Value

Have you ever noticed how birds eat? Blue jays fly in, pick out a particular seed, and then fly back to the tree, hold the seed in their feet and eat their breakfast. The doves land on the perimeter of the feeder, raise one wing and walk around intimidating everyone else while they pick up one seed at a time.

But the sparrows are different.

Just as they peck, they twist their heads and scatter seed to the four corners of the compass. By the time everyone else has flown in, the sparrows have already made a mess of large proportion—or at least I thought it was a mess.

My Father waited for an opportune time to show me that the sparrows’ mess was in fact their Provider’s provision.

Staring out the window one morning, trying to figure out how to keep the sparrows from making such a mess, the Lord said to my mind, Pay attention now, I have something to tell you.

The song began going through my mind, “His eye is on the sparrow, so I know He watches me.” Then I realized that no sooner do the sparrows get run off from the feeder than they move to the ground. While everybody else jockeys for position on the fence waiting for an opening on the feeder, the sparrows are busy below, stuffing their gullets with the seeds they scattered earlier.

Just like the Lord said, He’s taking care of each one of them.

Every morning, right in front of me, there is a vivid demonstration that Father follows through on His commitments. His Word is true, and these sparrows are proof that He will provide for me with similar diligence and loving care.

The Lord’s provision for these little, brown-striped birds happens every day, rain or shine, hot or cold, stormy weather or cloudless blue skies.

In his book, Matthew makes my point very simply. He writes, “You are more valuable than many sparrows.”