“Looking at His disciples, He said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.’”
I used this verse in my previous post(s) as I explored what it means to be blessed. I highlighted the fact that the typical American viewpoint of being blessed isn’t at all what God means when He says He wants to bless all nations. Wealth and prosperity definitely come with God’s spiritual blessing, but it is the spiritual blessing that truly makes the wealth and prosperity a blessing and not just an outward comfort that cannot reach the inside.
However in my previous post I stopped prior to verse 24 where it says:
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”
As I was reading through Luke I realized that the end of this section of scripture fits right into what I was previously talking about. It seems that the typical “blessings” we ask for as Americans are for wealth/riches, food and other comforts, constant happiness, and a good reputation that makes you respected and well liked. What a bunch of bologna! I wonder what God thinks when we offer up these silly prayers to Him claiming they are made “in His name.” God says:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
He must become so enraged when we ask for the comforts of wealth, food, laughter and acceptance. Christ wasn’t wealthy, Christ wasn’t always well fed, Christ wept, Christ wasn’t widely accepted, why should we think it is our right to have those things? Why is it that when we ask for these things and God says “No, I have something better in mind for you” we get angry and blame God for not answering our requests, for not providing for our “needs?” We have no right to have this attitude. In Matthew 6:25-34 God says:
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Is God not big enough to supply our needs? Is He not faithful enough to fulfill His promises? Why do we doubt His goodness? Why do we seek comfort when we know He is strong enough to get us through storms? Why don’t we allow Him to give us what He wants instead of demanding from Him what we want? Why can’t we recognize that Jesus came to earth and lived through pain and sadness so that we would have an example to follow? When will we accept what God calls each of us to do knowing that it is best? Why is it so hard to respond like Mary did when we are put in situations similar to hers?
Lord,
Thank You for Your many blessings! Thank You for Your humble willingness to come to earth and get messy for us. Teach us to accept the life You have laid before us. Teach us to respond to You like Mary responded to You. Give Your people a wiliness to follow You no matter the cost. Teach us to dwell in Your blessing and teach us to take Your blessing to the ends of the earth. Teach us to say yes to You. Teach us to have joy in knowing You. Teach us humble obedience to Your word. Teach us to love and obey You.Amen, let it be so.
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