by Pastor Ed Evans
Scripture: Luke 16:19-31
16:19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
16:20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
16:21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
16:22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
16:23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
16:24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.'
16:25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
16:26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'
16:27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house--
16:28 for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.'
16:29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'
16:30 He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
From who-knows-where comes the story of the epitaph carved into the ancient tombstone which read:
"Remember, Friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, soon you shall be
Prepare for Death, and follow me."
To which some concerned soul had scrawled in addition:
"To follow you, I'm not content
Until I know which way you went!"
All across America, and even around the world, there are decent men and women living quiet lives, giving others a square deal, not making any waves. They don't cheat, they don't lie, and they don't take more than they think they deserve. For some that means a mansion that requires caretakers, for others a modest home and limited social obligations. They do not harm. Or do they?
Dr. Luke's subject in these verses of scripture inspired by Almighty God is the interaction, or lack of it, between two men, two creations of God, two members of the social strata of long ago.
The one has limited resources and cannot even care for his medical condition, apparently having no home except to sit at the gate and beg for his daily food to eat. As Luke tells the story, this man has no reward here on earth, but after his death, his is a grand reward in heaven.
Luke contrasts that, then, with the story of a man of quite some substance. He is of such lofty grandeur that if he ever noticed this fellow Lazarus, he probably dismissed him immediately from his mind. Dwelling on such social tragedies do not lead to victorious plans and accomplishments. Better to close your eyes and move on, and hope he does so as well, was perhaps his thought.
Luke offers us no evidence this rich man ever did Lazarus any harm, it's just that he never did Lazarus and good. Out of his abundance, he never once offered Lazarus so much as a wet finger dipped in water to cool the poor's man's fevered tongue. And yet this, indeed, is what the rich man asks of Father Abraham that Lazarus do for him.
Too late, far too late, the rich man learns of his foolishness, learns that his objectives were all off-target, learned that since he enjoyed himself and took his ease on earth, rather than sharing with others, he is offered no such reward in heaven.
The rich man wasn't such a bad guy. He just didn't help anyone when he could have, and it was counted against him.
As Luke's parable goes, the rich man knew enough to call out to Father Abraham for help after his death, so it can be fully assumed that he knew enough about Father Abraham, and the Living God, to know what was expected of him before his death. But he would have none of it. He would enjoy himself and take his ease, and such poor beggars as Lazarus were welcome to the hindmost, to nothing.
But we are much smarter than the indolent rich man. We have the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, not to mention Paul, to shed light on the path, to show which way to go, to avoid the traps and snares with which this life is replete.
For we in this generation have learned both by study and by example that not only are we tripped up easily by our own propensity to sin, but the Father of Lies, the enemy of God, desires to take our soul. But by doing the things God tells us to do, and by avoiding the things He tells us to stay away from, we can not only be a blessing to others here on earth and glorify His name, but we can be prepared for the glorious life to be lived across the eternal ages, in His presence.
First we need to stay close to His word, read it, understand it, digest it, and find a way to put it into action. We can begin with 2nd Chronicles 20: 3-4 and 29 where we are admonished to seek Him, know the will of God, and know that He will fight for you.
Read Isaiah 58:6 and know that the God who loves you will shatter strongholds for you.
But knowing is not always doing. The rich man knew what he should have done, but he did not do it. The wisdom of God is contained in His inspired Word as made available to us through the faithfulness and the shed blood of saints. But the action is within you and I. We have the gift of choice; free will. Will we be seeking that finger dipped in cool water to slake our outrageous thirst? Or will we be found offering a cup of cold water to the deserving and undeserving alike? Whichever it is, God will see, and God will know.
Your mind, body and spirit are built of God for service. Don't waste it on self-serving. May God richly bless your efforts in His behalf.
Daily Scripture Readings for September 27 - October 3, 2010
Monday -- 1st Samuel 2:27-36
Tuesday -- Hebrews 11:1-31
Wednesday -- Hebrews 11:32-12:2
Thursday -- 2nd Timothy 2:1-13
Friday -- Revelation 2:8-11
Saturday -- Matthew 25:1:30
Sunday -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 101; 2nd Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10
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