Worry: What does the Bible say about it?
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Searching the Scriptures
David A. Bass, Rockford Church of Christ
Almost everyone is affected to some degree by worry. Some are anxious about money (or a lack of it); others over their job; some worry about their family. Perhaps many are anxious about their health, death, or old age.
We need to realize that worry effects our health (mentally and physically) and our happiness. The word “worry” comes from a middle English word which means “to strangle.”
Some people cannot sleep. Others develop high blood pressure, while others have no appetite or have stomach problems – all resulting from worry.
Worry causes many people to be impatient, touchy, or downright irritable. Basically, there is not one good thing that may be said concerning “worry!”
Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.” (Matthew 6:25). The expression “take no thought” simply means “do not be anxious; do not worry.”
We read in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” The very same thought is expressed here. We should not be anxious or worry.
Jesus teaching in Matthew 6:25-33 is that God is the One who gives life and that if we will put Him and the kingdom (church) first, He will provide our food, clothing and shelter. God has promised that He will provide, if we will only ask.
Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:7-11)
Worry is such a waste of time! Worry has never solved a problem, paid a bill, added a year to one’s life, improved one’s health, eliminated a difficulty, or ever accomplished anything! There are simply some things in life which we cannot change or help.
Some have said, “What cannot be cured, must be endured.” We need to learn to accept what we cannot change.
Even those things in life which we can change will not be changed by worrying about them. Instead, we should get busy and do all that is in our power to change them.
Far too often, we worry about things that are in the future (we cross too many bridges before we reach them). Many of the things which we worry about never come to pass anyway.
What is the cure for worry? First of all, we must learn to live “one day at a time.” It does no good to worry about the past because we cannot change it anymore than worrying about the future will change it.
Like Paul, we must forget the past (Philippians 3:13-14) and look to the future. Jesus said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matthew 6:34).
Most importantly, put your trust in God the Father and have faith in Him. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalms 55:22).
We should unload our worries upon God in prayer each day. Remember Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Worry is a waste of time, and we need to work on eliminating it from our lives.
The Church of Christ assembles each Sunday at 9:00 for Bible study and 10:00 for worship. We are located near Dollar General. May I encourage you to continue to “search the Scriptures!”
