From Fear to Faith
Sunday 12 August, 2001
Introduction
After addressing the crowd which had gathered (v1), and
answering the question of the man who wanted his share of the
family inheritance, Jesus turns to speak to His disciples again.
Verses 32-36 are first of all words of encouragement and teaching
from Jesus on the nature of his kingdom and what sort of people
we ought to be to be in it.
Verses 37-40 is a parable about a man’s servants and how they
ought to act as they await his return.
Words of Faith and Encouragement
v32-36 are words of great encouragement from Jesus:
“Do not be afraid.”
There are so many things in life that can make us fearful, and
that make worry come and haunt us.
Jesus, the Shepherd of the flock speaks to help, to strengthen His
sheep, His flock.
What does Jesus say to the disciples about this?
What introduces us to today’s message, is the middle part of this
chapter: verses 22-31. These words are all about NOT worrying,
but instead being faithful and looking outward to the kingdom of
God.
Faith is the great eternal antidote to fear. So Jesus does not just
say: “Do not worry about that; it will all work out in the end.”
Here is no homespun philosophy, but instead an alternative way
of thinking and practical living.
Jesus calls His people to be people of faith, and their fear will go
away. He says that while faith is present, fear will not bother you
any more. This is because the two cannot co-exist.
In today’s passage, Jesus speaks to the disciples about all the
things they would naturally begin to fret about when they didn’t
have them e.g. food, clothing, the ordinary means of life: v22-23.
For example, when a foreign power came against your city in
those days, the idea was to set siege to the city and starve the
people out.
This was the case with the city of Jerusalem in the days of Jesus,
and the common people were the first to worry because they
were the first to suffer in such circumstances. All very
understandable.
2000 years later, we panic if we THINK that we will not have
enough of the right kind of food, or the right clothes on! Whether
it be shoes or eyeshadow, we can worry unnecessarily.
Jesus says your life consists of more than food and your body of
more than clothing.
Jesus then gives examples of how the Lord provides for
carrion-eating birds, the ravens, and that we are more valued by
God than birds and animals. (An answer to animal rights
extremists, right there.)
Ravens are sometimes pictured as evil birds which pick at the
eyes of evil, dead people (Prov 30:17); or they are seen as helpers,
as desert waiters, in the case of the prophet Elijah, bringing him
food morning and evening. Ravens are also seen as birds that
God feeds, out of His gracious loving care for all His creatures.
(Ps 147:9 )
For us whom God values so much more and provides for every
day, as another passage says:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Lk
4:4, Deut 8:3)
And Jesus chose that verse of Scripture when He was starving for
bread in the wilderness!
Just as God provides for the beautiful lilies which do not have to
work, or make their own attire, so He will provide what we need
to eat and drink and to wear if we follow Him.
Using Faith
God has never failed to provide what we need up until today,
and He has no intention of failing us in the future.
As someone once said:
“God is no one’s debtor.”
This is to encourage our faith in God.
What we value most, is what we set our hearts upon. What He
wants is for us to stop the worrying that comes from fear, and
instead have faith in Him.
Faith is a great thing. It is invisible and it is free. It is also
extremely useful and fruitful. Jesus once asked: “...when the Son
of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8)
Will He find faith in your heart?
Will He find it demonstrated in your actions?
Will He find it in the hearts of those we live among?
Will we have passed it on?
Jesus calls us to faith instead of fear and worry.
v 22 Do not worry
v 25 Who by worrying, says Jesus, can add a single hour to their
life or add a centimetre to their height? You don’t grow by
worrying!
v 26 If you can’t do a little thing like that i.e. adding a little time
to your mortal life, why do you worry about the rest?
v 28 God clothes the grass, that is here today and gone
tomorrow, so how much more will He clothe you? He addresses
those listening and all who think like them: “O you of little
faith.”(v 28)
Another way of putting it is: Have faith in God!
v29-30 Do not set your heart on food and drink. Do not worry
about it. Pagans run after these things. People of faith have a
different attitude.
v31 But seek His kingdom and these things will be given to you
as well.
v32 Do not be afraid, your Father God has been pleased to give
you the kingdom.
The Demands of the Kingdom
What sort of kingdom is this that Jesus offers? What is it that He
calls us to be involved in?
Some will tell you that the kingdom is the Christian Church.
They say the kingdom is where God’s rule is, so it must be His
Church. There is truth in that.
