Worry is NOT a Virtue

S - Matthew 6:25-34; 7:13-14, 24-27 (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 important than food, and the body more important 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 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies 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, O 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. … “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. … “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” "

O - The narrow gate does NOT allow worry, even the most natural expressions of it. The teaching of Jesus does not allow or include worry as an unavoidable part of living nor as that which is acceptable to him and to his kingdom. Worry is NOT life giving, life sustaining or even life "neutral". It is deadly, death producing and tragically distracting from the issues which really do matter. It is one of the frequent storms which those who do the words (rather than just listen to them) do not succumb to nor are they overpowered or destroyed by it. Worry must be removed, repelled and refused for us to gain entrance into that narrow door which opens up to a broad and life-giving, life sustaining, eternally vibrant and refreshing place. Worry is not an expression of love or of stewardship or of taking responsibility. It is an expression which obscures Jesus, hinders and blocks his love, creates a life crushing pressure and lives in denial of his authority, goodness, power and brilliance.

A - The narrow gate requires me to consistently take off the worry which so easily attaches itself to my thoughts, emotions and current view of my world. The teaching of Jesus insists that I turn away from worry and turn to him … personally, intentionally and consistently. To do his words is to turn away from and refuse worry. To fail at this is to fail and risk collapse under the storms of life which are not only sure to come but sure to leave as well. Storms will come but all on their own storms also go. The question is not will we face such storms but rather what will be left standing when (not if) the storms blow over. Jesus makes it very clear that there is only one right, loving, responsible and reasonable response to worry. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." The narrow door of today is the only real and lasting focus because the King of Eternity has today and all the tomorrows well in hand. I can only interface with today. The teaching and doing of the words today is the key to refusing this most insidious, pervasive and toxic element. Worry inspires very different responses to life than faith. Without faith I cannot please God … so even if I worry my way to a good conclusion I have failed to please God. This too belongs to the narrow door. Today, I have assignments to complete. Today, I have a Savior to love back and to obey. Today, none of the reoccurring and oppressive points of worry will happen … they intimidate and threaten and loom from the platform of tomorrow. Since today already has enough trouble (the Greek term references malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws, depravity, evil, trouble) of its own my assignment remains the same … trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus (to be in touch with real, vibrant, eternal life) than to trust and obey.

P - Dear Lord who is the LORD,

Thank you for the narrow gate, the narrow door, the words of life which require me to choose to live in striking opposition to that which seems so natural and to do this because of the awesome interface you give to us/me. Lord, today I will turn away from worry and into you. Lord, today while it is called today, I will trust, welcome you and your promises and take off the worry which masquerades as concern, responsibility and care. Thank you for breaking the snare of the fowler, for calling me to life, for calling me to yourself and for insisting that I simply, completely and consistently take you at your word. Lord Jesus, I choose to turn from worry to you and to willingly yield to your awesome brilliance, limitless power and extreme goodness.
Turning in,

Steve