Casting All Your Care

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Casting All Your Care

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

God cares for us even down to the smallest detail of our lives. There is nothing too small or insignificant to warrant God's attention. We need to place EVERY thought, worry or concern in God's hands and know that He will supply our needs. The English word "care" appears twice in this verse in the King James version but it is translated from two very different Greek words. I want to look at each of these words to get the full meaning of this verse.

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care [merimna] upon him; for he careth for you.

The first word "care" is the Greek word "merimna." Merimna is a thought, worry, or anxious worldly care that distracts the mind. It comes from a root word meaning a division, part, or share. It is some thought that has caused the mind to become divided and focused on an anxious, worldly thought or care. This word is first used in the New Testament in Matthew 13:22

Matthew 13:22
He that received seed among thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care [merimna] of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19
And the cares [merimna] of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Luke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares [merimna] and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

In these verses the cares of this world include the deceitfulness of riches, pleasures of this life, and lusts of other things. These thoughts and anxious worldly cares choke the word of God out of a person's life. We are not to be distracted by these things. We cast all of our thoughts about worldly things upon God and let HIM take care of them.

The verb form of the noun "merimna" is the Greek word "merimnao." Merimnao is action. "It is to be anxious about."

Matthew 6:25-34
     Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [merimnao] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
     Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
     Which of you by taking thought [merimnao] can add one cubit unto his stature?
     And why take ye thought [merimnao] for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
     And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
     Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
     Therefore take no thought [merimnao] , saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
     (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
     But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
     Take therefore no thought [merimnao] for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought [merimnao] for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

     God feeds the birds and clothes the grass of the field. God knows that we have need of food, shelter, and clothing. Rather than being worried and anxious about these things we need to seek God knowing that HE will supply all of the worldly things we need. We must learn to cast all of our worldly cares on HIM.

Philippians 4:6
Be careful [merimnao] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

This is the way that we, as believers are to handle these needs. We do not get anxious or hold worrisome thoughts about our needs. We pray and let God know our requests with thanksgiving. God's Word promises that He will supply all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

1 Peter 5:7
   Casting all your care upon him; for he careth [melo] for you.

      The second word "careth" is the Greek word "melo."    Melo means to be of value, interest, or concern. God has a great deal of interest and concern for our individual needs. God places great value on us. God cares for us.

Matthew 22:16
      And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest [melo] thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

     These men, sent from the Pharisees, said that they knew that Jesus Christ did not have an interest or concern in the social position of men. It was not an honest statement. Rather, it was a statement meant to trap Jesus Christ in a legal question. In this verse the Greek word "melo" is used to mean value, interest, or concern as it relates to the "person of men."

Mark 4:37-40
     And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
     And he [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest [melo] thou not that we perish?
     And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
     And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

     The disciples were full of anxiety and fear because of the storm. Jesus Christ trusted in God's care and was asleep. The disciples woke him and asked him if he did not care that they were going to die. Aren't you interested in the fact that we are going to drown? Don't our lives have any value to you? Don't you care? Jesus simply got up and rebuked the storm and there was a great calm. The sea went from high rolling waves splashing into the boat to still water. Then Jesus asked them "How is it that ye have no faith?" Why don't you have confidence in God's care?
     When we look at the world we will have thoughts of worry, anxiety, and fear. When we cast all our anxiety and cares to God we can be assured that God will take care of the situation because He has a great interest and concern for meeting our needs.

Luke 10:38-42
     Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
     And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
     But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care [melo] that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.
     And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful [merimnao] and troubled about many things:
     But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

    The anxiety and troubles we magnify in our minds can choke out the word of God. We need to continuously feed our thinking with the positives of the Word of God and know that God will take care of the things we need. Martha asked Jesus why he did not seem to be interested in Mary's neglect of the service of their guests. Jesus responded that he noticed that Martha was very anxious and troubled about things and that the one thing that was needed was God's Word. Mary had chosen the Word of God.

1 Peter 5:7
   Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Philippians 4:6
     Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

     We are not to be distracted by the anxieties and cares of this world. God knows that we have needs like food, shelter, and clothing. We are not to let thoughts about these needs, the deceitfulness of riches, pleasures of this life, and lusts of other things dominate our thinking. Rather, we are to cast ALL of our cares upon God. God is vitally concerned for our welfare. God wants to supply our needs. God cares for us.

Luke 12:6-7
     Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
     Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.