HomeWord - March 23, 2015

 Trust or Worry?

This devotional was written by Jim Burns

I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?  —Matthew 6:25

Did you know that some psychologists claim that 85 percent of what we worry about will never happen to us? They say there is absolutely nothing we can do about 10 percent of our worries, and that only the other 5 percent of our worries are legitimate. When you take a look at your worries in the light of these statistics, wouldn't you agree that most of your worrying is useless?

Worry is the opposite of trust and as a Christian you are called to put your trust in God's direction for your life. One of the greatest pieces of advice ever given to humankind is from the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 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. (Matthew 6:25-33)

The decision to trust God or to carry the worries of the world yourself is up to you. Either road you decide to take requires an action decision on your part. One road leads to fulfillment and peace, the other road leads to frustration and anxiety. By all means choose the road called trust! God's Word has never been proven wrong.

GOING DEEPER:

1. If Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 not to worry about basic needs like food, water, and clothing, what do you think He would suggest about the things you are worrying about right now?

2. Do you struggle with worry and anxiety? If you do, then make a conscious decision to place your trust and faith in the Creator of our universe, who sees beyond what our finite self can see.

FURTHER READING:

Luke 10:41; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7

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