Not One Worried Thought

"A worry-free daily living"

I REFUSE TO WORRY about money. That is at the true heart of what men call the “prosperity gospel.” What we have turned into greed and money hungry mindsets was intended to correct attitudes over acquiring and using money and also to alleviate our stress over the need for it. God wanted us to be free and to know He will supply all our needs from His generous spirit and great resources. He will do so simply and sometimes miraculously. We need only believe.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.” (Matthew 6:33 TPT)

Jesus’ talk about money was not intended to build us a bigger house and a fancier barn to hold more things so that we look exactly like the world’s rich (Luke 12:18). Nor did He want us to adopt an attitude of poverty, neither in spirit, mindset, or this physical life. We can know He loves us and takes care of us, but humility is our heart. He knew who He was as Christ, as God, yet He adored spending time with those who looked to Him. He refused to heal no one who came to Him – faith or no faith – because He is the God of great mercy. He did not turn away the woman with the alabaster jar nor Mary who wiped His feet with her hair. He ate a meal with Zacchaeus and tax collectors. Matthew, His disciple an apostle, was one. Amongst His chosen followers were fishermen, a zealot, and even the one He knew would betray Him.

Jesus came to save people. He came to return worship to the Father as it should have been but had ceased to be. Men dedicated to the temple did not help men less fortunate, nor widows, nor the poor. He spoke these words boldly to Pharisees and scribes calling them “hypocrites” for their contrasting behavior (Matthew 23:14). On the one hand, they appeared to offer prayers, but the other hand was empty with nothing physical, nothing actual, to give them, and a whole lot of pride on display (Matthew 6:2). We are to be generous, as our Father in heaven has been generous to us. He gave His all, so Jesus asks of us to go the extra mile, to give our coat as well as our shirt, and not to even ask for it to be returned (Matthew 5:40-41). We read this then look away. But what is more valuable? The things we own or freedom from the worry and fear of losing them?

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

It is freedom that Jesus’ died and was resurrected to give us. He shows us the heart of our loving Father. Both in that He sent His Son to die and in that He didn’t stay dead. He was alive in the spirit, being God, but that wasn’t all the Father desired to do. He also raised His physical body, healing it entirely. We must see His love for us in this because He will do the same for me and you (Romans 8:11). He proved this raising Lazarus from the grave and the son of the widow from Nain. There are also many Old Testament examples. And as for His heart to supply in abundance, in grandeur, we need only consider Solomon’s temple which still outweighs any other building ever created by man.

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29)

And yet, the temple in Jerusalem no longer exists but was razed by the Romans. Money and the cost of things are dispensable. God has more than enough to supply our everyday needs, and He has abundance for our future. What He asks us to do, which includes caring for our families, He will bless us financially to do. But see also that He isn’t concerned about the loss of things. When we place our circumstances, governments, jobs and careers, and all of our physical and mental needs in His hands, He will not disappoint us, and we need never waste one worried thought on them. He will direct us into things far beyond our ability to ask for or to even think up.

“With God's power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” (Ephesians 3:20 ERV)

We must nullify our need to criticize those with more than us or to use them as a point of argument. We must refuse to speak out against the world’s rich, the world’s poor, the church’s rich, the church’s poor, and see all men as in need of Jesus. This sounds like a corny statement, and I can see eye rolls from it. But He is alive, and what caused Him to lay down His life for all men, the SO LOVE of the Father, consumes Him still. He doesn’t need our defense. We are called to be holy examples of a vast supply of God’s love and goodness, and nothing looks less like Jesus than strife. Nothing looks more like Him than one who is so settled into a worry-free daily living, and no political turmoil, no money situation, no personal relationships, no sickness or disease or worldwide plague ruffles them at all.

No person ruffles them at all. But their life in all its places and pieces is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Which runs through us and exudes from us, covering all the multitude of sins in other people as well.

Galatians:
“Beloved ones, God has called us to live a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit. But don’t view this wonderful freedom as an opportunity to set up a base of operations in the natural realm. Freedom means that we become so completely free of self-indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do.” (Galatians 5:13 TPT)

“But if you are given to fighting with one another, take care that you are not the cause of destruction one to another.” (Galatians 5:15 BBE)

“But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves.” (Galatians 5:15 CEV)

“As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self - life.” (Galatians 5:16 TPT)

“Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.” (Galatians 6:2 TPT)

Love Covers Sins:
“And most of all be warm in your love for one another; because in love there is forgiveness for sins without number:” (1 Peter 4:8 BBE)

“Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ISV)

Image by Ridwan Hardjowibowo from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com