DO NOT WORRY OR BE AFRAID

Passage: Luke 12:22-34

Key verse: 32

NIV

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)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 12:25 Or single cubit to your height
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Do Not Be Anxious

22 And he said to his disciples, (A)“Therefore I tell you, (B)do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 (C)Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. (D)Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his (E)span of life?[a] 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,[b] yet I tell you, (F)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, (G)O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor (H)be worried. 30 For (I)all the nations of the world seek after these things, and (J)your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, (K)seek (L)his[c] kingdom, (M)and these things will be added to you.

32 (N)“Fear not, little (O)flock, for (P)it is your Father's good pleasure to give you (Q)the kingdom. 33 (R)Sell your possessions, and (S)give to the needy. (T)Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with (U)a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 (V)For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 12:25 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. Luke 12:27 Some manuscripts Consider the lilies; they neither spin nor weave
  3. Luke 12:31 Some manuscripts God's
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Our lives are full of worries. Many worry about their livelihood, how they will provide for themselves and their families with even basic necessities. Others worry about their health and safety. Still others worry about their image and status. Parents worry about their children. Then there is worry over the environment, our political and economic landscape, and nuclear war, etc. Worries and anxiety plague us.

Jesus does not tell us to be complacent or negligent, but to seek first his kingdom and to trust that God will provide all that we need. When we first trust in God's love and care for us, we can build a firm foundation that can withstand greater and greater storms of life when they arise. God's love for us, fully realized, even goes beyond our life and death. God's kingdom and treasures never perish, spoil, or fade away. When we have this experience and relationship with God, he empowers us to live life to the full, with all that we need and more.

Prayer: Lord, my worries often arise because I don't recognize your great love for me and provision for my life. I take matters in my own hands and am blind to your rich and eternal kingdom, which you offer generously to all who seek it.

One Word: Seek first his kingdom.