This weekend our service theme focuses on true riches, and the danger of trusting in the "riches" of this life. Our hymn study this weekend is on "Consider How The Birds Above" (WS 789) by Lutheran pastor and hymnwriter, Stephen Starke. This hymn is based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, which use the creation as an illustration of God's love, concern and care for you and me. Jesus says: "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34) The hymn is a beautiful poetic retelling of those words of Jesus. The birds and the lilies teach us something about the nature of God, and assure us that He will also (even more) take care of us. The hymn also warns against the danger of greed, just as Jesus does, and Paul does in 1 Timothy 6. We live in a time and place which is extremely affluent, and as a result, what Paul describes is taking place before our eyes. "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:9-10) How sad that so many who have been brought to know Christ are being led away from him because of the abundance they have in this world! How sad that many who have not come to know Christ are being prevented from knowing Him because they see no need for God or for a Savior in their life! May the LORD continue to keep us from falling into the trap of greed because of the blessings He bestows upon us or those around us. LORD, help us to treasure the greater blessings of your Kingdom, blessing which cannot be lost or taken away from us, but are ours, through faith, for all eternity! Bless our worship of you with truly thankful hearts, this weekend, and every day of our lives!
