When you look at the culture around us, it seems that the worst is yet to come. In the last two years, we have experienced pandemics, rioting, social injustice, racism, scandals in the church, a refugee crisis, war, and inflation. In light of our current cultural climate, it can appear that the worst is yet to come. Apart from what is going on in the world, consider what is happening in your own life personally. When you look at your present circumstances, it can be easy to believe that the worst is yet to come. Anxiety can overwhelm us with the following questions: will I lose my job? Will I be able to pay my bills? How will my kids turn out? Will I pass this class? Will I have to sit all by myself in the cafeteria again once school begins? Will my spouse leave me? Will my spouse be faithful to me? Will I get a serious disease? Will my health decline? Will the friends and family I care about get an unfavorable diagnosis? What if they die? Questions like that can make us believe that the worst is yet to come. What is the solution? Our greedy world says, “The worst is yet to come. So make a lot of money, stay healthy, retire early, and eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Our worried heart says, “The worst is yet to come. My life is going nowhere. I feel stuck. God isn’t going to provide. He has forgotten about me. He isn’t in control. I might as well try to figure things out on my own.” But greed can destroy us. And worry gets us nowhere. Greed and worry are no solution because they remove God from the equation. In fact, apart from God, the worst is yet to come. However, for the Christian, the best is yet to come. That is the promise Jesus gives us in Luke 12:32: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” If you really knew how much your heavenly Father loves you, and what he’s given you in Christ, you would never be greedy, never worry, and be generous toward others.

Scripture References: Luke 12:13-34

From Series: "Glorious Disruption: A Study in the Gospel of Luke"