AtomDo not Worry
Luke 12:22-35
As we prepare to hear the reading of the Gospel…I share thoughts from the person who wrote:
Have you ever met one of those people who seemingly never wor¬ries? You know the type—they meander through each day with a nonchalance that’s enviable. They breeze through each of life’s challenges as if it were an opportunity for growth and learning. They sing through each glitch in their day as if it were a chance to try something new. They never worry about tomor¬row lest they miss out on today. Blah, blah, blah…
I sometimes wish I were that person. Although I do resist the tempta¬tion to all out panic, I do like to...and she continues…
To this person…and all who struggle with worry and anxiety…the Invitation of Jesus in the Gospel today is for you!! Let’s stand to hear these words of promise…
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.
This is the Good News, the Gospel of our Lord.
The song we’re about to sing, was, to my knowledge, first introduced to First Lutheran two years ago, and it accompanied a story told at that time…a great and powerful story of trust and faith…a story that has personally affected and deepened my faith…a story to tell again as we learn from Jesus today. Here’s the story again…as told by Mike Dowdy from Hartselle, Alabama.
“While in route to New Jersey, I was stopped in traffic on Interstate 81 just below the Virginia state line by an accident involving a tanker truck hauling a hazardous load that developed a leak which meant that we weren’t going anywhere for several hours.
Sitting right beside me in the left lane were two elderly people, close to 70 (I guess), in a Silverado pickup truck which was loaded quite well. Soon we were all talking with this couple. I mentioned that if I had known we were going to be stuck in traffic, I would have bought something to drink because I was becoming thirsty.
The lady, Anna, said that they had plenty of water and sodas in the cooler in the bed of the truck and offered everyone something. While she was back there, she said that she had plenty of tuna salad made up and asked if we would be interested in a sandwich. After some urging from her husband Joe, we agreed to a sandwich. While Anna was making the sandwiches on the tailgate of the truck, she was singing like a songbird.
When she finished making the sandwiches, and putting everything up, Joe raised the tailgate of the truck to close it. I noticed a Mississippi license plate on it. I inquired as to what part of Mississippi they were from. Joe said Biloxi. Knowing that Biloxi had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, I asked if they sustained any damage. Joe said that they lost everything except what they had on and in the pickup.
All of us drivers tried unsuccessfully to pay them for our drinks and the sandwiches. They would have nothing to do with it. Joe said that their son was living around Harrisonburg, Virginia and that they were going there. He was in the real estate business and that there was a home that became open and that they were going to start all over there. Starting over at their age would not be easy.
I will soon be 48 years old, and I have to say that I have never eaten a tuna sandwich with side orders of reality, humility and faith. These people lost nearly everything. Joe had managed to get some pictures, a few important documents, some clothes and their antique heirloom grandfather clock into the bed of their truck. Anna got her china and silverware but that was all.
These wonderful people had lost practically everything and still would not accept any money for their food and drinks. Joe said that “it was better to give than it is to receive.”
When Katrina hit, they had sought refuge behind a block wall that he had built years ago, and they watched their belongings and their home disappear in the hurricane. Joe said that during all this he had one hand holding onto Anna and the other holding on to God. They and their truck came out of Katrina unscathed.
As I stated before, Anna was singing while making the sandwiches. The song? I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, an old gospel song, with the chorus stating simply…
“Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.”
Mike concludes his story with this observation, “There is no doubt in my mind who was holding both their hands.”
People of God, let’s prepare our hearts to enter into the Gospel today by singing together this wonderful gospel song of faith and trust…
SING SONG – I know Who Holds tomorrow
People of God, did you hear the words of Jesus today…in this song…Listen again to Jesus…
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or wear…Consider the ravens…consider the lilies…THEREFORE…seek HIS kingdom, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where nothing comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action...have your lamps lit!!
This being said, I know I don’t need to tell you that, we live in a culture that is filled with worry and anxiety. You name it and we’ll worry about it.
When we watch the Dow Jones and Nasdaq continue their roller coaster ride…we worry.
When we hear of a child injured or killed while (let’s say) riding a 4-wheeler, we worry about it happening to our children…as out they go at whatever age…
We worry about our health, about bridges falling, about how we’ll pay for college or the higher taxes, about whether the clothes we bought for school are the “right” choices, about whether …(you fill in the blank)…
We want that slip of paper, that crystal ball that will guarantee nothing will ever happen to us or our loved ones…yet, we know that, in this life, it won’t happen!! And so, we worry…and into our worries, Jesus says, “do not worry…rather seek his kingdom…place your treasure in heavenly things…in a relationship with him…for this is the ONLY answer to worry!!”
