Luke 12:22-32 – “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 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life? ²⁶ So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷ Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! ²⁸ And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! ²⁹ So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. “

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was moved with this thought, “Why Do We Worry?”   Maybe better would be the declaration, “Why I Don’t Worry About Life!” I ask that you allow me to address that thought for just a minute or two.

In Luke 12:22-32, Jesus made an incredible declaration about Life, Provision, and Trust.   I encourage you to read and meditate on it.   In verse 32, He said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has gladly chosen to give you the kingdom.”   That is incredible and comforting if we can embrace it! My question is, “Do we really believe that God meant it for us personally?”

Recently, I had a conversation with someone I care deeply about, and they were struggling with the state of affairs in government, the economy, and the future.   They were wringing their hands and lamenting that the future was so dim and dismal that they were despairing of life.  This person is a Christian, albeit at that moment their faith was in another dimension, not in the promises of our Lord.

I shared this passage with them, which they were very familiar with, and then said, “This is why I refuse to worry about life.” You see, here in simple language, our Lord Jesus said, “DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE….” Don’t fret over what you are going to eat, drink, wear, and, in the context of that truth, where you will live.

Jesus alluded to the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and the fact that God cares for them the way He does.   He also cautioned against worry, saying that we cannot add even one hour to our lifespan through it, and that we now know, through medical science, that we can shorten our lifespan through it.

Jesus told us in the familiar verse 33 what we are ‘not to seek’ and what we ‘are to seek’.   He then concluded the statement by saying, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has gladly chosen to give you the kingdom.”   In that Kingdom, there is the King, and with the King are all the resources we could ever need.

If I worry about life, I am not placing my faith and confidence in God.  I am not suggesting that we make no preparations for our later years or that we go through our days with no labor or effort to earn a living.   Nobody should be that Presumptuous.   I am saying that once we have done all we know to do, we place our total trust in God, rest in God’s Promises, and take Him at His word.

Jesus said, “Do Not Worry!”   That was more than a suggestion; it was a command of Faith!   I believe He meant what He said, so I choose not to worry! I believe, as David declared, “I was young, now I am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.”   God has promised to take care of us, and He will.

May God be with you as you go through your day!   Let’s set our hearts to trusting God in Everything and resist the temptation to worry and fret!   What good does it do?