Verle Bell M.D.
[Originally published as Concern for Tomorrow]
Today, I had someone respond to God’s command to “take no thought for tomorrow” (Matt. 6:34) by saying, “Isn’t it right to be concerned for the future, maybe not for ourselves but certainly for our children and grandchildren?”
Well, calling worry “concern” does not change the fact that we are not resting in God. This doesn’t mean that he minds us taking prudent steps today that may be useful in the future. The book of Proverbs points out that preparation for possibilities is fine, such as laying aside funds for retirement or buying a house when young that is wheelchair accessible.
What we are not to do is allow our heart to be troubled over tomorrow.
Troubled means think, think, thinking, but not doing.
Instead, we are called to do what is reasonable, but then let go of focusing on what is not yet here. Otherwise, we will spend too much time and resources preparing for it.
Remember all the resources that were wasted preparing for Y2K? Most of the stuff has probably rotted in the basement.
I’m certainly not against the public being prepared for emergencies, but we are called to be balanced by focusing most of our energy on serving God and others in the present. God says we should use our resources to bless lives around us and then we will have treasure in heaven
Also, don’t look to the future for happiness.
If you don’t find blessing in today’s opportunities you will not find them in tomorrow’s. I’ve watched fellow doctors wallow in the misery they make of college, medical school, internship, residency, and becoming established in practice. They keep themselves going with the thought, “I’ll be happy tomorrow when I arrive.” But when they do “arrive,” life isn’t actually any better. Then, they either kill themselves or develop “professional” bad attitudes, believing the world owes them something for all the misery they inflicted on themselves.
What if they had reveled in the process of developing skills all along the way and found the happiness in the roles God prepared for them and that they were designed to fulfill today?
Lord, help me to take no — not any at all — worry, concern, anxiety, tnesion, or whatever I want to call it, for tomorrow, but rather delight in today with all its pain, frustration, and glorious life!
