Worry
Luke 12:22-31
Introduction: If someone brought a piano into the worship, our people would have a fit! But if someone comes to church looking sad, and you ask them about the problem, and they respond: “I’m worried about...”; then we say and do nothing. Yet the piano issue is a violation of an interpretation of some verses, while the worry issue is a violation of a clear statement of Scripture. Sometimes I think we pick and choose what we want to enforce from the Bible. This worry issue indicates a faith problem, and we need to deal with it!
I. Definitions
A. It doesn’t mean thinking about something
1. Planning how to deal with a difficult situation
2. Considering options
B. Anxiety
1. The root from which this word comes indicates a division of the mind
2. The mind is unable to function normally because it is constantly pulled to the worry
3. This is something over which we do have control
C. Painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over impending or anticipated ill (Keeps the mind in a state of painful uneasiness)
II. Reasons Jesus gives to not worry
A. Life is more (a greater thing) than food vs. 23 (compare vs. 15)
1. Compared to spiritual matters food is a silly worry
2. Be concerned about spiritual nakedness, not physical clothes Revelation 3:18
B. God will take care of you
1. He takes care of the ravens (crows) vs. 24
a. Nasty, unclean birds
b. We are more valuable than birds (compare vs. 7)
2. He takes care of the flowers vs. 27-28
a. Prettier than the best of what Solomon could wear
b. God is concerned about something that blooms for only 1 day
c. How much more will He clothe you!
C. Worry accomplishes nothing vs. 25-26
1. hlikia - Life’s span, height
2. If you are short, can worry make you taller?
3. If you are dying, can worry make you live longer?
4. Jesus calls this a small thing, i.e., small to God
5. Since worry can’t accomplish even small things, why do it?
D. Worry indicates you have small faith vs. 28c, 30
1. oligopiVtoi - people of little faith
2. Appears only in Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20 & here
3. “This term grants the trust of the disciples yet reproves the littleness of this trust as it is evidenced by the worry which the disciples still have at times. Our trust ought to make all worry impossible.” Lenski
4. Nations of the world - rabbinical term for Gentiles - people of no belief
III. Jesus’ suggestions for increasing our faith (to stop worrying)
A. Stop worrying about things you can’t change vs. 22, 25-26
1. God grant me the ability to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, and the wisdom to know the difference.
2. Vs. 4-5
3. This is under our control
B. Stop striving for things of this world vs. 29
1. This occupies too much of our thinking
2. Balance work (II Thessalonians 3:10) with spiritual things
C. Strive for his kingdom vs. 31
1. Strive - zhtew - seek, search or look for; strive for; want, ask, ask for; demand, require, expect; consider, deliberate, examine investigate
2. Here is where we are to put our effort and thought, not in this life
3. Kingdom - reign or rule of God in your life
Conclusion: I don’t think most of us worry about the necessities of life. Instead, we worry about our children, about our health, and about how we compare to other people. We worry that our health will break down and we will end up like Gladys Childs. We worry that our money will run out and we will have to give up our things. Seven times Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not worry.” Will we trust God to take care of us, like he promised? Or do we prefer to depend on our own abilities?
Wichita, KS. Central. June 27, 1999. PM.
Plaisance Church. ECD, Guyana. February 26, 2007. Bible Class.