Upside Down Blessings
Read Luke 6:17-26
"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation." v. 24
What if Jesus is right? How often do we really stop to think, "What if what Jesus is saying in this passage is true?" I know we like to read our bibles and comment on the authority of the scriptures in our lives, but to take this passage of scripture seriously will upend our worlds. We live in a society where the rich and self-sufficient are seen as "blessed" or "happy." But according to Luke's gospel, Jesus views life from an entirely different perspective. According to Jesus those who have gathered for themselves treasures of wealth in this world, those who have filled themselves up are the ones who will be found wanting in the end.
Why? Why does Jesus seem to take such a hard stand against those of great wealth? Unfortunately in our world there is not an infinite degree of resources. What is one man's "much" is another's "little." Those who have sought materialistic pleasure have had little regard for those around them who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, and naked. Those have lived in the abundance of self-consumption have been duped into complacency toward the broken and despairing. The great indifference and self-interest involved in wealth stands contrary to the law of Christ which is "To love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul...and to love your neighbor as your self."
Luke's primary audience for his gospel is probably a "down and out" segment of the church. The words of hope that this passage offers those with little to their name is obvious. It affords them permission to look upon life with a different perspective...a perpective unclouded by the cravings of flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride of riches (1 John 2:16). Life is not simply lived in order to consume and own, life lived rightly is a life spent giving itself away to the glory of God and on the behalf of others. Luke's passage reminds us as the rich church to remember that God seemingly chooses sides in the scriptures. He seemingly chooses the side of the poor and the oppressed and calls the rich and the powerful to justice and compassion.
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from Mere Christianity, Book III Christian Behavior), Chapter 3.
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of “charities” in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbors or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position. For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our own luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear—fear of insecurity. This must often be recognized as a temptation. Sometimes our pride also hinders our charity; we are tempted to spend more than we ought on the showy forms of generosity (tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those who really need our help.”
Since reading this I seek to ask myself, "Am I comfortable giving this, can I afford it?" and if I answer yes than I pray about what more I can give as well. Admittedly this is still a constant struggle and temptation for me. I am indeed insecure in my desire to only give what I can afford. I am doubting God's willingness to provide for us more than what He already has (as if God is a parent that sends His child to school with just enough food for themselves and if they give any bite of it away to the child with no food at all then He will let them starve from then on out; this is flawed, for He would surely feed them an extra portion at dinner for their generosity and love, and He would take great pride in knowing His child is following in His footsteps.) If we as parents who are but imperfect sinners would do the latter, how more more will our heavenly Father do this for us.
As it is said in Matthew 7:11-12
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
--Jade
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