Christ Lutheran Church: Welcome

Happy New Year?! - December 28, 2008

Happy New Year?!

Luke 12:22-31

December 28, 2008

Rev. Dave R. Garwick

Then Jesus said to His disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

Now I know that this is a very familiar passage to many of us. But this particular passage needs to be read on this particular day because this is the Sunday we prepare for New Years. This is the Sunday that we prepare for the new year of 2009.

This particular new year will begin as one of the saddest new years in memory for many Americans. Most of the experts tell us that these are the toughest economic times since the Great Depression. As if to prove it, our own little congregation is filling up with those who have closed businesses, those who have lost jobs, those who have lost retirements, those who are being dragged under by houses they cannot sell, homes they have lost to foreclosure.

New Year’s is typically the day of optimism where no matter how rough the past year has been, everyone hopes for a NEW year that will put an end to the hard times in our lives and usher in better times. But this time, all indications are that these hard times are probably going to get much worse and take years and years to recover.

The apostle Paul said that followers of Christ do not need to grieve as do those who have no hope - 
1 Thessalonians 4:13 

Not even the financial experts can offer much hope for a situation that they admit they cannot begin to understand. Ask five economists and get eleven theories, ten of them gloom and doom. I myself am certainly in no position to offer any hope based on economics. I do not have a clue how or when things are going to settle down. I have no ability to even guess who among us is going to get hurt how badly.

All I do know is that God came in person to promise that He will take care of us. I don’t how. All I know is whom. I know this much about God: He is faithful. He has pulled His people through much tougher times than these more times than we will ever know.

I do not celebrate the New Year itself as though the minute hand has a magic that will change the course of time when it passes from 11:59PM to midnight on December 31st. If you are looking for something to change the course of your destiny from one minute to some other minute, how about marking the rest of the future from the moment you start placing your hope in Jesus Christ and not the market? In that minute, I guarantee you, things will change.

What a gift God will give us when He allows economic chaos to drive us to the true source of hope.

For in God’s Holy Word we are promised that, no trial has seized us except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let us be tested beyond what we can bear. And when we are tested, He will also provide a way out so that we can stand up under it, 1 Corinthians 10:13

I cannot promise you anything this year except GOD’s promises. I cannot offer you a happy new year. But I can offer you a blessed new year.