A Christian’s approach to life situations part 2

Worry

 

There are 2 different ways this word worry is used in the Bible.

1. to be apprehensive, have anxiety, be anxious, be (unduly) concerned 

2. to attend to, care for, be concerned about 


So, there is good and bad side to this word. First, let’s take look at the good.

 

1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

 

We should be concerned for one another and love one another.

 

Philippians 2:20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

 

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

 

We should always be concerned about how we are living our life for God.

 

The bad kind of worrying is when a person becomes so overwhelmed with worry that it cause them to be distracted from what they should be doing. This is why the Bible tells us

 

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing..

 

My Grandma was the worlds worst when it came to worrying…

 

Dangers of worry

 

Mark 4:18 "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,  19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

 

One thing that is high on list in America is worrying about money. This has caused all kind of problems. Notice what Paul says about this.

 

1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

Not only does the worry of money distract us others things do as well.

 

Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."  41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

 

If we allow worry to consume us it can make us be unprepared for the judgment day.

 

Luke 21:34 "But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.  35 For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth.

 

I could list all kinds of things that we worry about, but it is the source of worries?

 

Matthew 6:30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

 

When we worry it’s because we have a lack of faith in God and his providential care.

 

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

 

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

 

How do we deal with worry?

 

We need to hand our worries over to God in prayer and trust that He will take care of it.

 

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

 

1 Peter 5:6  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,  7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

 

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Paul gives us some more good advice for overcoming worry.

 

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Finally, Jesus gives us some great insight on how deal with worry.

 

Matthew 6:25 " Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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? Jesus is saying that you your life and you body is more important than food or clothing and God will take care of us so don’t worry.

 

Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? We are more valuable than a bird every hair on our head is numbered.

 

Matthew 6:27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? When did worrying about anything change the situation.

 

Matthew 6:28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;  29 "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Show how much God cares for us.

 

Matthew 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What s      hall we wear?'  32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. If we seek God first all these things will be provided for us, so that is our solution for handling worry.

 

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Deal with today’s problems not yesterdays or tomorrow.