Worry will be the death of you - if you let it Mt. 10:24-39
Story: A business manager went on holiday to an island in Greece.
One day, while he was on the beach, he was called up on his mobile phone by his secretary, wanting some help.
He gave her some instructions and told her to call him back when she had finished.
As he was pacing up and down waiting for a return phone call, he came across a fisherman, dozing in the shade of his fishing boat, that had been pulled up on the beach.
As the manager passed, the fisherman woke up and the manager decided to talk to him.
“The weather is great and there’s lots of fish.
So how come you are sitting about here - when you could be out there - catching more fish?”
Gently, the fisherman replied: “Because I caught enough this morning”
“But just imagine” the manager replied “if you went out twice a day, you could bring home twice as much fish.
And do you know what could happen?
Puzzled, the fisherman shook his head.
“Well” the manager continued - waxing lyrical to his theme “you could buy yourself a motorboat.
And then, after say a couple of years you could buy a second one.
Then perhaps after three years you could have a cutter or two.
And just think, one day you might be able to buy a freezing plant.
Then you could go on to get your own helicopter to help you trace shoals of fish for your fishing fleet.
You could then buy your own truck to ship the fish to the capital thereby cutting out the middle man”
“And then what” the fisherman replied.
“And then “the manager concluded triumphantly “you wouldn’t have to worry.
You could then sit down calmly on the beach, dozing in the sun and looking at the beautiful ocean.”
“ Well, what do you think I am doing now!” the fisherman replied.
We all worry at some time or other, often about money and the future.
Jesus, in our Gospel reading, sent his disciples out to preach the Good News that the Kingdom of God is near (Mt. 10:7).
We also call it the Great Commission
He recognised that preaching the Gospel would result in conflict.
There would be those who would accept their word and there would be those who would not accept their word.
And Jesus realised that when the disciples ran into inevitable opposition, they would be afraid.
He realised that they would worry.
And so Jesus said to his disciples : “Do not fear….” (Mt. 10:31), because God is interested in the smallest details of your life and won’t let you down.
In Jesus’ day, there was a real danger of being killed for preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
1st Century Palestine was seething with unrest - under the yoke of Roman rule.
And anyone who threatened the delicate status quo ran a serious risk of being put to death.
And as we all know - Jesus himself was crucified for his radical message.
Christ called his disciples to preach the Gospel with boldness and not to be afraid.
And to rely on God for their protection.
And he calls us too - to serve God by preaching the Gospel.
And therefore to rely on God for our security.
Story: The other day I was reading a book by Robert Maasbach called “with Christ at the Throne of God”
At the time I was being tempted to worry about church.
And then I read this passage - that hit me between the eyes.
Robert wrote this:
“Many years ago, when I was pressed beyond measure and could not bear it any longer I cried out “Help me Jesus! You must give me someone to stand with me. I am all alone.” The Lord spoke to me and said ”until you learn to stand alone with me, I cannot add anyone to you.” I shouted in praise “Jesus, You are more than enough for me” He said to me “Son , this battle is not yours, it is mine, I am with you.”
Robert went on to comment:
“This is the grace of God in Christ Jesus – nothing or no one can separate you from His love. He is always with you to help you and bring you through whatever you are going through. (“with Christ at the Throne of God” Robert Maasbach p 22. )
In England, we are most unlikely to face death for being a follower of Christ.
Story: But that hasn’t always been the case.
Nearly 460 years ago, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, the founder of the Anglican Church was burnt at the stake on 21st March 1556 in Oxford for the sake of the Gospel.
We might not have to fear for our lives, but we can be tempted to be fearful about other things.
1. Failure
Some of us worry that we will fail, and that worry can keep us from taking the necessary risks in order to succeed in the first place.
Story: When I was about 11, I went on a week’s sailing course with the Army in Germany and at the end of it, I just failed the sailing proficiency test.
My father had come down and the instructors asked me to take it again as they were sure I could pass
But I worried about failing in front of my father, and so I did not retake the test - even though I could well have passed it.
2. Our families
Some of us worry about our families – how our children will fare in the future.
Story: When our oldest son Jonny emigrated to Switzerland two years ago, I worried if he’s ever find a job and stick at it.
A year later in a steady job, he recently told me proudly: “Dad I am earning more than you!!”
And what is even more wonderful is that he has come back to the Lord after a time in the wilderness.
3. Fear of rejection
Others fear rejection to the point where they will not risk loving others just in case they get hurt in
the process.
We can get really wound up worrying.
Story: Someone once said:
“Worry is like a rocking chair, it uses up your energy without getting you anywhere”
Dr. Charles Mayo of the famous Mayo Clinic said this about worry:
” There is a growing mountain of evidence that worry is the chief contributor to depression, nervous breakdowns, high blood pressure, heart attacks and early death. Stress kills. I’ve never known a man die from hard work but I have known a lot who have died from worry.”
So what is the solution to worry?
Jesus told us not to be afraid. So take Jesus at his word.
Why because our heavenly Father cares for us.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus said that God knows us and watches over us, to the point of being able to count the number of hairs on our head. (Mt 10:30)
That’s the interest that God has in each one of us!!
We can bring our problems to him.
The challenge for me is this “Who is in control in my life?”
Is it God or do I have to rely on my own efforts?
If the Lord really is No. 1 in my life, then I must resist my natural tendency to worry. That doesn’t mean we should not plan. It means don’t worry.
I can do this by drawing aside from the situation and bringing it to God in prayer.
Prayer is our way of saying. “Heavenly Father, I know you love me and I know you want to guide me in the situation. I need help.”
Story: Last year I was worried that I wouldn’t get enough people together to lead a pilgrimage to Israel.
Yet God had it all in his hand and we had a wonderful time
And we had a wonderful group – no one complained!!
And what was so very special for me was when we came to renew our baptismal vows in the Jordan river.
I did this by sprinkling water over the head of each one of the party individually as they renewed their baptismal vows.
When eight Orthodox believers from Bethlehem saw us do this - they approached our Guide and asked him if I could do this for them.
I was delighted to do so for them and they hugged and kissed me after I had reaffirmed their baptismal vows by sprinkling them with water from the Jordan River - with our Roman Catholic guide translating into Arabic for me.
A truly ecumenical event.
Jesus didn't worry - instead he used to regularly draw aside to pray - to spend time with his Father.
His source of strength was derived from hearing his Father’s words and then doing them
We - as his disciples - would do well to follow his example and learn to listen and obey our loving Heavenly Father .
