After Jesus talked about God’s blessings on those who were poor, he turned his attention on those who were rich and self-satisfied, saying,
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
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.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:24-26)
Pretty harsh words. But just as verses 17-21 were not a blanket statement of blessing for the poor, neither is this a blanket statement that condemns the rich.
Rather they were words to people who were self-satisfied. People who were so comfortable, that they gave little if any thought to God, simply because they didn’t feel they needed him.
But for people who feel like that, the time will come when they will realize that all their wealth, all their food, all their comforts, and all their pleasures are fleeting.
One day, they will stand naked before God and he will ask them, “What did you do with my Son?”
And if they have rejected him in this life, they will be condemned for all eternity.
And so will you.
How about you? Do you feel like you don’t really need God. That you have enough to make your life a happy one?
Remember that this life is only 70 or 80 years, if we’re lucky. But after that, we will face eternity, either in heaven, or in hell. And all that you enjoyed here will mean nothing if you have rejected God here on earth.
If you have rejected God here on earth, he will reject you for all eternity in the life to come.
But if you make room in your heart for him, if you give him the throne of your life and make him king, then not only will you have life in heaven someday. You’ll find true life here on earth. For as Jesus said,
I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Where do you find your satisfaction? In yourself? In your possessions? Or in having a relationship with the one who loves you and died for you?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 