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Worrying Is Hard Work There are times we worry. We worry about mistakes we have made, we worry about mistakes we are afraid of making. We can worry about what might happen and we can worry about what may never happen. Most of us know that worrying is counterproductive. Jesus made this point in Matthew 6.27, "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" We can worry all we want, but it will not change a thing. Jesus' point is obvious. If worrying does no good, i.e. won’t add one cubit to your height, then stop it! Interestingly, the word "worry" is used only 9 times in the Bible. All in the New Testament and in every instance it is preceded by the words "do not”. Matthew 6.25, we are not to worry about our life or what we eat or drink. Matthew 6.28, do not worry about your clothing. Matthew 6.31, Jesus restated to not worry about what we eat, or drink, or wear. Matthew 6.34, we are not to worry about tomorrow. Matthew10.9 and Mark 13.11, Jesus is telling His disciples to not worry about what they shall say when they are arrested and brought before men. Luke covers much the same ground in the two verses containing the word "worry." Another word closely identified with worry is anxiety. Many times we feel anxious and uneasy about what we are facing. Proverbs 12.25 says, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad." Nothing good comes from worry and its cousin anxiety. Yet we tend to worry from time to time. Just a few weeks ago I spent a miserable day worrying about something that I should not have been worrying about. Concern yes, worry no! As the day got near its end I realized how tiresome worrying is. You talk about hard work, worrying is ten times worse than physical fatigue. I can understand the worry of David as he spoke of the burden of sin in his life. "For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." (Psalm 38.4) Whether due to sin or not, worry creates a heavy burden on our heart. So what are we to do when we find ourselves worrying? First, trust in God. Jesus tells us that God knows our needs and concerns. "Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink? or 'What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentile seeks. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (Matthew 6.31-32). There is a story of two birds talking to each other. They are wondering why people worry so much. Their conclusion is because they must not have a God that watches over them as the birds do. As Jesus stated, "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?" (Matthew 6.26). Second, get your priorities right. The things we worry about are often not that important. My anxiety and worry was over a van whose motor quit working. It was almost as if a family member had passed away. Only it was not a family member and I had to remind myself of that fact. Have you ever worried over clothes, ballgames, your house, bills, etc. Most of us have, but what is our life really about? "Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing" (Matthew 6.25b). That little word "priorities" means understand what is and is not really important. Third, we need to count our blessings. Our blessings are so numerous we could not count them all if we tried. We should not take them for granted. We need to thank God for our blessings and ask Him to help us in our prayers. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" (Philippians 4.6). Most of us understand that worrying is not good for us, accomplishes nothing, and is counterproductive; but we do it anyway. Perhaps by asking God to help us we will not worry about worrying. Finally, if there is something that concerns us and we can do something about it; we should quit worrying and do what we can. If we are "worried" about our salvation then we need to do whatever it takes to be saved. From time to time someone has approached me with concern about their salvation due to their baptism. Perhaps they were young or felt peer pressure or did it to please someone and were now wondering if their baptism was scriptural. My response is to make it as sure as you can. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;" (2 Peter 1.10). If you are having family problems then do whatever the Bible says to make it right. Once the burdens of anxiety and worry are gone we can get to the job of actually solving our problems. -- Dennis Tucker
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