Jump Start # 1625

Matthew 6:27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”

  This week we have been taking a stroll down a hallway of attitudes, feelings and emotions that we don’t like to look at. We study these things in Bible classes. We hear preachers warning us of these things in sermons, but still they seem to linger in the background of our hearts. Hatred…fear…guilt…and now, worry. Fear and guilt often fear worry. The more we fear, the more we tend to worry. We worry about the past. We would like to go back and have some do overs. We understand that we are forgiven, but it remains that we sure wish we didn’t say what we did. We worry about our kids. We worry that too much TV will make them blind. We worry that too much sunlight will give them cancer. We worry about how much sugar they eat. We worry about their safety. The news media makes our worries more intense. Have you noticed that during a newscast, the anchors will toss out a teaser and then break for a commercial? You’ll hear such things as, “The water you drink is killing you. More after our commercial break.” Or, “the air that you breathe is deadly for you. Stay tuned, right after our commercial break.” These things usually happen when I am doing the very thing that we are warned about. So we hold our breath until the commercials are over. Fear feeds worry.

We worry about tomorrow, even though Jesus tells us not to do that. We worry about this country, our jobs, and what might happen tomorrow. We worry about how others view us. We worry about how fat, bald, gray we are becoming. We worry about doctor’s appointments. We worry waiting for the results of tests.

Like the other topics this week, hatred, fear, and guilt, worry can consume, cripple us and destroy us. We can worry ourselves to death.

Our verse today, found in the midst of a section about worry, reveals how unproductive worry is. It doesn’t accomplish anything useful. It doesn’t help us. We are not better because we have worried about things. I find it interesting that some will hide their worry behind the word “concern.” Paul was concerned about the churches. We use the same word, but unlike Paul, we are actually worried. There is a difference. Worry doesn’t do anything good about a problem and what it does is  hurt us. Concern leads to positive actions. Paul was concerned about the churches so he sent preachers, wrote letters and even visited places himself. His concern led to actions, positive actions that helped the situation. Worry would have Paul tossing and turning all night, getting an ulcer and being doubtful. Paul didn’t worry.

Our verse is translated differently in the King James and the New American Standard. The overall outcome is the same, but the illustration is different.

In the King James, the expression is: “add a single cubit” to his life. A cubit is a form of measurement. We might say “inches.” Here is a guy who is short. He’s been short all his life. He’s heard all the short jokes. He’s been teased about what he is going to do when he “grows up.” His size bothers him. The Lord asks, can worry make him grow taller? Can he add a single cubit to his life? Can he take away wrinkles by worrying? Can he lose weight by worrying? Can he make his hair grow by worrying? Worry won’t do any of those things.

In the New American Standard, the expression is: “add a single hour to his life?” Here it sounds like the length of life not the length of the body that is being emphasized. Can you live longer by worrying? Can you live better by worrying? Can you live happier by worrying? The answer is no. Worry won’t do anything that you want. Worry won’t get the kids home when it is past their curfew. Worry won’t keep your job with the company has announced layoffs. Worry won’t make the surgery a success. What can help, is prayer. Praying to God can and will do things. This is why Peter tells us to cast all our anxieties upon Him because He cares for us. Worry, excludes God. Prayer invites God. Worry tries to fix things on your own. Prayer and faith realizes that we need the Lord.

How can a person keep from worrying? I’ve heard people say, “I just can’t stop worrying?” Yes, you can. If God tells us, as He does in Matthew 6, to “not be anxious,” then it is possible. Believe it. That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard, nor will it be without effort on your part. To not worry, is not to say that you won’t be bothered by things. You will. Things happen. Things upset us. People hurt us. Things are not as they should be. But instead of keeping those thoughts within you and allowing those thoughts to control you and dominate you, you give them to the Lord. You pray to the Lord. Your faith and trust in God will get you through. God’s been there for you in the past hasn’t He? Do you remember? Trust Him. Obey Him. Follow Him.

The stronger the faith, the less the worry. Spend time with the disciples in the boat while a storm is raging. They woke Jesus up thinking that they were going to perish. They asked, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” They didn’t ask Jesus to stop the storm. They didn’t ask Jesus if the storm was greater than His powers. They asked, “Do you not care…” Jesus always cares. Jesus stopped the storm. The terrified disciples were now more afraid of the One who could control the weather with just the words of His mouth. Faith. Faith overcomes worry. Faith conquers our fears. Faith is what will get us through.

