High Anxiety
Scripture Reading: Luke 12:16-31
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded
plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to
store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and
there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have
many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God
said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things
be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body
is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have
neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the
birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are
not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they
grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious
mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that
you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added
to you.
So, what do you think the rich man did wrong? Was it poor planning or greed that
led to his demise? Should he have kept his old barns and given the excess to the
poor? Is that what the point of the parable is? Look at verse 17. It says that this
man thought within himself, “What shall I do?” His mistake was not taking his
inquiry to YHWH. Scripture tells us plainly that those who ask receive (Matthew 7:
7-8, Luke 11:9-10). So, why don’t we ask God more?
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your
ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Does it say that He will direct you out of trouble when it arises? Or that in your
spiritual ways acknowledge Him? No. It says that you should acknowledge Him in
ALL your ways, and He will direct your paths. I remember about five years ago
when we were still living in with my husband’s parents. My mother would come over
on a certain day and we would go shopping. So, on one of these days she came
over and said that she needed some shoes. I figured we could go right up the
street to Payless Shoes or maybe a couple of miles over to Walmart because that
would be where we’d find the most affordable prices. She explained that she had
prayed about needing the shoes and that she had a vision of the Kmart in
Hollywood about seven or eight miles away. I remember asking her why we would
go all the way over there but she was determined, and she is my mother, so we
went. When we got to the store we headed to the shoe section and as we were
coming up to the section we noticed a big table with a clearance sign on it.
Everything on the table was just $3. Not did she get several pair but I got several
pair and so did my daughter. YHWH directed her path and though the path made
no sense, in the natural mind, she followed it because she trusted Him with all her
heart and chose not to lean on her own understanding (or mine).
Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 “ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Since then we have been consistently led with such a simply thing like shopping.
When you consider that our household has seven people plus several frequent
visitors that sometime eat breakfast or lunch, you would be amazed at how little we
spend; and not for just generic stuff or substandard products. We have freezers
full of steaks, lamb chops, boneless breast of chicken, fresh Salmon fillets. We
haven’t paid more than $2 for a box of cereal in over a year. It’s like whenever we
start running short of something, it’s on sale at one of the stores we go to. It really
has been pretty amazing. Sometimes we’ll go to the grocery store and actually
save more than we spend. We have put that in God’s hands and He completely
directs or path. Like with the shoes, she could likely have found some nice shoes
at Payless or Walmart if she’d followed her own understanding, but following His
direction gave her a much, much better outcome.
Often we, as believers, will need something and whether it’s big like a car or small
like a gallon of milk or clothes or a camera, we pickup the sale papers or check
online and never take the twenty seconds it would take to ask God. We may never
know in what supernatural way God would have answered our request if we don’t
ask. Which brings me to the overall problem with the rich man in this parable. He
was not rich toward God, as it says in verse 21. Does this mean he didn’t give
tithes and offering or that he didn’t give to the poor? I don’t think that is the context
in which Yeshua spoke it. I think it means that He didn’t value the things of God;
prayer, reading His Word, seeking His face. What he valued was the things of the
world as most people do.
Then Yeshua tells His disciples not to worry. He asks them if by worrying they can
change add one little bit to their height. Then He says if you can’t change that little
thing, why worry about the big stuff that you know you can’t change.
Serenity Prayer - God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
That really is key to removing anxiety from your life. Understanding and accepting
what you can and can not do. How many people, even believers, worry themselves
into an early grave, and for what? Does adding all that stress to your life change
even one thing for the better? The key is in us trusting in the LORD with all our
hearts. If we trust Him then no matter what the circumstances, we can know and be
confident in the fact that He has our back, always!
Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp,
sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she
calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece
which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner who repents.”
You see, in this parable the woman does not begin to worry because she has lost
her coin. She becomes diligent. She carefully searches for it until she finds it.
Diligence is a good thing. Taking great care for what is important is wise. God is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Decide what is of true
value and do everything within your power to seek after that.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
Instead of focusing on the things of the world that are quite obviously temporary,
we should be focusing on the things that are not of this world, which are eternal.
We must not be like the man from our scripture reading who, though he was rich in
worldly possessions, was not rich toward the things of God. We must recognize
that the things of God are what have true everlasting value. Yeshua make it clear
that if we strive to get that which is eternal, all the other things will come to us.
Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Because we know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
and that without God we can do nothing (John 15:5), we should recognize that
seeking after God is the wisest course of action we can take.
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He
was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing
was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Because we know that Yeshua is God and that He is the Word, we need to seek
Him daily through His word. If you’re not reading His Word everyday, how can you
be truly seeking Him with all your heart? Are you trusting Him with some things
while taking care of most things on your own? Are you like the man from the
parable who trusted in himself to decide what he should do? Or are you like the
woman who carefully sought after what was valuable? That’s something that you
have to analyze for yourself. No one can do it for you because you’d probably
ignore it anyway. Are your priorities on that which is temporary or that which is
eternal?
