In God We Trust Series

"In God We Trust"

Luke 12:22-34

A sermon for 8/14/22 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor John Bright

Harmony & Swansonville UMC

Luke 12 “22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to transformed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You must choose.

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Our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is the first part of a much longer poem by Francis Scott Key. Here is how it ends -

“Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just.

And this be our motto— "In God is our trust; "

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”

During the Civil War, the Secretary of the Treasury was receiving letters from folks desiring to see God’s name on the US currency. It was decided to use “In God We Trust.” This first appeared on the one-cent and two-cent coins in 1864. The next year it was put on new gold and silver coins. Then, on July 30, 1956, Congress and President Eisenhower approved In God We Trust to become the American nation’s motto, a year after it was authorized to be on all paper money and coinage.

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/in-god-we-trust-on-the-us-currency.html

The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) is a picture of one who does not fear God and does not trust God. Now, Jesus turns to a picture of the Believer who can proclaim – “I trust in God!”

Do Not Worry, v. 22-23

Luke 12 “22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.”

Today, we live in world that is drowning in anxiety. Young people believe EVERYBODY should experience anxiety and they see it as NORMAL to be overwhelmed by anxiety to the point of shutting down. This has led to millions and millions (literally) of folks taking anti-anxiety medications. What has changed?

In my humble opinion – millions and millions of folks today are on social media posting pics and videos of what they are eating and what they are wearing (including make-up & hair). If they get lots of likes and comments – life is good. If not – they worry. They are looking to the world to validate their lives. They are looking to the world to give what only God can truly supply – acceptance, significance and security.

Jesus follows this simple statement – “Do not worry about your life” – with three examples:

Ravens – not the football team 😊 from Baltimore – these are birds looked down on in Jesus’ day. They are on the Old Testament list of birds that were considered “unclean.” Every bird on those lists in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 that God said were to be avoided are all scavengers that will eat dead animals. Jesus compares these “unclean” birds with the Rich Fool in the previous parable – “24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?”