Isaiah 49:8-16 , Psalm 34:4-10, Matthew 6:24-34
Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? The butterfly effect is part of modern chaos theory which hypothesized that something as trivial as a butterfly flapping its wings in say Asia could lead to a tornado forming in Oklahoma. A small event in combination with number of other small events and taking place in the right combination of meteorological circumstances could create a large-scale natural disaster.
The idea is that something seemingly small and inconsequential can lead to something large and potentially disastrous. I am not a real big believer in chaos theory, and I am sure that I have left much information out concerning the butterfly effect. However, many of us see how connected we are as a planet and as people. We realize just how things that happen in far off places can have an effect on us.
I used to joke that every time a Saudi prince sneezed, our gas prices would go up a nickel. In the last week, as Libya has seen large political demonstrations and military responses from its leadership, our gas prices have gone up…and by more than a nickel. On Tuesday, I paid $3.00/gallon (actually $3.00.9/gallon) for gas. That afternoon it was $3.39. Almost forty cents a gallon in a 24 hour time span. Gas prices affect the cost of farming (amen?) and the cost of transporting grain and animals. It affects the cost of making and transporting the food that eventually gets to our tables. Political unrest in Libya is hitting us in the pocketbooks in middle America.
There has been enough political unrest in America as well. There have been large demonstrations in Wisconsin and Ohio concerning labor legislation. The Health Care Bill passed late last year is still divisive. Lack of food, jobs, and health care is a serious threat to the lives of many people. I know this because I have been through it myself, and not so long ago either.
As I have mentioned to many of you, as a pastor, I am technically self-employed. As such, I cannot have group health insurance. The churches pay into a common fund and an administrator pays bills out of that fund. In 2003, right about the time, that Jen was diagnosed with cancer, the denomination I was with switched its self-funded plan. A company offering something called "The Church Plan" was hired to take care of our pastors' health insurance needs. We were excited because we would have better coverage and everything would be great.
At first, bills were being paid rather well. "The Church Plan" had hired Aetna to administer the plan, and we were fairly happy. Unfortunately, "The Church Plan" "misrepresented” themselves. Thus, all the pastors in our plan were pretty much booted from Aetna. Another company Consumer Health Solutions, was hired to administer the fund. Our church was paying a little over $1,000/month for this new plan. Jen was now pregnant with Ben. So we needed this coverage, and we needed it to work.
Only, it didn’t . To this day, no one is quite sure what Consumer Health Solutions did with the money that was paid to them, but it certainly was not going to our doctors. Again, the church would pay $1,000/month, but our bills were not being paid. The company would pick up a $10 charge here or maybe a $14 charge there, but ignore everything else. Jen had received radiation treatments at the beginning of this coverage. A year later, none of them had been paid. The hospital and doctors who delivered Ben never saw a penny.
This was all happening, when my superintendent told me that I would not have a church in about 3 months. No “work”, no functioning health insurance and $23K in medical bills that would never going be paid…let just say that this was a bit of a concern for me. OK…I won’t lie to you. I was worried!
We have all been worried about one thing or another: jobs, homes, health, finances, children, grandchildren, etc. But why? Most of us know that the past is behind us and there is usually little we can do about the future. But why do we worry? We do not trust in the future. We do not trust in the people, places, or circumstances that lie ahead unbeknownst to us. It is natural for us to worry because we have to trust in our natural surroundings.
But sadly, we worry because we do not trust God. We may put our hope in our natural abilities instead of putting our trust in his supernatural abilities. From the early days of Adam and Eve to our present time, we do not trust God…or we do not trust him fully. Looking at the passage from Matthew 6, Jesus was teaching the disciples and the crowds about worry.
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
We will love one and hate the other. We will serve one, and use the other. We will put our full trust in one, and the other will be a distant second place. Our hearts have room for only one. You can have God, who will allow to use money, or you will have money, which will allow you to use God. This may be the point that Jesus is trying to make throughout his ministry. It is the rich who come giving large gifts trying to buy favor with God, but it is the poor that we see as humble…poor in spirit as well as finances. “You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Once Jesus gets that huge, gigantic, universal piece of truth out there, the rest of this passage falls into place. 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
The Lord takes care of his creation. Birds, animals, flowers, and grass…he takes care of them. Aren’t we more important than these? Of course. Does God love us more than these? Of course. Can worrying make our situations any easier? Can worrying make our lives any better? Can worrying make our lives any longer? No, no, and no. Jesus tells the people not to worry about the things of this earth. Our heavenly father knows us, and he knows what we need.
33 But seek first his kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Our worry is a lack of trust. Our worry is a lack of trust in God. We believe in God but we do not always believe HIM to be who he claims to be. First, we do not trust in God’s:
Sovereignty. We do not believe that he is THE KING. We do not believe that he alone is God and is in control of the universe and our lives. We put our faith in destiny, fate, or karma. We try to put ourselves in his throne because we think that we can trust in our own abilities, gifts, or possessions. We do not believe that we will stand before the Lord in the final…or any…judgment. When we do not trust in his sovereignty, we make ourselves idolaters because we have made ourselves…king.
Second, we do not trust in God’s Ability. Many in the world view evil as proof that God does not exist. Either he cannot rid the world of it…or he does not want rid the world of it. Either way, God comes off as powerless or perhaps even as evil himself. But in reality, there are many people in the Church even today who do not believe in God’s supernatural power. Many read of God’s miracles in the Bible and write it off as myth or fairy tale.
But I believe. I believe in God’s supernatural power. I believe in God’s ability to recreate, redeem, and renew. I know it because I have experienced his grace in my heart. God’s power to create the universe is small when compared to the loving and grace filled manner in which he saves us. The power of God to transform the world was demonstrated on the cross at Calvary and is known in the hearts of believers everywhere.
Third, we do not trust in God’s Will. There are too many people out there who feel that God does not want to save them. Too far gone, too sinful, and too far beyond any possible help….God does not want to help me. Not only can he save all…but he will save all who come to him in faith. Worry be damned. The world can and will fall down around our heads on a daily basis. Our sins may seem darker than anyone else’s. Christ’s sacrifice was made once…FOR ALL.
Are you worrying today? Do you believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart? Do you believe that he can and will save us from our sins? Do you believe that God will provide us with everything we need? Not want…but need? I said that we worry because too often we do not trust in God’s Sovereignty, Ability, and Will. But I want you to repeat something after me.
He Is…He Can...He Will.
Remember the struggles with health insurance, I told you about earlier? With the future uncertain, our family joined the United Methodist Church where a ministry opportunity was offered to us. What a blessing! In our first year there, I received word that our former denomination would pay our unpaid medical bills...all $23K of them!
My worries, fears, and concerns did not deliver us out of those situations...God did. He IS the king. He can deliver us from our trials. He will save us, if and when we call out to him. But it is up to you.
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