Transcript

Matthew 6:28-32 · NOBA @ Noon

Canon Justin Murff: The Gospel of Matthew chapter six verse twenty eight to thirty two And why are you so anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. The Gospel of the Lord People today report record levels of stress and anxiety. It's this persistent human condition that steals our joy, robs us of peace, and distorts our perspective on life and the world around us. While we act as if this is some kind of modern phenomenon, Jesus addresses this very topic in our text today. He's preaching in the Sermon on the Mount, and he's already pointed to the birds of the air as evidence of the Father's loving care for us. But now he directs our attention to Downward to the lilies of the field, and he invites us to see how they grow. And yet he calls them even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. The lilies of the field, likely the wildflowers that carpeted the Galilean hillside in the springtime, become these teachers of divine trust. They don't labor or manufacture their beauty, they simply receive it as God's gift. And their beauty is Well it exceeded even Solomon's legendary splendor. You see, the truth is there's nothing that these lilies can do other than grow. They've received the resources that the Father gives them, good soil, rain, sun, all the things that are needed to thrive and prosper are supplied by the Father. But if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, Will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Notice how the argument moves from lesser to greater. If God lavishes such beauty on grass destined for fuel, how much more will he care for his children made in his image and destined for eternity? Sometimes our anxiety is a result of a natural chemical imbalance. After all, we do live in a fallen world, but sometimes our anxiety is the result of not fully relying on God. And trusting in his character. I think this is why Jesus says, O you of little faith, it's this gentle rebuke. It doesn't deny that we have faith, but it observes that our faith is perhaps too small and underdeveloped. Anxiety is real, but it can also be a faith problem. Sometimes our anxiety reveals that our functional belief, what we actually rely on every single day, hasn't quite caught up with our professed belief about God's character. And about God's love for us. Jesus says, Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after these things. The repetition of these basic needs underscores their very legitimacy. We genuinely need food and drink and clothing, but Jesus calls this anxious pursuit gentile behavior, meaning it's characteristic of someone who hasn't quite experienced the Father's love. For the early followers of Christ, many of whom were genuinely poor, this teaching was neither naive nor dismissive. They knew real material insecurity. Many of them weren't sure of where their next meal would come from. But Jesus redirects their attention from scarcity to reliance on the Father's character. The God who clothes the wild flowers in the fields also knew their needs. Now, this doesn't promise prosperity or freedom from hardship. Christians have faced hunger and thirst and nakedness throughout history, and even today, our fellow believers around the world are facing severe hardships, famine, war, persecution. But what it does promise is the Father's attentive knowledge and his ultimate care. This passage really does speak to our anxious age and in our modern life, which has multiplied the things we worry about ad nauseum, our career trajectory, retirement savings, health insurance. College funds, children's futures, the list expands endlessly. And Jesus doesn't minimize these concerns, but he reminds us that they're not ultimate. Jesus reminds us that the Father sees us, he knows us, and he hears us. And so the command to consider the lilies invites us to a contemplative practice. Actually look at creation, look out your window, notice how God provides for the birds and the flowers without their frantic striving. Maybe today is a great day to go for a walk and let nature preach to your anxious heart. The diagnosis of little faith is uncomfortable for us, but it can also be clarifying. Our anxiety reveals what we really actually truly do believe about God. When worry takes over, we're functionally denying God's goodness and his sovereignty over our lives. So today, when anxiety rises, try Jesus' prescription. Step outside, look at the birds, look at the flowers, look at the grass, and ask yourself If God cares for these, will He not also care for me? Let creation's testimony of divine provision minister to you today and speak to your worried heart.