Luke 12:22-31

²² 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. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ 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! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ 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—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Reflection:

There’s a song titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and basically it’s saying life is going to bring you trouble but if you worry it’s going to make it worse so don’t worry, be happy.  You’re going to be evicted and don’t have a bed because someone stole it but don’t worry, be happy. And really that’s all the comfort the world has to give.  How different it is for us, the children of God.  Jesus says, “Don’t worry,” because God knows our needs and He will take care of us.  We are encouraged to trust in God’s great care over us and live by trusting Him when He says life is more than food and clothes because life is about seeking God and His kingdom first.

Response:

Though there are many things that we can worry about in this life, our Father’s care is over us and we are to live seeking Him and His kingdom first.

Let’s come before our God with our worries and concerns because our Father God cares for us.  And as we bring them to Him, let’s cry out that we trust Him and we will seek Him and His kingdom first.

Inside Higher Ed reported that on Tuesday, January 10, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter joined other Obama administration officials and higher education luminaries at the White House to make the case that an engaged citizenry will bolster the country’s democracy and economy.  The meeting follows a report  prepared by the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement that makes the case for an elevated level of civic knowledge and democratic engagement among college students.

Among the attendees at the White House event was Catie Collins ’12, the UMBC student government association president.  She said that such engagement “can be a great tool for students to get to know the world around them.” Collins serves as the nation’s only undergraduate student on the steering committee of the American Commonwealth Partnership (ACP), which has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education and Association of American Colleges and Universities to develop this initiative.

The story, “Call for Civic Learning,” appeared on Inside Higher Ed on January 10. Read more about Collins’ attendance at this event here.