Circuit Thoughts

Okay, what is it with “what if’s”? You know what I’m talking about. Those questions that come up when we make plans or get some questionable news. Going on a trip? “What if” you run out of gas? Looking for a job? “What if” I don’t get hired? Have a sniffle? “What if” it is pneumonia or worse, allergies? “What if” I’m allergic to my spouse or my kids?

You see, we seem to be fascinated to the point of infatuation with the “What if”. The current news platforms and social media thrive on the “What if’s” of politics or weather. We seem to be more concerned with the future rather than the current. I guess you could almost say, we tend to like to worry.

But what does the Bible say about that? Coincidentally Matthew 6:25-34 addresses this very issue. Verse 34 sums up where our focus should be. “Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (CSB)

Throughout the dialogue between verse 25 and 34 Christ is explaining the unnecessary waste of worry. If God will take care of the birds and the lilies, why wouldn’t He take care of us?

Look, fear of the future is a primary way of controlling. Veiled threats and innuendos can influence how people respond. Right now, we are running so scared of what might happen that we are afraid to face what is happening. Our churches are more focused on what could possibly go wrong rather than the mission at hand. For instance:

What if the youth get hurt on the picnic?

What if the wrong sort of person comes into our church?

What if someone trips and we get sued?

What if, what if, what if…

Folks, we need to be about sharing the Good News of Christ. Yes, maybe something will go wrong tomorrow, or maybe something will go right. It’s what we do in the here and now that matters. We can’t afford to be timid about the Gospel. In fact, if our faith is in Christ, then we need not worry about the future, we only need to focus on the here and now. Here and now people need to know Christ.

You know, Peter was worried about the future of John, (look at John 21: 20-22). Jesus’ response was “…what is it to you? As for you, follow me.” We really need to focus on Christ’s call and our mission, to make disciples. Anything else is just empty fruitless worry.

I’m not going to sugar coat it. Sharing the Gospel does come with some rough stuff and tough times. Not everyone will be thrilled to be ministered to. But then Christ did not call us to a safe ministry. He called us to be obedient and to make disciples of all the world.

Letting “what if’s” dictate ministry means there really is no ministry.

Just a thought.

Shalom my friends. See you in church.