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39. "Thus you should be concerned about increasing your knowledge for your spirit's sake, about the laws of life and about food, drink and clothing for your body.

40. "Look at the birds in the sky: they do not sow, they do not reap, they do not store their food in barns, and yet Creation feeds them.

41. "Are you not much more than they?

42. "Look at the birds in the sky: they devour the harmful insects, and they have plumage for clothing, yet they have no spirit capable of ongoing evolution.

43. "They work to fulfil their duty, and they are fed and clothed by Creation.

44. "Are you not much more than they?

45. "You can think independently through your free consciousness; you can work independently and you can prepare food and drink and clothe your bodies independently.

46. "Behold the lilies in the marsh as they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet truly, I say to you, the lilies also fulfil their mission, when they give pleasure to the eye with their beauty.

47. "I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was not arrayed as one of these.

48. "Creation nourishes and clothes the grass in the field, which today is standing and tomorrow is thrown into the stove. Should not you then do much more for yourselves?

49. "The grass fulfils its mission by serving as fodder and fuel; but are you not of much greater value than grass, oh you of little knowledge?

50. "Therefore, you shall care for the wisdom and knowledge of your spirit, and take care that you do not suffer from lack of food, drink and clothing.

51. "Truly, I say to you, if you suffer from hunger, thirst and nakedness, then wisdom and knowledge will be crowded out by worry.

52. "First seek the realm of your spirit and its knowledge, and then seek to comfort your body with food, drink and clothing.

53. "Therefore, take care for the next day, for tomorrow will not take care of you by itself.

54. "It is enough that each day has its own troubles, therefore you must not also be at the mercy of the need for your physical welfare."