Sincere Faith: Trusting God Amidst Life's Uncertainties
Notes
Transcript
Text - Luke 12:13-32
Subject -
Theme -
Thesis - Jesus warns his followers of the danger of greediness for personal gain.
Principle - As Christians, we must consider what God gives us and seek how He would have us use His resources for the betterment of His kingdom.
Intro -
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” 22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Last time as we began looking at this section of text, we saw Jesus interrupted by a man in the crowd who was seeking to better himself.
He wanted Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance they had been given with him.
Jesus though, knowing this mans heart, addressed his heart issue.
The man’s heart problem was not his brother’s greed, but his own greed.
Yes, the brother may have also been greedy, and Jesus’ parable was not just directed to the man, but to “them,” which probably included the brother along with the whole crowd.
But this man had his focus solely on getting what he wanted in this world.
Jesus warns his followers of the danger of greediness for personal gain.
I tried to show last time how as Christians, we must consider what God gives us and seek how He would have us use His resources for the betterment of His kingdom.
The parable that Jesus tells in response serves to remind us that material excess will never make you truly happy, alive, or fulfilled.
God has blessed us with many things and it is legitimate to enjoy those blessings with thankful hearts.
It is also in line with scripture to provide and prepare for future needs through saving and investing.
But, at the same time I think that most Christians need to think much more carefully about the question,
Am I really seeking first God’s kingdom?
Am I constantly thinking of the stewardship of my life and money in light of what God is doing?
Or, could the deceitfulness of riches be getting a subtle stronghold on my life?
That message was addressed the the crowd as a whole.
In verse 22 Jesus makes a shift and speaks directly to his disciples, those who were following him.
If that is you this morning, I pray your ears perk up because Jesus has some real heart level issues to address inside of each of us.
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Jesus instruction here is clear and Luke is making it clear that Jesus is directing this to His followers.
Do not be anxious about your life.
To be anxious is to be apprehensive about the future.
The Greek word translated here carries the meaning of being unduly concerned.
A synonym is fearful and worrisome.
In addressing his followers, Jesus is addressing an issue that is common to all men, but one that has a solution for His followers.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults (19.1% of the population).
The world around us is plagued by anxious thoughts and feelings.
And we as Christians are not immune.
Is anxiety a sin? Does anxiety mean a person is doubting God?
Anxiety can feel uncontrollable.
Some may think that if we can’t control anxiety then there cannot be anything sinful about it.
But then we read passages like this.
And Mt 6:34
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Anxiety can be sinful but is not always sinful.
Anxiety and fear are different though and we need to differentiate the two.
The two feelings operate on different time frames.
Fear is an emotional response to a real or perceived immediate threat; anxiety is an emotional response to a real or perceived future threat.
Fear is a physiological and/or emotional warning system that alerts us to danger right now, while anxiety is a warning system of impending danger.
God provides both of these emotions ultimately for our benefit when we regulate them properly.
If confronted with an immediate threat to our life—such as encountering a wild, dangerous animal—
we should be respectfully fearful enough to flee for our own safety and survival.
An immediate feeling of anxiety or fear may trigger a natural, God-given emotional response for survival.
That sort of anxiety is rarely what we’d consider sinful.
Anxiety can also be the result of a physiological malfunction.
This is what is often referred to as clinical anxiety.
Persistent anxious thoughts on most days of the week for six months, when the anxiety interferes with daily functioning, or when you have anxiety-related symptoms (such as trouble sleeping).
This may be an imbalance of some sort that needs the help of a physician or more often there is help needed from a counselor to work through and address the feelings in a right and biblical way.
This sort of anxiety is often not sinful but there may be some sinful tendencies that have taken root.
Anxiety can be a natural consequence of sin.
You do something that you know you shouldn’t have, and are worried about getting caught.
Someone takes recreational drugs and develops an anxiety disorder.
Someone cheating on their spouse may become anxious about their marriage falling apart.
Someone who gambles away all their money may become anxious about how they’re going to pay their bills.
In these cases the anxiety is the result of sin.
The anxiety that Jesus is referring to in this passage is one that is a result from a lack in trust in God.
Jesus gives and elaborate description of just how much God cares for the lesser things in life.
Things not made in His image.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
The question Jesus disciples had to ask, and we must ask ourselves is do we believe this?
This is a question must answer for ourselves.
If we are struggling with anxiety, we need to search our hearts and examine our emotions to determine whether our own anxiety is something we can’t control, or if it is connected to sinful behavior.
Situations in life can cause great anxiety, so can our sinful behavior.
We don’t want to argue with Jesus, but we may sometimes wonder if His words about worry are realistic (Luke 12:22).
After all, shouldn’t we be concerned about tomorrow?
Suppose we get laid off from work?
Get sick?
Isn’t fear that we won’t have bread and clothes and shelter one of the strongest fears we have?
No words in any language can produce more anxiety than the question, “What if?”
As we mutter them, we begin to imagine one bad possibility, then another, and then both bad possibilities together.
What about when one of those what if’s becomes a reality?
We don’t think about the fact that our needs have always been met in the past and that we have enough for today.
There is always that uneasy dread that tomorrow our well may run dry.
Going back to last week and the parable of the rich fool,
While it is certainly wise to plan for the future, the imagined thirst of tomorrow, even though our well is full today, is one thirst that is unquenchable.
Jesus taught that worrying about the future is futile.
We shouldn’t be traumatized by what might happen or by what might be required of us.
