Do not be anxious about anything…
Summary: Paul’s words are direct and seemingly impossible to obey, except for the power of Jesus Christ in our lives.
As Paul writes the words in today’s passage, he is a prisoner of Rome in the first century AD. Roman prisoners were not noted for having nothing to be anxious about.
Paul is writing to people who are, for all practical purposes, mostly free citizens. Some are slaves, but all live with some measure of control over their lives.
Since when does the one who has the most to be anxious about tell those who have the least reason to be anxious not to be anxious?
When Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything…”, he is not just talking through his hat. He is a man who lives what he says. In effect, he is saying, “Live as I do, except for these chains.”*
How can he say that?
Paul gives us the answer earlier in his letter when he writes, “…our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).
If that is true, then he is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and a servant of the king, Jesus. Of course, if your king also happens to be the Creator of Everything and possesses all power, might, glory, and honor, then you probably don’t have a lot to worry about. What happens in this world is incidental to what happens in the Kingdom of God.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
Paul has been transformed by the renewing of his mind.
Anxiety is a “pattern of this world.” We are trained from birth to worry about things that are not in our control. We worry about paying the bills if we don’t have enough money, and for those who have too much money, they worry about someone stealing what they have.
When we become citizens of heaven, we give up our claim to owning things here in this world. Instead, we become stewards of what God gives us to take care of. If someone steals from us, they are stealing from God. If a person needs something, we can give it freely if we have it to give because it doesn’t belong to us; it belongs to God.
This holds true for every aspect of this life. It all belongs to Jesus. Don’t worry!
Application: The cure for anxiety is faith in Jesus.
Food for Thought: What does it mean when we find ourselves feeling anxious?
*See Acts 26:29
While some anxiety can be caused due to medical reasons and not be based on any worry at all (such as the fight or flight response kicking in when it should not), if it is anxiety due to worries of this life (which is what I think Paul is talking about here and what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 6), then perhaps it means we have taken our eyes of a Jesus and need to refocus. If our eyes are on the world we will have anxiety. If our eyes are on ourselves we will have anxiety. If our eyes are on Jesus we will have peace.
Hebrews 12: 1 – 2a: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
John 14: 27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16: 33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Thanks, Rich!
You are right. Not just any ol’ peace either, but the very best! 🙂
What does it mean when we find ourselves feeling anxious?
Being anxious is common to the human race. It is an “I” centered emotion seen in and expressed by people who believe they have control over events in their lives when in reality they have none. We can make choices, but we cannot “guarantee” the results, and while we are waiting to see the final result of our choices, we will often find ourselves being anxious.
Proverbs 3:5-6.Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 19:21, Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
James 4:14-15. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.
Knowing and allowing God to be Sovereign is living life in truth. To live our lives in Gods peace, we must we must accept the fact and live our lives within His sovereign will, each day. We can’t judge circumstances by our standards and desires, but receive and live in the reality God has ordained in our lives before the foundation of this world.
My wife and I have found life is so much more pleasant when we stop trying to get into the drivers seat and become passengers in this journey, allowing God to truly direct our paths.
Thank you, Ron!
Letting Jesus “take the wheel” as the song says, is amazing.