WORRY IS WORTHLESS

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Have you ever had someone tell you, “Don’t worry about it?” Of course you have. How did that go? I bet that the sage advice did not have much of an impact on your anxious and troubled thoughts. The truth is, worry is a bit like water running downhill; once it starts, it tends to move under its own power. 

Today we are going to listen to the first half of a teaching on worry that was given by Jesus Christ and recorded for us in the Gospel of Luke. 

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 For 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 your life ? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 

(Luke 12:22-26 NIV11)

Challenges

In the first half of Jesus’ teaching we hear a series of questions or challenges. By asking us these questions, the Lord Jesus is calling us to press pause on our run away worry. 

Verse 22

The first thing that Jesus teaches us is the will of God. It is NOT God’s desire for his children that we should live in a constant state of concern, worry, anxiety, or fear. Jesus names a few of the surface level concerns that can lead us into places of runaway worry. 

Jesus is not telling those of us facing war, abuse, addiction, or temptation to just relax and be cool with all that is happening around us or to us. Not at all. Instead, Jesus is speaking to the everyday sources of concern that can and do lead us into places of distraction and selfishness. 

Verse 23

Jesus provides us with a principle that needs to be kept at the forefront of our anxious minds. 

The life of the disciple of Jesus Christ is about much more than the temporary concerns of wealth, status, position, and personal comfort. We are called into a life that is much more important than these things. 

The Birds

In verse 24 Jesus tells us that in the eyes of God, we are of much greater value than a bird. That is good news. But the point that Jesus is making is that, if the Lord feeds and cares for the birds, then surely he will care for us in an equal, if not greater, capacity. 

Verse 25

In verse 25, Jesus brings the first portion of his teaching on worry to it conclusion by asking his people another question, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

In this question, the Lord asks us whether or not all of our worry and anxiety ever really fixes anything? Does worry pay the bills? Does an anxious mind provide the wisdom you need to answer the challenges and questions that are before you? 

We know that the answer is no. We know that all that we accomplish with worry is to wear ourselves out  and frustrate those around us as we operate out of a place of anxiety and fear. 

Verse 26

In the conclusion of this portion of Jesus’ teaching on worry, he returns to the opening expression of God’s will for his children. It is not God’s desire that we should live our lives being tortured by uncertainty and fear about those things that are out of our control. 

Birds

Now that we have covered the message given by the Lord, we need to ask ourselves how to apply this teaching to our ever-present worry and anxiety about the affairs of this world and the needs of our lives. 

Jesus called us to look to the birds to understand how the Lord works with his creation to provide for our needs. So let’s do that very briefly. 

•  Birds are busy creatures. They do not stay in bed thinking about the problem of collecting food for the day. They get out of the nest early and they go to work. They provide for their families by constantly looking for opportunities. 
•  Birds are alert. A bird that is distracted will soon be food for another of God’s creation. They must pay attention to their surroundings and anticipate the needs of the day. 

Conclusion

There is much more that can be said here, but what I am taking away from this portion of Jesus’ teaching on worry is this:

•  The Lord does not want me to live in a state of worry and anxiety. 
•  No matter how much I worry, nothing will be made better as a result. 
•  God will provide. 
•  While I trust in the Lord’s blessings, I need to do my part. 
•  Like a bird, I must get up, get out, and go to work. 
•  Worry leads to distraction and distraction causes me to miss out on the opportunities that the Lord provides for me and my family. 
•  I need to give it to the Lord, and go be productive in the name of Jesus. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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