Seeking not to worry

Do you ever worry?  What do you worry about?

I think it is safe to say that many of us worry.  We worry about our health and our wealth. We worry about our children, our parents, and our pets. We worry! For most of us it is second nature to us. We worry because we care. We care about ourselves and about others. Who can fault us for that?

But Jesus says in Matthew 6:33:

“Seek first [God’s] kingdom and [God’s] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Seeking God’s kingdom on earth is to love God, love neighbour, love self.

As Jesus said, 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”  Matthew 22:37-39

Seeking God’s righteousness means ­accepting all three—accept that God is Lord, that our neighbours are God’s children too, and that we are loved by God.

Accepting and acting on these three aspects of the two great commandments brings peace in our hearts. If everything we do is seen and lived through this lens, then we know that our days are in God’s hands.

So focus first on the God who loves you, and who cares for the people you love.

And God’s promise is clear:

“‘Seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord” Jeremiah 29:13-14

Even though to worry is natural, before we go there… let’s seek God first!

Feeling inadequate

Ever feel insecure?  Just don’t measure up to the next person?  Have you ever met someone that seems to have it all together?  Wakes up at the crack of dawn to pray for hours, spews scripture like nobody’s business, serves the community, never gets tired, never gets sick, never fights with their spouse, never selfish, never has doubts?  Ugh!  I am definitely not that person!  I so often feel wholly inadequate.

But when I read the Word of God, here is what I find encouraging:

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed  you as a prophet to the nations.”

“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

But the Lord said to me,  “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.  —Jer. 1:4-8

You know what I love about this?  In these verses God doesn’t just give Jeremiah a pep talk, like ‘You can do it, Jerry! Go Jerry Go!”  God knows all about Jeremiah. After all, God created him (v.5).  It’s as though God is saying “don’t worry if you are feeling inadequate, listen up - I AM not. No excuses - let go of the baggage - and just trust me — WE got this!”

If you take a read through the Bible, you will discover that God used a great number of individuals who didn’t have it altogether, to accomplish amazing things!

• Noah was a drunk! (Genesis 9:21)

• Abraham thought he was too old! (Genesis 17:17)

• Isaac was a liar, just like his Dad! (Genesis 26:7, 20:2)

• Jacob was a liar & a schemer! (Genesis 27:19 and many more!)

• Leah was plain (ugly?)! (Genesis 29:17)

• Joseph was abused! (Genesis 37:18f and many more!)

• Moses had a speach problem! (Exodus 4:10)

• Gideon was afraid! (Judges 6:27)

• Samson had long hair and was a womanizer! (Judges 16:17, 14:2, 16:1)

• Rahab was a prostitute! (Joshua 2:1, 6:17)

• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young! (Jeremiah 1:6, 1 Timothy 4:12)

• David was an adulterer and a murderer! (2 Samuel 12:9)

• Elijah was suicidal! (1 Kings 19:4)

• Isaiah preached naked! (Isaiah 20:2-3)

• Jonah ran from God! (Jonah 1:3)

• Naomi was a bitter widow! (Ruth 1:20)

• Job went bankrupt! (Job 1:13-19)

• Peter denied Christ! (Matthew 26:69-74)

• The Disciples fell asleep while praying! (Matthew 26:40-43)

• Martha worried about everything! (Luke 10:40-41)

• The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once! (John 4:18)

• Zaccheus was too small! (Luke 19:3)

• Paul was too religious! (Philippians 3:4-6)

• Timothy had an ulcer! (1 Timothy 5:23) AND

• Lazarus was dead! (John 11:1-44)

God was able to use all of these people.  God’s plan and purposes were fulfilled through each of them. What I love is that we don’t have to be perfect for God to use us.  We just have to trust that God is perfect and has a plan for our lives.

Get Ready!

So confession time… I do not like the feeling of being unprepared. Have you ever had a dream of taking a test you haven’t prepared for? That is my nightmare!

I have colleagues who write their sermons on Saturday night. That works for them, but I would be sick to my stomach if I were writing hours before preaching.  And for me it’s not just about being prepared with preaching, it is about all aspects of my life. If I am throwing a dinner party, packing for a trip, having guests to the cottage, or whatever it is, I want to be prepared.  I want to think ahead and anticipate my needs and the needs of others. Sure I can go to the grocery store without my list and “wing it”, but chances are I will have to go back because I will have inevitably forgotten something.

Preparation gives me a sense of security and makes me feel like there is a greater chance of success. Being ready also gives me a sense of comfort so that when the uncertain, unpredictable things in life happen, I am ready (as best I can be ;). But being prepared also allows me to make the most of every opportunity.

I saw a quote that said:  “When opportunity knocks, it’s too late to prepare.” [J. Wooden, UCLA basketball coach]

Isn’t that the truth??  God gives us opportunities to be prepared for, so that in the right time God can work through us.  For instance, how can I be present with a friend if I am always scrabbling to get my work done?  Or, how can I be generous with my money, if I haven’t saved a little first? God can use us in mighty ways if only we would spend some time laying the groundwork of preparation.

Proverbs 24:27 says, “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” (NIV)

We need to make sure we are doing things in the proper order in our life. Too many times we want the house without taking time to til the soil and plant. That’s not how things work. If you want God to use you in a certain way, there are things you need to be doing today to prepare for it.

So friends, get ready. Be faithful in the preparation and see how God will entrust you with the opportunities that God has planned for you.