Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12:7 (emphasis added)

Our Father likes to give. It makes Him happy. He doesn’t like lack. The Lord is a God of abundance (Psalm 36:8), though we can move from under His outpouring (Deuteronomy 28:47). But Blessing isn’t greed and love of stuff is a negative thing. Life is more than what we eat and what we wear (Luke 12:23). Blessing is a meeting of need with such abundance you help other people and not feel any lack.

The Lord made us. He knew what we would need to carry out His purposes. The assignments and anointings that He has placed on us. He put all of that into the Earth so that she could vomit it out onto us. We need fear no lack. Anything we physically need is provided by the Earth that the Lord God made. That was the reason He made the Earth. Because of the curse we had to toil to get it. Then Jesus came. He shed His blood in the Garden of Gethsemane and broke the altar of toiling and sweating for sustenance (Luke 22:41-44). We still have to work, but it isn’t toil. Work is mental and physical effort for a desired result. Toil is working hard incessantly.

More than that, the Lord has promised to rebuke the devourer for our sake so that the fruit of our ground shall not be destroyed nor the vine of our ground (Malachi 3:11-12). That of course is tied to our generosity of spirit. Whether we tithe or not. If we are hoarders and hold onto our money, the Lord cannot rebuke the devourer for our sake. But if we are tithers, givers to the Lord of what we have because we are blessed, He will rebuke the devourer. Our work will produce and that produce will not wither and be destroyed. Not just our produce, but ourselves as well. We will be called blessed for we will be a delightful land. That means that we will be so highly pleasing in ourselves and in what is around us that others will comment on it. I like that idea.

Central to that idea is that we honour the Lord. Part of honouring the Lord (as I said) is giving of our tithes (that’s our first fruits in whatever form they take, but generally monetary because that’s the system we live in) and offerings (what we are led to give). Giving of them based on what we feel right about giving in fullness of joy and thanksgiving — God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) and would rather 2% is given with an open heart than 10% or 40% or 90% given grudgingly or out of any obligation. When given joyfully and prayerfully, there is a blessing on our tithes and offerings that cannot be denied.

In fact, Jesus promises that the blessings of the Lord will cover our needs and then some. In this same chapter He talks about the possessions that the world chases after (verses 29-30) and that our Father in heaven knows we need them. Shelter, clothing, food, protection from the elements. We need these things. But what is a need? A need is clothes. A need is not designer gowns. A need is food. A need is not a 5-star gourmet meal. God made us. He made how our bodies work. He knows what we need. We’re told to listen diligently to the Lord, eat what is good, and that we will have richness. And we’ll delight in that richness (Isaiah 55:2). Jesus teaches this same principle. Jesus exhorts us to seek the Kingdom of God, and then tells us that our needs will be added to us (verse 31). They will be met. Verse 33a tells us how they will be met: “Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy.” That is a lot of need-meeting if we can sell things and give gifts while not feeling lack. I like that too.

Why did he say to sell them? Or be prepared to sell them if God asks you to? There are a lot of possible answers, but I think the strongest one is that Jesus is telling us not to be attached to things. Love of things (covetousness) is idolatry. Desire not the things of the world, right (Romans 8:5, 1 Corinthians 7:32)? What should we desire instead? To give to others, to care for the widows and the fatherless. To love one another. To disciple people and care for the humans around us. To spread our blessings and to care – with humility and hospitality – all we come across. No, that isn’t easy for the human mind. But it is second nature to Jesus – maybe even first nature – and we are called to walk like Him. We’re called to do these works of love because that is what love does. It nurtures and cares. Knowing that the human mind is focused on value, rewards, and earnings, Jesus also tells us that these works do earn us things. Not worldly things – nothing against worldly earnings if you don’t let it hook you – but Kingdom things. “Purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys” (verse 33b).

Toils of love are treasures to be hoarded in heaven. With humility, for even Jesus was humble and always pointed at His Father. We should do the same. It is the Father’s will that we love one another, care for one another, and model His love. Unselfish, pure, and no-strings-attached love. The benefit of such Kingdom treasure is in verse 34: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Love is the language of Heaven. Strife is the language of Hell. There is no middle ground. You are serving one or you are serving another. These are facts. This is Truth. Choose love. Toil for the Kingdom and do it without fear, anxiety, worry, or any other negative emotion. Seek the Kingdom, walk in Jesus’ Way, and all these needs will be added to you. You will not feel lack. The Earth will give up her treasures. The Earth was created by God for us to provide our needs. God takes care of everything the Earth can’t in God’s service provide. We benefit from it when we seek the Will of God, bow before the Throne in worship, and seek to operate in His love through Christ Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18).

Sheep don’t have horns. They have no external system of defence. They are entirely reliant on the guidance and protection of the shepherd. When the shepherd isn’t there, they are vulnerable to predators and the elements. It is a dangerous thing to travel this world with your mind and brain leading the way. They are good tools and powerful and totally, absolutely inadequate. We NEED the Good Shepherd. Not the shepherd who presents themselves. Not the shepherd we find that sounds pretty good. We need THE Good Shepherd. Nothing else is protection. Nothing else is wisdom. Without those, this cold world will hurt us.

We are His flock. We are His children. And He seeks to give us a kingdom. Not a pasture. Not enough to get by. A kingdom. But because God is a spirit being, the kingdom promise of the Lord does not mean physical wealth and holdings. It doesn’t mean He WON’T give us earthly treasures. But it does mean that there is a spirit kingdom aspect that cannot be ignored. We are told more than once about our treasures in heaven. When we keep our eyes on this world, we lose focus on what is real. The spirit world is real. Heaven is real. Our true rewards will meet us when we stand at the Judgement Seat (2 Corinthians 5:10) to receive them for our real, actual, lasting, Jesus-based works (Matthew 16:27) and woe to those who have none (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). We are physical in our habitation, but we are spiritual beings and we cannot forget that. He never does.

God cares for the animal kingdom. The Father will care for His precious human creation much more (verse 24). Physically and spiritually. He wants us Blessed. He wants us to be the conduit where He can bless those who aren’t yet following Him as well as those fellow believers who we walk together with. Let God deliver your need in such truckloads that you’ll have problems finding people to share it with. That is the earthly treasure of the Kingdom. And the obedience in blessing those around us, in tithing on the abundance that is coming into our lives, that will build up the eternal heavenly treasure of the Kingdom. That is the kind of need filling our Father enjoys. The Lord God is merciful, mighty, and abundant in His Blessing. Receive it and spread it around today.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Malachi 4

The time is coming when those who do not honour the Lord will stand judgement. They will not receive reward but will weep because everything they thought they had will be burnt up like chaff. Nothing that isn’t founded on and built in Jesus will last. Nothing but the true works of Jesus will have value. But those who honour the Lord will enjoy healing and blessing. We will be vindicated by He who vindicates all His children. We belong to Yahweh of Armies. Never forget who you serve. A God of Love and Victory. A God of Righteousness and Wonder. A God of Mercy and Grace. A God who can achieve, and has achieved. A Living God who speaks to us. A Living God who calls us and equips us to succeed in what we are called to. Who enables us to work in Jesus, build in Jesus, and labour in Jesus so that each and everything we do has lasting value and eternal reward. God loves you more than you can fathom. He wants good things for His flock. Here and eternally. His Word shows again and again the lengths He goes for those who are in His Kingdom. The generosity, kindness, blessing, and joy that He showers on His children. Amen.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.