Monday, June 20

Monday

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”    - Luke 16:19-31

As is often the case with Jesus, this story that He told has many facets and multiple layers of meaning.  We will be exploring the meaning and application of this story throughout the devotionals this week.

One of the first things we see in this text is that Jesus is clearly drawing a contrast between the extreme wealth of the rich man and the extreme poverty of Lazarus.  It is interesting that we know the poor man’s name is Lazarus, but the rich man remains nameless in the story.  In our culture, it is the rich and powerful that are known by name and the poor who are the nameless multitudes.

The richest 2% of the world's population owns more than half of the world’s household wealth.  According to a 2008 study, the 3 richest people in the world: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett , & Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Helú, have more money than the poorest 48 nations combined! 

The consistent message of the Gospel is that God has a special place in His heart for the weak, the poor and the oppressed. 

Leviticus 19:10 - Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 15:7 - If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

Psalm 35:10 - My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

Luke 6:20 - Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Matthew 25:40 - “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Here is an interesting question – how many poor people do you know?  I am not talking about the family that can’t afford a second car or a summer vacation, I am talking about those living at or below the poverty line, do you know any?

It is easy to fall into the comparison trap in our culture.  This is the trap that convinces us that because we do not have as much as our friends or neighbors, we are somehow “in need”.  A trip to a third world country will quickly put to death this myth.  If your family has total assets of just $20,000 or more, you are in the top third of the world’s wealthiest.  Although North America has only 6% of the world's adult population, it accounts for 34% of household wealth.

In this parable Jesus does not condemn the rich man for being rich, He condemns him for his lack of compassion for the poor beggar right outside of his front door!  It is not wrong to have wealth.  You should not feel guilty for the money and possessions you have, but you should feel responsible. 

God blesses His children so that they can be a blessing to others!

Jeff Frazier