Redeeming the Time

Luke 12:22–32 NKJV

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 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? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 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. 28 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? 29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Introduction:

Jesus is speaking here to His disciples, not to the crowd at large. What He says is not theoretical, and it is not detached from real life.

He is addressing how His people are to live in a world that does not share their values, does not know their Father, and does not have their hope.

This passage is not a rebuke—it is an invitation. An invitation to live differently. An invitation to trust the Father. An invitation to place our lives, our needs, and our priorities in the proper order.

The world spends all its time on itself.

The world wants us to believe that we are part of it. The world wants us to think like it, prioritize like it, and worry like it.

From the moment we are saved, we are no longer of the world—we are now part of the Kingdom of God.

John 17:13–18 NKJV

13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Romans 2:4 NKJV

4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

None of us is a perfect Christian. All of us have what Hebrews calls besetting sin.

I am not saying we hide from what Scripture calls sin. I am saying that if the kindness of God leads people to repentance, then my hope is that my kindness will lead people to the Lord.

We are in the world, but we live by Kingdom rules. The world’s priorities are not—and should not be—ours.

If we live by Kingdom rules, then we must also learn to trust the King.

The world worries about many things.

All of these things are real. All of these things are necessary.

As believers in Jesus, we are called to trust the Lord for our needs rather than chasing after them the way the world does.

This passage is about priorities and motives. The Lord wants to provide for all our needs.

Because we were born into this world, we must continually renew our minds. Much of the Christian life is learning—again and again—how to put God first.

The world does not have the same guarantee that we do. We do.

The world worries about what to eat and what to wear. We worry about how to afford the necessities of life.

And let’s be honest:

housing matters,

food matters,

education matters,

retirement matters.

Jesus is not telling us not to work, save, or plan. He is telling us to put God first.

The world lives in worry and anxiety. We are learning to trust the Lord in all things.

(Pastoral note) If you are on medication for anxiety, please stay on it. I am not saying people do not need medication. I am saying: seek God, and allow Him to shape and form your priorities.

The same Lord who takes care of ravens and grass—things far less valuable than you or me—will take care of us.

When God is first, something else happens—we begin to understand our value.

When we put God and His way first, we find our value in Him, not in things.

As we follow the will of God for our lives, we discover that we have enough— enough to live, enough to trust, and enough to be used by the Lord to bless others.

We are able to give because we have been provided for.

And because we are provided for, we are able to help others move toward what God has for them.

Scripture reminds us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

When our treasure is the Kingdom of God, generosity becomes a natural fruit—not a forced act.

Invitation on the Go

As we continue to worship and move forward in this service, I want to say this quietly and clearly:

If you are here today and you find yourself living in worry, fear, or constant striving— this invitation is for you.

Jesus is not asking you to fix everything. He is inviting you to trust Him.

You don’t have to respond perfectly. You just have to respond honestly.

Closing

Jesus is not asking us to deny reality. He is inviting us to live it rightly ordered.

When we put the Kingdom first:

worry loosens its grip,

fear loses its authority,

and provision finds its proper place.

Life becomes more than survival. It becomes participation in the Kingdom of God.