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CareLess
CareLess
By Allen Edge
Being careless is not usually an admirable quality. In fact the word is usually used when giving a sound rebuke to someone who failed to give appropriate attention to a matter. Quite often well meaning people will caution us many times to "be careful". Let's look at this term. The English language can be full of contradictions in meaning versus usage. I heard a comedian play on the word "Awful". He said that should have a positive connotation. Awful?full of Awe. So it is with the words "careless and careful". We wouldn't want anybody to be full of care, but we frequently caution people to be "careful".
We are, quite often, walking through life full, consumed even, with care. We care about our finances, our families and loved ones, our health, the nation, the ecology, lost souls, the world affairs etc... It is common knowledge that such excessive caring can cause physical ailments and even premature death. It has occurred to me that the more things you care about, the more targets the devil has. When I travel, I try to travel light. The less baggage I have, the less stuff I have to keep up with. The word of God speaks specifically about excessive care. It is written: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6) and "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
The word of God does not suggest that we abdicate from the world around us or go through life without stepping up to our God given assignments and responsibilities. The word just says don't worry about them. It is written: ""Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:27-31)
When Heavenly Kingdom people think like Heavenly Kingdom people, they have a different priority structure. The things that the citizens of the world care about don't have the same significance to Kingdom people. It is written: "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5) A different paradigm should be a major factor in our born again experience. It is written: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God?this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is?his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12: 1-2)
To be honest with you, often my reflexive responses to life issues is the same as an unregenerated person. God have mercy. Thank God for the Church. Fellowship with believers will help correct your stinking thinking. Prayer and worship helps to center me and remind me of what to care about and what not to care about. Staying in contact with God, the Father helps me to stay tuned into my assignment and to discount anything or anybody that does not lend to the completion of that assignment. If I can win the souls that God has assigned me to win without a new car, then having a new car is one less thing for me to care about. Sure, I would like a new car, but I am not going to give inordinate amounts of thought and stress to the subject. I am not going to go into debt trying to get one and then have less time and finances to give to my Kingdom assignment. Satan loves it when we have a lot of stuff and things to care about. The more you have, the more you have to lose. Loss can be painful and distracting.
It is written: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2nd Timothy 2:2-4) A soldier only carries what's vitally significant to accomplishing their mission. A soldier wants to be able to make sudden changes in location and movement without being encumbered by unnecessary things and the thoughts that accompany the care of those things. Those unnecessary distractions could cost them and their fellow soldiers their lives. Unnecessary cares are killing us today. Cares are killing our dreams, our Godly assignments, our relationships, and even our very health.
Jesus will always be the supreme example of a "CareLess" life. It is written: "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (John 4:34) and "And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth:" (Mark 12:14) Jesus had tunnel vision when it came to accomplishing His Kingdom assignment and didn't allow the spirit of "people pleasing" to detour Him. It is also written: "Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."" (Matthews 12:47-50) Jesus didn't even allow family to pull Him off of the wall.
I know this may seem harsh and unfeeling and many have left the ministry because they felt that it was costing them their families and other things that they held valuable to them. We must realize, however, that it is God's pleasure to give us the Kingdom. Jesus said that He came to give us life and give it more abundantly. It is not God's desire to take from us, but to give. Be encouraged beloved. Stripping yourself of some of those things that you think you cannot live without will not be a loss. It is written: "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields?and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:29-31) When you serve God to the exclusion of all else, you always come out on top. Care less and get more. Selah.
(All Rights Reserved)
By Allen Edge
Being careless is not usually an admirable quality. In fact the word is usually used when giving a sound rebuke to someone who failed to give appropriate attention to a matter. Quite often well meaning people will caution us many times to "be careful". Let's look at this term. The English language can be full of contradictions in meaning versus usage. I heard a comedian play on the word "Awful". He said that should have a positive connotation. Awful?full of Awe. So it is with the words "careless and careful". We wouldn't want anybody to be full of care, but we frequently caution people to be "careful".
We are, quite often, walking through life full, consumed even, with care. We care about our finances, our families and loved ones, our health, the nation, the ecology, lost souls, the world affairs etc... It is common knowledge that such excessive caring can cause physical ailments and even premature death. It has occurred to me that the more things you care about, the more targets the devil has. When I travel, I try to travel light. The less baggage I have, the less stuff I have to keep up with. The word of God speaks specifically about excessive care. It is written: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6) and "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
The word of God does not suggest that we abdicate from the world around us or go through life without stepping up to our God given assignments and responsibilities. The word just says don't worry about them. It is written: ""Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:27-31)
When Heavenly Kingdom people think like Heavenly Kingdom people, they have a different priority structure. The things that the citizens of the world care about don't have the same significance to Kingdom people. It is written: "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5) A different paradigm should be a major factor in our born again experience. It is written: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God?this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is?his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12: 1-2)
To be honest with you, often my reflexive responses to life issues is the same as an unregenerated person. God have mercy. Thank God for the Church. Fellowship with believers will help correct your stinking thinking. Prayer and worship helps to center me and remind me of what to care about and what not to care about. Staying in contact with God, the Father helps me to stay tuned into my assignment and to discount anything or anybody that does not lend to the completion of that assignment. If I can win the souls that God has assigned me to win without a new car, then having a new car is one less thing for me to care about. Sure, I would like a new car, but I am not going to give inordinate amounts of thought and stress to the subject. I am not going to go into debt trying to get one and then have less time and finances to give to my Kingdom assignment. Satan loves it when we have a lot of stuff and things to care about. The more you have, the more you have to lose. Loss can be painful and distracting.
It is written: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2nd Timothy 2:2-4) A soldier only carries what's vitally significant to accomplishing their mission. A soldier wants to be able to make sudden changes in location and movement without being encumbered by unnecessary things and the thoughts that accompany the care of those things. Those unnecessary distractions could cost them and their fellow soldiers their lives. Unnecessary cares are killing us today. Cares are killing our dreams, our Godly assignments, our relationships, and even our very health.
Jesus will always be the supreme example of a "CareLess" life. It is written: "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (John 4:34) and "And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth:" (Mark 12:14) Jesus had tunnel vision when it came to accomplishing His Kingdom assignment and didn't allow the spirit of "people pleasing" to detour Him. It is also written: "Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."" (Matthews 12:47-50) Jesus didn't even allow family to pull Him off of the wall.
I know this may seem harsh and unfeeling and many have left the ministry because they felt that it was costing them their families and other things that they held valuable to them. We must realize, however, that it is God's pleasure to give us the Kingdom. Jesus said that He came to give us life and give it more abundantly. It is not God's desire to take from us, but to give. Be encouraged beloved. Stripping yourself of some of those things that you think you cannot live without will not be a loss. It is written: "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields?and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:29-31) When you serve God to the exclusion of all else, you always come out on top. Care less and get more. Selah.
(All Rights Reserved)
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