To Be or Not to Be, That is the Question. Bees to Avoid.

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (BSB) The BEE to avoid here is anxiety. I know full well that this is a sensitive subject, so don’t get in an uproar. Let’s break this down. The HOLY SPIRIT does not use the phrase, ‘Be Not Anxious’ HE says “Be Anxious for NOTHING.” But there is context here. First, the context of language. The word ‘Anxious’ can be traced back to a term which means ‘to part, divide, portion; to portion out’. We find this word in Luke 11:36 “So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.” I’m not an expert, but it seems to me that the anxiety spoken of in Philippians 4 has to do with a mind that is parted out, divided in its thinking, distracted in such a way that it struggles to discern what really matters. Paul is talking about a mind and heart that is NOT at Peace, unguarded, and out of focus. The second context is the ‘Instead’ aspect of this passage. Instead of allowing those distractions to continue to invade our minds, robbing us of peace- take it all, everything to GOD through the avenue of prayers and petitions, with thanksgiving. So, it seems there are things feeding these anxieties, lack of TRUST in GOD, a void when it comes to thanksgiving, a heart and mind that is out of focus, and a deficiency of Joy. What should be filling our minds? “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the GOD of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 This means, driving the anxiety out of our hearts requires work on our part. We put in the effort; GOD provides the peace.

Russell Ashby