Don't Fret (11/5/12)

Shalom,

 

     Please begin by reading Psalm 37:8-9.

 

            The first thing mentioned here is anger.  We’re told to refrain from expressing it and letting it control our lives.  This means to let go of and leave alone.  Some versions say cease or stop, but the idea is to drop it, to lay it aside and ignore it.  People say they can’t control their anger, but our Creator says we can and should.  The other thing we’re told to do is turn from wrath.  This means to abandon and forsake being hot-headed.  We can’t give ourselves room to vent our wrath.  This will only lead to problems and Yahweh says we have no right to do, that only he can get vengeance (Deut 32:35 & Rom 12:19).

            Becoming angry is inevitable.  It’s a common factor for all humans.  There are just some things or people or situations which make us mad.  But we have a clear-cut instruction from our Creator in Eph 4:26, “In your anger do not sin.”  Anger can be sinful.  It can be excessive, prolonged, and worst of all destructive.  The source makes no difference if it causes us to sin.  A part of maturing, both emotionally and spiritually, is being able to recognize what sets us off and then being able to avoid letting our anger get the best of us.

            Anger can be useful.  It can lead us to act in the name of justice.  It can lead us to make efforts at reconciliation.  It can lead us to defend the cause of truth and righteousness.  Anger spurred Jesus to remove the greedy merchants from the Temple.  But a righteous anger isn’t selfish.  To claim that our anger is righteous and using it as an excuse to vent isn’t what we’re talking about.  Righteous anger will primarily lead us to defend the cause of those who can’t defend themselves or to correct a wrong.  We must be careful and ensure that we’re serving our Lord in allowing anger to spur us into action.

 

            More importantly, we need to discuss “Do not fret, it only leads to evil.”  A Christian who’s a worrier presents a poor testimony to an unbelieving world.  By their constant worrying they’re sending a clear message.  “I’m not sure the Lord’s able to deal with my problems.  My faith is weak and I can’t bring myself to trust in his power.”  Fretting and stewing over issues which are out of our control shows that we still haven’t fully surrendered to our Lord and Savior.  It’s a sign that we must either learn more about his trustworthiness or that we must trust less in our own abilities.

            Here are some basic truths about worry.  Worry never solved a problem.  Worry never paid a debt.  Worry never alleviated any pain.  Worry never turned an enemy into a friend.  Worry never turned a wrong into a right.  The ultimate truth comes from our heavenly Father.  “Do not worry and fret, it only leads to evil.”  Evil here is to do wickedness, bring trouble, what is displeasing to God.  Our worry is displeasing to Yahweh and that alone should help us fight it.

            How many of you, right here and right now, would like to learn how to worry more?  How many of you feel your life would be improved if only you could spend more time worrying?  I don’t believe there’s anyone who would claim that this would be a good thing.  Whether you know worry as an occasional visitor or a constant companion.  Whether you find worry mildly uncomfortable or intensely painful.  Whether you experience worry as a slight distraction or a major paralysis.  You’d like to worry less, right?  The good news is that you can.  Our Lord has provided a means for us to worry less.

            Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves when it comes to worrying and fretting over some things.  David, the writer of this Psalm, had some very distressing situations to deal with.  Usually these problems were the result of people scheming against him, to harm him.  Some very ungodly people were out to get him, to shame him or ruin him or even to kill him.  If it wasn’t King Saul, it was the Philistines.  If it wasn’t the Philistines, it was a member of his own family.  A great portion of David’s adult life was spent in exile.  Many nights his shelter was a tent or a tree or a cave.  There were several times when he wrote Psalms concerning the fact that he was worried about the outcome of his situation.

            But David learned that fretting was pointless.  Through experience, through his heartfelt crying out to his Lord, he learned that worrying and fretting were a major cause of complaining.  He learned it steals our thoughts from properly dealing with the situations.  It saps our energy so we can’t act responsibly.  It blinds us to the blessings we do have and closes our mind to Yahweh’s comfort.  He learned that instead of complaining about his worries, he should trust his Lord to deliver him and guide him.  He learned that his Lord was absolutely trustworthy and he could lay his concerns down and even sleep well.

            We may look at the terrible situation we’re facing and say things like, “How am I going to get through this?  Or how are we going to buy food this month?  Or how will I ever feel secure again?”  We have to be careful because it’s very easy to slip into a bitter spirit that forgets to offer gratitude for the blessings of our Lord.  We have to be careful or we won’t sleep well and then will become more susceptible to sickness.  Voice your concerns to your Lord, but then leave them at his feet.

