Two Kinds of Care by Messiah's Herald

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 23.

Two Kinds of Care.

By Messiah's Herald

ST. PETER says: "Casting all your care [merimna] upon him; for he careth [melei] for you." The first care signifies anxiety, burden, something that divides thought and harasses the soul. The second care, that which God has for us, signifies regard, keeping us upon his heart, restraining us from evil, following us day by day to succor us in our ignorance and weakness.

How totally unlike are these two kinds of care! One is altogether unnecessary and destructive. On the other hand, God's care for us is a regard that his nature must bear for us so long as he is God, and is essentially saving and life-giving to the whole universe. Ours is the result of a diseased nature. His care is the brightness of infinite purity, the outgushing of tender pity, the exponent of his great love, the object-lesson by which he instructs us in righteousness.

How blessed it is that we can rest our weary souls on him! We need not wait for preparations if we are only sincere and earnest. Let us come to him, even while distracted and oppressed. His care for us is, if possible, greater at such times. If we wait and suffer alone, our distresses will become increasingly grievous.

Nor are we to lay at his feet a portion of our heavy burden only. His care extends to everything, whether of temporal or spiritual interests. How many err just here! They seem to think that God does not wish to know about the innumerable little perplexities of their lives, and so, in failing to embrace their full privilege, confidence in him is weak when the deeper trials are brought to his notice.

One thing, however, must never be forgotten, namely, God's care for his children does not always deliver them from trial. That very care proposes to secure their perfection of character. This is the first and supreme object in his view. When this divine purpose can be best attained, in the wisdom of God, through trials, his blessed care over us not only sanctions, but even sends the sharp "thorn," or prepares the "fiery furnace." "Casting all your care upon him" is not, therefore, to insure exemption from trying circumstances. Rather, it is to feel the everlasting arms about us, to hear his words of comfort and promise, and to know that in this way the power of Christ is the fruit of our earthly trial.—Messiah's Herald.