Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 17:5–10 

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.’” (Jeremiah 17:5–10, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:22-34

“And he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’” (Luke 12:22–34, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

1. Introduction
   1. We live in a very anxious age. I suppose we could spend all of our time theorizing as to why so many are plagued by anxiety today. Perhaps it has something to do with the pace of our lives. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we are constantly bombarded with troubling news. Truth be told, I think it has a lot to do with the condition of the modern man’s soul. As our society grows more and more secular and less and less godfearing, it is not surprising to see that anxious hearts abound. 
   2. The world does offer some relief.
      1. If you were to look up remedies for anxiety on the internet I’m sure you would learn that breathing techniques can help calm the anxious mind. Someone recently told me that if you take 12 deep breaths in and out and hold the 13th as long as you can, it will help the brain to shift from the Beta wave frequency into the calmer Alpha wave frequency. That is good to know. 
      2. A healthy diet is also important. Exercise is important too. And do not forget about the importance of getting adequate sleep. We must take care of our bodies. And we should not forget that the body and mind are connected.   
      3. And of course, the world will also offer medication. You should know that I am not entirely opposed to medication. In some circumstances, it can be helpful. I am concerned that we overmedicate though.  
      4. The thing that I want you to see about these remedies offered by the world is that they are useful for managing and masking the symptoms of anxiety. Now, I do not mean to suggest that these remedies are useless. If you are feeling anxious, it might help you to take a series of deep breaths, cut back on the caffeine and sugar intake, and get some exercise. If the anxiety is out of control to the point of being debilitating, perhaps medication should be considered, but I would urge you to proceed with caution. Nevertheless, I do believe my observation is true. While these remedies may help to manage and mask the symptoms of anxiety, they do not get to the heart of the matter. 
   3. But Christ gets to the heart of the matter in the passage that is open before us today.
      1. My question for you is, will you listen to Christ concerning your anxiety? You’ll listen to your doctor, your psychologist, or your psychiatrist. But will you listen to Christ?
      2. Need I remind you that Christ is your Creator? The person of Christ is the second person of the Triune God, the one through whom all thing were made (see Hebrews 1:2). Christ is the Creator, yes, even of your body and soul.
      3. And need I remind you that Christ is your Redeemer? He is the eternal Son of God incarnate. The Son assumed a true human nature, body and soul, for us and for our salvation. He can sympathize with our weakness, therefore. He was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. And he assumed a true human nature, body and soul, to redeem and heal our corrupted natures.
      4. If there is anyone you should listen to regarding your anxiety, it is Christ, your Creator and Redeemer, the great physician of your body and soul. 
      5. So, let us listen to Christ as he warns his disciples of the heart-sin of anxiety and presents us with precieous remedies – remidies that do not merly mask or enable us to manage the symptoms of anxiety, but remidies that address the very heart and root of the anxious thoughts and feelings that plague our souls.  
2. Exposition of Luke 12:22-34
   1. In Luke 12:22, Christ commands his disciples to be not anxious. The command: “Do not be anxious…”, Christ says. The Greek word is in the imperative mood. It is a command that we are to obey. This indicates that we have responsibility in this matter. This indicates that we have choices to make and the freedom to make those choices. “Do not be anxious…”, Christ says.
      1. What is anxiety?
         1. The first thing to acknowledge is that is an inward thing. Anxiety is a condition of the mind and heart. It effects the body, yes. When we are anxious, our brian fires rapidly, our heart  races, and our chest tightens.  And anxiety in the mind and heart will certainly impact our actions. But anxiety, properly speaking, is a condition of the soul.
         2. So the theme continues in this section of Luke’s gospel. Christ is here addressing matters of the heart and mind with his disciples. He has warned against hypocrisy, the fear of man, the fear of persecution, and covetousness – all of which are matters of the heart. Here Christ warns against anxiety. 
