Topical Bible: Overmuch Care: God's Providential Goodness should Keep Us From

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Definition and Context

Overmuch care refers to excessive worry or anxiety about the concerns of life, which can distract believers from trusting in God's providential goodness. The Bible addresses the human tendency to be overly concerned with material needs and future uncertainties, urging believers to place their trust in God's provision and sovereignty.

Biblical References

1. Matthew 6:25-34: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directly addresses the issue of worry. He instructs His followers not to be anxious about their lives, what they will eat or drink, or about their bodies and what they will wear. Jesus emphasizes that life is more than food and the body more than clothing. He points to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of God's provision, stating, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

2. Philippians 4:6-7: The Apostle Paul encourages believers to be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, to present their requests to God. The promise that follows is the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

3. 1 Peter 5:7: Peter exhorts believers to cast all their anxieties on God because He cares for them. This verse highlights the personal nature of God's care and His willingness to bear the burdens of His people.

Theological Insights

The concept of overmuch care is rooted in a lack of faith in God's providence. The Bible consistently teaches that God is both sovereign and good, orchestrating all things for the benefit of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Worry, therefore, is seen as a failure to trust in God's character and promises.

Practical Implications

1. Trust in God's Provision: Believers are called to trust that God will meet their needs. This trust is not passive but involves active seeking of God's kingdom and righteousness, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6.

2. Prayer as a Remedy: Prayer is presented as the antidote to anxiety. By bringing concerns to God in prayer, believers can experience His peace, which guards their hearts and minds.

3. Focus on Eternal Matters: Overmuch care often stems from a focus on temporal concerns. Scripture encourages believers to set their minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2), aligning their priorities with God's eternal purposes.

4. Community Support: The Christian community plays a vital role in helping individuals bear their burdens. Galatians 6:2 instructs believers to carry each other's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ.

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges the reality of life's challenges, it consistently points believers to the sufficiency of God's providential care. By trusting in His goodness and seeking His kingdom, believers can overcome the temptation to succumb to overmuch care, living instead in the peace and assurance that comes from faith in God's promises.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 6:26,28,30
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 22:35
And he said to them, When I sent you without purse, and money, and shoes, lacked you any thing? And they said, Nothing.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ephesians v. 15, 16, 17
... they know nothing are wisest of all, and they that spend overmuch labor on ... the readers
have always for all things to render to God."--Meyer.--GA ... Care not for it ...
/.../homily xix ephesians v 15.htm