Consider the Lilies

Matthew 6:28 & 29 say, “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Early in the spring, after the last snow had fallen and the sun began to warm the damp earth, the humble buttercups would be one of the first flowers to show their little faces. My brother Bobby and I would compete to see who could be the first to bring Mom a buttercup. The bold brightness of these tiny yellow flowers shouted forth the news that winter was past. It was like they were saying, “Glory to God!”

Why does the glory of Solomon pale in comparison?

Paul said to the Colossians in chapter 1, verse 27, “…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” What kind of glory is Paul speaking about? Could it be the same “glory” that David spoke of in Psalm 19 (“The heavens declare the glory of God”)? As glorious as the heavens are, they speak not of their own glory, but of their Creator’s. When God declares His own attributes, He says, “I am holy.” Could we then say that Christ in you is the only hope of holiness? Yes!

Many promises of God carry with them the divine “if.” There is nothing we can do to deserve God’s love or favor. Yet if we are to walk with God, we will have to walk His way, not ours. We see the divine “if” in I Kings chapter 3. God said to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee” (vs. 5). Solomon asked for an understanding heart. God was pleased. God also gave Solomon riches and honour. He also promised to lengthen his days on one condition: “if thou wilt walk in my ways.” God’s promise was conditional. 

God calls us today to walk in His ways. Many want to go to heaven, yet have not a desire to walk in the path to get there.

God also gave Solomon largeness of heart (I Kings 4:29). Things were going great. The temple was in progress. In I Kings 6:12, we have another divine “if.” God promises to keep His promise to David to dwell with Israel if Solomon will walk in God’s statutes. Solomon seemed to be doing so good and yet God brings up the divine “if” again.

Solomon brought the ark into the house of God and then offered a powerful prayer unto God for the people. He prayed on his knees with his hands toward heaven (I Kings 8:54). He prayed for the people to walk in God’s statutes. It was like a holiness revival. Following this, God appeared to Solomon a second time as He had at Gibeon in the dream. This time there are two divine “ifs:” “if thou wilt walk before me,” and “if ye shall turn from following me.”

We know that Solomon finally chose to turn from following God. I Kings 11:9 states, “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,” In verse 11 God says He will rend the kingdom from him. 

The only hope we have of glory (righteousness) is Christ in us. Consider the buttercup. Let the true color Christ paints in you shout to the world; the cold, dark winter of sin is past and the King of holiness has come!