Luke 12:22-34
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It's all the nuances in life that serve to remind me, not just of God's grace, but of his presence. The extent of his care then, must be met with my extent of obedience. We'll get there.
2 comments:
then are the ravens somehow better than the starving in Africa?
This is where the amazing interplay between God and man comes in. They are poor because we are rich. We are responsible in our waste, in our greed and in our bad stewardship. And I think God respects us too much to come in and pick up our slack. He gave us enough faculties to create our solutions - and we'll be held accountable for it.
I have been blessed so that I might bless others. And hopefully, God will use me to feed others, like he has used others to feed me.
It's a journey - we're too used to instant solutions. I know this is no comfort to the affront of real pain but that's all I can offer. At least there is some hope and empathy here. I hope.
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