Sermon – The Road To Happiness
Luke 6:20-26 “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
Introduction: This text is a portion of the sermon on the mount, where Jesus addresses the subject of true happiness and joy. The crowd, like many today had gotten their priorities confused. So much time is spent worrying about "things" that we lose sight of what truly matters. We seek gold while dismissing God. We seek health while neglecting holiness.
Jesus sound more like a friend or a father in this text than a prophet. He reveals God’s principles for living a righteous life leading to joy and peace. The attitudes revealed are like steps of a ladder with each step leading to the next. Then Jesus closes the journey with double blessing for those who suffer and are persecuted for righteousness’s sake. Some scholars see this text as a contrast of kingdom values with worldly values; others see it as code of ethics for the believer; Yet others see Jesus comparing the superficial faith of the religious leaders to authentic Faith in God. Yet all agree that these beatitudes are not multiple choice, pick what you want and leave the rest! No, they must be received as a whole, if we are going to be true followers of Christ.
In the old Persian story, "Aladdin," Aladdin is the son of a poor tailor. After his father's death, a wicked magician, who claims to be Aladdin's long-lost uncle, persuades Aladdin to go after an old lamp hidden in a cave. Aladdin gets the lamp, but suspicious of the magician's intentions, refuses to give it to him. The magician becomes furious at this and seals Aladdin in the cave, leaving him to die there all alone. Well, to make the story shorter, Aladdin discovers that the lamp contains a magic genie with the power to grant wishes. And as Aladdin makes his wishes, he becomes immensely wealthy, marries the sultan's daughter, defeats a fiendish plot by the wicked magician, and lives happily ever after."
It is a fantasy that has captured the imagination of millions in many countries down through the centuries. Disney Studios took the story and made it into a hit animated movie found in the homes of many children today.
Why? Why the popularity of "Aladdin"? Well, I think there are a couple of reasons. First, we like to see the underdog come out on top, so we cheer for Aladdin. Secondly, I think we like to daydream about having our own magic genie and having all our wishes granted. We're never going to have a magic genie. No one is going to appear suddenly and give us everything we want. It just doesn't work that way. If we want something, we'll have to work for it. If our hopes and dreams are ever to be realized, we have to put forth an effort to bring them to pass.
Jesus seemed to recognize that all humanity were seeking fulfilment and happiness. He knows the hunger of every hearts: our hearts and the hearts of the crowd on Mount Olive. His teaching was probably opposite of what the crowd was thinking. Our natural, carnal thinking says, blessed are the rich and affluent for there is the kingdom of God. Blessed are the happy, full and contented for they are the comforted. Jesus points the crowd in a different direction and shares a different message. Do you know who the truly blessed are? The truly happy are? Has anyone really found fulfilment and joy?
In this text, Jesus shows the way.
With each blessing, there is a required attitude. There are certain requirements as we dare embrace the Kingdom of God and the joy it brings. Jesus gives steps into God’s kingdom of peace and joy. The first step to be poor in spirit.
1. Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. This step is low, everyone can reach it. It begins where the Law ends. The law revealed our poverty, and Jesus addresses it as he brings good news to the poor. Men only need to recognize their spiritual poverty, then by faith they can lay hold to the rich grace of God. We are not self-sufficient, we need the Holy Spirit’s life-giving power and sustaining grace to inherit the kingdom of God. The poor in spirit recognize their need for God, their neediness draws them to God. Those who wander in darkness fail to recognize their spiritual poverty. How blessed you are when realize your need for God.
Ps 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Humility and neediness are the first steps on the road to happiness and joy.
2. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. God promises a special blessing on those who desire more of his grace, favor and holiness, those who are willing to press for it and reach after it, they shall be filled. Notice this desire is described as hunger. God promises to fill the hungry heart and satisfy every longing. There is a hunger in all men: physically for food, emotionally for love and acceptance, and a spiritual need for God. If men fail to find God, they will try to fill the void with a thousand other things with no success. St. Augustine, God has put a God shaped vacuum in every heart that can only be filled by God. God promises to fill our inner hunger and satisfy our longing.
Ps 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
3. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Those who weep now may seem worse off than the poor in spirit and those who hunger, but these are at a higher level. These are the ones who are grieved by sin and evil of the world. There are opened and they are sensitive to the misery of this world, its violence, war, crime and the attitude of the culture. Yet Jesus promises an end to this misery and promises that laughter ahead. Those who laugh and rejoice in sin now will one day weep and mourn. But those who sorrow and weep over sin and corruption will one day rejoice! Today’s sorrow will only enhance the believer’s future joy and happiness.
Re 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Satisfaction, fullness and true joy await every believer. All these former things will pass away. God has provided some better things ahead. Then Jesus moves to our present trials and persecution.
4. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven:
The righteous must be willing to give in a taking world; be willing to love in a hating world; be willing to help in an abusing world; and be willing to give up their personal rights to serve others. This verse guarantees persecution in the world. It’s referring to persecution for righteousness’s sake and Jesus’ sake. Jesus knew the attitude of the world towards God and his righteous standard. Nothing has changed. This world has never been a friend to grace, and it never will be. We don’t have to seek persecution or provoke others to persecute us but live a holy life and you will be persecuted and reviled. The key is, what should our attitude be? We should consider it a blessing. It is all the evidence we need to prove we are children of God. God is our vindicator; he will defend and take care of us. All who live godly shall suffer persecution. Jesus promises that no righteous suffering will go unrewarded. More than that, Great is your reward in heaven.
The promise allows me to suffer gracefully and patiently. You and I can take courage as we experience the trials of this life, knowing that it has an end. More than that, we can rejoice and be exceedingly glad as we keep the end in view. And therefore, far from being dismayed and overwhelmed with trouble and distress at such abuses and assaults, all these things will come to an end.
4. “But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
Just as there is an end to the trials and misery of the Saints, there is an end to the pleasures and joy of this sinful world. There are some consolations riches cannot gives, some hunger money cannot satisfy and some tears money cannot wipe away. All things these have an end.
Lu 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke 12:16-23 “Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” 22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.”
He is a fool, not because is rich or comfortable, but he is a fool because He puts the body before the soul; He is a fool because he hopes to find ease on the thorny bed of wealth and makes sure of his comfort in a dying world and neglect preparation for eternity. O Lord, keep all of us from being so foolish.
We can find the happiness we seek if we can recognize our spiritual poverty; hunger for God’s presence and fullness; weep over the wickedness of this world as we try to change it; and if can laugh in the face of persecution and rejection, knowing that all these things will come to an end. There is a reward waiting for the victorious Christians. The multitude followed Jesus to the Mount of Olive because recognized their poverty, emptiness, and helplessness. They all received what they need. You and I must come the same way because it leads to happiness and fulfilment.
