March 12, 2015

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on.” Matthew 6:25

“It is impossible for us to solve the riddles of life. Neither can we attain by a perspicacious solution of all the problems of the universe the proof that the reins of government are in the hands of G*d, who guides all things well; nor have we in our religious faith the means of solving these problems. The will of G*d suffers no question. But we can win the strength to bear the burden of these mysteries, if we do not allow ourselves to be mastered by tormenting fears about the material side of life, but rather seek with all our hearts and minds the kingdom of G*d…” Rudolf Bultmann (1884 – 1976) “For All The Saints” volume I

Fear. Anxiety. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of failing? Are you afraid of flying? Are you afraid of spiders, the dark, snakes, hearses, or being alone? There are many things that can make us anxious or afraid. When I was younger, I used to be afraid to walk into hospitals. Everytime I entered a hospital to visit a family member or friend, by throat would tighten, my heart would race, and I would break out into a sweat. Today, I spend some weeks going to the hospital every day. My fear subsided once I recognized that my fears were something I needed to face – and with G*d’s help, and time, the fear went away.

The text from Matthew is dealing with a different kind of fear – the fear of material things – or better said, a lack of material things. There are a lot of people who lack in our society and in our world. And these people lack material necessities for a variety of reasons, reasons like a lack of money, the lack of available resources, greed, hoarding, etc. In my devotion for February 11, I spoke about the programs in our community that look to gather up the leftovers around our communities and distribute them to people who lack. But there are two problems as I see it: first, these programs continually are running low of needed supplies; and second, it does nothing to help people deal emotionally with the endless cycle of fear and need. It is one thing to be without – it is another to be without and trust that G*d will provide. I have found in my life that of all of the worrying and concern about running out, or not having enough, G*d has always provided – the worrying has done me no good. “Do not be anxious about your life.” This is easier said than done – but so goes the way of the cross.

Pastor Dave