Who would not like to receive free stuff. Receiving free things is something that we could get into a habit of, I mean just imagine a place where one could go and without any commitments receive everything free; that would be great. Unfortunately, there is no such place to get all things free; at least here in earth. Although, there are some places that will give grocery, clothes and other things free, but not all things. And, nothing is really free, there is always a price to pay; whether it is monetary, or labor wise a price is always paid. Many of the people that followed Jesus followed him because of the signs and wonders he did that satisfied their needs, but not because they believe (He.11:6). In the miracle of the feeding of five thousand, the disciples were tasked to think of ways to feed all those people and they became lost in the dilemma. But, Jesus with the smallest and unthinkable item of solution fed those five thousand people (Jh 6:11-12). A widow in the old testament went from being rich and having it all including her husband as one of the prophets to having nothing and at the risk of loosing it all. She came to the prophet Elisha with her dilemma and with a small jar of oil she was able to surface from her poverty state (2K4:5-7).
John 6:26-30
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
God is in the business of supplying the needs of them who trust him and even those who do not trust. But, the problem has always been that people followed God because of his providence and not because they really believe. After the feeding for the five thousands, Jesus whereabouts was intensively searched by the people, because they wanted to crown him king. Jesus’ concern was and is the eternal provision for man more then the material (Jh. 6:27). Jesus said that we should seek God’s kingdom because when we seek it everything is will be added (Mt. 6:33). In fact, Malachi the prophet stated that man should bring a portion of their income or efforts to him, because God will open the windows of heaven and supply all their needs (Ma. 3:10). David said in Psalm 34:10 that lions and their whelps lack food, but those that seek and trust the Lord will not lack anything. It is important that we do not allow our temporal needs blind us from him that supplies all our needs according to his riches in glory (ph. 4:19). God told Solomon the condition by which his providence would come by in 2 Chronicles and that was by taking a humble and prayerful attitude (2chr. 7:13-14).