September 14 2025 Pentecost 14
Job 39:1-8. 26-30 Psalm 104:14-23 1 Corinthians 1:10-23 Luke 12:22-31
This passage from Luke carries some profound wisdom which applies directly to each and every one of us. We can trust that God has our best interests at heart, we can trust that, no matter what is going on in our lives and around us, we are still cared for by God. Jesus starts by talking about our preoccupation with food and clothing. And, lets face it, these two do occupy a lot of our thoughts every day. I’m hungry. It is time for coffee yet. Oh, its lunch time, what is there I can eat. What are we going to have for dinner tonight. Oh, I’m bored with the ‘same old, same old’, I wonder what interesting thing is being planned for tonight. And so it goes. And we can do the same with clothing. Does this go? Do I look good enough? Have I worn this recently, I really can’t be seen in the same clothes every week. I’m bored with my wardrobe, I need a change, time to go shopping!! And Jesus reminds us that life is about more than just food, clothing, and material things. And he uses the raven to exemplify this message. If God can provide for birds, then surely God will provide for us, who are made in the image of God.
Jesus challenges us to shift our focus from anxieties about ‘worldly things’ to our faith in God’s eternal nature. When we allow anxieties to overwhelm us, we miss the truth of God’s consistent presence and provision in our lives, and we are distracted from seeking the Kingdom of God and living according to God’s will.
But the problem is, anxiety is difficult to avoid. Society tells us, through social media, advertising and other forms, that our ‘public image’ is all important. In order to succeed you need to ‘look’ the part, you need to ‘dress’ for the occasion, and so it goes on. But Jesus is encouraging us, in this passage, to take our eyes off the uncertainty and vagaries of the material world and focus on the certainty of God’s goodness. We are reminded that we are valued by God more than the birds of the air or the flowers in the field. We are precious in God’s sight.
Jesus is addressing his disciples while he is teaching the crowds, and those crowds are dealing with issues of greed; keeping themselves from sin; and worrying about incidental things in their lives. And this reminds us that every part of our lives intertwines with our relationship with God. The call to seek God’s kingdom is important for understanding our purpose. It invites us to examine how often we chase after ‘worldly’ things, only to discover they still do not offer us satisfaction. Jesus urges us to live for him, and his priorities, and assures us that everything else will fall into place as we align ourselves with God’s will.
At the heart of this passage, is the call to trust in God’s provision and to seek God’s kingdom. All through the passage we are told not to worry, if the birds of the air are fed without planting and reaping, and the flowers in the field aren’t preoccupied with their beauty, then how much more will we be cared for by God. I encourage you, next time you see a bird, or a flower, to reflect on how deep God’s care for creation is. Birds and flowers have no means of providing for themselves, yet all their needs are met in creation, how much more will God care for and provide for us God’s children.
This passage teaches us an invaluable lesson about faith, trust, and priorities in life. Worry and anxiety cannot add anything to our lives, in fact they leave us feeling sad and joyless and not at peace. Every time we worry, we move further away from a position of trust for the God who has always provided for us.
Material possessions do not ‘make the man, or woman’. God’s love is not based on what we own, but on who we are as children of God. When we reflect on our identity and remember that we are precious in God’s sight, we will find ourselves able to overcome the ‘pressure’ that society can put on us to ‘toe the line’ and ‘look the part’.
Jesus urges us to refocus those desires and aspirations that typically drive our lives and discover the profound joy and satisfaction we will find in a relationship with God.