I recently watched an episode of Storytellers with Jason Mraz as the featured artist. He had written a hit pop song, “The Remedy,” which was inspired by his best friend Charlie’s life. Charlie was diagnosed with bone cancer in his collar bone and the doctors told him that he would have to have his collar bone removed and would need to undergo chemotherapy.
Charlie had such a positive outlook on life that he said to Jason, “Man, I ain’t gonna worry my life away. I’m gonna do what they tell me to do and I’m gonna be in and out. Just like that.” (Source: Storytellers: “Jason Mraz” first aired 6/1/12)
Wow! What an awesome message. This encouraged me to take a look at my own life. How much time do I spend worrying? Too much of it, I am sure.
When Jesus told the Parable of the Sower, He mentioned some of the seeds that were sown fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them out. Jesus then explained the meaning of the parable and that the seed which is sown represents the Word of God. He said, “Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful,” (Matthew 13:22, HCSB).
Now, that is a tragedy! If we insist on “spending the rest of our nights with the light on” staying up worrying about things beyond our control, then we are undoubtedly in danger of letting the worries of the world choke us out of our fruitfulness.
Please hear my heart. I am not trying to downplay the circumstances that some of you are going through right now. Life is sometimes filled with serious and heart-wrenching experiences that require our attention and focus. The message that I am trying to convey is that we need not worry about every little thing that comes our way. We serve a big God and He is mighty to save.
Jesus asks us to consider these things in Matthew 6:25-27 (NLT):
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
Hmmm, let me think about it. No, Lord, I don’t believe that worrying can add a single moment to my life. Therefore, I’m going to trust You and believe that You’ve got my everyday life covered.
We have a choice to make today, Friend. What do you say we take the advice of Jesus (and Charlie, who, by the way, is doing great and has been in remission for over 10 years now) and not worry our lives away?
Instead, we can shine THE LIGHT on all of our friends, knowing that our worries amount to nothing in the end.