Worry by Bill Crofton

This devotion is for:

• all of you who have worried in the past.
• all of you who are now worried.
• and, all of you who are making plans to worry soon!

Worry is no laughing matter. Quite frankly, it is a sin. However, it is a sin. Yet, it is one of those "acceptable" sins in the Christian life. For instance:

• we would never smile at a Christian who staggered into his home night after night drunk and abusive. [we often smile at a Christian friend who worries]

• we would not joke about a member who stole someone's car. [but we regularly joke about our worrying over some detail in life]

My mother was worrier. My wife is one. Must be a mother thing. Matthew was going to Costa Rica last summer to surf. He took along his younger brother. His mother's objections were:

• your going to be kidnapped by Costa Rican Rebels.
• your going to drink the water and die of dysentery.
• your going to fall off your board, get tangled in the reef and cut to shreds.

• a hostile wave is going to carry you to Hawaii. [personally, I don't think

• that's a bad thing]

Of course, Matthew's reply was deeply reassuring - "Mom, if its my time to go (death), I'm ready". He really means it! Didn't seem to help his mother a lot.

Bottom line, in this world we have to make a choice. Whether wealthy or poor or somewhere in between, trust God. The rich are tempted to trust in their possessions. The poor are tempted to doubt God's provision. Are you going to trust the world (riches) or the God who made everything?

You get the feeling Jesus saw the age we live in. 16 of 38 parables deal with money. 1 out of 10 verses on prayer, 500 on faith and over 2,000 on money. The heart of Jesus' message in our present passage is: Don't worry—not even about the necessities. He gives the command, Do not be anxious three times - (Matt 6:25,31,34) and gives four reasons why worry, being anxious, is wrong:

1. it is unfaithful because of our Master;
2. it is unnecessary because of our Father;
3. it is unreasonable because of our faith;
4. and, it is unwise because of our future.

So, make a choice. Trust the God who seeks to encounter you. Don't worry, be happy.

ENCOUNTER: What do you have to worry about? What does worry say about who is in control of your life?