JP37: BUDS, BIRDS, AND PAGANS

Worrying about money, job security, relationships, health, and the future is something we all wrestle with from time to time.

Several years ago, we transitioned from an active military career to graduate school.  Without those twice-a-month paychecks and no job lined up, I worried about how we would buy groceries and supplies.  “Would we be eating government cheese?”

While we felt this move was a big step of faith, the reality was that my little faith had room to grow.

What I needed back then was less frenzy and more of what Jesus said about how buds, birds, and pagans teach us to overcome worry.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  (Mt 6:25–34, NIV).

Trust God With Your Present

Budding flowers show us how to trust God with our present circumstances.  As the object of God's creative touch, the flower grows naturally from a bud into a living thing of beauty.  Notice how Jesus says that the flower does not toil or spin to become what God intended it to be.  The bloom is content just to be a flower.

The beauty and worth he sees in you far exceed the most intricate flower.  How much more will he care for your daily needs if he cares for flowers from bud to bloom?  

Trust God With Your Future

God provides birds with incredible freedom of movement but no way to store food for the next day.  Birds naturally search and eat by instinct, not worrying about where to find tomorrow's food.  Wisely, the bird doesn’t try to be a fish or flower, just a fowl, content with the gift of flight and song.

While planning for the future is wise, large stores of material goods do not determine the fate of Christ-followers.  We can trust God to secure our future on earth and in heaven because he values us far beyond birds, and He loves us not for what we do but because He created us in His image.

Trust God’s Abiding Presence

In contrast to budding flowers and beautiful birds, Jesus observes the way of pagans.  Pagans, Jesus says, “run after all these things,” while buds and birds rest with contentment within their created purpose.

By pagans, Jesus simply means folks who have rejected God, not opening themselves to the Father's loving care.  Instead, they choose to do life independently, denying their identity as a uniquely created and supremely loved image-bearer.  

People who do life without God's presence often find themselves trying to be something more or less than their created purpose.  This untethering from the Father results in a misaligned life and compounds the stress and isolation when relationships tank, daily needs go wanting, and prospects dim.  

Jesus’ observation about pagans in his context doesn't mean that the Father neglects or in some way doesn’t cherish people who reject Him because "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."  (Matthew 5:45, NIV).  

He also made way for ex-pagans like me to find Him when I wasn’t looking, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you (and me) to God.” (1 Peter 3:18, NIV)

Seek First God’s Kingdom And His Righteousness

Moving from worry to trust in God begins by seeking Him first, learning the simple way of budding flowers and beautiful birds, content with our unique identity as a child of the Father.  In this way, His will and way become our priority in every area of life.  

As we pursue this single allegiance with our Creator, He promises to supply all of our needs, just like he did for us during a career transition.

Within a few weeks of settling into our new town, the Father provided a part-time job covering all tuition, books, and full health benefits.  

Where my faith was weak, God proved Himself strong, capable, and keenly aware of specific needs that He was more than happy to meet, even if that meant eating our monthly ration of government cheese.

Could the Father be revealing Himself to you in a new way today? What step is He leading you to take so that you can replace worry with a life of rest in your unique identity?

Prayer: Father, thank you for supplying all of my needs as I follow Christ.  You are trustworthy and faithful in every season of life. Guard me against the belief that I live by “my power and the strength of my hands” (Deut 8:17) to supply daily and future needs because it is you who looks after me, even when my faith is small.  Grow in me a deeper reliance on you so that I live more like the bud and bird. Amen.

1. Trust God With Your Present

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (Matthew 6:28-29)

2. Trust God With Your Future

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)

3. Trust God’s Abiding Presence

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:32)

4. Seek God’s Kingdom And Righteousness First

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:33-34)

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