Hoarding - Day 25 - Matt. 6:25, 26

March 15, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Despite a gigantic mess, my grandsons, Grayson and Parker, helped me build a bird feeder. After plastering the sides and top with birdseed, we carefully placed it in our yard. Racing back inside, Gray waited … as long as a 3 year old could wait … only to be discouraged; not one bird landed to feast upon the table we spread!

However, after Grayson and Parker left, you guessed it! The birds began to flock to the food. Grabbing my camera … Grayson and Parker needed to see their hard work had paid off … I snapped a photo or two, noticing one little bird became very territorial.

He not only sat on top of the bird feeder, eating away, but as each bird landed and inched toward this wonderful feast, this little finch jumped down and chased them away. He was not going to share! Despite the fact, Grayson, Parker, and I provided the feast, and would continue to do so, he had taken “ownership."

Watching this “tango” take place, I began to think about two verses. First, Matthew, chapter 6, verses 25 and 26 and Luke, chapter 12, verses 22 through verse 24. In both chapters, Jesus encourages us to have a proper perspective, or attitude, toward material things.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body what you will put on is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 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?”

Three great truths are wrapped up in these verses! First, the “therefore” connects these verses with the previous verses where Jesus teaches concerning covetousness and the need to come against this attitude with total dependence upon our Heavenly Father.

Second, when we have a proper attitude toward material things, based on truth, God is in control of all things (Psalm 103), all good things are gifts from God (James 1:17), God owns everything and we are simply His stewards (Colossians 1:16, Psalm 50: 10 and 12), God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) and, because we are His creation, He knows our needs before we do (Matt. 6:25, 26), we will be set free from “worrying” about the physical necessities of life.

Third, we are of great value to God. He loves us dearly and, as His children, He will provide for us.

Here's the challenge! Trusting God completely, evident by practically applying these verses to our daily living, can be overwhelmingly difficult. However, by taking captive every “worry," our thoughts become redirected toward total dependence upon God, helping us overcome the temptation to be like this little finch; perched upon our possessions, worrying about the supply running out while taking ownership, as if we provided, and then we hoard.

Ouch! Thank you Father for using this little bird to remind us of your faithful, loving, and gracious care, not because we deserve it but because we're your children and as our Father, you will provide for our every need!

<$blogfeedsvertical$>

FC2XHYQAK7SG

Keywords: chri

Comments

No comments posted.