The Three Deadly Thorns

I. The Delusion of Worry

“but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” -Mark 4:19

Some other versions read “the cares of this world” the concerns of this world or more accurately the anxieties of life. If we get entangled in the thorns of worrying what this world can give us or what we can get from it or if all of our spiritual energy is robbed by constantly worrying about things that don't matter, then we will never be fruitful, and we go from spiritual neglect, to spiritual decay and eventually it will lead to spiritual death.

Last Sunday, I alluded to Matthew 6:25 where Jesus said “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” He then goes on to describe how sparrows don't sow or reap and he takes care of them. If he cares about something that the average person wouldn't care or notice, then how much more does he care about you! I don't know of any farmer who would feed his chickens and starve his own children. God is a good God, who will take care of us, and once we take the advice of Peter “cast all your anxieties upon him because he cares about you.” I Peter 5:7 But If all of our cares are upon fashion or food or fitness and fun then we don't understand God and truly lose the meaning of life.

I feel that its important to say that not worrying doesn't mean that we should be flippant and lackadaisical about life. Treating life as if nothing you say or do matters. Having foresight is not the same as foreboding. We should plan for things ahead of time and make adjustments, but getting an umbrella ready for tomorrow is different than pulling tomorrows clouds over today's sunshine. That's what worry does, it is interest paid on borrowed trouble. When a person gets diagnosed with cancer there are two different types of people: those who pray and fight and those who give in and surrender. You can not worry yourself to a longer life. No matter how much you do it. Did you know, that worry can actually bring about what it is you are worrying. And worrying can be contagious. Do you know a worry wort? They can be insufferable sometimes. Adrian Rogers once said “We ought to lock this people up together and let 'em worry one another and leave the rest of us alone.” It seems like they have a file system in their minds of all the endless things to worry about.

Ill. Speaking of Rev. Rogers, he told a story of a handsome young man and his new bride and adorable newborn baby coming to see him and he recalled they had furrowed brows and long faces and the pastor said “whats the problem? Tell me.” And the young man spoke up and said “Economically, I'm worried.” Then the pastor said “how is your health?” he answered “fine, as far as I know” He said “do you know how many millionares would give their fortune to have the health that you have.” and then he said “What about your wife? Would you give her up for anything?” He said “No Way! She is great I love my wife!” He then said “Do you have any idea how many people are so lonely that they would give anything to have someone to go through life with?” The pastor then asked “What about your baby? Would you ever consider giving her away?” The young man said “I wouldn't give her up for the world.” Rev. Rogers said “Do you know how many people would give the world if they could to be able to have a baby?” The pastor said “Are you an American?” “Well of course!” the young man said proudly. “Do you realize how many people are risking their very life trying to get here to be an American?” The young man was beginning to understand his point. Then the pastor said “Quit worrying about what you don't have and start appreciating what you do have!”