Consider! They Do Not Toil

To toil and to spin are words of work; hard, arduous, persistent work at that. Remember, Jesus has just confronted His disciples about their worrying about clothing. We know that He means clothes to wear for He goes on to make reference to King Solomon, a king of Israel. And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6: 29. Solomon’s wealth was magnanimous and he accumulated more and more as he reigned. In fact, his wisdom and his wealth were things to experience and behold.

We can’t help but remember the words of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon when she visited him. She told him that the report she heard in her country about his achievements and wisdom was true. Then she said this. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have exceeded the report I heard. 1 Kings 10: 7. Arrayed with all that wisdom and wealth, one can just imagine the most uniquely beautiful and exquisitely gorgeous clothes which Solomon wore, as one of the richest men, if not the richest man on earth in his time. Yet, Jesus is saying that not even Solomon’s clothing could be compared with those of the lilies in the field. Consider the lilies!

So how is that possible? How are the lilies so well clothed? Jesus gives us two factors about them which leave many a hearer a bit stupefied and perhaps a bit too simplistic for others. 

The first fact is that the lilies of the field do not toil. Toil as was earlier stated, is work. Here is an example of toiling. Our minds are drawn to Jesus’ words to Simon to, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. But Simon answered and said to Him, Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. Luke 5: 4b – 5. For the first time, I am being made to hear more of what Jesus has just said to Simon. Simon had been toiling all night in vain, fruitless toil. He and his other fishermen companions had worked hard, trying to catch even one fish. Now Jesus sends Simon into that same place of unfruitful toil, to take a catch. Did Jesus send Simon to continue his toil again, or to take from Jesus toil? Listen to Jesus. Launch out into the deep Simon. Let down your nets Simon. Receive a catch of fish Simon. Can’t you hear Jesus saying to Simon these unspoken words? “No more of your futile, fruitless toil, only My fruitful giving.”

Holy Spirit give us perfectly discerning, receiving and obedient hearing ears please. Amen!

Consider this! Toiling has to do with our own efforts, our own works according to our own means. Toiling entails our own human thoughts, words and deeds, how we plan things, strategize and work assiduously to accomplish what is desired. In His perfect, undisputable Wisdom, is Jesus telling us that we are not called in Him to continue toiling for what we need, as we did before He took full and complete responsibility for us? Is that a Blood Promise to us? Of course it is, for His words of promise to us are inerasable. Go, Simon! You are expending the same energies, giving up the same time, doing the same actions, but at My command. Go, Simon! No longer are you toiling but taking. You have gone to receive what I have already toiled for, fought for, and won for you. I have already done all the work. It is all My effort, My suffering, My procuring for you. All you have to be is obedient and be and do as I say to you.

Too many of My disciples are toiling in vain to be clothed in the garments of righteousness. In vain we toil all the nights of our days, to get righteousness to clothe ourselves. We toil in many ways, including the toil of prayer; the toil of doing good works; the toil of reading the Bible; the toil of going to Church and more. Job, in unwavering faith speaks in this manner. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. Job 29: 14. Job was a devout, faithful believer in the promises of God and though he was sorely tempted and even had some unwanted thoughts at times, he never despised His God. Yes, Job was a human being like you, me and Simon and he too had his nights of all-night-toil, where he caught nothing. Faithfully, his ever present God was always there to help him.

God has promised us His righteousness. He, our Incarnate God, Jesus Christ, has already done all the work that was needed to be done. He has successfully, satisfactorily and sufficiently toiled all night in prayer and has been victorious in all that He did for us sinners. We are now to receive His Blood promise of righteousness, as faith allows us to hear Him, even in this word. Consider the field lilies! Their Heavenly Father clothes them.

Consider Jesus the Lily! His Heavenly Father clothed Him.

Consider yourself, O lily of God! Your Heavenly Father clothes you.

You are clothed in righteousness, not by your toiling for Jesus, but by your taking from Jesus. Trust this Blood Promise of His. He promises to clothe you in righteousness so that, like His servant Job, you can sincerely and surely say this also.

Holy, Victorious Lord and King Jesus, I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. Amen!