Care Disposed Of

James Smith, 1842

"Casting all your cares upon Him--for He cares for you!" 1 Peter 5:7

What a glorious privilege--to have one to take all our cares from us! One who is infinite in wisdom, of omnipotent power, and who is deeply interested in our concerns! "Be anxious," says the Apostle, "for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving--let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Many a sick saint is as anxious and cumbered, as was Martha--her complaint was not buried in her coffin. What a difficult duty! To be surrounded by cares, to have them pressing upon us from every quarter, and be required to throw them off as fast as they come--to cast them upon the Lord. This is a truly Christian state. "I would have you be free from concern"--if in health, much more so in sickness. The Lord cares for you! He is your Father; your Husband; your Master! You are His child, His bride, His servant--and as such He cares for you. If you ask a wise child, Who will provide for you tomorrow? His answer would be, "I leave that to my father; he will not leave me to lack; he knows I shall need provision, clothing, etc., and he has provided for me, promised to me, and will certainly feed and clothe me."

Christian, does not this condemn you? Shall a child cast his cares upon an earthly father--and will not you trust your heavenly Father? "If they, being evil, know how to give good things unto their children--how much more will your heavenly Father give good things unto those who ask Him?" "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." "His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue."

You can never act upon this word, except there is in your heart a firm persuasion of the truth of the promise; an assurance of the faithfulness of God; and a taking up the promise as made to you in Christ, given you of free grace, and a pleading the same before the Lord's throne. Then you may say, whenever cares come in upon you, "These do not belong to me, they belong to my Father!" And you may cast them upon Him, confident that He will hear prayer, send relief, and honor your faith.

He will care for you, because He is your Father; because He has promised; and because He gets glory by the same. But beware of idle indifference. You are not to be burdened with cares--but you should be . . .
earnest at His throne,
diligent in His ways,
frugal in your expenditure, and
concerned to act as befits a Christian in the station you are called to move in.

There is a deal of difference between distrustful anxiousness and careless indifference. You have a character to sustain, an example to set before others, and a God to glorify. Therefore "be not unwise--but understanding what the will of the Lord is." "Set your affections on things above," and trust the Lord to provide for you, while He keeps you below. "Your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure."