Birds and Blossoms, Cupboards and Closets
Introduction
Have you ever heard of biomimicry? Biomimicry is a fairly new science that studies nature in order to find technological answers and solutions for life. An example of biomimicry is how scientist and biologists at U.C. Berkeley have studied the movements of the cockroach in order to build more agile robots. Likewise, several years ago, students at MIT built a 12-foot boat that moves by copying the way a penguin swims through the water.
Long before anyone had coined the term “biomimicry,” the Lord Jesus used the elements of nature to teach important and eternal lessons about life.
In Luke chapter 12, beginning in verse 22, Jesus warns us against worrying about the necessities of life. He says, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”
In order to curb our worries about these day to day essentials, like food and clothing, the Lord points us to the ravens and the lilies. In verse 24, He says, “Consider the ravens…” Then in verse 27, He says, “Consider the lilies…”
Through this simple yet powerful lesson, the Lord Jesus shows us what the birds and blossoms have to do with our cupboards and closets.
In other words, Jesus takes some of the most basic elements of creation and uses them to teach us all a lesson about our Creator, and how he provides for us.
For those who’ve ever worried about how their needs were going to be met, or from where the essentials of life were going to come, Jesus offers a wonderful truth.
As we study this passage, there are three things our Lord gives us. First of all, notice with me:
I. The Principle Our Lord Gives Us
In verse 22, Jesus mentions two of the most simple and basic needs of human life. He says, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”
While Jesus addresses the simple needs of food and clothes, the point of this text is something more significant than dinner and dress. Jesus is dealing with issue of worry.
The primary principle behind this passage is that we should not worry about the necessities and requirements of life.
Notice a couple of things this principle our Lord gives us. Notice first of all, He says to us:
A. Don’t Be Disturbed About The Supply Of Life’s Needs
Look again at verse 22. Jesus said to His disciples, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”
Most modern translations render the phrase “Take no thought” as “Don’t worry”, or, “Don’t be anxious”. The word that is translated as “thought” is an interesting word.
It comes from a compound of two words, and speaks of being divided or distracted. Warren Wiersbe said that this word means “to be torn apart.”
Jesus is not saying that we should never think about necessities like food and clothes. What He is saying is that these sorts of needs should not worry us to the point of tearing us apart.
Most of us know the feeling of staring at a stack of bills and not having a stack of money to match it. Most of us can relate to the strain that can often come, even from life’s most basic demands.
In those moments, when our supply doesn’t meet the demand, Jesus says that we should not let that deficit tear us apart. We should not be disturbed about the question of how our needs are going to be supplied.
We live in an unstable world, and our country is still in the midst of a war, and yet, a recent poll found that by far, the number one concern for most Americans is the economy. Last week, a Quinnipiac poll of some 1,500 likely voters found that 44% said the biggest problem facing our country is the economy. The Iraq war finished a distant second at only 12%.
Contrary to our culture, and the constant worry that most people have over financial issues, the Lord Jesus taught that the supply of our most basic needs is not something that we should allow to tear us apart.
Notice something else we draw from this principle our Lord gives us in this text. He not only tells us, don’t be disturbed about the supply of life’s needs, but also:
B. Don’t Be Deceived About The Significance Of Life’s Needs
Look again at our text, and notice verse 23. Here Jesus makes a very insightful statement. He says, “The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”
In other words, a man’s life is not defined by what he eats and what he wears. You cannot judge the character and quality of a man’s life by looking in his cupboard and his closet.
Even though we live in a materialistic society, where wealth and success are often glorified, surely you understand the point Jesus is making.
Just because a man eats in the finest restaurants, and wears the most expensive, designer clothes, that does not mean that his life is good, or that his life is more valuable than that of the man who eats Top Ramen, and wears clothes from Wal-Mart.
Jesus warns us about falling into the trap of believing that what you make for a living is all that matters in living your life.
The principle our lord sets forth in this text is absolutely correct, because it is possible for a man to have a full stomach, and still have an empty heart. You can put a thousand dollar suit on a dead man, and he will still be dead.
As each new day dawns, bringing its own set of necessary demands, our Lord reminds us not to be anxious over those needs, but to remember their significance in light of spiritual and eternal things.
Look again at this passage, and notice something else our Lord gives us as He teaches us the connection between birds and blossoms, cupboards and closets. Notice not only the principle our Lord gives us, but notice also secondly:
II. The Picture Our Lord Gives Us
It was G.H. Morrison, a Scottish preacher and author of a past generation, who said that, “…our Lord was keenly alive to the message of nature.”
As Jesus walked the ancient roads of Palestine, He saw more than mountains and meadows, creeks and creatures. He saw in nature object lessons about His Father. To Him, all creation pointed to the Creator.
In our text, twice our Lord points us to spiritual pictures that are to be found in the most common points of nature. In verse 24, Jesus said, “Consider the ravens…” Then in verse 27, He said, “Consider the lilies…”
The word “consider” literally means to contemplate something, or to study and observe something in order to learn from it.
Jesus uses the picture of birds and blossoms in order teach us a lesson about God’s care. Notice a couple of truths we draw from these pictures. Notice first of all:
A. God’s Care For The Birds
Notice with me verse 24. Jesus said, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them…”
In Matthew’s account of this picture, Jesus simply speaks of the birds in general. He talks about how God providentially provides for the birds of the air.
Jesus says, “Observe the birds. They don’t plant crops. They don’t harvest wheat or corn. They don’t have granaries and silos full of food, and yet your heavenly Father sees to it that they find the sustenance they need to live.”
The primary way in which birds communicate is through sound. Bird calls and songs are produced by a organ called the syrinx. Some birds can actually operate both sides of this organ at the same time, and thereby produce two different songs simultaneously.iv
Birds sing for a variety of different reasons. They sing to attract a mate, to mark a territory, and to identify themselves. Birds sing about a variety of different things.
