Deuteronomy 22:6-7 – Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg

The Bible reveals that God cares for His people and would take care of the minutest detail of their lives. But it does not mean that one should live life without considering the future. So in Deuteronomy 22:6-7, apart from the call to be merciful, God even taught the children of Israel on the need to live life considerately. They must not just live life as if there would be no tomorrow. In these verses, we detect a call not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

These verses say, “If you happen to come upon a bird’s nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.” The temptation in life is always to live it only for today without considering one’s resources for the future. A windfall today does not mean that one should live wantonly and not consider what would happen when the windfall is totally squandered and depleted.

There is an important principle to be gleaned here. While we put faith in God and not be unduly worried about the future, we must not live life as if tomorrow will never come. Jesus in the New Testament says that God cares about us. He knows the number of hairs on our heads, even the blade of hair that has fallen. While God knows and will take care of our needs, He does not want us to live without considering the future. He only tells us not to be excessively consumed by worries about the provision of life for tomorrow. We must trust God and live well for today but everything we do today must also help us to build a better tomorrow too. Know that in all our provisions, God is the source and whatever means He chooses to provide for us are our resources. So as we consider our future, we trust God to be our source. While we journey with Him each day, we need to wisely handle the resources through which He provides for us. Don’t squander them mindlessly!