Why lament "good fortune?"

Most of you know that Luke’s Sermon on the Plain is a much shorter version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Matthew is a teaching gospel and has bought material together from various places for instruction rather than maintaining a strict narrative. Much of his Sermon is found at various places in the gospel of Luke. The only part of Luke’s Sermon not included in Matthew is the section on “The Woes” (Luke 6:24-26) so we will deal with that now.
       While most translations use the word ”woe” I’ve chosen “How sad” in that “woe” suggests something like eternal anguish while context suggests that it has to do with daily life right here and now.
       Luke lists four situations in which a person will probably call out, “Woe is me!” The first one is surprising in that it identifies the wealthy as about to suffer because they’ve gotten all the happiness due them (v. 24). “How terrible for you rich people because you’ve already had the easy life and things are about ready to turn." This insight is especially interesting in that wealth gained suddenly (as in a lottery), far from creating happiness does exactly the opposite. So, “How sad that you will receive $2,840 a day for the rest of your life.” Instead of jumping up and down for joy it would be better not to accept the money, or if you do, give it all away.
       Then how sad it is that you have had all you want to eat because it can’t continue and you are going to get hungry (v. 25). The NLT creates a picturesque setting with its “What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.” In the ancient world hunger was often just around the corner. And then there are those “who are laughing now:” How sad because it will all turn into mourning and weeping (v. 25). On the surface, Luke paints a rather strange picture. It portrays as worthy of our sorrow a world of financial plenty, an ample supply of good things to eat, and a happy atmosphere in which to spend the day. Most of us would opt for that. And perhaps that is the problem. One’s attention is riveted on all those things that are ephemeral and provide no lasting joy. There is nothing in wealth, abundance, or entertainment that satisfies the deeper longings of the human heart.
       And finally there is that sought after experience of public recognition. Jesus says, “How sad for you when everyone speaks well of you.” How can that be? I’ve never met a person who wasn’t happy with a good coverage in the local newspaper. One usually cuts it out and mounts in somewhere that others can’t help but see it. The down side? “That’s exactly what their fathers did to the false prophets” (v. 26). To be spoken well of by the wrong people is a sure indication of some sort of a scam. No one would object to valid recognition, but beware of recognition in a world like ours.
       So thank you Luke for including such good insights into life. It took a second look to see what you had in mind, but upon reflection it is hard to deny the truth of what you say.