Do Not Worry

It's 2.30am. drank coffee to stay awake to study. ♥ coffee.

so anyway, this passage really encouraged me today.

Luke 12:22-33 (Do Not Worry)

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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

(ahh, all you people who 'live to eat' and fashionistas who thrive on the latest fashions.)

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 his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

how very apt for these moments before STPM and also the whole dilemma of what i'm going to do in the future. it's been quite worrying. and Jesus reminds us not to worry because our Father knows what we need and He is able to watch over us.

i say, humans tend to complicate things. we argue that we are not simple beings like ravens and lilies where we can just fly around and grow in some park. but even all this storing of material possessions and working for "success" is driven by our own human wants. wants to be better than others, wants to be in control of our lives, wants to have power, etc. when God has far greater plans for our lives. we're so valuable to Him, of course He'll take care of us!

But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

what are we seeking for? what are chasing after? the eternal kingdom of God or the temporal treasures of the world?

i ask, whose kingdom am i seeking after? whose treasury am i storing in?

is it my own or God's?

For where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

where is my heart?

of course seeking after a kingdom that is not tangible and that is invisible to sight is not the easiest thing to do.

most people would want to touch and feel their ringgits, dollars, euros, etc. even seeing the digits in their bank accounts is tangible enough. people prefer cars, houses, jewelry, etc. compared to this "kingdom". they say, "what kingdom?"

it's faith. faith that there is a kingdom, God's kingdom. faith that we are storing our treasures there, treasures that do not perish. faith that we're not wasting our time. faith that God will provide in our lives.

Dear Lord, thank you for this reminder. thank you for providing all these years and for watching over me. thank you for your promises. thank you for giving me faith. i love you.