No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 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? (Matthew 6:24-25)

Worry

When we worry, we literally divide our minds. The word worry comes from a combination of two words: divide and mind. John E. Haggai writes, “Worry divides the feelings; therefore, emotions lack stability. Worry divides the understanding; therefore, convictions are shallow and changeable. Worry divides the faculty of perception; therefore, observations are faulty and even false. Worry divides the faculty of judgment; therefore, attitudes and decisions are often unjust and lead to damage and grief. Worry divides the determinative faculty; therefore, plans and purposes, if not scrapped altogether, are not filled with persistence.”

A core teaching of Jesus is that those who follow Him should not be consumed with the worries and anxieties of life. That is not an easy task for someone to embrace. The tendency to worry is natural, but excessive concern damages the soul. Jesus taught the Father took care of the birds of the air. When the birds were created, they were not given ‘worry lines’ because they knew who would care for them. People use their ‘worry lines’ too often because they are fearful of who will care for them.

While God promised to feed the birds, He did not promise to bring the food to them. God does not want His children to be consumed with worry. Jesus said not to worry about food and clothing. He was saying not to overwhelm the spirit with a consuming fear and anxiety to provide the necessities of life. The child of God is content with what he has, so he will not worry about those things that divide his spirit. The Lord will provide as needed when the heart is trusting in the care of the Father.

Worrying is not trusting in God. The problem with worry is that it loves God but does not trust He knows what He is doing. If God can create the world, how can he not care for the needs of His creation? Having concern is a motivation that can be used to make sure care is taken for life, but it should never be allowed to be the all-consuming nature of life. Jesus reminded His disciples that worrying will not get anything done, and it will not add one moment of life. If anything, worry robs the precious time allotted to man.

Seeking first the kingdom of God is the answer to worry. This means that when the heart is willing to let the rule of God be first place in life, worry will be dispelled. Jesus never worried because He knew the Father would care for Him. How could Jesus face the cross if He did not fully believe God would care for Him? Courage to trust in God will take away the feelings of worry. Don’t worry. Let God work His glory in your life to see more clearly His providence and care for you. The Bible has answers to the challenge of worry, fear, and doubt. Trust in the Lord with all your might.