“What kind of guarantee comes with it?” we ask when we’re considering the purchase of a product. We love guarantees, because we yearn for security. Unfortunately, however, our birth certificates don’t come with a guarantee stapled to them, and hardly anything seems truly secure: not most jobs, not our health — not much of anything.

We’re addressing the subject of fear today because it’s very easy to react to something with fear and to give in to worry. When was the last time you were fearful about how something was going to turn out? When was the last time you worried about something? (See what I mean?)

Given our tendency to experience fear and to give in to worry, it’s good to hear what Jesus had to say to us about the subject. His teaching about fear and worry is recorded in two of the four gospels: Matthew and Luke. We usually look at Matthew’s version because it’s listed there as part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. I’ve chosen to look at Luke’s record of Jesus’ teaching, though the two accounts are almost identical. Let’s examine what Jesus said as I make some observations and applications along the way.

DON’T WORRY
Jesus began by saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, . . .” (Luke 12:22) Let’s stop here for a moment. Jesus said “do not worry . . .” We’re clearly told by Jesus not to worry, so if we do worry we’re disobeying Him. We have no record of Jesus’ sighing and saying, “I’m worried!” because He didn’t ever say something like that — and we’re supposed to be like Jesus.

Let me put it this way: when we say “I’m worried,” it’s a confession! Jesus commanded us not to worry, and we need to keep that in mind. (There is a proper place for concern, however. It can prompt us to take some positive action, like praying about our concern.)

MORE THAN THE MATERIAL
Jesus went on: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” (Luke 12:22-23)

There’s no doubt that food and clothing are basic to life, and Jesus wasn’t denying that. He was saying that life is “more than food, . . . more than clothing.” We worry the most about what’s most important to us. Jesus was telling us to get a proper grip on life: to adopt a proper perspective. Life isn’t primarily about tangible things.

The goal of much of advertising is to make us want what we really don’t need. Often advertising tries to get us to feel not just that we want something, but that we really need it! Yesterday Diann and I celebrated 35 years of marriage. 35 years ago we had a different refrigerator, a different car, and a different home. I suppose I worried about those things when we had them, but where are they today? Some of them are probably at the bottom of a landfill — or maybe they’ve been recycled several times into cans for fruit and vegetables.

After a baby is born, his naked little body is washed before it’s dressed and laid in a bassinet. When a person dies, his naked body is washed before it’s dressed and put into a casket. “For we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

There’s certainly more to life than material things, and they shouldn’t be most important to us. If they aren’t the most important part of our lives, we’ll tend not to take them so seriously and won’t worry so much about them.

We do need food and clothing, because they’re essential. Jesus went on to remind us of something very important — and He used birds to do it.

LESSON FROM THE BIRDS
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24)

Jesus used a specific bird as an example. To a Jewish person — and most of Jesus’ listeners that day were Jewish — a raven is unclean. The Old Testament states, “These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, . . . any kind of raven, . . .” (Leviticus 11:13-15) The reason for this is probably that all those birds eat other unclean animals or dead animals — and something dead was usually unclean. (Even today we don’t have much regard for crows. People feed various kinds of birds in their back yards, but usually no one’s interested in feeding crows!) Jesus used one of the lowest birds to illustrate His point. If God takes care of the unclean raven, how much more will He take care of you and me?

We’re meant to live with the attitude that God is our great provider. Being fearful and filled with worry exposes our true attitude: we really don’t believe that God will provide for us!

THE ILLOGIC OF FEAR AND WORRY
Jesus then appealed to common sense: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25) Most of worry so much that we must think it actually will do some good. Of course, worry can’t lengthen our lives by even an hour. In fact, studies show that worry may actually shorten a person’s life!

Fear and worry are wasted energy, like pouring water down a rat’s hole. It occupies our minds and distracts our thinking, but for what? It does no good at all. Of course, it’s hard to simply tell ourselves, “I won’t worry! I won’t be fearful in the face of this situation!” That’s much easier said than done. Maybe that’s why Jesus used another image that can help us see God’s role in all of this. That image was the flowers in the fields.

LESSON FROM THE FLOWERS
Jesus said, “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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, O you of little faith!” (Luke 12:27-28)

During the rainy season in Mexico wildflowers bloom on the hillsides around Refuge Ranch (where our daughter, son-in-law, and their children live). Among the grass and other vegetation are those beautiful flowers. Then comes the dry season. I don’t fully understand the logic of it, but they love to burn the brush in dry weather. Our son-in-law was doing that while we were there last February. That’s the very image Jesus was calling to His listeners’ minds.

Here’s the logic of what Jesus said: If God takes all the effort to clothe the countryside with flowers and grass that end up being burned, how much more will He take care of us?

When we have fears and are filled with worry, Jesus has a right to say that we have little faith! Why do we allow fear to grip us and worry to strangle us when we have the God of all provision with us? Fear and worry expose our lack of faith in the Lord.

LOOK OUT FOR GOD AND HE’LL LOOK OUT FOR YOU
Jesus used the image of the birds to remind us that God feeds them — and He’ll feed us, too. The image of the flowers in the field is meant to remind us that if God so clothes the grass that’s here today and gone tomorrow, He’ll also clothe us. The raven and the flower-filled grass remind us not to be worried about food and clothing, and it’s fair to say that we shouldn’t worry about any of our other needs, either!

Jesus said, concerning our basic needs in life, “. . . your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:30-32) In other words, you should look out for God’s interests, and He’ll look out for your needs!

Jesus called His followers — and that includes you and me — His ‘little flock,” which implies that He really understands our fragility! We can trust Him to meet our needs.

In fact, we can trust Him enough to be generous with what we have. Jesus said, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” (Luke 12:33)

Belief in the love and generosity of God frees you to be generous with what you have. Our son-in-law Victor is always giving away what he has. We’ll learn that he gave away his Bible because a man he met didn’t have one. He has given away his coat. Julie and Victor gave away one of their vehicles to a family in their church who needed it. From our viewpoint, as supporters of the ministry here in the United States, we want to say, “But we gave those things for you, not for others.” Victor and Julie’s perspective is that if someone else needs something more than they do, they’ll give it away. They’re investing in God’s work and God’s people. When Julie had a new baby she didn’t have some of the necessary items for the baby. “Didn’t you get some of those things when you had the last baby?” someone might ask. Yes, she did — but in the meantime there was some poverty-stricken mother-to-be who needed something, and then another new mother after that one.

In fact, Julie and Victor have come to believe that God won’t supply them with new resources until they’ve used up or given away the resources they have. They believe that God is seeking to have them always be completely dependent on Him, being His channels and investing in His greater kingdom.

I struggle to have that level of faith and trust, and I know that sometimes they do, too. Julie admits to wondering where the resources will come from to do what they feel called to do. I walk on their land and pray for their big project: a large home for all of the children they have now and for the many more they plan to take in. What a huge project! Then I walk on our church’s land and pray for our project: a larger facility to better bring people to Christ and to grow in Him. What a huge project! I can’t escape it!

All of us face big challenges, obstacles, and problems, and we’re tempted to be fearful and worried. Aren’t we forgetting that we have a great big God who loves us and cares for us more than He cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field? Oh, we of little faith!

The view from Refuge Ranch is the famous “Popo” volcano. What a mountain: a steaming, live mountain. It’s where the earth touches the sky in a special way. I look at that mountain, as the psalmist looked at the hill within his sight, and I repeat the words he wrote. (I know that our daughter Julie often does, too.) The words are these: “I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) Let’s all believe that!