What Me Worry?
Someone wrote, “Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.” People worry about things or events over which they have no control: the unexplained, the unexpected, the unreachable, the unavoidable, or the unknown. Jesus taught
His disciples to focus on eternal things and not the things of earth. Why? Eternal values eliminate anxiety. Christians are not to let small things cast big shadows. Matthew 6:25-34 presents four reasons not to worry. (a) Worry is needless—“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” v. 26 (b) Worry is futile—“Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” vv. 27-29 (c) Worry is faithless—“O you of little faith?” v. 30 (d) Worry is worldly—“The Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” vv. 31-32 Eternal values eliminate anxiety (worry). Another benefit is that eternal values determine our priorities. As a Christian, the top priority is pursuit of the Kingdom of God. Verse 33 exhorts, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Focusing on the world produces mental and emotional anxiety. Instead, concentrate on God’s Kingdom and righteousness, and let Him provide food and clothing. “If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:8) Believers can trust God for all things they need in this life. Notice verse 34—“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Tomorrow never comes; we often make decisions based on what we think will happen tomorrow. God promises to give wisdom and power for today’s stuff—borrowing trouble from tomorrow displeases God. It reveals a lack of faith.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
