Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“He 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 clothing. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, March 13, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
But you have to eat. I cannot simply approach this text from my privileged position of being able to choose to live minimally. The fact is that there are children suffering starvation in the richest countries in the world. There are millions without basic healthcare. People without homes, clothing, basic human necessities and, I would argue, basic human rights. I can be philosophical about not worrying because, when all is said and done, I am privileged to be able to not worry.
That being said, Jesus wasn’t talking to people like me. He was talking to people like him—literally homeless, living in an occupied country, and not sure where his next meal was coming from. Now that takes faith. Even in the midst of the poverty he chose to live in, Jesus is clear that God is the source of all things, and that “man does not live by bread alone.” Bread, yes, but not just bread. A relationship with God—a vital, loving, covenantal relationship—leads to a state of deep trust, and an understanding that ultimately, all will be well, even if we can’t see it in the moment. That life is about far more than eating and dressing up, but about being a part of something that transcends us.
As for privileged me, I do experience that for the most part. And even though I have an embarrassment of riches, I do sometimes worry about my life—where I will live, how I will support myself and my children, etc. But when I center God, rather than self, I have moments of true peace, and from that place, I can be far more effective in living out God’s call.
What is my definition of “enough”? Do I worry about things needlessly? How do I lean on God as my source?
