“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matthew 6:26
Wild birds are not dependent at all on mankind for their care. It is God who provides for them. At the same time, however, He expects them to use the abilities He has given them to forage for their food, and build their own nests. Very few men are as hard working as a sparrow, particularly when it has a nest full of babies to take care of.
In a similar fashion, God expects man to accept the responsibility of working for the necessities of life. God has ordained natural laws to produce food. The food is there, but the birds must go and get it. He who provides for these birds can be counted on to provide for mankind also for the necessities of life. God has promised to provide if we are willing to work for them.
Our bread and water has been promised. “Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” Isaiah 33:16. “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:8. It is not God’s plan that the accumulation of abundance of material wealth to be used for oneself. That idea comes from the enemy and leads men to amass more than their share of the good things in life.
Jesus spoke a parable of such a man, “And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry. But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:16–20
It is this perverted desire for more material wealth and the best things of this earth that fosters selfishness and leads to crime, violence and war. The Gentiles seek these, but they are not appropriate for the citizens of the heavenly kingdom.
If God provides so bountifully for the lesser creatures of His creation, how much more will He provide for the well-being and happiness of man who was created in His image?
Then why are there so many poor people on this earth? Some are poor of their own making, either choosing to spend their finances unwisely on pernicious habits, or to not work at all. Paul writes, “that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Others are poor as a test from God. “Providence, though unseen, is ever at work in the affairs of men. God’s hand can prosper or withhold, and He frequently withholds from one while He seems to prosper another. All this is to test and prove man to reveal the heart. He lets misfortune overtake one brother while He prospers others to see if those whom He favors have His fear before their eyes and will perform the duty enjoined upon them in His Word to love their neighbor as themselves and to help their poorer brother from a love to do good. Acts of generosity and benevolence were designed by God to keep the hearts of the children of men tender and sympathetic and to encourage in them an interest and affection for one another in imitation of the Master, who for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.” –Reflecting Christ, p. 270
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING
While the animals have a simple faith and trust that their needs will be provided for as they work, God has promised to provide for us if we ask, pray and work. There are, however, several types of prayers. There is the prayer of doubt, the prayer of presumption and the prayer of faith. The prayer of doubt is the prayer of one who is hoping, but not trusting. They are not sure that the answer will be provided. They rejoice to see answered prayer, yet when they pray they are unsure. They are anxious. The prayer of presumption is a prayer that God will do everything with no effort on man’s part. However, as we read, God provides all the necessities of life, and gives man the ability to work for themselves. Man must cooperate with the agencies God has provided and he must work. The prayer of faith is the calm, abiding trust in God. No matter what happens in this life they can say like Job, “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7
The word “careful” is from the Greek word “Merimnao” which means to be “anxious”. Paul’s admonition is that we should not be full of painful anxiety. Those experiencing anxiety are those who are depending on themselves in the midst of life’s difficulties, and not trusting in God. We can rise above this anxiety by “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
We are human, and we, thankfully, have a loving and understanding Saviour. There is nothing that disturbs the Christian’s peace that is too small for God to notice. There is nothing too great for Him to care for. He knows exactly what you need. He wants you to have everything that is for your good. Then why should we be burdened with the cares of this life if He is willing to help you bear them?
The promise is that through prayer and supplication you may discuss all your needs with Christ. In Philippians 4:6 we first see the word “nothing” and then the word “every thing” is used; a positive contrast. We do not need to worry about anything if we take everything to God in prayer.
Paul uses the terms “prayer” and “supplication” here. Prayer is communicating with God in the widest sense. Supplication is praying for a specific object or need in mind. Many pray but do not supplicate. Their prayers are always general, but when we do supplicate, we will see definite answers to prayer and our faith will grow stronger.
We also need to pray with thanksgiving. It must never be left out of our devotions. We can thank God for the blessings and we can thank Him also for the trials. It helps to remind us of our past mercies and prepares us to receive further blessings. God is in control of all affairs in our life for our own good; for character development.
We do not bring our requests to God to inform Him about our needs. He knows our necessities before we even ask Him. “For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Matthew 6:8
PEACE OF GOD
If we trust in God, His peace will be given to us (Philippians 4:7). We will have peace with God. It is not possible for the Christian to be at peace at all times with all men. However, this should not disturb our peace with God in our hearts. This peace is grounded on faith in God and a personal knowledge of His power and care. It extends from His abiding presence and produces confidence, trust, and love. This peace is beyond human understanding, or comprehension. It is beyond human reasoning or our highest possible imaginations. This peace will keep our thoughts and our minds centred in, and united with, Christ. Nothing in this world can disturb our peace. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38–39
HOW DEPENDENT ARE WE ON GOD?
All life on this planet is dependent on the daily blessings that God provides. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28. God is very near. How ungrateful many people have been for the bountiful blessings given from above.
