Don’t Worry, Be Prayerful
BRD REFLECTIONS
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
(Tony Yeo, Steward, LCEC)
READ:
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Matthew 6 is part of Jesus’ teaching at the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is set early in the Ministry of Jesus and yet it is the longest continuous discourse of Jesus found in the New Testament. It is Jesus’ teaching on the perfect standard of various aspects of the Christian Life. Matthew 6:24-35, in particular, is Jesus’ teaching about “WORRY” and how worry is a sin in our lives as it takes our focus away from God.
APPLY:
How often do we say, we worry about this or that in our lives? How then can worry be a sin? Isn’t it common to worry about things in our lives? I am guilty of worrying as there is so much to worry about in our lives. We worry about our jobs, our livelihood, our finances, our work, our relationships with our spouse and children, our children’s future and the list is endless.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31, 33.
God wants us to trust Him. He wants us to have faith in Him. He wants us to turn to Him first for help. If we worry, it can harm our health, affect our relationship with others, disrupt our lives and most importantly, erode and destroy our relationship with God.
Worry is an expression of our distrust in our God. The Word has taught us to have complete faith in God. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). God has taught us how to deal with difficulties in our lives but by worrying, we are not following His teachings and that is a sin.
By worrying, we are placing people, objects, goals and our other desires above our main priority in life and that is God. Any of these things can consume us and can quickly become the main priority in our lives.
One may ask, what is wrong with worrying? Isn’t worry good because it keeps us on our toes? What should one do when one faces difficulties? Worrying is wrong but genuine concern to solve the difficulty is what should motivate us. The concern will stir us into motion and bring us closer to God as we seek His help but it should not overwhelm and immobilise us.
As our Pastor-in-Charge, Rev Raymond Fong quoted in his sermon at the Prayer & Praise Service on Good Friday (15 April 2022):
“Look at the world and you will be distressed.
Look at yourself and you will be depressed.
Look at the Cross and you will be at rest.” – Corrie Ten Boom
In his sermon at the Easter Sunday Service on 17 April 2022, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong reminded us of John 16:33 where Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
DO:
I have found that when I go through difficulties in my life, I am being molded by God and my faith is strengthened by His miracles as He helps me through one difficulty after another. I am being forged in the fire by God to strengthen me by His careful and very intentional application of the right amount of heat at the right time, so that He can shape and mold me. The whole process should bring us closer to God and that can only happen if we look back in our lives, see God’s hand in our lives and grow in our trust in Him. We try our best in everything that we do and leave the rest to Him. But if we worry and begin to have doubts, to distrust God, to question God’s presence in our lives and to try to solve the problems and difficulties on our own and in our own ways without any trust and faith in Him, then that is a sin and we will know the consequences. “Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
PRAY:
My Lord, my God, you are the only constant in my life. You have always been with me and will always be with me. In the most difficult times of my life, you were carrying me, supporting me and strengthening me. I pray Lord that you will constantly remind me of how you have kept me safe even when I stepped into the fire. When I face my next difficulty, I pray that I will not worry but I will try my best to solve the difficulty, have faith in you, concentrate on my prayers to you and leave the rest to you as I trust in your love and your will for me. Amen.
