One of the major themes of Jesus’ teachings about our Heavenly Father is that He can be completely trusted to care for His children. This must have been a big deal to Jesus, as He emphasized this again and again; using various illustrations to stress the reality of God’s loving provision. Jesus uses examples from God’s animal and plant kingdoms to drive home one single point – God can be trusted to meet our needs.

Ravens

Jesus used Ravens to teach a wonderful lesson about the giving nature of the Father. In the gospel of Luke He instructed His disciples that they were not to worry about their needs for food or clothing. He begins his admonition with the words, “Do not worry.” This is one of Jesus’ favorite refrains (along with its corollary: “Do not fear”).

Having insisted that we refrain from worry, Jesus then gives us a good reason for a positive outlook. He calls attention to the ravens:

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? (Luke 12:24)

What an amazing and comforting statement! We have value in the eyes of this Father in heaven, this Source of all provision for His creation. We are in fact far more valuable than birds, which God makes sure have the food they need. It would seem, according to Jesus, that willingness to supply needs is built into the very nature of God. He provides for even the animals He has made; He will certainly do so for His special creation, those beings made in His own image, the humans. One might almost say that the supplying of physical needs is an aspect of God’s job description. No sane earthly father would allow his child to starve or go without clothes and neither will our “Father who art in heaven.”

Lilies

In this same passage, after His discussion of ravens, Jesus gives us another illustration:

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? (Luke 12:27-28)

We are commanded to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all the material needs will be added to us (we may not be rich, but we will have what we need). Physical blessings are supposed to be an afterthought for the Christian; the advancement of the kingdom of God is to be our passion.

Do Not Worry

Jesus’ main idea in these illustrations as He gives it again and again: “Do not worry. Do not fear. Your Father in heaven will take good care of you. Put His priorities first and trust Him for your material needs.”

These words of Jesus must be taken literally and not simply written off as poetic exaggeration. Though we cannot see Him, we have it on good authority that there really is a Heavenly Father, He really does care about His creation, and we really can live our lives without fear and worry.

TrueWealth

Why did we name our company TrueWealth? The principles taught above are applicable to all of us in all aspects of life. Consider how the principle of “Do not worry” is applicable to wealth management and our relationship with clients. We and our clients are capable of being the worriers Jesus admonishes. When our clients worry about their accounts and the outcomes, they are placing their concerns and focus on the worldly things and not focusing on God’s plan for them or that which makes up their TrueWealth.

Our TrueWealth is not our accounts or worldly possessions, it is our faith, salvation, and love for family