God uses people to help other people. In the first case, we have friends and relatives bringing their loved ones to Jesus for healing. In the second, the disciples distribute food directly to the seated crowd.

Of course, Jesus could have healed people without having them brought to Him, and He could have fed the multitude without the disciples’ participation.

But God’s ordinary way of blessing His people involves bringing others into the process. In this way, He accomplishes many purposes. He allows us to work with Him – a great privilege. As we learn to discern the needs of those around us, we develop compassion and unselfishness, which reflect the character of God. We were made to love, for we were created in the image of God, who is love (1 John 4:7). As we fulfill our destiny by serving our neighbors, we grow into that likeness to Himself which our God intends us to enjoy (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:13, 24; 1 John 3:2).

Why use the word “enjoy”? Because “it is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35). To live only for ourselves is to consign ourselves to a walking death. True joy flows only from love, as Jesus pointed out long ago (John 15:10-12; see also Galatians 5:22).

What a privilege – to be fellow workers with God! (1 Corinthians 3:9).