Who is YOUR Lazarus?

Most of us have probably heard the story a dozen times. There was a rich man, who had everything on this earth he could want. By the worlds standards, he was well off. And then there was poor Lazarus. Sick and homeless, he sat outside of the rich man's house day after day, begging for just the scraps left over from the rich man's table. One thing I think is important to note is that Lazarus has a name, while the rich man is only referred to as "the rich man". While Lazarus was nothing by this world's standards, by God's standards he was so much. And when they both die, angels came and carried Lazarus to Abraham's side. Think about this for a moment. The rich man probably had a grand funeral, with people weeping throughout the city. Lazarus was probably just tossed somewhere, and no one gave it a second thought. Yet at death, everything is switched! The world's standards will mean nothing when we come to meet our Maker. So Lazarus is taken to Abraham, and the rich man is thrown into Hades. There is more to the story, and I would encourage you to read it in Luke, because it is a thought-provoking story about Heaven and Hell and the divine reversal that comes for believers.

I want to maybe look at it from a slightly different perspective, though.

What is interesting to note is that the rich man is NOT condemned for being rich. Hear me out. He's not condemned for being rich, he is condemned for hoarding those riches. He had to walk over Lazarus day after day, ignoring him, to get into his house. He had the means and the opportunity to help him out. Yet he does nothing. When the rich man asks (rather, tells) Abraham to send Lazarus to just put a drop of water on his tongue, Abraham tells him that in his life, he had comfort and Lazarus suffered. Abraham's point is not that the rich man had wealth, it is that he did not share it.

In other stories about rich men or parables that Jesus tells concerning the wealthy, it is never the wealth condemned specifically. It is what is done (or rather, what is not done) with the wealth. It is when wealth becomes what is most important, when you put money-making over serving others or your family or the church, that it becomes bad.

Something I was greatly challenged with today is this fact- we are rich. The disciples seemed to know this. When the rich young ruler asks Jesus what he must do, and Jesus tells him to go sell everything he has and to follow him, Jesus follows up with the phrase, "I tell you the truth! It is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle". But have you ever paid attention to the disciples follow-up question?

"Who then can be saved?"

The disciples seemed to get it. We are all rich. Some of us may have less than others, but we are all so, so rich. Not just in material blessings. We have friends, family, a church family, education... Now I also believe that almost all of us are materially rich too. You may be shaking your head and thinking of someone more well off than you. But hey, you're on a computer reading this, right? And how many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet? Do you have more than one set of clothing in your closet? Food on the table every night? A tv? Automatic dishwashing (what a wonderful invention!)? Now, this is why I previously stated that having this stuff is NOT bad. I am NOT telling you to go sell everything you have and live on the streets. But a challenge that God gave me today that I want to pass on to you is this- What are you doing with your wealth?

Who is the person you pass day after day and do nothing to help? Is it the person sitting by themselves at lunch? What about the co-worker who everyone avoids because they are a little off? Or the kid at school that gets picked on for being different? Or what about the person at church who may act differently or have different beliefs, and therefore is usually sitting by themselves? Do not fool yourself, do not let Satan fool yourself, into thinking that there isn't SOMEONE'S life who you could greatly bless. THIS IS A LIE. If you honestly can not think of a single person who's life you could improve, then I would say open your eyes. People are hurting. It is our duty, our commission, our divine command, to help these people.

Who is your Lazarus?

Be salt and light!

~Hannah~

God is Amazing

Well. Isn't that title the understatement of the century? Today I was challenged to just stop. To stop and take a deep breath and consider life and everything that is in it.

God's ways are mysterious and awesome.

Consider this. God could have made us to where we didn't have to eat. He could have just zapped us with nutrients. He could have also just as easily not invented taste. Everything could have tasted like..well nothing. But we can taste things that are sweet, sour, spicy, or other things like that. Now, this may be just me (I know it's not, but we can say that) but I love food. I genuinely enjoy eating food. I like the different tastes and my day is always made when I get to eat one of my favorite foods. And it's not only that. My family and I have had so many wonderful conversations over the dinner table. If we didn't HAVE to eat, I don't think that we would get to do that as often. I mean sure, we would sit down every now and then and talk. But because we HAVE to eat, we get to sit down almost everyday, together, and enjoy each other's company.

Consider laughter as well. We don't need it. There's no practical use for it, no medical reason that I'm aware of. And yet, laughter relieves stress and can ease tension in a stressful situation. I was joking with one of my friends the other day that I can't stay mad at people because I am one of those people that laugh at ANYTHING. (Well, almost) And so I was telling him that if I am angry, all they have to do is make me laugh and my anger fizzles away to nothing. Laughter brings people together...it is a bond, so to speak, between people. Laughter is a wonderful thing.

There are so many other things. Rain for one. God could have just made the ground magically water itself, but he created this wonderful and refreshing thing called rain that shows His power and might, while at the same time showing His beauty and creativity.

Do you know what the Fibonacci sequence is? You start with one. And since there is nothing to add it to, you just add it to zero.

1, 1

Next, you add the last two together (one and one is...two!! whoah)

1, 1, 2

Add the next two...

1, 1, 2, 3,

Then again,

1, 1, 2, 3, 5

And so on.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233....

That is the fibonacci sequence. I know what you're thinking...why the random math lesson?

But the fibonacci sequence is found all throughout nature. It is in the number of leaves on a plant. A shell has a fibonacci sequence. A sunflower. A pine cone. A pineapple. All of these random objects in nature, have this seemingly random pattern. How cool is God? He didn't have to do it, but it's something that makes you stop and think "Is there any way I could POSSIBLY believe that this, ALL of this, happened by chance? By randomness?"

The human body is so complex. The different organs and systems, all working together so that we can live. But we don't just live. God has blessed us so that we can FEEL. We can love. We have emotions, we form bonds with people. How great is that?

Stars. I don't think there's any real need for stars. They don't determine anything in our life. They're just there. But. How cool is it that they're there? That God saw it fit to put something so beautiful there, just for the admiration and happiness of men when they look upon them?

I realize I've barely scratched the surface of this topic. But I just wanted to challenge you, like I was challenged. To stop. Look around you. Hear laughter, and rejoice in it. Feel love for someone, and rejoice in it. If it's raining, look at it, go walk in it, dance in it..I don't care what you do other than rejoice in it. So many times we ignore some of the most obvious, and at the same time often the most hidden, blessings in our life. When you're sitting at the table with your family or friends...rejoice. Enjoy each other.

This week, rejoice in the things we often miss.

Be salt and light!!
~Hannah~

oh ps, be looking for blog posts more frequently now. I'm getting back in the swing of writing everyday, sorry for the break!

HOME

Hello fellow bloggers. I realize it's been awhile...and again I apologize. Once summer hits, I promise I will be able to keep up more regularly. School's been GREAT, making some awesome new friends. SPEAKING of summer.... I found out the other day that I'm going to San Diego for vacation with my family this summer! Ahh! Excitement. San Diego is defnitely one of my favorite places in this world, so I can not wait. If you are planning on going to San Diego, here is a really great place to look for more information.

Click Here!
Hope everyone's life is going splendidly. Encourage someone this week, and be salt and light!

~Hannah~