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Topic: Blessed (11/29/04)
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TITLE: Blessings and Woes By Jenny Veleke 11/30/04 |
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If we look in Scripture however, we see these are not blessings in God’s eyes. In Matthew 5:3-12, we see the Savior’s view of what makes us blessed. The Beatitudes do not say that men are blessed when they have jobs, good health, or a family. In contrast, the things Jesus refers to as blessings are negative things.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” says Matthew 5:3. Those who are poor in spirit have literally reached the end of their rope, where the only thing left to do is cry out to God. How many times have I been at the end of my rope and stopped to thank God for such a blessing? The blessing comes in the fact that at that point, I recognize my total need and dependence on God alone.
“Blessed are the meek,” says Matthew 5:5. Those who are meek are not recognized by men for their work. They put all others before themselves, an example of great humility and servanthood. How many times have I served and not been recognized for my work and stopped to thank God for such a blessing? The blessing comes when I serve with a humble heart, expecting nothing in return, doing it only for the glory of the God who sent His only Son to serve me.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account,” says Matthew 5:11. Those who are persecuted and slandered because of their faith in God are suffering for the Savior. In Philippians 1:29, Paul tells us, “For He has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for Him as well.” How many times have I been made fun of or rejected for my belief and stopped to thank God for such a blessing? The blessing comes when I view my suffering as a privilege graciously granted to me by God as Paul did. Jesus suffered greatly for my sins and I should count it all joy to suffer for Him.
So are we blessed when God provides us with jobs, health and family or any other number of good things? Luke 6:24-26 says, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophet.”
At first glance, it seems as if the things we consider blessings from God are actually curses. But on closer examination, we see that the woes come because of attitudes of the heart, not the blessing surrounding it.
In verse 24, Jesus is warning the rich not to place all their hope and trust in their material worth. He knew the temptation was great to allow money to rule their lives. He knew it was easy to fall into the trap of valuing money more than their God.
In verse 25, Jesus is warning the people not to rely on fulfillment from earthly things but on the things of God. He was telling them that earthly things will pass away and eventually they will hunger for more and need a new way to fill their longings.
Later in verse 25, Jesus is warning against living for the moment. He knew that laughter can easily turn to sorrow in an instant. He wanted them to remember that the joy of the Lord was eternal.
Finally in verse 26, Jesus warns them about their pride. He knew that it was easy to feel superior to others when their pride was puffed up. He was reminding them that the greatest calling came not in recognition by man, but in serving others.
I pray that when I am blessed with worldly things that I will remember the giver of all good things. May I learn to keep these blessings in perspective with their eternal worth. I long to know the blessings of the Beatitudes in my life, for in finding those, I will have discovered the life God intends me to live.