Worry.
The good Word says who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life. I know lots of people who worry about a lot of stuff. Me included! We worry about money, status, job, the future, security, appearance, what others think, the list could go on and on. One of the biggest problems plaguing society and the church today is worry.
Is worry a sin? Technically it's not how God created us, but it so much deeper. We worry because we have a pride issue and we have pride because we want to be god. Worry, like most sins, is a deep rooted idol issue. I worry about money because I don't trust God deep enough to know that he will provide (look at the grass in the field and birds in the air!), and I don't trust God enough because I haven't spent enough time knowing Him. My faith is poor because I haven't worked out my salvation with God on a daily basis. The reason that this happens, ultimately, is because I think I can handle God things. Was I there when God created the world? Will I be here in 100 years? Why do I think I can control the future (which is ultimately is what worry is)? Did I create a person? Am I with that person every day? Then why do I worry about they think (and think I can change that)?
God is God. You and I are not. Let's all get this through our heads. We make terrible gods. Other people make terrible gods. Money makes a terrible god. Fame, fortune, happiness, liberty, heck, even the Bible makes a terrible god if we only stop at head knowledge and become fat, bloated Christians!
When you find yourself worrying about something (and it will probably happen today), stop and ask, "Can I control this situation or do I need to lean and rely upon God here?"
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Do not worry but place your faith (confidence in things unseen) in the God is all and in all.
John 8:32 ...you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
ReplyDeleteI have found that most of my worries are from NOT knowing what the situation really is. If you are "worried" about something, seek the truth and be worry free!
PapPap
True, pops, but ultimately, we have to realize that there is nothing we can do about the situation. Even saying knowing can relieve us of our worry can be dangerous because it puts us as the problem solver and not God.
ReplyDeleteGod is the giver of knowledge and certainly uses truth and knowledge to relieve us, but that only comes because God chooses to use it.
Certainly, this scripture is accurate and true and it applies here. But it is also about so much more than worry. It is about the Pharissitical law not being able to save but rather to enslave. They didn't realize that they needed to be set free because they had sought control rather than truth. When we worry, we seek to control the situation rather than seeking the truth of who God is and what he has done!
Love ya dad!