Don’t worry

•February 24, 2011 • Leave a Comment

There is the story of a notice board outside a church, with the slogan

Don’t let worry kill you, the church can help

I hope I know what they mean!

Don’t worry is very much the message of Jesus’ teaching in this passage.  Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink or wear.

Perhaps a very apposite message for this time in our country, as so many face redundancy at the end of next month, with cuts to local council and community funding.

But perhaps also a seemingly glib message – don’t worry.  Not much help if you haven’t got food or clothing.  And what about people in famine struck and war-torn countries?

Perhaps the key to what Jesus is saying is found in the last verse, “tomorrow will take care of itself, you have enough to worry about today”.

The thing we are not to worry about is ifs, buts and maybes.  Our focus must be on where we are and what is happening today.  How are we going to rise to that challenge?  What are we going to do about it?

And as I see it, that is very much where the church can help.

Jesus’ point is that God has given what is needed – but sometimes others have taken that away.  We have not shared the worlds resources; we have looked after ourselves; we have wanted our “fair” share, which has often been way more than that.  We have not worried about our needs for the day, but tried to store up plenty for the future, whilst others have gone without today.

People who follow the way Jesus calls have a responsibility to do something, something that will perhaps mean others don’t need to worry.  Jesus tells those of us that have enough – and way beyond, to not worry about tomorrow – but to worry about today for those who don’t have enough.  That is what he wants.

Perhaps our worrying should not be for ourselves – but for others, in other words, “put God’s work first, and do what he wants”.

What do you think?

Lord we are worriers,

we can’t help stressing.

Help us to know what to worry about,

to take hold of the things we can do something about

and work on them,

that we all may know of the riches you provide.

May we not be selfish,

but generous,

sharing your hope

and your goodness

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Judging

•February 23, 2011 • 2 Comments

So having thought about pleasing others in what we do – or not, that must make us think about how we judge others.

Personal preference is just that – personal, what suits one will not always suit another.  It can become so easy to sit in judgement on others.

Here is a very public difference of opinion about an amateur skaters abilities

It shows the dangers of taking on judging others.

Who are we to judge someone else?

 

If we think someone is doing the wrong thing, do we know what their situation is?  Do we know where they are starting from?  What their problems are?  How they have come to an understanding of what they have to do?

If we think someone is wonderful, do we know what other things they do in their life?  What secrets they harbour?  How they treat their nearest and dearest, or their employees?

We only ever see of someone what they present to us.  There will be far more to them than that.

So we shouldn’t judge.

We should leave the judging to God.  We should just except people and what they have to offer.  We shouldn’t nit-pick or feel we could do better.  They make their offering and it’s up to God to decide wether it’s “acceptable” or not – not us.

And when tempted to judge anyone, we should always remember:

God judges me

Perhaps we should focus on that thought before we start judging anyone else.

 

Lord

help me not to judge.

May I accept what others do for you,

even if it is not what I would do,

or how I would do it.

May I always remember

that you judge me,

and think of that

before I think of someone else

 

 

 

Posted in God, Lectionary
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Over to the judges

•February 22, 2011 • 1 Comment

In the plethora of talent contests of one kind or another that grace our tv screens, the one thing they all have in common is judging panel.  They are supposedly there to give us their valuable opinion – and there is always a “baddie”!  In those programmes open to public voting, there is another angle thrown in, as popularity over talent plays its part.  I suppose in such a contest there has to be judgement of some kind, to make a decision on who is best, but it often makes uncomfortable viewing.

But judging others can be dangerous.  Perhaps we haven’t got the whole picture, or we’ve misunderstood something, or we’re concentrating more on how we’re feeling than what we’re seeing in someone else.

Paul is quite clear about the situation

“The Lord is my judge”

You get the impression that the people have been talking about Paul, most likely behind is back!  The argument still rumbling on about whether he or Apollos is better; question what Paul is teaching, and how.  Deciding for themselves how good Paul is.

But Paul tells them not to bother.  He’s not concerned what their opinion of him is.  He only cares what God thinks of the work he’s doing.

 

It’s nice to be liked, and even better to be appreciated.  We want to be judged to be doing well.

But that is not the most important thing in our actions.  We should be concerned only by what God thinks of us – and get on with it.

 

Help us Lord

not to worry about what others think of us,

but to care about you,

how you feel,

what you want,

what pleases you –

and live like that.

Posted in Lectionary
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