Sound advice

Other Men's Flowers contains very few biblical quotations, because I know that most of my regular readers are familiar with the Bible and consult it frequently, so that for me to regurgitate chunks of it would be supererogatory and regarded as impertinent. However, even among the devout there are very few who take much notice of its injunctions, believing that most of them are irrelevant to modern life. No-one really needs to be reminded not to covet his neighbours oxen, or that looking back when your hand is on the plough may disqualify you for the kingdom of God. I mean, nowadays we all bear these thoughts constantly in mind.

However, when it comes to general recommendations the word of God is often quite sensible, and we would do well to heed it. Take, for example, Matthew 6, 28-31:

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Today’s obsessions with diet, booze and fashion demean us all, and this is undoubtedly salutary advice, rather well put.