I once saw a special about the old Ed Sullivan television show. It brought back a lot of memories.
One of the features on the special was a collection of pieces done by comedians on the Sullivan show. In one of the routines, the comedian was complaining about his mother-in-law. His main complaint was about how stingy she was. “For instance,” he said, “when you sit down for a meal at her house, she always gives you a hot knife so that you can’t get any butter on it.”
Then he proceeded to tell another story about how tight she was with her money. “Why,” he said, “I remember six of us sitting down for a meal at her house. The problem was that there were only five pork chops. Everyone got into a big fight, scrambling for the pork chops. “But,” he added, “I guess it was worth it. I know that the two pork chops that I ate were delicious.”
The world has a way of looking out for its own interests. J. B. Phillips paraphrased the Beatitudes as the non-Christian world would prefer them:
“Happy are the ‘pushers’: for they get on in the world.
Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.
Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.
Happy are the blasé: for they never worry over their sins.
Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.
Happy are the knowledgeable of the world: for they know their way around.
Happy are the trouble-makers: for they make people take notice of them.”
Self-centeredness is one of our persistent sins. We criticize others for their selfishness, but if we’re not careful we allow it to creep in through the doors of our own lives.
Jesus offered the perfect antidote for the world’s way of doing things. He said:
“Happy are the humble-minded, for the King of Heaven is theirs.
Happy are those who know what sorrow means, for they will be given courage and comfort!
Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them!
Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for goodness, for they will be fully satisfied!
Happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them!
Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God!
Happy are those who make peace, for they will be known as the sons of God!”
Given the choice between the world’s beatitudes and Jesus’ beatitudes, I would recommend Jesus’ beatitudes as the way to richness and fullness in life.
