Luke 12:22-34: The Fear of Missed Opportunities

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. For 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 your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers 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—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 never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:22-34

 We have a saying around our house: "It is not a limited ______ universe." and fill in the blank. It is not a limited pancake universe. Many times we live as if the things we have and the money we have earned are the last we will ever see or earn. Even with experiences that we have, we are worried that we will never have another chance to do X. So we are discontented and stingy and grasping. I sit and monitor our bank account and credit card balances.

What I read here is: there is enough and there will be enough. We are not missing out. So much worry is spent on things that are out of our control and in God's control. As Jesus says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Even if everything else runs out, it is backed up by his promise that his kingdom of good things remains, It is not at risk. It is given to us and it is bountiful. We can be generous to others in need. because there is a resupply. Sounds a bit like pie in the sky, but I have found that being open handed with what I have toward what God wants is not lacking. 

I ask that my heart be in the right place, for my wife, for my family, for my job, for my friends, for the ones I will meet tomorrow expectedly or unexpectedly. Not worried that it will run out, but grateful that it doesn't.