Worry, Worry, Worry

Philippians 4:2 (NET) - Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

Scripture tells us time and again that we should not worry.

The words “Fear not” immediately spring to mind.

Good advice.

But some have even gone so far as to say that if you worry then you are not really a Christian.

My mother was a worrier.

I used to tell her that if she found herself not worrying, she would worry about that.

Of course, this was in jest and she took it that way.

But frankly speaking, there is a great deal of concern in the world right now.

There is the pandemic.

There is division.

There is the economy.

Many are out of work.

Speaking for myself, many things have changed due to circumstances beyond my control.

I personally know several people in the same predicament.

I stated earlier that my mother was a worrier.

But her concern was not for herself, rather it was a concern for others.

Mother proved to me very early on that you can be concerned and be a Christian.

Especially when that concern is for others.

Galatians 6:2 (NET) - Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

I cannot change the circumstances that are outside my realm of control.

But being concerned for others does three things for me.

First, I am far less concerned about myself.

Second, this is what scripture demands.

Third, it makes me glad that God gave me such a great Christian mother and teacher.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 27, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 4, 2020

 

Moving Forward an Hour Back

Matthew 11:29-30 (NET) - Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.

People in my part of the world recently set our clocks back one hour.

I am still getting accustomed to the time change,

Frankly, I wish we could leave the time alone rather than change it twice each year.

It always takes time for me to adjust to the new time.

I find the time change this time of year particularly unsettling.

That is human nature.

By the time I have finished my workday the sun is already in the process of setting.

In practically no time at all, nightfall sets in.

With things still left to be done, it can be hard to get motivated to do these things after dark.

That is why I love these words from Jesus at this time of year.

He reminds us that our load does not have to be heavy.

That is because the work He gives us is easy to bear.

Furthermore, He reminds us that we can still find rest.

How can a load, any load, be easy to bear?

We find this in His answer to a Pharisee also found in Matthew’s gospel.

Matthew 22:37-39 (NET) - Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In the end, it does not matter that it gets dark shortly after the workday ends.

We not only have Christ’s words. we have His example.

When the work we do expresses our love for God and neighbor, the load is easy to bear.

This even applies to the work we refer to as our profession.

This also makes the rest we find afterward true rest.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 6, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 13, 2020