Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father’ (Matthew 10:29).

I was sitting this morning looking through our large twin glass patio doors watching the birds gather at the bird feeder I had placed in the patio behind our townhouse. Dominate among the birds which gathered were the sparrows. I looked through my bird book and discovered more species of sparrows than any other bird. They are essentially worthless. They are considered to be pests in the yard, field and wherever they are. I have never seen anyone keep one as a pet in a cage or otherwise. In the quoted scripture its price on the open market was the equivalent of two for a penny or virtually of no worth.

Who cares anything about a sparrow? Many people struggle with the issue of self-worth–having a sparrow mentality. Feelings of inferiority and rejection often rise up to cloud their relationships with others, impede creativity and achievement plus damage their attitude toward themselves and their sense of fellowship with God. In this scripture Jesus makes an amazing assertion–God cares for the sparrow! Why in the world would God create anything as worthless as a sparrow? What value is it to anyone or anything? What can it do to prove its worth? Amazingly enough it doesn’t have to prove anything. It exists because of the Father and for the Father. We note in Genesis 1 that God spoke of everything He created as being good. It was good in the Father’s eyes to create you! Jesus assured: ‘Fear not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows’ (Matthew 12:7b). A person should realize his existence is because of the Father and for the Father–regardless of the conditions involved in his birth, the configuration of his physical being, his background or his stature in society. Like the sparrow he doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody. His value is in the fact he exists.

The Father watches over the sparrow. This scripture teaches how infinitely and intimately God knows not only the needs of His creations but their welfare. His omniscience, sovereignty and compassion for us as His creatures are beyond compare. If God cares in such a minute fashion for something which is, in the eyes of man, so inherently worthless, how much more does He care for us? The Psalmist realizes His infinite care by saying: ‘I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Ane he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto out God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord‘ (Psalm 40:1-3).

When a sparrow falls the Father knows and cares. In the classical Greek, the word translated ‘fall’ has several interesting connotations:

1. It can refer to a simple fall, i. e. ‘falling over one’s feet!’ If our Father knows and cares when we fall physically, how much more does He care when we fall spiritually. There is a multiplicity of reasons why a person can fall. Scriptural reasons include: vanity, greed, lust, unforgiveness, self-centeredness, disobedience, etc. Amazingly enough, as pictured by the Father of the prodigal son, our Father genuinely cares and personally initiates situations in life that cause us to return to Him.
2. It can refer to ‘tripping up: ‘a fall over something that gets in our way. I know many people who are not going on with God because of ‘things’ that got in their way causing them to trip—to fall down. Such things can be wrong doctrines, wrong ambitions, wrong values, wrong companions, wrong desires and a multitude of other things that can trip us up. Our Father has not seen fit to remove the impediment but rather chooses to lift us up when we fall—helping us to identity the things that trip us up.
3. It can express ‘falling in warfare.’ The spiritual landscape is littered in this day by the many who have fallen in the fray of battle. There are times when the conflict grows intense both inwardly and outwardly causing a person to ask: ‘what’s the use? Who cares?’ It is easy to feel that God has forsaken us. Be assured, He hasn’t.
4. Falling under a load of debt. Our Father is committed to our economic welfare. He cares and makes provision—If we are faithfully obedient to Him.

There are other usages of the ‘falling’ in the scripture but these illustrations help us understand something of our Father’s commitment to us. If He is aware of something as worthless as a sparrow falling—Is it possible He cares more about us?

In New Testament Greek, the term translated ‘to fall’ has two primary meanings:

1. An unintentional fall. Nobody with any spiritual sense would consciously do those things that would contribute to his ‘intentional fall’ or spiritual declension. The little things carelessly attended contribute to the larger issues of fellowship and ultimate backsliding. We should be reminded that backsliding is not necessarily an open manifestation—initially. It is contributed to by carelessness, disobedience and lack of commitment.
2. An intentional fall. The way up is the way down. James said: ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up’ (James 4:10). As we fall prostrate before Him in humility, worship, praise, submission and repentance, He will lift us up.

It is the desire of our Father that we realize who we really are and, putting away things which distract, walk in love, faithfulness and obedience before Him. He Who cares for sparrows, cares for you.

Jeff