Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34
It seems like there is a lot of worry and anxiety in our world today. We live in a time where there is more information available to us with the swipe of our phones than any time in history. Google this, YouTube that, I saw it on Facebook, 24 hours of news. With so much information, to the point of overload, has our worry and anxiety also increased with such an exponential rate? Though we are called to have compassion and pray for people, situations and circumstances, should the weight of worry and anxiety about a ship stuck in Antarctica or a butterfly infestation in Mongolia burden my mind and day? I hope not.
The blunt reality is that each one of us has a measure of responsibility in our life. From work, family, driving, home, faith, etc… These are the things that we have direct influence and control over. They aren’t necessarily positive or negative things, they’re just things. However, it is how we choose to react to these responsibilities that can place a positive or negative skew upon them.
Matthew 6:34 is not talking about avoiding our responsibility. It’s talking about the worry and anxiety we allow to creep in. Personally, I find in my life that worry and anxiety increases when I do not take on and face my responsibilities in a faithful, component, timely and effective way.
The more I procrastinate my responsibilities, the more worry and anxiety I have. Conversely the less I procrastinate the less worry and anxiety. Therefore, I don’t have to be anxious about tomorrow and I can focus more clearly on my faith in Jesus today.
Another way to think about it is that we are to steward our responsibilities in such a way that we guard ourselves against worry and anxiety. We must be careful about those things we pick up and take on.
But what about those things we cannot control?
I guess “those things” would fall under one of two areas. First, other people’s responsibilities and second, things we truly cannot control, like the weather.
As for the first, we live in a society that attempts to place other people’s responsibilities upon us. From marketing and advertising to the news media to the victim mentality syndrome that is so prevalent today. Just because they choose not to take on and fulfill their responsibilities in no way means that I have to. Many times the greatest gift we can give someone is to let them fail. It seems to be the best learning experience and offers us the opportunity to come alongside and teach them the importance of stewarding their responsibilities.
As for those things that are truly out of our control, let’s face it, investing our precious time and energy in worrying and having anxiety won’t change whatever situation it is. But it will change us in a negative way.
Paul gives us great advice and encouragement here.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:5-6
Make an effort to steward your responsibilities by relying on God.
Jason Metz, lead Pastor
