Walk Instead of Worry
I remember reading a quote years ago that said: “Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it will get you nowhere”. I have my own secret way of worrying. I actually use a different word. Instead of saying I’m worried about something, I use the word “concerned”. The concept is still the same. I find myself worrying about things that I have zero control over. I can do nothing about the weather. I can do nothing about what people in other parts of the world choose to do. I can do nothing about my past. I can really only control my response to the past while living in the present and planning for a future – which I have little control over as well. When the dust clears, worry does NOTHING to help me, instead it actually harms my heart deep within.
Jesus spoke clearly in His teaching about worry and what a waste of time and energy. He goes a bit deeper inside it and calls out the source of our worry – money. Check this out…
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:24-27,31-34 NLT)
I came away after reading that this morning thinking that I simply need to keep walking with the Lord and not worrying about anything. I think about money every day – how much I have; or how much this will cost; I don’t think I could ever have too much. I need to care less about what others think of me and care more about how I’m walking with the Lord. I need to care less about my past and how things used to be and embrace what my future looks like with the Lord in charge. I need to quit worrying and start walking in step with the Lord. He created me. He created this world. He owns everything and I’m simply His manager. I will get a lot more done for Him and His work, if I stop being so self-absorbed in worry.
Pressing On!
Dwayne