         3. Anxiety is more than a reasonable and responsible concern.
            1. Anxiety is concern accentuated by worry.
            2. Anxiety is concern mingled with fear and apprehension.
            3. Are there things in this life that you should be concerned about? Yes, of course.
               1. A husband and father, for example, should be concerned to provide for his family and to protect them from physical and spiritual harm. This reasonable concern should result in responsible action. But a husband and father must not be anxious, that is to say, plagued by worry. 
               2. A pastor should be concerned for the church over which God has made him an overseer. This reasonable concern should result in responsible action. But a pastor must not be anxious, that is to say, plagued by worry.
               3. A mother should be concerned for the physical and spiritual wellbeing of her children. Again I say, this reasonable concern should result in responsible action. But a Christian mother should not be anxious, that is to say, plagued by worry.
            4. While reasonable concern will move us to responsible action, anxiety is a debilitating distraction. Anxiety in the mind and heart will hold a Christian back from living the life that God has caled them to live. It is no wonder that Christ warned his disciples about the heart sin of anxiety. If allowed to remain in the heart, anxiety will distract us from what matters most and consume our lives, rendering us fruitless and ineffective.
      2. What is the thing Christ forbids us from being anxious about?
         1. Two things: our inner spiritual life, and our outer physical life.
         2. In verse 22 Christ speaks to us, saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on” (Luke 12:22, ESV).
            1. The Greek word translated as “life” is Ψυχή. It means “soul”. 
            2. The Greek word translated as “body is Σῶμα. This is a reference to our physical bodies.
            3. When we think of our life or existence it is right for us to think of these two things: human beings have bodies and souls. When the body dies the soul lives on. On the last day, our bodies will be raised and reunited with our souls to be either judged by Christ or openly acquitted, if we are united to him by faith. 
            4. Here Christ teaches that we are not to be anxious about our Ψυχή – our souls – that is to say, our inner life. And he mentions food. Why does Christ mention food as if food is the thing that sustains the soul and not the body? I think the reason is this. Food (and drink) is what we take in for the sustenance of life. Food functions as an apt metaphor, therefore, for that which sustains the inner life of man. So, Christ commands us to not be anxious about our life, what we will eat. 
            5.  And neither are we to be anxious about our bodies, what we will put on. The soul appears to need food. And what does the body need? Most fundamentally, the body needs to be clothed. And so Christ says, do not be anxious about the life of your body, nor about what is necessary for its sustenance. 
            6.  And then Christ explains, saying, “For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.” I believe the meaning is this: the sustenance of the life of the soul requires more than food and the sustenance of the life of the body requires more than clothing.  
            7. You see, the argument is from the greater to the lesser. John Calvin explains the principle nicely. Commenting on this verse, he says, “[Christ] argues from the greater to the less. He had forbidden [his disciples] to be excessively anxious about the way in which life might be supported; and he now assigns the reason. The Lord, who has given life itself, will not [allow] us to [lack] what is necessary for its support. And certainly we do no small dishonour to God, when we fail to trust that he will give us necessary food or clothing; as if he had thrown us on the earth at random. He who is fully convinced, that the Author of our life has an intimate knowledge of our condition, will entertain no doubt that he will make abundant provision for our wants. Whenever we are seized by any fear or anxiety about food, let us remember, that God will take care of the life which he gave us.” (John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 340.) I think this is good and right. 
            8. And it seems to me that Christ is also reminding us here that God has the power to sustain the life of our soul and the life of our body, for all eternity. The life of the soul requires more than food. The life of the body requires more than clothing. God is able to sustain us, body and soul, in this life as he provides us with food to eat and clothes to wear. More than this, God is able to sustain us, body and soul, for all eternity. We are to trust the Lord that he will sustain us in this life (for as long as he has decreed we live here), and we are to trust the Lord that he will sustain us in the life to come.
            9. The argument is from the greater to the lesser. If we are to trust the Lord with our very lives and concerning the most basic necessities of life, then we out to trust him in all things, and not be anxious. 
            10. Hear the command of Christ again: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” (Luke 12:22, ESV)
   2. Not only does Christ command his followers not to be anxious, but he provides us with remedies – true remedies – remedies that get to the very heart of anxiety.
