Anxiety and God's Kingdom

Anxiety and

God's Kingdom

(Phil. 3.14-4.1and Lk. 13.31-35)

and partly based on one of Jan's sermons

Some time ago at a CHATS service, the children were invited to play a game. They had to rush to the front if they fit into certain categories which the leader called out. So he would call out "come to the front if you're wearing red socks" and all the children wearing red socks rushed out. And so it went on, until he called out "come to the front if you get too much pocket money". And this time there was very little response!

We learn very early on in life, don't we, that we can never have too much money? In fact, I suspect for most people it would be nearer the mark to say we never seem to have quite enough money. I suspect that if the leader had shouted out "come to the front if you don't get enough pocket money", the response might have been overwhelming. And this seems to be the case however wealthy we are. Rockerfeller, the multi-millionaire was once asked how much money it took to really satisfy a person, and he answered "always a little more."

But it's not just money that many of us feel we could do with a little more of. Many of us also feel that we could do with a just a little more time.

Which do you feel in most need of at the moment, more money or more time?

(pause)

If I could wave a magic wand and grant you a wish for either 10% more money, or 10% more time, which would you choose?

(pause)

[ I'd find it helpful to understand our needs as a church, so could we take a straw poll. Could you put your hand up if you would take the money, ...thank you, ...and who would rather have the extra time? ...thank you.

Announce result. ...and comment upon it.

eg That's very interesting...

- That's what I thought you would say, ...many people are so busy these days.]

When I get to heaven, one of the questions that I'd like to ask God is why he didn't create an 8 day week! ...Life would be a lot less rushed if we had just one extra day a week in which to do everything!

We all have concerns in life, don't we?

Let's just pause for a moment, and ask yourself this question, "What is it that I'm most concerned about at the moment?"

(pause)

You may be concerned about a lack of time, or a lack of money...

or you may be concerned about your job,

...or your health,

...or your reputation,

...or your relationship with someone.

Or perhaps, at the moment, you're more concerned about the situation that someone you love is in.

...or some situation that's been on the news recently.

We sometimes find it hard to face our fears, ...but we are in the presence of God, and it is safe to do so.

We all have concerns in life. But if you had to list your concerns this morning, what would be top of your list?

(pause)

Now I've chosen my words carefully this morning, ..I've used the word 'concern', because it is right that we should be responsibly concerned for things. ...but often our concerns turn into anxiety, and that's quite different.

And if you're anxious about the situation you've be thinking about, then a bring you a word of warning, ...and a word of encouragement.

Now which do you want first, ...the good news or the bad news?

Well the word of warning is found in both our Bible readings this morning.

It the letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds his readers that we all have a choice in life:

- we either go God's way, which leads to our inheritance in heaven; or else,

- we go the way of those whose mind is on earthly things, whose destiny is destruction.

And in our Gospel reading, Jesus laments the decisions of God's own people:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Lk. 13.34)

(pause)

But what is it that causes people to reject God's ways?

Well the answer, I believe, can be found a few pages earlier in the parable of the sower, in Luke chapter 8.

I'm sure that most of you are very familiar with it, and it describes different ways in which people react to the word of God.

For people who hear God's word for the first time, the danger is that they'll dismiss it before it has a chance to take root. They're like seed which falls on the path.

For people who respond to God's word, the danger is that they'll believe for a while, but when troubles come along they fall away. They're like seed which falls on rocky ground.

But most of us here are probably past that stage. Most of us are not beginners in the Christian faith, we've been growing for quite some time. So what's the danger to people like us? Well we can become like seed that fell among the thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plant.

And what exactly are the thorns?

Well Jesus said that they are: "life's worries, riches, and pleasures." (Lk. 8.14).

In other words, it's possible for our anxieties and worries to choke our faith.

Anxiety is a very destructive force.

...it can rob us of our joy in life.

...it can drastically affect the way we behave:

- either driving us into frenzied activity,

- or paralysing us into in-action.

God does not want us to be anxious, and the essence of faith is daring to trust God for that situation which concerns us.

There's a joke about a tourist who was walking alone at the edge of a cliff, when he stumbled and fell. At the last minute, as he was falling over the cliff, he happened to grab hold of a shrubby bush.

As he dangled in space he called out towards heaven, "Is there anyone up there?"

Miraculously a calm, powerful voice came out of the sky, "Yes there is!"

The tourist pleaded, "Please, can you help me?"

The voice replied, "Yes, I can. Simply let go of the bush, and everything will turn out fine."

There was a long silence, and then the tourist yelled, "Is there anyone else up there?".

Faith is daring to trust God for that situation which concerns us.

But if the bad news is that anxiety can destroy us, the good news is that we don't have to let it. So let me finish with a word of encouragement.

Once again they are well known words of Jesus. Let them sink from your head into your heart, for these words are for you...

Jesus said, "I bid you to put away your anxious thoughts. Surely life is more important than this.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow and reap and store in barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them.

You are worth more than birds!

Is there a man who by anxious thought can add a foot to his height?

All these are things for those without faith to run after, not for you, because your heavenly Father knows what you need.

Set your mind on God's kingdom and his justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well.

So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. Each day has troubles enough of its own.

As Paul reminds us, we have a choice, ...and it's all about having the right priorities in life.

I'm sure that you must have all been in a situation where something has happened which has completely changed your perspective on things that you were anxious about.

Sometimes it can be the receipt of tragic news that can change our perspective:

The death of Diana had a profound effect on millions of people.

Millions bought bouquets of flowers, or bought rail tickets to travel to London, or gave money to one of her charities, ...and yet I guess that many of the people who spent money in this way were in difficult financial situations.

Millions made the effort to travel to London for the funeral, or queued for hours to sign a book of remembrance, ...and yet I guess that many of the people who spent there money this way were very busy people who were desperately short of time.

Its all a matter of perspective, isn't it?

Sometimes it can be good news that changes our perspective.

I remember going to an important business meeting in London. I was part of a team who was giving a presentation to some prospective clients, in the hope of winning a large contract.

I remember driving down the M1 feeling rather anxious about this meeting. I didn't want to make a mess of my bit, and let the side down. I was going over in my mind the things that I had to say.

At the Watford Gap service station I phoned home. Jan, who was pregnant with Emily at the time, answered the phone and told me that she had gone into labour!

All of a sudden my anxiety about the meeting totally lifted! I phoned my boss and told him that he would have to go to the meeting instead of me. I then I drove back to Coventry.

Its all a matter of priorities!

And in our epistle Paul urges his readers to follow his example, and to stand firm in the Lord.

Let me ask you a rather pointed question. If your anxious about a situation, does that situation have a higher priority in your life than the coming of God's kingdom.

In the Lord's Prayer we pray that God's kingdom will come. We want the God to be 'king' in the lives of all people, ...we want our world to be the sort of place that God wants it to be.

In what ways is God calling you to seek first his kingdom?

(pause)

Anxiety is something that we are all prone to at times, (and it was the same in Jesus' day).

So whether you are anxious about a particular situation today, or not, it's worth remembering the words of Jesus.

"Put away anxious thought, ...your heavenly Father knows what you need.

Set your mind on God's kingdom and his justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well."

Amen.