Imagine…Life without Care
“I don’t care!” Those were my exact words when Rebecca wanted us to look for a couch and she asked what I would like. I was being honest and I thought I was being supportive and kind. I learned at the end of the search that I was not being supportive, but she also learned that I did not care!
We looked all day (or so it seemed to me looking back). We ended back up at the store where we started the dreadful journey. I had said all day, “I don’t care!” My meaning was, “I will be happy with whatever you pick.” What I was thinking was not only that I would be satisfied with her choice, I would be SOOOO happy to finish the search!
When I ask you to imagine life without care, I am not asking you to live without caring about anything. This is not a call to apathy. People who live an apathetic life do not connect with others in relationships. They do not experience real joy and certainly do not feel with others in their difficulties.
Christians cannot be apathetic people. Paul wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15). Abundant living demands that we invest ourselves in others (John 10:10). We cannot do that if we don’t care about them.
So, what is life without care? There are two words in I Peter 5:7 that show 2 contrasting types of care. Notice how this verse sets up an interesting contrast. “…casting all your care on Him for He cares for you.” There are cares that Peter told his readers to cast away from themselves while admitting that Jesus cares about us.
It is obvious that there are “cares” that impede the abundant life. These are the cares Jesus spoke about in Matthew 6:25-34 and in Luke 12:22-31. Consider Jesus’ words in the passage in Luke particularly. He said that these are the cares.
1. that reveal misplaced priorities (verses 22-24).
2. that reveal burdens (verses 25-26).
3. that reveal a memory problem (verses 27-30).
4. that reveal one’s failure to accept what God offers (verse 30).
There are also “cares” that add to the abundant life. This “caring” is what Jesus showed throughout His life. When asked by His disciples if He really cared about them when a storm threatened to sink their boat, they were met with His immediately calming the sea (Mark 4:35-41).. Even the Pharisees knew that Jesus did not care about people classifying them into various groups, some better than others. He cared about all equally (Mark 12:13-17).
It is clear that the abundant life springs from being able to set aside the “cares” of this world and focus on God. However, it is also about “caring” about others the way that Jesus does. Imagine if we could do this well!!!
— Mike Johnson
