Why Are Ye Troubled?
By Liaf
In our everyday lives, our holiday plans, our daily careers, the family circus, or whatever, there resounds that voice within us that asks what Jesus asked: Why are ye troubled? Trouble? What trouble? We all came to church smiling and greeting everybody. We are commended on the great jobs we do daily, perhaps even get a promotion. But.... Why are ye troubled? Well, why are we? Just look at the prayers we pray for one another. Look at how we pray to the Lord. And we say, Lord, we are troubled! Let's look at some troubled folk in the Bible and see what the Lord said about them. Some of these examples we can relate to, and maybe get the general hint as to what the Lord would have us do.
Turn to John 9:1. And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth (v2) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? The guy had a physical ailment, but I suppose you can extrapolate that to being spiritually blind as well. This was not a good situation at all. If anyone had a right to cry out Lord, I am troubled, it was him. We can read a thousand self-help books. We can go to fiery revivals. We can try as this man probably did to get well. If the "ABC" steps do not help, we feel guilty. Perhaps we think we do not have enough faith. We ask where did I sin? Let's see what Jesus said: (v3) Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Jesus ended up healing him; he wanted to show the glory of God through this man. God has a bigger mind and plan than to punish poor, old sinners. He wants to show his glory, ultimately in the Kingdom. Get out of your houses, into a dark, stary night and look up at them. The Bible says the heavens declare the glory of God. And what is God's glory? The book of John spoke of Jesus coming in the flesh (chapter 1) and after the fact, John said that we beheld his glory. Thus, the heavens speak of Christ. And Christ will set up his Kingdom here one day meanwhile we are stewards until then. It goes much beyond our physical or spiritual ailments.
Let's check out Mark 12:42. The poor widow cast in all that she had. Lord, I am troubled because I am poor. Not according to Jesus. She cast in all that she had. It's the intent that counts. After all, God is in the multiplying business. He could feed thousands with a few loaves and fishes. He does not want vast amounts of money to make his Kingdom work. He needs the willingness to give to him, no matter how small. What was honored was her faith. Jesus' answer to the concerns of money is found in Matthew 6:31 where he said Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. There are scores of promises that God will provide. Notice that Jesus did not condemn the people giving a portion of their incomes. Likewise he did not promise luxury, but he did promise that those who trust him will not go without what they need. Next time somebody lays a guilt trip on you with their "prosperity theology" by saying that material goods are God's reward for faith, think of this widow. Satan takes Biblical truth and twists it just to make it sound right. Yes God does reward. But that is not the focus. The focus is the dark, italicized words. Notice the words in Matthew 26:7--- the woman with the alabaster box with very precious ointment--- worth thousands by today's standards. The disciples would have her do what any good evangelist would preach in the open : Why this waste? It could have been sold to help the poor! Bull-splat! God promised he could already do that. Remember, he is in the multiplying business. No, her focus was on Christ instead, the source of all our answers to our problems. Why trouble ye the woman? Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. True gospel preachers include this woman: she had her focus aimed properly. She gave a natural response to God who would provide her with any help she needed.
What about the greatest grief or trouble we can expereience: death? Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Martha said what any of us good Christians would say. "Yes, I know one day he'll live again but that day is so far off I wouldn't even consider thinking about it now. Meanwhile I'm troubled because he is dead!" Jesus said to take the stone away from the grave because he is the resurrection. Martha even protested, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Check that out in John 11 of your King James Bibles if you do not believe me. The chapter ended with Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (even though Jesus did not die or raise himself yet) to everybody's astonishment.
To conclude, we may want to get out of our troubles and in doing so we may ask what the disciples did in Acts 1:6 Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel? Save us, Lord! We are troubled by Romans. No. You all still did not get it yet. Must I din this into you? It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put into his own power. But....and in effect he said that the Holy Spirit would come unto them so that ....ye shall be witnesses. A witness to Christ, to his Word, and his coming Kingdom. So what kind of troubles did we cover in this short message? Sickness, infirmity, death, poverty, and this last trouble involving enemies. Yet, Jesus promised a lasting solution to each one of the troubles. So.... after all this, just why are ye troubled?