Not only is our initial dependence on the Creator at our birth, but that all our activities throughout life, whether physical, mental or spiritual are derived from Him. “Through the agencies of nature, God is working, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, to keep us alive, to build up and restore us. When any part of the body sustains injury, a healing process is at once begun; nature’s agencies are set at work to restore soundness. But the power working through these agencies is the power of God.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 112–113
Science Says: There is no God. They look to the Big Bang Theory and Evolution as the source of all life on this planet. Therefore, they do not need God today. Man is the master of this earth. “Again, worldly wisdom teaches that prayer is not essential. Men of science claim that there can be no real answer to prayer; that this would be a violation of law, a miracle, and that miracles have no existence. The universe, say they, is governed by fixed laws, and God Himself does nothing contrary to these laws. Thus they represent God as bound by His own laws—as if the operation of divine laws could exclude divine freedom. Such teaching is opposed to the testimony of the Scriptures. Were not miracles wrought by Christ and His apostles? The same compassionate Saviour lives today, and He is as willing to listen to the prayer of faith as when He walked visibly among men. The natural cooperates with the supernatural. It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask.” –The Great Controversy, p. 525
God says: “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Matthew 7:7. Re-read this last sentence above. Although we read in Matthew 6:8 that God knows our needs before we ask Him, we must ask. He will not bestow until we ask. How simple just to ask.
The truth is that God is in control of all nature and what science does not take into account is that, “God is perpetually at work in nature. She is His servant, directed as He pleases. Nature in her work testifies of the intelligent presence and active agency of a being who moves in all His works according to His will. It is not by an original power inherent in nature that year by year the earth yields its bounties and continues its march around the sun. The hand of infinite power is perpetually at work guiding this planet. It is God’s power momentarily exercised that keeps it in position in its rotation.
“The God of heaven is constantly at work. It is by His power that vegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears and every flower blooms. Every drop of rain or flake of snow, every spire of grass, every leaf and flower and shrub, testifies of God. These little things so common around us teach the lesson that nothing is beneath the notice of the infinite God, nothing is too small for His attention.
“The mechanism of the human body cannot be fully understood; it presents mysteries that baffle the most intelligent. It is not as the result of a mechanism, which, once set in motion, continues its work, that the pulse beats and breath follows breath. In God we live and move and have our being. Every breath, every throb of the heart, is a continual evidence of the power of an ever-present God.
“It is God that causes the sun to rise in the heavens. He opens the windows of heaven and gives rain. He causes the grass to grow upon the mountains. ‘He giveth snow like wool: He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.’ ‘When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; . . . He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures.’ Psalm 147:16; Jeremiah 10:13.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 259–260
“Although the Lord has ceased His work in creating, He is constantly employed in upholding and using as His servants the things which He has made. Said Christ, ‘My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.’”–The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1062
We see how fully God is in control so why would we worry? Yet many are afraid to, “let go and let God.” They fear. They feel that they must be in control themselves. And this leads to anxiety and worry when things do not go as they planned.
The best cure for worry is to trust in God. If we do our part faithfully, making the kingdom of heaven first in our thoughts and lives, God will take care of us on our walk through life. Christians can be free from anxiety in the midst of the most distressing circumstances, fully assured that He who does everything well, will make all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). God knows about tomorrow; And He tells us to trust in His continued watchcare and to take no thought for its problems and perplexities. When tomorrow comes, its anticipated troubles often prove to have been wholly imaginary. Too many people permit themselves to be haunted by the unknown of tomorrow before tomorrow ever comes. We should ever remember that God does not bestow help for tomorrow’s burdens until tomorrow comes. It is our privilege to learn each passing day that Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for thee,” today. 2 Corinthians 12:9. Tomorrow will take care of itself when it comes. Each day brings its own measure of toil and care, and the wise person is the one who learns not to try to bear tomorrow’s burdens today.
“Notwithstanding the curse was pronounced upon the earth that it should bring forth thorns and thistles, there is a flower upon the thistle. The world is not all sorrow and misery. God’s great book of nature is open for us to study, and from it we are to gain more exalted ideas of His greatness and unexcelled love and glory. He who laid the foundation of the earth, who garnished the heavens and marshaled the stars in their order, He who has clothed the earth with a living carpet, and beautified it with lovely flowers of every shade and variety, would have His children appreciate His works, and delight in the simple, quiet beauty with which He has adorned their earthly home.
“Christ sought to draw the attention of His disciples away from the artificial to the natural: ‘If God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?’ Why did not our heavenly Father carpet the earth with brown or gray? He chose the color that was most restful, the most acceptable to the senses. How it cheers the heart and refreshes the weary spirit to look upon the earth, clad in its garments of living green! Without this covering the air would be filled with dust, and the earth would appear like a desert. Every spire of grass, every opening bud and blooming flower is a token of God’s love, and should teach us a lesson of faith and trust in Him. Christ calls our attention to their natural loveliness, and assures us that the most gorgeous array of the greatest king that ever wielded an earthly scepter was not equal to that worn by the humblest flower. You who are sighing for the artificial splendor which wealth alone can purchase, for costly paintings, furniture, and dress, listen to the voice of the divine Teacher. He points you to the flower of the field, the simple design of which cannot be equaled by human skill.” –The Review and Herald, October 27, 1885
May God help us to learn from nature’s lessons—from the birds of the air—to have simple faith and trust in our heavenly Father, and to work using the resources that He has so abundantly provided for our temporal and spiritual necessities. What a blessed thought, “God is in control.” Amen.
Wendy Eaton