Blessed be ye Poor...the Wayfarer 6/5/14

Blessed be ye Poor
 6/5/14

“And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”

(Luke 6:19 & 20)

Jesus’ affinity with and care for the poor and downtrodden is reflected by and throughout all four gospels.

Take note; however that he was specifically addressing his disciples with these words warning them of the times to come of hardship and persecution.

These same poor that he spoke to his disciples about had gathered around him searching for healing and salvation from the troubles of both body and spirit, not looking for any get rich quick scheme, or means to buy their way out of their sorrows.

Poverty is relative to what is cherished. The poorest that have the security of the promise of the kingdom of God are far richer than any billionaire who could and does sell them daily in the marketplaces around this still pitiful planet inhabited by those very poor.

He continues with:

“Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast your name as evil, for the son of Man’s sake.

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for I like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”

(Luke 6:21-23)

Full bellies lead to complacency, and seeking to continue to fill those bellies with that which is most pleasant to the glutton pleasuring in that gluttony, instead of glorifying and thanking God for the simple sustenance that satisfies the NEEDS rather than the wants of a corporal body.

No one was more qualified to preach the blessings of poverty and hunger than Christ himself, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and God incarnate who willingly suffered the indignity of both that poverty and hunger.

He willingly chose to experience that poverty so that his compassion was empathetic, never merely sympathetic. That empathy; that compassion, allowed him to deliver the message of promise, and hope, and love to people reviled by those supposed to be the designated servants of God. Instead the hope and promise and love were replaced by hatred and derision by them because of their inability to contribute more to the luxurious lifestyle they so willingly embraced.

No one was more qualified to preach the message of joy yet to come despite present sorrow than was Jesus. No one ever had so much sorrow and reason to weep than did He as he continued his ministry of bringing God and His people back together after having been separated by the misunderstanding purposely delivered by those “special” scribes Pharisees and lawyers that saw sin in all but themselves, gave nothing to anyone, but demanded as much as they could get from all.

Christ understood well that he was born an outsider… a stranger to his own people, and that their rejection of him would continue all through time to come as his very purpose and the things he taught were rejected by that same people, caught up in the never ending twists and turns that eventually only led back to the enrichment of those entrusted to teach and live the very law He came to validate and fulfill.

He told his disciple to rejoice at their persecution. It was nothing new, but the compilation of all the years of teachings that negated God’s very intent for mankind.

After having given the blessings, the praise for acts yet to come, praise for holding true to God no matter what men thought or taught, He also issued some stern warnings.

“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

(Luke 6:24-26)

The rewards most sought and most valued will be the rewards received. There is no consolation to be gotten from the finest casket placed in the finest mausoleum in the finest of burial plots in the finest of the cemeteries in the world.

All the riches of this world profit nothing once the soul is removed from this bag of bones and flesh. All of the accolades of all of the people left behind grant no richness to a soul that is impoverished by the lack of love for the God that created it.

Once that soul is departed from that body, the gluttony that filled it will find nothing with which to sustain a starving soul that could have been filled, but rejected that consolation for the consolation of earthly things instead.

All of the laughter and derision of the impoverished will be brought to the attention of the one having laughed at and derided those around them for their station in life instead of having simply followed the single commandment given us by Christ.

These will have cause to mourn and weep for their own souls, and for those influenced by them to see only a profit to be made, a richness and fatness of body, acquired by whatever means possible with no regard for consequence or the way others are affected.

Yes, they had their consolation, and guarded it jealously, as short term as it might have been, but the time comes for an accounting of each word and action spoken and unspoken, done and left undone.

The poetry and vicarious phrases written on those mausoleums and markers mean nothing to the Judge as he is faced. All the popularity enjoyed, all the grand reputation enjoyed, all the self -proclaimed righteousness, and greatness, proliferated by them, mean nothing at the feet of that Judge.

All of the hidden thoughts and agenda shown to men will openly be displayed before that Judge, and exposed for the falsity it is.

Jesus did not quit with just the blessings and warnings, but continued this discussion with advice to be followed by those who wished to emulate him, not merely imitate and, thereby, attempt to mock Him.

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, doo good to them which hate you,

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke, forbid not to take thy coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee: and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

And as ye would that men do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners do even the same.

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.”

(Luke 6:27-34)

Spoken to those who hear indeed! The golden rule that once was taught in every home by people who actually believed in Christ and honored what he taught! Now this is bastardized in the homes to reflect the opposite of what was given by Christ, and the practice in the homes and on the streets reflect that bastardization, a complete abomination of what is expected of us showing up most often in the homes of those professing to be “Christian” but utterly pagan and heathen in their means and thought processes that guide their lives.

This particular chapter continues to encompass the very essence of what Christ came to deliver to mankind… the love of God, to be taken and given both to God and man.

Though Matthew is more detailed on the Sermon on the Mount and those teachings left us, Luke sufficiently guides us through the Master’s words and wishes for us.

Luke concludes, as did Matthew with the parable of two foundations. These are the foundations on which souls are built along with the lives built and lived.

Care should be taken that the last verse once again addresses hearing, and ENJOINS IT TO ACTION not mere lip service.

Poor or rich, what is your definition? Where do you find your rewards and comfort?

 In the words of a once popular song, slightly modified; “Have you heard the news there’s good promise tonight”.

That promise is in the Gospel and Truth of Christ Jesus available to all no matter current station in life, no matter current stature or posture, but requires the same obedience to that message of redemption through repentance preached by Christ and proven through the observance of his commandment to us.

I remain the same humble servant, sinner saved by grace through faith in my Lord and Savior alone, never through faith in man or the things of men.

I remain also the soldier chosen to continue to carry forward the message of blessing, and the warning given as well, to all the souls willing to simply hear what Jesus gave so long ago, and gives still today. 

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer