“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6: 25-26).
Based on these and others words spoken by Jesus, some have assumed that he was an enemy of the rich. This isn’t true. It is because Jesus loves the rich that he speaks hard, but truthful words.
Few would argue against the assertion that nothing gets human beings to compromise their values more than money. The examples are numerous. Nations who view themselves as enlightened liberal democracies, have and continue to compromise their values by securing trade deals with countries that have little or no regard for human rights.
Money is no stairway to heaven. Worshipping wealth is like eating empty calories. It will fill you up, but not feed you; it will not nourish you with what your heart and your soul needs.
Throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus makes it very clear that in the kingdom of heaven material wealth conveys no status and he proclaims that those who have little or nothing in the way of material wealth are specially blessed. I for one do not believe Jesus means that the poorer you get the more blessed you will be—that the aim of life is to be as poor as you can. Jesus proclaims his blessing not upon poverty, but upon the poor—those who are hungry, and who are grieving, outcast, and reviled. Jesus assures them that they have not been forgotten by God.
Through challenging and comforting words, Jesus speaks to the wealth and poverty in each and every one of us. He wants to fill our emptiness, not with material wealth, but spiritual wealth. So he comes to us and blesses us with forgiveness. He comes to us and blesses us with hope. He comes to us to fill our hearts with love for others in their poverty—whether that be physical poverty, moral poverty, and spiritual poverty. Thanks be to God.
