Why the Woe if Wealthy?

Daily Scripture Threshing for Sunday, August 29, 2021

Today’s Text: Matthew 23:25-28

Key Verse: Matthew 23:27 (KJV): “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”

Excuse me folks is there a problem in the text or something?! There seems to be a mismatched identity. Or why is there a blessing for the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and those who are hated; and woe for the rich, the full, the happy, and those who are well spoken of? A question like this came up during a break-out teaching session at the Holy Ghost Convention of Christ Life Church held at the old county town of Buckinghamshire near Olney, northeast of London in 2012. I was teaching a small group when a lady quietly dropped the question. I was not anticipating it, but the Holy Spirit helped my response in the light of this scripture context.

Our first key to understanding what was in the mind of Christ when he made such pronouncement is in verse 17, which spoke of “a large crowd... a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.” Crowd and multitude are scriptural words for the masses: the same connotes trampled needy people as against the bourgeoisie in sociology and economics. There is always a dichotomy or divide between the masses and people of the upper class. In the days of Christ, the latter will not mingle with the crowd; they do not perceive their need for God, and they neither have a reference for Christ nor believe in Him. It is usually a general orientation of rich folks to view faith as derogatory.

Also, Jesus alluding to Judea and Jerusalem was to represent religiosity and devotion while he used the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon to represent needs and lostness. By these, He carefully identifies men who may be said to be enjoying a false sense of riches, honor, and contentment now against others. They can enjoy those now as good as it gets because a woe awaits them for rejecting God and disposing of His ways. Like today, most rich men in Jesus’ day got their wealth at the expense of the poor or simply by immoral means. But this is what the Lord says: woe on all who do not understand that they are week, fragile, transient, and poor; or who fail to be fair, kind, and generous; and fail to acknowledge God. They may live large in this life, but tables will be turned against them in the life to come. While wealth may not be bad in itself, most systems of pursuing it lead to excessiveness and greed. The problem is not with wealth or happiness per se; but it is a real problem to have so much, feel so secure and happy that we forget we need God. Wealth does not satisfy the soul. It does not give life. Man’s real need is God, and woes betide men who fail to learn this.

Quote for the Day: “Men who trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches most often fail in acknowledging that God is the Source of all good.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord God of heaven and earth; Creator of all, and Giver of all things. I acknowledge You in all my ways knowing that Your hand is upon me and You are the reason I'm living, in Jesus' name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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