      1. The first remedy is found in the word “therefore” at the beginning of verse 22. “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.”
         1. The word “therefore” is to remind us of what Christ had just taught as recorded in the previous passage. In the previous passage, Christ warned his disciples about the heart sin of covetousness. “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life [ζωή] does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15, ESV).
         2. He then told a parable about a foolish rich man who put all his trust in his possessions. The rich man’s fields produced bountifully. He did not think to give thanks to God, nor did he think to relieve the suffering of the poor and needy. Instead, he thought only of himself. He tore down his barns and built larger ones to store (hoard) his possessions. And then in Luke 12:19 he spoke to his own soul (his Ψυχή), saying, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But in verse 20, God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul (Ψυχή) is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Jesus then concluded his parable with this word of explanation: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21, ESV).
         3. When Christ began his teaching about anxiety with the word “therefore”, he connected what he had said about covetousness with what he was about to say concerning anxiety. Covetousness and anxiety go together, and it should not be difficult to see why. If you love the things of this world supremely, and if you have placed your hope in the things of this world, as the rich fool did, then you are likely to be anxious concerning the loss of these things. In fact, I think it is right to say that you ought to be anxious. Stated differently, if you are covetous – if you have loved the things of this world (created things) supremely and have made them the source of your hope, your joy, and your peace – then it is perfectly reasonable for you to be anxious, for you have built your life on a very shaky foundation, one that is destined to give way.
            1. Think of the man who loves money supremely and has made his 401K his trust. He spends a lifetime soothing himself with the accumulation of wealth. It brings him a sense of comfort and security. But that man is a fool. He is a fool because he has forgotten about death. He has forgotten that at some point God will say to him, “This night your soul (Ψυχή) is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” 
            2. Think of the mother who loves her children supremely. She spends a good portion of her life living for her children and finding her ultimate satisfaction and peace in them. This too is folly. As good as it is for a mother to love her children and to nurture them, she must not make her children the foundation of her life. The children will grow and establish households of their own. They too are moral beings. They cannot bear the weight of our hopes and dreams. They do not have the power to sustain our lives. 
            3. Apply this principle to every created thing. Covetousness is idolatry. Idolatry is folly. God alone is to be supremely loved, feared, and trusted, for God alone is able to sustain us. Whenever we transfer the love, fear, and trust that is due to God alone and place it on some created thing, anxiety is bound to follow, or at least it should. Those who trust in created things supremely and do not feel anxious about it are blind fools who have forgotten about death and the final judgment. 
            4. It is no wonder that the only remedy the world can offer for anxiety is to manage and mask the symptoms. The truth is, apart from God and Christ, human beings have every reason to be anxious. In fact, I am not surprised that the world is anxious. To be honest, I’m surprised there is not more anxiety in the world. But I know what holds it back. Men are fools. They have found many ways to convince themselves, against all evidence, that God does not exist and to distract themselves from the fact that they will die someday and will be judged by him. More than this, men are idolaters who have found ways to soothe themselves with their little false gods. And when these false gods fail them, which they inevitably will, men have found many ways to numb themselves to the reality of their hopeless condition. Of course, this is no true solution to their anxiety. 
            5. The fear of God and faith in Christ is the solution. But to have God and Christ, covetousness must go, for covetousness is idolatry (see Colossians 3:5). 
      2. The second true remedy to anxiety that Christ offers to his followers is found in the “consider.” Do you see the word “consider”? It appears twice in our text, once at the beginning of verse 24 and again at the beginning of verse 27.
         1. The word “consider” is also in the imperative mood in the Greek. This means it is a command we are to obey. This indicates that we have responsibility in this matter.
         2. To consider is, “To give very careful consideration to some matter—‘to think about [something] very carefully, to consider [something] closely’” (Louw Nida, 349). 
         3. If a follower of Jesus Christ is feeling anxious (which we all do from time to time), one thing we must do is consider. We must slow down and think. We must contemplate.  
         4. And what are we to consider? Answer: We are to consider God’s revelation. We are to consider what God has said to us regarding who he is, who we are, and our relationship to him, in Christ Jesus.
