Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life …
Summary: Worry is a word that describes us imagining things that could go wrong. The fear that results from worry causes us to react. Driven by fear, we fall into the temptation to seek false safety.
Worry is the doorway to temptation. If we could trust our Father in heaven implicitly, worry wouldn’t be possible. But instead, we doubt, and when we doubt, we imagine all the possible ways we can fail, and we worry.
Worry is a direct result of eyes that are “opened … knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3: 5) Eyes that see both good and evil see an infinite universe of possibilities. The reason that Adam and Eve hid from the Lord God after eating from the forbidden tree was that they were afraid (Genesis 3:10).
What did they have to be afraid of?
They had disobeyed God and knew it. They had done what they were not supposed to do. They made a bargain with the devil, and in exchange for their disobedience, they received something new; shame.
Their legacy to us is more shame. Like them, we have eyes that are “opened” to good and evil, but without God, we cannot tell the difference between the two. Our imaginations are no longer limited to what is good for us. We can also imagine what is bad. Because of this, we worry.
When we use our imagination, we are drawing a map in our minds of where we want to go. If we imagine there is trouble ahead, we might go in a direction that brings more trouble. This is because we “see,” but we do not understand what we see. We worry that what we imagine might actually happen. Then, afraid of that horrible image, we steer away from it, often into worse trouble.
A lost sheep does not know where to go. Afraid of the scary thing on its left, it turns right and ends up stuck in a thicket, or worse, in the jaws of a lion.
Temptation leads us to stray from our Father’s will.
Temptation is hoping for an easy answer to our problems.
Temptation is a shortcut that leads to eternal pain.
The antidote for worry is trust. When we trust God, we do what he tells us, we avoid thoughts that tempt us to do otherwise. When Jesus says, “do not worry about your life” (Matthew 6: 25) he is telling us to trust him.
Application: Trust Jesus with your life.
Food for Thought: How does worry serve the purposes of the devil?
Excellent reminder, Jeff! May Our Lord give us more Faith and Trust in Him! 🙏
Thanks Jim! 🙂
King Saul was an example of how worry leads to sin. For Saul, it bred fear and impatience, leading him to disobey God’s commandments. If we are not careful, our worries will dwindle our faith and, dropping our guard, we will take our eyes off of Jesus. Hebrews 11:6, 1 Peter 5:8.
JEC,
You remind me of Peter trying to walk on the water:
“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’”
(Matthew 14: 29-31)
Keeping our eyes on Jesus is critically important for us as we try and walk on the waters of faith each day.
Thank you for your devotion and good example JEC.
I think another example is Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5: 1 – 11. They were evidently worried about what others would think for holding back some of the sale of their land. As a result they lied to the Holy Spirit (or tried) and it did not go so well after that.
Great example, Rich.
Satan subtly twisted their thoughts and polluted their faith with doubt.
How does worry serve the purposes of the devil?
Anytime the devil can convince us that God doesn’t have the answer, doesn’t know what we’re going through, doesn’t have the power to do whatever, doesn’t care about a situation, God can but _____ (any other thing we limit God with), then the devil has deceived us. Then we act apart from God once. Once turns into often, often into habit, and habit turns into a serious problem with your view on the Creator of everything. Turns into, the Bible says I’m saved, but _____ (anything that can make us doubt the gospel). Which causes us to stay quiet about lies, because we’re not exactly sure about truth. Stay quiet and not carry out the great commission.
The devil will not accomplish his great plan on one lie. But without the first lie, he can’t convince us of the greater lie. If he can’t keep us away from salvation, he can distract us from God, he can distract us from doing as God commanded, he can keep us from sharing salvation to others.
If we live in a state of worry then we live in a state of ‘God’s not in control of this one, but I am’. The illusion of control is just another lie, and it gets me all the time.
T&A –
Well said! Thank you!
01-21-2023, How does worry serve the purposes of the devil?
We are eternal beings created by God with purpose. As believers we have on at least one occasion, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, seen our sins which separate us from God, and accepted His invitation to humbly repent, turn from sin and received life thru Christ as He came to dwell in our hearts. We have become a new creation with the power through faith, to live in the reality of His NOW rather than the imaginary WHAT IF offered by Satan!
Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:25-34 where He 3 times calls upon us to not worry.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Rather we are to, V33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
1 Peter 5:6-8, Tells us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
To worry is to turn from life as we trust in our God’s Sovereign security, into Satan’s death in chaos.
Amen, Ron!
Well said!!
2 Corinthians 6:2, For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
Another “Amen!” 🙂