When to Stop feeding the Birds

One of my favourite films is Mary Poppins, and one of the songs I continue to remember is about feeding the birds. The song encourages the feeding of birds, suggesting that this is a way of showing that you care and not only that, but you’ll be also glad if you do so. The song goes on to pull at the heart strings by suggesting that by buying a bag of bird feed you would be saving the young birds from being hungry. How could you ignore such a request to show charity and kindness?

For me, feeding the birds is one of the small pleasures of life. Over the winter months, I keep the bird feeding station in our garden full of nutritious bird seeds and high energy fat balls. I enjoy watching the variety of birds that settle to feed. However, as spring approaches, the advice is to stop feeding the birds to encourage them to forage for their own food, to build their nests, and provide for their offspring.

This makes me think about our own spiritual growth and development. There are times and places to provide additional support, nurture, and guidance for young and struggling believers. But, just as with the food for the birds that visit my feeding station, to continue to provide ready prepared, instant access, easily digested, teaching, can delay spiritual growth and development.

Interestingly, Hebrews 5:12-14 uses the illustration of milk versus solid food to explain the importance of spiritual growth. Milk is for infants, and as we grow older, we need more nutritious solid foods. This is not only true for our physical growth, but also our spiritual growth. Whether you have been a Christian for a short time or for many years, you can take what you have learnt and pass it on to those at different stages in their walk with our Lord and Saviour.

Today, are you comfortable where you are, or is the Holy Spirit prompting you to step out and step up, to grow and mature, to disciple and teach others, to study and pray?

When winter returns, I will be feeding the birds again. However, for myself, each and every day I will continue to seek the Lord’s solid food. Solid food is for the mature and is for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.