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The Lilies Wardrobe

by Betty Strickland with love  

"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  (Matthew 6:28-34)

When I was in high school, we lived in Pennsylvania. Behind our home there was a very pretty hill, we called "Colonial Hill." My best friend, from those days, and I used to climb that hill and sit or lie in the grass and wild flowers in the spring and summer months. The scripture quoted above is taken from the "Sermon on the Mount" and I can imagine our Lord seeing the beautiful "lilies" that were blooming on this mountain where He was teaching the multitude, just as my friend and I could see the beautiful flowers on "Colonial Hill."

When I read Matthew 6:28, I cannot help but think of how wonderful our God has given us so much beauty in the things of His creation. "Poor" Solomon - although he was "clothed" in the very riches of his day and time, his clothing cannot compare to these beautiful "lilies."

But then ole Satan grabs us and we complain "I have nothing to wear" and all the while our closets are brimming with clothes. Shame on us, one, and all. We forget to trust our God, our Creator and do not trust in His will for us. "Remember the lilies."

Our "clothing" should be from the inside out! For God looks on the heart. He does not care if our attire is in style or not, but decent and godly. If our hearts are right with God, we will be more concerned with the good works in which we clothe ourselves. "Remember the lilies." They did the work God gave them to obtain their food and nourishment from the ground where in they are planted and be beautifully attired by God. We have many "works" we can and need to do "where we are planted." Our "inner clothing" will certainly out shine any designer clothing money can buy.

Our God and Father will provide clothes - may not be designer, but sufficient; Food - may not be gourmet, but sufficient; Drink - may not be our favorite, but sufficient. (Verse 31). Why does God do this for us? Because we "sought His kingdom and His righteousness first. (Verse 33)

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Add Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." in addition, all is under control. Trust God!

Questions:

Matt. 6:28-34

"The Lilies' Wardrobe"

1. Where was Jesus when He taught this lesson? (On a mountain beyond the Jordan (Matt. 4:25, 5:1)

2. The lilies' neither ______ or ______. (Toil; spin - verse 28)

3. What is going to happen to the grass of the field? (Thrown into the fire verse 30)

4. God knows we have need of what? (Food; drink; clothing - verse 31)

5. True or False We have to worry for tomorrow. (False verse 34)

6. We must seek ______ the ________ of God and _____ righteousness and ____ these _______shall be ______unto us. (First; kingdom; His; all; things; added. Verse 33)

7. We have enough ______ for today. (Evil verse 34)

8. Who, even though he was gloriously: arrayed" but could not compare with the "lilies'? (Solomon verse 29)

9. Who clothed the grass of the field? (Heavenly Father verse 32)

10. Why would someone question God's ability to care for them? ("O, ye of little faith" Verse 30)