            We have some very good advice throughout the Scriptures.  1 Pet 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.”  He wants us to throw it off and trust in his loving care.  1 Thes 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Even though it can be very difficult, we need to be thankful for all our Father allows to come into our lives.

            In today’s world we have the threat of terrorism.  For many people this is the main source of stress in their lives in spite of the fact that’s it’s not likely to touch them directly.  This is on top of the regular concerns about finances, health, home, family, job security, and a host of other things that try to steal our peace.  Some people look at Christians as absolutely crazy for not being worried about all these things.  We can’t let the fear dredged up by all these things control our lives.  We need to learn to trust in our Lord’s loving-kindness more.  Remember 1 John 4:18.  “Perfect love drives out fear.”

            We have this Psalm and many other passages of scripture to point the way to peace and hope.  In this Psalm alone we find trust, delight, commit, and be still as active things we can do to overcome our worries and fears.  If we fail to stay focused on our Lord and his ways, we’ll fall into the trap of worldly worry and fear.  If we lose sight of the fact that our Creator has given us the means to overcome worry, we’ll certainly fall victim to the devil’s evil temptations to get caught up in stress we should be avoiding.

            Matt 6:27 has Jesus asking all of us a very good question.  “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”  We need to recognize that worrying and fretting accomplishes nothing of value.  Not only does it not help us in any fashion, it often does damage.  It’s a time waster and only really good for making us focus on issues we have no control over.  None of us can stop a terrorist bombing by worrying about whether we’ll become a victim of one.

            Worried about losing your hair?  Worry only accelerates the process and instead of adding hair it speeds the loss.  Worried about getting sick?  Again, worry suppresses your immune system and makes it more likely that you’ll get sick.  Worry will never make you healthier.  Worried about losing your job?  Worry may actually cause you to behave in ways that lower your performance.  Worried about gaining weight?  You’re likely to eat more because of worry.  See how foolish we are.  Our loving heavenly Father tells us directly that worry is bad for us.  We need to listen to him and work at overcoming it.

 

            We know that worrying and fretting are bad for us.  The Word of God plainly points out this fact.  So what are we to do?  Trust, delight, commit, and be still.  Actively do the things that keep you from stewing in your own juices and giving you an upset stomach.  Do what your Lord is saying and you won’t be stuck in the mess of worry.  He knows what worry can do to us and has given us a way to live in peace.  Remember, to worry is to deny his ability to help us.  I don’t believe anyone wants to be disobedient to our Father, so we need to fight to overcome our worries.

            Yes, life can be hard.  We live in a real world, and our Lord offers us a faith that deals with real problems.  Don’t live in a fantasy world to avoid reality.  We need to deal with reality.  Faith doesn’t avoid issues.  It takes them on trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Never forget that our Lord is the Sovereign God in control of everything that happens.  Rom 8:28 points us to his ability to stay on top of every detail.  “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

            Yes, the future is uncertain.  But only in the natural.  Our eternal future is certain, and can give us the peace to face the uncertainties.  Do your best to prepare for the future.  Our Lord tells us to do this.  But make sure your trust is in him, not in the stuff you amass.  There’s never enough money or goods.  We can never amass enough to be prepared for everything.  But we can trust and obey our Lord and Master allowing him to secure our future.

            Yes, we’re not in control of our world.  There are accidents and viruses and evil people who may cause us harm.  But we can’t put our trust in the earthly experts.  They’ll all fall eventually.  Only by trusting in our Lord can we put control in the right place.  Attach yourself to the peace and joy your heavenly Father has provided.  Don’t let this world cause you to doubt his great love or his ability to keep safe that which has been entrusted to his care.  This world may be out of control, but those who have put their faith and trust in the Father, Son, and Spirit can be absolutely assured of our place in eternity.

            It all comes down to entering Yahweh’s Sabbath rest.  This is the place where we’ll be able to read and fully understand the Bible.  This is the place where we’ll pray more correctly and effectively.  This is the place where we can live without being worn out by worrying and fretting.  Follow your Creator’s instructions and enter his rest.  Don’t push away his peace by holding on to your worries.

 

            Blessings & Peace,  Mike