Care-free Living

                                                                                                                   

Aloha Dearest Family,

            When they were growing up, my children didn’t have a care in the world. They didn’t have to worry about what they were going to eat or what they were going to drink or where they would sleep at night. They had confidence that these needs would be taken care of. Their mother and I took care of all of these things. Why? Because they were our children and we wanted to take care of them. Many of us grew up the same way. But then we grew up and took on the responsibilities of life and also took on the worries and cares of the world. Cares and worries seem to be a part of life that we must endure. Or do we?

            At one time in our lives we made Jesus Christ our Lord. At this point we became sons and daughters of God (I John 3:1). The phrase “born again” literally means “born from above”. We are His because He has placed His spirit within us. So we must ask ourselves, if we are God’s children, isn’t God willing and able to take care of His children? The answer is a resounding YES!!

            The trouble is that many of us are so used to taking care of things ourselves that we are reluctant to let God handle things? After all, He’s busy with so much already, He shouldn’t have to be concerned with our problems as well. On the contrary, God wants to help. He wants us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives. He wants to fix the problems in our lives. If your child had a problem wouldn’t you want to solve it for them? God does too. Too often the children of God live in constant worry and fear because they don’t know any other way to live. In I Peter chapter 5 God shows us a better way,

            Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7) 

The first word translated care in this verse means a divided or distracted mind or anxiousness. Instead of worrying about the stresses in our lives, God wants us to cast all of our stresses upon Him. We can do this because we know that God cares for us. This care means to be of value, interest or concern. We are valued by God. Just as good parents would do, He has concern for us and wants to care for us. In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus taught his disciples a great lesson.

            Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?... Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

 The phrase take no thought means not to worry about something. Jesus is teaching them to not worry about the needs that they all had. The need for food, drink, clothing and shelter. As the last verse states, the Father knows that we have need of all these things. The next verse gives us the key point. 

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

When we seek God and His righteousness first everyday, God promises that he will supply all these needs. All we have to do is believe that He is true to His promises. God gives us this promise because He loves us and wants the best for us. And if God promises that He will supply these needs, why worry about them. Also, if God promises something, you can bet your last dollar that He will honor His promise.

            In Philippians chapter 4, God gives us a “get out of worry free verse".

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6) 

In this verse the word “careful” is an old English word that means “full of care” or anxious. We are to be anxious for nothing, (not even a little bit) but in everything let our requests be made known to God, with prayer and supplications with thanksgiving. When we make God aware of our request without worry, we can have God’s peace in our hearts as the next verse states.

            And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Why worry when He says He will provide and His peace will guard our hearts and minds.

            Just as young children do not worry about the things that they need, we as God’s children also do not worry about our needs being met. Take the above verses to heart. Make them your first response to cares and troubles that come along. Let them become first and second nature to you. We do not need to be anxious for anything because we know that our Father (the Creator of the Heavens and Earth) cares deeply for us and wants us to live a care-free life.

                                                                                    Love Always, Ray