An Increase of Faith

Lord, increase our faith!

Not long before Peter was accosted by the collectors of the temple tax in Capernaum, Jesus told his disciple, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20 ESV).

Was Peter thinking: Nothing will be impossible for us? But the two-drachma tax–I had to tell them that, of course, my teacher pays it. How would it have looked if I had said I wasn’t sure? But I don’t know where we’re going to get it.

Oh, Peter! You’re talking about the man who recently fed four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. Has it been so long ago that you don’t remember walking on the water with him? He has healed the sick and cast out demons. You saw him transfigured on the mountain. You’re afraid he won’t be able to produce what amounts to a couple of days’ wages? Are you worried about Jesus’ reputation? Poor Peter of little faith. How much will it take for you to learn to trust in Jesus?

That’s an excellent question, isn’t it? For myself.

Jesus patiently provides another example of his omnipotence by sending Peter off to catch a fish. He tells Peter that the first fish he catches will have in its mouth the money needed for the tax. Peter does, and the fish does.

Not being a biblical scholar, it hadn’t occurred to me to doubt this miracle of Jesus. However, in my search for more insight into this incident, the first commentary I checked said that many scholars do doubt it. Why? Because it’s not like Jesus’s other miracles. It seems too self-serving.

This four-verse story is apparently packed with questions scholars love to debate. We could talk about whether or not Jesus was obligated to pay the tax. We could argue about why he chose not to confront the Jews on this point at the time. But these aren’t the thoughts this story leaves me with.

Peter sees this tax question as a big problem. Jesus does not. In effect, he says, You need something? No problem. Go get it from one of my creatures, which I have placed at your disposal. I know which fish has it, I know how it got there, and it will be exactly where it needs to be when you go do what I’ve told you to. You will find that I provide exactly what you need.

Surely my faith needs to be increased. I need to view situations as they truly are: in God’s control.

I need to remember the person my faith is in: the Ruler of the universe. My problem is not a problem for him.

I must keep in mind that if he knows the number of hairs on my head, he knows exactly what I need for today. Though he may be waiting for me to stop worrying and start following his instructions.

Lord Jesus, source of all life, it’s difficult for me to believe my faith could move mountains. Help me to see opportunities to increase my faith in blessings and adversity. Teach me to see adversity as a blessing and opportunity. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:25-34 ESV).

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:7-11 ESV).

Reach for More

God has promised to supply all our needs. Make a list of everything not included in “all.” Those are the things you need to worry about.
Today, try to focus on God’s provision for the birds, the lilies, and all his creation. Remember that he is the defender of widows and Father to the fatherless (Ps. 68:5 ESV). He will surely supply all your needs.

Thank him for his faithfulness to his promises.

Through the gift of a faithful mother and grandmother, Diane Pendergraft grew up knowing Jesus as a friend. Married for nearly two-thirds of her life, there has been time for several seasons, from homeschooling to owning a coffee shop. She has three grown children and eight grandchildren. An element of this season is writing about literature and life at Plumfield and Paideia.