Some tasks look impossible because they are. Buying food for the multitude that followed Jesus, away from town and up into the mountains, was just such an impossible task. When Jesus asked Philip where they should buy food for these people to eat, He was testing him. But He was not testing his faith. Jesus was testing Philip to see if he was well-grounded in reality. Jesus knew that Philip had seen Him work many miracles, and Philip was aware that Jesus could feed the massive crowd of people. However, that is not what Jesus asked him.

If Jesus had asked Philip if he believed that Jesus could feed the people, with faith Philip would have replied, “Yes!” Instead of answering a question that was not asked, Philip gave an honest answer to the question that was asked. The truth was, they did not have enough money to buy food, and even more importantly there was nowhere to buy food. They could not hope to, or even begin the task of, meeting the needs of the people by an ordinary, everyday, common sense practical solution. The task was impossible.

I love Christians, I am one. However, I have known some Christians who would have failed the test that Jesus gave Philip. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. said, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” If Christians dream of doing something great and wonderful that is unrealistic and impossible, it is foolish for them to attempt it; failure will be the result. They may claim that they are acting on faith. They believe that because their intentions are good, and they are Christians, God will work a miracle and bring their wonderful plans to completion. That is not faith; that is presumption.

Jesus was going to feed the multitude, but reality forced His disciples to wait upon His instructions. Only then could they act in faith. Faith always requires our beliefs and actions be in response to God’s promises or instructions.