Date: February 27, 2011
Liturgical Sunday: Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
RCL Scripture: Psalm 131; Isaiah 49:8-16a; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34
Sermon Title: Worry
Knox Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/110227_-_Knox.mp3|titles=Worry]
St. Mark’s Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/110227_-_St_Marks.mp3|titles=Worry]
This Sunday’s Lectionary readings kept us in the Sermon on the Mount, skipping over the Lord’s Prayer, and going to the section on wealth and worry (maybe that would have been a better sermon title now that I think about it).
What I was trying to work out was the difference between “worry” and “indifference”; “worry” and “concern.” I have come to the conclusion that this passage of Scripture is frequently mis-interpreted in a couple of different ways. First, we aren’t supposed to plan for the future at all. Second, we aren’t supposed to care about ourselves. Both are wrong.
I don’t want to give away too much from the sermons but if you want a couple of takeaways from this Sunday: one is, worry is a kind of fear and we don’t have to be afraid . . . ever; and the other is, you can be concerned without fear but you can never be worried without fear.
Blessings,
Barry
A good one indeed. I appreciated your point that Jesus didn’t say don’t be concerned about people and events. However, worry is similar to “I’ll try.” As Yoda pointed out, “Do or Do Not. There is no try.” I suspect worry is similar. Either it’s out of your hands completely or you can do something about it. If you can do something, then do it. If you can’t you let God handle it, since he’s going to do that anyway.
It’s a freeing concept. One I’d like to put in my repertoire more often.
Thanks!