JESUS SPEAKING
“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you […] for the Son of Man’s sake […] for indeed your reward is great in heaven […] But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6: 20-26.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
The pronouncement of blessings and cursings was an intimate part of the Jewish culture. Many Israelites would bring their children to the Rabbi’s to undergo a formal blessing. A blessing is a prophetic profession of some future good in an individual’s life. A cursing however, foretells of some impending calamity. The blessings that Jesus pronounced over the crowds were entirely dependent upon their reaction to his message. Those who chased after the passing pleasures of this life would ultimately enter into unending sorrow. Those who chose to deny their own desires in order to serve God, would eventually inherit eternal rewards. Without question, every true believer must embrace sacrifice. Some common sacrifices include wealth, a potential career, power, property, selfish indulgences, and often even a good reputation. Because the path to peace with God includes enduring some form of present pain, the majority of individuals will continue to reject the gospel message.
In order to understand this scripture, we need only look at the modern day credit card crisis. Right now, Americans possess some of the highest individual debt than nearly any other time in our nation’s history. Although not always, this current epidemic is the direct result of extreme self-indulgence. When a person goes out shopping and they can’t afford something, they will often use a credit card to avoid having to deny themselves some passing pleasure. But paying for things with money we don’t have doesn’t make the pain disappear; it simply postpones it. Eventually the credit card company is going to come looking for their money; causing those who have fed their fleshly appetites to endure the suffering they so desperately attempted to avoid.
Many people have spent an entire lifetime avoiding pain and indulging in pleasurable endeavors. However, their agony has only been deferred, rather than eliminated. They will eventually be required to ‘pay the check.’ Chasing after wealth, material possessions, careers, and even a good reputation can lead to an eternity of pain. Still, self-denial is the way to inherit eternal blessings. Volunteering, using our excess wealth to bless the needy, spending time listening to others, evangelizing, as well as visiting widows and orphans, are just a few of the ways we can deny ourselves in this life. Where are you currently denying yourself? What do you have in excess? Is it time, money, or knowledge? What can you give away? By denying yourself, you will become a servant of the living God; and in the coming kingdom, you will receive the blessings of eternal life.
“Lord Heavenly Father, help us to willingly endure pain in the present; that we might refuse our own desires in favor of fulfilling Your purposes. May we deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow You. Reveal to us where we can be more selfless; where we can be more giving; and where we can be more loving. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 