Look at the Birds

Worry is a recurrent sin in my life. Four weeks ago it was the subject of a church sermon. It wasn’t necessarily anything new I was hearing, but I heard it differently. God convicted me of my sin. I knew I needed to respond. Yet it seemed overwhelming to tackle such a pervasive sin in my life.

Worry impacts my relationships. It impacts my health. My attitudes and thoughts are shaped by worry. I thought my biggest worry was about time. I get anxious over whether I will get things done. I am also recognizing a significant worry is what other people think of me. Many of my decisions are influenced by how I anticipate people will respond.

My pastor showed in Luke 12:22-34, how Jesus pointed people to God’s care for the ravens and the lilies as examples of how He provides for us. A dear friend gave me a key chain with a bird on it to remind me of lessons God is teaching me about worry and the chance to choose something different.

The biggest challenge that came out of the sermon and in our small group discussion was the end of the passage. Jesus has been telling people not to worry about whether they will eat or have something to wear because God provides. Then He ends with this, “Sell your possessions and give to those in need” (v. 33). If you are worried about what you will eat or wear, sell what you have and give to those in need. Kingdom living is so counter-intuitive. If I am worried about finances, I spend less and save more. Instead, Jesus tells me to give more away.

So I have been trying this out in other areas of worry. If I am worried about not having enough time, I give more time away. I say yes to a friend who wants to grab coffee. I choose to respond to the email that has come into my inbox. I am finding when I give more of my time away, I am able to complete what needs to get done.

Instead of trying to manage my life to please others, I am looking for ways to give my life away without expectation of how people will respond.

Sell. Give. Release. This is how Jesus teaches me to respond to worry. I am taking steps in His direction. It is a struggle. This does not come naturally. Yet He is making me aware when I am choosing worry and giving me opportunity to respond with generosity. This gives me hope that my life will not be characterized by worry forever. 

Feeling Foolish

Sometimes following Jesus makes me feel foolish. It feels foolish to turn the other cheek. It feels foolish to not try and defend myself. It feels foolish to wait instead of act. It feels foolish to hope when things seem hopeless.

I am sure Noah felt foolish as he built the ark. I am sure Joseph felt foolish as he spent time in prison, remembering his dreams of his brothers bowing to him. I am sure Peter, James, and John felt foolish about throwing their nets out the other side of the boat after a night of no catch.

It is hard for me to be the fool. I like to be found competent. I like to have things add up. I like for others to think well of me.

Following Jesus means sometimes doing things that make no sense to anyone else. Following Jesus is humbling. Following Jesus means choosing a path of contradictions- last who are first, least who are greatest, fools who are wise.

I want to walk the path toward Jesus, wherever it takes me, even if I feel foolish.

“But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important,” 1 Corinthians 1:24-28.