            1. In verse 24 Christ says, “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24, ESV)
               1. Just a moment ago, Christ spoke to his disciples, saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat… (Luke 12:22, ESV). Now Christ reassures his disciples concerning God’s faithful provision of food.
                  1. Christ reassures his disciples concerning the faithful provision of food by directing their attention first to natural revelation. “Consider the ravens”, Christ says. Even nature testifies to the fact that God is faithful to provide for his creatures.  “Consider the ravens”, they are not like that rich fool who sowed his field with seed, reaped an abundant harvest, and tore down his perfectly good barns to build bigger ones. That rich fool trusted in himself and in his possession. The ravens are wiser than him. They trust God for their daily provisions, and “God feeds them.” God has designed the world in such a way that even nature speaks to his existence and faithfulness. “Consider the ravens”, Christ says.
                  2. And then Christ comforts his disciples with a bit of special revelation. “Of how much more value are you than the birds!”  
            2. The pattern is repeated in verses 27 and 28. There Christ says, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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, O you of little faith!”
               1. Just a moment ago Christ commanded his disciples, saying, “do not be anxious… about your body, what you will put on” (Luke 12:22, ESV). Now Christ reassures his disciples concerning God’s faithful provision of clothing.
                  1. He reassured them by again directing their attention to natural revelation. “Consider the lilies”, Christ commands.  Look at how they grow. You do not see the flowers of the field anxiously straining or struggling. They simply trust in God day by day. And yet they are dressed more beautifully than King Solomon ever was.  
                  2. And to this observation of the natural world, Christ adds his definitively clear word: “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, O you of little faith!” 
         5. So then, Christ speaks to the anxious disciple of his and says, it is time for you to consider some things more carefully than you have before. You must think more deeply about God and his faithfulness to provide for his creatures, in general. And you must think more carefully about the special love that he has set upon you to call you to repentance and faith and to reconcile you to himself through me. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ plagued by anxiety, one thing you must do is consider God’s revelation – his world book and his word book – the book of nature and the book of Scripture – more carefully, and believe what God says. Notice that Christ rebukes his disciples for their lack of faith. It’s as if Christ says, you are plagued by anxiety because you are failing to believe what God has said.    
         6. Sandwiched in between Christ’s commands to consider the ravens and to consider the lilies, we find this little comment regarding the futility and folly of anxiety. “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” (Luke 12:25–26, ESV).
            1. This is also an important truth for the anxious disciple of Christ to consider. Not only are we to consider God and his faithfulness to us in the Covenant of Grace, we also must consider what a giant waste of time and energy – what a useless distraction – anxiety over the cares of this world is.
               1. Not only is anxiety dishonoring to God, being rooted in a lack of faith in him, it also accomplishes nothing. 
               2. We cannot make our stature increase by 18” by worrying. That is what the Greek literally says. And this is a metaphorical way of saying, by worrying, we do not have the ability to lengthen our lives by a single hour. Why worry, then? Being anxious brings nothing good and beneficial. It only does harm. 
               3. Anxiety is a distraction. It will rob us of our vitality and sap our strength. Instead of being anxious about the cares and concerns of this life, we are to trust the Lord and depend on him for daily provision. 
      3. So far, two remedies to anxiety have been presented. First, we are to beware of covetousness, which is idolatry. Covetousness and anxiety go together, remember. Secondly, we carefully consider God’s revelation of himself and of his care for us in nature and in Scripture so that we might trust God’s Word. Thirdly, we are to put away every distraction and devote our lives to seeking the kingdom of God.
         1. Look at verses 29-31. There Christ says, “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:29–31, ESV).
            1. There are three commands in verses 29-31. Two are negative, and one is positive. 
            2. The two negative commands are these: “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
               1. What does Christ mean when he says, “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink”? Does Christ mean that we are to think nothing at all about procuring food and drink? Does he mean that we are to neglect work and sit idly by as if food and drink will fall down from heaven? Does he mean that we should not shop for groceries or meal prep? No, that would be absurd. And we know this would be an incorrect interpretation because other Scriptures texts command us to be diligent in work so that we might provide for ourselves and those under our care (see 1 Timothy 5:8). 
