Little Is Much When God Is In It – Exploring The Meaning Behind The Scripture
The old adage “little is much when God is in it” is a simple yet profound truth found in the Bible. This well-known saying speaks to the incredible power and potential found even in the smallest of offerings when dedicated to God and done for His glory.
In short, this phrase emphasizes that anything, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to us, can be greatly used and multiplied by God to achieve bigger purposes according to His will. When our actions and gifts are motivated by faith and love for God, He can transform them to bring blessing beyond what we can imagine or expect.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore the meaning and origin of this popular Scripture quote. We will look at the biblical and historical context behind it, analyze the significance of its message, and see how it applies to our lives today.
The Exact Scripture Source and Wordings Behind the Quote
This passage describes one of Jesus’ most famous miracles – the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus had been teaching large crowds near the Sea of Galilee. When evening came, the disciples wanted to send the crowds away to find food, but Jesus instructed them to feed the crowd.
Andrew found a boy with five small barley loaves and two fish, which Jesus miraculously multiplied to feed the entire crowd of five thousand men (plus women and children). Afterward, twelve baskets full of leftovers were collected.
This amazing miracle demonstrated Jesus’ divine power and compassion. Though the disciples saw scarcity, Jesus provided abundance. This passage ties directly to the quote “Little is much when God is in it”, showing how God can multiply even meager offerings to accomplish great things.
Matthew 14:13-21 – Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
Matthew recounts another miraculous feeding by Jesus, this time of four thousand men (plus women and children). Jesus had compassion on the hungry crowds who had gathered to hear his teaching, saying “I do not want to send them away hungry.”
The disciples only had seven loaves and a few small fish, but once again Jesus multiplied the food to feed the entire crowd, resulting in seven large baskets full of leftovers.
This passage echoes the same theme – God accomplishing great things through small beginnings. Jesus took the disciples’ limited resources and turned them into an abundant feast. This reminds us that what we offer to God, however insignificant it may seem, can be multiplied for miracles when placed in His hands.
The Concept in Other Gospel Accounts and Teachings of Jesus
The idea that “little is much when God is in it” permeates Jesus’ ministry in all four Gospels. Some examples include:
Jesus repeatedly emphasized how God leverages humble, even unlikely, people and resources to accomplish His purposes. When we yield ourselves fully to God, our “little” becomes much because His power is at work. This theme pervades Jesus’ ministry and teachings.
The Historical and Biblical Context Behind the Scripture and Meaning
Situating the Miracles in Jesus’s Ministry
The scripture “Little is much when God is in it” comes from the stories in the Gospels where Jesus miraculously fed large crowds with very little food. There are two famous miracle stories – the feeding of the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish (Matthew 14:13-21) and the feeding of the 4,000 with 7 loaves and a few small fish (Matthew 15:32-39).
These miracles occurred during Jesus’s Galilean ministry when he traveled around teaching, preaching, and healing the sick and demon-possessed.
The mass feedings showed Jesus’s divine power and compassion for the people who gathered to hear his teaching. Though the disciples wanted to send the crowds away to find food, Jesus insisted on feeding them miraculously even with the disciples’ meager rations.
The stories illustrate God’s ability to abundantly provide and bless even when human resources seem inadequate.
Significance of the Numbers
The numbers mentioned in the miracle stories likely had symbolic meaning for the original audiences. In the feeding of the 5,000, the number 5 symbolized completeness while the number 12 represented the 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 baskets leftover showed God’s abundant provision for all of Israel.
In the feeding of the 4,000, some see the number 4 as representing the 4 corners of the world, indicating how Jesus came to feed people from all nations, not just the Jews.
The baskets or containers holding the leftovers also had significance – kophinoi vs. sphurides. The kophinoi were small wicker baskets used by Jews while sphurides were large rope baskets used by Gentiles. So the different containers reinforced the symbolism of each feeding miracle.
Emphasis on God’s Provision and Blessing
A key lesson from these miracle passages is that God can do great things with the little we offer to Him. As one boy gave Jesus his 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the multitude (John 6:9), Jesus miraculously multiplied it to feed 5,000+ people.
Jesus highlights that it is God working through Him that allows this to happen, not any power or resource He has independently: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).
The scripture “Little is much when God is in it” reminds us that when we surrender our limited resources to God, He can bless it abundantly for His glory. More important than what we have is who it is given to and dedicated for.
Our attitude should be one of generosity and faith that God will provide enough for all through His divine grace and mercy.
Interpretations, Lessons, and Modern Applications
Trusting in God’s Power and Provision
This well-known Bible verse reminds us that God can accomplish great things through us, even with the limited resources we have, when we trust in Him. Though we may feel small or inadequately equipped, God’s power working through us is more than enough (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we rely on God rather than ourselves, He can multiply our efforts for His glory.
For example, think of David facing the giant Goliath with just a sling and stones (1 Samuel 17). God gave David victory over the Philistine army through courage and faith despite his limited physical resources.
