If you are a human being, something like Matthew 6.25-34 is enough to make you think the Christian life is completely impossible. To be told “Don’t worry,”—you might as well be told to grow a tail.
I have heard many pastors try to soften the blow, creating a distinction between “worry” and “genuine, valid concern.” For instance, “worry” is our mental, emotional, or psychological reaction over rather trivial things. What is your reaction when there are only two eggs left in the refrigerator? Or when there is a test you haven’t studied for? Or when your underwear drawer is dwindling down and there is no detergent in the house? And it is snowing? Do you sweat? Do you panic? Do you lose sleep? If so, stop worrying!
There are even more dire things that seem important but in the grand scheme of things really aren’t. What is your reaction when the car won’t start in the morning? When dinner with friends is interrupted by an impromptu ER visit? When the furnace goes out? And it is snowing? Do you sweat? Panic? Lose sleep? Stop Worrying!
Small or big, most things are ultimately unimportant. If your reaction to those things are sleepless nights, sweaty hands, and a pounding heart, you are worrying, and worry is evil. But what happens when your spouse gets a diagnosis, and the doctor uses words like, “terminal”? What happens when you’ve been out of work for months and despite your best efforts, no work is on the horizon? What happens when it is below freezing and you’ve just been served an eviction notice and have nowhere to go? Even if your mental, emotional and psychological reaction is identical to the more trivial things, we excuse these ones because these are truly matters of life and death. These are not the objects of “worry,” per se. Instead, these are the objects of “genuine, valid concern.” In fact, to not “worry” about such things would actually suggest that you are irresponsible.
If you react a certain way over the trivial things in life, that is “worry.” If you react in the exact same way over life-and-death situations, that is more acceptable? That should make sense, but I think Jesus would disagree. The objects of worry in Matthew 6.25-34 make it seem like our distinction between “worry” and “valid concern” is artificial.
Don’t worry about what you will eat, drink, or wear. These things are trivial? Hardly. Quite the opposite, these three things are essential for survival. Jesus nowhere says that food, drink, and clothes are areas of valid concern whereas other things fall under the category of “worry.” In fact, the exact opposite point can be made: If worry over life-and-death situations is evil, how much more evil is worrying over trivial things? If Jesus condemns worrying over things essential for our survival, then there is no distinction between “worry” and “valid concern.”
In considering this, my mind begins to wonder what, exactly, is the nature of the prohibition. “Worry,” in the abstract, can be identified with many things, most of them internal; a negative mental, emotional, or psychological reaction to a situation that is dire. We lose sleep at night dwelling on a certain issue; we seem to be thinking about that one thing constantly during the day; that one thing causes us to sweat and brings all kinds of emotional and psychological turmoil; all of this is evidence of worry.
That being the case, how does a hungry father not worry about feeding his poor family when he is out of work? How can a parent of a child dying of leukemia not incur psychological turmoil? (And if I may, ask parents of a special-needs kid not to lose sleep at night wondering what will become of their kids). If a person in such a situation did not react internally with a bit of mental, emotional, and psychological angst, we would be led to believe either he was superhuman or had absolutely no conscience.
Furthermore, it seems disingenuous for Jesus to tell us not to react psychologically in those ways, when he himself lost sleep at least once in his life, sweating drops of blood the evening of his betrayal. If there is no distinction between “worry” and “valid concern,” and Jesus reacted this way in Gethsemane, is he not guilty of worry? How can you NOT worry?
I wish I had the answer, but to be perfectly honest, I don’t. One thing is certain—I am not suggesting that Jesus did, in fact, commit the sin of worry while praying under duress in the Garden. The author of Hebrews indicates that despite being tempted in every way, Jesus was nevertheless without sin (Heb 4.15). As to my own sleepless nights, here is what I think (if you have a better idea, I’d love to hear it).
While it is perhaps impossible not to think about a certain issue, it is quite possible to live there. As the parents of a special-needs child, my wife and I often hear (from parents who don’t have a special-needs kid), “Don’t compare your kid with other kids.” Really? How can I not? When my two-year old daughter knows her numbers, letters, and colors better than my five-year old son, comparison is impossible to avoid.
Thinking about the issues related to him, and experiencing related internal anguish over them are things we cannot help. However, my wife and I have resolved not to live there. We can’t help but to compare, but at some point, we must make a conscious decision to come back, put our boots on the ground, and attend to the needs of the day. By perpetually wondering, thinking, wrestling, comparing, and worrying, we will be eaten from the inside out. We own the situation we are in, and when grief comes, we grieve, but at some point, we must move on.
We cannot help but to compare. We cannot help but to lose sleep at night wondering what will come of him in the future. That is not to mention the parents who cannot help but to be concerned for their dying son. Not to mention the unemployed father who has bills overdue. Not to mention the whole host of other devastating issues people experience each and every day - problems we did not sign up for, heartaches given to us against our will, “valid concerns” that show up like an unwanted guest.
These come to everyone. If they haven’t come to you, it is only a matter of time before they do. And when they do, you have one of two options. Either you can dwell on those things, live in those things, and let those things get the best of you, or you can follow Peter’s advice, suggesting we cast all of our worries on God, knowing that he cares for us (1 Peter 5.7). This does not mean we ignore those things—that would be irresponsible. But we do not let them define us and control our lives.
In Gethsemane, Jesus could not help but to think about what he knew would come. But our Lord did not dwell there, instead resolving to submit to God’s will: “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Mat. 26.39). He did not let worry own him, and he did not let worry take his eyes off of what was ultimately most important.
And that is the key to understanding Jesus’ warning against worry. In the context of a “haplous,” singularly devoted eye that is fixed on God, things like treasures on earth and money should not distract us from what is ultimately important: keeping our eyes on God. What is more, even acquiring those things that are essential to our survival should not be enough to distract us from God.
The necessity of food, drink, and clothing; the need for employment; the need for a medical miracle—all of these things are legitimate issues that deserve our attention, but in doing so, they provide a temptation for us to take our attention off of God. That is the real danger of worry.
God is not surprised by our need: he knows it full well. He cares about the things we care about, and under the condition that we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, those things we care about—indeed, those things we need for survival—will be taken care of. When our eyes are “haplous,” singularly devoted and fixed on God, “all these things will be added.”
Is there an issue in your life, trivial or life-and-death, that is keeping you up at night, causing you mental, emotional, and psychological turmoil? Own it! Accept it! But don’t live there! Resolve to keep your eyes on God alone. Don’t let the needs of life be enough to take your eyes off of the One who can meet those needs.
Comments
Post a Comment