Why Worry?

Waste no time in fret, while your race is run,
Dear child of God; He provides what you need.
Each sparrow that falls, He sees ev'ry one;
He garbs the lily in beauty indeed.
How much greater worth on you is placed,
Who shows the world how much the Lord loves men.
Silent, the flower in beauty encased,
Yet shouts to all, "On God, you can depend!"
What marvelous orchid has Satan made?
On what bird has he portrayed paradise?
Why, O why? Can you not accept the Christ?
Nothing was made in His image but man;
Why worry, when you're safe in His hand?

Jesus commanded us not to worry about basic necessities in 10 verses of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:25-34. You should read the passage and meditate on it long and hard, because it means more than a lot of Christians think.

Our society is rife with pride, including believers, which is really what Jesus is preaching against. We used to call it, 'Keeping up with the Joneses'. When the Joneses bought a new car, we had to also; but ours had to be a little bigger, or have a new 'extra' that they didn't have. Advertisers quickly based their message on that tendency, and it's been going strong ever since. Right now, the fad is the MP3, or the cell phone that can do everything but train the cat to use the litter box. The entire American economic system is built on nothing but the sin of pride.

Jesus is saying in the passage cited that any time you fret about buying something that is stylish, or faddish, or to be seen as well off as others, you are committing sin. In my opinion, more than 50% of the money we spend is for items that are not basic needs but that which 'keeps us up with the Joneses'. That means 50% of our money, and, therfore, time, because time equals money, is wasted on vanity and pride; thereby depriving our striving for righteousness with Christ the same portion of our lives.

We believers ought not spend money for anything beyond basic need, whether it's a 'stripped-down' car, a smaller house, less stylish---therefore cheaper---clothes, cell phone that only conveys our voices, etc.; and we ought to tithe our money, instead of robbing God. Jesus told us to love the Joneses, and everybody else, not to keep up with them. 'Keeping up' is from Satan; nowhere else.

Excuse me, dear ones, but I have told you the gospel truth you need to know.