Yesterday, I grabbed my camera and aimed my feet in the direction of a stunning bouquet of sunflowers on my deck. Contrary to what you might think, I wasn’t seeking to take pictures of the gorgeous flowers themselves, but rather the legion of bees landing on them, and nearly colliding with one another to secure their share of the nectar and pollen inside the tubes. And yes, the majesty of God is all over those blossoms!
When I crouched down for some close-up photography, I became enamoured with the complexity of what I saw through the viewfinder. Even more so when I looked back on some of my photographs and the intricate detail of each bee—their bodies covered in pollen. Fun fact. Did you know that bees are crucial for 30-35% of global food production? Bees are industrious workers, and they go about their business with unyielding purpose.
Being a lover of Google, I asked, “Hey, Google, how many references to bees are there in the Bible?” Google’s response, and I quote. “Over 60 references to bees are contained in the Bible, where they symbolize God’s blessings, love, strength, & wisdom.”
Watching the bees go about their important work, I marvelled at their resourcefulness and never-ending quest for pollen and nectar. Then I wondered. “Am I pursuing God with that same level of intensity?” Admittedly, my answer is not to the extent that I should. “Sorry, Lord,” I said while looking towards heaven. Life has many distractions, and the devil loves to keep us busy with anything and everything that prevents us from spending time with Him. The bees in my camera’s viewfinder are 110% committed to their task, and there is much to learn from their resolve.
Bees are purposeful in their work. You and I, my friend, need to be purposeful in our faith. Each of us has a role in God’s kingdom, but we must remain diligent in reading our Bibles, prayer, and taking the time to seek His direction in all that we do. Yes, bees make honey for us to enjoy, but if they quit, then the honey stops flowing. I, for one, love honey! That said, I am reminded that I must focus more of my time and attention on pursuing God.
“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.” (Psalms 19:9, 10 NIV)
I completely understand how busy your life is. Our days are cluttered with work, family, and commitments. What I also understand is how easy it is to push God aside until you have time for Him. That’s what the enemy wants—anything to keep you from pursuing Him. Let’s, together, develop the mindset of a bee. They focus exclusively on nectar, pollen, and their next flower.
In the grand scheme of life, focusing more on Jesus is time never wasted! The bees know that their effort creates honey. When we pursue Jesus, our efforts are for eternity.
Paul Smyth
