Purses That Do Not Grow Old
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Luke 12:22-34
22. And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. 23. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25. And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? 26. If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27. Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! 29. And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. 30. For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. 31. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well. 32. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33. Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
On my way home from my walk, I thought that I would seek out scripture about being burdened – or rather how our load is lightened because Jesus walks beside us and helps us. But somehow I think these familiar verses are more what I needed to focus on this morning. Worry is a tremendous burden, isn’t it? I spend a great deal of time worrying! I am really working on giving that worry to God, but it is so difficult. Worrying, though, takes attention off of God and places it upon ourselves. Using that line of logic, worrying is a sin.
So now you know one of my “thorns!” And I do go to God with all the things I’m concerned about in my life – big and small – but I sure grab them back on a regular basis! And I can tell when I’m trying to bear that tremendous burden all by myself, too. I have restless nights, full of dreams and I awaken feeling exhausted. But Jesus tells us that we don’t need to lose sleep! We don’t need to be in charge of everything—in fact, we can’t be! And he wants us to stop trying! Let it go and don’t pick it up again! Stop gritting your teeth and sucking in air, and pacing the floor and furrowing your brow. “I’ve got it covered,” he says. “Been there, done that, don’t need you to take over. But thank you very much.”
If God can make the grass grow, and the birds fly, and the earth spin on its axis, I think he can handle my daily emergencies, and even my big life issues. He loves us so much that he swoops down to comfort us, if we only seek His comfort. He cares about us so deeply that he wipes away our tears, if we only ask for His shoulder to cry on. He admires us so much as the work of his hands, that he wants to join in the parties and the celebrations, if only we’ll invite Him! When the voice on the television asks you, “what’s in your wallet” He wants you to know that it doesn’t matter – because you have a purse that does not grow old, and a treasure that never fails.
Jesus is the only word that needs to be in our life story. He paid the price for us so that we don’t need to worry. He sacrificed everything he had – himself – to show us that nothing else on this earth is of any value in heaven. That itinerant carpenter went to his father God before each decision – in fact that is how he began each day. He didn’t live in a fine house, with servants tending to his every hearts’ desire. He lived what he preached. Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, what clothes you shall put on. All you need is God.
Because of Christ, we know that God understands our every need. Jesus lived among us, as one of us and intercedes on our behalf with our Creator. So give your life to God. Don’t take it back. Don’t rethink it. Don’t second guess it. Just give it to him. He wants to take it – he wants us to be worry-free. “"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
I hope you’ll give all your worries and woes to God today. And that you will fear not, knowing your Father’s good pleasure for your life.
Mary
