This week's article goes along with those I had written previously - Weeds and What Is That To You? I have posted both of these on our website for your reference, just in case you are new to Reflections, or if you did not receive these for some reason. Today we are looking at the question: Are you fully aware of how FREE you are from the worries and cares of this world? This freedom allows us to be involved in the good things of the world without having to take them too seriously!

No Worries! 
By Mike Rule

The past few weeks we have looked at the worries and cares of this world and how they attempt to choke us out. We have also looked at our attitudes towards other people's problems and struggles. This week I would like to take it a bit further and explore the freedom we have in this world.

The apostle Paul made an interesting statement: "Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power." (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP) What an amazing thing. We are FREE to do ANYTHING we want to do in this world. There is NOTHING that will separate us God. (Romans 8:39) However, the moment I make a statement like that, it immediately reveals another's bondage (i.e. worries of this world) because he or she reacts by saying, "You cannot say that because God says..." and you can fill in the blank. Note that I said we are free to do ANYTHING we want. I did not say that it was GOOD for us to do anything we want.

One subtle form of bondage which many of us slip into stems from wanting the good things of this world. We become consumed by fear on many fronts. On one hand we fear we won't experience those good things. On another we fear we care too much about those good things. But God has not given us a spirit of fear. Paralyzing fear is NOT from the Lord. When we cast out fear with the perfect love of God we are left to experience EVERYTHING the world has to offer provided that it is profitable (good for us) in light of God's greater intent and that we do not become a slave to it.

I was recently with a group of teens who were very concerned about their spiritual growth. I asked them a simple question: Would you agree that every one of you was born physically? If so, what did you have to do to grow physically? Did you have to work hard at it, or did it happen naturally? I know of very few young children who stress over how to make their body grow and mature. The same is true for us when we are born of Christ. It happens naturally, without stress. It is the enemy who plants the seeds of doubt in us, getting us to believe the lie that we are lacking something. He has been doing that since the beginning. It takes the faith of Christ in us to bring us to the point of being able to let go of our obsession with our spiritual condition. As Hannah Whitall Smith said, "Our part is to trust, His part is to do the work." 

We are free from the worries of this world, so our stress OVER the things of this world reveals our freedom. We cannot be happy while stressing and worrying. If we lived by the simple thought that God in Heaven is not wringing His hands in worry over our situations and the situations of others, we could be free to live as Jesus commanded us - like a sparrow. (Matthew 6:31-34) What the Son of God has made free, is free indeed! (John 8:36)

Verses For Reflection

Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39 AMP) Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power. (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP)

Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31-34 AMP)