A practical outworking of loving vigilance, efforts and tenderness. Care is perfectly shown by God. People should imitate God's care, but human care is often limited, faulty or misplaced in self-centred ways.
Caring as part of God's character
God's care for his children
Psalm 121:3 See also Psalm 8:4, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 65:9, Psalm 115:12; Matthew 6:32 parallel Luke 12:30; Matthew 10:30–31 parallel Luke 12:7; Luke 15:20 God is the father in this parable.
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
Human care should reflect God's nature
John 15:12 See also Genesis 37:14; 1 Samuel 10:2; 2 Samuel 18:29; Esther 2:11; Luke 10:34–35; Acts 20:31; Philippians 4:10, Philippians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:10
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
God's care contrasted with human care
Isaiah 49:15 See also Psalm 118:9; Ezekiel 34:2–3, Ezekiel 34:11–12; Zechariah 10:2–3; John 10:13–14; 1 Timothy 3:5
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!
Care involves responsibility
Genesis 2:15 See also Genesis 39:4; Numbers 1:50; Proverbs 29:7; Matthew 21:33–34, Matthew 21:41 parallels Mark 12:1–2, Mark 12:9, Luke 20:9–10, Luke 20:16; 1 Timothy 6:20
Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.
God's care reflected in human relationships
Ephesians 5:25 See also Psalm 103:13–14; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Isaiah 49:15; Ephesians 6:1, Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 5:8
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
To be careless or uncaring is wrong
Jeremiah 48:10 See also Deuteronomy 8:14; 2 Chronicles 24:5; Isaiah 47:8; Zechariah 7:9–10; Matthew 12:36
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.
Care for worldly things is wrong
Philippians 4:6 See also Ecclesiastes 5:12; Matthew 6:31–32 parallel Luke 12:29–30; Matthew 13:22 parallels Mark 4:18–19, Luke 8:14; Luke 10:40–42, Luke 21:34; 1 Corinthians 7:32–34
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
God relieves his people of cares
1 Peter 5:7 There is a vital distinction between “care” in the sense of “loving care” which Christians are to practise, and “worldly care” in the sense of “anxiety” which Christians should transfer to God, since they and their needs are his responsibility. See also Psalm 37:25, Psalm 55:22; Proverbs 3:5–6; Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 11:28–29; Luke 12:11–12; John 14:1
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.