Relax

Luke 12:21-29 (Message)

He continued this subject with his disciples.

"Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion.

There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God.

And you count far more.

"Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?

If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all?

Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it?

The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving.


The scripture says, "Jesus continued this subject..."

The subject? Stuff. He's not quite finished yet.

Yesterday, we heard Jesus tell us that we should gain freedom from our stuff...knowing that we don't take it with us, and it's not the "stuff" that lasts.

Today, he shows us how beautiful that kind of freedom in God could be.

We experience countless instances of the very thing that Jesus is teaching. We see things come and go...we watch fashions change...houses that age...technology advances.

That which is the best today, will be old and out of style before too long.

So, why do we fuss?

Last night I watched a pretty amazing documentary. Imagine, for whatever reason, the total disappearance of all human life on earth. What would become of our buildings and culture? What would last?

Virtually nothing.

Through computer animation, they showed Times Square in New York City, crumbling away. In 500 years time, trees had grown in the middle of the street, and almost all the buildings had fallen.

In 1000 years, nature had completely re-taken the land. There was no trace of humanity remaining.

Scientists believe that Hoover Dam would last longer than any other human-built structure. Maybe even 10,000 years. But one day, it, too, would collapse and the waters would overcome it.

How does that make you feel?

Sad? Afraid? Awestruck? Peaceful?

Maybe we should follow Jesus' advice: "Walk out into a field of wildflowers," and look around.

What you see there is the sign and substance of God's love for his creation.

And then remember the point of the lesson: "What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving."

Relax. God made this world. He will last forever. And so will we, within his care.

Prayer: God our Father, we pray for the gift of relaxation today. That we would have perspective on our problems. That we would stop fussing. That we would care more about the heart than the stomach. More about our lives, than the clothes that hang on our bodies. All things are passing away, except for your love and care that sustain us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.