“As for man his days are as grass” (Ps. 103:15), “and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.” 1 Peter 1:24.

There was no grass upon this earth until the third day. There was no place for it, because the earth was covered with water. But when God had gathered the waters together, there was plenty of dry land on which it could grow. Then suddenly at the word of God, the earth put on a robe of the richest green; grass, beautiful grass came up everywhere! We learned last week how useful it is, and how hard it would be for man and beast to do without it. Do we thank God as much for it as we should? We see it so often that we sometimes almost forget to notice it or think how wonderful it is or remember who made it for us. The Bible says that “He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered.” Ps. 111:4. He wants us to notice them and watch them and think about them. If we do this, we shall learn useful lessons from the tiniest things that He has made.

Now the next time you go out to play just try it. Get down and take a good look at the pretty grass. Lay your hand in it and see how soft it is. Notice the colour; isn’t it a lovely green? Look at the little stalk, the curious roots, and the tender leaf or blade. Perhaps if you look you may find a tiny flower peeping out somewhere. Touch it gently or you will break it. How very tender it is! A rude touch, or a strong breeze will cause it to drop to pieces. And the grass itself is almost as frail. It may look ever so bright and stand up ever so straight in the morning, but if the sun shines a little too warm, before night it will droop and die. Or the grass-cutter with one stroke of his sharp scythe may cut it down and leave it to wither and dry up. It is a very weak and helpless little thing, isn’t it? It cannot cause itself to live, and it cannot keep itself alive. It can do nothing at all which God does not give its strength to do. It cannot live a moment without His care. Do you think it has much reason to be proud of its strength or what it itself can do?

Is it possible that God wants us to learn anything from such a helpless, tender little plant? Yes, there is something that He wants us to remember every time we see the grass. Listen to what He says: “As for man, his days are as grass,” “and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.”

He wants us to remember that we are helpless, and tender, and die easily just like the grass; and our strength and beauty and learning and good name and riches fall to pieces and become worthless as easily as the flower of the grass.

The very strongest and healthiest man does not live long. In the morning he may go up to his work as strong and as wise as ever, and before night brought home still and dead. A very little fall, a hit on the head, or a short illness may kill him. Ah, is he not as tender and helpless as the grass? He cannot cause himself to live, nor keep himself from dying. He can do nothing at all which God does not give him strength to do. He cannot live a moment without God’s care. Do you think that he has any more reason than the grass to be proud of anything that he himself can do? Do you think that he ought to hold his head high and say proud things and tell how he can get along just as well without God?

How it must grieve our Father in heaven when we feel proud and want to praise ourselves, when the praise all belongs to Him. Whenever you feel like being proud, just run quickly and look at the grass. Remember how helpless it is, and how God says that without Him you are just as helpless as the grass. He says, “Pride do I hate” (Prov. 8:13), but “I dwell. . . with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” Isa. 57:15.

1. When did the grass first begin to grow upon this earth?
2. Who caused it to grow?
3. How?
4. Has man power to make things grow?
5. Then whenever we see a little plant or tree pushing up through the ground, of whom should it make us think?
6. When we have a fine field of grass or garden of flowers, whom should we praise, ourselves, or the One who causes it to grow for us?
7. Is God pleased to have us pass by the grass and trample it under our feet without even noticing it or thinking about it? Why not?
8. When you lay your hand on it how does it feel?
9. What is it?
10. What part is the stalk? The roots? The blade?
11. What do some kinds of grasses have?—Flowers.
12. If you should touch them rudely what would happen to them?
13. Although the grass may stand up ever so straight and bright in the morning, how may it look before night? Why?
14. Can it cause itself to live, or keep itself alive?
15. Can it do anything at all which God does not give it strength to do?
16. How long can it live without God’s care?
17. You think that it has much reason to be proud of its beauty or strength?
18. Have we any more reason to be proud than the grass?
19. Why not? 1 Peter 1:24.
20. Then what is the lesson that God would have us learn from the grass?—Do not be proud.
21. Name some of the ways in which we may show that we are proud.
22. How do you suppose that it makes God feel when we feel proud and want to praise ourselves?
23. To whom does all praise belong?
24. What does God say about pride? Prov. 8:13.
25. With only what kind of people can Jesus live? Isa. 57:15

The Present Truth – October 12, 1893
E. J. Waggoner

Story in pdf  A Lesson from the Grass