One thing, however, you will never hear a bird sing about is a grocery bill. Birds never chirp about where they are going to find worms and insects.
Jesus points us to God’s care for the birds in order to encourage us about His care for us. If He is big enough to feed all the birds, then He is certainly able to supply our most basic needs.
Notice not only that Jesus gives us a picture of God’s care for the birds, but notice also further, He points us to:
B. God’s Care For The Blossoms
Look back at our text, and notice verse 27. There, Jesus said, “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
No doubt, as Jesus taught His disciples that day, He pointed down to some of the many wildflowers that grew throughout that region.
There were several different types of lilies that grew throughout the year in Palestine, and they varied in color from white, to gold, to red. Someone has described them as being “indescribably lovely.”
Jesus pointed to these flowers and said, “Look at these plants, wearing these beautiful, colorful petals. They didn’t spin and sew these garments. They didn’t work to create their own clothes. Yet, your heavenly Father has outfitted them with robes more glorious than King Solomon’s finest royal attire.”
The point Jesus was making was that if God takes the initiative to clothe the flowers of the field, why should you and I worry about having something to put on our bodies.
The fashion industry is a goliath in our country, taking in somewhere around $200 billion each year. It is said that the average American woman has 30 pairs of shoes in her closet, and spends just over $1,700 a year in clothing.v
For most Americans, the problem is not having clothes, but rather, having too many clothes. Nevertheless, many people worry too much about what they put on their body.
Jesus points us to the flowers of the field, clothed in their glorious garments of color, in order to show us that God can take care of clothing us.
Both the birds and the blossoms remind us of God’s care for His creatures. Notice a final thing our Lord gives us in this text. Notice not only the principle our Lord gives us, and the picture our Lord gives us, but notice also thirdly:
III. The Promise Our Lord Gives Us
In this text, our Lord asks two rhetorical questions that point us to the promise that comes with our relationship to God.
In verse 24, speaking of the birds, Jesus asks, “…and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
Then in verse 28, Jesus said, “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
When a person receives Christ, and is saved by grace, they are adopted into the family of God. The God of Heaven becomes their Father, and with that relationship, there comes certain promises.
The Lord Jesus reminds us of a couple of truths regarding God’s promise to us. Notice first of all that:
A. We Are Important Our Father
After Jesus described how God feeds the birds, He asked this question, “…how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
The implication is that while God does care about the birds, and so much so that He sees to it that they are fed, His care for us is even greater than that of the birds.
Do you realize how important you are to your heavenly Father? You are a priority to Him. He loves you more than you could ever know, and cares for you beyond anything you have ever imagined.
I believe it was Max Lucado who said that “If God had a refrigerator your picture would be on it.”
We often talk about the importance of God in our lives. Have you ever considered your importance to God? Have you ever thought about how much you mean to Him?
When God looks at you, you are not just some speck on a globe full of people. You are His child, and He cares for you more than any other creature on this planet. You are important to your Father!
Do you want to know how important you are to your Father? Look at the cross! There God’s surpassing love for man was demonstrated as He gave up His own Son in order to bring many sons to glory!
Several years ago I was introduced to a song entitled How Deep the Father’s Love. One verse says: How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure, That He would give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure
In this passage, Jesus reminds us of God’s love for us, and promises us that we are important to Him. Notice also, Jesus promises us that:
B. We Are Insured By Our Father
Look again at verse 28, and notice the truth our Lord lays out. He says, “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
The implication is that if God will care for the flowers, then surely, as our Father, he will care for us as well. We are insured by the fact that we belong to the Father.
Why should you worry about necessities of this life? Why should be anxious over the things you must have in order to make it?
If you belong to God, then your Heavenly Father has promised to take care of you. You are guaranteed and insured by your relationship to God.
Jennifer Katherine Gates is a twelve year-old girl currently living in Medina, Washington. Jennifer is not your typical little girl, however, because her dad happens to be Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and a man who was estimated at one time to be worth over $100 billion.
Can you ever imagine young Jennifer worrying over her lunch money, or how she would get a new dress?
Do you realize that it is just as ludicrous for a Christian to worry about the necessities of life? Our heavenly Father is richer than Bill Gates could ever imagine.
Jesus reminds us that our relationship to God insures that we will never be without the things we need. Our Father will care for us!
The issue Jesus is tackling in this text is the sin of worry. John MacArthur, in his comments on this text says, “Worry is not a trivial sin, because it strikes a blow at both God’s love and at God’s integrity.
Worry declares our heavenly Father to be untrustworthy in His Word and His promises.”
Are you guilty of striking a blow at God’s love and integrity by worrying about the necessities of life? Has you worry insulted the care of your Father?
Jesus points us to the birds and blossoms in order to comfort us about our cupboards and closets. We can trust in the provision of a good God.
Those that know Christ, and have been born again into the family of God need not worry about life’s demands. The Father knows you have need of these things, and He promises to provide.
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1 Wiersbe, Warren, Be Compassionate, (Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1988), p. 140
2 Varnon, Rob, Poll: Economy Still Top Voter Concern, Connecticut Post, 8/23/08, 3 http://www.connpost.com/ci_10258674
4 Morrison, G.H., Sunrise, (A.C. Armstrong & Son, New York, 1906), p. 21 iv Birds, Wikipedia Article, 8/23/08, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird
5 Chatzky, Jean, Retail Therapy, 2/16/2003, USA Weekend Magazine, 8/23/08,
6 http://www.usaweekend.com/03_issues/030216/030216moneysmart.html
7 MacArthur, John, Matthew 1-7, (BMH Books, Winona Lake, MN, 1985), p. 425