Luke 12:21-25
Luke 12:21 (KJB)
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
The same fate awaits all those who live only for the things of this world. When
the amassing of material goods or striving for some social position is an all
consuming passion, then we can expect nothing more than what the rich fool
received. This principle can be applied not only to an individual but to
churches also. Any church which does not teach the true Gospel but teaches a
worldly, get rich gospel, will face the same fate. Its members who are diverted
from the true Gospel and the consequences of a Christless eternity, will be
surprised on Judgment Day. No one knows the day of their death and to plan only
to live a few years on earth makes no sense. How many times people plan a day
and go to work and then do not make it home alive. There is a tract out which
states “You may tie your shoes in the morning but the undertaker may untie them
at night.” As Christians we seek to be rich toward God by spreading the Word,
giving to missions, helping others, etc. In other words, the same effort we put
into living for this world, is the effort we should put toward God. The first
and foremost is to make sure that we are saved.
Luke 12:22 (KJB)
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
“Therefore” is a preposition linking the previous verse to this one. Since it is
impossible for a person to live for this world and the Lord, Jesus now assures
His hearers that they should not concern themselves about the necessities of
life. The word for “thought” in the Greek text carries with it the idea of “be
anxious.” Jesus is telling his hearers that they should not be anxious or be
worried about food or clothing. He is trying to get His hearers to focus on
something more important than this world. Life is more important than fancy
meals and the body has more importance than the clothes that cover it. In other
words, He is saying that the people need to seek the Kingdom of God because
fancy clothes on a corpse does no good and the same with fancy meals.
Luke 12:23 (KJB)
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Food alone does not guarantee life and fancy clothing does not guarantee
happiness. Neither of these should be the focus of a person’s life. They are
something that we need to live in this life but not to be the focus of our life.
We must look beyond the physical to the spiritual. (1 Cor 7:31 KJV) And they
that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth
away.
Luke 12:24 (KJB)
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have
storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the
fowls?
Jesus now offers an example from the animal world. He points out the fact that
the birds of the air, do not sow seeds and then wait a few months for harvest.
Once the harvest comes, the birds do not gather it into barns which must be
built. The birds fly around and look for food and will find it without any
thought of sowing, reaping, or storing. God the Father feeds them or in other
words, He already has their food prepared and waiting for them. Then Jesus makes
the comparison that people are more important to the Father than birds of the
air. When an animal dies, it ceases to exist but if a person dies, they continue
to live on in their soul existence, either in hell or in Heaven in their
glorified bodies. Jesus is assuring them that God knows what they need and will
supply those needs and therefore if God is handling the food and water, we need
not be anxious about finding them. If that anxiety is missing from our life,
then we can have peace and can serve the Lord without worry.
Luke 12:25 (KJB)
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Does being anxious have any advantage? The answer is no. Jesus asks the question
that if you live in anxiety, can it add one cubit to your height. The cubit was
about 18 inches (46 cm) and no one could add even one inch to their height from
being anxious. In fact, a person who lives in high anxiety will normally find
themselves, not in good health, but continually sick until their body finally
gives up and they die from it.