“Consider the lillies 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
It is in the contrast of things presented to us by the Lord Jesus that we are confronted with tremendous lessons. One of those lessons deals with the matter of the revelation of the glory of God. For example, during the ministry of the prophet Isaiah, spanning about sixty years, Samaria was captured and carried away, and Judah was invaded by the Assyrians, the dominant empire at that time. It was a time of great turmoil and distress, but also of great deliverances by the hand of God. When Isaiah had his vision of God, as recorded in the sixth chapter of his book, he wrote that he saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and the seraphims “…cried to one another and said: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” (6:3) From a human standpoint, looking at the Assyrian empire of that time, and its influence upon the then known world, which was certainly not holy, how could the seraphims declare that the whole earth was full of God’s glory? The answer resides in the “lily,” a very simple, but beautiful flower, designed and crafted by God in His wisdom, power, grace, beauty, and love. The structure of the flower is immaculate. Its color penetrates entirely its petals, leaves, and stem. The balance and beauty of the entire plant has for its crown this lovely flower which speaks of a Creator, the likes of which man could never know if it were not revealed to him, for God is too great to grasp. Jesus calls mankind to take the example of one lily of the field, not one that is cultivated by man, but which grows wild and free. He then contrasts the appearance and beauty of this flower with all the glory that Solomon had during his reign, and this would include the temple. How is it that a flower could have more glory than all that of Solomon? It has to do with the entirety of the work of God. The lily does not need man to make it live. Man did not create or design the lily. It does not have the taint of sinful man upon it. There is in its presentation to us in the light of the sun a most clear and lovely revelation of the attributes of God. We see His glory revealed specifically, although in a small format. The lily’s glory is greater because of the entire work of God upon and in it, revealing something of His nature and character.
Another example of these contrasts that the Lord Jesus gave, is seen in the life of John the Baptist. Jesus at one point said of John, “…Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” (Luke 7:28) Why was this so? It is because from the womb of his mother, John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit of God. God’s greatness and glory were most revealed through John because he was so consistently filled with the very nature, or Spirit of God. God revealed His glory, Himself, in this way.
So, what do lilies of the field, Solomon’s glory, and John the Baptist’s “greatness” have to do with believers today? Only this. In God’s eyes that which reveals most His glory is not the stature of a man, as God related to Samuel when choosing the king of Israel, for one can look on the outward appearance and be deceived. Nor is His glory limited to the smallness of men. In every lily there is the revelation of God’s glory. How greatly God is glorified by all of the flowers of the earth! As for man, God reveals His glory by the Spirit in the heart and life of those who will truly believe Him.
Dear Lord, Abide in us by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.