Worry

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25).

 

A number of years ago I listened as Pastor E.V. Hill spoke on the problem of substance abuse. He listed a number of statistics regarding addictions to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, etc. They were alarming. But the most alarming statistic he spoke about was how many people, including Christians, were hooked on Valium, Xanax, and related drugs. These drugs are prescribed as anti-anxiety medications, which means many Christians are not dealing well with anxiety. I have mentioned my maternal grandmother from time to time, stating that she worried about everything - and when she had nothing to worry about, she worried about that!

 

“. . . Care or anxiety distracts and divides” (A.T. Robertson), it tears down and destroys hope; ‘what can be’ is ruined by ‘what might be’. (Luke 10:40-42) But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

 

Christians must give thought and make plans for the future. Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8), but they are not to worry about it. 

 

To counter the natural tendency to be anxious about tomorrow, Jesus said to take care of things today and leave tomorrow to God. This is not permission to be reckless with our tomorrows, should we have tomorrows. It is, however, a command to 

     • be compassionate toward others 6:1-4), 

     • stay in constant fellowship with God in prayer (6:5-13), 

     • be forgiving of one another (6:14-15), 

     • stay focused on the Kingdom of God and its work (6:16-18), 

     • be a faithful steward of all that God gives you (6:19-21), and 

     • honor Jesus Christ as your only true Lord (6:22-24). 

We do these things and God will see to it we are taken care of according to His plan and purpose.

 

“Father, it is not easy to keep from worrying about things. I know worry is a lack of faith in You, so continue to train my heart to trust in You more and more each day, to listen to and follow the leadership of Your Holy Spirit moment by moment, to find courage knowing Jesus Christ is with me throughout my life, as He promised He would be. Amen.”

 

Pastor