“Be Anxious For Nothing” . . .
by Dr. Jay Worth Allen
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Anxiety. Worry. I must confess, is my besetting sin. I inherited it from my mother. Not that she ever expressed it by word, but I picked it up from her personality, and her response to situations. And it’s strange, when I think back on my childhood, I’m actually stunned, because we never wanted for anything. My father’s work supplied whatever we needed and more. He never used credit, going with Paul’s words, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another” (Romans 13:8). So our home, car(s), etc, was never in danger of reposition. I think my mother’s anxiety stemmed from her parents, who were older, and lived through the Great Depression. Anyway, whatever caused my besetting sin . . . here I am Lord.
Yes, anxiety, worry, is sin. In fact, think about this: our Lord invested a pretty hefty section of the Sermon on the Mount in warning us about the foolishness of the sin of worry (Matthew 6:25-34). He concludes that section, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Paul echoed our Lord’s command, “Be anxious for nothing . . .” (Philippians 4:6). There are few topics more cut and dried: anxiety is not to be a part of the Christian’s daily experience.
Unfortunately…anxiety is (at least for some of us), a part of our daily experience. Not just the anxiety of the regular pressures of life, but in this present day, the anxiety of the direction of the entire world, embracing the rebellion of the day like a virus of the mind, rushing toward self-destruction, or, at least it seems so to us.
The root of anxiety is distrust: we have “small faith” in God, little faith in His promises, or even His ability to carry out those promises! Do we have example after example in Scripture and in church history of those before us pressing on in faith, trusting God, and finding Him faithful? Yes! But, oh how the pressure of the moment can make us forgetful and be anxious!
In my own life, I have seen God’s faithfulness over and over and over again. Amazing, isn’t it, that we can experience God’s faithfulness and in such a short time fall into doubt and distrust? Why do our memories focus on the negative, and do not dwell on the positive?
Why? I suggest, because we do not cultivate, or, at least I do not cultivate nearly enough, the Christian virtue of thanksgiving. Spending time each day giving true, heart-felt thanks to God for all He has done for us is, I know, that is the greatest antidote for anxiety. [“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name!” (Psalms 100:4) — Why? “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (v.5)]
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).
When you look at the entire verse, the list of items provided, you cannot help but stop and go, “Man, with all the filth and insanity and depravity and lies in our society today, I do wonder what percentage of my thought-life is taken up with the very opposite of these divinely recommended things?” In fact, the Greek word λογίζεσθε, is an imperative, “think on, consider, dwell upon” these things. Not their opposites, which is what life in a rebellious age under God’s judgment forces us to do.
So think about these terms briefly with me. “Whatever is true.” These days, “by what standard” is our watchword. So many lies, so much rejoicing in falsehood! “Whatever” is σεμνά, “serious, reverent, honorable”—concepts honestly without meaning in a secular world.
Whatever is righteous, holy, just — (again, a throw-away term in the emptiness of a secular world, definable only in light of God’s revelation in Scripture).
Whatever is pure — oh my, should not our hearts long for purity in this sin-stained world?
Whatever is lovely — beautiful, like the sunrise this morning, the hummingbird at the feeder outside my window, reminders of God’s glorious beauty.
Whatever is commendable (of good report, of virtue), worthy of praise (another concept left without meaning in our DEI age).
Excellence (requires standards), worthy of praise (same), consider, think upon, dwell upon, these things, not their negations. And yet, the only way for us to do this, honestly, is to open our hearts and minds to God’s truth before we have to go forth to battle in a world intent upon falsehood, and impurity and degradation.
I know we will all face reasons for anxiety today. For me, I will surely seek to keep my Lord’s words in mind, and pray for the peace which passes all understanding, which He can provide in abundance.
© dr. jay & miss diana ministries, inc
