Luke 12:29-31 29And you, do not seek what you eat and what you drink and do not be worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Jesus’ words in these verses are challenging because they call on disciples to reevaluate what occupies their thinking and what their priorities are. We can seek after two things: what the world offers and what God’s kingdom offers. Most people in developed countries have all the food they need, but there are many people who struggle with basic necessities. Those who lack often long for better food. But one does not need to live in poverty to seek after food and drink. The wealthy can become preoccupied with food and drink by going to fancy restaurants and eating expensive food. Our bellies can become instruments of the flesh because we like good food and drink. Much money is wasted on food and drink, for example, expensive coffee. God has gifted us with the joys of food and drink, but these can take our eyes off more important priorities.
For the earliest Christians, it was not so much a matter of choosing between good food and fancy food but simply in even having food to eat in the first place. For many Christians then, as now in certain places of the world, being a believer in Jesus could create economic challenges with the loss of a job or rejection by family. The unbelieving world puts its focus on accumulation and preservation, including food. The disciple must live in daily trust that God will provide all we need. When supplies run low, can we still trust that God will provide?
Verse 31 is similar to Matthew 6:33 and gives the primary answer for the whole paragraph. Our heavenly Father cares for his children and watches out over those who seek his kingdom. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for daily bread. Living a life of trust is not always easy when the bills are unpaid and the food runs low. The way we can show we trust in God is to seek his kingdom. Seeking his kingdom requires submitting to God’s sovereign care and following God’s priorities for us and the world. We cannot seek God’s kingdom and, at the same time, seek our own agendas. The life of trust means we release our worries to God and put ourselves in his care, trusting in his providential grace to help us through the times of need.
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