THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 6:24-26
“Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.” (Luke 6:25)
These blessings and woes of Jesus are ‘wisdom sayings’.
Wisdom sayings present ideas in stark black and white to make a point.
Jesus isn’t condemning those who are well fed (or rich, etc).
But He is stressing the danger of being comfortable in this life.
How can we be comfortable in this world, when so much is wrong.
Jesus followers feel with God the pain and suffering of this world.
Jesus came to bring comfort, not to be comfortable.
The same is true for us; woe to us if we are blind to the world’s need.
Having food is not a sin, but selfishly keeping it to ourselves is.
I sense the Lord challenging me to rethink how I think about my ‘blessings’.
Am I more focused on being comfortable, or bringing comfort?
Am I using more than I need, while others have less than they need?
Looking at these lists (vv.20-26), I definitely fit more in the 2nd one.
As unpleasant as it is, I need to consider whether this ‘woe’ is for me…
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, set me free from the charity mindset, where a few cans for the Food Bank will suffice. Help me to feed others well, and not just be well fed.