How many times have you said “where did the time go”, “time flies”, “I need more time”, or “give me five more minutes”. What if you could buy extra time like you buy other things? How much would you pay for an extra hour of time? What would you do with it?
I know several people who have terminal illnesses and would pay handsomely for some extra time. So back to the question: if time is money so how much money would spend for an extra hour?
A study in 2009 revealed that the average Briton spends two hours and 15 minutes of their day fretting and worrying about things. That adds up to a loss of one month of life every year.
Jesus was – and is – very aware how much we worry. He said:
““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Mt 6:24:34)
“Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” No. In fact, not only do we loose valuable time by worrying – which resolves nothing – but stress is also physically and emotionally damaging. Stress takes a toll on the body as well as the mind further decreasing our quality of life and sometimes our length of life.
Just think, if we stopped worrying we’d gain an extra month of life every year. If we entrust our worries – as well as our joys – to God we will also receive the peace and joy that comes with allowing God to be the God of our worries instead of letting our worries become little gods.
Remember this beautiful encounter? “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing” (Lk 10:41) Jesus tells us, “seek first the kingdom of God… and all these things will be given you besides”.
There are several times in the Scriptures when God or an angel is telling someone “do not be afraid”. John Paul II’s first words as Pope were “do not be afraid”. So, do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
However, Jesus did tell us to fear something. Do you remember what it was?
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Mt 10:28). Instead of worrying about corporal things such as food and clothing Jesus tells us to be afraid of what can damage our soul. To be clear, only we can destroy our soul by a lack of faith and by sin. Sin is not something that happens to us. Rather, a sin is something we freely choose to do knowing it is contrary to God’s will.
When was the last time you found yourself worrying about your soul – the one thing Jesus told us to fear loosing? We get things backwards sometimes, we worry about things we should not worry about and do not concern ourselves with what really matters – our soul.
So enjoy your extra two hours of life each day. When worries come – and they will keep coming –ask yourself if they are the worries Jesus told you to worry about or not. If not, give them to Jesus. Tomorrow will take care of itself and God will take care of us.
