A trip to the flower garden will yield a valuable lesson.
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!" (Luke 12:27-28)
My wife planted some annual flowers over a year ago that have survived and are thriving beyond their life expectancy. The beautiful, rich purple hues alongside the glistening white pedals are a daily reminder of the truth of this teaching of Jesus in Luke twelve. Rain, irrigation, and the rich nutritious soil have provided the essentials for the growth and beauty of these flowers.
"Consider the lilies". I'm not familiar with the species of flowers growing in our back yard, but I'm fairly certain they are not lilies. Regardless, the lesson is not lost as I look at their beauty and color - they exist and flourish through provision other than their own.
"For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." (Luke 12:22-23)
The idea of worry that Jesus refers to might best be described as obsession - don't be obsessed with daily necessities because life is more than these things. Contrary to a misunderstanding some have of His words, He is not prescribing laziness and neglect, but rather warning against obsessive and distracted worry.
Obsessive worry over secondary issues will most assuredly distract us from the key life priority: "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke 12:31). Overzealous focus on the secondary issues of life will always be fruitless, but a focus on the key priority - the things pertaining to the kingdom of God - will result in receiving the secondary issues of life. That's a truly win-win combination!
The flowers of the garden and the birds in the air are daily object lessons of life's priorities. For those willing to consider, they point us beyond the obvious focus of life to the key priority of the things concerning the kingdom.
Invest your best time and energy today in the things that truly matter.
Steve
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!" (Luke 12:27-28)
My wife planted some annual flowers over a year ago that have survived and are thriving beyond their life expectancy. The beautiful, rich purple hues alongside the glistening white pedals are a daily reminder of the truth of this teaching of Jesus in Luke twelve. Rain, irrigation, and the rich nutritious soil have provided the essentials for the growth and beauty of these flowers.
"Consider the lilies". I'm not familiar with the species of flowers growing in our back yard, but I'm fairly certain they are not lilies. Regardless, the lesson is not lost as I look at their beauty and color - they exist and flourish through provision other than their own.
"For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." (Luke 12:22-23)
The idea of worry that Jesus refers to might best be described as obsession - don't be obsessed with daily necessities because life is more than these things. Contrary to a misunderstanding some have of His words, He is not prescribing laziness and neglect, but rather warning against obsessive and distracted worry.
Obsessive worry over secondary issues will most assuredly distract us from the key life priority: "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke 12:31). Overzealous focus on the secondary issues of life will always be fruitless, but a focus on the key priority - the things pertaining to the kingdom of God - will result in receiving the secondary issues of life. That's a truly win-win combination!
The flowers of the garden and the birds in the air are daily object lessons of life's priorities. For those willing to consider, they point us beyond the obvious focus of life to the key priority of the things concerning the kingdom.
Invest your best time and energy today in the things that truly matter.
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:19 AM
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