Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
This is an article I found on the net and would like to share it with you. Please enjoy and pass it on to others!
INTRODUCTION
Jesus had a lot to say about worry.
He came into an unstable and unpredictable world. He lived in an agricultural society where one summer’s drought could wipe out crops for the winter. He hung out with fishermen, who might fish all night long and catch nothing to sell or bring home to family. And Jesus knew the human heart and the temptations presented by the cares of this life. So He gave his disciples some excellent instruction on worry in Matthew 6.
Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may:
- Damage your health.
- Disrupt your productivity.
- Negatively affect the way you treat others
- Reduce your ability to trust in God
How may ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern – worry immobilizes but concern moves you to action.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? -Matthew 6:25
- First, Jesus says God gave us our human life and our bodies without us even asking. Human life and our physical bodies are incredibly valuable. Our life is much more valuable than the food we put on the table; our body far more valuable than the shirt we put on. If God gave us life, which is so very valuable, will he not give us food, which is of far lesser value? If God gave us these bodies which are fearfully and wonderfully made, will he not give us clothes to cover them? And even further, if God has given us eternal life, will he not provide for our temporal life?
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? – Matthew 6:26
- Jesus reminds us that God faithfully provides for dumb animals. Birds don’t sow or reap or store their food in barns—and they don’t fret about whether they’ll have enough for tomorrow or to get through the winter. Yet God feeds them. And Jesus tells us that humans, the crown of God’s creation, the only creatures made in God’s image, are of much more value than birds. If God provides for birds, then surely he’ll provide for those he made in his own image. Furthermore, will not God especially provide for those he bought with the blood of his Son?
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? – Matthew 6:27
- Worry does absolutely no good. It won’t bring in money, food, or clothing. Worry only has negative results: it chokes the word of God and distracts us from God. It is unbelief, the opposite of faith. And it leads to more fear and anxiety. And the different scenarios we play out in our minds can’t prevent a single thing from happening. And besides that, most of the things we spend so much time fretting about won’t happen anyway.
To Conclude:
In the midst of life’s uncertainties and the many burdens we carry, the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 offer profound comfort and hope. Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, promising that His yoke is easy and His burden light. This promise is especially reassuring in a world that often feels unstable and unpredictable, much like the one Jesus inhabited.
Enjoy this very appropriate hymn.
Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid – MHB 320
1.Art thou weary, art thou languid,
art thou sore distrest?
‘Come to me,’ saith One, ‘and coming,
be at rest!”
2 Hath he marks to lead me to him,
if he be my guide?
In his feet and hands are wound-prints,
and his side.
3 Hath he diadem as monarch
that his brow adorns?
Yea, a crown, in very surety,
but of thorns.
4 If I find him, if I follow,
what his guerdon here?
Many a sorrow, many a labour,
many a tear.
- If I still hold closely to him,
what has he at last?
Sorrow vanquished, labour ended,
Jordan past. - If I ask him to receive me,
will he say me nay?
Not till earth, and not till heaven
pass away.
7 Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
is he sure to bless?
Angels, martyrs, prophets, virgins,
answer, yes!
Author: St. Stephen of Mar Sabas,(1725-1794)
Translator: J. M. Neale, Stay blessed!
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