Years from now, when people...
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Years from now, when people dig through the history of our time, I wonder what word
would characterize much of who we are? That four-letter word just might be fear. But
fear is not only a twenty-first-century term. Every age has had to struggle with fear and
its consequences. The word "fear" runs throughout the Bible. The Old Testament opens
with Adam and Eve telling God they hid in the Garden after eating from the tree because
they were afraid (Genesis 12:10). The New Testament begins with an angel telling
Elizabeth and Zechariah and Joseph and Mary and the shepherds, "Do not be afraid." As
prelude to today's text, Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about their lives -- what
they would eat or wear or drink (Luke 12:22, 29). Jesus followed those words with
today's text: "Fear not, little flock." Interestingly, Jesus connected fear with possessions,
purses, and earthly treasure (Luke 12:32-34).
One has only to listen to the callback questions to financial gurus Dave Ramsey or Suzie Orman to know that money matters weigh most of us down. We keep a close eye on the stock market. We are scared that we might lose what we have or we might not have enough to take us to the finish line. Jesus called our focus on possessions a false security. Like the man who tore down his barns to build yet bigger and better barns, we also believe that possessions really can protect us. Yet Jesus expanded this teaching by reminding us that the oil we need in our lamps cannot be purchased at a store. That oil is an inner reserve. Millionaires and those who long to be millionaires all over the country are running on empty. Our lives really do not consist of the abundance of things we possess. We never will conquer our fears by surrounding ourselves with stuff.
Richard Burton opened up his heart one time and said, "I've been in trouble all my life, I've done the most unutterable rubbish, all because of money. I didn't need it ... the lure of the zeroes was simply too great" (quoted in "Loose talk," Rolling Stone, November 17, 1977, p. 13).
One has only to listen to the callback questions to financial gurus Dave Ramsey or Suzie Orman to know that money matters weigh most of us down. We keep a close eye on the stock market. We are scared that we might lose what we have or we might not have enough to take us to the finish line. Jesus called our focus on possessions a false security. Like the man who tore down his barns to build yet bigger and better barns, we also believe that possessions really can protect us. Yet Jesus expanded this teaching by reminding us that the oil we need in our lamps cannot be purchased at a store. That oil is an inner reserve. Millionaires and those who long to be millionaires all over the country are running on empty. Our lives really do not consist of the abundance of things we possess. We never will conquer our fears by surrounding ourselves with stuff.
Richard Burton opened up his heart one time and said, "I've been in trouble all my life, I've done the most unutterable rubbish, all because of money. I didn't need it ... the lure of the zeroes was simply too great" (quoted in "Loose talk," Rolling Stone, November 17, 1977, p. 13).
