Of Birds, Wildflowers and Stinking Thinking

While reading a time worn edition of Apples of Gold I read the following quote -

"When we see the lilies spinning in distress, taking thought to manufacture loveliness - When we see the birds all building barns for store, 'twill be the time for us to worry, not before."  The author must have been thinking of the following bible verses found in Matthew, chapter 6 when this was penned.

25."So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life ? whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?
26.Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.
27.Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
28."And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing,
29.yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
30.And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
31."So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing.
32.Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs,
33.and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
34."So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
 In my search to better understand worry or anxiety I searched Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. It states that -
 
The most common words in Scripture translated as "anxious" or "anxiety" are the Hebrew deagaa [hg'a.D] (ten times in either the verbal or noun form) and the Greek merimna [mevrimna] (twelve times in either the verbal or noun form). Older English versions of the Bible often render these words as "thought, " "worry, " or "care."
In the Bible anxiety is frequently depicted as the common human reaction to stressful circumstances. Anxiety is portrayed in the Scripture as being inconsistent with trust in God. David prays: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thought" ( Psalm 139:23 ). Jesus' command, "do not worry, " which occurs six times in the Sermon on the Mount ( Matt 6:25-33 ), is coupled with admonitions to trust in the heavenly Father. Paul urges: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" ( Php 4:6 ). Anxiety frequently manifests itself in ungodly concern about provision, performance, or reputation, and appears to be rooted in incomplete knowledge, lack of control over circumstances, or failure to take an "eternal" perspective on things ( Matt 6:25-34 ; 10:19 ; Mark 13:11 ; Luke 12:11-12 Luke 12:22-34 ).

Worry seems to be in epidemic proportion.  Looking at it with the world's perspective we tend to chime right in.  Many are without jobs all over our land.  Folks have either lost their homes due to foreclosure or are holding their collective breaths waiting to see if they will.  There are rumors abounding in regard to social security and medicare benefits for our senior citizens and healthcare is on everyone's minds.  These are serious concerns hundreds of years in the making.  Additionally there are the ordinary day to day concerns that can overtake and overwhelm us when we allow our "stinking thinking" to take over.

The last sentence above from Baker's...along with the noted verses...has the last Word ...If you and I want to walk in peace when all around us seems to be spinning out of control we need to recognize the root of our anxiety and then get an "eternal" perspective as we align ourselves with the words of Jesus.

A children's song that I love says it all : The B-I-B-L-E now that's the book for me!  I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!  It will never lead us astray!!!
Following Jesus,
Judy