               2. Given the context, Christ must mean that we must not make the attainment of food and drink the aim and driving ambition of our lives. This is how the nations live, Christ says. The non-beliving world lives for the attainment of wealth, food, drink, clothing, and shelter. The disciple of Jesus is not to live for this. We are not to worry about these things, but we are to trust that God will provide for us through means, the most common means being work. 
               3. You know, there is a difference between living to eat and eating to live. There is a difference between pouring your life into your home and responsibly maintaining the home that God has provided for you to live in. There is a difference between living to shop for clothing and shopping for clothing so that you might live. Disciples of Christ are not to seek what they are to eat and drink with anxious concern. 
            3. Instead, Christ positively commands us to seek the Father’s kingdom, and promises that these things – the food and the drink – will be added to us (Luke 12:31, ESV). In other words, we are to make the attainment and advancement of the kingdom of God our driving concern as we trust in the Lord to meet all our physical and spiritual needs.
               1. What does it mean to seek the Father’s kingdom?
                  1. To seek the kingdom of God is to seek to enter it now and for eternity. And how does one enter the kingdom of God except through faith in Christ the King? 
                  2. To seek the kingdom of God is to seek to be ruled by God and to be more and more obedient to him.
                  3. To seek the kingdom of God is to advance his kingdom on earth now to through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
               2. This is what Christians should devote themselves to as they trust in God to meet their basic needs. 
   3. There are four more imperatives found in verses 32 through 33. “Fear not”, Christ says.
      “Sell” and “give”. And finally, “provide for yourselves”. I take these to be the fruit or result of a life that is free from anxiety and marked by faithful dependence upon the Lord.
      1. In verse 32 Christ speaks to his disciples, saying, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
         1. In Christ, we are to live a life free from anxiety and fear. 
         2. We are not to fear because we are Christ’s sheep and Christ is our shepherd. 
         3. We are to seek the Father’s kingdom without fear knowing that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. 
      2. As it pertains to possessions, those who are free from covetousness and anxiety will be free to sell and give. “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy”, Christ says.
         1. It would be foolish to think that Christ is here teaching his disciples to sell all that they have to give to the needy. This is not what the text says. If his disciples were to do that, they would all be needy themselves. 
         2. We must remember the context. When it comes to our possessions we are not to hold on to them with a clenched fist like the rich fool did, but with an open hand, being willing to give out of our abundance and according to our ability (see Acts 5:4, Ezra 2:69; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
         3. Those free from covetousness and anxiety will free to live with this kind of boldness, courage, and generosity. 
      3. The final command is, “provide”. “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33, ESV).
         1. Being freed from covetousness and anxiety concerning the things of the earth we free us to store up moneybags and treasures in heaven. All of the treasures of this world will fail us. Moths will eat away at clothing, food will rots, houses and barns will decay, thieves will steal, and death will cause all of the possessions we have accumulated to be distributed to others. But it is possible to store up treasures in heaven. This is done through faith in Christ and through the good deeds we perform by God’s grace.
3. Conclusion
   1. In the introduction to this sermon, I stated that Christ does not merely teach us to mask or manage the symptoms of our anxiety but gets to the heart of the matter. This has been demonstrated already as Christ links anxiety with the covetousness in the heart, commands us to consider his word, and directs us to seek first God’s kingdom and his rightousness (see Matthew 6:33).  But all that Christ has commanded is summed and explained with these words, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34, ESV).
   2. Anxiety is a matter of the heart. The heart will always be set on its treasure. And the heart will always be anxious to preserve and protect it’s treasure. Where is your treasure? That is the question. Is your treasure here on earth? If it is, your heart has every good reason to be anxious. Or is your treasure with God and Christ in heaven? If your treasure is in heaven with God and Christ, you have every reason to be at peace and free from all fear and anxiety, for that treasure is secure, having been secured by Christ our redeemer. 
   3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3–7, ESV)