The Great Evils of Worry
By A. Sims
Never under any circumstances give place to worry — fight it as you would a plague. There is nothing we know of so utterly inconsistent with a life of trust as worry. If you trust you do not worry. If you worry you do not trust. Worry should ever be regarded as sin for the following reasons:
1. Because it is absolutely useless. It cannot accomplish any good. It ought, therefore, to be renounced. “which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27). There is no reward for worry; there is much reward for rest.
“Sometimes,” says John Newton, “I compared the troubles we have to undergo in the course of a year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to carry the whole at once; He mercifully unties the bundles, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry tomorrow, and so on. This we might easily manage if we would only take the burden appointed for us each day; but we choose to increase our trouble by carrying yesterday’s stick over again today and adding tomorrow’s burden to the load before we are required to bear it.”
2. Because its indulgence is an injury to the body. It is not work, but worry, that kills men. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Prov 17:22).
3. Because it leads us to make mistakes. When our hearts are agitated, we cannot have a sound judgment. In that perturbed state of mind, we are very apt to see things from the wrong standpoint. Is it not too true?
4. Because it leads to sin. Almost invariably worry tends to impatience and irritability. So saith the Word of God, “Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (Psalm 37:8)
5. Because it is unlike Jesus. We read of Christ being “grieved” and “sorrowful,” but never of Him being worried; and when we are seen anxious and troubled it reminds those around us more of the absence of Jesus than of His presence within us.
6. Because it interrupts our communion with God. Rev. F. B. Meyer says: “Two things come between our souls and unshadowed communion with God__ sin and care. We must be as resolute to cast our care on the Lord as to confess our sins to Him, if we would ‘walk in the light as He is in the light’.
7. Because worry is disobedience to God’s plain command. He says: “Be careful for nothing” (Phil 4:6). A holy but very busy man once said, “I hear of earthly care, but I have it not.” A poor colored woman said of her care, “If I cannot cast it, I will roll it over on Him, I will get it there some way, because He says I may”. Happy soul! The Psalmist says: “rest in the lord; wait patiently for Him”. Be silent to God and let Him mold thee. Keep still and He will mold thee to the right shape. Finally: “Be careful supplication let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
As a striking illustration of how the above verse works out in the daily life, we give the following wonderful experience as related by Mr. Hugh Capron:
I happened to be dining one evening as a guest in the hall of one of the great city companies. At the table I found myself seated beside a youthful looking matron of girlish appearance and lively manners. After a few of the usual preliminary platitudes we glided into an easy conversation. She told me that she had been married some two or three years to an invalid husband and had two sickly children. Though her family was socially well connected, their means was small, and the heavy expense entailed by illness, coupled with her husband’s inability to practice his profession had reduced their income to a minimum. “In fat,” she said, “sometimes when I go to bed at night I scarcely know where tomorrow’s meals are coming from.” I remarked that she seemed to have her full share of troubles and I asked if she did not find the anxieties of life almost overwhelming. “Anxiety,” she replied, “Oh no, I never feel that. Troubles always seem to me so intensely interesting. Every difficulty that comes along is a perpetual source of interest and wonder to see how God will get me out of it. What study could be more enthralling? People talk of an incident being as good as a play. My life is much better than a play to me. To stand aside and watch God’s every — varying but never — falling methods of extricating me from me, is a thousand times more engrossing than the most thrilling drama that was ever written. Knowing as I do from past experience that in every difficulty He will somehow or other land me safely on the other side, I can find no room for anxiety. The only element of doubt in the problem is contained in the absorbing question — How is He going to do it? And it is just this tincture of doubt and uncertainty that gives to life zest. Why, “she added, with a fine touch of enthusiasm, “if you were to strip life of what you call its cares and anxieties, you would rob it of nearly all its interest and quite all it’s worth”.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)
“Casting all your upon him: for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7)