Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (Matthew 6:27 NLT)
“Worry is a warning light on the dashboard of your soul.”
-(Megan Fate Marshman (Live at The Garden Church, Huntington Beach 03-16-25)
Worry is a Self-indulgent emotion
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that what we do reflects what we think—what we treasure. What if we began recognizing worry as nothing more than a self-indulgent emotion that laments our lack of control? Maybe even an emotion that prevents us from “guarding our hearts” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)? Perhaps even something that exposes our true treasure(s)?
It’s clear that worrying adds nothing to our lives. In this section of the Sermon (Matthew 6:25-34 NLT), Jesus tells us four times not to worry. I always saw this as a little command to help me “be better, healthier emotionally.” That isn’t what Jesus meant. I completely missed the point.
The admonition not to worry is more of an encouragement to recognize the depth of Jesus’ love and care for me. That’s why He draws contrasts between flowers, birds, and humans. If He loves, cares for, feeds, and nurtures those things that have no other purpose than beauty . . . How much more must He love us, made in His Own image? If that’s true, then how can we worry about anything?
This is a remarkable invitation to abandon ourselves to the One who knows what we need and Who has promised to meet those needs. The beauty of the invitation is that He doesn’t demand perfection from us. He simply asks us to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT).
Lord, in light of Your promises, please deliver me from worry as I seek You and Your Kingdom while I also seek to live rightly. I can’t wait to see how you fulfill Your promise(s)!
Yet again, I completely agree with you on this. What I find interesting about the subject of worrying is it seems to vary from person to person. I also don’t believe that Christians have cornered the market on “not worrying”. My mom for example was a strong woman of faith but yet she worried about everything (except her salvation). I could tell her 10 times a day to stop worrying about things she talked about but she was never able to shut that switch off. Why is that? How could a believer be subjected to such worrying? Unfortunately, I have no answer except to say I believe God wires each of us differently. Perhaps the person that worries more is better safeguarded (or prepared) for things that may happen…
Maybe God created this balance in people so we could encourage one another in our strengths and weaknesses. Oh well…. No definitive to help from me on this….nor am I going to worry about it! 😜
Thanks, Steve!
Worry is a human condition but I never thought of it as self indulgent. But I can see your point. I am trying very hard to put all things in Gods hands. I love ❤️ your writing.
Thanks, Terri!