Untitled Sermon

Care

Synopsis

A practical outworking of loving vigilance, efforts and tenderness. Care is perfectly shown by God. People should imitate God’s care, but human care is often limited, faulty or misplaced in self-centred ways.

Caring as part of God’s character

God’s care for his children

Ps 121:3

Psalm 121:3 (CSB) — 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.

See also Ps 8:4; Ps 23:1; Ps 65:9; Ps 115:12; Mt 6:32; Mt 10:30–31; Lk 15:20 God is the father in this parable.

Psalm 8:4 (CSB) — 4 what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?

Psalm 23:1 (CSB) — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.

Psalm 65:9 (CSB) — 9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, for you prepare the earth in this way, providing people with grain.

Psalm 115:12 (CSB) — 12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;

Matthew 6:32 (CSB) — 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Matthew 10:30–31 (CSB) — 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 15:20 (CSB) — 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

Human care should reflect God’s nature

Jn 15:12

John 15:12 (CSB) — 12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.

See also Ge 37:14; 1 Sa 10:2; 2 Sa 18:29; Es 2:11; Lk 10:34–35; Ac 20:31; Php 4:10; Php 4:14; 1 Th 3:10

Genesis 37:14 (CSB) — 14 Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

1 Samuel 10:2 (CSB) — 2 Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?’

2 Samuel 18:29 (CSB) — 29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was.”

Esther 2:11 (CSB) — 11 Every day Mordecai took a walk in front of the harem’s courtyard to learn how Esther was doing and to see what was happening to her.

Luke 10:34–35 (CSB) — 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’

Acts 20:31 (CSB) — 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.

Philippians 4:10 (CSB) — 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.

Philippians 4:14 (CSB) — 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 (CSB) — 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

God’s care contrasted with human care

Is 49:15

Isaiah 49:15 (CSB) — 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you.

See also Ps 118:9; Eze 34:2–3; Eze 34:11–12; Zec 10:2–3; Jn 10:13–14; 1 Ti 3:5

Psalm 118:9 (CSB) — 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in nobles.

Ezekiel 34:2–3 (CSB) — 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? 3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.

Ezekiel 34:11–12 (CSB) — 11 “ ‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness.

Zechariah 10:2–3 (CSB) — 2 For the idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd. 3 My anger burns against the shepherds, so I will punish the leaders. For the Lord of Armies has tended his flock, the house of Judah; he will make them like his majestic steed in battle.

John 10:13–14 (CSB) — 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me,

1 Timothy 3:5 (CSB) — 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

Care involves responsibility

Ge 2:15

Genesis 2:15 (CSB) — 15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

See also Ge 39:4; Nu 1:50; Pr 29:7; Mt 21:33–34; Mt 21:41; 1 Ti 6:20

Genesis 39:4 (CSB) — 4 Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.

Numbers 1:50 (CSB) — 50 Appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They are to transport the tabernacle and all its articles, take care of it, and camp around it.

Proverbs 29:7 (CSB) — 7 The righteous person knows the rights of the poor, but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

Matthew 21:33–34 (CSB) — 33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away. 34 When the time came to harvest fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his fruit.

Matthew 21:41 (CSB) — 41 “He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his fruit at the harvest.”

1 Timothy 6:20 (CSB) — 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.

God’s care reflected in human relationships

Eph 5:25

Ephesians 5:25 (CSB) — 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her

See also Ps 103:13–14; Ec 11:5; Is 49:15; Eph 6:1; Eph 6:4; 1 Ti 5:8

Psalm 103:13–14 (CSB) — 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. 14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 (CSB) — 5 Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so also you don’t know the work of God who makes everything.

Isaiah 49:15 (CSB) — 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you.

Ephesians 6:1 (CSB) — 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.

Ephesians 6:4 (CSB) — 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

1 Timothy 5:8 (CSB) — 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

To be careless or uncaring is wrong

Je 48:10

Jeremiah 48:10 (CSB) — 10 The one who does the Lord’s business deceitfully is cursed, and the one who withholds his sword from bloodshed is cursed.

See also Dt 8:14; 2 Ch 24:5; Is 47:8; Zec 7:9–10; Mt 12:36

Deuteronomy 8:14 (CSB) — 14 be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

2 Chronicles 24:5 (CSB) — 5 So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect silver from all Israel to repair the temple of your God as needed year by year, and do it quickly.” However, the Levites did not hurry.

Isaiah 47:8 (CSB) — 8 “So now hear this, lover of luxury, who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is no one else. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’

Zechariah 7:9–10 (CSB) — 9 “The Lord of Armies says this: ‘Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the resident alien or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Matthew 12:36 (CSB) — 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.

Care for worldly things is wrong

Php 4:6

Philippians 4:6 (CSB) — 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

See also Ec 5:12; Mt 6:31–32; Mt 13:22; Lk 10:40–42; Lk 21:34; 1 Co 7:32–34

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (CSB) — 12 The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.

Matthew 6:31–32 (CSB) — 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Matthew 13:22 (CSB) — 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Luke 10:40–42 (CSB) — 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 21:34 (CSB) — 34 “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly

1 Corinthians 7:32–34 (CSB) — 32 I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

God relieves his people of cares

1 Pe 5:7 There is a vital distinction between “care” in the sense of “loving care” which Christians are to practise, and “worldly care” in the sense of “anxiety” which Christians should transfer to God, since they and their needs are his responsibility.

1 Peter 5:7 (CSB) — 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

See also Ps 37:25; Ps 55:22; Pr 3:5–6; Is 53:4; Mt 11:28–29; Lk 12:11–12; Jn 14:1

Psalm 37:25 (CSB) — 25 I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.

Psalm 55:22 (CSB) — 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (CSB) — 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 53:4 (CSB) — 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

Matthew 11:28–29 (CSB) — 28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Luke 12:11–12 (CSB) — 11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”

John 14:1 (CSB) — 1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.