Sometimes a simple question can prove profoundly helpful. I remember watching the movie Bridge of Spies several years ago and listening to this dialogue between Brooklyn lawyer James Donovan and his defendant Rudolf Abel after what Donovan perceived as a very negative outcome in court:
Abel: “How did we do?
Donovan: “In there? Not too good. Apparently, you’re not an American citizen.”
Abel: “That’s true.”
Donovan: “And according to your boss you’re not a Soviet citizen either.”
Abel: “Well, the boss isn’t always right, but he’s always the boss.”
Donovan: “Do you never worry?”
Abel: “Would it help?”
For the second of three times throughout the movie, Donovan looks at Abel with an expression of amazement at his refusal to worry. This scene always draws me back to Jesus’ painstaking exhortation not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34. Three times, Jesus repeats, “Don’t worry,” and He packs these commands together with reason after reason and illustration after illustration to show us why it is foolish to worry. Essentially, He asks the same question Abel asked, “Would it help?” And I ask this same question of you, dear reader, “Would it help?”
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mike