NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

Casting Your Care!

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
August 1, 2010

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“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7 

It would be nice to get through life without ever having a problem. If we didn’t have to worry about being faced with sickness, accidents, deaths, family problems, and all the other maladies associated with living in a fallen world! It would be nice; it’s just not going to happen in this life. In verse 10 of the same chapter, Peter said, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” The word “suffered” means to experience the sensation of pain or suffering. John the Beloved reminds us of this same truth when he writes, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). John reminds us that this world is filled with afflictions, anguish, burdens, and trouble. There is only one land that is void of care; “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4). 

Even though we are in a land of suffering, pain, and tears, we are not without an aid; “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7 Please look with me at three words in the text. 

(I) Care

Please note that the word is not plural, but is singular! The word “care” has the idea of to part, to disunite, to be a difference between, to cause a distraction. A good Old Testament event that illustrates this truth is found in Exodus 14:19-20. As the Egyptians pressed upon the nation of Israel at the crossing to the Red Sea, the angel of the God moved in between the two camps and was darkness for the Egyptians and was light for the nation of Israel. In that event there was a parting, a difference between, the act of disuniting. The question that we need to ask ourselves is. “What is it that has come between you and God?” “What has caused you to withdraw, to lose your fervor for God?” “What is it that has caused a difference between you and the Lord?” 

The first thing that needs to be acknowledged is the fact that something that becomes a care can be generated by something good as well as something bad. The thing only becomes a care when it destroys the union between you and God! Good things become bad when they get in the wrong place. There is nothing wrong with money, sports, family, friends, work, or possessions; until they begin to occupy the wrong place in our lives. 

The second thing is the fact that a care can be spiritual as well as physical. Most of us associate care with that which is totally physical like the event in Matthew 14:24-30. In the midst of a storm, Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water, going to Jesus. That is when the physical care came between Peter and Jesus, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink” (Matthew 14:30). The peace and power that Peter drew from the Lord was abated the moment the storm came between him and the Saviour.  In II Corinthians 11:28, Paul revealed the possibility of a spiritual care that distracts our focus of the Sovereign, “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:28). We are ashamed to admit it, but the truth is, sometime ministry gets in the way of staying connected to the Master. This was never the intention of our Lord. 

The third thing that demands our attention is the origin of the event that becomes a care. Our first assumption is that all things that ultimately become a care come from the devil, but this is not always the case. In I Peter 5:10 we discover that the event that can become a care is generated by the Lord, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” Job said, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). It is you or I that determine if something becomes a care by what place we allow it to occupy in our lives. In I Peter 5:8-9 we see that it is the devil that desires to generate a care, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” May we make every effort to not allow anything to disunite us from our focus on the Saviour! 

(II) Careth

The text reminds us that “he careth for you.” There are two things that are worthy of our attention. The first is the compassion. The word “careth” means to be in interest, to be concerned, or it matters. I don’t know if this means anything to you or not, but this truth is a great encouragement to my spirit. Whatever has come into my life and has manifested itself as a care, He is interested, He is concerned. When it doesn’t matter to anyone else, it matters to Him! The songwriter had it right when he wrote, “Oh Yes He cares, I know He cares!” 

The second thing to notice is the Christ. While I am glad that there are a few people that are concerned about the needs of others, I’m glad that the text said, “he careth for you.” Hebrews 4:13-16, reveals some things about this one that cares; His perception (vs.13), His position and power (vs.14), He is personal (vs.15) and His provision (vs.16). This is the one that careth for all those that find rest in Him. 

(III) Cast

When we discover that something has become a care and we have allow something break our concentration upon Him, what is to be done? Are we doomed to abandonment by our own hands? No! We have been given a option, “Casting all your care upon him.” 

The first thing that we notice is the action, “casting.” The word “cast” means to throw upon, the idea of a sudden motion, to fling with a quick toss. Thank God, we don’t have to remain blind to His person, power, perception, position, and potential. If our focus is to be restored, the care must be removed. While we are no match for the care, He is! With a quick toss, I cast my care upon Him. 

The second thing to be observed is the amount of care that can be cast; “casting all.” He can not only handle it all, He wants it all. He wants you to be in constant contact with Him. 

The question that we are now left with is a very simple one; “Having discovered the care that has disunited distracted, or to made a difference between us and the Saviour, what are you going to do with it?” There is only one of two courses of action; cast it or carry it! I think I will follow His encouragement and cast it on Him! 

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