“Consider the lillies: . . . if God so clothes the grass of the field, . . . shall He not much more clothe you?” Matt. 6:28-32.

Last week we learned a very important lesson from the grass. Every time we look at it God silently whispers through it, Do not be proud. Do not be proud.

Our best Friend is grieved when we think of ourselves and forget Him. He has made and placed on every side of us wonderful things, not only for our pleasure but to remind us of Him—to teach us of His power and love, and of our need of Him. He is our Teacher; we are His people; and the whole heavens and earth is our schoolroom. Above us, beneath us, and all around us, His own dear hand has scattered the lessons that He would have us learn. If we search, we shall find them in the Bible, in the grass, flowers, and trees; in the insects, birds, and animals; and in the air, and clouds, and sky. When we look at any of these things we should say, Lord, what would you have me learn from this? Help me to understand what it is. Then we should study and watch it and think about it; and He will make us understand.

God will teach us many things through the flowers alone, if we but listen to His still small voice. He speaks to us through the buttercups and daisies, through the modest violet, the sweet-scented pink, the blue-eyed for-get-me-not, the friendly-faced pansy, and the beautiful roses; through the geraniums, and all their pink and scarlet glory, and through the golden-hearted lily.

Listen to what Jesus once said about the lilies. He asks the people why they spent so much anxious thought, and so much of their time upon their clothes? He said: “Consider [think about] the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

It grieves God when we spend so much time in thinking about our clothes, and in trying to dress up so very nicely our poor frail bodies. It looks as though we could not take time for Jesus, for fear we should have to go without clothes. He says that that poor little lily out yonder in the field is dressed more beautifully than you can possibly dress yourself—no matter how hard you work or how much time you spend. You would please God more if you would spend more time in seeking the inward adorning—”the ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit”—a pure and humble heart. This, He says, is worth a great deal more in God’s sight, than the outward adorning and costly clothing. Just listen what He promises. He says to seek first the beautiful garment of God’s righteousness—a garment of purity for the heart—and try to lead others to God; and all these other things, such as food and clothing, will be added unto you. You need not fear, then, that you will have no food or clothing, if you spend a little time in thinking about and trying to please Jesus. “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Matt. 6:32. “He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7), even more than for the lilies, and will not suffer you to want if you serve and trust Him.

In another place in the Bible Jesus says: “I am the lily of the valley.” [Song of Solomon 2:1] Then, as you look at the lily with its golden heart and raiment of purity, think of Jesus, the purest and best of all the lilies that ever grew upon this earth. Remember that He whispers to you through the lilies, and this is what He says: “I care for the lily, but I care for you more; I clothed the lily in its robe of snowy white, but I’ll wash away your sins and clothe your heart in a robe more pure, even in my own pure robe of righteousness—if you will let Me. Do not be afraid to spend time to read your Bible and pray, and obey Me, for, remember, I care for you; you shall not want.”

1. Do you go to school?
2. What schools should we all attend every day? The school of Christ.
3. Then who will be our Teacher?
4. What is the school-room?
5. Where are the lessons that we should learn?
6. Who placed them there for us?
7. If we never notice the things that He has made, or think about them, can we learn the lessons?
8. How can we learn from these things the lessons that He would have us learn?
9. What lesson did we learn last week from the grass?
10. How does it cause our best Friend to feel when we think of ourselves and forget Him?
11. How does it cause Him to feel when we spend more time in thinking of our clothes than we do in serving Him?
12. How does it look? As though we were afraid we’d have no clothes if we should take time for Jesus.
13. What little flower is clothed more beautifully that we can ever clothe ourselves?
14. Who gave it its beautiful dress?
15. For which does God care more, the lily or you?
16. Then do you think that He would forget to give you what you need when you love and obey Him?
17. Which does He say for us to seek first, the outward adorning, or inward adorning?
18. What is this inward adorning which God prizes so much more highly than outward adorning and costly clothing? 1 Peter 3:3, 4.
19. If we take time to seek this shall we not be in danger of having no food and clothing?
20. Who knows that we need such things?
21. What precious promise does He make about it? Matt. 6:33.
22. What did Jesus once say about the lilies? Matt. 6:28-33.
23. Who cares for them and gives them their beautiful clothing?
24. What should you remember every time you see a lily? Jesus, the purest of all lilies, cares for the lily, but He cares for me more. He gave the lily its robe of purity, but He will make me pure like Him if I ask Him; then I’ll be purer than this lily.
25. And what does the Lord promise to the pure in heart? Matt. 6:8.

The Present Truth  – October 19, 1893
E. J. Waggoner

Story in pdf  A Lesson from the Flowers