And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (Luke 12:22-23 ESV)
There are many birds in our city, but we do not often pause to consider how spectacular their lives are. A bird does not seem to be a very intelligent creature, but rather one that simply wanders around with no other purpose than to search for food and a mate. Yet, on the fifth day when the Lord said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens” he looked at his creation, the birds he had made, and said it was good.
We see them as nuisances that inconveniently poop on our cars, but Christ does not see them this way. For in the eyes of our Saviour, that common bird is a megaphone that declares to us the faithfulness of our Father’s daily provision! Yet, few of us stop to give God praise for these creatures. Very few, upon examining bird droppings on their windshield, would say, “Amazing! For a bird to defecate like this, the Lord must have provided for it a hearty meal!” If we heard someone speak this way, we would most likely laugh! Not because what they have said is false, but rather, because their perspective is highly unusual. “What? You see a bird defecating on your car, and you praise God for his hand of provision?” Remarkable
And yet it is true! The fact that the bird who has no storehouse nor ability to cultivate crops can survive is incredible! How can this be? A bird has no bank account nor even a college degree, and yet it not only lives, but also raises little birdies to do the same! And this is the Lord’s point! You need not fear that you have little in your storehouses or retirement fund, for it is not those things that ultimately feed you, but the God who feeds the sparrow! He will also feed you! Do you want proof that the Lord will clothe you? Then all you need to do is look out at the wild flowers that grow. You may call them weeds and think them to be as annoying as the bird that decorates your car with unwanted droppings, yet our heavenly Father says that he has clothed them with such splendid petals and colors that not even the royal robes of the great Solomon could rival them! And if the Lord so delicately clothes that which is alive today and then thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not also care for you?
But in reality, the food and the clothing are but small things that all men seek after and the Lord has given us something far greater to seek. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things—food and clothing included—will be added to you. If it is true that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom, then why would we not throw ourselves wholeheartedly into the great task at hand? He has told us to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He has commanded us to heal the sick and preach the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection. He has adopted us as his very own sons and daughters and to us he has entrusted the glorious ministry of reconciliation!
So then my brothers and sisters, if it is true that Christ has removed death’s sting and the anger of God burns no more against us, and if it is true that his dying breath has breathed out to us the gift of life, then let us throw ourselves at the foot of the throne of grace and take up our crosses and proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth! We who are ambassadors for Christ, let us then remember, that as we fulfill his Great Commission, he who feeds the sparrow and he who clothes the lilies of the field, will also feed and clothe us.
Article by: Samuel Chua
