The oft-repeated word in this passage is "worry" or "anxiety."
We can identify with that. Anxiety is the common denominator regardless of
the degree of wealth or even of poverty. Those who do not have enough to live
on are naturally anxious about how they will live. Those who have opportunities
to develop a better life than they now enjoy worry about how they will get
ahead. Those who have all they need and more are anxious about maintaining
and protecting their wealth. Having more is no solution to anxiety.
Perhaps that's why we are sometimes offended when Jesus starts talking like
this. He calls us to a completely different way. Jesus says, "Kingdom
people are not even concerned with the same things the world is concerned
with. Kingdom people give themselves to other things that move them in a totally
different direction."
Verse 30 sets up the dichotomy of choice. It pits the preoccupation of the
"pagan world" against the promise of God's care for those who trust
Him. It's one way or the other. According to Jesus' way of reckoning things,
there are only two basic impulses: to grasp or to give.
It's interesting that in a culture like ours, so affluent and so well supplied,
we spend so much time dreaming about what it would be like if we really had
a lot of money. Why else could Robin Leach do a whole show on Lifestyles of
the Rich and Famous, narrating all of this unbelievable opulence in his whiny
voice, unless we were very interested in those who can live the good life?
In fact, that seems to be pretty much what life is about in our society--how
to get more, how to move up, how to "live large." Regardless of
station in life, this concern over earthly treasure can capture the heart
of anyone.
Jesus' answer to the problem of being consumed by the cares of this world
is a difficult answer to hear. This is a tough word--it always has been. It
was hard for the rich young ruler that Jesus met one day. It's hard for us
too. "Sell your possessions and give to the poor" (Matthew 19:21).
In Jesus' way of ordering things, that's what it means to be livin' large.
The teaching here is really simple to grasp if only we will. If we really
want to know what livin' large is about, we won't try to secure and protect
and acquire. Instead, we will sell and give and invest.
The teaching is simple to understand but difficult to embrace. It really is
a matter of overcoming fear and trusting God to do what He says He will do.
It means that things will need to change in our definition of need and comfort.
When that shift of priority happens, we will find an unprecedented place of
freedom and joy.
(For a full manuscript of this sermon, go to www.preachersmagazine.org.)
I opened this sermon by telling a story about the early days of our marriage.
We were poor as proverbial church mice, but always looking for fun. One of
our favorite activities was driving through the rich sections of our town
and dreaming about what it would be like to live large like these people.
Sounds innocent enough, I guess, but it reveals a mind-set that we North American
Christians really have to surrender to Christ. There are so many examples
that can be drawn of what livin' large looks like in our society.
Jesus, however, calls us to a much different way. The teaching here is simple
and powerful. The preacher needs to be careful not to get in the way of this
potent text but let it speak on its own. The call of Jesus is for a simple,
surrendered way of going about life. Care should be taken to not allow the
preaching of this simple text to become complicated and heavy.
To illustrate, I used the story of Jerry and Muriel Caven, Nazarene laypersons
who developed a very successful business but have lately become volunteer
missionaries in India, working with the JESUS film strategy.
