“Why Lilies Do Not Worry”

August 7, 2016


Luke 12:22–34 [Seek first the kingdom of God]
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus said, “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” And so I started thinking about the lilies that grow in the church yard. I did not plant them; they were here when we arrived 16 years ago. We did not plant them. We gave them no fertilizer, no water, no care at all. Yet every spring they come up, bloom gloriously, and then after a while dry up in the summer and wait during the winter until the next spring. They grow naturally, almost wild. God is the One who takes care of them. The lilies do not worry, and I do not worry about the lilies, either. Jesus says that God takes care of us, too. God is not just our Gardener, Jesus says God is our Father who knows what we need. God clothes the lilies, and he will provide for us, too.

Jesus said, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” And so I started thinking about the birds that that live in our neighborhood. I do not feed them: God takes care of them. Jesus said we are much more valuable than birds, and so we can be sure that God will take care of us, too. God feeds the birds, and he will provide for us, too.

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” And so I started thinking about my life and what to eat and what to wear; and also started to think about what would be the more important thing in life. Would it be love or family or friends or happiness or security or health? Or, put in the negative, what should we worry about or be anxious of? Even if we had no worries about what to eat or drink or wear; even if we had love and friends and house and home and a job; even if there were peace and liberty and justice and security; what should we really be worried about?

Jesus said, “O you of little faith! 29 [And] do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

In other words, more important than the things of this world is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is eternal life and salvation. Therefore it is completely without fear or worry.

But because we live now in this world of danger and temptation and sin, there are always things that we could worry about. It is naïve to ignore those things. It is also naïve to think that God will not take care of us, even at the time of our death. I can think of one thing that gives me courage and comfort. It is when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was the evening before he was crucified. He knew what would happen to him. He knew the suffering and pain. He knew he would be confronting the power of the devil. And so we read about Jesus’ human anxiety and his faith in God. Luke 22:39-44.

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Jesus knows and understands our fears and worries, because he, too, experienced the temptations and atrocities and hate of this world. When we pray to him, because he loves us, he feels our concerns and knows our needs. When we pray to him, we know that and so our fears and anxieties can be overcome.

In faith, anxiety is changed to adventure. We worry about things when we do not know how things will turn out. Adventure is a journey into the unknown. When Jesus is our guide, our Good Shepherd, we trust in him. Anxiety is changed into curiosity. We wonder how God will solve our current problem. How will God this answer this challenge to our life and faith? Jesus was faced with the problem of the cross and the grave. It was answered by the resurrection on the third day. Our ultimate problem will also be solved by the resurrection on the Last Day. And so, Jesus said, “32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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