WHAT!! ME WORRY?

   What God’s Word says about worry.”                                           12.20.12

                                       (Matthew 6: 19-20, 25-34)

                 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? 
           or what shall we drink?  or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
               (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)  for your
            heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things
             But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness;
                         and all these things shall be added unto you.
              Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow
              shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the
                                     day is the evil thereof.   vs. 31-34, kjv

         It  has  been said,  "Most of  the  things we worry about  never 
happen."  Our worry has to do with self-concerns,  not concern for 
others.  Since worry  is an unproductive and debilitating habit into

which one may fall,  we should see what the Bible says about it.  In 
the 6th chapter of Matthew there is  a list of things about which we 
should  not concern ourselves.  We are then  given  the reasons we 
are not  to worry about  them nor anything else.  It  is evident  from  
Scripture.  The word of  God holds  worry to be baseless,  accompli-
shing nothing.  Worry shows us to be earthbound, and  overly con-
cerned with creature comforts;  therefore we fail to focus on weigh-
tier  matters in  the Kingdom of  God.  About what then,  should we 
not  worry?   We are taught not to worry about  our  food,  clothing, 
nor tomorrow.  

       We are then informed about  what we should concern ourselves.  
    Our priority is to  get into the Word of God, centering life on Jesus 

    Christ.  Empowered  by His Holy Spirit, for the glory of the Father, 
    brings about cleansing and  healing enabling us to  reach, disciple,
    teach others. (Titus 3: 5,  "Not by works of righteousness which we
    have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing
    of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.") 

          We are to be concerned with the Kingdom of  God and must 

     direct our energies into promoting His kingdom on the earth by
     communicating the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to others. 
     We  are to arm  them for  the conflict of  good vs. evil.   In Mat-
     thew 6:33, we find the reason  not to worry.   Here we see God
     already knows our necessities and  will meet  these as we  focus 
     on His kingdom and His righteousness.   Our faith is demonstra-
     ted  in this way.  

          There is at least one more reason not to worry.  In verse 27,
     we see; by worry or thought, we are unable to change anything.   
     In  Proverbs 3:5-10 we find   God to be sovereign,   creator and
     the  prime mover of  the universe.  Everything  is in  His hands. 
    It is up to us to acknowledge fact and to never trust in self.  

     In Romans 12: 1-2: 
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you 
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which 
is  your  reasonable service.  And do not  be conformed to this world, 
but  be  transformed  by the  renewing of  your  mind,  that  you  may 
prove  what is that  good and acceptable and  perfect will of God.”  
This, my friend must be the cure for worry.  

     In conclusion, I  must admit  this is a concern  remaining  for me to 
conquer.  Having written this  down as  a thing  already accomplished, 
under goals,  it  is still an aspiration rather than an achievement.  So I
must go  back to a basic  premise of the life of a Child of  God.  God is
is working on and in me to conform me to the image of my Lord, Jesus 
Christ.  My part is to submit to this endeavor and through diligent and 
thoughtful study of God’s Word and prayer,  make myself available to 
Him  for whatever He may  have in  mind for me.  If I have undue con-
cern for myself, I can be of no value in the Kingdom of God.  It may be
that  concern about  self interest is  the primary cause for stress in my 
life.  If  I were to  imitate our Lord and focus on others; not self, I will 
have less worry and stress in life and become more like him.     

     “Lord, may I keep my eyes upon  you with eternity as  the  focus of 
my living.  Keep  me from worry, selfish  ambition, envy and pride that 
I may serve you,  living life in the promotion of your kingdom,  seeking 
your righteousness  and serving  people you  choose to  put in my path.  
                    All power, glory and honor be to you and your 
                      blessed Son, Jesus Christ,  forever, Amen."

                 (It seems these issues multiply this time of year?)
                               "Glory to God in the highest, and
               on earth peace,  good will toward men."  Luke 2: 14

                                                                                      12.20.12 donporter