I have to admit that the TV commercial caught my attention -- it offered a "Worry-Free Guarantee." I don't remember what the commercial was selling, but I'd give about anything for a "Worry-Free Guarantee."
Worry's one of my greatest lifetime challenges. I'm a bit of a worrywart; in fact, I'm a compulsive worrier. I worry about little things: aches and pains, family finances, the torn shingle on the roof. And I worry about big things: global warming, lack of health care, the food crisis, the earthquake in China, the cyclone in Myanmar, the typhoon in the Phillipines. There have been tons of things to worry about lately, so when I was pitched the offer of a "Worry-Free Guarantee" I was ready to sign up.
This all got me to thinking about Jesus' discussion of worry in Matthew 6:25-34 (read it here). Was this Jesus' "Worry-Free Guarantee"? Well, not exactly ... First of all, Jesus was a realist. He knew that there were always going to be things to worry about -- and that people are prone to worrying about those things. He said, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
In this and the surrounding chapters, Jesus was instructing his followers about how to live: be humble, give to others, pray, don't build up excess wealth, and don't worry. Jesus' "Worry-Free Guarantee" wasn't something that could be bought -- for any amount of money. It was based on a simple, yet very challenging action: Follow Jesus, live and work for God's realm in all that you do, trust God (don't worry), and all these things -- clothes, food, drink (the things that you need) -- will be given to you.
He didn't say that we would be forever free of worry if we did these things. But he gave a solution to debilitating worry. "Trust me at least as much as those birds you see who don't have barns or pantries, but must find today's food today. And trust me like the plants, the lilies that are clothed in beauty, even though their blooms will fade and fall off tomorrow. You don't see them worrying, and you're as valuable to God as they are. God is going to feed you and clothe you; just trust."
So ... there's no "Worry-Free Guarantee" for me today. But when I look at the birds eating at my birdfeeder or watch the lilies unfurling their blooms in my flower garden, I remember Jesus' words. I take a deep breath, turn my worries over to God, and receive Jesus' gift: freedom from worry, offered to me in exchange for my faithfulness. (Thanks be to God.)
Beth A. Richardson is the Editor of upperroom.org. She tries not to worry in Nashville, TN.
