ANXIETY ABOUT MONEY

FOLLOWING JESUS' ADVICE

Paul continues:  "Jesus said: 'Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.'   So my daily prayer was simply that God would 'give us today our bread for this day' in order for us to survive. And he did help, just as Jesus promised.  We didn't always get our first choice. Once, I got into a food line not knowing what was being sold.  When I got to the front, I saw that it was yogurt. I don't like yogurt.  But it was food, so we ate yogurt that night. I am grateful to God that during that entire period, my family never went to bed hungry." 

"Things are easier fur us financially at the moment. But through our experiences we have learned that the most important antidote to anxiety  is trust in God.  Jehovah will always help us as long as we keep seeking to do his will. We have seen the truthfulness of Psalm 34:8: 'Taste and see that Jehovah is good, happy is the man who takes refuge in him.' As a result, we are not afraid of facing difficult economic circumstances again.  

"We now understand clearly that what humans need to survive is, not work or money,  but food.  We eagerly await the time when God's promise  will be fulfilled:  "There will be an abundance of grain on the earth.' In the meantime, 'having food and clothing, we will be content with these things.'  We draw strength  from the Bible's words:  'Let your way of life be free of the love of money while you are content with the present things.  For he has said:  "I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you."  So that we may be of good courage and say:  "Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid." ' "

It takes genuine faith to 'walk with God' as Paul and his family are doing.  (Genesis 6:9)  Whether we now face a serious financial crisis or may face one in the future, Paul's example of faith and practical wisdom teaches us important lessons. 

But what if family problems are causing us anxiety? 

Next time: How to Deal With Anxiety - ANXIETY ABOUT FAMILY

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015