May 11
Inordinate Anxiety Forbidden
The Christian's Daily Treasury"Be careful for nothing."—Philippians 4:6.
WHAT system but Christianity can teach such lessons, instil such principles, and hold out such encouragements? Did the attendants at the schools of philosophy ever acquire the knowledge, or realize the happiness, which Paul did at the feet of Jesus? He was enabled to hold with a loose hand the objects of this life, and to seize with a firm grasp the realities of a future state. We have here
AN EVIL FORBIDDEN. It is inordinate anxiety. The expressions employed in this passage must be taken in their spirit, rather than their literal acceptation. While religion is far from teaching us to cherish a careless indifference to our worldly concerns, it forbids an over-anxious carefulness. Many considerations should induce us to avoid such a state of mind. By it
We distrust God. He has told us to cast all our care upon him, and is this not enough to satisfy us? If we indulge in feelings of inordinate anxiety, we reflect on his wisdom, as if he did not know what was best for us—on his love, as if he would suffer us to sink—on the word of his promise, as if he would not fulfil it.
We dishonor religion. Its excellency and superiority are discovered in the preservation of the mind from distracting cares and anxieties; and we honor it and glorify God, when we maintain our Christian calmness and fortitude in difficult and trying scenes, spreading our case before the Lord; but if we give way to despondency, and are determined to carry our own burden, the enemy will exclaim in triumph, "Where is now their God?"
We disquiet ourselves. There is no feeling so hurtful to the body, or injurious to the mind, as a fretful, ill-foreboding disposition. Those who cherish it have to contend with a thousand imaginary evils; and are constantly in fear, where there is no danger. They will gaze with intense anxiety on every little cloud that gathers around them, while the sunshine of mercies and favors from above is almost unheeded. Let us, above all things, be careful for the interests of the soul.