In 1988, the radio airwaves were overtaken by a quirky sounding tune. It was on the movie soundtrack for a movie called Cocktail, but it made its way into regular circulation. I was a freshman in high School and can still remember the first time I heard “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin.
That song was one of McFerrin’s biggest hits. Most people had never heard of him and most people still don’t know about him. I was a huge Bobby McFerrin fan, so it was no surprise to me that the song would be a hit. The song was catchy and proved to be an antidote employed by many to cure simple worry and anxiety. It flowed out of the common thought that a song can cure the common ills. That was my demeanor in high school. I was a worry free, laid back guy and always singing a tune. Here is my quote from my high school year book – “Seek Ye First the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Remember do as I did, sing and be happy. Peace, love and joy to all, friend or foe.” As a teenager, this song seemed to be my theme song. As I grew older, not so much.
I will admit, this simple song, while catchy, doesn’t necessarily hold the key to curing all the aches associated with worry. I don’t know if there is anything that can “cure” worry. As usual, Jesus steps in and shares profound truths regarding the way we deal with worry. His remedy is to fix our gaze on God. Here is the truth: God is in control, and we are not. That is a simple declaration with profound implications. We tend to worry about things that are under our control. It makes sense then, that we “seek the kingdom of God first…” It makes sense that Jesus invites us not to worry, because God has promised to take care of us. This all makes sense because we are God’s prized possession. He has committed to caring for and taking care of those who belong to him. We belong to him!
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.