The Worth of a Sparrow

Psalm 118:24– This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

   If today is your birthday, another special day in your life or just an “ordinary” day, I’d like to remind you of something. King David wrote in Psalm 139:13-16

¹³ For you formed my inmost being.
    You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will give thanks to you,
    for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
    My soul knows that very well.
¹⁵ My frame wasn’t hidden from you,
    when I was made in secret,
    woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my body.
    In your book they were all written,
    the days that were ordained for me,
    when as yet there were none of them.

   The world / society we live in can sometimes be dark and cruel. Life is not always easy. In Matthew 10 Jesus is prepping His disciples with instruction before they go out into a world of opposition. In Vs 26-31 He encourages them to Not be afraid of those that oppose you. Why? Good question. He then explains by comparing our value with a sparrow. The worth of a sparrow was about ½ cent in Biblical times – in today’s inflated rates – about 15 minutes of farm labor. It wasn’t the lowest valued coin, but close. In Vs 31, Jesus (I believe with a twinkle in His eye, and tongue in cheek) states that we are worth more than many sparrows (the idea being that we are worth exponentially more than a sparrow). How does not being afraid of others have anything to do with our value or that of a sparrow? Another good question. Thanks for asking.

   Your worth is NOT determined by other people. Let me repeat.

   Your value is NOT determined by other people.

Your value is determined by your heavenly Father. The same Father who won’t let an inexpensive sparrow fall to the earth apart from His will. The same Father who knows the number of hairs on your head. The same Father who according to the verses above knit us together in the womb. The same Father who says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The same Father who sent His only Son to come to earth, died the cruelest of deaths but was raised to life again. If we have a Father who knows us that intimately and sacrificially loves us, who else should we fear? NO ONE.

   True freedom and empowerment is not caring what anyone except Jesus thinks of us. A worry-free life can be obtained when we understand the Creator and Sustainer of that life loves us without limits. So, today on your special or ordinary day, please take a few moments and contemplate the deep and complete unconditional love we have in Jesus. Let’s worship our Savior and thank Him for His endless love.

Enjoy this amazing worship song by Matt Redman – “You Never Let Go”

Dave R

  ’69 / ’83  Quarryville PA