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Is Worry the same as Caring?
 Today’s Question: I've
got a question I just needed to ask. I was doing some work at
home when my sister came to give me some news. She said that one
of my other sisters had gone to see a doctor, and as it turns out
they discovered some lumps in her breasts that might be
malignant. And from what I understand the doctor told her that
she may have cancer.
Well this is definitely not the sort of news that anyone
wants to hear about a family member, but I looked at my sister
and shrugged the news off and said, "Is that what they
said?" I didn't get worried nor did I break down in tears
and give my most fervent prayer to God. I simply stopped what I
was doing, closed my eyes and praised God for healing.
Now what bothered me, though, was the fact that I didn't
get all worked up with concern. Afterward I felt just a bit
guilty because I thought maybe I was taking the situation
lightly. But the Bible says not to worry (Matt 6:25, Luke 12:22).
So am I right to not get worked up about this? My question is, is
it okay not to get overworked on situations like this, and not
feel bad about people criticizing saying that I just don't care?
I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing. Thanks for
your input.
Paul Vicencio PVicencio@aol.com
Bible Answer: You asked a great
question. Jesus is the example for us to follow. Jesus cared
about people, yet we find that He never worried over them.
In Matthew 14:14 it says, "When Jesus landed and saw a
large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their
sick." There is a huge difference between pity and
compassion. Pity means to feel sorry for people, yet unable to
help them. Pity has no power.
Compassion, on the other hand, means to be touched by
people’s pain, yet helping them. Biblical compassion has
power.
For example, you may watch one of those gut-wrenching
television specials where they show starving children. Most
people feel sorry for them. That’s pity. But when you do
something about their hunger, that’s compassion.
What I feel that you did, Paul, was to show compassion for
your sister by praising God for her healing. You see, you did
something beneficial for your sister by acting and speaking in
faith. Your actions will do more for her healing than simply
crying about her illness.
We should never worry over any situation, but instead we
should pray with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not
be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Notice that the Bible says not to be anxious about anything.
That includes your sister.
So instead of worrying the Bible says to pray with
thanksgiving. So long as you pray then you show the greatest
concern (not worry) over people.
[Special note from Paul: Just a quick note to let you know
that my sister was taken to the hospital to get those
"malignant" lumps checked. The doctors had informed her
that they would do a biopsy. But if they found the tumor to be
cancerous they would immediately do surgery. Well, she went and
the lumps were benign! It didn't surprise me to know since I knew
that God was on our side. My eyes just well-up with tears of joy
knowing what an awesome God we serve!]
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