[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
This week we conclude our study of Luke Chapter 16. Please read verses 19-31 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
[/column]
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
[/column]
[divider type=”1″]
[/divider]
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
Luke 16:19-22 (New Living Translation)
‘Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.’
I’ve had the enormous privilege and blessing to have been able to travel to quite a few different countries. In almost every place I’ve visited, there has been a consistent theme: there are always people who are on the streets begging for money from the tourists. Some places are worse than others, but invariably I have seen many people who are sat on the pavements asking the apparently wealthy visitors for some change.
In the state of Florida, USA, it is not uncommon to see people on the road near traffic lights, walking up and down the queues of cars hoping that there will be someone in the car who has enough compassion to give some money. Some car drivers will visit a local fast food restaurant, buy some food and give this to the ‘beggars’ while many others will completely ignore them as it is part of normal life for them. I know this is hard to accept but the reality is that we all become ‘desensitised’ to their poverty and get wrapped up in our own lives.
Jesus has a message for us all today and it’s a message of compassion, love and hope.
The rich man that we spoke of yesterday is guilty of parading his wealth in front of others. When he’s out in the town, people are drawn to his opulent lifestyle and his obvious riches. However, to get to the town, we’re told that ‘at his gate’ lay a poor man called Lazarus. This fellow was in a sorry state. He was without any income, his body was covered with sores and his best hope for a meal came from the scraps of food thrown away by the rich man.
Jesus used the name Lazarus for this poor man and I think He did it for a reason. The name means ‘God has helped’. I believe that Jesus is saying that despite our circumstances, we are still to place our trust in Almighty God for our help. The beggar’s best hope for a meal seemed to have been from scraps, but his ultimate hope for salvation is in God. Perhaps it’s difficult to see but even when the dogs were licking the sores on this man’s body, God was still not absent.
The rich man would walk past Lazarus and yet we’re not told that he tried to or even desired to help him in any way. He had the means to bring a complete transformation of Lazarus’ life and yet chose to do nothing. To make things worse, if that is possible, we’re not actually told that Lazarus received any food at all. We’re simply told that he was ‘longing for scraps’. Not only was the rich man parading his wealth in the town, he was flaunting his riches at the table while the poor sat watching.
What a terrible attitude to have. I’m sure that we’ve all felt guilty at some point when we’ve walked past beggars even though I suspect that not all of them are genuinely in need of food. My prayer today is that we find it in our hearts to offer compassion, to reach out in love and to offer hope to those most in need. God has blessed us beyond all measure. Let us in turn, do our best to bless others.
[/column]