To Worry or to Watch?
A few months ago, I was taught that not only is what is written in the Bible important (obviously), but that the way that it is organized is a significant detail to pay attention to. For a crazy English major such as myself who thrives on over-analyzing texts, this fact was very exciting.
With this in mind, I was very interested when going through Luke chapter twelve and seeing that the chapter heading which read "Do Not Worry" was directly before a chapter heading entitled "Watchfulness." After reading both of these sections, I realized that they were next to each other in scripture because we can not do one without forsaking the other. But let me explain.
In the worry section, much of the language is about the future. For example, in verse twenty-two Jesus says "do not worry about what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear." In verse twenty-five He then asks "who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" When we worry, we are taking our eyes off of the present and focusing on the future, or what we from our limited and often incorrect perspective imagine that the future will be.
On the contrary, the action in the "Watchfulness" section urges us to take action for the present. Jesus tells us in verses thirty-five and thirty-six to "be dressed and ready for service" so that "when he comes [we] can immediately open the door for him." Jesus then goes on to state again that we should be ready and alert even in the middle of the night when action is unexpected.
After reading these two sections, I saw, as previously mentioned, that I can not worry while I am watching, and I can not watch while I am worrying. If worrying means that my eyes are focused on the future, how can I alertly view the present? Likewise (and this is the better option), if my eyes are alertly focused on the present, how can I worry about the future?
We must forsake one of these actions in order to accomplish the other, and Jesus clearly states which one He wants us to do. Worry is not always an easy thing to let go of, especially in today's reality. I admit that even I have been worrying about world events and what ISIS will do and if I am going to die in a war zone. However, Jesus teaches us in this passage that the right way to combat worry is to shift our focus. Do not look to the future, which we cannot know for certain. Look to the present, be ready and armed, and focus on what God is doing at this moment in your life. When we lose sight of today, we lose sight of today's blessings. In verse thirty-four Jesus says "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I think that from one perspective, this verse could directly pertain to focusing on the present or the future. You will only recognize your treasures of today when your heart is here in the present. But if your heart is lost to the future of "what ifs," then you will lose every blessing because there is no hope in the future that exists in our worried imaginations.
Rest. God gives good gifts to His children, carries our anxieties, and holds our futures in His very hands. Why would you ever try to clench those things in your own fragile fingers when His hands are so much stronger? Breathe, relax, focus on today. Perspective is everything.
With this in mind, I was very interested when going through Luke chapter twelve and seeing that the chapter heading which read "Do Not Worry" was directly before a chapter heading entitled "Watchfulness." After reading both of these sections, I realized that they were next to each other in scripture because we can not do one without forsaking the other. But let me explain.
In the worry section, much of the language is about the future. For example, in verse twenty-two Jesus says "do not worry about what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear." In verse twenty-five He then asks "who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" When we worry, we are taking our eyes off of the present and focusing on the future, or what we from our limited and often incorrect perspective imagine that the future will be.
On the contrary, the action in the "Watchfulness" section urges us to take action for the present. Jesus tells us in verses thirty-five and thirty-six to "be dressed and ready for service" so that "when he comes [we] can immediately open the door for him." Jesus then goes on to state again that we should be ready and alert even in the middle of the night when action is unexpected.
After reading these two sections, I saw, as previously mentioned, that I can not worry while I am watching, and I can not watch while I am worrying. If worrying means that my eyes are focused on the future, how can I alertly view the present? Likewise (and this is the better option), if my eyes are alertly focused on the present, how can I worry about the future?
We must forsake one of these actions in order to accomplish the other, and Jesus clearly states which one He wants us to do. Worry is not always an easy thing to let go of, especially in today's reality. I admit that even I have been worrying about world events and what ISIS will do and if I am going to die in a war zone. However, Jesus teaches us in this passage that the right way to combat worry is to shift our focus. Do not look to the future, which we cannot know for certain. Look to the present, be ready and armed, and focus on what God is doing at this moment in your life. When we lose sight of today, we lose sight of today's blessings. In verse thirty-four Jesus says "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I think that from one perspective, this verse could directly pertain to focusing on the present or the future. You will only recognize your treasures of today when your heart is here in the present. But if your heart is lost to the future of "what ifs," then you will lose every blessing because there is no hope in the future that exists in our worried imaginations.
Rest. God gives good gifts to His children, carries our anxieties, and holds our futures in His very hands. Why would you ever try to clench those things in your own fragile fingers when His hands are so much stronger? Breathe, relax, focus on today. Perspective is everything.
Comments
Post a Comment