“Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost” (John 6:12, NKJV).

Jesus just multiplied the bread and fish to feed the five thousand. He then instructs His disciples to gather up the fragments that remain so that nothing is lost. I knew someone who once ended up on a plane with Mother Theresa.  She held my friend’s baby as my friend settled in her other children. After the meal, Mother Theresa went around and gathered up everyone’s uneaten food so that nothing would be wasted.

We once had a college student visit us on the mission field and he ate my kids’ leftovers so that nothing would be wasted. We pointed out that overfilling an American belly wasn’t exactly a better alternative. We had another young adult stay with us who ate all my kids’ crusts so that they wouldn’t be thrown out. In Turkey, we, along with everyone else, hung any leftover bread in bags on the sides of the dumpsters so anyone in need of food could get them. Some used it to feed dogs.

We need to not let any of God’s blessings be lost. Whether it’s possessions, money, time, energy, talents, or any other blessing from God—we need to use it, not lose it. We need to put it to kingdom use, give it to God for His purposes, for His glory.

But let’s look at this verse another way. They were to gather the broken pieces so that nothing is lost. What of God’s good blessings do we view as “broken pieces” and ignore, or worse, toss aside, instead of viewing as something or someone God wants to save. That person, or that neighborhood, or “those people” you want to avoid are all God’s blessing.

The Bible says children are a blessing from the Lord. They all came into the world as a blessing. “That neighborhood” may be full of drug dealers, but they were each created in God’s image. People aren’t problems to be avoided or gotten rid of; even people who seem like “broken pieces.” They are all infinitely valuable to God. He wants to gather them, redeem them, bless them and make them a blessing.

Where do you see broken pieces in your world? Ask God to show you where the discarded, broken pieces are and gather them up so that none will be lost.