Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

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A normal individual's nervousness is centered around…

40%—things that will never happen. An instance or anxiety is Martha, Luke 10:40, 41

30%—things about the past that can’t be changed. Worldly anxiety is spoken of in Matt. 6:25-34; Luke 21:34; and 1 Cor. 7:32-33

12%—things about criticism by others, mostly untrue. The absolute remedy for worry over sustaining life is given to us by Jesus in Luke 12:22-32

"Consider the lilies—how stately they grow!
They toil not, they spin not, no seed do they sow;
Yet they bloom all the summer, so shining and tall,
The Father Who loves them takes thought for them all."

10%—about health, which gets worse with stress. A verse I loved as a young man and new in the faith is Matthew 10:19. “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.”

8%—about real problems that will be faced. Again the remedy for worry is referred to in another verse well worth memorizing, Jer. 17:7, 8. “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” is verse 8. But first, you have to trust in the Lord! “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”

October 27 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

Yes, I believe Jesus is commanding us not to worry because it is a complete waste of our time. Our Father in heaven has promised to meet our needs. We can trust him, he will never let us down.

Let's look at the full context of Jesus teaching here about worry:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well" (Luke 12:22-31).

Jesus uses examples from God's care of the birds and flowers to remind us how much more God cares for people. God promises to meet our needs for food, water, clothing, shelter, etc. But we must keep our faith in him. As we seek to put his kingdom in first place in our lives he showers us with his blessings, which includes many other good things as well.

October 27 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

To me, there is a distinction to be made between care and worry (or between thought and anxious thought). 

We are to use our abilities, intelligence, and actions both to support ourselves, and to have resources to share with others who are less fortunate. (The book of Proverbs (for example) repeatedly condemns "sluggards" who are unwilling to make that effort.) (As Jesus said, God provides food for the birds of the air. But, even so, He doesn't bring their food directly to them. They still have to go out and find it.)

On the other hand, we are not to be consumed by thoughts of all possible adverse contingencies (including events that have no realistic chance of occurring), or worries about events over which we have no control. After we have done our part, we are to trust God to do whatever we cannot.

October 27 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report