There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

²² Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? ²⁵ Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? ²⁶ If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. ²⁸ If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? ²⁹ Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

³¹ “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. ³² Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

³⁵ “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. ³⁶ You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. ³⁷ Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. ³⁸ If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. ³⁹ But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

^{Luke 12:22-40 (CSB)}

Imagine living according to Jesus’ words. No anxiety, no worry. Is this possible?

It is hard to trust and be care-free in a world that demands, hurts, robs, curses, and tells us there is no such thing as a free lunch. So, watch out—watch out for number one… or else.

Well, because… they are right—there is no such thing as a free lunch.

The Bible even says that… it says that if you don’t work you don’t eat.

So then how can Jesus say such things to us—to them…to the world listening in?

Anyone ever invite you over for dinner?

Did you earn it…? Or was it just because you were their friend?

Okay, no, but what about relatives? Now you can pick your friends, building a trusting give-and-take relationship…but not really with your relatives.

Anyhow, is any real trust and friendship worked for? At times…well maybe more these days…

…I guess if you put it that way, but is that the same kind of work as the 8 to 5 job?

I know with some of our relatives…like uncle Jack… it can be even harder than the old grind.

Yet, the friendship… that is a labor of love… one that we give little thought to the effort involved…and if there is any “work” at all in it we gladly do it.

We live for such things and such people in our lives.

… and so, it is not at all really earned, but rather bestowed.

Yes, I know, trust is earned, but only with those who are smarting from so much betrayal…but in others it comes with ease…as it should be…as it could be.

We do see it all the time. People say, “Well, we just hit it off right away…quick and fast friends.”

So, dinner is served…or we serve it to them.

A free lunch…and many more where they came from too. That is what friendship is known to be all about. It is good family and friends around a warm fire… or the piano… all with good food and drink…and even, if you like, a good cigar.

Sorry ladies… but they can take that outside while they bring in more wood.

…and yet… there is still no such thing as a free lunch.

Whoever gives it away—that dinner—even… had to earn it by whatever means they had. Then they had to prepare it for their guests and bring it to table… not to mention the cleanup afterwards.

There is always work involved… there is always a cost.

Yes, sin has cost us something… no for real….

It has cost us everything!

No more—does creation obey us.
No more—we have to pull life from the ground the hard way
No more—as we have to kill and eat
No more—as we have to get down and dirty…we have to fight the weeds and the bugs.

All by sweat, blood and tears. All that good quality time taken away just to be able to eat. Our very lives used up doing hard time.

This is why we worry… about what we will eat, wear and where we will live. Life has taken ease by the throat and squeezed…it has broken many of us…and mistrust is now what we breathe of every day.

The wages of sin is decay, ruin, and death.

So, what we hear most is—there is no such thing as a free lunch!

And yes, we work hard to have those short moments where we can share and give and trust.

To have something called home and hearth.

Friends and good times.

Good cheer.

Music and laughter.

And just a little light in so much darkness.

Then Jesus comes along and asks such silly questions as why we concern ourselves…why we worry…as if…

As if there EVER WAS such a thing…as a free lunch.

Jesus says to us, “²⁸Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest….“

You see, Jesus has come along.

Jesus came along and fed 5,000 people and also 4,000 people for free.

A free lunch.

Jesus turned water into wine for a wedding reception party. Free wine—the best wine.

All for us…

But it was not free…it was not…

No, it was not free for Jesus. He paid dearly. But He paid for us. He is the one who worked hard to sit us down at His table to feed us.

All by His blood, sweat and tears.

No, there no such thing as a free lunch, but Jesus is so rich and able, He has paid for everything—pays for everything …

…for this life…and then on and on into eternity. For the whole world. For each of you…even for me.

This He did—spent all His life, when He walked the earth—spent it all on us—unto death…a death on a cross…sweating…with His dear blood flowing…and even tears as He endured separation from His Father.

This He did so that an eternity of hearth and home—music and laugher—and bright daylight could be had for all those who sat in darkness. All of us—the world.

So, for each of us that believes—that old curse is being lifted. Soon the earth will be as it once was. Soon we will also be as we were meant to be.

Actually… all will be far better than when first created. Heaven will dwell openly and visibly on the earth. We will have far superior bodies than Adam and Eve ever had…and we will be with Jesus more than just in the cool of the day.

We will have it all. We will be joint heirs with Jesus, owning both heaven and earth. The whole kingdom. For, Jesus says, “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

So, we really don’t have much to worry about.
Our life? It is kept in Christ, who is the resurrection of the dead.
Food? He gives us His body and Blood until heaven’s banquet.
Clothes? Well, we have the finest white linens ever made—made by Water and His Word, dipped in the blood of the Lamb.
House and home? Better ones await us—He went to prepare them for us.

And this place…now…it is just a waystation… on the way there. We are traveling through it—and yes, I know, it is a valley in the shadow of death—but we are passing through it…to live and to bring as many home with us as we can.

This is what we should be concerned about. The only thing that is eternal, lasting and of value on the earth are people. So, invite. Share. Give. Help and worry about them, praying for them. Takes their hands then—as many as we can manage—grasp and hold on tight—because “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Maybe tonight. Maybe now.

But don’t be afraid. Don’t be concerned. Jesus has you by the hand and His grip is strong. He will not let you go. He knows you and I are weak, so much of the time He carries us each day, until we are all the way home.

So, in truth… there is no real reason at all to worry about our lives here. Believe Him when He tells us not to. He and His Father know what we need for each day—before we even ask. Look to Him for all things… as it is from Him all things come.

And because of this, we can boldly say with the real St. Jude: “²⁴Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.“

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