Word@Work Luke206 - Luke 12:22-26
Published: Wed, 10/06/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
DO NOT WORRY
Luke 12:22-26 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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 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! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (NIV)
Worry is a chronic fear. It is not bad enough to paralyse thoughts and decisions; instead, it takes over the horizon of the mind and makes everything else revolve around it - creating stress and displacing other priorities. Jesus said, "Do not worry", because that kind of thinking excludes God. However faithful we may seek to be as followers of Jesus, the moment we allow worry to take over, we push God to the touchline of our life, grieving His Holy Spirit and draining our souls of joy.
God, by definition, is in charge of everything, and has the power to show kindness to all who trust Him. Those who are His family should know this and rejoice daily. If the birds are fed out of His food store, will He be any less kind to us who look for our daily bread? Indeed, Jesus commanded us to ask Him to supply that need (Luke 11:3,9-10). Although Jesus uses birds to illustrate His point, human beings are not just animals with bigger brains: we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). We are created with the capacity to relate with God and to receive His love, mercy and grace. Will He not therefore supply all our needs? The Apostle Paul said, "and my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
Of course, there is a big difference between what we need and what we want. The sinful nature will always push our shopping list beyond the provision God knows we need: He has promised to enable us to meet our responsibilities and serve Him. But our inner craving to please ourselves will invent all sorts of 'essentials' that have no place in God's purpose for our lives; and usually the consequences of these ambitions leave us unfulfilled and worrying. But when it comes to the essentials of life, God is always faithful. Psalm 37:25 says, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread". Our lifespan on earth is limited: God knows exactly when it will end, and until then He will supply all our needs. So it is pointless to worry ... worse than that, it shows that our confidence in God's kindness has evaporated! If we know that our eternal destiny is safe in Christ and that our lifespan is in God's hands ... why worry, when He has promised to provide for every need every day?
Prayer: Dear Lord. Please forgive me for worrying so much and trusting You so little. Thank You for this reminder straight from Jesus' mouth that You are committed to provide for every daily need. Please help me to commit each day into Your hands so that I may have the joy of seeing You supply the answers to my needs. And may my life of faith be a stimulus for my friends and colleagues to seek You for themselves. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Worry is a chronic fear. It is not bad enough to paralyse thoughts and decisions; instead, it takes over the horizon of the mind and makes everything else revolve around it - creating stress and displacing other priorities. Jesus said, "Do not worry", because that kind of thinking excludes God. However faithful we may seek to be as followers of Jesus, the moment we allow worry to take over, we push God to the touchline of our life, grieving His Holy Spirit and draining our souls of joy.
God, by definition, is in charge of everything, and has the power to show kindness to all who trust Him. Those who are His family should know this and rejoice daily. If the birds are fed out of His food store, will He be any less kind to us who look for our daily bread? Indeed, Jesus commanded us to ask Him to supply that need (Luke 11:3,9-10). Although Jesus uses birds to illustrate His point, human beings are not just animals with bigger brains: we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). We are created with the capacity to relate with God and to receive His love, mercy and grace. Will He not therefore supply all our needs? The Apostle Paul said, "and my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
Of course, there is a big difference between what we need and what we want. The sinful nature will always push our shopping list beyond the provision God knows we need: He has promised to enable us to meet our responsibilities and serve Him. But our inner craving to please ourselves will invent all sorts of 'essentials' that have no place in God's purpose for our lives; and usually the consequences of these ambitions leave us unfulfilled and worrying. But when it comes to the essentials of life, God is always faithful. Psalm 37:25 says, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread". Our lifespan on earth is limited: God knows exactly when it will end, and until then He will supply all our needs. So it is pointless to worry ... worse than that, it shows that our confidence in God's kindness has evaporated! If we know that our eternal destiny is safe in Christ and that our lifespan is in God's hands ... why worry, when He has promised to provide for every need every day?
Prayer: Dear Lord. Please forgive me for worrying so much and trusting You so little. Thank You for this reminder straight from Jesus' mouth that You are committed to provide for every daily need. Please help me to commit each day into Your hands so that I may have the joy of seeing You supply the answers to my needs. And may my life of faith be a stimulus for my friends and colleagues to seek You for themselves. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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