Can Worrying ADD a Single Moment to Your Life?

Does anyone ever celebrate that they have spent their entire day worrying about something? Can worrying do anything to ADD value to your life or to the life of anyone else?

It’s one of the greatest questions Jesus ever asked His followers!

What can we learn from the greatest leader the world has ever known about what to do when WORRYING seems to be dominating our thoughts?

Jesus knew His followers. He knows people. He knows there are people today waking up every morning discouraged and overburdened with worry about all kinds of things, like whether they have enough food or drink, or enough clothes to wear.

This is WHY Jesus shared with His followers, in His famous Sermon on the Mount, . . . 

† “Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are?”‬‬

† “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

‭‬‬† “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As human beings, we were created in the image of God. We were created with the capacity to choose between right and wrong. None other of God’s creatures or creations were created with this capacity. This puts a great deal of value on human life!

In our Heavenly Father’s eyes, we are far more valuable than the birds in the sky that He feeds or the wildflowers of the earth that He so wonderfully cares for. 

Unlike the birds in the sky or the lilies of the field, we were created to bear His image. And if our Heavenly Father feeds and takes care of the creatures and plant life of this world that do not bear His image, how much more will He take care of the needs of those He created to bear His image and place their faith in Him as well.

The CHALLENGE for us, however, is that . . . 

When we have little faith, we will waste more time and energy worrying about things our Heavenly Father has already promised to take care of. 

The worrying is even worse for people who have no faith in God!

This is WHY Jesus encouraged His followers saying, . . .

† “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.”‬‬

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT

When we live as if God doesn’t exist or have a role to fill in our lives, we can become overburdened with worry about things beyond what we really need.

Without God, it can feel like we never have enough!

It can feel like we can’t ever rest from the worry of not having enough because we have dismissed God from occupying that sacred place and anointed role in our lives that only He can fill.

Jesus emphasized that it’s these kinds of worries that dominate the thoughts of unbelievers.

Fortunately for us, Jesus didn’t want His followers to be ruled by worry!

This is WHY He said, . . . 

† “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”‬‬

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT

Seeking the Kingdom above all else, and living in a right relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, is a divine counter-attack to the source of worry that dominates the thoughts of unbelievers. 

Seeking the Kingdom of God above all else—His rule and reign over your life—is not a hard thing to figure out. It’s about putting God first; making Him not just a priority in your life, but your first priority.

When other things take priority over Christ and His Kingdom in your life, worry will always increase!

That’s because you’re looking to yourself first, in your own wisdom, strength and power, to take care of that increased worry load when you don’t first look to God.

When you put God first, He promises He will take care of everything you need!

Now that doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. It doesn’t mean we don’t help others when we have the means to help them.

We will always have a role to fill when we are seeking His Kingdom!

The idea here is to look to Him first for all your needs; be ready to follow His leading for your life; and to believe as you trust in Him, He will give you the grace to worry less!

Let me encourage you today:

If your worry load is heavy, I’ve got good news for you. God already knows all your needs and He wants to decrease the worry you’re carrying right now. 

How will He do this? By calling you to give Him first priority in your life. 

Jesus says when we seek His Kingdom above all else, and live righteously, He promises that our Heavenly Father will take care of all our needs. Now, He may not take care of all of our wants, but He does promise to take care of ALL our needs.

When God is your first priority, you’ll spend less time and energy worrying about things you ask Him to bring under His authority and dominion. Rather than worrying about things that can be life-draining, you’ll be able to better focus on things that are life-giving; life-giving to you and to others, and glorifying to God!

Let me PRAY for you!