Do not worry_Luke

Opening illustration: David being anxious during Disney movies. We can say, “don’t worry” because we have seen the movie before.

When you are worried, what helps?

Luke 12:22-34

Only Jesus can say “do not worry”

Jesus’ goal is not to eliminate worry, but to expose it. When you worry, what are you saying?

Jesus makes clear that when we worry, we

Forget how valuable we are to God (v. 24)

Forget that God is the one who takes care of us (v. 23)

Forget to look around us (specifically at the flowers (v. 27) and the birds (v. 24)

Need more faith (v. 28)

Are behaving like someone who doesn’t know God (v. 30)

Need to remember that seeking His kingdom brings the things we are worring about, but seeking the things we are worring about does not bring His kingdom (v. 31)

need to remember that God loves to give us good things (v. 32)

We fundamentally believe that having more control would solve our anxiety. But Jesus says rest is found in remembering you don’t have control! (v. 26)

This is spoken at a time and to a culture where nothing was a given: not food, not clothing (is this still true?). Not to be harsh, but isn’t this a bigger worry than getting into the right school, doing well on a test or whether someone likes you or not?

Can God handle the big worries in our life? Yes, but that doesn’t mean He is going to do what we want Him to do. That may be the sticky wicket. That is the real reason we don’t want to give away what we have. Not because we don’t think God will give us our needs, but because we don’t think God will give us our wants. Pool table/Blue streak

Should we “sell all of our possessions (v. 33)?” Not necessarily, but not necessarily not either. If possessions are in any way getting inbetween you and God, then you should get rid of them.

The reason Jesus can say do not worry is because He is in charge of all the variables!

When the voice in your head says “do not worry” which voice is it?

If it is yourself, this is worrisome and will set you up for future failure. If you are telling yourself not to worry you indeed have much to worry about!

If it is someone else, ask some questions: are they in control? Do they really know that it will “be alright”? Can they fix the problem that you are worried about? The answer to these questions is no, and honestly, this is likely the source of much of your worry.

If it is Jesus, then that makes sense. He is uniquely suited to tell you not to worry!

There are two components to anxiety: the physical and the theological. The physical will never address the theological need, but the theological may (and often does) meet the physical need.

Don’t feel like you are a worrier? Are you superstitious? Superstition is really just an attempt to control our surroundings with a level of control we simply have not been given.

Walking under a ladder

Pre-game routine

Not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding

Upside down penny

Knocking on wood

Openning an umbrella inside

Breaking a mirror

When you worry about money, you are acting like you don’t have a father. Jesus’ sacrifice has shown us once and for all the love the Father has for us.

Romans 8:32 ESV

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Read/meditate on Psalm 121

Ask, “What is the worst case scenario?” and remember that Jesus is still in charge.

Remember the cross