Life Perspective

In Luke 6: 20-26 Jesus gives us a new - or different - perspective for how we are to live our lives on earth.

Looking at his disciples, he said: 

“Blessed are you who are poor,  for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.  Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.  

“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 everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

We are blessed when we are poor, and pitied when we are rich.

We are blessed when we are hungry, and pitied when we are well fed.

We are blessed when we weep, and pitied when we laugh.

We are blessed when we are hated, and pitied when we are admired.

This should open our eyes to the way we live today - perhaps we are a bit too selfish or spoiled in what we expect or what we think we deserve. Likewise, this should open our eyes to how we react to the way God answers our every need - being poor, hungry, and hated is an opportunity for us to express joy and store up for ourselves more treasure in our eternal home.