Why Jesus Says: Do Not Be AnxiousSample

Look at God’s care of the birds

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

Besides logical thinking about life being more important than food and the body being more important than clothing (as we read yesterday), Jesus tells us to look around us. Nature offers us many examples of God’s goodness and faithfulness. We find a similar strain of thought in the book of Job: “Ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you… In [God’s] hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7-10).

Psalm 104 also marvels about God’s provision for all creation, how He feeds the birds and causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and how trees and mountains provide refuge for various kinds of wild animals. The poet bursts out: “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures”.

Well, Jesus says, if God cares for the birds, would He not care for you? After all, “you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7).

Do you think of yourself as “valuable” in God’s eyes? Why, or why not?