Why do people tell you to slow down and smell the flowers? What are they really saying? Are they telling you to relax, avoid stress, stop worrying, don’t work so hard, or take better care of yourself? Does God expect us to stop and smell the flowers?
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (vs. 25) Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (vs. 26) Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (vs. 27) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; (vs. 28) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (vs. 29) 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? (vs. 30) Therefore, do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or what shall we wear?’ (vs. 31) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (vs. 32) But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (vs. 33) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (vs. 34)
Consider the Lilies
Jesus is telling us here to consider the lilies. That means to think about them, deliberate upon them, examine them and mentally weigh our examinations. The Greek here means to learn thoroughly, to note accurately, to examine intensively.
What we can learn from these Scriptures?
(vs. 25) Jesus tells us not to worry. He assures us that life is more than food, drink and clothing. He feeds the birds, are we not of more value than they?
(vs. 26) He asks us to study the birds. See how God cares for them. He wonders if we realize how important we are to God. Birds are not eternal beings, we are!
(vs.27) He asks us if we think we can add anything to our life by worrying. Could we possible add an inch to our height? Can we make ourselves grow?
(vs. 28) He tells us to consider the lilies. Watch them grow. They add to their height, and they don’t even work for it. They just rest in good soil!
(vs. 29) He informs us that Solomon in the height of his glory was not dressed any better than one little lily. Solomon was the best dressed man ever, so what?
(vs. 30) Jesus calls us Little Faiths. If God clothes the grass which is temporary will he not also clothe us who are eternal beings? Oh, we of little faith!
(vs. 31) He repeats the command to not worry about the necessities of life; i.e. food, drink and clothes. God knows we need these things so He provides them!
(vs. 32) Our Father in heaven knows we need these things while we are on earth. But we are not to fret over them like an unbeliever. (Psalm 37:8)
(vs. 33) He assures us that if we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness (right living) He will add to that the things we need. Our pursuit is righteousness!
(vs. 34) Seeking God daily is our challenge. Don’t worry about tomorrow. It is enough to follow God faithfully today, and deal with today’s troubles. Do we really trust God?
Conclusion
So don’t worry! Consider the lilies. Relax a little. Spend more time with God. Don’t fret, it only causes problems. Seek the kingdom. Avoid the stress of this life. Think about eternal things. As the lilies grow so should you grow in Christ. Spend more time in prayer, worship and His Word. It is the best thing you can do for yourself, anyway.
