22 And He said to His disciples, (A)For this reason I tell you, [a]do not worry about your [b]life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the (B)ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor (C)barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a [c](D)day to his [d]life’s span? 26 Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor [e]spin; but I tell you, not even (E)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? (F)You of little faith! 29 And do not [f]seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not (G)keep worrying. 30 For [g]all these things are what the nations of the world [h]eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But [i]seek His kingdom, and (H)these things will be [j]provided to you. 32 [k](I)Do not be afraid, (J)little flock, because (K)your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

33 (L)Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts that do not wear out, (M)an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor does a moth destroy. 34 For (N)where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:22 Or stop being worried
  2. Luke 12:22 Lit soul
  3. Luke 12:25 Lit cubit (about 18 in. or 45 cm)
  4. Luke 12:25 Or height
  5. Luke 12:27 I.e., spin thread for cloth
  6. Luke 12:29 Or keep seeking
  7. Luke 12:30 Or these things all the nations of the world
  8. Luke 12:30 Or wish for
  9. Luke 12:31 Or continually seek
  10. Luke 12:31 Or added to
  11. Luke 12:32 Or Stop being afraid

Steep Yourself in God-Reality

22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

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