Years ago, a brother used to say to us, "Language is the only vehicle upon which thought can travel, and it's a very poor vehicle." It is something like the Model T Ford of those days-a poor vehicle, but the best we had. Language is made up of words and they mean what we think they do. Words convey to my mind what I think they mean and to your mind what you think they mean. So thought travels.
Recently, a brother wrote to me and said "Cleave is one of two English words that is its own antonym." I still do not know what the other word is, but it has made me think of another word. That word is "share.”
When I was a boy, my father taught me a needed lesson. Being the youngest in the family at that time, I was getting badly spoiled by my brothers and sisters. Father brought a candy bar and set it in front of Jack and me. He was two years older, bigger and smarter than I. Father said, "One of you cut it in two and the other take the first piece." My brother wisely said, "You cut it." Quickly I took the knife and carefully cut it so that the piece next to me was a little larger. He nicely reached over and took that piece. To this day I have not forgotten that important lesson.
Sometimes we use the word "share" when we are talking about the precious things that are ours to enjoy from God's Word. To me the word "share" makes me think of dividing with my brother. He got his part and I took what was left. It is not like that in the precious truths of the Word of God. In spiritual things we cannot give it away, but rather, we retain all for our own enjoyment as well.
Suppose you say to me, "The subject of First John one is communion," and I had not before noticed this. You have given to me but you still have. So it is, in the wonderful things that are given to us of God.
It turned out the same way for the disciples when the Lord Jesus fed the multitudes through them. He gave to the disciples, they divided to the people, but there was always food for the disciples and an abundance that remained. We can give, we can still have and yet there is always more to get in spiritual things.