THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD,

397

CCLXVI.

HE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD,

gD Jesus say anything
more to His disciples
while they were on the
5; mount ? Yes: many
things) He told them
not to seek for riches or possessions
here on earth, because they might
very soon lose all. Rust and moth
might spoil their fine things; or
thieves might break through, and
steal them. But Jesus told His
disciples to lay up treasures for
themselves in Heaven, where neli-
ther moth nor rust can spoil, and
where there are no thieves to break
through and steal. And what are
these heavenly treasures? Hternal
life, everlasting happiness, and “a
crown of glory that fadeth not
away.”

Then Jesus told the people not
to be very anxious about their
bodies, nor to think and talk so
much about what they should eat,
and what they should drink, and
how they should be clothed. He
taught them, and He teaches us too,
to learn a lesson from the birds of
the air, and from the flowers of the
field. ~Look at the little birds, as
they fly about among the trees, and
sing in the branches. They do not
trouble themselves with thinking
how they shall get food for their
young. They do not sow, nor reap,
nor gather into barns. They make
their nests, and lay their eggs;
and when their little ones are
hatched, they go, and seek food for
them; and God teaches them to

 

find it in plenty. Andif God takes
so much care of these little birds,
will He not take care of us? We
are worth more, far more, than
they.

And why should we be so anxious
about clothing? Look at the flow-
ers growing in the field, and learn
another lesson from them. Look
at their pretty blossoms, and their
bright green leaves. They did not
make that beautiful clothing for
themselves; they had no thought,
no care about it; and yet Solomon,
in all his glory, was not dressed like
one of these. Jesus says, “If God
so clothe the flowers of the field,
will He not also much more clothe
you?” .

Then when you walk in the fields,
and see the birds, and the flowers,
and the trees, remember that the -
same God who made and keeps
them all, made and can keep us
also. He has given more to us than
to them. They cannot love and
praise Him, for they have no soul,
no power to think, as we have.
The flowers open their pretty blos-
soms in the sunshine, and bloom
for a few hours, and then fade
away: and the birds sing among the
trees, and are very happy for a little
time, but they soon die and perish.
But God has given us a soul and
understanding, that we may learn
to love and praise Him while we
live, and that when we die we may
be taken to Heaven, to love and
praise Him for ever.

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