Do Not Worry About Your Life

“Do not worry about your life.”  Matthew 6:25

Initial Thought:
Do not worry…is that a joke?  I am sitting here thinking, Jesus, you are kidding right?  It is basically an innate human instinct to worry about something, anything, a lot of things, EVERYTHING!  Moreover, the second half of the verse makes it super specific: Do not worry (next to impossible) about your life (definitely impossible)! Clearly Jesus does not understand the day and age we are living in.  Clearly, He does not know the many obligations, responsibilities, and commitments that I have on my plate.

Upon Further Reflection:
Perhaps, Jesus Christ knows me all too well.  Perhaps, these words are given by Jesus to the crowds during His famous Sermon on the Mount because they were not just timely way back then, but because He knew that they would be ever so applicable to the here and now…for me and for you.  Could it be that the very reason why I worry so much about so much is because I have so much to do?!  Could it be that I (and you, perhaps human beings – especially Americans) have so overextended ourselves that our default setting is simply to worry?!  If this is true – which it appears to be, at least in my life, what a sad and purposeless way to live!

Let’s Dig Deeper:
Chris Tiegreen in his book At His Feet writes: How often do we view this verse as a commandment from on high?  It may not carry the force of a “Thou shalt not,” and it may not have the emphasis of a “Go into all the world,” but it is imperative nonetheless.  “Do not,” Jesus says, and Paul echoes this same command in Philippians 4:6: “Be anxious for nothing.”  These are our liberating orders.  We are told to do something we hate doing anyway.  Why?

Application:
Have you ever considered what your worrying says about your view of God?  When we stress and strain over a situation, are we affirming His providence and abundance?  Are we embracing His grace?  No, our anxiety reveals our mistrust of God’s sovereignty. Tiegreen calls it “an emotional slander of His [God's] character.”  I/We may justify our worry by observing all the tragedies around us or by believing that life today is so overbearing.  However, tragedies happened to Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, Mary, Jesus, and many others and yet God ordained them all for good!

Let’s Get Personal:

• Think about your life, your commitments, your responsibilities and obligations.  Are you satisfied with the life that you are living or do you need God to help you re-prioritize your life.  (I know I do!)
• What excesses do I/You/We need to cut out of the to do lists/the calendar in order to minimize busyness and maximize Godliness?
• Reflect on this before you close this blog or shrug your shoulders and say, “Yeah I hear you, but….Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows.  It empties today of its strength.” (Charles Spurgeon)