Sermonettes 51
WORRY: A KIND OF ATHEISM
by Selwyn Hughes
"As for you, every hair on your head has been counted. So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matt.10:30-31, Jewish New Testament).
When the Bible tells us that we can live on this earth without worry and anxiety, it means precisely that. It is more than an academic statement; it is a concrete fact.
In a youth meeting, some years ago, I asked the group for a definition of a Christian. I was quite taken back when someone said: "A Christian is someone who has dropped the word 'worry' out of his vocabulary."
The remark was used by the Holy Spirit to show me the utter foolishness of my lifestyle at that time, for I was worrying myself sick over something that had no basis whatsoever in reality. I took advantage of this definition to open up the whole group to a discussion on the subject, "Why worry?"
The conclusion of that group of young people (none of whom were more than 14 years of age) was that worry is a kind of atheism. They said: "A person who worries says, 'I can't trust God, so I'll take things into my own hands, God doesn't care for me so I will have to meet this problem without Him." Pretty strong conclusions for young people under fourteen!
Allowing for the fact that they still had most of life's troubles yet to face, the philosophy of life they were advocating was directly in line with the Scriptures. The Bible does not claim that, when we follow Christ, we will not have to face any deep and serious problems, but it does claim that with God we can meet them, overcome them, and assimilate them into the highest purposes of life.
Worry says, "God doesn't care, and so He won't do anything." Faith says, "God does care and He and I will work it out together."
Lord, help me to be willing to believe Your Word, for I know that when I supply the willingness, You supply the power. And with that combination, every day becomes a new adventure. Amen.
This page was created on 1 June 1998
Last updated on 1 June 1998
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