Jump Start # 3714
Matthew 6:28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin.
Our verse today, coming from the middle section of the grand Sermon on the Mount, deals with the threat of worry. Many translations use the term “anxious.” And, what the Lord says about this repeatedly, is do not be anxious. At least four times in this part of the sermon Jesus tells us “do not be anxious.”
We might think, “that’s easy to say,” and it is, but dealing with worry is a major battle for so many. We worry about the kids. We worry about our jobs. We worry about aging parents. We worry if we’ll run out of money in retirement. We worry about prices. We worry about bad weather. We worry about a scheduled doctor tests and if there is something serious looming deep within us.
Worry has a way of sidetracking us and making us lose our focus. We tend to look at the problems rather than the Lord. The disciples did that often. When told to feed the multitudes, they saw the situation but they never saw the solution. The solution was standing right beside them, the Lord. When storms battled their boats, they saw problems, but no solution. Jesus was with them. He was the solution.
Our worry does the same thing. We see the problem but not the Lord who can open doors, fix things and do things that no one else can.
Interestingly, Jesus doesn’t just tell the disciples to stop doing that. He gives them a practical solution that will keep worry at a distance. Observe the lilies, the Lord says. Look. Open your eyes. Look at those flowers. The previous verse, the Lord tells the disciples to “look at the birds.” Seeing these things will remind you that God has taken care of them. Birds and flowers are not made in the image of God. Birds and flowers do not have angels to take care of them. Birds and flowers do not have a Savior as we do.
When troubles seem so great, look around. Look at the nature God created. Look at how the world is held together. Look at how God designed and takes care of things.
And, this is a great and valuable lesson for us. When we look with our spiritual radar we see lessons all around us. This week I wrote about a pickup truck with the sign, “We clean trash cans” on the tailgate. What a lesson that taught. When traveling in London, one sees “Mind the gap” signs at train and subway stations. There is a lesson there. At the London airport, on the people mover, a sign hangs down, “Face the direction you are going.” That’s a sermon right there. Many want to go to Heaven but they are facing the wrong direction.
I think open eyes is a gift. Two people can see the same thing and one never thinks anything about it. The other person is drawing great spiritual applications and lessons from what he saw. I wonder how many times the disciples walked through fields of flowers and thought nothing about it. I wonder how many times we have done the same. But after hearing these words, those disciples looked at flowers in a different way. Jesus opened their eyes to spiritual lessons around them.
Now, how can we develop observable eyes?
First, one never turns off the spiritual radar. Never. It’s like praying without ceasing, one is always thinking about spiritual lessons. Part of the issue with getting this type of observation, is the fact that we too quickly turn off our spiritual minds. We enter the church building talking about the weather, the Saturday games, food and such things. For a moment, we worship. And, as soon as worship is over, we go back to talking about the weather, Saturday games, food and such things.
There ought not be a switch that you flip in your mind and heart. Turn on your spiritual radar and keep it on all the time—all the time. Little things will remind you of blessings and care of the Lord. Big things will bring to your mind passages and applications. Later in Matthew, having described and defined why He uses parables, the Lord said, “Blessed are your eyes because they see” (13:16). Do we see?
Do we see opportunities to serve? Do we see the lost who need someone to show them Jesus? Do we see brethren who need to be encouraged? Do we see? Look at the birds. Observe the lilies.
Second, once one starts this practice, it helps them so much. You are reminded of the Lord and His ways constantly. All around you are lessons. All about you are the signs of God’s hands and God’s love. As you wash your hands, you think about the James passage, “cleanse your hands you sinners.” It leads you to quietly pray, “Lord, cleanse my heart as I wash my hands.” And, this endeavor lifts your heart to a new and better place. Rather than complaining about work, you become thankful that you have a job. Rather than feeling alone, you realize God has covered you with His comfort and care, just like a fuzzy blanket on a cold winter night.
Third, with all of this spiritual thinking, one begins to observe and see with their heart, rather than just their eyes. This will lift their spirits. Worry becomes less of a problem. Hope grows stronger. One realizes that God is ever taking care of you. The troubles of the world and the temptations of Satan seem less appealing when one has those spiritual eyes opened.
Look…observe…what wonderful lessons are all around us today. Lessons that will pull us closer to the Lord. Lessons that will make us stronger and better. Lessons that will push worry out of our hearts.
Do you see…
Roger