WE WORRY – WHY?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   It seems that every human being has something that plagues his/her life.

1.    Persistent sin

2.    Anger

3.    Immaturity

4.    Prejudice

5.    Self-righteousness

 

B.   One thing that all seem to battle from time to time is worry.

 

C.   In our lesson tonight, we want to tackle this giant that often steals our happiness and joy as we live the Christian life.  The title of our lesson is:  “We Worry – Why?”

 

I.             THE DEFINITION OF WORRY

 

A.   Worry is a “feeling of uneasiness” about problems, challenges, enemies, or the future.

 

B.   Dictionary.com defines worry as “to torment oneself or suffer from disturbing thoughts.”

 

C.   Worry is the affliction of the mind.

 

D.   Worry has a broad range of intensity and causes.

1.    Martha worried about Mary’s lack of participation in helping to care for her guests (Luke 10:41).

 

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.

 

2.    Paul had deep concerns for the churches he had established (II Cor. 11:28).

 

Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 

II.           THE CAUSES OF WORRY

 

A.   The Unknown

1.    None of us is able to predict the future.

2.    We get a pain in a certain part of our body that will not go away.  We go to the doctor for tests.  We wait for the results.  The unknown causes us to worry.

 

B.   The Known

1.    Often we can look down the road, knowing what is coming, and it troubles us.

2.    We use extra money to go to a concert.  A few days later the air conditioner breaks.  It is going to cost thousands to repair it.  We now worry about how we will pay for the mortgage that is soon to come.

3.    Medical procedures and medical treatments are scheduled that we know are long and painful.  We worry about them.

C.   Lack of control

1.    When we have control of things, we do not worry, but when we don’t have control we worry a lot.

2.    Some people like to be the ones who always drive the car.  If they are not driving they worry  (NOTE:  They also “worry” the driver to death if they don’t drive).

3.    In our society, we hear about Fundamental Islamic terrorist attacks in places like restaurants, night clubs, celebrations, and church buildings.  Our lack of control over these individuals causes us to worry.

 

D.   Our love and care for others

1.    All of us share close relationships with family and friends.  Our love for them often causes us to worry.

2.    We know that many children are addicted to drugs, but we do not worry too much about them.  However, let our child get addicted to drugs and we worry a lot.

 

III.         HOW TO TACKLE WORRY

 

A.   Faithfulness to God (Matt. 6:31-33)

 

Therefore take no thought, saying What shall we eat?  Or, What shall we drink?  Or, where-withal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek):  for you heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

B.   Prayer to God

1.    Two verses:

a.    I Peter 5:7

 

Casting all your care upon him:  for he careth for you.

 

b.    Philippians 4:6

 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

2.    Examples:

a.    Hannah (I Sam. 1:10)

b.    David (II Sam. 12:15-16)

c.    Jesus (Matt. 26:38-39)

 

C.   Self-preparation

1.    God has given us the ability to think, reason, plan, and make preparations.

2.    Example:  Retirement is coming.

a.    We will need a home.

b.    We will need a source of income.

c.    We will need medical coverage.

3.    Proverbs 6:6-8

 

God to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

 

D.   Developing boundaries with others

1.    Boundaries are dividing lines that separate things.

a.    A fence is a boundary.

1)    It keeps enemies out.

2)    It keeps children safe.

3)    We can open our boundaries for welcomed guests.

b.    NOTE:  People can set boundaries for us and we can set boundaries for others.

2.    Bible examples:

a.    The Jews erected boundaries against the gospel of Christ (Acts 13:46; 18:6).

 

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads.  I am clean:  from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

 

1)    I have little control over another’s boundaries.

2)    I have to accept their boundaries and not worry about them.

b.    Jesus set His boundaries with the religious leaders of His day.

1)    The disciples worried on one occasion about how the teachings of Jesus impacted the Pharisees (Matt. 15:12).

 

Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou not that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

 

2)    Jesus did not fret and worry about the Pharisees’ opinions of Him and His teachings.  He did not go crawling back to apologize.  He set boundaries (Matt. 15:13-14).

 

But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  Let them alone:  they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

 

E.   Develop a proper perspective about things.

1.    The things that we have often cause many of our worries.

2.    Some thoughts about things:

a.    No thing will last forever.

b.    Only a few things will last for a long time.

c.    Most things can be replaced.

d.    We will eventually leave all things behind.

e.    People are more important than things.

f.     Things do not provide for lasting happiness.

g.    Things often complicate our life.

h.   Things can become our gods.

i.     Earthly things can take our eyes off heavenly things.

j.     Another thing can become another fret.

k.    Things do not have souls.

l.     Things are designed to wear out and break.

3.    Two verses:

a.    Luke 12:15

 

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:  for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 

b.    Colossians 3:2

 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

F.   Let’s keep time in perspective.

1.    Job describes the swiftness of life (Job 7:6).

 

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

 

2.    As time passes, so do worries.

a.    Some worries will not matter tomorrow.

b.    Some worries will not matter a week from now.

c.    Some worries will not matter a month or a year from now.

d.    No worries will matter 100 years from now.

3.    As we live each day

a.    Trust God for his protection and deliverance.

b.    Work to solve the problems that can be solved.

c.    Live faithfully each day of our lives.

 

G.   If we are going to worry, let’s worry about spiritual things.

1.    Lost souls

2.    Problems in the church

3.    The local congregation

4.    Fatherless, widows, and hurting

5.    Elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers

6.    Truth and defeating error

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   When I preach lessons like this, people will say:

1.    Good lesson.

2.    I needed that.

3.    But, I just cannot quit worrying.

 

B.   My friend, you can worry if you want to, but “Why?”

1.    It leads to health problems.

2.    It leads to anger.

3.    It leads to doubt.

4.    It leads to unfaithfulness.

5.    It leads some to condemnation.

 

C.   Let’s keep in mind God’s promises that will combat worry (Isa. 41:10).

 

Fear thou not:  for I am with thee:  be not dismayed, for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.