Today’s scripture: Luke 6:24-26 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
When I read these verses, my first thought is, “But what about Oprah and Bill Gates?” So God doesn’t like them because they’re rich?
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the largest and most powerful charitable organizations in the world, helping those in deep poverty and disease. And what about people like Zaccheus? He gave half his possessions to the poor, and paid back those he had cheated four times the erroneous amount! Jesus’ response was, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.”
So could this be another one of those parts of the Bible that, if read by itself without regard to context, appears to exclude people from God’s blessings who are actually destined to receive them? I definitely think so. There are lots of sections of scripture that need the warning Danger: Do Not Isolate — Removing from Context May Cause Serious Error! After looking at the immediate and remote contexts (both textual and cultural), it’s always important to remember some of the undergirding truths that are essential to biblical interpretation, like John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world…” — and I Timothy 2:4a — “He who wills that all people shall have Life…” (Aramaic Bible in Plain English).
But are there some deep truths we can nevertheless learn from these words! It’s critical to be aware of all the “consolation” (comfort) our wealth allows us to have. And, aren’t all of us wealthy who have a roof over our heads, food to eat, clothes to wear, and good health? Equally important is realizing that material blessings cannot fill us spiritually. Although it seems intuitive to seek them first, we instead need to seek God and all of God’s purposes, even if that means sacrificing some (or a lot) of our material wealth. I think of it like this — I love pumpkin pie, and let’s say I decide that, since it’s SO GOOD, I’m going to eat all I want of it — and nothing else. At first it would be lots of fun, but after a day or two, I’d start to feel sick. And it’s all because I didn’t keep my favorite food in its proper place. I sought it FIRST and forsook what I really needed — a good, nutritious, balanced diet. So it is with extra material blessings. They’re a lot of fun, but they don’t nutrify our spirits.
Likewise, there’s a time to laugh, but if I want to laugh all the time and NEVER feel sad, then, well, it just doesn’t work. I hear about sickness, suffering, and injustice, and God’s spirit leads me to mourn (vs. 24). That’s the appropriate response, isn’t it? After the mourning, I try to take it to the next step: praying with faith for whatever solution — or at least, comfort, strength, and coping ability — that Jesus can impart on those affected.
Also, if I overly rely on peoples’ praise, then it’s one of those “cracked cisterns” that Jeremiah 2:13 speaks of. What if someone praises me for something I did with a wrong motive? It looked great to everybody else, but my mind was far from God when I did it. Then, instead of basking in the praise, I need to confess to God that I’ve missed the mark.
Thought for the Day: If I’m rich, do I have a heart for the poor, and give to those who are hungry? Do I mourn for the poor, and look for ways to help them?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.