I would like to share some thoughts from a sermon that God really drove home to me during this fundraising process. It is hard for me to trust fully in God and not worry about the support coming in.
In Luke 12:22-34, Jesus uses some powerful imagery to show the contents of our own hearts. Here is one. “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouses nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
The pastor speaking on this passage used the image of a caged bird. It is the caged bird that is most assured of food. It just arrives in a little bowl every day. Yet the bird STILL worried. Are we not the little bird? Many of us have not had to face the fear of where our food will come from, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that this verse is not for you. We all have worries that we have not entrusted to God.
Worry is bondage. We try to stay where we feel safe and secure. We want an environment over which we feel some control. We lock ourselves into this cage to avoid worry, but even then we don’t escape it. Maybe you took a comfortable job that you don’t really like, but it made a lot of money. However, you always fear that you will lose that job. The company may have to lay workers off. Perhaps you are in a relationship that you know is not going well. You worry that you will be hurt, but you are also worried that you will not ever get married if you break this one off. There are thousands of ways that we limit ourselves in the interest of being care free, but then we worry anyways. It is a lose lose situation.
God is inviting us into something so much better. “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33
With Christ we can live free of the cage. We can live radically for him and pursue the interests and talents he has given us. We will be filled and satisfied in him with the things he does or does not give us. And if we fully trust in him and his promise, we will not only be free from our cage, but we will be free of the worry. It is a win win situation.
Why would you want to attempt to control your own life, when the all knowing, all powerful, all loving God desires to do it for you?