It always amazes me where ideas come from for my blogging.  I was listening to a preacher quote 1 Peter 5:7, the words he spoke were not the King James version, which is the version I cut my teeth on.  1 Peter 5:7 KJV says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  Most people quote this scripture wrong and in turn gives it a totally different meaning.

One definition of CARE states, the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something, i.e.  the care of the elderly.  So, when I cast my care on him (the Lord) I am saying here I am Lord, you know what I have need of even before I ask, thank you for taking care of me.  The second part of the scripture says, for he cares for you.  Cares in this portion of scripture is a verb.  And we know Verbs are action words.  Here it means to look after and provide for the needs of.  Other similar terms are to take care of and tend.  So, we can safely say that God cares for us, He is actively involved in the lives of his children, actively involved in making sure we all have our needs met.

Other translations put it this way, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Anxious, an adjective, is defined as experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  Anxiety is a noun and means a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Anxious describes a person who is worrying, while anxiety usually describes the inner feelings of not being able to care for oneself.  Philippians 4:6-7, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Casting my cares denote telling God my rent is due, I need a job, I need, I need, I need.  Yes, it is legitimate to talk to God about these things, but not out of worry.  Casting my care denotes, like a child, trusting the parents to provide every need.  Children do not think about having a roof over their heads.  They do not think about where their next meal is coming from.  They instinctively know that mama and daddy have it under control, and when the time comes, it will be available.

So, the next time you read 1 Peter 5:7, check your version.  What is it really saying to you?  Does it matter what it is saying?  Your thoughts….