“There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
“Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.” (John 6:9, 11)
What you have may look embarrassingly small, but that is not your problem. Your five bottles of zobo are not insignificant because they are not about your ability; they are about your obedience.
The boy whose bread and fish Jesus multiplied could have said, “What is my small lunch among thousands?” and kept it to himself or even eaten it, as many have eaten their seed.
Instead, he handed it over to Jesus Christ. This is the point: the miracle was not in the size of his lunch; it was in his willingness to let it go.
When I started writing these devotionals, all I had was my phone, my tablet, and a broken laptop that I could not use for anything. I did not even think about it becoming a full-blown website ministering to the number of people it is ministering to now. All I knew to do was write.
All I wanted was to obey God, to put out there the things that have shaped me into the woman I am today, to share my growth journey and the things that have greatly influenced and impacted me. I started by simply posting on a WhatsApp channel, but God always has better plans for our little.
If I had waited until I fixed the laptop, I might never have started at all, because it was as I set out in obedience that the funds to fix a laptop that had been broken for over a year suddenly became available.
Many of us are waiting for God to dump a factory on our laps before we move, yet God is asking: what is already in your hands?
We forget it is God who gives the increase. It is God who breathes on what we have and causes it to multiply.
It is God who blessed the man with the big beverage plant you are busy comparing yourself to.
Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Our job is faithfulness; God’s job is multiplication.
Consider this: you make some of the tastiest, freshest zobo in your neighborhood. It is rich, perfectly spiced, and stands out from anything else people have tasted. God places it on your heart to make a few bottles for someone. You obey and give it your best, even though you cannot afford fancy bottles or designer labels.
Unknown to you, that person has the means to invest heavily in your business. She tastes it, loves it, and asks, “What else can you do?” You answer honestly, and she then asks how she can support your business and bam!….
That is divine multiplication. God did not make zobo appear in your kitchen overnight or fill up your freezer with it, but He multiplied your influence, favour, and opportunities.
Do Not Despise the Days of Small Starts or the Little You Have.
Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” . Do not despise the days of small starts or the little you have. God does not need your abundance; He needs your obedience.
Here’s how God often works:
- He inspires you to use your gift or what you are good at (the five bottles of zobo).
- He places you before the right person at the right time.
- He opens doors you could never force open.
Your five bottles of zobo could be:
- The skills you think are not enough.
- The time you say is too short.
- The small amount of money you feel is insignificant.
- The single step of obedience you are scared to take.
Excellence At Your Level Matters
Stop waiting for perfect. If you can make five bottles of zobo, make them the tastiest, cleanest, best-packaged bottles you can afford at your level.
Pour your heart into it.
Clean your bottles properly. Label them clearly.
Deliver them politely, promptly, with precision.
Do not say “it is just small zobo.” Excellence is a language, and it speaks volumes.
Business ethics matter. Do not be sloppy because it is small. God will not likely multiply what you are too lazy or careless to steward. When you practice:
- Politeness: greet your customers with respect.
- Promptness/Timeliness: keep your word on delivery times, and when you cannot meet up, communicate early with a sincere apology. It shows that you respect your clients or customers and value their feelings. Do not keep people waiting unnecessarily.
- Precision: ensure orders are correct.
These are seeds of faithfulness God uses to multiply your reach.
Scripture says, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank” (Proverbs 22:29). This scripture does not say big skill; it says skill. Skill at your level, with what you have now.
The boy in John 6 did not hoard his lunch; he gave it. He gave it as it was. Jesus blessed it, broke it, and distributed it. The miracle happened because he surrendered it. The truth is that it did not look like enough, and it was not enough, until Jesus touched it.
Let Me Be Straight With You: You Do Not Need a Lot of Money to Start
Waiting until you have plenty of money before you start is one of the biggest lies keeping people stuck. Money is not what qualifies you to start. Obedience is. The widows in Scripture did not wait until they had overflowing pantries; they acted with what was left in their jars.
Many think, “If only I had capital, I would start.” But if you will not steward five bottles of zobo with excellence, you will not steward five thousand. God often tests our faithfulness in small beginnings before He trusts us with more (Luke 16:10). Starting small is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of humility and wisdom.
You might not have millions, but you have something: your skill, your hands, your time, your ideas, your network, your phone. That is your seed. Sow it with excellence, integrity, and consistency, and trust God to breathe on it. God is not limited by your bank account balance but your willingness to start can limit Hm.
So, what are your five bottles of zobo?
Will you keep seeing them as too little, or will you surrender them to God, trust Him to bring the increase, and do your part with the best excellence you can offer today?
Scriptures for Further Study
1 Kings 17:8–16, 2 Kings 4:1–7, Exodus 4:1–5, John 6:1–13, Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, Luke 9:10–17, 1 Samuel 17:32–50, 2 Corinthians 9:10, Zechariah 4:10
