Galatians419: This Is For the Birds

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

This Is For the Birds

By Allen White

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

The answer is “Yes” regardless of what the animal rights activists might say. People are more valuable to God than birds. But, God takes care of birds very well.

God’s role is to provide. If we depend on ourselves to provide, then we’ve replaced God. While God gives us the ability and the opportunity to work, He is the one who ultimately provides for our needs. The expectation is that we would work hard just like we’re working for God Himself (Colossians 3:23). But, as far as worrying over it is concerned, we should be as carefree as the birds.

Most of us are not that carefree. There are bills to pay and mouths to feed and the endless cycle of revolving credit. Anybody have a Dramamine? Ours worries stem from spending money we don’t have on things we don’t need to impress people that we don’t even like.

Whether we’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, occupy ourselves with entertainment, or accumulate more in pursuit of satisfaction, we’ve gone well beyond the way God provides for birds.

We worry about what we don’t have. We worry about how to pay for what we’re already bored with. We worry about minimum payments with no hope of getting to the end.

Think of it this way: God promises to provide for all of our needs. We get our paycheck--earned with the skills and talents God gave us and provided through the opportunity God gave us. This is God’s provision for our needs. But, why doesn’t it feel like it’s enough? Do we want more than God is willing to give us?

For some our past decisions have created our present mess. The bad news is that there are no bailouts for our personal finances. The good news is that we serve a God who loves us and who has provided wise teachers like Dave Ramsey, Ron Blue and others to guide us out of the pit.

For others financial calamity came from some sources beyond their control – a failed business venture, a failed marriage, a lawsuit. What do you do then? You start with what you’ve got. You seek wise counsel. You ask God for help. The hope would be that God would send some sort of miraculous bailout. The reality is that God will provide, but you’ll still have to face some tough things.

Maybe today’s devotional is too much reality. You might even think it’s for the birds. But, the great news about all of this is that God loves you, and He is committed to His success in your life. It might not look like your success, but it’s far more satisfying.

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