What many in our world fear most is the fear of missing out.  It is so relevant and predominant in our culture that we have relegated this condition with mere initials—FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out.  I am wondering this morning, what is it that I fear most?  What do we, as believers and not yet believers in God, fear we are missing?  Jesus tells his followers (and us) what we should be fearing most is missing out on God’s best because of our incessant desire to be seen, heard, and served.

We are stingy with our love for others because we want others to love us first.  We love only the people who will do good to us and make us feel important.  Anxiety sets in over not being seen and heard by those we admire.  We are worried to the point of over obsessing with how we look to others.  Our first thought is self so everything is measured by how fair the world is to us.  The health of our inner lives is of little to no concern as we fuss about what is on the outside to look good and call attention to ourselves to others.  It’s more work on our part to be who we think we ought to be!

This worldview condition plagues all of us still today.  Our fear of missing out is fully realized when God is not first in our lives.  Jesus knows this fear that leads to the sickness of heart, mind, and soul that is prevalent in all of us.  Jesus teaches believers that God, our Creator, knows all and is in all, knows our names and how many hairs are on our head.  Jesus teaches that God is all we need.  It is God’s desire to restore our inner being to full health.  When our inner being is healthy, we grow in His grace, generosity, and genuine love for God and for others.  With God leading, nothing of real value is missed!

Luke 12, The Message

Steep Yourself in God-Reality

^22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

^25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

^29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

^33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We will never outgive the One who provides ALL we need.  We must remember where the creation of giving began—with our God who created and loved us first before we even knew Him.  While we were sinners, God gave his Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that we can reconnect with God, the Father who so loved us.  With sins gone, new life begins!  Life with God is lived in the rhythm of His grace in harmony with His Holy Spirit—what a gift!  No matter the circumstances of this life, we have an all-powerful God who loves to give and longs to help us through it all!

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving.” –Jesus

Don’t miss out on God’s best because of the fear of missing out on what this world wants to take from us!  Seek God first.  God’s Holy Spirit in us had the power to drive out all our fears with His love.  God renews our thinking minds and fills our inner being.  God, through Jesus, transforms us inwardly to think outwardly.  To others we become gracious, generous, and genuine—missing out on nothing but God’s best in exchange for our souls fully and completely committed to Him.

“In the beginning” …we were made in the image of God so giving is in our DNA!  Yes, we will never outgive God who gave us creation to enjoy along with a relationship of relentless love and life forever because of Jesus; but we can become like Him in our giving as He grows His character of graciousness, generosity, with a genuine desire to give from this love.

Lord,

You gave us Jesus.  We give you our hearts, minds, and souls. Cleanse our hearts, remove all that offends you and hinders our growth, renew our minds, transform our thinking, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation within us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen