A stark sense of scarcity currently casts its shadow over the Republic of Kenya. Global economic forces, coupled with the after-effects of the post-election crisis, have driven prices of essential consumer goods higher, placing even further strain on families already pushed to their limits. Kenya’s Minister for Finance has drafted a budget with an eye to mitigating the impact on consumers, but the report acknowledges that the nation’s resources are already stretched thin. The Christian tradition has much to say about God bringing forth abundance from scarcity, but what could this mean in light of such difficult times? In light of the current crisis, God’s abundant generosity challenges us to support systems that make the abundance available to all.
The Bible is filled with images of a God of abundance, who gives gratuitously out of his great love. One striking example is the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6:30-44. When Jesus reached the shores of the lake, a crowd of five thousand had gathered, all of them hungry for his words; however, it was getting late, so Jesus and the disciples scrounged together a meager five loaves and two fishes. Miraculously, this was more than sufficient to feed the crowd – “They all ate as much as they wanted (6:42)” – leaving twelve baskets of leftovers. Out of apparent scarcity, the Lord brought forth an abundance.
Talk of God’s abundance seems absurd, given Kenya’s current economic situation. The coincidence of internal and external forces has created conditions of great scarcity, and despite the Minister of Finance’s best efforts and planning, the problem of generating sufficient revenue remains. What sort of miracle of multiplication could we hope for? A closer reading reveals two further insights.
First, when the disciples saw the hour getting late, they recommended that Jesus to send the crowd home for dinner, but Jesus replied, “Give them something to eat yourselves (6:37).” Feed them yourselves. Instead of waiting for bread to fall from the sky, he charges the disciples with the responsibility to care for the crowd. The Lord gives abundantly, but our cooperation is required if that abundance is to benefit all.
A second insight comes from reading between the lines. I always thought that Jesus magically made more bread and fish appear, but the text does not indicate any supernatural multiplication. An alternate interpretation is that many of the people brought their own bread and fish, and they decided to share with the others. By the time the feast ended, there was so much that they were able to gather twelve baskets of fragments. Even though this second interpretation downplays the supernatural, it is no less miraculous when people decide to share.
The story of the feeding of five thousand raises some interesting questions about Kenya’s tax policies, particularly with regard to the current controversy surrounding the taxation of the MPs’ allowances. While this tax would only generate roughly Kshs. 802 million per year – which is relatively paltry, all things considered – it seems unconscionable that those whom we trust with upholding the common good would not see fit to stand in solidarity with their constituents, who shoulder a disproportionate burden. Generally speaking, raising taxes is not the solution for Kenya’s economic struggles, but creating an equitable tax structure is certainly a step in the right direction. I have no doubt that those who came to hear Jesus speak that day worked hard for their bread, but that did not stop them from sharing with their neighbours.
The story of the feeding of the five thousand invites us to consider how God of abundance depends on us to make that abundance available to all. The question of how to generate enough revenue to fund Kenya’s recovery is complicated, but any solution must be rooted in concern for the good of all. In this time when the economic burden on families is so acute, let us always remember that God provides abundantly for all and invites us through Christ to do the same.
Brian Christopher is an intern at Jesuit Hakimani Centre, Nairobi working on Social Transformation Strategies Programme.