Me Worry?

Worry Trail Illustration

- Moneys tight, how are you going to pay the rent and buy food?

-Maybe you are without a job, or your boss is threatening you.

-maybe your spouse works late a lot, what are they up to?

-what are your kids doing with their friends, and you can’t sleep at night until their home safe. But that’s not worry, that’s CONCERN.

Your saying I don’t understand, you love your children /spouse, and you just want what is best for them and your concerned about their best.

Here’s the catch, because Paul teaches us in Romans (8:23) For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. That’s right, whatever does not proceed from faith is SIN. Not a very common topic in our churches today, probably because it makes all of us uncomfortable.

I know I worry or should I say am concerned, And I think I have good reason to be, last week along the playground across the street, there was at least 1 used needle and several used condoms, I worry about the safety of my kids not to mention my wife who walks there. And whenever I find myself worrying it isn’t long and I’m playing the “what if” game. And it doesn’t help that I read The Shack this summer either.

And I have to confess to you and to God that is sin.

Or what about our finances here at St. David’s, this last year we did O.K. but we definitely didn’t have the income to support a full-time priest, are we going to be able to meet our budget this year? And we could be consumed by this worry. How are we going to pay for everything? What if the offering don’t go up, What if, . . .

We are baptising 4 beautiful babies today, what will the world they grow up in look like? What if the parents and God-parent forget to follow through on the commitments they are making to these children, what if we as a congregation . . . I’m doing it again. It’ s a game I’ve gotten very good at playing. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that I’m the best at playing the “what if” game, I know there are some very experienced players her today. And the Bible says that’s SIN .

But how do we stop playing? How can we stop worrying? Bills need to get paid, children need to be cared for and relationships need trust. How can we stop.

I’m no bird, I can’t just fly around waking people up in the morning with my singing, and play target practise with cars with bonus points for hitting the windshield.

As I look around I don’t see any bird’s of the air, I see people created in the image of God who are much more valuable to God the Father than the birds of the air. You are all jewels bought at a great price.

So what can we learn from the birds – to be diligent at doiing what God has called us to do. We are not called to be old crows but children of God.

Lilies of the field, never mind lilies of the field what about the lilies beside the ramp out front, aren’t the gorgeous when they are in bloom, I particularly liked the red ones. I don’t know who planted them but I am sure glad they are there. I do know that they don’t receive any special watering, they just kind of grow where they are planted making our church, and neighbourhood more beautiful, and I know some of you are already making this community a more beautiful place by doing what it is God has asked you to do. Imagine what our church, what our community would look like if everyone here today, “In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.”(James 1:21b-25, The Message).

But how do we stop the strangle hold of worry?

1. I will do what God asks me to do.

You see the problem often is we over spiritualize things, saying God’s gong to look after everything.