We have come to understand that God cares more about us than He cares about baby birds and yet…He cares enough about them, and all creatures, to provide suitable food for every species.
Jesus assured His disciples, and us, that the Father knows what we need before we ask Him. However, He requires far more from us than He does from birds and animals. There is a huge implication in His promise to meet our needs.
God created people for Himself.
He designed us to be His human family of sons and daughters who have a specific purpose and function here on earth. This human family, living under God’s direction and in obedience to His instructions, is to be on earth what we will be in His forever family, sons.
To be a son in Hebrew culture meant much more that being biologically connected to a father. Since their understanding about time was different from ours, they viewed time, not as a straight line for each person, but as cyclical…the birth, life, and death of every generation forming an ever-ongoing cycle. Every person’s life came from their parents and produced the next generation.
This meant that each child was to learn to be a son by submitting to, obeying, and learning the father’s business to carry the heritage and continue the legacy of that family. Unlike our culture which panders to the child and permits our offspring to go in any direction they choose, Hebrew sons were expected to “continue the house”, the very meaning of “son” in ancient Hebrew script.
For example, Jesus found young fishermen brothers, James and John, working with their father, Zebedee, at their trade. Jesus Himself, as a Jewish boy, joined His earthly father’s “building and maintenance” business until He left home to begin His ministry as a rabbi.
The same principle applies in the spiritual realm. Even as young as twelve, Jesus was aware of a connection with His heavenly Father of greater significance than with Joseph and Mary, His earthly parents. However, He learned the lessons of submission and obedience to an earthly father in preparation for His greater role as the Son of God.
God, the Father in heaven, stamped His approval on Jesus at His baptism, sending Him out with His blessing to do the Father’s business of re-establishing His kingdom on earth by His life, death, and resurrection.
Mark 1:10-11, 14-15 NLT
[10] “As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”…
[14] Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. [15] “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Jesus made it clear to all, especially to those who opposed Him, that He was the Father’s authentic son by His absolute submission and obedience to the Father’s will. He did nothing to contradict the Father, either in His words or works, and eventually died a cruel and ignominious death by the Father’s will.
Isaiah predicted….
Isaiah 53:10 NIV
[10] “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”
And Jesus enemies carried out God’s plan…
Acts of the Apostles 2:23 NLT
[23] “But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.”
For Jesus, the Father’s business was the kingdom of God. The Father appointed Him to be the supreme authority in His kingdom because of His submission and obedience.
Hebrews 5:7-9 NLT
[7]”While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. [8] Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. [9] In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.”
Through Him, the kingdom would be established on earth.
Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9]” Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Acts of the Apostles 10:38-43 NLT
[38] “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, [40] but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, [41] not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. [43] He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
Jesus perfectly satisfied His Father’s requirements for a son.
What was required of Him as a son is required of us as God’s “sons”, both male and female. Through submission and obedience to the Father, we learn to be true sons and are qualified to participate in God’s kingdom and carry on the Father’s business.
Now, two implications, as they relates to God’s care for baby sparrows, are simply implied in Jesus’ teaching.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
[33] “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
- If we live according to the requirements of God’s kingdom, obeying His Spirit and living by His Word, His promise to take care of our needs is guaranteed.
- If we disregard God’s instructions, living as we choose and living by our own standards, God’s promise does not apply.
So, this is the implication, then. Yes, God cares about baby sparrows. Yes, we are of greater value to Him than birds and animals, but…unlike baby sparrows, we have an obligation to live according to the ways and requirements of His kingdom as sons. If not, He is not obliged to take care of us….
But,in His mercy, He does.