Most of my time over the previous nine months has been consumed with the search for full-time employment. I was told during my first few months of study at the Moody Bible Institute that my four years of required ministry involvement along with an MBI Bachelor's degree would almost guarantee me a position of my choosing. Now four years removed from those subtle promises I have found only the contrary to be true. I now live in a studio apartment in Chicago with my roommate from Moody living off my savings and finding no job prospects.
This stage has resulted in anger, fear, frustration, disappointment. I found myself echoing Jeremiah: "why do the wicked prosper?!" (12:1). Why is every door shut in my face while the wicked are enjoying jobs, success and ease? But God is not unaware. Christ gives us two examples of greatly insignificant things that he has not overlooked: the sparrow and the lily. He provides food for the birds and beautiful dressing for the flowers and asks a penetrating, rhetorical question: "are you not of more value than they?" (Matt 6:26). We are certainly of more value than birds and flowers - that's his point. He feeds the pigeons and dresses dandelions in splendor. He shall certainly meet my every need.
Now, since the days of my youth I have often heard this passage taught with a touch of sentimentalism that I now find repulsive. Out of context it appears that Christ is promising us five star meals and luxurious regalia. But in context he promises nothing of the sort. Just before this in four short verses he speaks of the heart and the eyes. Where is your heart? It's where you put your trust and to what or whom you give your service. What do your eyes open to? A healthy eye sees and perceives things as they are. He then proclaims that "you cannot serve both God and money" (6:24).
This entire section (6:19-34) is about having a heart fully devoted to serving a God who provides for his people. The one with healthy eyes sees things as they are and will only trust in that which is trustworthy. Earthly status, finances, property or indulgences will never provide everlasting security or hope. Only God gives hope and security and only God meets the needs of his people. Jesus is confronting my idols!
Do I hope in employment or do I hope in the one rules with power and authority over all the earth? This present time is a great opportunity to develop a heavenly perspective. My myopia concerning my current circumstances is being painfully cut out by the gracious hand of my savior who meets the needs of pigeons and certainly has not overlooked mine. In life and death, riches and poverty, success and failure - Christ is greater still.
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