Anchor My Faith

Four Woes

Scripture: Luke 6:24-26

Having finished the section on the beatitudes, we now come to the warning we find spoken of in Isaiah 65:13-14 (ESV): “Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit.” This warning given by Isaiah is to those who seem successful without the help of God, so they have forsaken him. This is not unlike what is happening us in the west. As we gather the things of the world around us and rely on the rules of science to explain things, we distance ourselves from God.

Luke lays out four conditions of concern that we will consider briefly. The first woe is: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:24). It is not wrong to have money, but it is wrong to delight in and trust the things of this life more than the things of God. They had sought the world’s goods and in them they found consolation and as a result they felt no need to seek consolation from the gospel. All the consolation they had reason to expect they had received and so they felt little need for God and the riches found in the gospel. They also had little desire to reach out and help the poor and needy, because if they did it would mean less for themselves.

The second woe is: “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry” (Luke 6:25a). Because of their wealth they are not hungry, but are satisfied and not feeling their need of anything better than what the world can provide. They are satisfied with their wealth because it can provide them what is needed to satisfy the wants of their bodies and as a result they have no desire or anxiety for the riches that shall endure forever. These may experience fullness now, but James in 5:1 says: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.” Richness for the moment may satisfy, but something may happen causing you to feel your wretchedness and you shall hunger for something to satisfy the desires of your dying, sinful soul. Don’t think like those in Laodicea who said: “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). Realize your need now, not after this life has ended. It is too late then.

The third woe is: “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:25b). This is not a condemnation to joy and laughter, but is a condemnation against those of boasting, or mocking laughter of the callous, complacent rich, who care little for others or for God. We must see our sin and mourn over it and bring it to God or we will one day mourn and weep under his judgment.

The fourth woe is: “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). It is clearly seen in the Old Testament that true prophets were hated, excluded, reviled, spurned, beaten, tortured, and even killed, but false prophets were well spoken of, because the prophesied what the people wanted to hear. This woe is a clear warning against seeking the approval of the world rather than being faithful to God and maybe suffering at the hands of those who oppose you.

Prayer

Father, we have in this lesson four clear warnings that we in the west should not overlook. It seems that we are guilty here and as a result our western Christianity is looking like that found in Laodicea. We are becoming consumer based church, seeking to have our wants met and not engaging in the great commission. Jesus brought the gospel to us because of our need and directed us to share it with others who are in need.