Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Worry”
Our Bible verse for today: “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress …” James 1:27 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Care about the right things.”
So much of what we worry about is small potatoes. Seriously, in a world filled with wars and famines, natural disasters and persecuted Christians, how much sleep do we allow ourselves to lose over small and silly things? If you’re like me then the answer is, “A lot!” I spend far too much time worrying about things that really shouldn’t matter much.
The truth is that all of us (especially those of us in safe and comfy places like the USA), spend far too much time thinking and worrying about problems that in the grand scheme of things, matter very little. Our goal shouldn’t necessarily be to not worry, but to worry about the right things.
In his book “Resilience”, former Navy Seal Eric Greitens offers this valuable insight:
“The aim in life is not to avoid struggles, but to have the right ones; not to avoid worry, but to care about the right things; not to live without fear, but to confront worthy fears with force and passion.”
When Eric writes in the above passage that it’s ok to “worry” he’s not talking about needless anxiety over things that don’t really matter. He’s referring to caring deeply and passionately about things that do matter.
An example of this is found in the passage from James above. God wants us to focus our thoughts, our attention, and our effort on people in need and on issues that matter. That’s a common theme woven all throughout the Old and New Testaments. Don’t waste your emotional energy on small stuff that neither you nor anyone else is likely to even remember by next week! Save it for the things that matter.
Our goal in life ought to be to worry (care) about the right things. What are you worried about today?
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 