“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7
Young children, have complete faith in their parents. For example, just the other day, our little eight month old baby girl was working hard to take her first steps, not without Daddy’s help. I would hold her little hands as she sways and wobbles, struggling to find her balance, to perform the first act of true locomotion. Inevitability, she falls, but there is no sense of panic or cause for concern. We could be walking atop the Empire State building and it wouldn't phase her. She is totally ignorant of the danger, completely abandoned to the help of her father. Amidst all this unknown in her life, she finds it easy to trust.
As we grow, develop, and learn; the innocence of childhood fades. Knowledge takes hold, therefore responsibility takes hold, and we begin to feel the necessity of care. That childlike trust fades, the innocence evaporates, and as adults it is considered reckless, even irresponsible, to “not care.” We are charged with care and soon we take pride in care. It is our duty to care, and soon it is our identity to care. The care for ourselves, for our work, our families, our children, and in rare cases our fellow man. We begin to adopt this care and own it. Until one day, it owns us. It defines us, kidnaps us, even tortures us. The cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches enter in, and we cannot make them leave. The stressors of life run in our very blood, until we wake at night with our hearts leaping from our chest and sweat running down our forehead. The Word of God choked out of our homes, our marriages, our heart; the cancer of this adulterous relationship with care becoming all we know. The Bible teaches us that we are to work hard, and care for ourselves (so as not to burden others), our families, and our fellow man. However, these things are ours only as an exercise in develop, and not in ownership. The cares of this life are never meant to be ours. They are always God’s and when adopted by us it is too overwhelming; either in pride or pain. The Father loves us, and He wants us to live, learn, and grow, but within childlike trust. Casting all our care upon Him. Knowing that he is a loving heavenly Father who will keep us. If our health fails, he will keep us. If we lose our homes, he will keep us. If we lose our jobs, he will keep us. If the worst should come upon us, he will keep us. No matter what, he is there and he knows what’s best. He cares for us and can carry all of our care. In my opinion, one of the worldliest attributes is a refusal to relinquish care. The obsession that we know what’s best and we alone can fix our own problems. We look upon the little patchwork of a kingdom that we call our lives and a swell of pride lifts from our soul exclaiming “Is not this the great Babylon that I have built? By the might of my power, and my glory?” When we have so much of ourselves in it, no wonder we care for it so.
