WATCHWORD:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34
Meditation:
Worry Worts
Corrie ten Boom, in her book Clippings from My Notebook, make this wise statement: “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.”
Worry. We worry, despite our Lord telling us “do not worry”, we just go right on worrying. Or do we? We could argue that some worry is not worry. Right? We look both ways, twice, before driving through an intersection. We use caution on stairs. Some of us check the ‘Use by date’ on foods, just to be safe. Is all that evidence of worry? No, we say, we are being cautious.
In this age of uncertainty, we take great care to keep ourselves safe and healthy. We make choices, sometimes contrary to those recommended by the scientists who know better. Are we being foolhardy in ignoring the best thinking of those who know more than we?
Is there a difference between worry and prudence, wisdom, common sense, taking care? Yes. We, who are vulnerable due to age, lung and/or heart disease, or other infirmities, work to keep ourselves safe and avoid risk. That is smart. Or does pride, and maybe political influence, becomes the decider, trumping concern for others?
We know that pride has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. Other voices may sometimes bring people together: you may find good fellowship, friendliness and a good laugh, where adult beverages flow freely. But pride always means separation and enmity.
Wait! How did we get on to pride, and what does that have to do with worry?
Well, the root of all worry, fretting, anxiety lies in the belief that what happens is ultimately in our hands. We are in charge! If you think that what happens is ultimately in your hands, that’s pride.
The proud person feels that only he or she can make things happen. But the truth is, quoting Jesus, Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life. What happens, finally, is in the hands of God.
Be honest, do you worry a lot, have bouts of anxiety? If we want to deal with our worries, the place to begin, is to deal with our pride. Humility frees us of worry. Wait a minute! There’s another idea, humility. Think of it this way: Pride says, what happens is up to me, and that only creates more anxiety, worry. Humility says, “Lord, everything that concerns me is in Your hands.” That is the beginning of peace.
Remember, Corrie’s words, worry empties today of its strength.
When you worry, God says, “You’re my child. Why are you acting like an orphan?” So, when Jesus tells us “Do not worry”, He’s saying, ‘trust Me’. Trust me with your life, your loved ones, everything, for I am worthy. Amen.
Prayer:
“Dear Father, I admit that I often forget that You are with me. I often forget what You are like. Would You please forgive me? I need to get to know You better. I need to get to know Your Word and Your promises better. Help me to put You first in every area of my life. Help me to live one day at a time. Help me to not worry about tomorrow but instead focus on what You are doing in my life right now. I want to trust in Your promise to take care of every one of my needs — financial, relational, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional. Help me to trust You more and worry less. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