Some will say it is the world of this temporary life, and that we
have been given special authority in this world, to make it a
better place for people, in God’s name. Thus the social side of the
gospel is emphasised. There is a truth in that, to be sure, for God
does rule the world and has given us a place in His kingdom now.
To Kingdom Come
But the focus of Jesus’ words is on the kingdom into which we
are going after this life. At least, that is the way historical
Christianity has understood it.
Do you remember the phrase “to kingdom come?” Sometimes it
was said that an explosion blew the unfortunate person caught
up in it “to kingdom come.” They had been killed and had gone
to God in heaven.
And indeed, Jesus refers to the kingdom in heavenly terms in
v33, and in speaks of “the kingdom of heaven” all the way
through Matthew:
There the kingdom is like:
a farmer sowing seed,
a mustard seed,
leaven in the bread dough,
treasure hidden in a field,
a merchant seeking pearls,
like a net cast into the sea...and may more.
Belonging to this kingdom is demanding of your faith, but it
dispels fear and gives the believer plenty to do.
Faith and Its Rewards
v 33 By faith, sell your possessions and give to the poor. This was
done by the first disciples, straight after Pentecost, when they as
a growing church, took the faith step of putting their possessions
together and giving to those who had need. (Acts 2:44; 4:32) This
was very courageous and faith driven. It does not apply in the
same way today, because the early church had special
circumstances to face. However, it does point us in the right
direction. If we give to those in need out of Christian caring and
love, we show the marks of the kingdom are in us.
Provide for yourselves a three-fold blessing, says Jesus:
1. A purse that will not wear out. (Show old purse with coins that
fall out)
2. A treasure in heaven that will never run out or be stolen or rot.
Like faith this is invisible but nevertheless very real. There is a
reward to look forward to.
3. A heart at peace with God. Lk 12:34 "For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.” Like faith and love, peace is
invisible yet readily experienced today by the believer in Jesus
Christ.
Watching for the Kingdom
Finally v 36, be watchful, like people waiting for their master to
return from a wedding banquet, so they can immediately open
the door to him.
These people (v 35) are ready for active service. Such will be
greatly rewarded. This Master will become their servant when
He returns because He is Jesus, who “made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the
likeness of men.” (Phil 2:7) Totally amazing!
Just as Jesus washed the disciples feet, He will seat us who are
faithful, at His banqueting table, to attend to us and our
rewards.
v 40 reminds us that we have to be constantly ready because we
do not know when Jesus, our Master, will return.
v 42-48a Those who do know what God expects, and refuse to do
it, will receive the greater punishment. Those who do not know
but do sin, will be given the lesser punishment.
This is summarised in v48b “For everyone to whom much is
given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has
been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
Illustration: Free From Worry
Donald Trump, the famous businessman, has many millions of
dollars. What a friend to have, eh? There is a story about
Trump’s generosity with a stranger. It is said that Trump’s
limousine broke down on the Garden State Parkway. An
unemployed car mechanic stopped to help, succeeded in getting
the limo running, and then refused to accept any payment for his
services.
Trump was so impressed that the next day he sent flowers to the
mechanic’s wife and a certified letter stating that the man’s
mortgage had been paid in full. Trump refuses to confirm or
deny the story or say exactly what he did for the Good
Samaritan. "I don’t do those kinds of things for publicity," he
said.
What a deal that would be, to have someone really rich taking
care of you. If you knew that they had money and that they
would gladly help you, you could be free from many a worry.
You would have financial security. But that kind of security is
hard to come by. Even Trump had to face bankruptcy. If you
don’t have a endless supply of money, can you ever be secure?
That’s what Jesus is saying. He’s saying that you can be secure,
because you have a gracious heavenly Father. Make for
yourselves purses and wallets that will never wear out. Give it
away. Give it to the poor. Out of the treasures of your heart,
give, and you will be secure in heaven and free from worry here
on earth.
(abridged)
(From: Illustrations for Aug 12, 2001 SERMON-ILLUSTRATIONS@MAIL.IHS.NET)
Do not be afraid of lacking anything that is good for you; for, if it
is “your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” you
need not question whether He will give you the ordinary means
of life. (MH on Luke 12 greatly amended)Matthew Henry Complete Commentary)
What is good for all of us is to have faith in Jesus Christ and look
for His Kingdom.
AMEN
