Sermon on the Mount ਨਮੂਨਾ

If you were to visit a certain group of islands off the southern coast of Iceland during the late summer, you might be able to help with the annual local tradition of rescuing baby puffins, or “pufflings.” Puffins are seabirds that live in cold climates—and millions of them live around Iceland. The pufflings will fly out of their nests on the cliffs into the ocean, where they will live for the next few years. But sometimes, the pufflings can get lost on their way from the nest to the sea at night, mistaking the lights of the town for the moon and the stars. Their wings aren’t strong enough yet to get them the rest of the way to the ocean. So local residents, especially children, go out at night with boxes to find these lost pufflings around town and deliver them to the ocean.

In the next part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentions birds. Like these Icelanders, Jesus says God watches out for the birds. Birds work hard, but they don’t store up lots of food for the future. They live one day at a time, just doing their thing, and God provides food for them. He takes care of them.

Then Jesus asks His audience, “Aren’t you far more valuable to [God] than they are?” (Matthew 6:26). People are made in the image of God. He loves us. We are worth so much more to Him than birds! But sometimes, it’s easier to believe He will take care of the birds than it is to believe He’ll take care of us.

See, Jesus knows that all of us struggle with worry. We worry about all kinds of things—work, bills, kids, health, the future. It’s easy to get caught up in thoughts of all the things that could go wrong. But Jesus’ point here is that if God takes care of the birds, then, of course, He will take care of you! You can choose to trust God instead of worrying. He is in control.

Jesus tells His followers not to worry about tomorrow and all the little things that weigh them down. He's not telling them to be irresponsible. Instead, He tells them that rather than worrying about all of these things they can’t control about their lives and about the future, they should live in a way that focuses on God and His plan for the future. They can trust that He will give them what they need.

The next time you feel like you are worrying too much, remember that God takes care of the animals and the plants and the whole world. He is in control, and He cares for all living things. But He cares about you even more.

Reflect: What do I struggle to trust God with most? How can I remember to trust Him rather than worrying?

Read: Matthew 6:25-34