Feeling worthless? God values each tiny sparrow and every person more, so you can trust in Him.

A tiny sparrow is of value

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

One of my favourite parts of my morning routine is going out to feed the birds. I refill the various containers hanging in the garden and change the water in the shallow dish, which my feathered friends use to drink from and bathe in. Rain or shine, I go out each day. In the winter I may have to clear snow from the feeders or break ice from the water dish.

It is so uplifting to hear the birds singing in the early morning. As I go about my tasks, I am aware of the flutter of wings in the bushes and excited chatter as the braver birds get ready to land on the feeders as soon as I reach the kitchen door. The time and money involved is more than repaid by the pleasure I get from watching the birds. I love to see, and hear, our garden so alive and busy.

Of course, the food I put out each day merely supplements the natural larder already supplied by our Heavenly Father. As I stand with my bowl of cereal or piece of toast, looking out of the window, I often reflect on the fact that it is the same bountiful, loving God who provides food for me and the birds. He created us all with such care. Jesus highlighted this very fact when he was teaching his disciples about the importance of trusting God in all things,

 “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ...”  (Matthew 6: 25-34, ESV)

Some of the birds who visit the garden each day are bold and distinctive; the confident robin and blackbird, who come so close and watch me with bright, engaging eyes, the pushy magpies, and pigeons, who dominate by their very size, the beautifully coloured chaffinches, they all draw the attention in their own way. However, the birds I have come to love the most are the little sparrows who throng around and in and out of the feeders. They are small and brown and, in many ways, unremarkable yet their creator cares about each and every one. Jesus says,

 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)

According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, the sparrows in Judea were a different variety from the those who visit my garden and indeed the Greek word translated ‘sparrow’ in the New Testament, στρουθίον means a small bird rather than a particular species. It is possible that Jesus had in mind the pigeons and turtle doves sold as the temple offerings of the poorest in society.

“But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.” (Leviticus 5:7)

Small birds, such as sparrows and chaffinches, were also sold for food. To the better off in society, they were a snack, eaten and quickly forgotten, but for the very poorest in society they provided the opportunity to supplement a meagre diet with some meat.

Whatever the type of birds being referred to and whatever their intended purpose, one thing is certain, they had very little commercial value. We have already seen from Matthew 10 that two could be purchased with a small coin. In Luke 12, Jesus says,

 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12: 6-7)

Some simple maths shows us that it was common practice to have a ‘buy four, get one free’ deal and yet, Jesus tells us, even that fifth little bird, literally worthless, easily disregarded, is precious to God. If we ever feel overlooked and worthless, like that fifth sparrow, we can reflect on the fact that God values each of us, to Him we are precious, cherished and loved.

Hopefully, for many of us, for most of the time, we are the happy, chirpy ones, enjoying the sunshine, confident of our place in our Heavenly Father’s care. But let us not forget to look around for the fifth sparrow, so easily overlooked and yet in need of encouragement or reassurance. Let’s make sure we encourage one another so that we can all rise up singing each new day in praise to the Lord God, the awesome creator. (Blog by Kate Miles)