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 hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.
Luke 6:24-26
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Paid in full
In Luke, four blessings are followed by four woes. Woe is not a curse, but a cry of lament with a warning inside: alas for you. For the comfort the rich have already received, Luke uses a word also found on ancient receipts: paid in full.
Jesus doesn't say that wealth or laughter is bad. He says: watch out if this is all there is. Then the account has already been settled. The last woe is uncomfortable too. If everyone likes you, perhaps you never say anything with an edge to it.
Question for today
Am I so content with what I have that I no longer expect anything from God?
Prayer
God, you see what I lean on. Keep me from looking for all my comfort here. Amen.
My prayer
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