Fear Not & Worry Not
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What Do You Worry About?
What Do You Worry About?
In Scripture, we’re told not to worry.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
While I’m sure you’re all quite familiar with this verse, let’s put it in some context.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I remember hearing people tell me, if you want to know what’s important to a person, look at their checkbook.
Where you put your earthly treasure says a lot about what you find important.
Or as Jesus put it, where your heart is.
When was the last time you looked at your checkbook?
Not to check the balance or pay the bills, but to see where your heart is.
Because in verse 24, Jesus gives us an important warning...
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Whom do you serve?
Do you serve God or mammon (treasure or riches).
This is the context where Jesus tells us not to worry.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Some of you may be thinking, how can I survive if I don’t care about my life or what I will eat.
I wouldn’t be surprised, because I’ve seen plenty of preachers use this verse that way.
But remember Paul’s admonition to Timothy
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Doesn’t this seem to be a contradiction?
If I’m to provide for my family, don’t I have to worry about my life, food, and clothing?
I think the answer will become apparent if we look at three biblical words.
Care, Fear, and Worry
Care
Care
Let’s start with the word “care”.
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (3199 μέλει, μέλω)
melo /mel·o/ - To care about
The disciples were afraid of the storm, but Jesus didn’t seem to care.
It seemed to the disciples that their lives meant nothing to Jesus,
They were bailing, probably panicing, and there was Jesus, fast asleep.
It appeared that Jesus was not concerned with their lives.
In other words, the disciples didn’t think Jesus cared for them
Compare this to 1 Tim 5 8
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (4306 προνοέω)
pronoeo /pron·o·eh·o/ - 2 to provide, think of beforehand. ... 2b to take thought for, care for a thing.
Just as the disciples wrongly thought that Jesus hadn’t take thought for, cared for them in this situation, many today wrongly think that caring for our own must involve fear of failure and worry about loss.
Fear
Fear
Next, let’s look at what Jesus taught about fear.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (5399 φοβέομαι, φοβέω)
phobeo /fob·eh·o/ - 1a to put to flight, to flee. 1b to fear, be afraid. 1b1 to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm.
Worry
Worry
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (3309 μεριμνάω)
merimnao /mer·im·nah·o Means to be anxious, troubled with cares.