Title: Jesus' Teachings on Worry
Contents
Word: Luke 12:22-34
Title: Jesus' Teachings on Worry
It is no exaggeration to say that we live with worries, big and small, every day. However, you will notice that the majority of daily worries are useless. I saw this article. ‘40% of our worries are about events that never happened, 30% of events that have already happened, 22% of trivial events, and 4% of events we cannot change. Only the other 4% are real events that we can deal with.’ What do you mean? Only 4% are genuinely worried, worried, and 96% are useless.
There was a woman who had been unable to sleep for several years because of fear of being robbed. Even the slightest noise would wake him up in the middle of the night, often making him fall asleep. Finally, one night while sleeping, I heard a strange noise coming from inside the house. For some reason, I went downstairs to find a robber. The husband said to the robber. "Hello. Nice to meet you. Go upstairs and meet my wife. I've been waiting to see you for 10 years."
Worry starts with false beliefs. It is a false belief that trouble will happen before it happens. People's concerns have no limits. There is a reason why Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow. Jesus gives us the strength we need for the day. Don't worry in advance that a bad day will come or a sunny day. Even if it is a bad day, the rain should be avoided.
Instead of feeling anxious and fearful because of worry and anxiety, you should surrender all your worries and worries to the Lord who is the Lord of my life and guides my life, and enjoys peace in the Word and gets refreshed.
Through today's message, all of us who are wandering in life amidst all kinds of worries or troubled by confusion can quickly let go of our worries and give thanks to God for the joy that God has given us, peace and comfort from heaven, and thanks to Jesus. While earnestly wishing that this will be a time of overflowing confessions, we would like to share the grace with the title of 'Jesus' Teachings on Anxiety'.
1. It is a foolish concern to seek anything other than life.
Jesus said at 22-23 that life, or life, is far more important than what a person eats and drinks, so it is foolish to worry about what he will eat or what he will wear. I gave an example from Jesus' own words, and the content is found in verse 24.
In verse 24, we see the crow as an example. Because crows eat carrion, unlike sparrows, they are not sold and are not popular with the Jews. Even in Korea, I don't like it that much because it's called a bad bird. The crow, which is not popular with the people, is not raised by anyone, nor does it store food in warehouses, nor does it have a closet where people go to sleep in their families like people do at night. He has provided a way for them to be cared for by being locked up in the world created by God so that they can live.
God feeds and nurtures crows in the same way, but because he said that we and I, who resemble God's image, are much more precious than crows, God will take care of us. Look at the second half of verse 24. “How much more valuable are you than birds?”
Therefore, as children of God, I and I hope that we will no longer be greedy for obtaining more things from the world for our physical satisfaction. I hope that you will not become a foolish person who is anxious and anxious because he is greedy to get more than other people by saying, 'A little more, a little more'.
Why is this concern foolish? Because it is all in the hands of God, not in our hands. All of these things are entirely provided by God. If God is the One who gave us life and body, then, of course, wouldn't God provide all that we need to sustain our life and body? So Jesus said in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Therefore, we must entrust ourselves and everything to God. God cares for us and guides us.
Dear saints, There is nothing more important than gaining eternal life. I really hope that there are no sad saints among us who miss the blessings of eternal life because of their foolish concern for gaining the things of the world. See verse 15. “Beware of all covetousness,” he said. “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Realizing that there is nothing more precious than eternal life, I bless you to become believers who believe in and depend on God the Creator, who provides everything we need according to our needs.
2. You cannot change your current situation with anxiety.
Norman Vincent, the author of 'The Proactive Mindset', a bestseller published in 1952 and translated into 42 languages and selling more than 22 million copies over the past 50 years, is called 'The Priest of All People' and is well-known as the founder of 'Positive Thinking'. Dr. Bill is walking down the street, and a young man greets him with a very distressed expression on his face.
Dr. Bill: “What worries you? Why are you so destined to die?”
Young man: “Don’t tell me, these days there are no days of worry and worry. After one passes, the other bites its tail and I can't stand it. Dr. Phil, is there no place where there is no worry?”
