Worry has been considered as the advance interest one pays on troubles that seldom come. The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
Worry, care and anxiety are common experiences which by and large, many people have come to accept as part of normal living. To the ordinary man in the world, this could be true; but to the children of God, worry, care, and anxiety are illegal and do not constitute part of our normal life in God.
What does your anxiety do? It does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but it empties today of its strength. It does not make you escape the evil – it makes you unfit to cope with it if it comes. We are not saying a Christian should not be concerned about real dangers or threats.
However, in this study, we examine the evil effects of these common problems and God’s way of living victoriously over them. What do you understand by worry, care and anxiety in the first instance?
(A) God’s mind about Worry and Anxiety
(i) Matt.6:25,31,34. Examine the three-fold command against worry and anxiety in these verses.
(ii) Highlight the three strong reasons presented by the Lord Jesus why worry and anxiety are unnecessary for God’s children.
(iii) What areas of life are not covered by these promises/commands from God?Phil.4:6-7.
In view of these assuring God’s and promises and care, I can say like Brother Havner Let me relax, throw open the windows of my stuff little soul and let the cooling breezes of a better world sweep through? What will my petty worries amount to fifty years from now? I will rejoice in the old simplicities which no man can take away. And better stilI, I will rest my soul in the goodness of God and His amazing grace, that saves a poor sinner like me.
(B)Evil-effects of Worry and Anxiety
Our beloved brother Dakes in his popular Bible highlighted the evil of anxiety thus:
(i) Produces fear: Genesis 20:11,26:6-7
(ii) Causes disease and sickness, leads to sin: Genesis 13:1-4,Prov.19:2.
(iii) Is brooding over what may not happen: Exodus 14:10-14,
Psalm 53:5
(iv) Is a burden borrowed from tomorrow and others who should carry it Matt.6:34,Ps.55:22.
(v) Pulling tomorrow’s cloud over today’s sunshine: I Samuel 25:37-38.Ps.27:13.
(vi) Obscures God’s faithfulness in yesteryears: Psalm 78:41-42
(vii) Is a weight that should be laid aside: I Peters 5:7,Hebrews 12:1
(viii) Is mental and physical suicide: I Sam.30:1-8,18; and is a grave digger Acts 16: 27-28.
(ix) Robs one’s faith, patience, peace, joy and love: Mark 4:37-40.
(x) Shows ignorance of the promises of God and unbelief: Psalm 78:18-22
(xi) Anticipates, expects and prepares for troubles which need not come to those who trust God. Psalm 91:7-16
(xii) Is living like an orphan without a heavenly father and hence a crime against God: Jer. 17:5-8.
(xiii) Is torment over something that will turn to a blessing should God allow it to happen: I Cor. 10: 13, Jer. 29:11, Genesis 37:18-19,45:4-8
(xiv) Above all, it is just foolish to worry and be troubled. Whatever is going to happen cannot be stopped by worry (Matt: 6: 27) and if it doesn’t happen, there is nothing to worry about. Instead of being a stumbling block, anything that happens can be a STEPPING STONE if you trust God (Micah 7:8, Joel 2: 25).
God’s Promises-Our Victory Note 2Tim. 1: 7, Ps. 55: 22, Ps. 27: 14, 34: 5, Ps,27;5-6,23, Rom.8:28,32.9:16,11Thes.3:6-12.
Conclusion
A couple started off to ride to a friend. The morning was pleasant, and they enjoyed themselves until they happened to remember a certain bridge which was very old and probably unsafe. “I shall never dare to go over the bridge” exclaimed the wife; “and we can’t get across the river and there is no any other way!” “Oh, I forgot that bridge. It is a bad place, suppose it should break through and we fall into the water and be drowned!” said the man. Adding to this, his wife said: “Or, suppose you should step on a rotten plank and break your leg; what would become of me and the baby?” “I don’t know” responded the husband, “what would become of any of us, for I couldn’t work, and we should all starve to death”. But when they reached the spot of the bridge, lo, they discovered that since they had been there, it had been replaced with a new one! All their anxiety, had been worse than useless.