“Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? …But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬-‭26‬, ‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

I have skipped over much of Jesus’ teaching about money because, first, He summed up our attitude by explaining that we will serve what we love…God or money. Second, our use or misuse of money shows us where our priorities lie. We store our wealth in banks to serve ourselves in place of storing it in heaven to serve others. 

Our attitude to money also influences our prayers. We so often lose track of real issues in our praying because our lack, that is, our needs, preoccupy us. Jesus commented that when we do this, we think like pagans. They are bent on chasing money to satisfy both need and greed. However, as God’s children, He has pledged to take care of our needs. If God cares about birds and flowers, what about us?

So, how do we factor our daily needs in our real world into our lives as citizens of God’s unseen realm? 

Our first consideration is…how seriously do we take Jesus’ words? Did He really mean that God is concerned about what we  eat, drink, and wear?

Second, if we mustn’t focus our prayers on our needs, how do we get our everyday needs met? Jesus’ prescription is simple…change your focus. If God is always about His kingdom…His rule in the hearts of His people, this includes His economic system, the way to use our money…then so must we. 

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s economic system is so radically different from the world’s that we struggle to believe that it’s true. The world’s way is to gather and hoard. God’s way is to give and receive so that the resources keep circulating according to need. This way of handling our money demands radical confidence in the faithfulness of God. 

God’s way of doing things is based on generosity. Jesus said…

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, in God’s realm, when we do money His way, He takes care of our needs when we take care of the needs of others. When we follow Jesus’ instructions, He catapults us into a way of life…freedom from worry…that we could never dream possible. 

Our needs, therefore, are not intended as a roadblock, to sidetrack us in our prayer lives, but as a stepping stone to trigger a greater understanding and experience of how God’s kingdom works. When we take care of the needs of others, and God, in response, takes care of ours, what better way to love the Lord Jesus than by loving His people!

To be continued…