What do folks today care about? We know that we all care about our families, and that’s as it should be. After all, they are the ones who come from the same blood line and were begotten with the same flesh. Biologically, the familial genes and chromosomes are the same. It’s something we don’t have a choice about, but we care anyway.
Many care about the world situation and our nation in particular. Again, that’s as it should be, because our nation was paid for at a great price, and we need to guard and to protect it to maintain the freedoms that we enjoy here. Our military personnel go to great lengths to do what is necessary to protect and to preserve our free nation, and may it ever remain so!
Most people care about their homes, jobs, friends, sports, clothing, good times, etc. These things, too, are all good if we don’t let them push eternal things out of our vision. Jesus addressed this very issue as we read in Luke 11:42-43, “Woe unto you, Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done and not leave the other undone. Woe unto you for you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues and greetings in the markets.” Jesus condemned what the Pharisees were doing because they were leaving things undone that should have come before their tithing and because they were desiring praise and glory from men. Anything one does that takes God out of his line of vision is condemned, for when we are doing things that are wrong, we are not seeing God clearly.
A good demonstration of this is seen in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. We read there about one who hears the Word and doesn’t understand it, and the wicked one comes and takes it away. We read of the one who joyfully receives the Word in difficult places, but the Word doesn’t take root, and straightway he stumbles. We read of the one who hears the word, but the “care of this world” (v. 22) chokes out the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Then, we read that the seed sown on good ground “is he who hears the word, understands it and bears fruit” (v. 23). When one accepts God’s teachings, he must apply those teachings to his life and be productive in His service to receive His ultimate care.
God’s care for His people is the most profound “care” one could ever imagine. He has always blessed His people to the utmost. Just look at Hebrews 11. When the faithful remained faithful, they “subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens and women received their dead raised to live again.” This chapter goes on to mention some of the detriments faced by the faithful, but God always gives to the faithful the victory to overcome all obstacles. He cares.
His care for His people was and is immeasurable. The ultimate act of the demonstration of His care for His people was at Calvary’s cross where He gave His only Son to die a horrible death. We read in 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” At the death of Jesus, the ultimate act of love was shown by our God. He did this because of His love and care for our eternal souls. He only asks us to care also as we read in 1 Peter 5:5-7, “Be clothed with humility… humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God… casting all your care on Him for He cares for you.” “O yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief. When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares!” (“Does Jesus Care?”).
