CONSIDER THE LILIES!

 

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

 

CONSIDER THE LILIES!

 

Matt 6:28-34

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 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?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

Both Matthew and Luke (12:27) were so taken by this speech of Jesus that they included it in their gospels. It is a rebuke for me and perhaps for you in our time and culture. It is easy for us to worry and fret because nothing in our current economy seems sound and sure. The icy fingers of winter have choked and covered the lilies with a heavy weight of snowy death. But spring always returns the lilies to their glory! As soon as their feet are warmed, they put forth their golden blooms. I’ve never seen one worry.

 

Both Matthew and Luke accurately quote Jesus as saying “consider” which is the Greek word: katamanthano (kat-am-an-than'-o) which means to learn thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to note carefully. So, there must be much to learn.

 

As we consider we see that the lily cannot move. It does not have our mobility. If things become uncomfortable for us, we can change our geography and many do. We are a people constantly on the move searching for a better place. Lilies do not and cannot work. We can and we do. We labor, manufacture, and produce. We market and sell and make profit. Lilies are peacefully idle.

 

Lilies are completely at the mercy of the heavenly Father. So are we, although we do not think so! Lilies, if they think, never worry about the future. If they are able to trust, then lilies have learned to trust the nature and resources of the heavenly Father. Perhaps it is we who do not think. Perhaps it is we who cannot trust.

 

The point of Jesus’ speech is clear. The nature of the Father is kind, and the resource of the Father is rich. Let us trust Him today.

 

Dear Lord, forgive me for my fretting and my worrying. Help me to consider the lilies and to consider my safety and security in YOU. AMEN