The Blessing The Blessing of “Later”

The Blessing

The Blessing of “Later”

When do you seek your happiness?

Now or Later

Think about the word “later”.

You can compare it to “late”.

You have heard “see you later” which means

 “goodbye for the present”.

So if you had your choice which would you choose?

 

“Now” or “Later”

Most of us when it comes to choices,

 would choose  “Now”.

We choose to get or take the things that give us the

most pleasure, or bring us the greatest happiness “Now”.

Most of the time when we try to make ourselves

happy today, it is at the expense of tomorrow.

We can see this in the way we spend our money.

The way we eat.

The way we relax.

Jesus talks about the pursuit of happiness.

 

In Luke 6, He says,

"Blessed are the poor, hungry, sorrowful, and hated…”

(The word blessing here means “happy”)

These words are not the words we think

of when it comes to happiness.

Jesus contrasts verses 20-22 with verses 24-26.

He warns those who seek riches, being well fed, making light

of the moment with laughter, and getting others to speak well of us.

We are reminded to keep our eyes on the future for our happiness.

Again, Jesus is reminding us you cannot

separate the natural from the spiritual.

Abuse in the natural will affect the spiritual.

God does not want you to be poor,

hungry, sorrowful, and hated.

But we will suffer these things, and getting out of

those conditions we must have an eye on the future.

We need to remember our happiness

is to be focused on our future days.

 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,

because great is your reward in heaven.”  

Remember when your today is hard, break up

 the ground so seeds can be planted for your future.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”

And your happiness “will be added unto you”

What is your choice “Now” or “Later”?

Scripture Reading

Luke 6:20-26 NIV

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

"Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when men hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.

 For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

24 "But woe to you who are rich,

for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,

for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Matthew 6:33-34 NIV

seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.