Thursday morning, Sandy Gram sent me an email. Sandi is a follower of Jesus, member of First Lutheran, singer on the Worship Team). In her email, Sandi shared part of her story of God’s grace…and in a later email gave permission to use her name as someone might want the chance to connect with her. Sandy wrote:
I wrote this poem that I think goes with Sunday’s theme. Feel free to use it as you see fit (or not at all) but please don’t give me credit for writing it. I don’t want the focus to be on me. I need to add that I had a very tough time managing my worries (I even broke out in hives!) and I tried lots of remedies, including medication, but the only thing that worked was when I brought it to God. Really.
Here’s a part of Sandy’s poem:
He’s standing here beside me Protection from the storm
His perfect love surrounds me, His sweet breath keeps me warm
This peace I should not feel As it settles in my soul
No longer of the world I’m free from fear untold
The calm that I’ve been given Is hard to understand
Each time He softly enters My heart with heaven’s plan
Against the apprehension That once would paralyze
My precious, precious Savior Has opened up my eye
I understand the promise now He came to us to tell
Not only are we saved from sin But from our worldly hell
Present to Him your aching heart Your every need and care
The maker of the heavens Will attend your prayer
Thank You Sandi…for your story, and your willingness to share with God’s people!!
Actually, Sandi’s poem brings us back to two weeks ago…to Luke 11…when Jesus taught his followers to pray!! It reminds us that the peace that passes understanding comes as we live in relationship with Jesus…remembering that RELATIONSHIP is a huge part of prayer!!
Sandi, (and Anna and Joe) have put this into practice in their lives…the truth that prayer is relational…it’s a relationship with DADDY…and, as their relationship with Jesus has deepened, so has their ability to let go of worry…and trust in the one who holds tomorrow.
And know today that many more stories could be told…
The home visit Pastor Wade shared with the staff…and his coming away so blessed by the deep faith and confidence and calm in these folks in the midst of their storm…
The story in Monday’s Fargo Forum introducing us to Dean “Willing Willows”, a man who by all rights, should have LOTS to worry about as he dies of cancer. As I read his story, I found my thoughts moving to what I would think I would worry about…I thought:
He should be worrying about his children growing up without him
He should be worrying about managing the household stuff now and after his death
He should be worrying about the unfairness of it all…
and my list of what he should worry about could go on and on…
Yet, his story spoke of a life lived in relationship with the living God who indeed brings peace and calm…helping to set worry and anxiety aside.
Later in the article, his wife Cindy spoke of a banner that has become their life…
Happy moments……PRAISE GOD
Difficult moments…..SEEK GOD
Quiet moments………WORSHIP GOD
Painful moments…….TRUST GOD
Every moment……….THANK GOD
The question today is, What about you? Do you find yourself spending much time worrying about what lies ahead? Or, are you free to live each day as God would have you live it: trusting in his provision…in his forgiveness…in his love and grace that brings peace and so much more?
You see, this is where the Gospel gets personal because the only person who can build your relationship with Jesus is YOU!! You can only do this on your own. You are the ONLY person who can place your treasure in the heavenly relationship with Jesus…and trust that the heart will follow…to paraphrase today:
When your treasure is found in deepening your relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Heart will indeed follow…and learn to trust…with worry and anxiety taking a back seat!!
For me, this Gospel today is an invitation…
An invitation to not be afraid…to learn to trust in him…to consider his faithfulness to even the birds of the air and the lilies of the field…to seek his kingdom, and, to build our treasures in heaven, and our hearts will follow!!
For me, this means…the more we seek to build that relationship with the Living Lord…the closer we draw to him…the more our hearts will move from worry and anxiety to peace and trust!!
Of course it’s not easy…because we want that slip of paper…we want our doctor to guarantee the cancer is gone, the heart will keep ticking…we want the guarantee that our children will be safe, that bridges will continue to stand, that our retirement funds are safe, that we’ll be liked by our classmates in school…that our job will never be pink slipped…
It’s not easy; yet it is possible….and, because it’s made possible by Jesus…
Sandi could write: This peace I should not feel As it settles in my soul. No longer of the world I’m free from fear untold
Joe could say, “I had one hand holding onto Anna and the other holding on to God.”
And Anna could sing, “I know who holds tomorrow and I know Who holds my hand.”
And…remember Tilly…this promise allowed Tilly to say, when she entered hospice “I’ve never done this before!!” WHAT A STATEMENT OF FAITH!!!
And St. Paul knew this truth when he wrote the lesson for today:
Set your minds of things above, when Christ is seated at the right hand of God…and, as you do…let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts!!.
Paul actually tells us how this is possible: It’s possible as we:
Let the word of Christ dwell in us…as we teach and admonish one another with wisdom…as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God…and…as everything we do, in word or deed, is done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him.
May it also be for all followers of Jesus also today…as we say our YES to the invitation of Jesus to us. AMEN.
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