Our faith grows as we spend time with the Bible. Feed your faith. Look deeply into the word of God. Lower your nets. Peel back the layers. Lesson upon lesson is found in the Gospel stories.

Here are some things we know:

1. God is always upon the throne. Always. It is never empty. It is never occupied by a preacher, prophet or someone else. No matter what happens in politics, God is in charge.

2. God has a plan that no one can stop or overturn. His kingdom cannot be shaken. The gates of Hades cannot prevail over God’s church. God has promised. Jesus said, “Where I am, there you may be. The righteous will be with the Lord. Do not fear what man can do to you. Do not fear the one who can take your life and do no more. God has a plan. It will be exactly as God has said.

3. God has a proven track record of being there for His people. The cries in Egypt were heard by God. The lonely Joseph in a prison cell was recognized by God. Daniel in the lion’s den…Peter in prison…the bent over  woman…the death of Lazarus…Paul’s ship wrecks…God was there.

4. God wants us to believe. We walk by faith and not by sight. We see the invisible. We fix our eyes upon Jesus. Those powerful expressions are not cute things to put in a church bulletin, they are the substance, hope and confidence that allows a child of God to endure hardships. Fear not what you are about to suffer is what the brethren at Smyrna were told. Satan is going to cast some of you in prison. Be faithful until death. Believe. Never stop believing.

5. God is greater than anything we face. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Worry questions that. Worry sees the giants in our lives. Worry fixes itself upon the problems. Worry is negative, defeating and giving up. Faith overcomes. Faith may not see the answer, but it sees the God who sees all things.

Why worry when you can believe? Why worry when it doesn’t do you any good? Why worry when it takes you away from God. Stop the worry and start trusting God. He is good to you. He treats you better than you deserve.

Hatred…fear…guilt…worry—it’s time to dump the trash in our hearts and fill our lives with the living word of God.

Roger

Jump Start # 1624

Matthew 27:5 “And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”

This week we are looking at the feelings, attitudes and emotions that often consume us and should not be a part of our hearts as we walk with Christ. However, too often these are. They affect us, often define us and even defeat us. Hatred, fear and now we look at guilt. Guilt comes in different flavors and strengths. There is remorse. There is regrets. There is shame. There is embarrassment. These are connected  to guilt.

Our verse today, about Judas, illustrates how guilt can consume a person to such a depth that he sees no way out. For some, it’s walking away from a marriage. For others, it’s pills or the bottle. For others, it’s suicide, the route that Judas took.

On the surface, it’s hard to figure Judas out. He got what he wanted. He turned Jesus over to the Jewish hierarchy and was paid for his evil duties. There were no surprises in this. There had been earlier attempts on Jesus’ life. Once, they tried to stone Him. On another occasion, they tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. Each time, somehow, Jesus got away. But this time, He didn’t. The Jews got the Romans involved. Pilate. Soldiers. Crucifixion. Jesus was not getting out, not this time. Remorse hit Judas. The lust for easy money overcame him. When he thought about it, he regretted it. There was no going back now. It was too late. The deed was done. It was done before all the apostles. It was done with the soldiers. Everyone knew. And now, Judas was a man without a county. Who would stand with Judas? Not the apostles. Not the Romans. Not the Jews. His selfish thirst for gain, cost him everything. He now had nothing, including Jesus. The Lord had been good to Judas. He had washed his feet. He had fed him. He had witnessed the goodness of the Savior. Diseased and demon possessed people were cured because of Jesus. There never was a mean moment with Jesus. True to His cause and purpose to the very end. And in that late night garden prayer, here came Judas with an armed mob to take Jesus away. His greed overcame sense, reason and even friendship. He had ruined a relationship with Jesus. For three years Judas had traveled with Jesus and the eleven. Friendships formed. Bonds were made between them. They had been in storms together. They had seen the most unbelievable. And now, for a few pieces of silver, he ended all of that. His shame and his guilt destroyed him.

