HOST: Michael Whitworth
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
This reading represents the other side of the coin. If Jesus desired to comfort and reassure those who were suffering in the last passage, He certainly intends to warn and condemn those to whom He is speaking in this passage. Understand that Jesus is not condemning those who are rich, happy, or respected based simply on their station in life. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with any of these situations; in fact, to be joyful or well-spoken of is admirable. Jesus is speaking to and condemning those who have given their love and devotion to their earthly things instead of to God, those who revel in this world and its pleasure with no regard for spiritual things, those who strive for acceptance in the world, sacrificing truth and godliness to find it. The greatest lesson for us to learn here is that there is nothing in this world—not riches, pleasure, or popularity—that offers what a faithful relationship with God offers, and none of those things are worth the price they require.
Why do so many people struggle to choose God over worldly things?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
