“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’”                                          John 6:12 (NIV)

With our children growing up and moving off to pursue their own interest, my husband and I started to learn to cook for two – which is more difficult than it sounds. Consequently, we generally have a lot of leftover food after dinner. Many times we have enough for lunch the next day and sometimes more for another dinner – you have to love leftover night! 

I just hate to be wasteful so I save everything that I can. I even bring home the leftovers from restaurants on our date nights. My husband, on the other hand, doesn’t care for leftovers. Many people share his distaste – pardon the pun – for leftover food. I recently watched an entire episode of a cooking show devoted to teaching you how to repurpose leftover food to make it more appealing. However, the reality is that even when we save food for later it ends up being wasted anyway. I cringe when I think of all that went to waste after our recent decadent Thanksgiving feasts – yes, we had more than one – this year.

I find it interesting in the lesson of Jesus feeding the multitude that even when He started with very little food for so many people, he had leftovers. Of the many things we can learn from this story, I find significance in the leftovers. Jesus uses this opportunity to tell us to “let nothing be wasted.” 

This applies to much more than mere morsels left behind on our dinner plates. When I read this scripture, I think about personal leftovers – the leftovers of life. 

In the busyness of life, many of us work so hard at our paying jobs or on special projects that we are left feeling spent – as if we have nothing left to give. We feel like there is never enough time – no time left over to do the things we want to do. We become emotionally and physically drained. We give all that we have outside of our home and we return with only leftovers for those we love. Consequently, leftovers don’t sound too appealing. 

I know at times my family, especially my husband, probably feels that all they get are leftovers – whatever is left of me after I fulfill all of my other obligations. Truthfully, I am not sure my family always gets any leftovers because I have felt that I have nothing left to give. Sometimes I even think I have nothing left to give God. 

Therein surfaces the challenge. 

I know I need to collect all that I have and use it to the glory of God and “let nothing be wasted.” But I have been conditioned to think that leftovers aren’t good enough. 

But that isn’t true. As children of God, we are so much more valuable and powerful than we can imagine. God will use every effort we make in His name to expand His kingdom. That truth tells me that the leftovers are worth it. 

Leftovers = abundance.  

If you have leftovers then you have more than enough! You can go above and beyond what is required or necessary. You can achieve more. 

Consider this: Leftover money. 

Imagine what you could or would do with an abundance of money after you pay all of your bills. I bet that thought made you smile!

Now, imagine … what can you do with your personal leftovers? Your leftover self. 

Will you do something special with your family? Will you start or join a new program at church? Will you enjoy a new hobby or pursue a lifelong dream?

Work hard and then “gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

Just imagine what can be added to your life and the lives of those around you when you utilize your abundance instead of letting it waste away. 

Start today and see how God can work through you and bless you, even with your leftovers.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”     Romans 8:28 (NIV)