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Sunday, 10 November 2013

Luke 12:22-34 - No worries

"Do not worry". Notice also the emphatic "Therefore I tell you". These words come direct from Jesus. It is part of the human condition to worry about things, especially our daily needs. This is not the way things are in the kingdom. There is also the "therefore", referring to back to the warnings on money not providing the security we so often think it does. The dominance of worry in human lives is part of our fallen condition. When Christ comes in to our lives it is something that the Spirit will work on changing.
Jesus then gives reasons for not worrying. First life is more than food and clothes. God created us for a greater purpose than just existing, and He has saved us for a greater purpose. Then Jesus points to nature. The birds are provided with food. Notice also that "God feeds them", it is not just chance that the birds are fed. We are more important than birds.
Moreover, worrying doesn't actually achieve anything, in fact it will only make things worse. Yet we are so addicted to worry and anxiety, we need to be set free from this addiction.
Next Jesus points to the wild flowers, they do not labour or spin, yet God clothes them. See again it is God who does it, it does not just happen. Flowers are here one day and gone the next, we are more important than flowers, so how much more attention does God to give to us? We need to realise how precious we are to God. 
The pagan world spends all its time chasing after money, we were called to something greater. So we should seek first the kingdom, and these things will be given to us as well. 
We are not to live in fear and do not need to do so. The Father has been pleased to give us the kingdom. Just consider that statement. So what are the consequences? We are free to give, free to be generous towards others. In so doing we store up treasure in heaven where it is perfectly secure.

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