“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten” (John 6:11-13,KJV).
Soul Starved
Trading can seem so mechanical at times—devoid of soul. This is why traders need the spiritual food that Jesus is offering. Spiritual food for the starved soul. Spiritual food to sustain the trader in time of need. And what trader needs spiritual nourishment? Every trader—whether he or she knows it or not.
Spiritual Emptiness
“The emphasis on the large number of people who were fed is symbolic of the vast hunger of humankind for spiritual food. There is a huge spiritual emptiness in the human race. . . . However, the emptiness of the soul today leads not only to psychological illnesses but also to evil. If the soul of a person is not filled with the spirit of God it will tend to be filled with a spirit of evil. Jung once wrote that as long as the soul is empty a person is prey to evil either as a victim of evil, or its perpetrator” (Mystical Christianity: A Psychological Commentary on the Gospel of John by John A. Sanford, pp. 145-146).
A Spirit of Evil
How can a trader fall prey to a spirit of evil? Many ways. Firstly, a trader can worship money rather than God. Isn’t trading set up to make this easy? Secondly, a trader can become addicted to trading if the trading isn’t God-filled. Then the trader is tormented by inner demons and trading becomes gambling . . . with the possibility of huge losses. Thirdly, the trader can become addicted to power and engage in a variety of destructive behaviors. Evil is seductive and insidiously powerful. Turn to God for protection and spiritual nourishment.