What is the Source of Your Comfort?

I was reading Luke 9:57-58 and the Holy Spirit began speaking to me (because I asked Him to.) I was trying to understand the scriptures:

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever you go.”

58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

At a glance, it appears that Jesus is making sure one of His disciples understands that foxes have holes to live in and birds have nests to rest in but the Son of Man goes from place to place. This is understandable, however the disciple is already aware of this fact, because of what verse 57 says: “Now it happened as they journeyed on the road.” Clearly the disciple knew that following Jesus was a life of travel and mission, so what is up with Jesus’ seemingly obvious answer?

Well, It dawned on me: Jesus wasn’t merely trying to relate the fact that a life of following Him resulted in travel and mission. Just read the previous verses and chapters and you will discover that Jesus was always from place to place with His disciples.

So then what was Jesus trying to relate? Well, first we have to understand that Jesus’ statements of foxes having their holes and birds having their nests to rest in, is a representation of what the world calls peace, serenity, safety and comfort. Foxes retreat to their self made holes and birds to their self made nests because it is a “comfort zone” they have constructed. Jesus was telling His disciple and trying to tell us that the world has its fabricated comfort zones, what it calls safety and comfort, and that a life of following His will would seem like an inconvenience if looked upon through the same eyes used to measure comfort in the world. This is why in verse 58 Jesus said, “…but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Because when compared to what the world calls comfort a life of following Jesus isn’t based on the worlds “comfort zone” criteria.

The world says problems are bad things to have, and I need to do everything in my power to make sure my circumstances are at least tolerable, if not comparable to my favorite celebrity’s. But then we look at the life of one who was considered a man after God’s own heart, David, and he says just the opposite in the Psalm below:

Psalms 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

The world looks to other people, tangible goods, things money can buy and says, “Ahah, this is comfort! This is what a peaceful life is! This is what joy looks like!” (As if to say these invisible expressions can be spotted with our natural eyes.) But, in a short time, these things all pass away-not a good foundation for eternal wellbeing. However, when our lives are dedicated to following Jesus, our peace, joy and comfort come from the eternal Kingdom of God, which is the true source of life within us. This is why Jesus says in Luke 17:20-21 that the Kingdom of God does not come through observation; nor can you say, “See here! Or see there!” For indeed the kingdom of God is within you.

Romans 14:17 also gives us a further clarification of true contentment:
Romans 14:17 For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

So, in order to fully grasp what Jesus said in Luke 9:57-58, we have to understand that the world’s idea of comfort and wellbeing can’t be our idea; our idea of a life of comfort and wellbeing stems from the knowledge of the Kingdom of God living within us, which forever preserves us even when our worlds are turned upside down.

Foxes have their artificial comfort zones, and birds likewise, but as a follower of Jesus, our comfort comes from the Kingdom of God within us. It is this Kingdom that rejuvenates our faith to proclaim that, “Even if He slay me, I will still trust Him.” (Job 13:15.)