Craig T. Owens

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We all know what it is when something crosses the line from acceptable to unacceptable, from appropriate to inappropriate, from funny to offensive, from healthy to unhealthy. Maybe it’s a joke that goes a little too far, or a hobby than turns into an overly-expensive escape from healthy relationships, or healthy dieting and exercise that becomes an obsession. 

No one started off saying, “I’m going to be offensive, or withdrawn from family and friends, or consumed by my diet and workout routine,” and yet somewhere it did cross the line. 

God wants us to be in a healthy place in Him (see Luke 2:52 and 3 John 2) so He has given us instructions on how to not cross the line into an unhealthy place. 

(Check out all of the Scriptures in this post by clicking here.) 

Last week we learned that our “Say so” was vital to the peace of God we can know because it keeps us mindful of God’s blessings. We are going to use this to build a strong protection against crossing the line from care to worry. 

Let’s return to a key passage in Philippians 4:4-7. Notice especially the “Do not be anxious about anything” phrase in verse 6. The root word for anxious simply means to care for something. In fact, the KJV says, “Be careful for nothing,” so you can hear the word “care” in there. 

Paul uses this same Greek word in a positive sense earlier in this same letter when he praises Timothy for his concern for the saints (2:19-22). And Paul told the Corinthians he had a deep concern for them (2 Corinthians 11:28) and that he desired for them to also care for fellow saints (1 Corinthians 12:25). Both of these instances use the same Greek word. 

The problem is when care crosses the line to become worry. We can see a great example in Luke 10:38-42, especially the phrase “you are worried,” which is the same Greek word. Martha started out caring for the needs of Jesus, but then she crossed the line to being worried that she was providing enough hospitality. 

Care can cross the line into worry in the simplest of areas: 

• Caring about my physical needs, can become worrying about having enough (Matthew 6:25, 27-29, 31). 
• Wanting to answer well those who question my faith in Jesus is noble, but planning what words I am going to say crosses the line (Matthew 10:19). 
• Enjoying my possessions and wanting to care for them is good stewardship, but desiring more than I have been given crosses the line (Luke 8:14). 

The crucial discipline to protect us from crossing the line from concern to worry and anxiety is to keep the right focal point. Passages like Matthew 6:32; Luke 11:3, 11-13; and Psalm 68:19 all remind us that our Heavenly Father sees us, knows our needs, and is more than ready to supply what we need. 

We protect this boundary line between care and worry with two things: Our “Say so” and our prayers: We express gratitude for what we have, then we add to that prayer for what we need. I like to paraphrase Philippians 4:6 this way: Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. 

In her book Jesus Always, Sarah Young uses this same verse when she writes as though Jesus were speaking to us—

     “I am God, and you are not. … Remembering you are not God helps you live in freedom. You don’t take responsibility for matters that are beyond your control—which includes most matters. If you let go of everything that is not your responsibility, you are freed from carrying unnecessary burdens.”

Remember: 

• Your Father knows what you need  
• He provides your daily bread—the best bread!  
• He wants to carry your cares so you don’t cross the line to worry (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7) 

To keep from crossing the line from peace and contentment to worry and anxiety: Use gratitude for what you have, and prayer for what you need. 

Have you missed any of the other messages in this series on gratitude? You can check them all out here. 

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