“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

During the time of Christ, two sparrows could be purchased for one farthing. Four sparrows could be purchased for two farthings and that fifth sparrow was the added bonus given by merchants to entice prospective buyers to purchase four sparrows. Buy four get one free. One farthing was about 1/16 of the wage that a rural worker would make in one day. Hence, sparrows were common and of very little value.

Jesus illustrates God’s care of the individual by sharing how God does not even overlook something as common and cheap as one sparrow — the fifth bird. God places value on things that others may consider worthless. How much more God loves and cares for every human. He looks beyond the crowd and values the individual. God is interested in every detail of your life: every thought, emotion, feeling, and circumstance.

Jesus said that the “very hairs of your head are all numbered.” The average human head has 100,000 hairs. God knows the smallest things about us. He is ever-present to be our king, our savior, our friend, our help, and our grace-giver. “Fear not” when the trials and difficulties come in life. God has not forgotten you. He values the obedient and the disobedient, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, the sick and the healthy.

You are of more value than many sparrows.

-mws