Do Not Worry

 

Matthew 6

25

"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.

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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?'

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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.

 

Luke 12

22

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.

23

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24

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!

25

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

26

Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 

Philippians 4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

9

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

Through my earthly father’s instruction, as well as Jesus’ teachings, I have learned that I need to create balance in my life.  By balance, I mean everything about my life has to be level.  By level, I mean each aspect of my life must me met.  Such aspects include, my emotional life, social life, physical life, mental life, and spiritual life. 

 

Furthermore, I have certain needs that must be met and wants I hope are met.  I have placed my needs and wants in order from most important to least important (descending order).  I find my needs are to love God (the greatest commandment), love people (the 2^nd greatest commandment), eat (food is essential), breathe (air is crucial for survival), shelter (for protection), and the list goes on.   Also, I want a new car, I want a million dollars, I want to go on vacation, etc.

 

This is my challenge for you: do not become overly focused on your wants since they are unimportant.  Learn to be content with what you have.  Stop complaining about what you don’t have and start being thankful for what you do have!