A Consolation Prize?

Jesus looked at His disciples and told them in front of a large crowd that they are blessed because they have made big sacrifices and that these sacrifices which are investments in God's Kingdom, cause them to inherit the blessings of God's Kingdom. Here is the scripture:

Luke 6:20b (NKJV) Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Jesus then addresses the crowd and tells them that if they haven't made sacrifices for God's Kingdom, then they have already received their blessing. In the New King James Version, we translate the word to "consolation" and in the NIV the same word is translated to "comfort." Here is the verse:

Luke 6:24 (NKJV) But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

We of course understand that when you receive your reward here on earth, that you cannot take it with you to heaven and it is temporary where as if you live your life to build rewards in heaven, that those rewards last forever. That is why Jesus said it is a "woe" if you get your comfort/consolation now. Because it is nothing compared to an eternal reward.

Have you ever received a "consolation prize?" Someone got a really cool prize and the 2nd and 3rd runners up got something made out of plastic? The root word of consolation is console. It means to comfort someone who has experienced loss. In terms of a prize, the lesser prize is purposed to comfort the ones who didn't get the major prize.

That is what earthly riches are likened to by Jesus. You could have had Kingdom prizes. You could have had eternal rewards. But because you chose to invest only in yourself and not in God's Kingdom, because you chose your own comfort and lived without sacrifice, you have settled for the consolation riches. Jesus said, woe to you.

Let us live our lives going for Kingdom prizes and not settle for woe-full consolation gifts. Enough said!