“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:24-25

Dear God, some translation separate these two verses from each other and act like Jesus is starting a new thought in His sermon. For example, the NIV puts a heading between them that says, “Do Not Worry.” But they need to go together. The worship of money becomes worrying about money. The worship of relationship becomes worrying about relationship, becomes co-dependency, becomes jealousy, etc. Substitute whatever god you want for money and the result is the same. Worship of your god becomes worry in how to keep your god.

All of this is true except when it comes to my real God. I never worry about losing you. Sure, a perverted view of you might make someone get angry if they perceive you are doing more for someone else than you are for them, but, overall, a life spent truly worshiping you will give peace.

Father, as I examine the things in my life that worry me, I guess the first thing I should ask myself is if I am worshiping them. Now the answer isn’t always yes. There are legitimate things that should concern me like caring for relatives or neighbors in need. But I need to be careful to not become codependent with those things. I have a relative going through an extremely difficult situation right now. It would be easy to deep dive into their problems at an unhealthy level, but I think my wife and I are keeping each other healthy and balanced through the process. But help me to recognize when I turn my worship from you and place it on something or someone else. You are the only God who truly loves me and can bring me peace.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen