Worry

Let us start off by defining what I mean by worry.

A. The bible doesn’t even use the word, “worry”...it

uses the words, “careful”, or “cares”.

1. The Greek word that is used is the word

merimnao - merimnaw.

a. The definition for this word is: to be

anxious about.

2. There is a time and place for genuine and

real concern but a Christian should not allow

anxiety to set in.

We have an old English meaning for the word, “worry” which,

even though it has passed out of use, it gives us the best definition

of what the word really means:

A. They used to speak of a dog “worrying” his prey,

or a person “worrying” his sore that had scabbed

over.

1. It means to keep on messing with it...to keep

bringing it back up...something that has your

attention that you should leave alone.

It’s perfectly permissible to be concerned with the fact that you

don’t have enough money to pay the bills, but it turns into an

illegitimate worry when the solution to the problem starts to

consume an unrealistic amount of your time and energy.

Let us take a look at a passage in which Christ addressed the idea

of worry.

A. It may be hard to put into practice, but it still is the

best advice that we could ever have on the subject

(Matt. 6:25-34).

In the time that we have left I would like to address some remedies

for worry.

I. Do not borrow worry...there are plenty of problems to

deal with and if we worry about each one that comes

along, we will soon be consumed with worry.

(Matt. 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for

tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is

its own trouble.

A. There are a multitude of things out there that can

consume us, if we let them:

1. Our health.

2. The things that we own.

3. The fear of accidents.

4. Aging.

5. Criticism from others.

** Just know this...WORRY IS COMPLETELY

USELESS.

B. Some would say, “It helps me be better prepared

for the bad that might come my way”.

1. In truth, it does not prepare you for reality.

a. When we worry about what might

happen, we worry in the “worst case

scenario” mode.

1.) Think about the things that you

have worried about in the past...

did they turn out as terrible as you

had anticipated?

a.) Probably not...worry

can really change

nothing.

(Luke 21:34 - “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be

weighed down with...(the) cares of this life...”)

** In short, worry is a negative...it has no positive benefits...

and it goes against everything that the Lord, Jesus Christ

told us.

II. I’ve already touched on it in my last point, but let me

expand on the subject...NOTHING IS

ACCOMPLISHED BY WORRY (Matt. 6:26-33)

A. Let us just realize a truism...The past is gone and

the future is not even a reality.

1. We may be worrying about something in the

future that may never touch us.

a. It is possible that situations will change

and what we think is going to happen

never does.

b. It is also quite possible that we may not

live another day.

(James 4:14 - “Whereas you do not know what will happen

tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears

for a little time and then vanishes away.)

(Read the story of the rich farmer - Luke 12:13-20)

B. What can be changed by the worry?

1. We can’t pay the bills with worry (no-

body will accept this as payment).

2. Our health will not improve with worry.

a. As a matter of fact, it may just get

worse FROM THE WORRY!

3. Worry is no protection from accidents.

a. Again, it is possible to create

accidents...BY WORRYING.

III. The remedy for worry...

A. Psalm 37:5 - “Commit your way to the Lord,

trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

1. Turn it over to God (Commit your way to

the Lord)

a. Your worry can’t do a thing about the

problem, but GOD CAN!

2. Trust in God (trust also in Him).

a. Perhaps we’ve been “burned” way

too much by trusting someone.

1.) Trust God...YOU WILL NEVER

BE “BURNED”.

Psalm 55:22 - “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall

SUSTAIN you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved

(shaken)”.

Proverb 16:3 - “Commit your works to the Lord, and your

THOUGHTS WILL BE ESTABLISHED.”

1. In other words, you will have “peace of mind”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - “Blessed (happy) is the man who trusts in the

Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree