Without Worry
The words of Jesus should have weight in our lives. He says seek first the kingdom of God, serve Him alone, set aside worry, forgive freely, pray simply, and trust fully that God is faithful.
“As the Philistine rulers marched…David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David…He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back…He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 29:2-4, 11
It is hard to see our own blind spots. If we are honest, we can acknowledge that look at the world through the lens of our own hearts and minds. What we perceive might not be what is true, but only true in our own eyes. The question is not if we have blind spots, but where?
Consider the story. Would this army not be better in battle by having an experienced talented warrior like David? The rulers rejected his help because they think he could turn against them. Ironically, it is the way their own hearts are unfaithful or deceitful that leads them to this false opinion. The very thing that causes them to have that thought is that they consider that they might do that in his situation.
Notice how the rulers label the people Hebrews but King Achish uses David’s name. Is this not the very root of division and discrimination in our world? When we start to label people as people groups rather than learning people‘s names, we get to a place where we can stereotype and slander. God has a better plan. Jesus came to give us peace and teaches us to learn each other’s names. Where have I labeled someone? How could moving beyond labeling help us love more like Jesus?
“Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms 115:1-15
David constantly turned away from the ways of the world that he might worship God faithfully. We live in a world that is often self seeking, goes all out for one’s own glory, and turns money into an idol. David said those who make them will be like them. It’s the same false thinking that was exhibited in 1 Samuel. David sang you will see the world out of your eyes but if your eyes are solely focused on pride, possessions, and power your heart will become like what you desire. Lifeless.
David had a different way of thinking. He saw everything he had as from God, for God. David saying that God is your protection and your provider. It is from Him that all blessings flow so it is to God that David turns for all His needs. Is that your approach? How has what you have shaped who you are or how you see the world?
“Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. The wise store up knowledge. The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted. The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.”
Proverbs 10:2-28
Solomon loved to compare and contrast the way people see the world. When he uses the word righteousness, he is not talking about following a set of state issued regulations. He evaluates everything in terms of whether it is in alignment with God’s ways or not. Is that your filter? How would inviting Jesus in to every decision change how well we are discipled by Him?
Which of the promises or prohibitions above most stand up to you? Why do you think that is? Solomon gives great advice and he advised us to work hard, guard our hearts and mouths, speak words of life, be aware of how our words impact others and honor God, and let our lives reflect God by how we live. It is no accident that he spoke at length about our lips. Words have power. They have power to praise and power to cause pain. Will your words reflect Jesus today?
“The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob. The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked…All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; You said in your heart…I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to the realm of the dead…The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen. The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety.” Isaiah 14:1-30
God speaks through Isaiah and tells the people in power in Babylon who have oppressed others that their pride has led to their fall. He said all your pomp has led you to the grave. Is that not the same challenge we face each day? What is pomp? Is it not wanting to look a certain way, live for one’s self, or have certain things without regard for others? Is it not the social media posts that celebrate toys, trips, or treasure? None of those things in and of themselves is bad, but if that is what your heart is set on ignoring the needs of others, then each could lead one off track.
The Lord says that the poorest of the poor will find pasture, the needy will lie down and safety. The truth is all the money in the world cannot give you the gifts of the Lord that cannot be purchased. The idols of silver and gold cannot settle your mind, bring peace to your heart, I’ll give you hope for the future. The Lord alone can give you the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the spirit. So the question is, what are you seeking?
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be…No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:1-34
Have you ever thought about how Jesus did not have a 401(k), pension plan, or safety net as seen in an abundant bank account? Have you ever thought about how he did not own a house, have a stable of horses or hoard wealth? And yet no one has impacted the world like He has. All of history, including our calendar, is marked by his life and made better by Him. If we say we want to be like Jesus, do we really want to be fully like Jesus? Does that apply to our endless pursuits of possessions or prosperity? Make no mistake. It is good to find meaning in your work and produce income. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, said make all you can, save all you can, give all you can. Jesus just always brings the topic of money back to your heart.
There is a simplicity to the life of faith that we can embrace that changes everything about how we live. Do you see all that you have and who you are as from God? Are you grateful and content? Jesus consistently said, do not be like the hypocrites. Tell the truth. Pray simply. Forgive freely. Love fully. He said where are your treasure is your heart is. What is the greatest treasure? Intimacy with God. Learning to stand in the love He has for you and share the love you have received. Jesus wants to change the lens in which you see the world so that you only see it through the lens of God’s love.
Jesus said, do not worry because he knows we worry. He is not a distant God that does not understand the desires of our hearts in the daily pressures we face. He knows what it is to have nothing materially and to be hungry. The word worry means more than just think with concern. It references more a divided heart and mind. Are there any ways in which your mind or heart are divided today?
This division causes deficit thinking and drives us in directions we were never intended to travel. Solomon said that those who walk in integrity walk securely. Integrity is the opposite of worry. Integrity is a place of peace and wholeness. This is exactly what Jesus said by saying look around and see the birds in the flowers and you will see that there are signs that God is caring for the whole world and He certainly cares for you.
Jesus said seek first the kingdom. Will you listen? Will you put God first in everything you do? Does he get the pole position in your priorities? Does he have full control of your calendar in your checkbook? How you see the God will shape how you experience life. Jesus is telling you that he has a life that is so much better than you could ever imagine.
The kingdom life is free of fears and worries, anxieties, and depression, division and discrimination. how does that sound? Would you like to experience a life that is full of peace, power, purpose, and God’s presence? Would you like more community and connection?
Then let go. Let go the love of money and the lust for worldly pleasures. Let go of the worries. Let go of the ways of the world. Seek first the kingdom of God. Make room for more of king Jesus in your heart. Let the spirit so fill you that His love overflows into all that you do and everyone you meet as you speak life and sing of the goodness of God.
It is time to take off our old glasses that look for more and more gold and turn to God praying simply for all you need. As David sang not to us, but to God be the glory because of His love and faithfulness. We echo those words as we join in the prayer Jesus taught us to pray. Lord let your kingdom and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.