Dr. Bill: “Yes. There is only one.”
Young man: “Where is that place?”
Dr. Bill: “Why? Would you like to go there?”
Young man: “Don’t go. If there is such a place, I will go immediately.”
Dr. Bill: “Yes? So let me explain, it's a cemetery. If you lie down there, you have no worries or worries.”
Young man: “Then are you telling me to die?”
Dr. Bill: "The world is so full of care and worry, how can you avoid it!"
When you are worried about something, if the problem is resolved or the problem is resolved because of that worry, anyone will be worried about anything, no matter how big or small it is. But in reality, we know all too well that worrying never solves the problem or makes any difference at all. In verse 25, Jesus said, “And who of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to his stature?” These words are the teachings of Jesus, who made us realize that it is foolish to worry that we cannot add even an hour to our lives by worrying.
Therefore, rather than a foolish concern that the situation does not change at all, it is the wise form of a saint to believe and pray to the Creator God who takes care of those who completely trust in him. How could God leave us who are made in His image? Truly, we want you to believe that God is always watching over us and is willing to deliver us from all tribulation and trouble. That's why Peter said in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxieties on the Lord. Because he cares for you.”
Blessings to become saints who glorify God with the wise time to kneel in front of God with absolute trust in the Creator God, who always cares for him with the hand of power and always protects him with his flaming eyes, instead of the foolish worries that cannot change the situation at all. do.
3. Worry is for those who do not know God.
Finally, Jesus pointed out through the text that it is foolish to be anxious because it is the attitude of the Gentiles who do not know God.
After rebuking us for our lack of faith in the second half of verse 28, in verses 29-30, he said that the attitude of worrying about eternal life and obtaining more things of the world than things of the kingdom is the attitude that the people of the world seek.
People of this world who think that life in this world is the beginning and end of life and never think of eternal life, and therefore never seek the things of the kingdom of heaven, are not concerned with the ultimate spiritual reality that matters in life, but about the things necessary for a physical life that ends in death. because of constant worry.
But the almighty Creator Jesus told us to seek the kingdom of God first before worrying about what the world constantly seeks. The reason is that God, in constant anxiety, knows that we also need what the people of the world are asking for, and meets the need from time to time. To make us realize that we will receive.
In the first verse of verse 32, it says, “Little flock!” Jesus compares us to a small group of people who are likely to be caught and eaten, like a defenseless group.
There was a mistress I liked, not knowing what to do with money. He knew how to make money, but his writing skills were completely paralyzed stones. Mistress bought gold with money and spent time touching it every day. He buried the gold nuggets in the ground for fear of theft. But the thief took all the gold nuggets and ran away. Knowing that the gold nugget was gone, the miser wept. Then his friend comforted him. “My friend, it’s been a while. Forget it.” The mourner's complaint. “Don’t say something you don’t know. I don't eat what I want to eat, and I don't wear what I want to wear. How could I forget?” A friend advises “If you feel so unfair, fill the pit with stones instead of gold. It's something you won't use anyway."
The pursuit of worldly things creates constant anxiety. If the followers of Jesus are laying up treasures on the earth, they keep thinking about it and worrying about it. But if they lay up their treasures in heaven, where they are safe and free from thieves and moth eaters, they will become rich to God, thinking about the things of the kingdom of God, and thus be freed from earthly cares. That's why Jesus said in verse 34, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Where is your heart now? If your heart is in heaven first, there will be peace, joy, and gratitude, but if your heart is still on earth, it will be a life of fear due to constant worry. From this time onwards, I bless you that you will be freed from the fears caused by your worries and will be filled with the great comfort of Jesus and peace from heaven, so that you will not leave the confession of joy and thanks under any circumstances.
Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joy of the heart is good medicine, but a troubled spirit dries up the bones.” Worry is foolish. It is not God-given. Do not live a life that is dry because of anxiety, do not be anxious about anything, and in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let them work together to achieve beautiful good. I bless you in the name of Jesus.