Taking Our Cue From the Birds

In Luke 12 verses 22-34 Jesus talks about replacing worry with faith. He says do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear.

Verse 23 says, "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."

He then gives an example of the ravens and how they do not sow or reap, yet God feeds them.

Question: If life is not about working for food or clothes, what is it about?

I contemplated the life of a bird this morning and this is what I saw.

A bird is born and is first cared for by its' bird parents. The parents teach the bird what it means to be a bird and how to live and act like a bird. Eventually, the bird goes off on his own, mates, and they reproduce. They then care for their offspring and teach them how to live like birds. They also fly and soar peacefully in the sky for others to see and be in awe of their beauty and ease. Basically, their life is about relationships, caring and teaching their young, and bringing glory to their Creator by staying within the framework of who God created them to be.

A couple of quick differences between birds and man I noted were:

1. A bird doesn't say he would prefer a bigger nest and thus decide not to reproduce so he has more time to work on getting and keeping the bigger nest.

2. A bird doesn't say he doesn't have the time, the resources, or the know how to raise a child and so then decide to kill their own baby bird out of convenience for them.

3. A bird doesn't care what the other birds say about them. They just keep on being who they are.

4. A bird doesn't try to be something their not. I've never seen a bird trying to be a giraffe. I don't see them envying what others have or wanting to be different.

5. I don't see birds sending their children off to someone else to be taught how to live as a bird. A bird doesn't send their offspring to a fox to learn how to be a bird. They take the responsibility on themselves knowing the best way for the little birds to become adult birds is to teach them themselves.

The question was, if life is not about food and clothes, what is it about?

If we take our cue from the birds, maybe it's about relationships, caring and teaching our offspring, being content with who God created us to be, and bringing glory to him in all we do.

Are we living the life God created us to live? Are we soaring in the sky? Are we content, peaceful, and beautiful because we are resting in his providence for us and being obedient to his way and plans?

Doesn't that sound like an awesome way to live? I desire to soar today! I hope you do too!