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are
just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Let us meditate on the right things and not be concerned about the wrong things.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date August 5, 2007
Scripture Reading: Luke 12:16-31
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded
plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to
store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and
there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have
many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God
said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things
be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body
is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have
neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the
birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are
not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they
grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious
mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that
you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added
to you.
So, what do you think the rich man did wrong? Was it poor planning or greed that
led to his demise? Should he have kept his old barns and given the excess to the
poor? Is that what the point of the parable is? Look at verse 17. It says that this
man thought within himself, “What shall I do?” His mistake was not taking his
inquiry to YHWH. Scripture tells us plainly that those who ask receive (Matthew 7:
7-8, Luke 11:9-10). So, why don’t we ask God more?
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your
ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Does it say that He will direct you out of trouble when it arises? Or that in your
spiritual ways acknowledge Him? No. It says that you should acknowledge Him in
ALL your ways, and He will direct your paths. I remember about five years ago
when we were still living in with my husband’s parents. My mother would come over
on a certain day and we would go shopping. So, on one of these days she came
over and said that she needed some shoes. I figured we could go right up the
street to Payless Shoes or maybe a couple of miles over to Walmart because that
would be where we’d find the most affordable prices. She explained that she had
prayed about needing the shoes and that she had a vision of the Kmart in
Hollywood about seven or eight miles away. I remember asking her why we would
go all the way over there but she was determined, and she is my mother, so we
went. When we got to the store we headed to the shoe section and as we were
coming up to the section we noticed a big table with a clearance sign on it.
Everything on the table was just $3. Not did she get several pair but I got several
pair and so did my daughter. YHWH directed her path and though the path made
no sense, in the natural mind, she followed it because she trusted Him with all her
heart and chose not to lean on her own understanding (or mine).
Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 “ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Since then we have been consistently led with such a simply thing like shopping.
When you consider that our household has seven people plus several frequent
visitors that sometime eat breakfast or lunch, you would be amazed at how little we
spend; and not for just generic stuff or substandard products. We have freezers
full of steaks, lamb chops, boneless breast of chicken, fresh Salmon fillets. We
haven’t paid more than $2 for a box of cereal in over a year. It’s like whenever we
start running short of something, it’s on sale at one of the stores we go to. It really
has been pretty amazing. Sometimes we’ll go to the grocery store and actually
save more than we spend. We have put that in God’s hands and He completely
directs or path. Like with the shoes, she could likely have found some nice shoes
at Payless or Walmart if she’d followed her own understanding, but following His
direction gave her a much, much better outcome.
Often we, as believers, will need something and whether it’s big like a car or small
like a gallon of milk or clothes or a camera, we pickup the sale papers or check
online and never take the twenty seconds it would take to ask God. We may never
know in what supernatural way God would have answered our request if we don’t
ask. Which brings me to the overall problem with the rich man in this parable. He
was not rich toward God, as it says in verse 21. Does this mean he didn’t give
tithes and offering or that he didn’t give to the poor? I don’t think that is the context
in which Yeshua spoke it. I think it means that He didn’t value the things of God;
prayer, reading His Word, seeking His face. What he valued was the things of the
world as most people do.
Then Yeshua tells His disciples not to worry. He asks them if by worrying they can
change add one little bit to their height. Then He says if you can’t change that little
thing, why worry about the big stuff that you know you can’t change.
Serenity Prayer - God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
That really is key to removing anxiety from your life. Understanding and accepting
what you can and can not do. How many people, even believers, worry themselves
into an early grave, and for what? Does adding all that stress to your life change
even one thing for the better? The key is in us trusting in the LORD with all our
hearts. If we trust Him then no matter what the circumstances, we can know and be
confident in the fact that He has our back, always!
Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp,
sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she
calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece
which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner who repents.”
You see, in this parable the woman does not begin to worry because she has lost
her coin. She becomes diligent. She carefully searches for it until she finds it.
Diligence is a good thing. Taking great care for what is important is wise. God is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Decide what is of true
value and do everything within your power to seek after that.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
Instead of focusing on the things of the world that are quite obviously temporary,
we should be focusing on the things that are not of this world, which are eternal.
We must not be like the man from our scripture reading who, though he was rich in
worldly possessions, was not rich toward the things of God. We must recognize
that the things of God are what have true everlasting value. Yeshua make it clear
that if we strive to get that which is eternal, all the other things will come to us.
Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Because we know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
and that without God we can do nothing (John 15:5), we should recognize that
seeking after God is the wisest course of action we can take.
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He
was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing
was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Because we know that Yeshua is God and that He is the Word, we need to seek
Him daily through His word. If you’re not reading His Word everyday, how can you
be truly seeking Him with all your heart? Are you trusting Him with some things
while taking care of most things on your own? Are you like the man from the
parable who trusted in himself to decide what he should do? Or are you like the
woman who carefully sought after what was valuable? That’s something that you
have to analyze for yourself. No one can do it for you because you’d probably
ignore it anyway. Are your priorities on that which is temporary or that which is
eternal?
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are
just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Let us meditate on the right things and not be concerned about the wrong things.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date August 5, 2007
