Basic HTML Version
Expressions of God’s Love, April 18
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.
Matthew 6:28, 29
.
The courtly robes of the greatest king that ever sat upon an earthly
throne could not compare, in their artificial splendor, with the spotless
beauty of the lilies fashioned by the divine hand. This is an example of the
estimate which the Creator of all that is beautiful places upon the artificial
in comparison with the natural.
God has given us these things of beauty as an expression of His love,
that we may obtain correct views of His character. We are not to worship
the things of nature, but in them we are to read the love of God. Nature is
an open book, from the study of which we may gain a knowledge of the
Creator and be attracted to Him by the things of use and beauty which He
has provided....
“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? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we
eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
(
verses 30, 31
). Much unnecessary care and anxiety is felt in regard to our
future, concerning what we shall eat and drink and wherewithal we shall
be clothed. The labor and worry of needless display in apparel causes
much fatigue and unhappiness and shortens our lives. Our Saviour would
not only have us discern the love of God displayed in the beautiful flowers
about us, but He would have us learn from them lessons of simplicity and
of perfect faith and confidence in our heavenly Father.
If God cares to make these inanimate things so beautiful, that will be
cut down and perish in a day, how much more careful will He be to supply
the needs of His obedient children, whose lives may be as enduring as
eternity. How readily will He give them the adornment of His grace, the
strength of wisdom, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. The love of
God to man is incomprehensible, broad as the world, high as heaven, and
as enduring as eternity.
[116]
117