw that
small act of faith as "plenty."
As I read about the
challenging world of Wall Street and investing there is an indicator that experts
use to project tendencies and trends in future market performance. It is called
the index of consumer confidence. While I do not profess to fully understand
how this index is measured or monitored, it is clear that some economics put
great stock in the collective attitude of the buying public. The other
indicators are more easily measured and counted - gross national product,
cumulative debt loads, amounts of unsold inventories, unemployment statistics,
interest rates, and profit-loss statements. But what is this "consumer
confidence" index? Apparently the stock market is influenced in a
measurable way by the mere attitude of hope, of confidence, in the future of
the market itself. If the consumer thinks things are going well, and that the
best is yet to be, then the consumer is willing to take risks, invest more
money, buy more products, which in turn allows the businesses to make more
products, hire more people, and turn more profit. What happens next is a
"Bright Future."
But equally, when
"consumer confidence" is low, the consumer buys less, invests more
conservatively, causing businesses to slash prices, lowering profits, and thus
people are laid off, and the market goes down. So much rides on the subjective
feelings of the consumer. And sometimes those feelings, that level of
confidence is unrelated to objective reality. It all depends on the confidence,
the sense of hope, in the consumer.
Perhaps there is a
lesson here for us in the spiritual life as well. How much of our lives revolve
on the sense within us of life's scarcity or abundance, of despair or hope?
Often, I would think. The sense of confidence, that perception of plenty and
want, is a major force moving our lives. The Gospel of John for this Sunday
features a story from the ministry of Jesus that illustrates this very point.
In the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus teaches us to live
from a position of faith in God, and to trust that God's provision allows us to
live out of the exuberant sense of abundance, rather than the crippling of
scarcity.
Jesus was
surrounded by over 5000 people on that hillside long ago. And in the evening
stomachs began to grumble. Perhaps the disciples feared that grumbling stomachs
might lead to grumbling spirits, and the peaceful assembly might deteriorate
into a riot. Hunger and fear do strange things to most people. The disciples
could only see the overwhelming lack of resources in the face of enormous need;
a little boy, a few loaves and fishes. What good are these for so many?
"Two hundred days wages would not be enough to buy food for
everyone."
Perhaps the
multitude felt the same way. Maybe some of them had a little bit of food
stashed away for the day's journey, but seeing such a great crowd and seeing no
provision made them hold on tightly to what they had for themselves.
When the attitude
is like this, everything is impossible. This is not the way Jesus wants us to
live our lives.
Jesus asked his
disciples, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" It was a
test question. Not a trick question, but a test. It was a question designed to
awaken their spirit, to teach them, and us, a valuable lesson about life.
Notice the word "we." God does not send us out in this world without
him. We are not left just to our own resources or wisdom. Our heavenly Father
doesn't just have us sit back do nothing either. No, Jesus wanted us to know
that we are partnering with our Father in this world. We can join him in hope,
vision and faith. We can have a sense of plenty.
The disciples only
saw what might go wrong. Jesus only saw an opportunity for something wonderful.
All the disciples could see was "not enough." Jesus saw that small
act of faith as "plenty."
Jesus whispers into
our ear from this miracle. There is always enough. It is our fear that keeps us
from seeing it, or believing it. God has provided enough, even if you and I
cannot see it all the time.
"Consumers"
may find it difficult to stay confident. It is when they learn to put their
confidence in the "provider" that this will change.