Luke 16:19-31

Be still: As I sit quietly with you, God, please meet me through your Word. Give me ears to hear you and eyes to see the movement of your Holy Spirit in my life right now.  Amen.

Read:  Luke 16:19-31

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.(vv20, 21)

Encounter: Jesus is still speaking both to his followers and to the Pharisees, as he continues to call the disciples to live out the radically different values of the Kingdom of God. Simultaneously, he challenges the religious leaders to reconsider their understanding of God.

Comparing ourselves to some people, we might not consider ourselves rich; but compared to others, we would have to acknowledge our great wealth! These verses remind me of the many far less fortunate than myself, even in our modern world. Here in London, I daily encounter the homeless, those broken by addiction, refugees fleeing conflict with nothing but the clothes they wear.

Initially it seems that the rich man had everything a man could possibly want, while Lazarus had nothing. Yet, by the end of the story, we see that God views things differently - the rich man, totally indifferent to the plight of Lazarus, possessed little of eternal consequence, while Lazarus, in his abject poverty, had a relationship with God. He had faith. 

God sees what society often ignores. Not only are riches no guarantee of eternal life or righteousness, but they have the capacity to separate us from God in a way that few other things can. The rich man wrongly saw his material riches as evidence of God’s love and blessing, as did the Pharisees.

‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

As followers of Jesus, we are to live mindful that we are citizens of another Kingdom, followers of another way, ambassadors for a Heavenly King.

Apply: I am challenged to seriously notice the suffering around me. To see people not as statistics, but as neighbours, and to show compassion in practical ways.

Who is the Lazarus at your gate?

Devote: Father God - I know that you love the poor and that in showing compassion to them, I minister to Jesus. Please help me to see as you see.