Birds' Nests
Faith gives a person a new perspective on the world, making earthly things seem insignificant and unimportant compared to the treasures of heaven.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that saving faith elevates a person's perspective, allowing them to view earthly treasures as insignificant compared to the eternal riches of heaven. He argues that true faith leads individuals to disdain worldly pleasures and comforts, recognizing them as mere 'birds' nests' in comparison to the glory of God's grace. Brooks illustrates how faith enables believers to see beyond the temporary, focusing instead on their heavenly inheritance, which makes earthly pursuits seem trivial. He cites biblical examples, such as Moses, who viewed the treasures of Egypt as worthless when compared to the promises of God. Ultimately, faith transforms the heart, leading it to seek a better home in heaven rather than being entangled in worldly desires.
Text
Saving faith will make a man set his feet, where other
men sets their hearts. Faith looks with an eye of scorn
and disdain upon the things of this world. "What," says
faith, "are earthly treasures, compared to the treasures
of heaven? What are stones compared to silver; dross
compared to gold; darkness compared to light; hell
compared to heaven? No more," says faith, "What are
all the treasures, pleasures, and delights of this world
--compared to the influences of God's grace?"
Faith will make a man write 'worthless' upon the best of
worldly things; it will make a man trample upon the pearls
of this world, as upon dross and dirt, Hebrews 11:24-26.
Faith deadens a man's heart to the things of this world:
"I am crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to
me," says Paul, Phil. 3:8; Gal. 6:14. "This world," says faith,
"is not my house, my habitation, my home; I look for a
better country, for a better city, for a better home,"
2 Cor. 5:1-2. He who is the heir to a crown, a kingdom
--looks with an eye of scorn and disdain upon everything
below a kingdom, below a crown. Faith tells the soul that
it has a crown, a kingdom in reversion; and this makes
the soul to scorn the things of this world, 2 Tim. 4:8.
The view of Lucian is very interesting, who, going to the
top of a high mountain, saw all the affairs of men, and
looked on their greatest, richest, and most glorious cities,
as little birds' nests! Faith sets the soul upon the hill of
God, the mountain of God, which is a high mountain;
and from thence, faith gives the soul a sight, a prospect
of all things here below. And, ah! how like birds' nests
do all the riches, honors, and glories of this world look
and appear to those whom faith has set upon God's high hill.
Faith set Moses high, it set him among invisibles; and that
made him look upon all the treasures, pleasures, riches,
and glories of Egypt, as little birds' nests, as molehills,
as dross and dirt, as things that were too little and too low
for him to set his heart upon. Truly, when once faith has
given a man a sight, a prospect of heaven, all things on
earth will be looked upon as little and despised.
Sermon Outline
- Faith's Perspective on the World
- Faith looks upon earthly treasures with scorn
- Faith compares earthly treasures to heavenly treasures
- Faith deadens a man's heart to worldly things
Key Quotes
“Saving faith will make a man set his feet, where other men sets their hearts.” — Thomas Brooks
“What are earthly treasures, compared to the treasures of heaven?” — Thomas Brooks
“This world is not my house, my habitation, my home; I look for a better country, for a better city, for a better home.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Faith helps us to prioritize heavenly treasures over earthly ones.
- Having faith in God gives us a new perspective on the world and its riches.
- Faith sets our sights on a higher kingdom and crown, making earthly achievements seem insignificant.