Prosperous people think that they have a right to as much food and leisure-pleasure as they want. Others are grateful to have enough for survival. In this verse, Jesus gives a stern warning about the dangers of a lifestyle ruled by comfort and pleasure - if you live for what you can get in this life, there is no future with God in eternity (Jesus tells a parable about this in Luke 16:19-31).

The warning extends to those who laugh at the godly and ridicule their sacrificial devotion (Psalm 35:19-21).  Jesus experienced such mockery (Psalm 22:6-8; Matthew 27:41-44).  To mock the needy is a vile crime as Proverbs 17:5 says, ‘Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.’

This is the second of Jesus' 'woes', to match the second 'blessing' to those who hunger (Luke 6:21).  It is about the spiritual danger of focussing on satisfying our bodily needs and ignoring our eternal need of forgiveness and peace with God.  Of course, Jesus does not intend that every follower should be impoverished or miserable.  Food and social enjoyment are part of God's common grace to us, but they must be received with thanksgiving; as His gift and not our right (1 Timothy 4:3-4).  Our time on this earth is very temporary.  One day God will replace it with a perfect environment which will be suitable for eternity (Hebrews 1:10-12).  Likewise, our life here is much shorter than most would like.  Its primary purpose is to introduce us to the God who made us so that we can receive Christ and prepare for an eternal life with Him.

Those who ignore God's right over their lives, and spend their days indulging the flesh, have no good (or even neutral) eternal future.  Galatians 6:7-8 says, ‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.’  Such warnings are not intended to bind us in fear, but to urge us to change our beliefs, motivation, values ... and therefore, behaviour.  However much we try to live differently, only those whose hearts are changed by the Holy Spirit's presence will see lasting fruits of character which will please God.  But once we are saved, we have a great responsibility to ensure that our selfish passions are brought under the Lordship of Christ.  When that happens, people at work and in the community will notice, and some will also want to seek the Lord you serve.