The Tongue - Edition #8: Me Worry?

April 9th, 2006

A great day today… I got to spend time with a friend of mine as we went to the Ranger game. We got a Michael Young bobble-head, checked out the cool stadium, watched the Rangers upset an undefeated Tigers team and just had a great time. Not to mention it is Palm Sunday, things are simply great. I did find out some not so great news. Some friends of mine are possibly in trouble with the IRS. That’s never a good thing, even if it is simply an audit. An audit from them causes stress, even if there is nothing technically to worry about, you worry anyway. So I will be praying for them.

The Tongue – Edition #8: Me Worry?

Here are some scriptures that have comforted me over the years in time of stress. It really ties into this tongue series that I am doing.

Luke 12:22-34
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. 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 his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

“Consider how the lilies 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, O 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.”

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:25-34
“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? 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that 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, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I went back to the E-Sword and the word that was translated from the Greek is merimnao which mean to be anxious about, to take thought, or to be careful about. The same word is used in both Matthew and Luke. But I did stumble across something that intrigued me.

Luke 21:8-19
He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.”

“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.”

I don’t need to worry at how I will have to defend myself. God provides in a time of need. God puts the words in my mouth.

Worry (verb):

• To feel uneasy or concerned about something; be troubled.


• To proceed doggedly in the face of difficulty or hardship; struggle.


• To cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled.


• Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness.

Anxiety (noun):

• A vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune.

I can see how the IRS would cause anxiety. It is human nature to want to be distressed in such a time. One thing I know is that when trouble hits (and it will hit), what defines character is how we react to it. When someone cuts me off on the road, how do I respond? When I receive an unexpected bill, how do I respond? When a flood rushes into my apartment, ruining all my clothes and trinkets, how do I respond? I may not be able to control other people, but I can control myself and my responses. Wouldn’t it be great to respond in a righteous manner?

Proverbs 12:25 an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Anxiety will come and go, but God is here at all times. I may become worried about something, but God provides the kind word. I put up the prayer and petition, I present my request to him, and he gives me peace. Johnny Out.