God will not be boxed in by our worries and He will not let our self-understanding be limited to our needs. Jesus knows there is more to God and more to us than what we are worried about.
“Don’t worry about it.” That phrase is disturbing. In fact, it worries me.
When someone says, “Don’t worry about it,” I cannot help but wonder what is going on. First, I wonder if they really know the gravity of the situation. I think, “If you knew what was going on, you would be more concerned.” Second, I wonder if they are only concerned about themselves. “Yea, it’s easy to say, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ when you are not going to be hurt by what happens.” Third, and perhaps the worst, I wonder if they really care. “Are you saying, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ as a way to change the conversation? Don’t you care what happens?” When someone says, “Don’t worry about it,” I hear echoes of a lack of understanding, a lack of love, or a lack of care... and that worries me.
Which is why I am so thankful for what Jesus does in our gospel reading this morning. He says, “Don’t worry,” ... but then He also elaborates on why He says that and, in doing so, He offers us worriers an encouraging word. He assures us that God understands, God is full of love for us, and God is active in His care.
First, Jesus assures us that God understands. When it comes to the things we worry about, Jesus says, “Your Father knows you need them” (verse 30). God knows our needs.
I was recently at a BBQ, listening as a friend shared what was going on in her life. Another person in the group, trying to be encouraging, said, “I think the universe is trying to tell you something.” How sad, I thought, to be reduced to the point where all you have is an impersonal universe sending you an undecipherable message.
Jesus awakens us to something greater than the universe. He points to the One who made the universe, and He calls Him our Father. The One who made the universe also made us and understands our situation. God has seen our sin and suffering and sent His Son to set things right. His Son suffered the punishment of our sin in order that He might restore our relationship with the Father. Jesus tells us not to worry because He truly knows our needs and brings us into relationship with our heavenly Father who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.
Not only does Jesus bring us into relationship with our Father who knows us, but this heavenly Father loves us. That is the second encouraging word. God loves us. It is easy to say, “Don’t worry about it,” when you do not have any skin in the game. Jesus, however, is God’s skin in the game. He says, “Don’t worry about it,” because He is God and He is fully invested in bringing us through the difficulties of this world into everlasting life. “Fear not, little flock,” Jesus says, “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (verse 32). God is full of love toward us and, therefore, we are not to worry.
Not only does Jesus bring us into relationship with our Father who knows us, but this heavenly Father loves us.
Third, God is active in His care. Sometimes, people say, “Don’t worry about it,” as they are walking away. It is their parting gift to us, a word of encouragement. Jesus, however, says this not as He is walking away but as He is walking toward us, walking toward Jerusalem where He will bear our sin and be our Savior. Jesus is not leaving His disciples alone in the world. Instead, He is opening their eyes to see how God is near and active in the world. They are not to think of God as some distant being, loving them in a disembodied way. Instead, God is near and active in His care.
God sees the birds, not laboring for food, and He feeds them. God see flowers, that quickly pass away, and gives them a spectacular beauty. If God cares for birds by feeding them and flowers by clothing them, certainly, He will care for you in ways beyond your understanding. When we are immersed in situations which worry us, Jesus asks us to see how we are immersed in a world where God is active in His care. We have a God who understands, who loves, and who is active in His care.
Worry can be myopic. It can reduce our understanding of who we are and who God is. When we worry, we focus intently on what we are worried about and tend to evaluate everything else in terms of that worry.
I remember a mother who was worried about the way her unwanted divorce would affect her children. It was hard to watch. She would take incidents in the lives of her children, things that were normal growing pains for elementary schoolers, and she would transform them into mini crises which signaled the effects of her divorce. Because she was worried about the effects of her divorce on her children, that is the only thing she could think and see.
How easy it is for God to get sucked into the vortex of our worrisome vision. When we worry, we can reduce God to the circumstances of our lives. The only thing about God that we care to know is whether or not He will take care of our worry.
But God will not be boxed in by our worries and He will not let our self-understanding be limited to our needs. Jesus knows there is more to God and more to us than what we are worried about. As Jesus says, “Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing” (verse 23). Jesus tells us not to worry and then He offers us a fuller vision. God understands our situation and claims us as His children. God has skin in the game and loves us with a sacrificial love. And God is presently active in His care in ways which are beyond our understanding.
--------
Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on Luke 12:22–34 (35–40).
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Luke 12:22–34 (35–40).
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
