theGregCast

Happy almost Father’s Day! Today, I’m simply comparing a good old, memorable song with an even “gooder” and older piece of advice from Scripture...

First, here’s the Scripture: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. (Matthew 6: 25-27, 31-34)

Now, here’s the song...

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerron

Here is a little song I wrote 
You might want to sing it note for note 
Don't worry be happy 
In every life we have some trouble 
When you worry you make it double 
Don't worry, be happy......

Don’t ya think God says the same thing in Scripture? “Here’s a little Word I wrote. You might want to live it, ‘note for note’!”

Ain't got no place to lay your head 
Somebody came and took your bed 
Don't worry, be happy 
The land lord say your rent is late 
He may have to litigate 
Don't worry, be happy...

The Gospel agrees: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, [or] what you will wear.” For that matter, why not add things like rent, or day to day stress, or even trying to answer those “what do we do now” kind of questions?

Look at me I am happy 
Don't worry, be happy 
Here I give you my phone number 
When you worry call me 
I make you happy 
Don't worry, be happy...

By now, (if you’re still reading) you’re probably saying to yourself, “Well this is nice and trite!” You want trite? Bobby says, “Here, I give you my phone number; when you worry, call me. I make you happy!” C’mon, if that’s not analogous to a prayerful relationship with God, then I don’t know what is! Now that’s nice and trite! :)


Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style 
Ain't got not girl to make you smile 
But don't worry be happy 
Cause when you worry 
Your face will frown 
And that will bring everybody down 
So don't worry, be happy (now).....

The Gospel challenges us, just like the previous verse of the song. “Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” Cash is certainly nice, and who doesn’t want a solid relationship to celebrate? But things like that come with time and patience. That is how God’s care works. He gives all creation what it needs, when it needs it. When we try to hurry it up, or manipulate its outcome, things spill, or life becomes overwhelming and out of control, and that effects those around you, for as the song says, “When you worry, your face will frown, and that will bring everybody down! So, don’t worry. Be happy NOW!”

There is this little song I wrote 
I hope you learn it note for note 
Like good little children 
Don't worry, be happy 
Listen to what I say 
In your life expect some trouble 
But when you worry 
You make it double 
Don't worry, be happy......

Let us learn the message of the song and the Scripture like good little children, for “our heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” As the song says, certainly in life there will be some trouble, and “when you worry, you make it double”, but the Scripture offers the same advice: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” So trust the song, and “don’t worry, be happy!” Trust the Scripture, and “do not worry about tomorrow; [for] tomorrow will take care of itself.”


Don't worry don't do it, be happy 
Put a smile on your face 
Don't bring everybody down like this 
Don't worry, it will soon past 
Whatever it is 
Don't worry, be happy!