Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? (Luke 12:22–26, NKJV)

Much of Jesus’ teaching toward the end of His earthly ministry stressed the same themes He taught earlier in His ministry. We saw this with the question of prayer in Luke 11. We see this again with the issue of worry in Luke 12:22–26. In these verses, Jesus reminds us that His followers do not make worldly provisions and riches our highest priority—our minds and hearts are focused on the plans and purposes of God.

Recall that a central focus of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 10–13 is what following Him looks like in daily life—learning the ways of our Lord, loving our neighbors, and sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus. These priorities distinguish true followers of Jesus from the crowds. Tracing the flow of Jesus’ teaching from the model prayer, the following themes are highlighted:

• the goodness of the Father (11:5–13);
• the authority of the Son (11:14–32);
• the holiness of the Saints (11:33–36);
• judgment on the Pharisees (11:37–54);
• the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (12:1–12);
• the foolishness of riches (12:13–21); and
• the faithfulness of the Father (12:22–34).

The posture of our hearts is at the center of these themes. Jesus tells us to trust God the Father, looking to Him to provide for our needs (11:13). To trust in Himself because His miracles authenticate His authority from God (11:20). To turn from the greed, wickedness, and hypocrisy exemplified in the lives of many of their religious leaders (11:39–52; 12:1). And to treasure God’s plans and purposes in our lives (12:31).

Jesus sums up His teaching in verse 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our outward expressions and behaviors reflect our deepest values. The things we say and do. The way we speak and interact with others. The way we do (or don’t) approach our days with intention and purpose. The way we do (or don’t) consider the physical and spiritual needs of those around us. All of these reveal our heart attitudes toward God, people, and God’s Creation.

The things we value most in life are the things that we find ourselves ruminating on in the mundane moments of life. Have you found yourself regularly bombarded with thoughts about money? Sex? Power? Pleasure? Revenge? Status? Wealth? These are clues that one or more of these (or something else) has an idolatrous foothold in your heart.

In Luke 12:22–26, Jesus is reminding His followers that we must daily recommit our hearts to dying to ourselves and living in Him. Our sinful desires are not pet hobbies that we can keep around for moments of personal indulgence. They are an offense to our holy God who alone is worthy of our wholehearted adoration and devotion. Anything competing for our affections toward God is an adulterous idol that, spiritually, must be torn down and cast into the fire.

What does this mean? Must we all quit our jobs and enter full-time ministry, committing the entirety of our days to prayer, studying Scripture, and praise? By no means! Unless, of course, that is God’s will in your life. God’s design is for each of us to work and live in this world and, through our working and living, to shine the light of Christ that all might see and acknowledge the glory of God (Matt 5:13–16).

Any job/career and lifestyle that is not inherently sinful can be a means of either representing or denying Christ in the world. The difference is, true followers of Christ work and live as unto the Lord—not for personal gain (wealth, status, power, etc.), but for Kingdom gain, that the plans and purposes of God may be advanced through us in this world (Col 3:23–24).

Have you recently been overcome with worry or anxiety in your heart? Let it be a sign that something in your life is out of alignment with God’s plans and purposes. Is there a deep heart issue that you need to surrender to God? Are you are in a hard season of life and needing more time for solitude with God? Are you spiritually depleted or isolated and needing to find a faith community for encouragement and support?

Whatever worries and anxieties you have, bring them to God through prayer. Ask Him to search the deep recesses of your heart and to reveal whatever hurt, idolatry, sin, unmet need, etc. He’s inviting you to lay at His feet (Ps 139:23–24). Ask Him to comfort your soul and give wisdom in planning your days as you recommit your heart to treasuring His plans and purposes in your life.