Priority Storage

Jesus told a parable about a rich farmer, who had a huge harvest, so big that he decided he would just have to build bigger barns. As he set that plan in motion, he reflected on his day as he prepared for sleep and found comfort in knowing that he had ample goods stored for many years. It was time to relax, eat, drink and be merry. That night, he died. Jesus concluded, “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

We all face storage challenges. In the US, every year, the annual revenue of the storage industry is 39.5 Billion dollars. Our problem, though is not that we seem to be unable to sell or give away our things when we are done with them. Our storage unit woes are a symptom of a larger problem.

Jesus says, “You cannot serve two masters.” You cannot serve mammon – we tend to translate this Aramaic word as “wealth” but really it means “stuff” – and God.” You are always storing something – will it be material or spiritual?

What are you storing? Jesus isn’t suggesting that we shouldn’t live full and enjoyable lives. He is pointing out that we have a tendency to prioritize stuff that can be stolen, that can be lost, that can rot, that can rust, that can be eaten by moths and termites…We have a tendency to collect and hold onto stuff like we are stranded at sea and it’s a life raft, and our stuff cannot protect us. And ultimately, we can’t protect it, either. (AJ Levine)

Stuff will never bring us abundant life. Instead, it can drown us as we worry about how to hold onto it and grab more. It’s not our stuff that has priority storage, though. That’s just a symptom. We give priority storage to worry. Jesus said, “Let me tell you: don’t worry about your life – what to eat, what to drink. Don’t worry about your body – what to wear. There’s more to life!”

Jesus is not saying that we should have no concern for what we are going to eat or drink or wear – he is saying look at nature – animals collect and store food for winter, birds collect and build nests, plants put down roots, flowers turn toward the sun – animals and plants prepare and set themselves up for flourishing, but they don’t worry.

Worry is a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. And when we worry we give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.

Worry is like fear on repeat. Fear is a response to something that happens. Fear is (ACK and jump!) If you are afraid of spiders, and you are in the garage putting on your shoe and a spider crawls out just as you are about to put your foot in – what might happen? You might scream, throw the shoe, stomp the spider with the shoe on the other foot or run into the house. Fear triggers our fight or flight response. Will I kill the spider or run from it? Worry is different. Worry is (chew nails). Worry makes me check my shoes every time I put them on…even if they’ve been in my closet. It makes me shake them out and use a duster to make sure there’s not one holding on under the shoe’s tongue.

Worry grows and keeps me from being able to slip on my house shoes as I get out of bed in the morning without turning on the light and checking to be sure there’s no spider. Worry eventually has me lying in bed imagining all the possible places a spider could be hiding, wondering if I need to check my covers one more time.

Worry will rob you of abundant life, and it is pointless. Jesus’ teaching on worry is practical, “Can any of you add 15 inches to your height just by worrying about it?” Worry accomplishes nothing, and worry cannot change the future. Jesus says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow can worry about itself. One day’s trouble at a time is quite enough.”

So, how do we stop worrying? Worry is a biproduct of placing our faith in ourselves – believing we have to be self-sufficient – rather than placing our faith in God.

We overcome worry by shifting our perspective and focusing on who we are and whose we are.

Look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field – as much as God loves them, you are God’s delight. How much MORE will God take care of you? Consider the words of Psalm 139.
The Psalmist has realized that no matter what direction he goes, wherever, whenever, God is there. There is no place we can be that God is not. God knit us together in our mother’s womb, knows everything about us. And finally, the Psalmist relents, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

There is no place to hide. There is nothing you can hide from God. Will you let God search through what you are storing and let God help you clean out your hearts, your anxious thoughts, your offensive way, and lead you in the way of abundant life?

Memorized Scripture is priority storage. When I was going through cancer treatments, as I felt my chest tighten and I couldn’t take a deep, cleansing breath, the words of Psalm 121 reminded me to notice where I was looking – “I lift my eyes to the hills –“ was I looking to something earthly to save me? The question quickly followed in my thoughts, “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber or sleep. The Lord watches over you. The Lord will keep you from all harm – will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” It wasn’t a promise that I would live. It was a promise that my life was in God’s hands. And that I had nothing to fear in life or in death.

Sometimes, it is a hymn that brings peace. Or singing part of a psalm – Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know, that I am God; be still and know that I am God.” Pausing to notice my breath, to be thankful for the breath of life. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.” Sometimes, a walk – noticing nature.

Jesus’ teaching about worry is practical – worry doesn’t change anything. It is perspective shifting – trust God, not yourself. And it is priority changing.

Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Prioritize storing up living in alignment with God’s will: caring for others, seeking peace, doing what is right, living in relationship with God and with others as God intends…and you will experience abundant life….and you’ll find that having something to eat, and to drink and to wear take care of themselves.