Worry's Futile Work

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34.

I generally write my own devotionals in the morning with a reference or two from my commentary. This morning I will be sharing much of my commentary with a reference or two of my own thoughts. No need to try to reword something so beautifully worded. My commentary states: ‘In this passage Jesus strikes at the tendency to center our lives around food and clothing, thus missing life’s real meaning… Such worry about the future is sin because it denies the love, wisdom, and the power of God. It denies the love of God by implying that He doesn’t care for us. It denies His wisdom by implying that He doesn’t know what He is doing. And it denies His power by implying that He isn’t able to provide for our needs….this causes us to devote our finest energies to making sure we will have enough…therefore missing the central purpose for which we were made…We are here to love, worship, and serve Him and to represent His interests on earth. Our bodies are intended to be our servants, not our masters.’ Believers Bible Commentary, p. 1226.

When the word worry first appeared in Old English it meant, not to fret, but to strangle. This visual is so powerful for me as we all take a concern, consider it, pick at it and mentally tear it apart until we strangle the life out of it. Meanwhile, the days have passed and many times we have accomplished nothing more than strangling air…a ghost of what could have been but never was. Boy, can I relate to the quote of Mark Twain: ‘I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.' ~Mark Twain

We run after the things that are already ours in Christ. The way to claim what is already ours is to focus and pursue the things of God and our purpose in His kingdom. Our responsibility as believers is to live a life for God, trusting Him for our future with unshakable confidence in His provisions. We are clearly called by Jesus Christ to live one day at a time. If we are going to strangle anything, let it be worry itself for it has no lasting substance.

We must live our lives with a today confidence in God instead of a tomorrow fear.