"Be careful for nothing..."

The first part of Philippians 4:6 has the title words. Penned by the Apostle Paul they are sometimes misread or mis-interpreted to say something that they do not. The focus is on the word "careful." He is not saying that we should be "careless," in the sense that it would be fine to drive down an icy two-laned road with trees on both sides at 90 miles-per-hour!

But the word careful simply means "full of care." And I did not get that from the Greek! I simply took a compound English word, broke it apart into its separate pieces, defined each piece, and WOW, there it is.

Old country folks had a saying, "It's a sin to worry."

But there are things that make it very hard not to worry.

Here are just a few:

1. "Swine" Flu Pandemic.
2. A national debt that cannot be comprehended. (I saw a bumper sticker recently that said, DON'T TELL OBAMA WHAT COMES AFTER "TRILLION!")
3. Unemployment that continues to grow. And it hurts when you are one of them!
4. Personal Freedoms that are being replaced by phony Government Security.
5. A social and economic environment that continues to become more and more hostile to Christians.

And you can add to the list. Everyone has their own cares and concerns.

But the text says for us to not be full of care over anything. How do we do that?

Well.... Here is where I would start, and here is where I would end. Just a simple verse or two. II Timothy 2:19 says:

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure...."

What is that SURE FOUNDATION composed of? Well, this is my opinion, but I think it's a pretty good one.

1. The Word of God. (stop and preach!)
2. The Blood of Jesus Christ. (preach some more)
3. The Ministry of the Holy Ghost. (make clear what it is and what it ain't)
4. The Promises of God. (start preaching again)
5. The Peace of God. (now shout a while)

Many years ago, The Florida Boys, a gospel quartet, sang a song that was very popular, and still is. The title was something like, "Standing On The Solid Rock." That idea was, is, and should ever be our testimony as Christians.

I do not make light of or disparage in any way the horrible things that we often have to endure in this world. But Jesus said, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." And one last verse.

The aged and wise Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18,

"For I recon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

"The longer I live, the more I am convinced that Someone wrote that Book from the perspective of 10,000 years from now, looking back, and seeing how it would all work out." ---Dr. Peter S. Ruckman