A Little Bird Told Me

Ecc 10:20 “…for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.”

Every morning, before my four grandchildren which live with me go to school, I sit at the dining room table and read the Scriptures to them. Recently, we have been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes. This morning we read chapter ten. I explained to them that when I was a boy folks had an expression they used when someone would ask, “How do you know that?” or “How did you find that out?” The response would be with a smile, “A little bird told me.”

I wondered many times in my childhood how my mother knew exactly what I was doing. If I had been mischievous she knew it. If I had mistreated my younger brother she knew it. If I had gone somewhere without permission she knew it. How? A little bird had told her.

The principle is a Biblical one. “Be sure your sins will find you out.” No one escapes the watchful eye of God. He is ever present to witness our actions, thoughts and spirit. And He uses our very transgression to tell on us. For example, the liar must cover his lie with another, and then another, until the lie is so big it is unbelievable by even the most gullible person. The thief is never satisfied with what he steals, he must steal again. The hypocrite who cries, “Don’t judge me!” finally becomes judgmental himself.

If we would be reminded that our sins tattle on us, we may become more cautious in our character. Because…the little bird is always there to tell.