Are you blessed (content and happy)?
In Luke 6, Jesus gives 4 types of people who are blessed:
- the poor (v.20)
- the hungry (v.21)
- those who weep (v.21)
- those who are hated, excluded, reviled, and spurned
What in the world is he talking about? Is Jesus crazy?
John MacArthur says “everything he taught was so utterly opposite from everything they thought.” And Matthew Henry says “It is so far from depriving you of your happiness that it will greatly add to it.”
What Jesus is teaching is that ‘a state of happiness’ can only come from God.
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Generally speaking, when one has wealth, a full belly, laughter, and everyone likes them then that one is unlikely to be aware of their need for God. So the one who is poor and hungry and weeping and at odds with people turns to God out of their great need and trusts in Christ the Lord.
When you read this teaching from Jesus, you are left thinking… if those are the people who are blessed, no wonder people aren’t happy.
Trust in the Lord and be happy, blessed and content! Be able to say “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”