Why Should I Be Discouraged?

Series on Luke

IV The Imperatives of the Kingdom

B Instruction in Rejection

3 Selling All

Text: 12:22-34

Introduction

I hope you realize that for Jesus to say, “Don’t worry,” to sinful human beings like us who naturally expect the worst is a real challenge. Worry is so native to us that medical doctors will tell you that many hypochondriacs make themselves sick because they worry that they are. Steve Brown of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, asks if you have heard about the hypochondriac who had inscribed on his tombstone this epitaph,” I told you I was sick.” Worry is the most exhausting and fruitless activity of the human spirit. It changes nothing outside of us for the better and only makes what is inside us worse. The founder of the Mayo Clinic said he had never met a man who died from overwork but he had met many who died from worry. So an old proverb says, “Blessed is the man who is too busy to worry in the daytime, and too tired to worry at night.” If Christians think they are exempt from worry they are mistaken. First of all the sinful nature continues. Secondly, Christians have more to worry about. They not only worry about the economy, their families and such but they worry about their faithfulness and their commitment, and maybe even worry that they’re not worried. What I want you to see today is that there is a way to combat worry. It won’t happen automatically because you’re a Christian. it will happen if you use the tools that Jesus has given you. and our Lord gives us three things here that we are to do. First, we must see right, second, we must seek right, third, we must sell right.

I Seeing

First of all Jesus warns us that we must see life correctly in verses 22-28, 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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 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! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “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. 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! Jesus points to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field which are cared for by God. The point has nothing to do with work. Each of these in their own sphere and their own way work but not in a way commensurate with the reward. Birds have to find their food but they cannot manufacture it. Lilies photosynthesize but do not spin and they are beautifully adorned. Ultimately every form of life depends on God. So the issue is not about work but about worry. Jesus adds, “Whom of you can add a single hour to his life?” Obviously you cannot! Therefore we must see what is really important so that we will attempt to change what can be changed within the abilities we have at this present moment and leave the rest to God. This is exactly the point. If I can’t find the answer to a problem then its not a problem, it’s a fact and my best solution is in seeing that this is God’s plan and to pray for the grace to accept whatever He has ordained. In the end most worry is just our unwillingness to accept God’s plan. This is not fatalism which says you can not do anything. The Christian answer is do what you can and then rest in the provision of a loving God and trust. If I can’t find an answer then I don’t have a problem. God does, because he promised to take care of me which brings me to the next advice of Jesus which is in verses 29-31.

II Seeking

Not only must I see God’s care but I must seek God’s grace in verses 29-31, And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Our Lord reminds us that the world is seeking after things which include both necessities and non-essential items. Since he mentions necessities no one is exempt, but experience clearly teaches us that the more stuff we accumulate, the more worries we have. We can worry about where our next meal is coming from or we can worry about where to dock our yacht or park our Rolls Royce, but in the end it is not what we are seeking but what we are not seeking that makes us worry. Jesus says seek God’s kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. God supplies the needs of those who put His kingdom first. If all Jesus were saying was to get our priorities right it would be good advice, but he is saying much more than that. Immediately in verse 32 He says to them, Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. All the life and joy, wisdom and wealth, glory and honor of the kingdom is theirs. It is theirs because the mission the Father has sent Jesus on is not just to teach them but to save them. He has come to die for their sins and to put each one who believes in a relationship to God of blessing. Listen to that Paul says in Romans 8:32, If God spared not his only son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things. We’re talking about grace here and this is the exact place where Paul says in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. So you can either seek things and worry or you can seek God and not worry because he is gracious to you in Christ. But there is one more step to contentment after seeing and seeking. It is selling.

III Selling

Jesus concluding advice is to sell in verses 33 and 34, 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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. There is nothing that strengthens and confirms our faith like committed action. The man that gets rid of possessions and invests in the work of God’s kingdom wins both ways. He no longer needs to worry about tending his possessions here, maintaining them and protecting them, but he has also put his investment where no thief comes and no moth destroys. What he has done is change his heart by changing where his treasure is. His affections have been transferred to heaven. He no longer worries about what is on earth because his investment is in heaven and there he doesn’t need to worry about it. Many people worry about why they’re not more committed and the answer is in a nutshell that they’re still looking earthward instead of heavenward. A lot of the most committed missionaries whom we admire first gave to God their treasure. When fear knocks at the door faith answers and there’s nobody there.

Conclusion

In conclusion Steve Brown mentions that most people worry at night. If you keep your treasure on earth your god is you and if your god is sleeping who is staying awake to protect your treasure? But if your treasure is in heaven He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Your God is awake and you can sleep!