The Weekly Pulpit 1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility… I. MAN'S CARE. The sources from whence our cares arise. 1. There are frequent misunderstandings with our fellow men. 2. There are our business and family claims. 3. And there are the religious claims that press upon us. Few of us have as much care from this source as we ought to have. II. GOD'S CARE. "He careth for you." His care cannot be quite like ours. There can be no fretfulness in it, and no sort of fear and despair. 1. His care of all the creatures He has made, and all that is involved in giving to each his "meat in due season." 2. But we may further think of God's precise knowledge of our anxieties. 3. But there is something more and better than even this; there is God's care of us in the midst of our anxieties. He cares for the influence of things on our characters rather than for the things, as the goldsmith cares for his gold rather than for the fire. III. GOD'S CARE OF US IS A PERSUASION TO CAST OUR CARE ON HIM. He cares, why should we? Why should we not be as calm as the sailor boy in the wild storm who knew that "his father held the helm"? But it is easier to speak in general terms about our "casting care on God" than it is to explain precisely what it involves. A very simple illustration may help our apprehension. A small tradesman had a case coming on in the county court, on which, for him, every thing depended. A decision given against him meant ruin. Worrying over it day and night, he had become thin, looked haggard, lost appetite and sleep. One day there came into his shop a friend of his boyhood, whom he had not seen for years. This friend was much distressed at his appearance, and said, "Why, whatever is the matter with you? I am sure you must have some grave anxiety weighing on your mind." The tradesman poured out to his friend all the story of his troubles; and then that friend said, "Don't you trouble any more about it. I am a lawyer, and practise at the courts, and I have had just such cases as yours. I see where the point of difficulty in your case is, and I have no doubt we shall be able to get you through all right. You trust the matter entirely to me. I will appear for you, and all will be well." What a relief that tradesman felt! He had lost his burden, for he had cast it on his friend. "O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake Thou for me." (The Weekly Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. |
    |