Rev Gav

Woes

Luke 6:24-26

²⁴ “What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
    for you have your only happiness now.
²⁵ What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,
    for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,
    for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
²⁶ What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,
    for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

Reflect

Jesus had just declared four blessings for those that followed the way of his kingdom and afterwards, Jesus expressed four woes that declared God’s displeasure towards those who opposed his kingdom, and by association, those who opposed his disciples. Each of the woes matched one of the blessings which were for the poor, starving, sad, and rejected — and so the woes were addressed to the rich, well-fed, happy, and celebrated. Like the blessings, the woes were both spiritual and physical.

Was Jesus saying that you could not be rich, well-fed, happy, or celebrated? Not at all. Jesus was saying ‘watch out’ if you reject or oppose the way of God; watch out if you do not think you need God, or gain wealth by treading on the poor; watch out if you are well-fed and you do not share your food with those that are hungry; watch out if you are celebrating whilst doing nothing for someone you know that is crying; and watch out if you are acclaimed for your achievements, but do not stand alongside the accused and the marginalised.

Our culture is very ‘me’ oriented or individualistic and it is also very materialistic. Culture tells us we need to put ourselves first, that we do not need God, that we need to accumulate stuff, and that we should aim for status and celebrity, however, Jesus is saying that to be a Christian is to be countercultural. If we follow the way of Jesus then we will put the needs of God and of others first and it may mean a change in priorities, and quite possibly, a radical change in lifestyle.

Do

This week, be prepared to change your priorities and perhaps your lifestyle. Make a commitment to putting God and others first.

Pray

Holy God
I choose to put you first
over my own needs and wants.
Help me to be dependent on you.
I choose to follow the way of Jesus,
and to stand out in our ‘me’ culture
as someone who puts the needs of others first.
Use me for your mission in the world;
to the poor, starving, hurting and rejected.
This day and forever.
Amen. 

Think

How is it possible to be rich, well-fed, happy, and celebrated and also follow the way of Jesus — to reach out to the poor, starving, sad, and rejected?