While we may not be slaying literal giants today, we all face challenges that seem daunting. This verse encourages us to step out in faith, trusting the Lord will equip us for every task He calls us to.
Stewardship and Generosity
This scripture also emphasizes being good stewards of the limited resources God gives us. We shouldn’t let small amounts hinder generosity. The widow who gave two small copper coins was commended by Jesus, because she gave sacrificially out of her poverty (Mark 12:42-44).
He can multiply even our smallest gifts when given cheerfully and for His work (2 Corinthians 9:7-11).
We live in a culture obsessed with bigger, newer, and more. But God values faithfulness in small things (Luke 16:10). The resources, skills, and time we have, though limited, can be used greatly when yielded to Him.
Our work may seem insignificant, but God cares more about the motivation of our hearts than the visible impact.
Maximizing Use of Our Limited Resources
Being resourceful with what we’ve been given is also crucial. In the Parable of the Talents, the servants who invested and multiplied what the master gave them were rewarded, while the servant who simply preserved the single talent was rebuked (Matthew 25:14-30).
God wants us to make the most of what He’s entrusted to us.
This requires wisdom and creativity. Like the boy who offered his five loaves and two fish to Jesus, which He miraculously used to feed thousands (John 6:1-13), we should look for opportunities to offer all we have to the Lord for His service.
By staying dependent on God rather than our own strengths, He can maximize even our limited resources for greater fruitfulness.
Small Beginnings Can Lead to Big Results
Lastly, this verse gives hope that God can use small, humble beginnings for big purposes. The ministry of Jesus himself began in the obscure town of Nazareth, yet His life, death and resurrection changed the entire world.
We may feel our sphere of influence is tiny, but God can lead it to spread farther than we’d imagine if we remain faithful.
As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” Our role is simply to plant and water through living out our faith where we are. Yet God gives the increase.
Just as He transformed a tiny mustard seed into a large tree that gives shelter (Matthew 13:31-32), He grows our small offerings to multiply His blessings.
Examples and Stories That Illustrate the Quote in Action
The scripture “Little is much when God is in it” reminds us that even small acts can have a big impact when done for God’s glory. Here are some real-life examples that illustrate this principle:
The Story of the Poor Widow’s Offering
In the Gospels, Jesus observes a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the temple treasury. He tells his disciples that her tiny offering is worth more than the large donations of the rich because she gave out of her poverty while they gave out of their surplus (Mark 12:41-44).
This story shows that it’s the spirit behind the gift that matters most to God.
Brother Lawrence’s Kitchen Service
Brother Lawrence was a 17th century monk known for his profound sense of the presence of God in everyday tasks. As a cook in his monastery, he found joy in even the most mundane chores by doing them for God’s glory. His humble service had a transformative impact on his fellow monks.
Mary Seacole’s Care for Wounded Soldiers
Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse who aided wounded soldiers during the Crimean War in the 1850s. Though she lacked formal training, her simple acts of feeding, cleaning, and comforting the men made a significant difference in their lives. She was greatly loved for her compassionate spirit.
George Müller’s Orphanages
Christian evangelist George Müller built five large orphanages in Bristol during the 19th century, caring for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime. He did so relying entirely on prayer and donations, refusing to ask anyone except God for money.
His work exemplified living by faith and God’s faithfulness in response.
These examples show how God can multiply the effects of even small, humble acts done out of love for Him. As the scripture says, “Little is much when God is in it.” Our offerings may seem tiny to us but can have a big ripple effect when offered to God.
Related Bible Verses That Reinforce the Meaning
The Bible contains many verses that reinforce the meaning behind the phrase “Little is much when God is in it.” Here are some key examples:
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
This parable describes how the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which starts off very small but grows into a large tree. It illustrates that small beginnings with God can lead to great things.
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’”
The Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:5-13)
In this miracle story, Jesus takes a small amount of food (5 loaves and 2 fish) and feeds a huge crowd of over 5,000 people. It shows that God can multiply even meager resources when we place them in his hands.
“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.
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?’
Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down, about five thousand men. 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.
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.”
The Widow’s Offering (Luke 21:1-4)
Jesus honors a poor widow who only gives two small copper coins to the temple treasury, commending her more than the rich who gave large sums. It shows that God sees value in small acts of faithfulness.
“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'”
Being Faithful with Little (Luke 16:10)
In this verse, Jesus teaches that faithfulness with small things prepares us for greater responsibility from God in the future.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
These and other Bible passages reinforce the truth that God can accomplish great purposes through small means when yielded to Him. They encourage us to be faithful with whatever God has given us rather than despising humble beginnings.
Conclusion
In closing, the well-known maxim “little is much when God is in it” beautifully expresses an uplifting spiritual truth that we see illustrated throughout Scripture. When we offer even our meager resources to God in faith and dedication, He can transform them to carry out His purposes powerfully.
This principle applied across biblical history and still rings true for followers of Christ today.
By taking this phrase to heart, we can find encouragement, hope and guidance to make the very most of what little we have in service of God’s Kingdom. Though our contributions may start small, God can use them to great effect when offered sincerely for His glory.
