A Lesson From the Birds

Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?  Matthew 6:26

A fine pass fallen man has come to, that he must be sent to school to the fowls of the air, and that they must teach him.  Look upon the fowls, and learn to trust God for food and disquiet not yourself with thoughts what you shall eat.  There are various sorts of fowls, they are numerous, some of them ravenous, but they are all fed, and fed with food convenient for them; it is rare that any of them perish for want of food, even in winter and there goes no little to feed them all the year round.

The fowls, as they are least serviceable to man, so they are least within His care; men often feed upon them, but seldom feed them; yet they are fed, we know not how, and some of them fed best in the hardest weather; and it is your heavenly Father that feeds them; He knows all the wild fowls of the mountains, better than you know the tame ones at your barn door.  Not a sparrow lights to the ground, to pick up a grain of corn, but by the providence of God, which extends itself to the meanest (lowest) creatures.

They are fed without any care or project of their own; they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns.  The ant indeed does, and the bee, and they are set before us as examples of prudence and industry; but the fowls of the air do not; they make no provision for the future themselves, and yet every day, as duly as the day comes, provision is made for them, and their eyes wait on God, that great and good Housekeeper, who provides food for all flesh.

Improve this for your encouragement to trust in God.  Are ye not much better than they?  Yes, certainly you are.  The heirs of heaven are much better than the fowls of heaven, nobler and more excellent beings, and, by faith, they soar higher, they are of a better nature and nurture, wiser than the fowls of heaven.

You are dearer to God, and nearer, though they fly in the open firmament of heaven.  He is their Maker and Lord, their Owner and Master; but He is your Father, and ye are of more value than many sparrows; you are His children, His first-born.  They trust your Father's providence, and will not you trust it?  In dependence upon that, they are careless for the morrow; and being so, they live the merriest lives of all creatures; they sing among the branches, and, to the best of their power, they praise their Creator.

If we were, by faith, as unconcerned about the morrow as they are, we should sing as cheerfully as they do; for it is worldly care that mars our mirth (laughter) and damps our joy, and silences our praise, as much as anything.  (Matthew Henry)

I know, a humongous blog about birds--but I love this verse and the meaning that is attached to it.  I never really thought about the fact that birds rely solely on God's provision for their existence.  Yet, they are always singing--to have that kind of peace; knowing that God will provide for me at all times.  Once again we are being reminded that the world has a place in our lives; but a very small one.  Enjoy today--trust God for tomorrow.