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~