FEAR GOD, NOT PEOPLE, Kevin Albright
DO NOT WORRY
Passage: Luke 12:22~34  
Key verse: 31
Do Not Worry(A)
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.(B) And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor(C) was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!(D) 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father(E) knows that you need them.(F) 31 But seek his kingdom,(G) and these things will be given to you as well.(H)
32 “Do not be afraid,(I) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(J) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(K) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(L) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(M) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(N)
Footnotes
- Luke 12:25 Or single cubit to your height
Cross references
- Luke 12:22 : 12:22-31pp — Mt 6:25-33
- Luke 12:24 : Job 38:41; Ps 147:9
- Luke 12:27 : 1Ki 10:4-7
- Luke 12:28 : S Mt 6:30
- Luke 12:30 : S Lk 6:36
- Luke 12:30 : Mt 6:8
- Luke 12:31 : S Mt 3:2
- Luke 12:31 : Mt 19:29
- Luke 12:32 : S Mt 14:27
- Luke 12:32 : S Mt 25:34
- Luke 12:33 : S Ac 2:45
- Luke 12:33 : S Mt 6:20
- Luke 12:33 : S Jas 5:2
- Luke 12:34 : Mt 6:21
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
We worry about many things in this life: exams and grades, money, clothes, what we will eat, etc. Jesus teaches here that we should not worry about any of these. Why? Because life is much more than these things. Jesus gives two examples. Ravens don’t work for a living, yet God feeds them. While lilies do not labor or spin, God clothes them beautifully. Worrying doesn’t help. We don’t add a single hour to our lives through worry. God knows what we need. He will provide just as He does for the ravens and lilies. Our worry is in inverse proportion to our faith.
2. Treasure in heaven (31-34)
What do we do instead of worry? Seek first God’s kingdom! The things of this earth spoil, perish and fade. Why hoard these like the rich fool? (Lk 12:16-21) God provides our needs when we truly seek Him and His kingdom first. The treasure in heaven we build up in this way will last for eternity.
Prayer: Lord, I repent my worry and anxiety about this life. Help me to cast aside my worry and seeking after earthly treasures and to seek first your kingdom.
One Word: Seek first God’s kingdom