Chapter 4

The basic theme of this passage is our choice between God or the perishable things of this world. This gets at our deepest desires; is our greatest desire the Holy Desire to follow God and God’s way of loving service, or is our greatest desire the excessive desire to lay up earthly treasures, (or success in the world.) Jesus, of course, recommends we follow God completely, and hopes we follow His spiritual wisdom so that our eyes are good, filled with the light of divine wisdom.

If we do choose God, it becomes a win, win, win situation. First, Jesus promises that God will provide all the material things (food, clothes, shelter) that we do need to live as creatures on this earth. Second, we can stop worrying about all the things we need in life, confident God will provide them (perhaps with some effort on our part). And third, by seeking first God’s Kingship over us (that is, staying in right relationship with God), we get to participate in God’s life, including God’s peace, joy, and love.

In summary, the Truth contained in this passage, if completely believed, delivers the disciple from the bondage of the weed, with its worry (the bloom), excessive desire for things of the world (the stem), and the lie that “ I provide for me; no one else does”, (the root of the weed).

This Truth, furthermore, brings the disciple into the flower, that is, into God’s world. This is the world of Truth (God provides all that we need), Holy Desire ( I want to follow God and God’s way of loving service in all that I do), and complete happiness (sharing in God’s peace, joy and love, and loving service (helping to bring about God’s Kingdom.

<< Previous  •  Next >>  | View Chapter 4 as single page