Worth More Than Sparrows
Wow! That’s not really the compliment I was looking for. How about you? We all like compliments, but we generally expect something a little different, don’t we? It’s like the preacher who was complimented with, “You’ll be a good preacher, someday!” (I was told that once.)
Well, before we fall prey to the temptation to start accepting or rejecting compliments based on whether we think they’re worded correctly, let’s understand just what “worth more than sparrows” means. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31). He told this to His disciples in the midst of giving them what we call the “Limited Commission.” He was sending them out to preach the gospel of the coming kingdom to the “house of Israel,” Matthew 10:6. In other words, they weren’t to go to the Gentiles just yet. That would come later with the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16.
The job Jesus was sending the twelve to do was a dangerous one. They would be in danger of losing their very lives. Still, they were not to worry. God was going to take care of them. Even in the face of death, they were to put their trust in God. And then He makes that statement, “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” His point is that not even the sparrows have to worry about God not knowing about them and what they suffer. And if He watches over the sparrows, how much more will He watch over His faithful?
It’s a scary world that Jesus has sent us into, isn’t it? He didn’t send us on the Limited Commission like the twelve, but He did send us on the Great Commission. And He did tell us that if we wanted to be His disciples, we would have to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). The cross we’re to take up amounts to living our lives according to the example Jesus gave us in living His (1 Peter 2:21-23). And sometimes that’s hard; sometimes it’s death. Still, it’s what He expects us to do.
Jesus told the twelve that sometimes brother would deliver up brother to death, a father his child and children their parents (Matthew 10:21). Sometimes even today our enemies are those in our own households (those closest to us) (Matthew 10:36). It may be that those closest to you have turned on you and are making your life miserable. Don’t be afraid! God is watching and knows what you’re suffering. He will not leave you or forsake you!
There are times when you probably don’t feel worth more than even one sparrow. And it may be that being told you’re worth more than several is a surprising way to say God loves you, but that’s exactly what it says. Times may be tough for you right now. God still knows the number of hairs on your head and that doesn’t mean He’s been counting your hairs instead of paying attention to what you’re suffering. It means you’re important enough to Him that He knows everything about you, and that includes how much you hurt right now. Don’t be afraid. Know that He knows and that He loves you.