Verse of the Day 3/16

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 10-21, Luke 16:14-31

 

Good morning,

I'm sure that you are aware that yesterday was tax day.  A fitting verse for the day and the tax season is Rom 13:6,  "Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority."  NLT

 

There has been a lot of talk and debate in the news and in politics lately regarding taxes and the rich and the poor, this concerns all of us.  But what is important for us as Christians is how we look at "our money" and the accompanying traps that often come along with excess.

 

Luke deals with the subject of riches in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in today's reading.  It's another parable that you can ponder from several different perspectives.  Luke masterfully describes the situation and allow us to "read between the lines", to see below the surface.

Commentator Henry Wansbrough writes, "The story is the perfect illustration of the reversal proclaimed in Luke's beatitudes and woes: ' Alas, for you who are rich; you are having your consolation now.'  This is made explicit in verse 25, when Lazarus' has the consolation promised in the beatitudes.

For today's verses we'll go to the heart of the parable.

 

Luke 16:24 "The rich man shouted, 'Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.'

 

25 "But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.'    NLT

Even now, "on the other side", the rich man reveals his heart.  He still sees Lazarus as a servant, not a "co-heir" or brother in Christ.

 

Wansbrough continues, "When both men get to the far side - note; the poor man's name means 'God is my help' - the rich man is splendidly unrepentant.  He still claims to be part of the 'Chosen People' by calling out, 'Father Abraham', forgetting that John the Baptist has told us that it is not enough to claim Abraham as father (Luke 3:8 yesterday).  He still treats Lazarus as a servant who can be summarily sent as a messenger to render small services."

 

Lazarus had God as his help in life and after.  The rich man had his wealth as his help.  As is often said, you can't take it with you, it will not help you on the day of judgment.

 

Read the rest of the parable.  There is much to consider starting with "wasting our days" versus "redeeming the time".  What speaks to you?

 

The attitude and the heart of the rich man can be seen all around us today, hopefully not in ours.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Luke 16:19-17:1

 

The Rich Man and Lazarus

 

"There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man's table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.

 

"Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, 'Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I'm in agony in this fire.'

 

"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It's not like that here. Here he's consoled and you're tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.'

 

"The rich man said, 'Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won't end up here in this place of torment.'

 

"Abraham answered, 'They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.'

 

"'I know, Father Abraham,' he said, 'but they're not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.'

 

"Abraham replied, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the Prophets, they're not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.'"    (from THE MESSAGE)