A CROW'S REWARD

Sandra Smith • 11 September 2025

HAVE YOU EVER MET A CROW?

They are fascinating to me and incredibly intelligent! These noisy but beautiful black birds are known problem-solvers and innovative toolmakers. They can even recognize and remember individual human faces. Crows have also been known to do extraordinary things. My family and I had an experience with them a few years ago which I'll relate at the end that perfectly illustrates one of Jesus’ most important teachings. Here He is quoted by the apostle Paul who stated “… It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts. 20:34-35. 

HAPPINESS VS JOY

How true is that? Think about it: how do we feel when we buy something, or when someone gives us something we’ve been longing for forever?! That happy feeling is real but eventually it fades because there will always be something else down the road to take its place. Contrast that fleeting emotion with the deep contentment that comes from knowing we’ve made someone truly happy. Or met a need that only we could meet. Their joy becomes contagious when we enter into it by sharing their excitement and gratitude. There’s just nothing like that feeling!

Black crow perched on a white sandy beach

a crow is our teacher

Have you ever met a crow? These raucous, beautiful black birds fascinate me because they are incredibly intelligent! And did you know they are problem-solvers and innovative toolmakers? They can even recognize and remember individual human faces. Indeed, crows are known to do extraordinary things. My family and I experienced this fact firsthand a few years ago, when we learned a lesson from a crow, which I'll relate at the end, that perfectly illustrates one of Jesus’ most important teachings. Here He is quoted by the apostle Paul who stated “… It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts. 20:34-35. 

HAPPINESS VS JOY

How true is that? Think about it: how do we feel when we buy ourselves something, or when someone gives us something we’ve been longing for forever?! That excited and happy feeling lasts for a little while, then quickly fades away because there will always be something else down the road to take its place. Now contrast that fleeting emotion of happiness to the satisfaction we get when we give someone a gift they've been longing for, or meet someone's desperate need. That deep contentment we feel comes from knowing we’ve made someone else besides ourselves truly happy. And their joy becomes contagious as we enter into their excitement and gratitude. In my mind, there’s just nothing like that feeling!!



Photo by Angelo Ebenal (via Unsplash)

Black crow perched on a white sandy beach.
Shiny nickel laid on a gray deck railing
Close-up of the head of a nickel

GIVING=SERVING=LOVE

To continue the thought, in God’s Kingdom, giving is serving—His way is all about serving another. When Jesus came to the earth He came to serve humankind. The Son of God came to live among us and show us how Heavenly relationships operate. Love compelled Him to come down to experience what we experience, and more, to teach us a better way to navigate life so that we could "live abundantly". (see John 10:10b) Jesus said in Mark 10: 44-45 “and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” God is love, and this is everything!! True godly love is always about putting another person ahead of ourselves. Generously giving our time, our talents, our possessions, our money, our respect, even our very lives—anything that God has given us. ”For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Gal. 5:13

WHY DO WE SERVE?

The other part of the equation to serving and giving is that God always rewards us when we give. The oxymoronic truth about God and His ways is that our motive for giving would not be to receive, but the reality is that God can’t wait to reward us when we do give! As always, it’s about the heart. If we give to get, we lose. Blessings of peace… joy…satisfaction elude us. But if we give with a humble heart, whatever it is, however large or small, without expecting anything in return, we win a plethora of blessings that can’t be contained! God rewards the slightest expression of love with far more than we could ever give. Best of all, when we give, it honors Him. And he will honor those who honor Him; in this life as well as in Heaven. “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26, “and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Col 3:23-24

THE GREATEST IS HE WHO…

Defined, the word “serve” means showing acts of kindness out of humility, love, loyalty, faith, devotion, commitment, and honor. A servant is one who gives of oneself and one’s substance to supply another’s need—to do good to others for their benefit. It also means to be devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. This can range from physical labor to spiritual service. In God’s Kingdom, Jesus measures greatness by our willingness to serve another. “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve,” Luke 22:24-26 

A crow story

Back to our crow story -- in July 2022, my family and I took a much-needed vacation to Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. We were blessed to find a beachfront home just a stone’s throw from the shore, which one or our daughters had generously organized for us — a 9-day family getaway that none of us will ever forget. Aside from the sand, the sea, the beautiful sunsets, fun excursions, eateries, and places of interest; we enjoyed just plain family togetherness. And just like most families, we made unforgettable memories we’ll treasure forever. One of those memories stands out as a unique experience taught by one of God’s amazing creatures, the crow.

Beach scene with black crow perched on beach chair covered in blue blanket, people on beach, sand, ocean, and blue sky in background

OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD CROW

A CROW'S REWARD

That whole week, my husband got in the habit of leaving little treats on the railing of our large deck for the two resident crows hanging around every day. He tried foods like trail mix, my sourdough bread (which they left alone, ha ha), and other snacks, but their favorite was Cheetos®. Eventually, whenever he came out, they would caw to him for more treats. One day we even saw one of them actually steal a small bag of chips from someone’s backpack on the beach!! We couldn’t believe our eyes. The best part, though, was the day at the end of our stay when I found a nickel on the railing. I asked everyone in the family if it was theirs and nobody could claim it. I concluded it had to be payment, a reward, from our friends, the crows. I have since learned that crows behave precisely this way! From that day forward, we will never forget this amazing illustration of God’s goodness: my husband gave his love offerings unconditionally, never expecting to see a shiny nickel left by a grateful crow!

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