QUESTION #6 Behold the fowls of the air... are you not much better than they?

QUESTIONS JESUS ASKED BIBLE STUDY 

 

      Read Matthew 6:25-34 KJV: 

 

   Behold the fowls of the air… your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? *Are you not more valuable than the fowls of the air? (Matthew 6:26)

      Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? *Can anyone add more years to their life by being anxious? (Matthew 6:27)

   Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field… shall he not much more clothe you, ye of little faith? Take no thought… what shall we eat?... what shall we drink?... where shall we be clothed? *Why worry about food to eat, something to drink, clothes to wear? (Matthew 6:31)   * words in black paraphrased by me

 

WHY WORRY?

Reference: Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-34

 

Perched on a tree branch, two birds were observing passersby rushing from one place to another. Looking at their faces, one bird asked the other, “Why is man so full of worries and cares?” The other bird answered, “Maybe they don’t have a heavenly Father like we do.”

 

Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” And if your heavenly Father cares for the birds of the air, how much more will he care for you, his precious child! Let your heart be at rest as you hear Him say to you, “Do not fear therefore; you are more valuable than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). Here Jesus is teaching that God wants us to trust Him as the fowls of the air do.

 

There is scarcely any sin against which the Lord warned His disciples about more, that is the disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often ensnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. Here Jesus is reminding us not to let those things become so important to us that we work only to achieve more and more. We can become so caught up in the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for more, that it can use up most of one’s time to achieve them (Mark 4:19; Luke 21:34). 

 

Jesus said these are all the things that unbelievers worry after. Jesus assures us (His followers) that our heavenly Father knows that we have need of these things. He said we are to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things will be added unto us. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them – not spending all of our time to acquire them.

 

Does God want us to work? Of course! The apostles stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.” Working with our hands and minds is all part of God’s blueprint and purpose for our lives. We are rewarded through our labor because God wants us to be successful as long as we keep our mind on Him. God wants us to use our labor as wage earners to be a blessing to others in need (Proverbs 14:31). We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

 

Note the implication: TO WORRY, then, is to accuse God. By worrying we are saying, “God doesn’t know”, or “God doesn’t care.” Think about it. Does God really not know? Does He not care? Is He so unloving that He will not provide for us? Rather, God knows; and He loves us with great and tender care. Jesus asked, “Can worrying add more years to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). Of course not! Worry is futile and cannot prolong your life. Jesus revealed that the real cause of anxiety is when we have little faith, when our faith is little we doubt God’s desire to provide for His children (Matthew 6:30).

 

God’s desire is to provide for His creation and that includes us! Such knowledge needs to course through more than just our heads, it needs to be embraced by the heart – resulting in peace, joy, and love.

 

For if we really know God, then we will really trust Him. God knows what we need. God cares. To suggest otherwise (by worrying) is evil. That is why it is forbidden.

 

Notes: