Lily-work

“And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished.” 1 Kings 7:22

My wife and I sleep on a king size bed that has four pillars/columns at each corner.  The pillars are about 7 ft tall and were made to look like Greek columns. On the sides of the top of these pillars there’s an intricate pretty pattern of swirls and what looks like leaves. 

Sometime ago I was changing a light bulb in my bedroom and noticed that the surface at the very top of these pillars were flat with no pattern or varnish. I thought to myself, the reason there’s no intricate pattern or varnish at the very top of the pillars is because it’s beyond the gaze of the eyes, because no one can see the top of the pillars, unless you just happen to be changing a light bulb.

In Solomon’s day there were two pillars constructed in the vestibule of the house of the Lord. These pillars were 27 ft tall and were beautifully and intricately designed from top to bottom. Among the many beautiful patterns, we read that at the very top of the pillars was  lily-work. Lily-work was a symbol of purity declaring holiness to the Lord.  

Why go through so much trouble and time to design lily-work at the very top of the pillar that were beyond the gaze of the human eye? Those pillars and especially the lily-work were made to the glory of God. And it didn’t matter to the designers if no one could see the lily-work. They were not put there to the glory of men, but to the glory of God. They were not made unto men but for God’s eyes only. 

What do we do for God’s eyes only? Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:1-4). 

Jesus went on to teach on prayer and fasting in the same context, namely that it should all be done for God’s eyes only—for His praise and not the praise of man. When we do what we do to appear righteous before men, Jesus said we lose our reward—the reward that He gives namely more of Himself—His presence and power in our lives. 

The most important thing about us is what God’s sees. Your true character is who you are in the dark when no one is watching. When you’re living for Jesus, who gave His all first to the glory of God and our salvation, what matters to you most is what God sees and knows about you. You don’t do righteous acts only when others are watching. You give, you pray, you fast not to bring attention to yourself, but to know and spread the glory of Jesus who did everything to the glory of His Father. 

What we do for God’s eyes only, be it reading our bibles, prayer, giving to someone in need, is what matters most and will bring the greatest reward. That’s our lily work. May our lives be adorn and abound in lily-work to the glory of Christ our Savior.