Faith

As mentioned in my earlier post, I was in discussion with my Sunday School teacher and we verred into the topic of faith. This topic addresses the first Greek word in our table below

He had told me there are a number of Greek words in the New Testament that are translated “faith” in our English Bible, and I let him know I thought otherwise.

So I came home and did a quick study, using Blue Letter Bible web site. The following table gives a summary of the New Testament Greek words used when describing our English word “faith”.

Strongs #	Greek	Transliterated	English Equivalent
New Testament (Greek) for “faith”
G571	ἄπιστος	apistos	that believe not, unbelieving, faithless, unbeliever, infidel, thing incredible, which believe not
G1680	ἐλπίς	elpis	hope, faith
G3640	ὀλιγόπιστος	oligopistos	of little faith
G4102	πίστις	pistis	faith, assurance, believe, belief, them that believe, fidelity
G4103	πιστός	pistos	faithful, believe, believing, true, faithfully, believer, sure not tr
G6066	ὀλιγοπιστία	oligopistia	littleness of faith

Strong’s Number G3640 matches the Greek ὀλιγόπιστος (oligopistos), which occurs 5 times in 5 verses in the Greek concordance.

We will look at the first of four instances that Jesus (and only Jesus) used this Greek word in the following post. (Matthew 6:30 is parallel passage in Luke 12:28)

Matthew 6:25-30

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
And why are you anxious about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Worry over Grub and Garb

Worry worry worry.

A concern over food and clothing just doesn’t connect with me, residing in the USA and having much more than I need. The disciples didn’t have it so good. They had food for the day, thier daily bread. They may have had one set of apparel, and when it became worn, purchasing new wear would constitute a significant burden on thier resources. An inner garment and an outer garment, a belt and some sandals. Food and clothing was a justified concern.

Does Jesus simply say not to worry. No – He elevates our standing before God via directing our attention to a bird and a little flower. Amazing. Let’s consider the lily.

The Lily

Madonna_lily We find Jesus talking to His disciples, speaking of the toil (growing exhausted) and spinning of a simple lily compared with the splendor of Solomon, (Israels wealthiest King).

This alone is instructive for us as believers, since we surely estimate King Solomon’s splendor (clothing/appearance) to be greater than that of a humble lily. But the Master states that thinking to be wrong thinking.

Solomon spent his days toiling to create a splendor he enjoyed. The lily does not toil, and is simply a splendor. (By the way, in the Lord’s estimation the greater splendor.)

Solomon had splendor that was external. The lily’s splendor comes from within.

As believers, Jesus tells us the Father will “much more clothe” us. He has greater concern for us than the lily, yet the lily had great splendor. He compares the lily of the field (which has a temporary existence) with believers (non-temporary existence) who have so little faith.

Is Jesus simply speaking of the literal clothing on our back? The Word states He supply’s our every need, so the clothing on my back is provided by the Father.

He is addressing the topic of worry. Worry over the clothes on our back and the food we eat. He reminds us numerous times that we are of much more worth than a sparrow or a lily.

Mickey My greatest downfall in my walk with the Father is worry. A mind numbing, paralyzing worry. I have so little faith.

My worry comes from one source. I have my eyes fixed on the wrong object. Solomon’s splendor was visual, pride elevating, of this world. The lily simply exhibited the life God supplied. The lily didn’t toil for something beyond its reach, or seek to add to its current splendor, or even compare its splendor with a dandelion.

This is against my nature! I continually set goals to gauge my progress, compare myself with others and seek more out of life instead of simply enjoying the life supplied by the Father.

Abstract Watercolor Texture My perspective is completely upside down. Oh – I can justify my worry, calling it careful planning, walking in wisdom, careful stewardship. How shallow and of no impact.