Worry or Believe

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

WORRY OR BELIEVE

Luke 12:22-26

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

NIV

Jesus just finished talking about the rich foolish farmer trying to store up his wealth for his retirement and now he begins a discourse on life and our value to God. He is not done as he has more to say which will include his concluding statement, but we should stop here for a moment and ponder on this first point. His concern for us is that we should not worry about our life. That is we should not be so focused on how we are going to live, what we are going to eat and wear which in essence is about gathering wealth. As he just finished with the wealth and the farmer, he is carrying that same concept into our daily lives. Because he is using the ravens not sowing or reaping or having any storerooms or barns, he is making that same point about trusting in God instead of money. But he also adds how valuable we are to God as well as that fact we should not worry, which of course accomplishes absolutely nothing. If we trust in God, then we would not worry. Worry translates into not trusting God and that translates into disbelief. If we worry about our life, or how much or little money we have than we do not believe God. This is a transcultural truth which transcends all moments in time and every country. The fact is that the medical profession has determined that worry, stress or anxiety can actually cause physical illness, it can do harm to our body. Now if our body belongs to God and harm it because of disbelief, have we endangered ourselves even more? We could also see this in light of not being concerned about what type of food or clothing we eat or wear, but that does not fit within the context of the whole of Jesus’s teaching. The point here is that we have great value to God and if he cares for all the needs of the ravens, then he will care for all our needs. We need to remain believing God at all times, no matter what our circumstances are. It comes down to worry or believe. Jesus also tells us that if we cannot by worrying add a single hour to our life, or as some manuscripts have, a single inch to our height, then why worry about the rest? We have value to God. He puts so much value in us that he sent his only Son to die on a cross in our place, so we could be forgiven. He satisfied his own need for justice with the death of his Son for us. That is because we are so valuable to God. So once again, the choice is ours, worry or believe.