“Top On The Scale Of Preference: Seek The Kingdom!”

“Top On The Scale Of Preference: Seek The Kingdom!”(Lk.12:22-31).
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, about what you will eat or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes…do not set your hearts on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it…your Father knows that you need them. But seek the kingdom, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
I am worried about our Lord telling us not to worry about food and clothing. So I checked up the word worry and it says, worry is to “feel or cause to feel anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems.” The truth is that we worry more on potential problems than the actual ones.
The traditional basic human needs is food (including water), shelter and clothing. Originally Adam and Eve survived without clothing. It was shame and guilt from sin that caused them to find the need for clothing (Gen.3:). Later on before the LORD banished them out of the garden he made garments of skin for them(Gen.3:21). Since then man has worried about kinds of clothes that can distinguish their statuses as being wealthy or not. At the end of the day what is of essence is that one is clothed.
As for shelter, these first humans were not in need of shelter (house). However, over time we have evolved with architecture which also distinguishes between the wealthy, the poor and not too poor. Food, water and air was all they needed to survive. Today we worry about the taste and choice of food; and the place where it is served again distinguishes between the wealthy, the poor and not too poor.
Steering away from the simplicity of these basic needs, our needs have become uncountable and our insatiable urge for ostentation increases our worries.
We worry over a lot of things and it’s like our worries can never end as long as potential problems are top on our scale of preferences.
When our Lord tells us not to worry about food and clothing, and when he compares us to creatures who eat without labour, does it mean we too can just be like the birds and the lilies of the field? By no means! Paul says he who will not work must not eat!
We must work by day because the night comes when man works no more. But worrying about tomorrow does not solve today’s problems. Rather we should live one day at a time. God holds the future in his hands and he has planned our tomorrows.
Our worries doesn’t change anything. One day, we are going to leave all the choicest foods and expensive accoutrements behind and return to the Maker the way we came.
Bottom line therefore: “Seek the kingdom, and all these things will be given to you as well.” So to say, Do not hoard! Live and let others live by sharing with others.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to fix my eyes on things above. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.