Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 GLORIOUS DIVINE CREATION

St. Mathew 6: 26 – 34
Verse 31: Therefore, do not worry

This passage reminded me of a beautiful song that most of us might have learned during our Sunday School days – Bloom, bloom, bloom where you’re planted. The first stanza of the song says:
Look at the flowers, look at them growing:
    They never worry, they never work;
    Yet look at the way our Father clothes them,
    Each with a beauty all of its own.
Worry seems to have become an indispensable part of our life. If we ask anyone in our church community – ‘Is there anything that you are worried about?’, most will have some reason to quote. Very young children might be the only ones who do not worry about anything. This passage reminds us of three aspects of worry.
Worry is irrational: We worry about building a secure future for ourselves, which makes us toil hard and build huge financial savings, more than enough to even secure our grandchildren sometimes. But the future has its uncertainties, so any amount of planning might still go out of control. By asking us to look at the birds, our Lord reminds us that saving up too much for tomorrow by toiling too hard today is not required (Vs.26).
Worry is illogical: We feel pressured to meet the expectations of people around us - family members, work, church, or society. External expectations have no upper limit and hence we ourselves need to set limits to them. If not, in the long run, this could affect our health, adding to the reasons that we worry about. As Christians, we must also never be like those who set expectations from anyone. Thus, we help ourselves and everyone around us to be at ease and experience peace.
Worry is ineffective: A medical crisis in our life could lead us to a state of worry – a dear one being hospitalized or sick, or ailments that affect us. Worry only affects the healing process adversely and sometimes the best treatments might also fail. Verse 27 reminds us that by worrying we cannot add even a single minute to the duration of life. Worry has never solved a single problem. In fact, worry paralyzes our minds from living wisely or thinking about possible solutions to a problem.
Worry reveals our lack of trust in God and His promises. Both faith and worry are reactions to the events of life. If our life is governed by the Scripture, we will always face our life with faith. So let us seek the Kingdom of God (Vs.33) and never let worry have power over us.

                                                Prayer
Almighty Lord, help us live our lives with complete faith and trust. Amen.

Thought for the Day

Take your burden to the Lord… and leave it there! – Charles A. Tindley

Rev. Johnson P. Abraham
The Mar Thoma Church, Staten Island

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