Last week Pastor Bender preached on the parable of the Rich Fool. A man who found his joy in the things of the world. A man who lost his soul as a result of his material idolatry. He suffered eternal damnation not because he was rich, but because he put his trust in his wealth. Because he felt as though he did not need God.
Today’s reading picks up immediately after that parable. Jesus finishes telling the parable of a man sent to hell for his idolatry of worldly possessions and says, “Therefore I tell you, don’t 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.”
Don’t worry. It’s a command I’m sure we’ve all heard, and have probably even used ourselves. Of course, not worrying about those things is easier said than done. Luckily, Jesus wasn’t a just a generic motivational speaker who would encourage people to do something without providing direction on how to actually achieve it. When he made challenging statements, he provided both the reason it should be followed, and directions on how to do so.
The first bit of instruction we’re given here is “worry not - - he loves you.” Connie Mack was the legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics for 50 years. Over the course of those years he became known as one of the best managers that the game of baseball has ever seen. He oversaw some of the finest teams baseball has ever seen, winning the American League 9 times, and finishing the season as World Series champs on 5 different occasions. In fact, his 3,731 wins as manager put him nearly 1,000 wins ahead of second place. But over the course of 50 years, not every team is going to be playing in the World Series. In fact, some of Mack’s teams were flat-out terrible. So along with his wins record, he also ended up with a record 3,948 losses.
Early in his career, when he was running a new and lousy team, the constant losses were consuming him. This isn’t unusual in the world of sports. It’s common to hear veteran players and coaches talk about how every year the losses get a little bit tougher, and the wins get a little less sweet. The worry and concern over what losing means overtakes the joy and happiness that winning brings.
I don’t know if Mack was a Christian man, but he seemed to learn a lesson that many others in his field never do. Later in life he would say, “I discovered that worry was threatening to wreck my career as a baseball manager. I saw how foolish it was and I forced myself to get so busy preparing to win games that I had no time left to worry over the ones that were already lost. You can't grind grain with water that has already gone down the creek."
Jesus didn’t hang around with too many professional athletes, but he understood that when you once you start making food and money your primary focus, worrying about the qualities and quantities is inevitable. When the things of this world control your heart, the result is going to be a constant worry and quest for more. The worry can become so consuming that even acquiring what you’ve been striving after loses it’s luster, because you’re already concerned about getting something even better. But, Jesus also knew something about His Father that allowed Him to say “don’t worry.”
He knew that we have a God who loves us enough to give up his Son to die in our place. It’s not uncommon for a parent to be willing to give up their own life in order to save their child. But how willing would you be as a parent to intentionally put your son or daughter in the line of fire? To willingly send your own child to a certain death in order to protect others? I’m not even a parent, and I can barely imagine doing that. And yet, that is precisely what God did for us.
Jesus gives us another reason why we can live without worry. He says “worry not - - he keeps you.” Again, Jesus wasn’t foolish. He knew from history that even those who belonged to God and sought to serve him weren’t without fears and the need for reassurance. Likely the most dramatic example of this is seen in Exodus. The people see God’s hand at work in the various plagues, and in parting the waters of the Red Sea as they go across on dry ground. But within a couple days they’re overcome by fear and doubt. “Moses, where’s the food! Moses, where’s the water! We’re gonna die out here!” Even the great prophet Elijah fled in fear for his life just moments after seeing God burn up the sacrifice that had been completely drenched with water.
Jesus knew these stories, and he knew that people haven’t ever really changed. But instead of condemning us for it, he seeks to offer comfort and assurance.
Jesus points out the lilies and the grasses of the field. How beautifully are they adorned? Now, I’m not much of a gardener. I can tell the difference between a tulip and a rose, but that’s about it. But still, I appreciate the beauty that is there when you walk around town and see the flowers in bloom. Did God have to make flowers beautiful in order for nature to work properly? Of course not; but He did anyway. Jesus brings up the birds of the air. Are they not provided with food and shelter? And then he brings it back to us. If God cares for even these smallest of things, how much more will he provide for those who He created in His image?
Now, we do need to note what Jesus is actually promising. What he promises is that our most important of needs will be met. We will have food. We will have clothing. We will have shelter. What he’s not promising is that we’ll be eating filet mignon, wearing Armani, or living in a lake-side mansion. John the Baptist wore camel hair and ate locusts, but yet he was fed and clothed. Jesus himself didn’t have a bed to call his own, but yet he never lacked shelter. Where we run into problems, where the people Jesus was speaking to ran into problems, is differentiating between our perceived needs and those things that are actual necessities. Our views toward what we need to survive tend to be much greater than reality. It’s a natural result of living in a world that is sinful. Because of our sinful natures, even the most basic of necessities can be warped and twisted into a false god that becomes our master. Jesus calls us to shed those false gods, and trust His promise God will provide for our needs.
I do think we should note what else Jesus is NOT saying here. First, he’s not saying that we’ll never be in want, or that things will never be difficult. After all, even the grass and the lilies have to face droughts and non-seasonal weather. Birds face the threat of losing their homes due to storms or logging. Scripture makes it clear that we can and should expect to face persecution and challenging situations. It’s in those times that we most need to remember what kind of God we have, and find comfort in what he has promised to his people.
We know we have a loving God, and we are called to remember how he has and does care for us, not just in the good times; but in the trying. We are called to not despair, but to continue to place our trust in our Lord and Savior
That brings us to our final instruction. “Worry not - - He welcomes you.” On more than one occasion I’ve heard this reading explained to mean that worry is a sin, and that because we worry we need to confess that sin and receive God’s forgiveness. Now, that is true. Worry is ultimately a result of failing to trust and love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds; and we do need forgiveness for that. But that’s not the message Jesus is preaching here. Jesus is talking to those who he refers to as a “little-flock.” He is speaking as the good shepherd, showing the way to His sheep; a flock full of sinful people whose faith fall short of perfect trust and understanding.
He says "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
While we live in this world, we will always be both saint and sinner. We will be tempted to worship our things. We will be tempted to worry about protecting those things or acquiring those things. And we will fail to always resist those temptations. And when that happens, we should and feel condemned by the law, knowing that the wages of sin is death. But what a comfort it is to know that in spite of our being sinful beings, the Father has been pleased to give us the kingdom! That in his mercy he provides us eternal life in a kingdom where we will never be in want. Where we will never be without food to eat, but will eat at the wedding feast of the Lamb. Where we will be dressed in robes that will never fade or wear out. What a comfort it is to be able to come before the throne of God, confess our sins, and hear Him say “I forgive you.”
I’m not sure where this quote originated, but it’s one that I really like. “Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.” We all face challenges and hardships of different types. But God promises to be with us through all of them, holding us in his loving arms and offering us comfort. He tells us not to worry. He tells us that He is our Father, and He will provide. Amen.
