THE PROBLEM OF WORRY
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life... Matthew 6:25
A few years ago, I noticed a lump on my forearm. It was small and not very noticeable. I did not give it much thought… but then it began to grow. My wife, Debbie, told me I needed to get it checked out. As I was making the doctor’s appointment, my mind began to race with worry, “What if this is serious? What if this is cancer? O God, I don’t want to die and leave behind my wife and three little girls!” As it turned out, the lump was just fatty tissue. I was already planning my funeral over something that was really nothing!
Let’s face it; many of us have a problem with worry. We so often see the circumstances of life through a lens of worry and fear. Anxious, fearful thoughts fill our minds: “I am going to lose my job… my children are going to get hurt… my marriage is going to crater… I will not be able to make it financially… my goose is cooked!!!” Have you ever had those kinds of worried thoughts? Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life.”
WHY IS WORRY SO BAD
Worry is so bad because it is wasteful. Worry does not solve problems… it does not dry tears… it does not draw us closer to God. It is a total waste of time and energy.
Worry is so bad because it is harmful. Worry will sap your strength and debilitate your body. It can easily produce ulcers, insomnia, colitis and a host of other problems. It is the equivalent of putting sand in your car’s gas tank. It gums up the works.
Worry is bad because it is sinful. Worry is the opposite of faith – “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). Worry tells God you do not trust Him, and you do not think He is not able to take care of you and meet your needs.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Did you know there is a simple answer to worry? You can start today living a life free of debilitating worry IF you will transfer ownership of your possessions over to God.
You see, we worry about things we possess: our kids, our spouse, our job, our marriage, our finances, our health, our whatever. We NEVER worry about other people’s things. Who is worried over Anna Nicole Smith’s fortune? Not me… and not you, because it is not ours.
THE COMPANY CAR
When I was a salesman for Nalco Chemical Company, I was given a company car. Nalco owned it, and they let me use it. Whenever I took the car in for routine maintenance, if there was a problem found that would cost a few hundred dollars to fix, I didn’t care. It wasn’t my car. It wasn’t my money that had to pay for it. My attitude was whatever the cost, just fix it. I had no worries with that car because it did not belong to me. I just took care of it with the company’s money.
My friend, God is the Company. Everything in your life is nothing more than a company car. You do not own it… He does. Your children, your job, your finances, your spouse, your home, your health, your future… it all belongs to Him. He gives it to us to use and enjoy, but never to own. That is why when you die, you leave it all behind because it does not really belong to you anyway.
START TODAY
Are you worried today? Are you anxious and bothered about a situation? Are you afraid the worst will happen? Transfer ownership of all you have to God. Treat it all as a company car. Thank God for it, enjoy it, use it wisely and carefully, but never assume ownership of it. Remind yourself daily that it all belongs to Him – "The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains" (Psalm 24:1) – so trust Him with it. You will be amazed at the joy and peace that will come to your heart as a result! No Worries!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
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