Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6:26 -27
REFERENCE
Matthew 6:25-34
Unmet expectations, unfulfilled dreams, shattered promises, life’s uncertainties, emotional stress, work pressures, unpaid bills and the ratio of needs to the money at hand, are some of the things that sometimes make us worry. It is almost as if the mind has been trained by our primordial wiring to worry, but worrying only leads to more worries – it has never solved a problem.
The Greek word ‘Merimna’ which is translated to mean worry suggests a mind divided and pondering on several things at the same time; it means to be divided into parts and to be pulled into different directions. No wonder it is hard to focus on God or even a solution when worrying, and productivity becomes almost impossible. With worry comes fatigue, insomnia, irritability, tension, poor performance, general unhappiness, etc.
Jesus counsels us here against worry, He said, “Look at the birds…” Have you noticed that birds live worry-free? If any should worry, it should be birds. They have no work, no store nor trade, yet they never lack. They have no health insurance or health centers, yet you hardly find one too sick to fly. They never lack food for themselves and their young, and they always find straw to build their nests. How? By God’s providence – when people trash their left over foods, they are inadvertently providing food for the birds; likewise, when they trim their lawns, they are providing straw for the birds to build their nests. If God so cares for the birds, how much more will He care for you who is of more value to Him?
Philippians 4:6 further buttresses the point Jesus made in today’s passage. It admonishes us not to worry (be anxious) about anything – that is anything at all. Rather, we are to present the issue of concern to God and trust Him to handle it. Any issue that is big enough to worry about is equally big enough to pray about. Therefore, the antidote to worry is to cast the worry on God who cares for you; His shoulders are broad enough to carry it, and His mind is wide enough to fathom the solution. Learn from the birds; live worry-free
SCRIPTURE PHOTO
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Psalm 94:19, Proverbs 12:25, & I Peter 5:6-7 (GNT)
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord for caring so much more for me who is more valuable to You than the birds. I cast every issue of concern to You, and I receive grace to trust in Your ability to take care of them. Today marks the beginning of my worry-free life in Jesus’ name.
