Luke 12:20-28: a reflection

20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 22He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? 26If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

To free his disciples from anxiety about their needs, Jesus points them to the birds and the flowers. Consider the ravens: they don't sow or reap, they have no barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Consider the lilies: they don't toil or spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers, how much more will he care for his children, who are of far more value to him. Jesus grounds our freedom from anxiety in God's care: the God who feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies will surely care for us, whom he values far more.

Notice how Jesus grounds our freedom from anxiety: in God's care, seen in the ravens and lilies. The ravens do not store up, yet God feeds them; the lilies do not labor, yet God clothes them more gloriously than Solomon. And Jesus draws the conclusion: how much more will God care for us, who are of far more value than birds and flowers. If God cares for the birds and the flowers, whose lives are brief and small, how much more will he care for his own children. The care of God for the least of his creatures is a pledge of his care for us; our freedom from anxiety rests on the God who feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies, and values us far more.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's care, seen in the birds and flowers, frees us from anxiety about our needs. We can be anxious about our needs, what we will eat, what we will wear, how we will be provided for; but Jesus points us to God's care for the ravens and the lilies, and to the truth that we are worth far more to God than they. If God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers, he will surely care for us, whom he values far more. When you are anxious about your needs, consider the ravens and the lilies, and the God who cares for them; he will care for you, whom he values far more. Let God's care for the ravens and the lilies free you from anxiety about your needs, trusting that the God who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers will surely care for you, whom he values far more, as Jesus asked how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith; for the God who cares for the least of his creatures will surely care for his children, and his care is the ground of our freedom from anxiety.

Lord Jesus, to free your disciples from anxiety about their needs, you point them to the birds and the flowers. Consider the ravens: they don't sow or reap, they have no barn, and God feeds them; how much more valuable are you than birds! Consider the lilies: they don't toil or spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers, how much more will he care for his children, who are of far more value to him. Show me how you ground our freedom from anxiety: in God's care, seen in the ravens and lilies. The ravens do not store up, yet God feeds them; the lilies do not labor, yet God clothes them more gloriously than Solomon. And you draw the conclusion: how much more will God care for us, who are of far more value than birds and flowers. If God cares for the birds and the flowers, whose lives are brief and small, how much more will he care for his own children. Take that to my heart, for God's care, seen in the birds and flowers, frees me from anxiety about my needs. I can be anxious about my needs, what I will eat, what I will wear, how I will be provided for; but you point me to God's care for the ravens and the lilies, and to the truth that I am worth far more to God than they. When I am anxious about my needs, help me consider the ravens and the lilies, and the God who cares for them; he will care for me, whom he values far more, Lord. Let God's care for the birds and flowers free me from anxiety, trusting that the God who feeds them will surely care for me.