Lets look at what some of these words in Mark 4: 14- 20 really means to the believer. We will be using Webster's Dictionary.
CARE: #1- worry, mental suffering, grief, concern, solicitude, anxiety, all mean a troubling and an engrossing emotion or affair. Care implies oppression of the mind, weighted down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.
Lets look at some of the words that describe the word care.
Worry- to shake and mangle with the teeth, trouble, plague, and fret.
Also- anxiety,
Anxiety- painful uneasiness of mind, over an anticipated ill, abnormal apprehension and fear often accompanied by physiological signs (as sweating and increased pulse), by doubt about the nature and reality of the threat it self, and by self doubt.
Concern- interest, anxiety,
Afflict- to cause pain and distress, torment, torture, to dash down, to dash against, grieve, to cause pain to the body or the mind.
Affliction- (a) a state of mental suffering, grief, misery, distress, adversity.
Persecute- to harass constantly with malignant and injurious attacks; to treat with cruelty and oppression, esp. on account of religious beliefs. (2) to worry, annoy persistently, importune.
Persecution- act of persecution; state of being
persecuted. Specific case of systematic oppression and attack on account of
religious beliefs: the
Deceitful- (of persons) given to deceiving; treacherous,
(of actions, words) utter with the intent of deceiving, giving a false
impression, deliberately misleading; (of appearance) misleading, deception,
giving false impression.
Deceive- to cause to believe what is not true, by words, actions, to mislead willfully; delude, give a false impression to, to be deceived by appearances. (also reflex) to persuade oneself of something which is not true (self deceived), to be under a delusion.
Lust- pleasure, desire, unrestraint, full of desire, covetous.
a) bodily appetite: the lust of the flesh
b) sexual appetite: unlawful, passion.
To desire strongly,
a) to feel strong physical desire.
b) Lust after, for, to desire passionately.
The Word of God says not to be anxious about anything,
nor are we to carry our cares with us, in fact we are to hand all of our cares
over to God, because He cares for us. As you have just read in the preceding
descriptions of certain words found in Mark
It is no wonder why so many of us pray and pray, and never get any results. We tend to say to friends and family, "bye, take care", just this one little insignificant,harmless phrase, after reading the above definition, I hope you will see just what it is that you have asked this friend or family to Take upon themselves. Think about this!
You have just said, "by, take mental suffering, anguish, worry, grief, oppression of the mind!" Sounds silly does it not? Sure it does, look what can the word 'care', can do to somebody! Lets not forget in whose Image we are created in. If His Words are seeds, then so are ours!
Look at 1 Peter 5: 6- 9 " Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation) under the Mighty Hand of God, that in due time, He may exalt you. Casting the whole of your care --- all your anxieties, all your worries, all you concerns, once and for all --- on Him; for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well-balanced --- temperate, sober-minded; be vigilant and Cautious at All times, for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce anger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset], --- rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined --- knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world."
Do you see the first thing we have to do? We have to Humble Ourselves, Under God's Mighty Hand, in other words, we must give ourselves, be subject to Him only, kneel (on Both knee's) before Him in complete submission to His Authority.
Then it states to cast (throw, hurl, to cast upon) All, not some but All of our cares on God, because He cares For us, that is, He will, If we Let Him, do it. Also we have this enemy, his name is Satan, he Will do anything he can to trip you up, he wants you to have all of these cares, why, because he use’s them as a tool against us. If he can keep us in these cares, he will be able to keep us under his thumb, under his control. Why do I say this? Because if he can keep you beat down, and keep you under these cares, you will not be able to see things clearly enough to get out from under those cares, if he can, he will kill you with them, or just make you so sick that you can't get out from under it. Then at this time he will magnify all your cares and worries. Look, get rid of them, it is not your job to get all worked up over things in your life, or anyone else's life, it's not your job, so quit trying to carry all of this stuff, give it to God, He's Big enough to hold it. Then you can resist the devil, with everything
you have, immovable, firmly rooted in your faith, and having done all to stand, standing therefore,having the
whole armor of God on, so you can stand against all the attacks and strategies, and all the deceitful on slots of the spiritual wickedness in high places, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, that you resist in the evil day. So, when the devil comes at you, you can then say, Look Satan, I do not know what you are talking about! I have No cares, I Gave them all to my Heavenly Father, so if you want to know anything about My cares, you’ll have to go before God, And all's He’ll tell you, It's non of your business! Now that you have stood your ground, give the Lord praise and glory for taking all your cares, and for keeping them.