For Life is More

Everything in this world screams to be your master and your main focus, even things seemingly innocuous. We too easily give our power up to the least things. In a life full of survival, God wants you to not just live but to thrive.

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. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouse or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! - Luke 12:23

If you're focused on only getting by each day you'll lose sight of the reality of His grace, love, and the fulfillment of His promises in your life. You'll lose sight of the opportunity to be His hands and feet. You'll lose yourself to the continuous waves of the ocean, trying to keep your head above water.

We're not talking about clinical depression or severe illness, which sometimes necessitates a hyper-focus on yourself and your survival, at least for portions of time. He is the Healer, and He understands this situation even while He wants more for you.

There's a reason He's called a rock. He's the stillness in chaos, the peace in a storm, and the breeze on a torturously hot day. You stand firm on Him, you don't need to always think about where your next meal will come from or whether you'll be able to cover your skin or have a roof over your head.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

I'm not saying you'll be rich or even have a daily meal. What I mean is God is beyond all this. You pray for rain, but He can fulfill your thirst without it. You pray for money for rent, but He can keep a roof over your head without it. If your head is on the surface of life, you'll want the tools to help yourself, and you know, He might give them. However, KNOW that you can rely on Him instead of those tools. When your God is above the mundane of life, so are you. When your Father is the creator and keeper of all things, beings, from one corner of the universe to the next, in control of all, what can you fear? What is even physical death but a minor inconvenience?

Many times, if you study history or anthropology, you'll learn that when people were no longer worried as much about day-to-day survival as a civilization, art and creativity burgeoned into the world like a butterfly escaping its chrysalis. This is just a peek at the rebirth you were saved for. There is a kingdom within you that you're spreading. You're not just spreading life, you're spreading LIFE through God and His word.

How do you do this? The biggest way is to Love.

Does this mean to quit your day job or forget about your responsibilities? Does this mean to get rid of your 401k? No, it means to re-understand your place and purpose in life and know that your job and your savings were not allowed you by God to keep food on the table. God can do more than that for you. It's there for you to love others and learn lessons you may need later to love yet still more.

Money, resources, emergency supplies, and the rest are merely tools, options in a world where God is in control of all. If He gives you those tools, they remain His, and you are their stewards, responsible for using them on behalf of God's will.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.
”And he told them this parable:
“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” - Luke 12:13-21

Give to one another what you have, whether that is material things, time, energy, love, etc. You are no longer a person surviving in the world. You are a Child of God, thriving in His kingdom.

Do you know the ONLY time God asked His people to test Him?

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. - Malachi 3:10

What does this mean? Give. Give what you have, and don't worry for your survival. God will provide. Test Him in this!

So, what does charity and volunteerism have to do with living your life to the fullest? Everything. Check out these clearly not religious links:

Psychology Today
Harvard Health
The Guardian

God knows what we need. We need Him. We thrive off loving one another. God bless!

But He answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."" - Matthew 4:4