Consider the Sparrows (Part 2)

Scripture — Matthew 10:26-31 (NRSV)

So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Devotion

As we said yesterday, fear only casts shadows. And shadows shift and distort what is true. But courage looks for the good, true, and beautiful. Courage resolves to see the things that are hoped for and cherishes the evidence of things that are not yet seen. Courage centered in Christ reframes a perspective from “there is not enough” to “what can be?” It looks up instead of looking with fear.

Jesus told his disciples not to fear. When they speak up in their lives and straighten up to remember who is in control of their lives, they should look up to get daily reminders. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” There are roughly 1.6 billion, 5-inch-long sparrows in the world today. In the first century in the marketplace, two of them would cost you 1/16 of a denarius. If Jesus’s commandment and the fact that the only one who can destroy the soul does not remove fear, he tells the disciples to look up.

Those insignificant sparrows—all 1.6 billion flying through the air that we took for granted—don’t fall to the ground without the say of the Father. When disciples look up, they get a million object lessons that we are worth incredibly more than the fear we entertain.

And if we lack fear and gain courage, how much more are we apt to look at the ails of the world behind the veil of the kingdom? How much more could the CEO, the public service or safety worker, the stay-at-home dad, or the phlebotomist’s work be if they asked:

• Not “there’s just not enough” but “What if I gave more than I received?”
• Not “they are a threat” but “If I love my enemy they cease to be my enemy.”
• Not “protect my own” but “What image bearer isn’t my own?”
• Not “I can’t do this” but “What’s possible?”

Fear rejects the rays of the kingdom reaching into our board rooms, courtrooms, streets, and neighborhood. But that is not the life we chose when we decided to follow Jesus. He calls his disciples to look up and there will be reminders that say “Do not fear.” If he can do so much with Sparrows how much more is in store for us?

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Jesus’ 10 Principles for Working – an Overview on Faith and Work.