Volume 9, Number 1
LESSON OF THE LILIES
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow.” Matthew 6:28
Fear and anxiety are amongst the most serious foes of
our human family. They wear upon the gray matter of the brain; they produce nervous
exhaustion and are very injurious to health. For those who would seek to walk in the
Divine path which God has marked out for the Gospel Church, fear and anxiety are special
hindrances. The Savior had this fact in mind when he spoke thus to His disciples. He would
have His followers to be without worry, to be restful of heart. But he would not have them
be without carefulness. There is a carefulness which is entirely proper, yea, necessary,
on our part, but not this extreme worry this inability to enjoy the blessings of the
present moment because of thoughts, fears, respecting tomorrow. When the Apostle said
(Phil. 4:6), “Be careful for nothing,” he was not referring to a proper care and
sense of responsibility, but to an anxiety which would rob the soul of rest and peace, and
which would indicate a lack of faith in the Lord, and in His care for His people. The word
rendered “careful” here is from a Greek word meaning over anxious.
In giving a forceful lesson to His disciples on
trustfulness in God, the Master used the illustration of the lilies of the field. The
lilies of Palestine are quite common rather a small flower, many of them red. They
persist, live, grow, notwithstanding that no special provision is made for their
cultivation, and that they are trodden down by those who pass through the fields. Yet they
develop and mature and blossom, and have an exquisite organism, which microscopic
examination shows is very beautiful. Jesus declared that even Solomon in all his glory was
not arrayed like one of these. There is a perfection in the texture of a flower that is
wonderful. The finest clothing cannot approximate the delicate structure of the flower,
created by an Infinite Hand.
The lesson seems to be that although the flowers may
be in an unfavorable environment, unable to do for themselves or to take any anxious
thought in the matter, nevertheless, God’s providence has so arranged for them that
they thrive and become very beautiful. These lilies did not look up and wish that they
might become great trees nor wish that they might climb up higher in the world and near
the sun, as do the vines. On the contrary, they were content with the lot chosen for them
by their Infinite Creator. Matt. 6:30
THE LESSON OF TRUST
IMPERATIVE
And so God’s people are to take a lesson from
the lilies. They too are to be content with the Lord’s arrangement for them. “Content
whatever lot I see, Since `tis my God that leadeth me.”
In proportion as we approximate this condition it
will give us peace and rest of mind. We are not to worry, and not to be slothful, but are
to be diligent, “fervent in spirit serving the Lord,” doing with our might what
our hands find to do. When doing this, we are to be content and trustful that He will work
out all things for our good. He wishes us to learn this lesson of trust.
Those who neglect to learn this lesson will be
unprepared for the great work God has in mind for our future under Messiah’s Kingdom.
God will not have any in that Kingdom who are not full of trust. As the flowers flourish
under God’s providential care, so are all of His people to flourish to grow in
knowledge and beauty of spirit, in beauty of character. And this is not accomplished by
some great things that they do, but by the spirit in which they meet the little things,
all the experiences of life. God’s people are to grow steadily, though unobtrusively.
