And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on... Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:22,31) [Read all of Luke 12 for context]Does he mean that if you seek the kingdom of God as your highest priority, you won't need to worry about basic necessities--that he will provide food, water and clothing for his followers? And looking at it from the other end, does it imply that if you lack these things that you are not truly seeking God's kingdom first? Surely there have been godly saints through history that have gone hungry; does that dispute Jesus' teaching?
Before we try to answer the question, we should look at the context of this teaching. Right before this paragraph about the anxieties of daily life, a man asks Jesus to arbitrate a dispute regarding the family inheritance. Rather than judge them, Jesus points them to the covetous heart behind the request. Most people listening to Jesus (and most people today) were concerned with worldly matters: food, wealth, pleasure. But we're reminded that "one who lays up treasure for himself is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).
Immediately after the verses we're examining comes Jesus' instruction on which treasure you should be seeking, Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:33-34).
The point through all of this is clear: do not covet, seek the kingdom of God and store up treasure in that kingdom. If you're still concerned about what you eat or the clothes you wear, then you are not trusting in God, you are not seeking his kingdom, and these earthly concerns are actually the least of your troubles: "Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" (Luke 12:20). There is an element of a disciple in close fellowship with God not caring that they've had nothing to eat, for "man does not live by bread alone" (Deuteronomy 8:3). That person will know that "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
The Father knows if you are suffering. He sees your need and has compassion, even as he ordains the suffering. But even through that trial, you are still called to not be anxious; have faith, and continue to seek his kingdom.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:13-19 ESV)
But that still does not resolve the difficulty of the apparent promise that Jesus makes. How can he say that if you seek the kingdom of God first that 'these things' will be added to you? I believe you receive the pragmatic answer with Jesus' final command in this discourse on covetousness.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:32-34 ESV)If seekers of the kingdom sell their possessions and give to the poor, then those lacking will find themselves full. Jesus is really trying to cause his hearers to repent. There was a worldly self-focus, and he wants a change of heart from seeking these possessions to giving them away.
A Church full of kingdom seekers giving away their possessions will see that through his people, God will clothe, feed and care for his children. The first century church modeled this very well. The modern church does well in spots, but overall I believe we're still overly concerned (anxious) with our own daily needs. We need gospel maturity in the church. If you live in the United States, you are quite capable of obeying the command of Christ to give away your possessions to provide for the poor (and best of all, you'll be storing up treasure in heaven!).
Let's love our neighbors as we love ourselves!
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