Worry—Just a Few More Thoughts

In Luke 12.22–34, Jesus teaches about worry in life—not to have it. Interestingly, there is no allowance for worry in Jesus’ words. He does not condemn a person for being tempted to worry but says in no uncertain terms, “Do not worry.”

Not worrying is such a difficult concept for us to grasp or practice because it is so natural. This is the very issue; it is natural to worry. Jesus is saying that our lives, when rescued and transferred to God's kingdom (Col. 1.13), are no longer to be ruled by the natural but by the supernatural. We have a new king on the throne! Worry is the result of being consumed by the world. Peace is the promised blessing of being consumed with God’s kingdom.(John 14.27). As with other sins in our life, we’ve become much too comfortable with worry, and we rationalize it as acceptable. When we become consumed with the world, we become overwhelmed and this weight bears itself out in many different forms in life.

Worry is essentially synonymous with anxiety, but it can produce other results such as depression, stress, lack of focus, inability to concentrate, and any other number of maladies that our world is reeling from today. (This is not to belittle any of these conditions. I take them very seriously because though I do not fully understand all of them. I know great people who genuinely suffer from them.) I’m no psychologist and do not pretend to reduce the complexities of the human psyche to one simple answer.

I do, however, believe that God’s Word is fully trustworthy in all matters of life on earth. The gospel does not reduce the complexities of this world but rather addresses each one fully. I wonder what conditions, diseases, illnesses, or disorders would be removed if we took seriously the words of Jesus and practiced a life of repenting from the sin of worry instead of denying its sinfulness in our life. What could be if we began to live fully trusting in the “more” of life that he promised: more of his truth enlightening our minds and hearts, more of his kindness and mercy drawing us to him in repentance and faith, more of his grace forgiving us from the burdensome weight of our sin, more of his Spirit-power leading our every step. What if Christ-followers believed that Jesus’ redemption covered every area of life instead of just settling for the labels our world offers as exits of excuse. Even if a condition, disease, illness, disorder, or otherwise remained beyond our comprehension as many do, it would bear greater eternal glory unto God! For his grace is sufficient and in our weakness he is made strong (2 Cor. 12.9)!

Jesus said, “Life is more.” More of life not only in amount or volume or any form that we could produce and measure in our ability, but more of life in depth of soul, mind, and spirit as Holy Spirit searches and tries us. More of life that Jesus speaks of as Holy Spirit consumes and empowers the Christ-follower to think in the knowledge of God’s truth; discern by God’s wisdom; and act, speak, and live in such a way that the more was so all-consuming it pervaded every facet of life.

Our only hope for this life of more is not an answer found on earth, but in Jesus, who has come to give life abundantly(John 10.10). Life in Jesus is God’s kingdom as our first pursuit and full consumption. In the regular, daily practices of life, our first must be given to him. In the surprises of life that hit us, our first must be fully consumed with him. In all, he must in ever-increasing measure, consume us more and more as he purges the natural (sinful, earthly nature) from us and replaces it with the supernatural (God’s kingdom).

First pursuit of God’s kingdom is not to make light of or dismiss the cares and concerns of this world. It means that we are not dominated by and do not live in bondage to the consumption of this world—our worries! We trust in the ultimate, eternal source, Jesus. First pursuit of God’s kingdom is trusting that all our needs in this world are perfectly met in Jesus. The world and all of its cares, concerns, and values creates worry. Jesus and his kingdom gives peace. To know God’s peace in our lives mandates that we must be consumed with God’s kingdom for our lives! When we trust that the real more of life is found in Jesus, worry will only remind us to consume our life more with him. The way we live should reflect the complete care we receive from our Father. As a matter of fact it does, whether that reflection is as it should be or not. When worry strikes us, it should only serve to remind us to treasure Jesus so our hearts and minds will be set upon him and our life consumed with him.

Have you heard these words from Jesus for your life today? “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12.32).

—Pastor Lane