Guilt is the after taste of wrong. One doesn’t feel guilty when they have done right. We don’t leave worship services with a sense of shame and guilt. It’s when we know that we have done something wrong that guilt comes. Guilt is a feeling and an emotion given by God. Guilt is based upon a person realizing that they have done something wrong. God doesn’t expect us to live with guilt. That guilt ought to drive us to the mercy of God. Guilt can lead to positive changes. But, guilt can overcome a person. A person may think that they are too far gone for even God to save. Guilt of being caught, guilt of embarrassment has ruined many hearts.

The moment of passion can catch a person. Reason is tossed out. The next thing you know a person has crossed the line of fidelity and they have broken their vows. It was exciting and fun. They felt alive. But now, after the fact, reality catches up with them. They realized what they have done. There is no do-overs. That guilt and the fear of a mate finding out, leads to running away, and even suicide.

Guilt is something that all of us should have experienced in our lives. The Bible tells us that all of us have sinned. That fact. That reality. That understanding ought to make a person feel wrong. They were wrong. Don’t try to excuse the sin. Don’t justify it. Don’t hide it. Don’t rename it. Don’t try to make it pretty. Don’t laugh it off. Don’t blame others. We have sinned. We have broken the heart of God. We have disappointed God. We chose silver over Jesus. We let the Lord down. That ugly feeling of guilt will drive us to our knees or make us run from God. Those that run, ruin their conscience. They devote a lifetime to sin and no longer do they blush. Their mouths become filthy. They ways wicked. Their hearts cold and calloused. They ignore and refuse to acknowledge God. They take the Holy name of God in vain. They have sold their souls to the devil.

For others, guilt leads us home. I expect the prodigal walked home differently than the way he left. He left with a pocket full of money and a head full of wild ideas. He came home broken, ashamed and guilty. The guilty walk with their heads down. The guilty look guilty in the eyes. Guilt can lead us to God’s forgiving grace. It is the mercy of God that we now seek. Sorry. Promising to do better. Begging for a second chance. The guilty can find hope in a God that forgives.

Feeling guilty is not a place that most want to be. We can feel guilt because we forgot someone’s birthday or our own anniversary. We can feel guilt because we promised to be there for someone and we weren’t. The greatest guilt comes from moral failures. We hurt a friendship because we gossiped. We broke the rules and got kicked out of school, fired from a job or arrested by the police. The elders of the church come to our home to talk to you about some things you have done that has hurt other members. Guilty. Caught. Ashamed.

What one does with their guilt shows what they are made of. It reveals their character and their faith. Stop trying to manifest a image of perfection. You only fool yourself when you do that. Be honest and be real. We fumble the ball. We let others down. We break God’s commands. We hurt our family. We disappoint others. The finger points at us. Each of us, sitting in a circle, could stand up, say our name and confess, “I am a sinner.” Do you continue to beat yourself up for those mistakes and sins? Do you punish yourself? Do you remain on guilt street? Do you throw in the towel on all things good and decent? Do you quit life? Do you seek the mercy of God and the forgiveness of others?

God uses guilt to move us closer to Him. God does not intend for us to live with guilt the rest of our lives. Guilt will destroy. Guilt will keep us from reaching the heights that God wants.

One more thing about guilt. Some folks use guilt to pressure and get what they want from another. Parents can do this. Along with the Thanksgiving mashed potatoes, comes a heaping of guilt. “You don’t call us very often.” “Why don’t you come around more?” “One of these days, we won’t be here and then you’ll have all the time to run around with your friends.” Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

Some refuse to release us from guilt. They don’t want to forgive. They want to remind you of what you did that was wrong. They don’t plan on forgetting and they certainly don’t plan on you ever forgetting. They continue to pick at the scab so the wound never heals. That adds to the guilt. They now have a problem and that is not forgiving. They are now wrong with God because they will not release the pain that you have caused. So, the guilt remains.

From Disney’s Frozen, we need to just “Let it go.” Let it go. Learn. Do better. Seek forgiveness. Make it right. Apologize. Then let it go. If you don’t, if you won’t, if you can’t, the guilt will become a monster inside of you and it will change you for the worse. Sour. Miserable. And ugly, you become because of the guilt.

Apologize where you can. Make it right where you should. Seek the forgiveness of God and others. Then, “Let it go.”

Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving…until it destroys you.

Roger