REFLECTION: A Lesson from the Lilies

A Thought from the Sermon on the Mount…..

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…. (Matthew 6:28 KJV)

In His ministry, the Lord Jesus often used illustrations from the world around. Objects and scenes that His listeners would be familiar with were taken, and lessons were drawn from them. This, combined with His authority, certainly must have made His teaching memorable.

Do you ever wish you had been alive when Jesus was here on earth? “If only He was here today,” you may be thinking, “and I could sit with a crowd and listen to His enthralling teaching!” While that is not possible, many of the objects and situations that He spoke about are still with us and we can surely benefit as we take time to “consider” them.

Although the “lilies of the field” that the Lord was looking at may be difficult to identify precisely (and Bible commentators have their own different ideas) we are all familiar with wild flowers. You may have seen a field of wild poppies, for instance, swaying gently in the breeze. Flowers can appear so graceful, yet at the same time they are very simple objects. Their life-cycle is marked by growth. First a shoot appears; then, later, a tight bud gradually opens into a beautiful full bloom.

“ONE OF THESE”

Flowers have a glory of their own. Amazingly, as He surveyed “the lilies of the field”, Jesus said “that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Mt.6:29). Solomon was arguably Israel’s greatest king. He surpassed all other kings for riches and wisdom (1 Ki.10:23). His reign epitomized glory. “And yet….” (Mt.6:29) with all his splendour, Solomon was not arrayed like just one of these wild flowers!

Clearly there are different kinds of glory. Solomon’s glory was impressive. Those, like the Queen of Sheba, who visited him, were overwhelmed by what they saw. How, then, could one lily in the field exceed Solomon in glory? The answer is found in the words “they toil not, neither do they spin” (Mt.6:28).  Solomon’s robes of majesty had been skilfully woven and embroidered, and all this required much time and effort. The lilies of the field were beautiful naturally – without toiling or spinning. Their growth was effortless and their beauty came from within.

The secret is simply this. The glory of our lives does not depend upon our human striving and effort. God wants the Holy Spirit to take over – working quietly within to promote growth and produce His own distinctive fruit. This is the sure way to bring glory to our Creator and blessing to other people.