Luke's Beatitudes - Now and Later

Last night, my brother and I read from Luke chapter 6, in which Luke describes an unusual twist on the Beatitudes. It starts just as you'd expect it to:

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall  reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Luke 6: 20-23

This all sounds very familiar, very similar to the Beatitudes related by Matthew, but then, at verse 24, things get turned on their heads.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 6: 24-26

Professor Dumbledore, the wise Headmaster from the Harry Potter books said something very profound about the Sorcerer's Stone from the first book in the series (which could extend one's life indefinitely and turn any metal into gold), and about people. Said he:

You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a knack for choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.

In the second half of Luke's version of the Beatitudes, we read the descriptions of people who have (what seem like) very positive things: Money, Food, Fun, and Friends. And certainly, there's nothing wrong with having any of those things, even in abundance, but perhaps the trouble comes in choosing to have those things rather than choosing first the kingdom of God.

"Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6: 33 JST

While seeking to build up the kingdom of God, we're sometimes asked to give up a few things. Paying tithing and not working on Sunday can cost us money, fasting requires us to go without food for a period of time, strict standards restrict us from doing somethings that could be fun, and standing up for our standards and beliefs can even cost us friends. It's a question of priorities and sacrifice. Sometimes we need to choose between seeking happiness now and receiving joy later. It can be a painful and difficult decision, but our Heavenly Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ, encourages us to make the wisest choice - to give up what we want now so we can receive what He wants to give us later.