Consider the Lilies
Introduction:
I’m Pete. God loves you!
The topic today: What can we learn from lilies?
The Scriptures:
The main portions of scripture regarding lilies are found in Matthew and Luke:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:25-33 (ESV)
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12:22-31 (ESV)
What Were They?
What were the lilies Christ spoke of? Thoughts revolve around the anemone coronaria, a flower that still grows wild around the Lake of Galilee. It seems to come in a variety of vivid colors, and looks like the flower at the top of the page.
However, even the cultivated flowers we consider lilies today, and all flowers, glow with evidence of God-given ability to thrive. God designed them with beauty and variety, which we learn to benefit from. So, let me add a few images of the lily flowers at our house below.
Why Consider the Lilies?
The lilies are part of an explanation of God’s provision. The provision is conditional. If we make God’s kingdom a priority, God will provide for our needs, among which is clothing. The clothing God provides might even be quite nice.
But the provision is not limited to clothing. It includes all essentials. Some might include short-term needs. All include eternal needs. So, even if our needs on earth are temporarily stripped away, they will be met in eternity if we place Christ first. Don’t worry.
May God Bless You!