We finished out chat yesterday talking about what Jesus
said about our attitude toward circumstances (Luke 6:20-26), our attitude
toward people (Luke 6:27-38), our attitude toward ourselves (Luke 6:39-45), and
our attitude toward God (Luke 6:46-49). In doing this, Jesus emphasized four
essentials for true happiness: faith in God, love toward others, honesty with
ourselves, and obedience toward God.
The happiness of most people today in America is dependent
upon the “happenings” that surround them. If things are going well, they feel
happy but if things are difficult and bad they feel unhappy or maybe a better
word is that they are miserable and sad. But the blessedness or happiness that
Jesus is speaking of is of a different kind. It is based on a genuine
relationship with God by faith through Jesus Christ.
Jesus first addresses the kind of attitude toward
circumstances that is based on our faith in God, His love and His sovereignty. Life
was difficult for the people living in the time of Jesus and there was not much
hope their circumstances would ever be improved. Like people today, many of
them thought that happiness came from having great possessions, or holding an
exalted position, or enjoying the pleasures and popularity that money can buy.
Imagine how surprised they were when they heard Jesus
describe happiness in terms just the opposite of what they expected! They
discovered that what they needed most was not a change in circumstances but a
change in their relationship to God and in their outlook on life.
Jesus was not teaching that poverty, hunger, persecution,
and tears were blessings in themselves. If that were true, He would never have
done all He did to alleviate the sufferings of others. Rather, Jesus was
describing the inner attitudes we must have if we are to experience the
blessedness of the Christian life. We should certainly do what we can to help
others in a material way (James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:16-18), but we must remember
that no amount of "things" can substitute for a personal relationship
with God.
Matthew's account makes this clear: "Blessed are
the poor in spirit... . Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness" (Matt. 5:3, 6). Jesus was not glorifying material
poverty but rather, He was calling for that brokenness of heart that confesses
spiritual poverty within (Luke 18:9-14; Phil. 3:4-14). The humble person is the
only kind the Lord can save (Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Peter 5:6). If you compare
"The Beatitudes" with Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:18, you will see that
our Lord's emphasis was on the condition of the heart and not the outward
circumstances. Mary expressed this same insight in her song of praise (Luke
1:46-55).
Jesus addressed those who were distressed with, “Blessed
are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled”. Physical hunger reminds
us how dependent upon God we are and gives us a greater appetite for the Gospel
and the things of God rather than the temporal pleasures of food and things. Also,
our faith in God and His promise of millennial blessings for outweigh temporary
hunger. Jesus recognized that now in this world of sin we will often weep but
promised one day we will laugh with God (see Psalm 2:4-8), and rejoice
continuously.
Jesus Himself would experience the persecution described in
Luke 6:22, and so would His disciples. How can we rejoice when men attack us?
By remembering that it is a privilege to suffer for His sake (Phil. 3:10). When
they treat us the way they treated Him, it is evidence that we are starting to
live as He lived, and that is a compliment. All of the saints of the ages were
treated this way, so we are in good company! Furthermore, God promises a
special reward for all those who are faithful to Him; so the best is yet to
come!
It is our faith in God, His eternal love and care for us
that will carry us through the tough times with inward strength and joy!
