1) Not Worth the Worry (Harold Hancock) -1-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harold Hancock<\/p>\n\n\n\n My two-year-old daughter loves The Lion King<\/em>, especially the song \u201cHakuna Matata,\u201d which means \u201cno worries.\u201d Even though that song was at one time very popular, we still live in what is called the \u201cAge of Anxiety.\u201d Apparently, the problem of worry is not unique to our generation or Jesus never would have devoted a large section to this issue in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:25-34). And in the Parable of the Sower, He identified \u201cthe worries of the world\u201d (Mk. 4:19) as thorns that choke out the life of the Word of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s where we get our word worry. It comes from an Old English term that means \u201cto strangle.\u201d The Greek word paints a picture of a mind torn in two directions, one that is divided and distracted. It seems logical that Jesus would address His concerns for worry after saying that \u201cno man can serve two masters\u201d (Matt. 6:24). If you\u2019re occupied with worrying, how can you be working for the Master? Before we are too quick to sympathize with Jesus\u2019 audience, notice that the things we worry about are completely different than what they were worrying about. \u201cDo not worry, then, saying, \u2018What will we eat?\u2019 or \u2018What will we drink?\u2019 or \u2018What will we wear for clothing?\u2019\u201d These people were anxious about whether they would be able to put food on their tables or clothes on their backs. In other words, what they worried about make our concerns pale into insignificance. And if Jesus had to get on them for worrying about the necessities of life, what do you think He would say to us about the things that distract, and divide our minds?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I offer these suggestions as to why worry is, in fact, not worth the worry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why so much attention is given to the subject in Scripture. Jesus introduces this topic in a section on materialism \u2014 serving God vs. serving mammon. This makes an easy transition to talk about worry, because the devil doesn\u2019t care whether your heart is carried away by riches or by anxiety, just so long as it is carried away from God. When Martha was upset about Mary\u2019s listening to Jesus instead of helping her serve, Jesus told her, \u201cyou are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary\u201d (Lk. 10:38-42). Worry distracts us from the one thing we ought to be doing. In all the opinions that seem to be available in life, there are actually only two. Which will you choose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not be anxious\u2026but seek first the kingdom of God\u201d (Matt. 6:25,33,34). If you want assurance of provision, you don\u2019t seek things, you seek God. And upon securing your relationship with Him, making spiritual sustenance your priority, He will provide the daily bread. Upon making the decision to improve that area of your life, to make the righteousness of God your own, improvement in every area of life is the inevitable result. Don\u2019t get that backwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Worrying about food, drink, and clothing are things that the \u201cGentiles eagerly seek\u201d (Matt. 6:32). Jesus calls them \u201cmen of little faith,\u201d because they were acting like the Lord didn\u2019t know or care that they were hungry, thirsty, and in need of clothes. They were in covenant relationship with God but were demonstrating less faith than those who didn\u2019t know Him at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider the sparrows, five of which were sold for two cents. \u201cAnd yet not one of them is forgotten before God\u201d (Lk. 12:6). If the smallest and humblest of God\u2019s creatures are given such rich provision, what then, for the pinnacle of His creation, for those who have been made in His image and have become His children through the blood of His Son? And what about the lilies of the field, generally used for kindling? If the God of heaven has tended to the flowers whose life is but a breath and a sigh, will He not clothe with righteousness those whose destiny is eternal life? Surely a God who has given Jesus to satisfy our spiritual needs has sought out ways to provide for our physical ones as well. If He can solve our most basic problem, salvation from sin, we ought to trust Him with any other difficulty that comes our way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having worried and worried and worried about something, what good does it accomplish? What does it change? It is a useless endeavor. \u201cWho of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life\u201d (Matt. 6:27)? In fact, worry doesn\u2019t lengthen life, it tends to shorten it. Not just in the sense of \u201cworrying yourself sick.\u201d But all too often, life is what happens while we\u2019re worrying that something else will happen. Our time here is short enough as it is, a \u201cvapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away\u201d (Jas. 4:14). How much more is that vapor abbreviated when what little time we do have is wasted away with fretful, anxious care?<\/p>\n\n\n\n These passages on worry do not promote idleness, a spirit that says we can just sit back in the recliner and let God take care of everything for us. Other scriptures tell us that we must \u201clabor, performing with our hands that which is good\u201d (Eph. 4:28) and that we ought to provide for our own and for our household (1 Tim. 5:8). We need to do what we can. But we do so with the understanding that \u201cGod will take care of what we cannot\u201d (Paul Earnhart).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Worrying about tomorrow gives no respect for the troubles of today. And even those really aren\u2019t worth the worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via Articles from the Timberland Drive church of Christ, Lufkin, Texas -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg Gwin<\/p>\n\n\n\n We often hear people use the expression: \u201cEverything happens for a reason.\u201d This saying is the modern, New Age version of the old religious saying: \u201cIt\u2019s God\u2019s will.\u201d Is this true? Is there a reason for everything? Does God\u2019s will regulate all things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, some things happen because the Lord has placed certain \u2018natural\u2019 laws in place that cannot be violated without predictable results. For example: a man broke his leg. Why? What was the reason? He stepped off of a ladder and the \u2018law of gravity\u2019 prevailed. In this sense, we can understand and acknowledge that this \u2018happened for a reason,\u2019 though we doubt that this is what the New Age crowd means when they use that expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, we must essentially protest the claim that God has totally predestined our lives, or that His \u2018will\u2019 controls every aspect of our existence. The Scriptures make it clear that God gives man choice. Joshua\u2019s famous statement makes this abundantly clear: \u201cChoose you this day whom ye will serve\u201d (Joshua 24:15). We know that the invitation for salvation is open to all, but each one must decide: \u201cThe Spirit and the bride say, Come . . . and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely\u201d (Revelation 22:17). So, obviously, God has not predestined everything, else these statements about our freedom to choose would be senseless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further, we know that some things do, in fact, happen as a consequence of the choices God allows us to make. Good choices typically bring good outcomes, and bad choices produce bad ones. Many are suffering the ill effects of things they chose to do or not do, while others are enjoying the benefits of wise selections. Moses advised the Israelites: \u201cI have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live\u201d (Deuteronomy 30:19). To put it simply, choices have consequences. And while this is a definite rule of God, the specifics are determined by us and our free will, not His.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, we must note that there is not always a clear, one-to-one corollary to be seen in every event in our lives. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. Why? Frequently we can \u2018see\u2019 it, but often we can not answer, other than to lay it to the reality of living in this present world with its physical suffering and death. We may not be able to explain them, but we can use even the \u2018bad things\u2019 to provoke us to do what is right and just \u2013 as we seek for a world where such will never happen again (2 Peter 3:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via The Beacon<\/em>, February 23, 2014 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 Contents: 1) Not Worth the Worry (Harold Hancock)2) \u201cEverything Happens for a Reason\u201d (Greg Gwin)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- Not Worth the Worry Harold […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":423,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422\/revisions\/423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
2) \u201cEverything Happens for a Reason\u201d (Greg Gwin)
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Matt6_33b\"](\"https:\/\/thegospelobserver.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/12\/Matt6_33b-1.jpg?w=676\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNot Worth the Worry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Worry Sets Our Minds on the World, Not on the Kingdom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Worry Demonstrates a Lack of Faith in God<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Worry is Worthless<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Deut30_19\"](\"https:\/\/thegospelobserver.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/12\/Deut30_19.jpg?w=676\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cEverything Happens for a Reason\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent<\/strong> of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess<\/strong> faith<\/strong> in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith<\/strong>, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong> services:<\/strong>\u00a09:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday:<\/strong>\u00a07 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a> (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"