Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22
*In 1 Peter 5, the first word “CARE” or “ANXIETY” is “merimna” in the Greek which carries the idea of a distraction, care or solicitude (something that causes concern or uneasiness).
1. God tells us to “CAST” our cares on Him.
a. “CAST” = to fling something down or away, usually with force.
b. This denotes and involves an action on our part.
c. This is not a passive approach to dealing with problems, cares or concerns.
2. God tells us to cast “ALL” our cares on Him.
a. We are not told to only cast the small or large things, but all things.
b. Many people get themselves in trouble when they try to pick and choose which things they can handle on their own.
3. God says to cast “YOUR” cares on Him.
a. He makes it very personal. He is speaking to you. (Raise your hand if you are a your)
b. We often want to help others cast their own cares and concerns before the Lord, but it can be quite difficult for us to do the same with our own.
ILLUSTRATION:
Carry around a bowling ball, talking about carrying your own concerns and how they can often seem overwhelming or difficult to manage. Have others in the audience holding a golf ball, a baseball, a basketball and maybe a tennis ball. Ask who needs help unloading their cares and have someone stand with their ball. Go to them and help them to cast it before the Lord while still holding onto the bowling ball. Bowling ball may be placed on the floor momentarily, but then picked back up again.
4. God tells us to cast all our “CARES” on Him.
a. These are the things that weigh us down and concern and sometimes overwhelm us.
b. How can you practically do this? Ask yourself some questions.
i. Can ANYTHING be done about what concerns me?
1. Don’t waste time and energy where nothing can be done. We spend too much time and energy on things that are beyond human control. If there is nothing that can be done, let this thing go unto the Lord.
ii. If something can be done, CAN I do anything about it?
1. If you don’t or can’t control it, God doesn’t hold you accountable for it.
2. Never extend your responsibility beyond the limits of personal control.
3. If you can’t personally do anything, cast it on the Lord.
iii. Define what you believe you can do and when it can be done.
1. Do something immediately or make a plan to do something later and fulfill your own responsibility in the situation.
2. When you have done what you can do, cast it to the Lord.
3. We received word this week that our construction loan has been deferred. They aren’t willing to approve and loan the money at this time. To this point, there are things that we have been able to do and we have done them completely as far as the loan is concerned. The letter we received outlines some additional steps for us to take in order to go before the review board again. Those things will be completed quickly and at that point, we will again cast it before the Lord.
*In 1 Peter 5, the second word “CARES” is “melo” which means we are of interest to God or we matter to Him.
