Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In the last session, Part 3, we started t understand some of the reasons why Jesus said to His not to be anxious about the necessities of daily life. We learned that we ought not to be anxious about food and clothing because they cannot provide the great things of life - the enjoyment of God, the pursuit of His gracious favor and the hope of eternity in His presence.
Let us now learn some more reasons...
YOU CANNOT ADD ONE CUBIT TO YOUR SPAN OF LIFE
The thirdd reason not to be anxious is that it's fruitless. "And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?" (Matt. 6:27). The argument is very pragmatic: Anxiety doesn't get you anywhere. It doesn't do you any good. Whatever problem is causing you to feel anxious. you can be sure your anxiety will not reduce the problem. It will only make you miserable while you try to deal with it. So don't be anxious. It's useless.
CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD
The fourth reason Jesus gives for not being anxious is based on the lilies. "And why are you 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 s alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matt. 6:28-30).
When you look at a lily, which has no will or instinct of its own to labor and spin, yet is adorned with beautiful form and color, Jesus says you should draw at least this one conclusion: God delights to adorn things. But if His delight finds expression in adorning grass that's here today and gone tomorrow, then surely His delight His delight in adornment will express itself in how He clothes His children!
But someone may protest, "God has not adorned me!" Or: "God has not adorned the poor Christians in many destitute situations around the world." That's true. Very few followers of Jesus are dressed like Solomon. But we couldn't do our work if we were. That's why Jesus spoke about John the Baptist: "Behold, those who are dressed n splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts" - but not John the Baptist! He had prophetic work to do and wore "a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey" (Luke 7:25; Matt. 3:4). "Among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist" (Matt. 11:11). The adornment Jesus promised does not mean that we will have exorbitant clothes, but that we will have the clothes we need. Where have you ever seen a disciple of Jesus who dd not have the adornment he needed to do what God had called him to do?
But let's be careful. We must not measure the perfection of God's provision by some standard below His calling. He does not call us to live in palaces, but to take up our crosses and love people no matter the cost. And when we have finished carrying our crosses - on torn shoulders, if God wills - there will be kingly robes for us all. The promise to meet all our needs does not mean He will make us rich. It does not even mean He will keep us alive ("some of you they will put to death," Luke 21:16). It means He will give us all that we need to do the will of God.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
These are some of the reasons why you should not be anxious about the food and clothing that you will be having tomorrow. Lets pray to our All Providing Father to grant us what we need in our daily life according to His immeasurable love.
Please do keep this humble servant of Jesus in your prayers
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26
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