God Empowers You to Overcome Worry With Jim Newheiser
Faith & Finance - Un podcast de Faith & Finance
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In uncertain economic times, it’s easy to fall into the trap of worrying. We should be concerned about high inflation, rising interest rates, and the Wall Street rollercoaster. But when concern turns to worry, that’s a problem. We’ll talk about how to overcome it today with Jim Newheiser. Jim Newheiser is a former financial consultant and the author of a 31-day devotional titled Money: Seeking God’s Wisdom. First, we should mention that through November and December of 2022, we’re offering the book for a gift of any amount at MoneyWise.org. On Day-9 of his devotional, Newheiser touches on a subject that many listeners may be experiencing these days: WORRY! OVERCOMING WORRYING Newheiser says we must remember that God empowers us to overcome worry, and His Word directly addresses this: In Matthew 6, Jesus says, Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? You of little faith! Worry comes all too easily and naturally to most of us, especially as it regards financial matters. You hear a rumor that layoffs are imminent, and you wonder whether you could get a new job at your age. When money is already tight, your daughter needs orthodontic work and your car requires a new transmission. Your credit cards are already near their limit. You can barely afford the payments on your student debt. The list goes on and on. But in Matthew 6, Jesus is addressing the anxieties of His disciples. First, He chides them because their worry is senseless: As we see how God cares for His lesser creation by giving animals and plants food and covering, we should trust that He will care all the more for us, His beloved children. He’s also saying our worry is useless: Worry won’t make anything better. No one, by worrying, has added to his life span. In fact, worry takes away from our lives by draining us of time and energy that we could have devoted to addressing the problems at hand. And finally, Jesus says that our worry is faithless. That’s hard to swallow, but it’s true. Worry flows from a lack of trust in God. So when we worry, it’s a sign that we're looking in the wrong place for peace and security. We’re not ultimately dependent on others or even on ourselves. God is the one who feeds and clothes His servants. But Jesus loves us, so He goes on to offer positive encouragement by telling us how we can overcome worry in Matthew 6:33. He says, But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. We’re to put off sinful anxiety and instead invest our time and energy into serving God. As we do so, we can trust that He will supply our needs. There is an old story of a businessman who was asked to represent his monarch in a foreign land. The businessman expressed concern that his company would suffer in his absence. The monarch replied, If you take care of my business, I will take care of your business. Jesus says the same thing. As you devote yourself to His business, He’ll take care of your earthly business. When your life is focused on God’s kingdom, you’ll be able to trust in His provision, and He’ll give you peace. HOW TO ACTIVELY FOCUS ON GOD’S KINGDOM First, reflect on the many verses in God’s Word that address worry. Then, think of one or two kingdom-oriented things you can do, and ask God to give you the strength to pursue these thingsand then wholeheartedly throw yourself into them. And that, no doubt, will take your mind off worrying, safe in knowledge that God will meet all your needs. On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions: ● How do you find the best life insurance option? ● When does it make sense to pull out of the market and shift to highly conservative investments? ● What can you do to become a wiser steward of God’s money? RESOURCES MENTIONED: ● Selectquote.com ● PolicyGenius.com ● Connect with a MoneyWise coach Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to Questions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29