The Difference Between Worry and Concern

[Nahum]

Do Not Worry: The Difference Between Worry and Concern

You can view this original post at www.pastorposter.blogspot.com


“There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem.” Harold Stephens

Matthew 6 NIV

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Many people think worry is "just a part of life." After all, everyone worries. However, worry is a human activity which is destructive, worthless, and always counterproductive. It is most often a mental habit—a habit is something you do, that when you do it, you don’t know you are doing it. Some people think that the opposite of worry is apathy. This is not so. The flip side of worry is concern. This can be confusing to some people because it seems these two are really the same thing. Our culture is often quite supportive of worry because of the inappropriate connection with caring. Often, if you tell someone you do not worry about an issue, they may wonder if it is because you do not care. Worry is not a sign of caring; concern is the real companion of caring. Unfortunately, some people are such chronic worriers that when they find themselves not worrying, they worry that something is wrong. These "worry warts" think that if they did not worry, life around them would fall apart. As strange as it seems, worry is viewed as glue that holds life together. One of your goals is to know the difference and to be able to discriminate between the two. This can be difficult at first because worry and concern have some similarities. They both... • are mental activities • can take a lot of effort and energy • have the potential for focusing on important issues

Biblically, worry is akin to doubt and unbelief. Holding on to unfounded fears speaks to an inability to trust God to meet our most basic physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. Jesus spoke forcibly about this issue in Matthew 6. He stated that we should "take no thought" in regard to our future.

What he meant was that we should not worry about problems that are beyond our scope. We should not try to play God. We should "trust in the Lord with all of our hearts". We can be confident that the providence of God will be enough to meet our every need.

Concern, on the other hand, simply means that we plan (reasonably) for our future. We see specific needs that we can meet, and make the necessary effort to do so. Concern is a close cousin to compassion. Concern does what is reasonably possible, and leaves the rest to the supernatural ability of our Saviour.

So, examine yourself right now.

Are you worried, or concerned? Are you trying to carry a load that is humanly impossible to bear? Are you needlessly "stressed" about things you cannot change? Is your health being negatively affected by trying to play Hercules?

Why not let go and let God? You will feel better immediately.

He's bigger than all your problems.

[RevDWW]

Goooooood stuff there PP.

Phil 4:4 - 7 (KJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Don't the anxious. If you are worrying then you're doubting. Jesus said "Lo, I am with you alway".

Most Edifying!

Worry is fear based, concern is love based. Check!

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

Most Edifying!

Worry is fear based, concern is love based. Check!

This is what I shared with the church this morning.

The actual sermon title was "Seven Reasons Not to Worry".

[Pressing-On]

Good thread PP!

I remember asking the Lord - "How in the world can a load be easy and a burden light? - as per Matthew 11.

He directed me to I Peter 5:7 "Casting all of your care upon Him for He cares for you."

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Good thread PP!

I remember asking the Lord - "How in the world can a load be easy and a burden light? - as per Matthew 11.

He directed me to I Peter 5:7 "Casting all of your care upon Him for He cares for you."

"Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer"

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

"Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer"

Amen! Now that was timely! lol!

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Good thread PP!

I remember asking the Lord - "How in the world can a load be easy and a burden light? - as per Matthew 11.

He directed me to I Peter 5:7 "Casting all of your care upon Him for He cares for you."

PO, that is a very good connection in the Word!

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Do Not Worry: The Difference Between Worry and Concern

You can view this original post at www.pastorposter.blogspot.com


“There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem.” Harold Stephens

Matthew 6 NIV

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Many people think worry is "just a part of life." After all, everyone worries. However, worry is a human activity which is destructive, worthless, and always counterproductive. It is most often a mental habit—a habit is something you do, that when you do it, you don’t know you are doing it. Some people think that the opposite of worry is apathy. This is not so. The flip side of worry is concern. This can be confusing to some people because it seems these two are really the same thing. Our culture is often quite supportive of worry because of the inappropriate connection with caring. Often, if you tell someone you do not worry about an issue, they may wonder if it is because you do not care. Worry is not a sign of caring; concern is the real companion of caring. Unfortunately, some people are such chronic worriers that when they find themselves not worrying, they worry that something is wrong. These "worry warts" think that if they did not worry, life around them would fall apart. As strange as it seems, worry is viewed as glue that holds life together. One of your goals is to know the difference and to be able to discriminate between the two. This can be difficult at first because worry and concern have some similarities. They both... • are mental activities • can take a lot of effort and energy • have the potential for focusing on important issues

Biblically, worry is akin to doubt and unbelief. Holding on to unfounded fears speaks to an inability to trust God to meet our most basic physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. Jesus spoke forcibly about this issue in Matthew 6. He stated that we should "take no thought" in regard to our future.

What he meant was that we should not worry about problems that are beyond our scope. We should not try to play God. We should "trust in the Lord with all of our hearts". We can be confident that the providence of God will be enough to meet our every need.

Concern, on the other hand, simply means that we plan (reasonably) for our future. We see specific needs that we can meet, and make the necessary effort to do so. Concern is a close cousin to compassion. Concern does what is reasonably possible, and leaves the rest to the supernatural ability of our Saviour.

So, examine yourself right now.

Are you worried, or concerned? Are you trying to carry a load that is humanly impossible to bear? Are you needlessly "stressed" about things you cannot change? Is your health being negatively affected by trying to play Hercules?

Why not let go and let God? You will feel better immediately.

He's bigger than all your problems.

Awesome!!

My husband preached on "letting go of worry" this morning! It was an excellent message with great response in the altar and a number of people approached him after the service to let him know that the message was timely and what they needed to hear!

He even addressed the "health" issue!

[Ron]

It reminds me of the song we sing, "why worry when you can fret?"

Good Post PP!