As we move into money and worry in the Sermon on the Mount, it is important to remember that anxiety is on the rise in the United States. Personal finances seem to be leading the list for Americans.
When Jesus tells us not to store up treasures, does he look with a critical eye at our pension accounts?
I don't think that Jesus is against planning for our futures. But I do think he wants us to help our neighbors and so our planning should include charitable giving. And when we do plan, Jesus seems to be counseling against high anxiety around our accounts.
Worry has always been a problem for human beings. Parents worry about their ability to provide. They worry about their children - even when the children become adults. Parents worry about their parents as they age. There is plenty to stress about.
you scroll past several articles - all written to target your fear, nervousness or outrage - how do you think your anxiety level rises or lowers after reading through these headlines?
I do think it is important to be well-informed. But I also acknowledge that the way we consume news has changed. Because news is largely a for-profit enterprise, we have all kinds of news sources from the far left to the far right and everything in between vying for our attention (and advertising dollars which is tied to eyeballs or how many clicks a source may receive). As you read headlines today, I would invite you to look at the tone and ask, "Is this prompting me to feel a certain way?"
What if as a Lenten discipline for today - to combat worry, you pledged to read a positive story for every negative one you consumed? I'll even let you count this one as positive. Just don't scroll through the headlines to find the good news!
Prayer for the day:
The right hand of the Lord preserve me always to old age! The grace of Christ perpetually defend me from the enemy! Direct, Lord, my heart into the way of peace. Lord God, hasten to deliver me, make haste to help me, O Lord. Amen.
Prayer by Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester, 10th Century
Photo by Dunk via Flickr.com. Used under the Creative Commons license.
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