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Do not worry!

By Ernest Onuoha
09 July 2017   |   2:02 am
Worry is one of the weapons the devil is using against Christians/believers. He uses it to cause tension, anxiety and upset in life. WORRY –“is a cause to feel troubled over actual or potential difficulties.”

Ernest Onuoha

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’
or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things,” (Matt. 6:25-27, 31-32).

Worry is one of the weapons the devil is using against Christians/believers. He uses it to cause tension, anxiety and upset in life. WORRY –“is a cause to feel troubled over actual or potential difficulties.” Indeed, the disciples of Jesus were worried about issues of life. In Matt. 6:19-24: Jesus taught them about money. 1 Tim. 6:10 recognised that money was “the root of all evil”. However, Jesus emphasised that His disciples should lay treasures in heaven, where moth or rot or thieves could not attack. For, if they lay their treasures on earth, it is prone to destruction. He, therefore, maintained that they could not serve God and mammon. Mammon leads to materialism and takes a child of God away from his Maker. In 2 Tim. 4:10, Demas fell in love with the present world and through it fell out of faith.

In continuation of His teaching, Jesus now teaches about: Worry! He said: “they should not worry about what to eat, wear or drink, for their heavenly Father knows that they needed them. Interestingly, God’s knowledge about our situation in life should calm our nerves. Look at the birds of the air, lilies of the field, they neither sow nor reap, yet, God takes care of them. Remember, which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Truly, life may not be fair after all. In life we have challenges, temptations, trials and hardships, but they cannot destroy the faith of a believer in God. The Bible says: “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all,” (Ps. 34:19). Yes, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”, (Psalm 30:5). Therefore, do not worry, child of God.

Dangers of worrying:
May damage one’s health – hypertension and it can lead to sudden death. The object of worry consumes one’s thought – ‘how can I pay my bills, I am not married and getting old, I have no job and so on and so forth. It disrupts productivity – you cannot think or engage in productive activity. Yet, God gave us mandate: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue, have dominion”, (Gen. 1:28). It negatively affects the way you treat others – transferred aggression, people don’t mean so much to you. Reduces your ability to trust God – you cannot pray or study the Word of God. If we fail to trust God, we are in great danger. Remember, Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego trusted God rather than worry and victory came their way. “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up”, (Dan. 3:17-18). Also, the woman with the issue of blood came with eye of faith to Jesus “For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made whole.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her, He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you whole.” And the woman was made whole from that hour.” (Matt. 9:21-22).

I trust that even now, God is speaking to someone. Do not worry, no matter how heavy the problem or the load may be. Yes, we have economic recession in the country, many people are unemployed and some that are employed are not being paid as and when due. These notwithstanding, God is still in charge and in control. Remember, when there is a casting down, certainly, God will bring a lifting up in Jesus name, Amen! So, what does Jesus demand from us in this situation today? He says: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”, (Matt. 6:33-34). Cheers!
Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
Www.Ibrucentre.org

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