A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"More Valuable"

The tragedy could have been avoided. The peopled who died could have been saved. But the repeated warnings from the Army Corp of Engineers to rebuild the levee over for the pervious five years were not acted upon. Why? Because at the foot of present dam there was a particular type of bush which produced a berry that a specific type of bird ate. The bird was on the endangered species list. This bird had not been seen in the area for many years, but the group continued to create delays for the bird's sake. The rains came and the water rose and the old decaying levee could no longer hold the water. It let loose and the whole town was flooded taking the lives of many people who could not be evacuated in time.

The young woman is perched atop the giant redwood tree, where she has been for a number of years. Her friends come by and place needed supplies on the end of a robe which she pulls up to her makeshift dwelling among the branches of the tree. Why does this young women refuse to come down, subject herself to such peril, and live is such ascetic life? It is a rebellious protest against the cutting of the trees for lumber. She vows to remain there until the timber companies cease to cut down the tress.

Such incidents makes you wonder how people today would answer Jesus' question in Matthew 6:26 and 28 where He calls us to "consider the birds of the air.... and look at the lilies of the field." He asks, "Are you not much more valuable [important] than they?" (V. 26) Let's not miss the point here. As important as these environmental issues may be, Jesus is not speaking to proper care and treatment of animals. He is illustratively revealing the magnitude of God's love and care for us. Contemporary thinkers probably would miss wonderful truth. But we must not!

Jesus did not come to redeem birds. He did not come to liberate the animal kingdom or save trees. Jesus came and died for us. We are that important to Him. All of creation will be redeemed from the ravages of sin one day. Paul tells us in Romans that all of creation groans like a women in labor for the coming of Christ. (Romans 8:22) But the emphatic answer to Jesus' question is an unqualified "YES! We are more valuable than the birds of the air!" Why? Because God has placed that value upon us in creation and in redemption! He loves and cares for us.

Such and grand and glorious truth does not produce arrogance, but humility! To think that God - He Who with a word spoke everything into being; God the Wholly Other; God, the I Am Who has no beginning and no end; - considers us that valuable, that important, brings us to our knees in humble loving worship. Isaac Watts superbly and poetically captured it in the last verse of his hymn "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross," where he proclaims, " Love so amazing so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!"

It is not that we love God, but "that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10) Ponder with me a moment upon this grand truth. We are valuable to God! Indeed, "love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." Let us give nothing less beloved!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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