This quote is from Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline. (I would highly recommend it).
“Freedom from anxiety is characterised by three inner attitudes. If what we have we receive as a gift, and if what we have is to be cared for by God, and if what we have is available to others, then we will possess freedom from anxiety. This is the inward reality of simplicity. However, if what we have we believe we have gotten, and if what we have we believe we must hold onto, and if what we have is not available to others, then we ill live in anxiety.”
This is a great quote. It is part of his analysis of Matt. 6:25-33. If you have a moment read this passage of scripture here and then read the quote again. We will look at each inner attitude in detail:
1. What we have is…received as a gift vs. earned by effort. I find this attitude to carry its weight in our outlook towards the future. If today we believe God has given us all we possess, then our thoughts of tomorrow carry the same theme: God will provide what is necessary for us. On the other hand, if we got all we have by the sweat of our brow all thoughts of the future hinge upon our continued ability to prosper (and we all know our own shortcomings, thus = anxiety).
2. What we have is…cared for by God vs. managed and protected by us. This is the simplest to connect to anxiety. If we believe God is our keeper, we find worry almost laughable. However, if the protection, preservation and prosperity of our assets depends on our wit, savvy and luck, then we are plagued with the thought of a bad decision as we watch our efforts pan out. I think the easiest way to judge yourself on this one is to reflect the condition of your heart as we went through the recent insanities in the stock market.
3. What we have is…available to others vs. not. Strange at first, this principle has a profound truth hiding in it. It compares the generous to the selfish. Plainly stated: selfish people are prone to a form of anxiety simply because they are, by nature, consumed with thoughts of self-interest. Self-interest is a bottomless pit. Once again the importance of giving comes to light. Through generosity you divorce yourself from worldliness–you begin to operate according to the rules of God’s economy not man’s. In this light, you reap the joy of a life that can live up to the call: “Do not be worried about your life…” (Matt 6:25)
Add RSS Feed
