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Day 73

Luke 6:20-26 "THE SECOND SET OF CONTRASTS"

Day 73 – Luke 6

Text: Luke 6:20-26

THE SECOND SET OF CONTRASTS

“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.” Luke 6:21

“Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger.” Luke 6:25

The Disciples of the Lord Jesus were indeed taught to think deeply. They were taught to think beyond the confines of this earthly life. Many are trapped and remain prisoners of their human and mortal ways of thinking. They think only in terms of what they can get out of this life, without sparing a thought for things spiritual. Indeed they find consolation in their earthly life. But this earthly life is so short, compared to eternity!

Jesus needed to teach His Disciples to think beyond obtaining the comforts so prized by many in this earthly life! The world thinks in terms of riches. But if there are no riches, at least, there is sufficiency! Surely, one must have enough to eat? Surely, God does not want His children to starve! (Are we not reminded of the first temptation of Jesus? The Devil came to tempt Him to turn stones into bread to stave of hunger pangs! Wisely, Jesus rejected this temptation without a second thought).

Now, Jesus was teaching His Disciples, and preparing them for the fact that there are times when they must be prepared to suffer hunger! Yet, they will find themselves blessed by God, if they were to accept hunger as part of their lot as Disciples! They will be filled by God. The Lord will take care of them. Can they believe that?

THE TEST OF HUNGER

How shall we understand this idea of going hungry? Wherein is the meaning of going hungry, and then being filled by God? The best way to see this Beatitude would be to understand this statement in the light of Deuteronomy 8:1-10.

Moses was explaining to the children of Israel the meaning and significance of why God allowed them to suffer want, to experience hunger in the wilderness, when He could have as easily provided for all their needs!

God had an important lesson to teach the children of Israel. He wanted them to learn the lesson of humble dependence upon Him. He also wanted them to learn what it means to live by faith, trusting in God’s daily provision. He wanted them to learn what it means to live by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God! (Deuteronomy 8:2-4).

There would be times when God would deem it necessary for His children to suffer want. In those times, they would be sorely tested. They must continue to exercise wisdom and faith. They must cling on to God’s Word, and believe that He will never fail them.

The same test of hunger is placed before the Disciples. If the Disciples were afraid of going hungry, and if they were afraid to trust God to provide for everything, then they would never know the blessing of seeing how God would meet all their needs and more. The promise in this blessing is that God would fill them up! What a tremendous beatitude to ponder over!

CHOOSING TO BE FULL NOW

Many are not able to suffer hunger. They desire to be full now. They want instant gratification! Instead of choosing to be faithful disciples of the Lord, they choose the way of the world.

They choose the path that leads to material success. They devote every bit of energy into obtaining physical, material wealth! Everything is sacrificed in the name of “success”.

The solemn words of Jesus must cause us to rethink pursuing this line of thought! His words of caution are unmistakable. “Woe to you who are full (now); for you shall hunger.” (Luke 6:25).

“UNCERTAIN RICHES”

Warning after warning has been given in the Scriptures concerning the pursuit of wealth. Let us take a look at some of these warnings. We shall look at only three of these warnings:-

1. The Danger of Forgetting God

“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments and His statutes… lest–when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God…” Deuteronomy 8:11-14

2. Our efforts could well end up in futility without the blessing of God

“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages
Earns wages to put into a bag of holes.” Haggai 1:6

3. “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction
and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,
For which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,
And pierced themselves through with many sorrows” 1 Timothy 6:9-10

THE CHALLENGE TO REMAIN FOCUSED AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES

The Disciple may hunger now, but the Lord will bless him with the Kingdom of God if he chooses faith. Those who reject Discipleship, and choose riches and fullness of earthly things may end up hungering – both physically and spiritually at the end of the day.