Luke 6:17-26
“God’s Remedy for True Happiness”
Sadly, in our world today true happiness
eludes so many people. As the song suggests they’re “looking for love but in
the wrong places.” What happens all too often is some give up. Others
despair of ever finding it. This morning the Savior gives us a prescription for
true happiness. In our Gospel lesson for this morning, the Savior shows us a
better way. He gives us a remedy for true happiness.
I. The key to
finding true happiness is to know your true self.
A. Jesus rightly describes the
people of this world as He says “But woe to you who are rich, for you
have already received your comfort” (V. 24)
1. The rich feel
they lack nothing. In speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus reminds them in Luke
5:31-32 “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not
come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” The rich young ruler
responds to Jesus in Matthew 19:20-22 “All these {commandments} I have
kept...what do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go sell your
possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away troubled,
because he had great wealth”
2. They are full of
their own imagined righteousness. They consider themselves to be well
spiritually so they don’t need the healing touch of the Great Physician. They
cannot understand the words of the Savior when He spoke in Matthew 9:13 “But go
and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come
to call the righteous, but sinners.”
3. Instead of
coming to Christ in humility and meekness they laugh. David reminds us in Psalm
73: “They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten
oppression” (v. 8)
4. In short, the entire
world speaks well of them; for the world simply loves its own.
B. The Savior in our text
also rightly describes the children of Christ’s kingdom.
1. They are poor in
spirit. David writes in Psalm 32: “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did
not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the
lord and Thou forgives the iniquity of my sin’ (v.5)
2. They hunger
after a righteousness that they do not have. The quest of Luther to find a
merciful God was a journey, which took him a lifetime. His last known written
sentence was simply put “we are mere beggars before God!” The dying
thief simply cried, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”
The prodigal son cried out to his father “I am unworthy to be called your
son...”
3. They weep as did
Peter when He remembered the words Jesus had spoken “Before the rooster crows,
you will disown Me three times” And he went outside and wept bitterly”.
(Matthew 26:75)
4. They bear the
cross patiently. Jesus rightly predicted what the 1st Century
church would be up against when He spoke in Matthew 23: “therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of
them you will kill and crucify, others you will flog in your synagogues and
pursue from town to town.” (v. 34) And what do we find? Luke describes the
persecution, which unfolds in the book of Acts. “[The Sanhedrin] had
Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power
or what name did you do this?” (4:7) And again in chapter 12 “It was
about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church,
intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death
with the sword.” (Vv.1-2)
Transition: The road to happiness begins with unhappiness over our
waywardness and ourselves. The Law condemns us, every one of us. In its mirror,
we are daily to see our sin and then turn to God in repentance. And what does
God do when we come with repentant and contrite hearts? God responds in grace.
“If
we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
cleans us from all unrighteousness.”(1
John 1:9)
II. True happiness is found
when we discover God’s amazing grace.
A. Unbelievers
do not find it.
1. The rich become
paupers. The rich man dies, and as Jesus describes his condition, He tells us:
“in hell where he was in torment he looked up and saw Abraham far away with
Lazarus by his side” (Luke 16:23)
2. Furthermore, the full
ends up hungry. The rich young man went away sad, because of his wealth.
(Matthew 16:22)
3. Those who deny Christ
are denied. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come
to bring peace to this earth. I did not come to bring peace but a
sword...anyone who lives any more than Me is not worthy of Me”
B. Yet,
Children of the kingdom know God’s grace.
1. The poor have the
riches of the kingdom. Jesus says in Luke 12: “Do not be afraid, little flock,
for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (V.32)
2. The hungry are filled
with the righteousness of Christ.
a. Christ has won
righteousness for us at the bloody cross. Isaiah the prophet of old reminds us
in chapter 53: “All we like sheep have gone astray each of us have
turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (v.7)
b. God in turn gives
righteousness to all who believe. As Paul reminds us in Romans 3: “This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ” (V. 22)
3. Those who weep will
laugh, “Those who sow in tears will reap with joy” The Psalmist reminds
us. (Psalm 126:5)
4. Those who bear the
cross will be glorified. Again, David explains in Psalm 17:15: “And I in
righteousness I will see Your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with
seeing your likeness” In glory, we will see Jesus face to face.
Thus,
Paul can remind us “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say,
Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) God’s grace turns your poverty into riches,
your hunger into satisfaction, your weeping into laughter; your suffering into
a crown of glory that does not fade away!
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