Langley Presbyterian Church

Prayer for Illumination:

Abba Father, we come before You with open hearts, expecting Your life-giving words to touch our minds and souls. Let Your living word penetrate deep within us and transform us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Speak, O Lord, for we are listening. Amen.

Last month, when I was in LA for my study leave, I visited one of the biggest churches in LA. They have four adult services, a youth service, a university service, and a young adult service on Sunday, with about 6,000 people attending each Sunday.

Their facilities, offering amounts, staff, and ministries were eye-opening and jaw-dropping. I looked around at the children’s services, the bookstore, and the kitchen. I was amazed.

And then I thought of our church. For a moment, I asked myself: "Are we missing something? Is this what a blessed church looks like?" It was tempting to measure success by size, resources, and influence.

But then, I remembered Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel: "Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the rejected." He turns our expectations upside down.

Blessing is not measured by numbers or wealth but by our trust in Him. Our strength is not in what we have but in whom we follow.

Reflecting on this, I recalled a moment from history: In the early church, believers did not have grand buildings, impressive budgets, or political influence.

Yet, they turned the world upside down through their unwavering faith, sacrificial love, and deep trust in God.

Although they were persecuted, imprisoned, and even killed, their joy remained because they knew where their true treasure lay.

Their faithfulness—not their resources—was their greatest testimony.

Today’s Gospel lesson is one of Jesus’ most well-known teachings - the Beatitudes. However, this version sounds different from the one we’re most familiar with, which begins, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That’s from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew.

Today’s passage from Luke’s Gospel is known as the Sermon on the Plain. It is plausible that Jesus taught a similar message on different occasions.

Although Luke’s Sermon on the Plain receives far less attention than Matthew’s, it is just as powerful and offers unique insights into Jesus’ teaching.

Before teaching the crowd on the plain, Jesus had spent the night alone on the mountain in prayer. After praying all night, Jesus called His disciples in the morning. Among these disciples, Jesus selected twelve and designated them as apostles.

When Jesus came down from the mountain to a level place, He encountered a large crowd of disciples and a great number of people from all over, waiting for Him.

Imagine a massive crowd of people with various needs and hopes, pressing against Jesus, trying to touch Him in hopes of being healed.

The audience consisted of three groups: the twelve apostles, the broader group of disciples, and the great multitude who sought physical healing or miracles. When the crowd became calm, Jesus sat down and began teaching.

Verse 20 gives us a clue about the intended audience of His message: “Then He looked up at His disciples and said…”

This particular sermon was directed to the disciples and apostles, not merely to the crowd who had come to see miracles or receive something from Him.

Unlike Matthew’s eight blessings, Luke presents four blessings paired with four woes in a striking contrast. Jesus declared:

Blessed are the poor… but woe to the rich.

Blessed are the hungry… but woe to those who are full.

Blessed are those who weep… but woe to those who laugh now.

Blessed are those who are rejected… but woe to those who are well-accepted.

His teaching was radical. Why did Jesus say that the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the rejected are blessed?

What about today? Whom does the world consider blessed or happy?

Those with millions of followers on social media; who travel the world in private jets; who own luxury homes, drive expensive cars; and have high-status careers.

Our culture often associates happiness with success, wealth, and influence—whether it’s tech billionaires, Hollywood celebrities, or social media influencers who portray a glamorous life. But is that what a true blessing looks like?

Jesus warns, “Woe to those who are rich, well-fed, laughing, and highly respected.”

Does this mean that those who are rich, happy, or popular will not receive a reward in heaven? No. The Bible does not say that being rich is a sin.

However, Jesus cautions us not to make wealth, comfort, and human approval our life’s goal. If we seek them first and find satisfaction in them alone, we miss the deeper blessings of God’s kingdom.

Jesus looked at His disciples—some of whom had left wealth and jobs to follow Him—and reassured them, “The kingdom of God is yours. You will be filled. You will laugh. A great reward is kept for you in heaven.”

The kingdom of God is both now and not yet. It is ultimately eternity in paradise with God.

But even now, it manifests as God’s power and sovereignty on earth, giving us peace in hardship and joy despite suffering.

Jesus invites us to build our lives on Him. Discipleship is not just about receiving miracles or listening to inspiring messages; it’s about making Jesus the foundation of our lives.

Where do people place their trust today? Many people strive for wealth, success, and security. They seek higher education, build networks, plan their finances, and work extra hours.

