(Philippians 4:6-7).
"Be careful for nothing." This by no means signifies that we may be careless, thoughtless or unconcerned about everything. That is not the meaning of it. The meaning is, not to be anxious about anything. This is one of the privileges of the children of God. They are permitted, not only permitted but invited, not only invited but commanded, to bring all their cares, sorrows, trials, and wants to their heavenly Father. They are to roll all their burdens upon God and to cast all their cares upon Him.
And because they are permitted, yes, commanded so to do, they have no need to be anxious about anything. However many or varied our difficulties or necessities may be, we should commit them all in believing prayer to God. We are not to be anxious. And why not? Because it is impossible to be anxious without dishonoring God.
If the men of the world see that we Christians are anxious like they are, they will have ground for saying that our profession of having an Almighty Friend and Helper in heaven is only a profession. Therefore we dishonor God by not trusting in Him in the hour of need.
We have, however, such a friend. He is willing and able to help us and to deliver us in His own time and way. This is the very reason why we need not be anxious about anything.
But you say, how can I, a wife with a husband given to drinking, not be anxious? I say, my sister in Christ, you are to pray for your husband. You are to pray for that husband very earnestly. But remember to look out for an answer to your prayer. It is the will of our heavenly Father that you are not to be anxious even in such circumstances. You are earnestly seeking that he should be converted, that is right and proper. But still be not anxious even in such circumstances. If you roll the burden upon God and cast all your care upon Him you will be free from anxiety even regarding this.
And thus with every matter regarding our children, for instance, who are unconverted. We have to be careful to train them in the fear of God, to set a holy godly example before them, to pray much for them and, at suitable times, bring the truth before them. But even regarding them, we are not to be anxious. We are to roll the burden, the whole burden, upon God. He will carry the burden for us.
So we are to take the promise literally, "Be anxious about nothing." Thus we shall walk in holy confidence. Trust in your heavenly Father, look to Him, confide in Him, knowing that He will help in His own time and way.
But while the commandment is not to be anxious about anything, at the same time, we are exhorted to bring everything before God. It is not to make us careless but to teach us to lean upon Him alone.
We are here exhorted to bring the matter before God. "In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Notice especially the word "everything." It is not simply great matters we are to bring before God, not simply small things but "everything." Therefore, all our affairs, temporal or spiritual, let us bring them before God. And this for the simple reason that life is made up of little things. If we attempt to stand in our own strength under little trials we shall find them too heavy for us and we shall fall, which is dishonoring to God.
