Jer. 17:5-8; 1 Cor. 15:12, 16-20; Lk. 6:17, 20-26
History testifies that this statement has been proved right in every age. Our trust in our wealth is in vain. When our time comes we leave everything behind and leave alone. What we leave behind us will be only some good memories in the heart of those around us.
McClendon made wild bets on oil and natural gas and rose as a billionaire. When the Chevy Tahoe he was driving crashed at high speed against an embankment in Oklahoma City he met with his end. While police have not yet concluded whether
the crash was a result of a suicide attempt, what happened to McClendon underscores what many have long known: Being rich doesn't shield you from tragedy.Otto Beisheim, another German billionaire, also took his life in 2013 after long suffering an undisclosed, incurable disease. At its peak, his fortune was worth billions, due to his 10% stake in retailer Metro, which was the third largest in Europe at the time of his death.
Perhaps no one better illustrates the heartbreak better than former German billionaire Adolf Merckle. Merckle’s fortune unraveled in 2009 when a bad bet on Volkswagen stock and a spiraling debt load threatened to dismantle his business empire. He was found on train tracks near his German home; his family confirmed he had committed suicide.
Depending on one’s strength and wealth can never give any solution to the ultimate problems of our life. But trust in the ultimate power of God can change our life.
Jeremiah also speaks about the blessings of the people who trust in the Lord. That person shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.
Difficulty comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes difficulty isn’t a drastic tragedy, but the busy chaos of managing life. With all that we want to accomplish on a weekly and daily basis we can end up worn out, disappointed, and never feeling like we’ve finished anything. Deborah was one of those amazingly talented people who seemed to be able to do it all. She was a leader, a judge, a prophetess, a wife, and a mother. And along with that, she courageously led her people into battle. It was possible for her due to her trust in the Lord.
In the Gospels we hear Jesus announcing the beatitudes. During his life, Jesus witnessed sorrow in abundance, and the Gospels repeatedly tells us that he felt truly sorry at the sight of it.
People who put their trust in the Lord are aware of their own weakness, but are convinced that God is ready to lend them his own strength at all times. For such people as these says Jeremiah, the Lord is what a river is for a tree planted on its bank: the source of their life and of fruitfulness.
The lesson Jesus gives us through beatitudes is to be aware of our own weakness and trust God who makes up for it.
Satish