“And why do you are worried about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the sector grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I let you know that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one among these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the sector, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do far more for you—you of little faith?” – Matthew 6:28-30
My six-year-old niece Holland and I sat discussing what I can buy her brother Emmett for his ten 12 months old birthday. “Video game gift cards!” she said, “He loves playing video games, but…” her enthusiasm swiftly gave approach to disapproval, “This is a want, not a necessity! Emmett doesn’t need video games; he just wants them.”
My dad overheard the conversation and joined our discussion. “Holland, what would you say is the difference between a want and a necessity?”
“Well,” she said, “A necessity is water, and food, and garments, but a want is crayons, my coloring books, things like that.”
“Very good Hollsy!” my dad affirmed. “You’ve got a grasp on the difference between wants and wishes.”
We adults know the difference but I’m undecided we don’t confuse the 2 often—our wants feel like needs. We haven’t, as Paul said, learned the key of learn how to be content in all circumstances (Phil. 4:13). I feel this is particularly true for those of us whose most essential needs are usually met. This condition leaves us hungering solely for what we wish. For Jesus’s original audience, though, most were craving for fundamental provisions, akin to food and clothing, hence Jesus’s illustrations about nourished birds and well-dressed flowers. We must keep this context in mind as we seek to use His words to our current situations.
Jesus encourages us to watch the wildflowers, or learn, examine closely. If we consider the birds in the identical hour that we observe the flowers, we’ll do not forget that flowers are even less capable than birds at providing for themselves. Birds can fly and gather food and construct nests; flowers cannot sew fabric or toil for the cash crucial to buy a latest spring dress and, yet, our heavenly Father clothes them. And He doesn’t throw any old drab thing on them as if they’re orphans on the mercy of a miserly caretaker. Each is adorned more splendidly than the wisest, wealthiest King in Israel’s storied history, Solomon.
Jesus says, examine that.
He then uses “lesser to greater” reasoning which was a typical approach to make an argument in ancient Jewish culture. He asserts, if God exquisitely clothes the wildflowers (lesser), with how far more lavish care will He clothe you and me (greater)? As New Testament believers, Jesus’s words tackle added meaning. Not only does our heavenly Father meet our physical needs, however the Holy Spirit supplies us with a wardrobe of compassion, goodness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Col. 3:12)—garments that can not be purchased, that never exit of favor, that make us exceedingly attractive and distinguished for God’s glory.
So hover over a blooming tulip or a freshly budding rose and observe its beauty and what it didn’t exert to be so splendidly dressed. The reflection will lead you to its desired end: a confident rest in your heavenly Father’s ability and desire to clothe you with even greater dignity and splendor (each physical and spiritual). Perhaps then you can find that you simply don’t really want a few of what you’ve wanted and what you never knew you wanted, He wants to offer you.
Excerpt taken from The Blessed Life by Kelly Minter, B & H Publishing Group, Nashville TN. Copyright © 2023 Kelly Minter. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/damircudic
