In today’s fast-paced and chaotic world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with worry and anxiety. Millions of people around the world struggle with these issues on a daily basis, and it can be a difficult problem to overcome. However, there is hope to be found in the teachings of Jesus, as we can see in Luke 12:13-37.
This chapter provides valuable insights on how to overcome anxiety and find peace in the midst of life’s challenges. Jesus tells a parable in response to a man’s worry about his family’s financial inheritance. His worry shows his greed. By having a kingdom mindset, we can learn to trust in God’s provision and prevent ourselves from wasting time on worry and anxiety.
The Problem of Anxiety
Anxiety can be sneaky, catching us off guard and acting in unexpected ways. It can strike suddenly with an anxiety attack, leaving us struggling to breathe and wondering what just happened. On the other hand, anxiety can also slowly build over time, leading to feelings of numbness, depression, and a lack of joy. But with Jesus’ teachings, we can find the tools we need to overcome anxiety and find peace in our lives.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, know that you’re not alone. Through examining Luke 12:13-37 and adopting a kingdom mindset, we can learn to trust in God’s provision and find peace in the midst of life’s challenges.
Worry is the Root of Greed
Our nation is filled with greed, but have you ever stopped to think it may be rooted in anxiety and worry? People become anxious about not having enough money, health, or time, and this anxiety leads them to fight for more possessions. Jesus warns against this type of anxiety, which shows itself as greed, and advises his followers to beware of all forms of greed. Even when someone has an abundance, life is more than just possessions. As followers of Christ, we can trust God for their provision.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the danger of greed and self-focus. The parable is about a rich farmer who had a bumper crop and filled his barns with the excess. The farmer tore down his old barns and built larger ones so that he could keep all the produce for himself and not worry about anything. However, the farmer’s worry was based on fear and self-focus and not on God or others. Where is God’s love in this farmer’s scenario?
The farmer’s circle of love had become an isolated dot focused only on himself, and this happens when people become overly concerned with their own survival and position in the world. Jesus warns that life does not consist solely of possessions. In the end, God comes to the farmer and calls him a fool, saying that his soul is required of him that very night, and he asks who will own what he has saved for himself. The parable ends with Jesus stating that the man who stores up treasure for himself rather than heavenly riches is like the farmer. People often get it wrong and try to become rich in the world, while God does not care about that.
Do Not Worry
Jesus gave an explanation to his disciples, and we can find it in verse 22. In verse 22, Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about their life and gives examples of how God provides for the birds and lilies, emphasizing that worrying will not add anything to their lives. Instead, they should seek God’s kingdom, and he will provide for them. Jesus also tells them not to be afraid and to sell their possessions and give to those in need, thus accruing treasures in heaven.
In verse 34, Jesus explains that where your treasure is, your heart will be also. The takeaway message is that although the world is ever-changing and volatile, God is never-changing and stable. So we should focus on seeking the kingdom rather than worrying. Jesus gives us three reasons not to worry and three commands to follow instead of worrying.
Let Go of Anxiety about Your Stuff
Let’s begin with why we shouldn’t worry. Firstly, as followers of Christ, we don’t need to worry because life is not just about material or physical needs. According to verse 23, many individuals in our society today allow themselves to live in bondage and be held hostage to anxiety and worry. They justify their worries by saying that they are only concerned about the most important things in life, such as their family’s safety and providing for their basic needs like money, and other necessities for survival. However, Jesus reminds us that life is more than just food and clothing.
Should you not worry about providing for your family, health, or wealth? We must remember there’s more to life than just surviving. Jesus wants us to thrive, not just be alive. You can be alive but not truly living, like a walking zombie. Anxiety and depression take away the joy of life and leave you feeling empty, surviving but not truly living. Jesus came to give us an abundant life, not just the bare minimum to survive.
Anxiety Robs Us of Joy
Anxiety steals away that abundant life that Jesus has in store for us. It robs us of the joy of life and leaves us feeling empty, just going through the motions day after day. We need Christ to deliver us from the state of anxiety that we are in. If we were to ask someone who is walking the zombie life because of anxiety and depression if they would prefer food for survival or peace, they would choose peace. Many individuals who are running on empty because of anxiety and worry want peace, not just the basic necessities of life.
