The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-11-20
THE SIN OF WORRY.
NS Not Only Useless Hut HARMFUL
Gods Peace in the Heart
Will Danish 1t.

Will Danish 1t.
Scarcely any other fault Or sin il
so ofteh condemned in the Bible as
worry, says Wellspring. Probably
the reason for the frequency of ex-
hortations upon this subject is the
commences of the habit. Almost
everybody worries. Even among
Christians one who is never anxious
is rarely found. Some one says that
if people were TO be saved by not
worrying, only small Heaven would
be needed to contain all the elect.
The continual repetition of the les.
son against anxiety suggests alse
how serious an evil it is. We do not
usually think of it, however, in this
way. We scarcely regard worry as a
sin at ;.li. At the worst, it is thought
Of as an infirmity of, certain minJs
beautiful habit-that is, in other
people. In ourselves we probably de.
fend it as something unavoidable and
altogether excusable. eff you had
my circumstances, you would worry
too is the way certain people meet
all exhortations against anxiety.
We ought to be honest enough with
ourselves to look at this matter
frankly, without excuse or apology
There are several things about wor-
ry which we should remember. One
is it's rselessness. What good does
it do2 Does any amount of fretting
over It remove the thing we fret
about? One man thinks he is toe
short. His abbreviated stature makes
him conspicuous among people. Ev-
eryone notices it. He wishes he were
taller. Because he is not. he wor-
ries and life loses much of it's zest
and pleasure for him. But what
comes out OF all his anxiety? (which
of you by being anxious asked the
Master, ''can add one cubit unto his
stature? 90
Il is the same with other worries
Anxiety never drove a cloud from the
sky, nor kept away a frost, nor tenn
pered chill wind, nor brought rain
When we are dealing with the inevit
able there is not the slightest use ir
resisting it, in chafing Or frettins
over it. The only reasonable and sen
sible thing for us to do is to accep'
it and meet it with cheerfulness ant
with song. Worry is useless.
Another thing we should remember
| about worry is that it is hurtful
| Not only is it Intellectual in bringing
! to us the things we desire, but it doe:
! untold harm to those who indulge il
it. 1t makes unhappiness. There arr
thousands of people who might liv'
| joyously if only they would give III
being anxious. Anxiety spoils ever.
| rare June day for them by feckin.
| its skv with clouds The heart make
| the life. It colors every scene witt
the hi. of it's own feeling. A ioyou
| heart makes all the world lovely
| Every simple flower is sweeter whe1
| there is sunshine within. But whe1
one is vexed and fretted, the faires
| things in the world are ''sicklie
o'er.' Worry robs the world o
more than half its beauty.
Then. worry hurts ones own life
The problem of living is not to avoi
| d;sappointments, burdens, struggles
tasks, temptations, sorrows, but l
| all these experiences to keep tn
| heart sweet and unharmed, gentle
reioicing, trusting. But when on
lets anxiety into the heart, one ha
failed IN the problem, and the lif
has been harmed. Anxiety makes tn
snirit restless and feverish, destroy
ing it's, peace. Even the physical e1
fectss are injurious. Many nervou
breaklowns, as they are called, ar
but the result of worry. People sa
oye1work is the cause, but work hurt
no one if the JOY of the Lord stay
in the heart. It is worry that wear
out the nerves.
Even the face soon shows til
traces of anxiety. It loses its ligh
it's repose, it's quiet, its happy shi1
ing. Lines of care are plowed in i
The thoughts make the fac
Thoughts of peace write peace a
over the features. Anxious thought
soon work out into the countenanc
so that all the world knows there
a disturbed, vexed, fretted spir
within.
Worry also hurts ones infiuenc
A radiant heart, filed with Gods pc
feet peace, gives a charm to one
personality, which adds immeasu
ably to ones power for usefulnes
Wherever joyous people go they carr
cheer, making life joyous for ever.
one they meet, and making the wor
Ir;rb+ar and sweeter. But anxiet
pf}}y;ssSt.'s f};sSs Early Risors
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