Worry is a very clever thief; a rascal!
While vacationing in Alaska we took a cab to a local restaurant in Fairbanks. After buckling into my seat, I asked, “How is our driver this evening?”
“Well, not so good,” he replied. “Business is slow and I’m worried. I’ve barely enough money to pay the rent this month.”
The tone in his voice agreed with the concerns he’d spoken. I felt thankful our fare could help out in a small way and gave a generous tip.
So Many Reasons to Worry
There are so many reasons to worry, but is it ever smart to do so? Or, do we habitually default to a host of anxious thoughts until they get the best of us and, in the end, steal our peace and productivity?
A Love Relationship with Debt
Money Magazine writer, Kerri Anne Renzulli, reported [June/July 2018]: Americans have fallen back in love with debt. Total household debt—a category that includes mortgages, student loans, and car loans along with credit card and other debt—dipped in the wake of the Great Recession, but it has steadily rebounded in the years since. Overall, Americans’ debt hit a new high of $13 trillion last year, surpassing the previous record set in 2008 by $280 billion, according to the New York Fed.
The Bigger the Debt, the Bigger Our Worries
The bigger the debt, the bigger our worries. The two are a lot like peanut butter and jelly spread over the same slice of bread. By itself, the peanut butter sticks mercilessly to the roof of one’s mouth; while the jelly helps it slide down our throats a lot easier. Worry being the peanut butter. Debt the jelly. Either way, the potential to choke is real. And when we do, our financial and physical health are in danger. Being stressed over money can cause blood pressures to rise, stomachs to knot up, sleep to be disturbed, and moods to dip down.
Avoid Falling Victim to this All-too-clever Worry Thief
One way to avoid falling victim to this all-too-clever worry thief, is to limit our indebtedness. Weigh each purchase carefully. Will buying this [whatever] steal my peace? Before making a purchase, make a two-column list. On the left, record how the item will make life better; on the right, point out all potential disadvantages.
As much as possible, I’d urge you to keep borrowing to a minimum and inner calm to a maximum. Life is sweeter when the mind is not burdened with worries.
Heed Biblical Wisdom
Biblical wisdom proves our greatest asset. But only if we wisely act upon its message.
Matthew 6:27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
And when expenses come our way that are well beyond our ability to anticipate or control, like medical needs or home repairs, we are better off to trust in God’s promises to meet our needs.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
