Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
Often we women struggle with our value or worth when we compare ourselves to other women. Men do not seem to fall into this trap as often as us women (as often is the key phrase). We frequently compare ourselves to a woman we think is better gifted and has more talents than we do and it may turn into envy. We differentiate other women’s abilities as being better than our own, and we often feel we fall short and are not content. Then we struggle with needing approval and can’t get away from the merry-go-round of feeling invisible and wonder if anyone remembers us or cares? It is a puddle (or lake?) of dissatisfaction – feeling insignificant. It is another fear we need to deal with that can turn into a stronghold.
We all judge people by their performance, their achievements, and how they look. We live in a very competitive culture. But God looks at the heart – not the outward appearance. Why is that not our first inclinatioin?
Jesus declared in Luke 12:6-7 and in Matthew 10:31 that He controls the timing and circumstances of all of His creation – even the sparrows and the number of hairs on our head. God commands it all. “Divine providence governs even the smallest details and even the most mundane matters. These are very powerful affirmations of the sovereignty of God.” John MacArthur.
Sparrows are small seemingly insignificant birds. Sparrows were found in high numbers in Palestine and were of very little value. These birds were plentiful in population, troublesome, and five were bought for only about one hour’s worth of wages in Jerusalem. Sparrows were used as food for the poor. Therefore Jesus used a striking example of God not forgetting one insignificant sparrow and knowing the number of the hairs of your head show God’s providential care over the smallest details of our life. That shows us – we, you, I – are of value to God. The most minor aspects of our life are all noticed by Him.
As Matthew 10:31 declared: “Even the hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.”
It all goes back to redirecting our thoughts to God’s truths and promises to fight against the comparison idol. Here are some verses to keep close at hand when those thoughts arise of insignicance:
- Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, in whom I take refuge.”
- Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Ephesians 1:11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
- Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
- Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
- Psalm
86: 11: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
“If you belong to Christ, God has a personal commitment to keeping you on His path – even if that means He will allow you to bang into a wall of dissatisfaction or get tangled in thorns of discontent every now and then . . . When you find yourself walled off from where you want to be, don’t focus on where you are. Rather focus on who God is and who He made you
Listen to Jason Gray Sparrows Lyric Video