1 Peter 5:7
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Truth to Learn
God is interested in our well being, so why are we worrying?
Behind the Words
The word “casting” is translated from the Greek word epirrhiptō, which is a compound of epi, meaning “on or upon” and rhiptō, which means “to fling or toss” (not a hard throw like a “hurl” but a gentle toss). So this word means to “toss something on” like you would toss a small stick on a campfire. This word is expressed as an aorist participle, indicating an action done once and for all.
“All” is translated from a form of pas, which means “all.” However, this word does not mean all as in “all of them,” but all as in “the whole.” It’s a subtle but distinct difference meaning that we are to cast all of our ability to worry on Him.
The word translated “care” is the Greek word merimna, which means “concern or worry.” It is derived from meris, meaning “something divided” or “a piece.” The implication is that it refers to anything that divides our attention from God.
The words “cares for” are translated from the Greek verb melei, which means “to be of interest to” or “to take care of.” This word is expressed in the present tense, active voice, and indicative mood implying current continuous action.
Now, if we tie this all together with the previous verse, we get:
Therefore, be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in time, tossing all your worrying onto Him, because He is taking care of you.
Meaning Explained
We are often quick to ask God for help with the things that worry us. But like so many other areas of our lives, we want Him to take care of them while we continue to hold on firmly. I like the idea of “tossing” all of our worrying on Him because it requires a release on our part. If we simply hand it to Him, we can still hold on and “help God” with it. Tossing it requires that we let go.
“But what if He doesn’t do anything about it?” you may ask. That’s where faith comes in. If we truly believe that nothing is impossible with God and that He loves us with an agape-type love and is truly concerned for our well being, then He will do what is ultimately best for us and what brings the most glory to Himself. That may mean that we have to suffer regarding those very things we have been worrying about. This is the very notion of suffering for righteousness’ sake that Peter has been talking about throughout this entire letter. But let it be God’s choice, not ours.
The bottom line is that we must allow ourselves to be used by God in the manner that He decides is best. That takes faith … That means allowing ourselves to be humbled … That means a complete commitment to God and His will.
Application/Challenge
I know a person who worries so much that she gets worried when she realizes that she doesn’t currently have anything to worry about. That’s not living by faith. That’s not allowing oneself to be humbled before God. Let me challenge you to go through an entire week accepting whatever God puts in your path, humbly accepting it from Him and giving Him the Glory.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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