While these are not wrong in themselves, they can easily lead people away from trusting in God. Life becomes so busy that there’s no time for church, prayer, or faith.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 paints two vivid pictures:

Those who trust in human strength are like shrubs in the desert, dry and barren, unable to recognize prosperity even when it comes.

But those who trust in the Lord are like trees planted by water, their roots stretching deep, their leaves always green, and their lives bearing fruit.

One withers; the other flourishes. Jeremiah makes the contrast clear. Which one are you?

Both Jeremiah and Jesus reveal the same truth: trusting in God brings true blessing, while chasing earthly rewards leads to emptiness.

If we give, trusting God, we will be enriched.

If we share our food, we will be satisfied.

If we weep with the suffering, we will taste joy.

If we endure hardship for Christ, we will find peace.

Following Jesus isn’t easy—it’s like swimming against the current. It runs against the values of the world. But in the end, only one path leads to life.

At times, we may feel dry, weak, and lost. But in seasons of drought, our roots stretch deeper toward the streams of living water.

Not long ago, my family was chatting about my second daughter, Jane, who got married last August. We were discussing her and her husband's budget—their income and expenses.

Even though both of them work full-time, saving money hasn’t been easy. Rent, car payments, student loans, groceries—it all adds up. Like many of our children and grandchildren, they are navigating the reality of financial pressures.

We found ourselves giving the usual advice: “Spend less. Save more.” It’s what responsible parents say, right?

Then Jane said something that stopped me. “I can earn more if I take extra shifts,” she admitted, “but then I won’t be able to go to church, and I won’t have time to rest.”

And then she added something even more challenging: “We also give a lot to church.”

I had a moment of tension in my heart. Should I advise her to take more shifts and cut back on giving? Should I tell her that saving for a home—maybe even a small condo—should take priority?

But as I listened to them, I saw something deeper than financial calculations. I saw their trust in God.

They weren’t just trying to make ends meet; they were living in faith, serving in their church, giving generously, and striving to enjoy everyday life—not because they had a financial surplus, but because they knew where their true security lay.

And in that moment, I couldn't tell her to take more shifts and give less. Instead, I felt a deep sense of pride in my daughter and son-in-law. They understood something that many people—both in Jesus' time and today—struggle to grasp.

On that day in the Plain when Jesus taught the blessings and woes, many in the crowd must have been puzzled.

How could the poor be blessed?

How could those who weep be happy?

How could rejection lead to joy?

But for those who truly trusted Jesus and followed Him — His disciples and apostles—they began to understand.

They knew that the Kingdom of God was already theirs, not because of their wealth or security, but because they had placed their trust in Christ.

Even in the coming years of persecution and hardship, their leaves would remain green, and they would bear fruit. The Gospel would spread through them because they were planted by the living water.

This is our calling as well. We may not always feel rich, strong, or secure. We may wonder if we are "blessed" when life is hard.

But Jesus reminds us: blessed are those who trust in the Lord. Blessed are those who rely on Him, not on wealth or worldly approval.

So today, I ask you: Where is your trust?

Is it in job security, savings, comfort, and control?

Or is it in the living God, who never fails?

As individuals and as a church, let us not be afraid to live out our faith boldly.

We may be ridiculed or rejected when we invite our friends or neighbors to church but let us not shy away from sharing the love of Christ.

We may fear giving or sharing our resources, but let us trust in Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.

As a church, we may not be a megachurch, but our trust must be in the Lord—not in people, facilities, technologies, or events.

Our calling is not to chase numbers or influence but to be a faithful church that shares God’s love with the world.

We may not have thousands of members, but we have a family of believers who can pray for one another, serve together, and care for those in need.

We may not have unlimited resources, but we can faithfully steward what God has given us—our time, our talents, and our gifts—to make an impact in the lives of those around us.

God is not asking us to be the biggest church;

He is calling us to be a faithful church.

To love as much as we can.

To give as much as we can.

To serve as much as we can.

To trust Him with what we have and to let Him multiply it for His glory.

Even small churches have changed communities.

Even humble acts of faithfulness can transform lives.

So let us not measure success by the world's standards but by our trust in Christ and how freely we share His love.

That is a true blessing.

Friends, remember—Jesus is our source of life and blessing.

His living water gives us hope, restoration, revival, and healing.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude, acknowledging that You are the source of all blessings.

Thank You for reminding us today that those who trust in You are like trees planted by the water, deeply rooted in Your love and provision.

Because of You, we can rejoice and leap for joy, even in the midst of life’s difficulties. Truly, we are blessed. Amen.