The imaginary need of tomorrow is one need that God cannot meet.
If God has given us food and drink enough for today, why not let Him worry about our tomorrows? By Haddon W. Robinson Our Daily Bread
Each day we learn from yesterday
Of God's great love and care;
And every burden we must face
He'll surely help us bear.
—D. De Haan
Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
Jesus teaching to his disciples here helps us realize that one of the great dangers in the Christian life is that the acquisition of food and clothing becomes the first and foremost aim of our existence.
We live as the world does, as Jesus described.
29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
We become so occupied with earning money for these things that the work of the Lord is relegated to a secondary place.
When Jesus says.
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
The emphasis of the NT is that the cause of Christ should have first place in our lives.
Food and clothing should be subordinate.
We should work hard for the supply of our current necessities, then trust God for the future as we plunge ourselves into His service.
This is the life of faith.
Worry...
...gives a small thing a big shadow
...is the interest we pay on tomorrow's troubles.
...over tomorrow pulls shadows over today's sunshine.
...is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere.
...is an indication that we think God cannot look after us. (O. Chambers)
...is putting question marks where God has put periods. (J R Rice)
...is the interest we pay on tomorrow’s troubles. (E S Jones)
...is an intrusion into God's providence. (J Haggai)
...is a guest admitted which quickly turns to master.
... never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its strength (A J Cronin)
... is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble (G W Lyon)
...is practical atheism and an affront to God (R. H. Mounce)
June Hunt writes that...
Worry shifts the focus of attention from the all sufficient power of Christ (cp 2Co 12:9-note) to your human insufficiency and insecurity (cp 2Co 3:5, 6). Ultimately, worry can undermine your Christian witness by presenting God as impotent and unworthy of praise....
A specific characteristic of worry is a negative focus on the future. If you are a worrier, you are spending time speculating on what may or may not happen and then fearing the worst. (Biblical Counseling Keys - Worry: The Joy Stealer)
We cannot know the future.
But we can know this: No matter what comes, we are under the loving, caring, watchful eye of our great Shepherd, who also happens to be the Son of God!
If there is anything close to a command about fear in Scripture, it would be this.
When we are afraid, and we will be, we are to turn to Jesus.
This is God’s calling in our lives and it is our growing aspiration in the midst of worries:
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
We can try depending on ourselves as if we can manage and control our world,
or we can try to quarantine ourselves with our worries, as if worry itself might shield us from future threats, but it won’t work.
Jesus wants to directly address your heart, and mine, and remind us that life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
There is so much more to life that these.
And in the grand scheme of eternity, what do they really mean?
But trusting God in times of anxiety takes practice.
It is a spiritual skill, and it is less automatic than we realize.
With practice, we will be able to turn to Jesus more quickly and in ways that actually erode anxieties.
Results will not be immediate.
The ways of God are that we gradually grow in meaningful trust and confidence in him and love for him.
If anxieties were immediately extinguished, we would turn to him less, which would be to our detriment.
And if we don’t turn to him?
Then, and only then, can we add sin to the picture.
We need to confess that we want other things more than him.
We confess that our desires have become what are most dear to us.
Then we turn and humbly listen to his words, and, as little children, grow in the skill of truly believing what our father says.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We find a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness in what are known as the sacraments.
A couple of weeks ago we were able to celebrate together one of sacraments of the faith - baptism.
Sacrament is a big word as I looked up a definition the word come from Latin roots.
from Latin, oath of allegiance, obligation, from sacrare to consecrate]
The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission Chapter 8: Rethinking Sacraments
the Latin sacramentum—a sacred pledge of fidelity publicly symbolized by a visible sign. It often carried the meaning of a military oath of obedience.
We see this clearly during baptism, it is a step of obedience to proclaim our faith publicly and be baptised.
Jesus, during his earthly ministry told his followers to do two things, baptize other believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and in remembrance of Himself, to eat of the Lord’s Supper together.
Baptism shows outwardly that we are part of the community of faith in Jesus, it is something that we only need to do once after we have committed to following Jesus.
The Lord’s Supper, or communion which we will celebrate today is and act that helps to sustain us in the community of faith.
As such, both baptism and the Lord’s supper are meant for those who are believers, who have trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Justin Martyr, who was the most significant defender of the faith in the 2nd century said of communion.
The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission Holy Communion
We call this food ‘Eucharist,’ which no one is allowed to share unless he or she believes that the things which we teach are true, and has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins and unto a second birth, and is living as Christ commanded.”
We observe this holy supper because it was commanded by Jesus to be the abiding memorial of his sacrificial death on the cross.
The sign is the bread and the juice.
The spiritual reality that we find in this act is Jesus, dying for us and rising again to defeat death and sin once and for all.
As we eat of this bread together, and drink the cups together let us remember the importance of Jesus sacrifice.
Paul reminds us to examine ourselves carefully before taking communion.
This sacred meal is a special occasion in the life of the church.
Let us each take a moment now to examine our own hearts.
look back with gratitude to Jesus and his death at the cross
look around at the body of believers with whom we share the Supper. It is something we do as we come together (v. 17) and discern the body of Christ (v. 29) as we eat. It is significant that we share this meal as a community,
look within to recognize that though we are saved, we need God’s continuing work of regeneration in our lives daily.
look up to heaven, where the risen and ascended Christ intercedes for us as our great High Priest
look forward to the day when Jesus will return
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.