Sermon Index
August 11, 2019, The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 12:22–34 [Seek first the kingdom of God]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. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 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! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 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. 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! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 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. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” Jesus spoke these words because he knows that we are indeed very anxious about our lives. We are worried. We have fears, doubts, troubles, insecurity, pessimism, inferiority-complexes, weaknesses, sins, guilty consciences, etc. I personally do not want to worry, but I have concerns, I plan for the future. I do not want to be a hypocrite either, so I will tell you right now that this last week as a pastor my biggest concern or worry was how to write a good sermon that about not worrying.
In the Bible, Jesus was not the first one to tell people to trust the Lord God and not to worry. David wrote the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want… Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” In the midst of all his troubles and battles, David could trust the Lord and not worry. The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote in effect, “Eat, drink, and enjoy the life that God has given you.” The Book of Daniel tells how people trusted in the Lord, even though they were in a fiery furnace or a den of lions.
There are a couple of things that help me personally when I am worried about things. First there are the words of Jesus. “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! 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. 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.”
And there are the words of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us, “Give us this day our daily bread. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” It is the trust and faith that God will give us each day what we need and will protect us from evil of body and soul. And there are the words of St. Paul. Ever since I was young, my favorite Bible verse has been Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” [NIV]. “In all thing God works for [my] good.” Good things, of course, but even in bad things God works for my good. When I make mistakes or the wrong decisions, God can make things good. When I am injured or sick, God can even make that be to my good. Sometimes I am not sure how an injury can become something good for me, but I trust God. God can even make my sin into something good: he does that through forgiveness when he takes my sin upon himself. Then the Holy Spirit makes my faith and trust stronger.
Speaking of making something good out of a bad situation, remember Jesus on the cross. Cross -- empty tomb. Death -- resurrection. Suffering – love and healing. The sin of the world – God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. And so, when we have crosses and tribulations, we look to the cross of Jesus and his suffering, and we look to his resurrection and victory. This is the source and foundation for our hope and trust in Jesus Christ. This is what takes away our worry and anxiety.
Finally, this Romans 8:28 passage gives me peace and curiosity. Yes, curiosity. When I am at my wits’ end and do not know how to proceed, I start to wonder, “Okay, God, how are you going to get me out of this one? How are you going to make this one good? What miracle are you going to perform?” This curiosity helps me relax even in a scary experience.
And of course there will come that time when the ultimate good will come. When there will be release from this world of sin and evil and trouble. Every tear, every pain, every sorrow, every worry will be taken away. Jesus said, “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church