Tuesday 8 October, 2019

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

What do I want from life? If I’m really honest. I could say all the right things and look all pious and holy but is that the truth? Because when I look at this list…

Riches
Comfort
Well fed
Laughs
People thinking well of me

…I want those things.

But if the things on this list and in this passage are the ONLY things that are important to me; that my life is built on riches, comfort, food, laughs and reputation then Jesus is saying I’m in trouble.

What if these were all taken away? What if I had nothing? What if I had the opposite…

Poverty
Constant discomfort
Hunger
Tears
Others hating me

…would I be ok? Because that’s what Jesus went through. That’s the life he chose – for the sole reason to save you and me. Will I walk the same road?

I guess the question is – is Jesus enough? Has his love for me, his inexhaustible grace and kindness, his pursuit to save me – has that captured my heart to the point where I say “I’ll gladly give it all away – so long as I have you!”?

Jesus, please help me not cling to the riches and comfort of this world, or the praise of people. Help me crave more of you in my life in a way that expels everything else.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen