Text: Mark 4:40; Matthew 8:26-27
Each time our Lord Jesus rebuked His disciples for lack of faith or for little faith, it was because they refused to consider and think logically (Matthew 8:23-26; Mark 4:35-40; Matthew 14:28-31; 16:6-11). The very cause of worry and anxiety is littleness of faith or the lack of it, and the reason for the littleness or lack of faith is the absence of proper consideration or logical thinking.
"Consider the lilies ... O
ye of little faith." Our failure to consider the acts of God - His care for
creatures of time, things that exist today, and are forgotten tomorrow - is the
major cause of our worry and anxiety. We have both earthly dignity and eternal destiny;
we have an existence beyond this life which the lilies of the field do not
have. And "... if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is,
and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little
faith? "
If God has done the seemingly insignificant thing, will He not do the
supremely important thing? If God cares for creatures of no value, will He not
care for new creatures of eternal value? If God protects and provides for
unclean creatures (Matthew 6:26; 10:29-31; Job 38:41; Deuteronomy 14:12,14,19),
will He not protect and provide for new clean creatures who are cleansed by the
blood of His only begotten Son? Consider the acts of God and think logically on
the actions and kindness of God; then, you will have faith in God. Faith will
banish fear, worry and anxiety.
1. UNNECESSARY ANXIETY OF SONS WITH LITTLE FAITH
Matthew 6:28,30; Luke 12:28;
Deuteronomy 8:3,4; Nehemiah 9:21; Luke 22:35; Matthew 16:7-11; Luke 8:25; 1
Timothy 6:6-8; Luke 24:17,25; John 3:12.
"And why take ye thought for
raiment? " Our Lord asks, why are you worried and anxious for clothing? Is
not the body more than raiment? If God has given us our body and is feeding the
body, keeping it in good health, will He not also clothe the body? If He has
appointed our diet and responsibility which can only be done in a body that is appropriately
clothed or dressed, will He not provide adequate and appropriate clothes for
us?
Dressing is not an end by itself;
it is to clothe us so we can fulfill the purpose of living. God has ordained
that purpose of living. The purpose for each life on earth is important to God.
That purpose must be our central concern. Dressing is not our only or main
purpose of living. We are not living for the purpose of dressing; we are
dressing to fulfill the purpose of living. And He who has ordained the purpose of
living will supply all that is needed to fulfill the purpose.
Only unbelief or
little faith can doubt that but "Consider." When we consider what God
considers, little faith will give way to lively faith in our hearts and we will
know and believe that He will supply all our needs to fulfill the divinely
appointed purpose.
2. UNNOTICED APPAREL OF SOLOMON AND LILIES' FRAILTY
Matthew 6:28-30; 1 Kings
4:29-31,34; 10:4-9; 2 Chronicles 9:22-24; James 1:10,11: Luke 12:27,28; Acts
12:20-23; Proverbs 4:5-9; Deuteronomy 22:5; Zephaniah 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1
Peter 3:3,4.
In the Scriptural account and
record concerning Solomon, his apparel or clothing was not noticed as much as his
wisdom and riches (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). Physical appearance and
adornment were not his consuming passion. He did not have inordinate desire or
carnal concern for clothing. Adequate and proper clothing is necessary but
clothing without wisdom would not have helped to fulfill his calling as a king.
Solomon's
mind was not set on fashion or dressing. His great request was for wisdom.
"Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before
this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great " (2
Chronicles 1:10). Physical beauty is but skin-deep and the most adorned body
soon loses its appeal in a few short years. The fulfilment of life's great
purpose should be our highest desire.
We are also to "consider the
grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven."
When we behold the beauty of lilies, flowers and the grass, we often forget
that their loveliness quickly vanishes. Consider the frailty of the grass and
remember that its destiny is the oven. Instead of being so worried and anxious
about transient beauty and loveliness that soon vanish away and are forgotten,
let's follow and desire "the beauty of holiness", the beauty that
fadeth not away (1 Peter 1:24; 1 Chronicles 16:29).
3. UNFAILING ASSURANCE OF SAINTS WITH LIVELY FAITH
Matthew 6:30; Luke 12:28,29;
Isaiah 44:21; 49:15,16; Luke 12:6,7; Psalms 37:3-11,16-19,25-31; 84:11,12;
Philippians 4:6,19; Matthew 6:8,32,33; Romans 8:32.
"O ye of little faith."
Little faith creates anxiety, lively faith conquers anxiety. Little faith breeds
worry, lively faith banishes worry. Little faith produces fear, lively faith
prevents fear. Little faith makes us panic, lively faith makes us peaceful.
Little faith fills us with cares; lively faith fills us with calm. With little faith
comes anxiety and vexation of spirit, with lively faith comes assurance and
victory in our soul.
"Wherefore, if God so clothe
the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven,
shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? " He will clothe
us. He will not clothe us with strange apparel or forbidden dresses, He will
clothe us appropriately. Will He not feed us? He will feed us. He will not feed
us with "unclean" meat or "meats offered to idols" (Acts
15:29), but He will feed us with proper and appropriate food. Will He not heal
our body and make us strong? He will heal us. He will not heal us with traditional
and satanic powers of darkness. He will heal us in His own appointed way.
Lively faith does not doubt God. We always draw near unto God "with a true
heart in full assurance of faith", knowing that "He is faithful that
promised" (Hebrews 10:22,23).
*** Culled from Pastor W.F. Kumuyi Bible Study | Deeper Christian Life Ministry ***
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