Luke 12:29-31 Seek God and his kingdom, not things.
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:29-31 (NIV)
If we will pause to think of the people and their culture in which Jesus first gave this teaching, it will help us to bring it into perspective. People raised their own food, made their own clothes, and lived in homes we would consider sub-standard in our day and time. The primary modes of travel was by foot, by donkey, or camel. The average person’s wardrobe would probably have fit in a suitcase. Their water was drawn in pots from public wells.
Keeping this in mind, re-read the passage again. Somehow it has a greater impact when we realize that food, drink, and clothing were not taken for granted by these people. For many, to have more than this would be luxury.
In our culture these items are taken for granted by most. We find ourselves setting our hearts on bigger homes, nicer cars, bigger retirement accounts, computers with all the latest features, bigger TVs and sound systems, boats, RVs, second homes, the list goes on and on…
I understand that statistics have shown that persons who have the least are the most likely to tithe their income, while those with the greatest resources give the smallest proportion of their income to others.
How safe do we have to feel before we can trust God to meet all our needs? Is it true that the more we have, the less we trust him? What is the Father asking of you or me that we are afraid to give? How wholehearted are we seeking his kingdom? What is getting in the way?
Lord, help me to give all of myself in your service. Help me to seek you and your kingdom with all of my heart. Help me to prioritize my days and hours to spend personal time with you every day, so there will be no question about how you would have me order my steps.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
