Luke 12:22 – 31 Dependence Upon God’s Providence

Luke 12:22 – 31 Dependence Upon God’s Providence

He said to (his) disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore. All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides.

Jesus continues on his theme of how we are to live: trusting in God, orienting our lives toward love of God and others instead of pursuit of things that this time values. He is speaking to a crowd of thousands, many of whom are poor. How are they processing his message? Perhaps poverty was less cruel in those days – the gap between rich and poor less dramatic, the (popular) culture less relentless about what you need to be happy, fulfilled, successful. Jesus uses two examples from nature to make his point – the lilies of the field and the raven. They both have all they need right where they are. But I feel I am missing something. Sure, I can hear this message and from my nice home, my healthy body, with my hardworking and well paid husband, and my wonderful family and friends, and feel, yes God has been good. But what about those struggling with poverty, isolation, physical and mental illness, abuse, etc. How do those words, “ Do not be concerned for your life, what you are to eat , or for your body, what you are to wear.” For them, I’m sure those words are bitter ones, small comfort in time of real need and pain. What are they supposed to do? How does be patient and trust in me sound to them?

This is a very uncomfortable passage for me. It calls me to feel grateful, but gratitude is not enough. I feel like Christ is here, watching me with gentle eyes but prodding me to do more – to be more compassionate, to be more generous. If I want to try to put on the mind of Christ, then the works of Christ must not be far behind. What do I have that I don’t really need? Why do I keep holding onto it? Giving stuff away to Goodwill is a start. Getting and keeping all that stuff takes so much time and energy, not to mention money. This makes me hark back to the passage about the passage about the man who built up his wealth and just when he thought he had it made, his time on earth is ended. This pursuit of “stuff” looks like a trap from which I need to escape. If you have less “stuff” you have less of a “stuff” habit to break. As I said above, it’s a start.