Morning, May 26
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Psalms 55:22
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee."
Psalm 55:22
Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to
excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care
is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is
reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected
without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care
is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting
ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to
do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget;
we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable
or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain
precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon
his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often
leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's
hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to
use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God
as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going
to the "broken cistern" instead of to the "fountain;" a sin which was
laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God's
lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust,
and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered,
our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus
want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if
through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes
upon him, and are "careful for nothing" because he undertakes to care
for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much
temptation. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed
on thee, because he trusteth in thee."