Have you ever stopped to study the birds that fly about our gardens and our neighborhood? Have you ever wondered if they are as carefree as they seem? You and I may never know the answer to that, but Jesus had something to say about birds. He said, “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?”
This seems to indicate a carefree lifestyle, doesn’t it? Not having to sow or reap or store away in barns is just the opposite of what we do everyday. Which brings me to the question, can you live for today? Without sowing (working), reaping (working), storing into barns (saving for tomorrow?) In today’s world that doesn’t seem feasible. We must work, we must pay our bills and we must prepare for tomorrow. However, the way we go about it is what really matters.
If we are so consumed with the future that we fail to take notice of the present, then we are doing ourselves a big disfavor. Our mental as well as physical health may be affected. How many times do we hear of someone who worked and slaved all their lives never having time for family or friends or to take a vacation? That person eventually died (as we all will) and left all his wealth behind. Was it worth it? You might say at least he provided well for his family. True, but wealth can never replace the person.
Living for today does not mean flying about like a bird or being irresponsible. God does expect us to work for our living. When the human race fell as a result of sin, work became one of the consequences we must suffer. “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground” (Genesis 3: 19). But God does not want us to kill ourselves doing it. We are valuable to Him and just as He looks after the birds, He will look after us.