Do You Believe God Provides?
God knows us, loves us, created us, and cares for us. If we are believers, he died on the cross and rose from the dead to provide for our salvation. He can also provide for our physical needs. Working hard is important, but we should know that it depends on God to provide the results. Worrying about food, clothing, shelter, and health reveals a lack of faith in God. We should have faith in God, ask him for what we need, and trust him to provide it in his own way. However, our trust in God may falter at times. In those moments, we should remember the times when God provided for us in the past and share those stories with ourselves and others to remind ourselves that he can do it again.
Worrying Accomplishes Nothing
God wants you to refrain from worrying about provision because He is the provider. Additionally, the final reason why we should not worry is that it simply does not work, as stated in verse 25. When you are trying to achieve a goal, and what you are doing is ineffective and hurting you, the rational response is to stop doing those things and start doing other things that actually work. Worry is not helpful and can actually hurt you by causing anxiety, dry mouth, irritability, tightness of chest, distraction from life, sleeplessness, fatigue, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and cardiac issues. Worrying takes away hours from your life instead of adding to it.
Next Steps:
Jesus gives a two-fold command in verse 29, which is to stop seeking and worrying about what you eat or drink and not to keep worrying. However, simply telling ourselves to stop worrying is not enough, and we need to find ways to stop it. Instead of worrying, Jesus tells us three commands to do in verse 31. The first is to seek God and let Him worry about us. Focusing on what we think we need and want without worrying about God is a recipe for disaster. Instead, we need to get back to seeking God first, as He knows what we need more than we do. Seeking God first can alleviate much of the anxiety that exists in our society.
Seek God
While seeking God is not a promise that we will live a long life or have a life that we have always wanted or be healthy and never suffer, it is a solution to many of our problems and can help us love others better. It is hard to focus on God and obey Him while worrying about ourselves all the time. Life is uncertain, but the key is to trust in God more than you trust in yourself, especially in the midst of life’s uncertainty. To achieve this on a daily basis, you need to cultivate an abiding relationship with Christ by spending time in His presence and in His word. Over time, this will help build your faith and trust to combat the anxiety and worry in your life. Prayer and daily Bible reading are effective solutions to anxiety, but for some, it may take years of consistent counseling or medication to find relief. Seeking God’s kingdom first and living a fully surrendered life to Him is an essential part of the recovery process.
Trust the Shepherd
Command number one is to let God worry about you, and command number two is to not fear because we belong to the flock of God, with a shepherd who guides us to green pastures and still waters. Having a kingdom with a king and a flock with a shepherd provides comfort and hope to believers. No matter how bad things may get, we always have a heavenly home to go to, where we worship the king of kings for all of eternity. The hope of heaven can relieve anxiety today. In this passage, the idea of a heavenly kingdom with a king and a flock with a shepherd is presented as a source of guidance and protection. Regardless of circumstances, a faithful shepherd is always available to lead and protect us. It is important to remember that we belong to God and should not fear.
Practice Generosity
The final command to overcome anxiety is to give, which may seem counterintuitive. However, the foundation of greed, which often manifests as anxiety, can be overcome by faithful giving. Even though we may be worried about providing for ourselves and our families, we must resist the temptation to hoard resources for ourselves. Instead, we should practice faithful giving, knowing that God does not need our money but allows us to give for our own benefit. By giving, we get to share in the joy of God’s blessings, not only for ourselves but also for others.
In evaluating our hearts concerning anxiety and greed, Jesus advises us to “follow the money” by examining where we invest our resources. We must understand that our heart is where our treasure is. Ultimately, a mature believer’s heart is committed to giving back to God and others.
The Kingdom mindset teaches us that life is more than just about physical needs and material possessions. We must trust in God to provide for our needs and not be ineffective by worrying. We must fight greed with giving and let go of fear. When we follow these guidelines to let go of worry, we will live an abundant life.
