A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush… right? I looked it up to find out the origin of this saying and here is what I found.

Meaning : It’s better to have a small real advantage than the possibility of a greater one.(http://www.phrases.org.uk)

Origin: This proverb refers back to medieval falconry where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was a valuable asset and certainly worth more than two in the bush (the prey).

I was talking to a friend  about this concept in relation to the kingdom of God and I came to this realization: In our world and times the bird in the hand mentality often equals living in the safe and comfortable place. This place represents the good enough that keeps me from the great. It’s the place that always wants me to “rest on my laurels” (By the way, what exactly is a laurel and how does one rest on it?). Yet the kingdom of God is exactly the opposite that sentiment. God is always calling us to forsake the one in our hand and capture the two in the bush– to go further up and further in.

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There it is. Jesus is telling us to see past what we have and see as treasure now for what we will have in heaven.

But here’s the problem… sometimes I like the bird I have. It feels comfortable and I know what to expect from it and I actually have it now (or so it would seem). What if I let go of the one I have and aren’t able to get the ones in the bush?

The truth is, fear keeps us from going for the best. Yet,it is faith that pleases God and fear is the opposite of faith. So faith requires that I respond to God when He calls me forward to pursue the two in the bush in faith. that is better than keeping the one in my hand because of fear! Right?

You have to let go

If you want to have God’s best for your life, you have to leave the comfort of good in pursuit of great.  You have to let go of the bird in your hand and, with God’s help, pursue the two in the bush. When we do this we will find that the great we seek is found in God himself.

God give us grace to see and seek your kingdom. Help us to see and obtain the unseen!