24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:24–26, NKJV)
Jesus announced denunciations upon those who are carnal, who live for themselves instead of God. Wealth is not evil – it is the love of money that brings sin and sorrow (1 Tim. 6:9-10). When your goal is wealth, the fleeting comfort it gives is your reward. Material possessions may satisfy you for a while, but physical fullness does not enrich your soul. Although laughter is good medicine, one cannot build a life upon frivolity. Sorrow and sadness will occur when one refuses to be sober-minded. Yearning for the praise of men leads to compromise for the sake of popularity. The false prophets of the Old Testament were popular among men, but, they were not popular with God. He rejected them. Each of these denunciations have something in common: They result when one loves this world rather than the will of God. Carnality brings destruction, while a life of faith assures God’s spiritual blessings. The beatitudes (which appear just before these pronouncements of woe) affirm this to be so (Luke 6:20-23). Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all you need in life will be provided. Furthermore, you will be laying up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:33, 19-21).
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