A Fundraising Lesson from the Birds

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I had just finished a conference at Glen Eyrie on training international fundraising coaches, and I was exhausted in a good way. I went for my Sunday afternoon swim at Bally’s Torture Chamber, but later I found myself back at Glen Eyrie walking the grounds and thanking God for what He did in the lives of the missionaries at the conference.

As I walked the grounds I took my binoculars. Didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 6 to “observe the birds.”

After 15 minutes I sat on a bench near the castle and soon heard a scraping, rustling sound in the bushes nearby and looked up to see two Rufous-sided Towhees scratching furiously in the leaf litter. They rarely hang out in trees—always in the dead leaves scratching around. Next, a small bird buzzed into the evergreen tree to my right—a Ruby-crowned Kinglet flitting among the branches looking for gnats. I got a really close look at the red cap on the male.

At the same time four Mountain Chickadees were busy at the small water hole below me and a House Wren sneaked nervously back and forth between rocks looking for lunch, chirping all the while.

Then I walked to the Red Rocks up the hill from the Bighorn Lodge where I sometimes find a Great Horned Owl. Sure enough—there he or she was wisely observing the valley below.

As I returned to my car I drew a conclusion: All these birds were gathering food. Except for the owl—but I did see the remains of a rabbit sticking out from his lair.

Psalm 104:27-28 says as much:

“They all wait for You to give them their food in due season. You give it to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.”

God provides for the birds, but they have to find it—to gather it!

So it is with gospel ministers—God has provided for you, but you have the task of gathering. You get to figure out where the giving partners are located. You get to figure out how to invite them to give. But it is all there. God has done His part—now you have the privilege of doing your part!

So like the birds, let us work hard on doing our part. But let us remember that God has already done His!