Worry, worry, worry. It seems its all we do some times. The drug companies have made a fortune off worrying as Americans down Xanax and other pills by the ton every year. Well, there is a cheaper and yes, better way to handle worry. The late Dr. Frank Pollard preached "don't worry about it." That's right, turn those problems over, quit worrying about them, and enjoy life as it was meant to be enjoyed. Speaking of joy, enjoy the 1997 sermon posted below.
Scripture: Matthew 6: 25-34
(NIV) “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 than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(KJV) 25 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. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
5 comments:
Prayer is fine, and I support that, but simply 'turn it over to the Lord in prayer' is nonsense. God gave man the mental ability to recognize problems, determine their causation and set (and engage in) a plan to counter the problems. I'm not sure Reverend Pollard would agree.
Normal aches and pains of living have been "medicalized" and therefore monetized. We've normalized being sick rather than being strong, and always ready to go. "Mental illness" has been celebrated as almost a status thing. Time to get back to Faith, and reason.
Psalms 55:22 says that we should 'cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you.' Scripture also emphasizes the importance of not relying on yourself, but God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says 'trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.'
4:42 PM, I don’t agree that “simply 'turn it over to the Lord in prayer' is nonsense,” since in some cases, it’s all we can do.
However, the parable of the drowning man (also known as Two Boats and a Helicopter) is an absolute must lesson IMHO; since too often we just will not listen to the answers we receive to our prayers. We’re too focused on getting what we want, instead of what we really need.
“Be careful what you wish for” may be a cliché, but it’s as true today as ever.
@ 10:43pm - I too can cherry pick from the Old Testament to support (or rebuke) any ridiculous position. Since you’re such a devout Christian, let’s go with Leviticus 24:16 - Anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.
I imagine you’ve taken the Lord’s name in vain once or twice in your life. It’s time for you to accept your just punishment.
That said, I’m with 4:42pm - God gave us brains for us to use them, not to “let Jesus take the wheel” when I’m too lazy or stupid to think about something. Everything is God’s will (or a conspiracy) when you are too lazy or ignorant to use your brain to think, read, and figure out how things work.
Post a Comment