"The Cost Of Worry And Anxiety”

In Jesus Holy Name August 10, 2025

Text: Luke 12:22,24 Pentecost VII - Redeemer

“The Cost of Worry and Anxiety”

In The Lord’s prayer we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” Martin Luther wrote: Daily bread is more than food it is a job, peace, all the things we need for a successful life. Luther said this includes, house, home, work, money, goods spouse, good government, peace, good weather.”

Jesus has just finished telling the parable of the rich fool who trusted in his own ability to provide food himself by tearing down his barns to build larger ones that is why Jesus begins rather than God’s power to supply His needs the word “therefore.” This signifies that He is now expanding on what was taught above. In the verses preceding our periscope, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Rich Fool, about a man who took in such a great harvest as to feel it needful to build larger gardens. Trusting in the abundance of his gargantuan stores, the man takes no mind for his life, or presumably God, for that matter. Jesus tells his disciples ‘Therfore do not worry about your life. Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. Consider the Ravens. They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom, no barn. How much more valuable are you than birds!. Oh you of little faith!

If you have ever been tossed about by Anxiety you are not alone. In a given year nearly 50 million Americans will feel the effects of a panic attack. One of the most highlighted bible verses is Philippians 4:6-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again. Rejoice. As we learned from the Lord’s prayer two weeks ago. A loving Dad knows our need. Paul can therefore write: Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer, present your request to God.”

There are plenty of things that come into our lives to become anxious about. A child going off to college. Loosing a job, and having to search for a new job to put food on the table. Will your investments provide enough in your retirement? Anxiety will spin your mind and you will not be able to sleep. Anxiety sucks the energy from your life. Max Lucado notes that the presence of anxiety is unavoidable. The prison of anxiety optional. Jesus is reminding us that we are His children. He is Sovereign. Can we trust Him?

The prophet Isaiah wrote: “ This is what the Lord says. The Holy one of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come. Do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens. I marshalled the stary hosts. Thus Jesus can say. Trust God’ He cares for us more than the lilies of the field and ravens.

There is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. The future is more than your past. (max Lucado. Anxious for nothing p. 27) God knows why we are anxious. When we give him our worries He will clear the way. Then in our rearview mirror we will have experienced His care, our faith will be strengthened.

The reason Jesus can give his disciples this advice is because His Spirit placed in the heart of the writers of the Psalms these words: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate. Slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all, he has compassion on all his creation.”

Jesus said: Have faith. Trust God. Seek His kingdom, his rule, And He will provide all your needs. Do not assume God is watching you from a distance, that is the thought fromf Satan trying to create doubt about God’s sovereign knowledge in regards to your situation. Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. Is God with you when you have your morning coffee? when you drive to work?

In all things pray. Corrie Ten Boom in her book “The Hiding Place ‘tells this story. The entire ten Boom family had been arrested for hiding Jews. She describes how in the Ravensbrück concentration camp her barracks was infested with fleas. The sisters were forced to sleep on wooden platforms with straw on top but infested with biting fleas.

She writes: I jumped up hit my head on the top platform and said “Betsy I don’t know if I can cope with living in such a terrible place:. Betsy said “I think we should thank God. Wasn’t that the verse we read this morning? “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing, In everything give thanks. “Oh Betsy that’s too hard in a place like this! “No come on Corrie what are we thankful for? Well if we must be in this awful place, I’m thankful; that we are together” That’s right, and thank you God for the fleas. Corrie went on to say :The fleas infestation kept the guards out of their barracks allowing them to read the bible out loud. (Anxious for Nothing. Max Lucado p.57)