Word@Work Luke86 - Luke 6:26
Published: Wed, 04/21/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
WOE TO THE POPULAR
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (NIV)
Popularity opens the door to many temptations, especially for religious people. The admiring crowd with their personal compliments are powerful tools to reopen the old life of sin. Corrupt human nature longs to be the centre of attention, with the ability to influence, persuade, command or simply bathe in the glory of human approval. Whenever we take the glory without passing it on to Christ, we put ourselves in His place - the danger-zone where Satan can tempt us that we are above our Maker, and therefore we can do whatever we like.
Jesus knew His disciples would find popularity hard to resist, and so He was really teaching them as He rebuked the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. The nature of truth is to cause a reaction in sinful hearts. The right reaction is to repent and change; but mostly, people react by hardening their hearts and blaming the messenger. On the other hand, those who simply affirm what will make sinners comfortable will be popular. Effectively, as they give permission to continue in rebellion against God, they lock the door to truth and throw away the key (Luke 11:52). But Jesus pointed out that such 'people-pleasers' were false prophets, who join a long catalogue of others who take the glory away from God and the truth away from people.
So often, popularity is the trade-mark of those who bend, abuse, misuse or deny the full truth of God's Word. The apostles would therefore need to be alert if they became popular, not to be deceived into telling people what they wanted to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4), thereby abandoning the gospel of Christ. Perhaps it was a mercy that most of the time they were persecuted, like all true prophets! So let us beware of the seduction of the popular vote and the attraction of applause. May Christian leaders be more concerned to handle God's Word faithfully than how much the people like what they say. May believers in the workplace clearly explain Bible truth (despite the risk of unpopularity) as well as sharing testimony and doing good works, so that their friends and colleagues may hear God speaking.
Prayer: God of truth and love. Thank You for the gospel of Jesus which cuts a shaft of light through the darkness of our world. Please forgive me when I am more concerned about negative reactions from people that I fail to speak Your Word clearly. And forgive me for disguising Your gospel as simply a matter of 'my religion', 'my church' or 'my experience' so that I deprive my friends of saving truth. Please help me to handle popularity as well as persecution - in both, looking to Jesus and giving You the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Popularity opens the door to many temptations, especially for religious people. The admiring crowd with their personal compliments are powerful tools to reopen the old life of sin. Corrupt human nature longs to be the centre of attention, with the ability to influence, persuade, command or simply bathe in the glory of human approval. Whenever we take the glory without passing it on to Christ, we put ourselves in His place - the danger-zone where Satan can tempt us that we are above our Maker, and therefore we can do whatever we like.
Jesus knew His disciples would find popularity hard to resist, and so He was really teaching them as He rebuked the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. The nature of truth is to cause a reaction in sinful hearts. The right reaction is to repent and change; but mostly, people react by hardening their hearts and blaming the messenger. On the other hand, those who simply affirm what will make sinners comfortable will be popular. Effectively, as they give permission to continue in rebellion against God, they lock the door to truth and throw away the key (Luke 11:52). But Jesus pointed out that such 'people-pleasers' were false prophets, who join a long catalogue of others who take the glory away from God and the truth away from people.
So often, popularity is the trade-mark of those who bend, abuse, misuse or deny the full truth of God's Word. The apostles would therefore need to be alert if they became popular, not to be deceived into telling people what they wanted to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4), thereby abandoning the gospel of Christ. Perhaps it was a mercy that most of the time they were persecuted, like all true prophets! So let us beware of the seduction of the popular vote and the attraction of applause. May Christian leaders be more concerned to handle God's Word faithfully than how much the people like what they say. May believers in the workplace clearly explain Bible truth (despite the risk of unpopularity) as well as sharing testimony and doing good works, so that their friends and colleagues may hear God speaking.
Prayer: God of truth and love. Thank You for the gospel of Jesus which cuts a shaft of light through the darkness of our world. Please forgive me when I am more concerned about negative reactions from people that I fail to speak Your Word clearly. And forgive me for disguising Your gospel as simply a matter of 'my religion', 'my church' or 'my experience' so that I deprive my friends of saving truth. Please help me to handle popularity as well as persecution - in both, looking to Jesus and giving You the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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