And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. — Matthew 6:28
I remember a commercial that ran several years ago by Walgreens. It talked about in the place called “Perfect” everything ran smoothly, that there were no problems, and all was well. It went on to say that we didn’t live in “Perfect” and so there was Walgreens. That was just an advertisement, but the truth remains that we don’t live in a perfect world where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no burdens or troubles of life. They are a part of the everyday reality we all face. Sickness does come; burdens do weigh on our hearts and life does get messy at times.
The answer for living in a less that perfect world doesn’t come from Walgreens but from a loving Lord that knows us better than anyone ever does and loves us more than anyone ever could. Jesus taught a group of His followers in Matthew 6 about not worrying over things in life. He told them to take no thought or to not worry or anxious about life, health, food or even the future. That sounds good but it is so very difficult to do, isn’t it? He was talking to a group of people who didn’t have power bills to pay, no cars to maintain or gasoline to buy, no cellphone bills, no lawn mowers to breakdown and the list could go on and on. Yet, these people had their own sets of worries like every generation does.
How were they to deal with the worries of living in a less than perfect world? He told them to consider some things; a word that means to think about carefully or to ponder and examine that they might come to a better understanding. What were they to consider? He told them in vs 28-Consider the lilies of the field. He talked about how they grow and where they grow and how that Solomon in all his glory wasn’t adorned like they were. Then He told them that if God took care of the lilies of the field, how much more would He provide for us. The God, who takes care of all His creation, is committed to taking care of His own children in a much greater way. He knows our needs as no one else could know them and He has power to meet them like no one else can.
No, we don’t live in a place called “Perfect.” As a matter of fact, this world seems to heap more stress and more pressure on us with each passing day. There are things that can make us worried and anxious, but there is a God in Heaven who loves us and cares for us. He knows the burdens that you carry. He knows the troubles that you face. He knows the sickness, the sorrows and the sadness that weighs heavy on your heart. He has prepared a perfect place for His children where all these things will be no more, but until then we need to rest in His promises and rely on His power to meet all our needs in an imperfect world.