#DailyDevotion Do You Believe Everything You Have Is From The LORD?
Luke 16:19-31 19“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20A beggar by the name of Lazarus was laid at his gate. He was covered with sores 2land longed to satisfy his hunger with anything that might fall from the rich man’s table. And the dogs would even come and lick his sores. 22“One day the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23Being tormented in hell, he looked up, and though far away, he saw Abraham, and Lazarus at his side.
There are a lot of interesting things going on in this parable of Jesus. Most of them don’t have anything to do with the main point of the parable. Nevertheless, they are still instructive for us. The first striking thing is the rich man isn’t named while the beggar Jesus gives a name. We all know the names of the rich people of our day, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Warren Buffet just to name a few. There are famous people who while not as rich as those three we know are still rich, Johnny Depp, Michael Jordan, and J Lo. Yet, there are billions we don’t know their names. We may not even know the names of our neighbors much less the people on the street corners with signs saying, “Will work for food.” What I do know is those who die without faith in Jesus will be forgotten while those who die with faith in Jesus, their names will be remembered by the LORD. Only Lazarus’ name is given for he had faith in the LORD, the God of Israel, to take care of him. The rich man, he had no name. He is not remembered.
We note Lazarus was at the rich man’s gate every day. The rich man gave him nothing. He wasn’t one of 15-20 people you see begging for money on the way to work. You simply can’t support them all though you would like to. This was one poor guy in the face of the rich man whom the rich man ignored. The fact Lazarus was laid at the gate shows he was unable to fend for himself. Lazarus just wanted to eat something that fell from the man’s table. Now I know you can’t feed the world. You can’t hand out something to every person you encounter on the street. But do you ever open your hand to help the person, one person the LORD has put in front of you? Do you try to excuse yourself saying, “Well I pay taxes. It’s the government’s job!” Do you think that will fly before the judgment seat of God? Well the rich man ignored Lazarus whom the LORD put before him every day. He thought nothing of God’s command Deut. 15:11, “Since there will always be poor people in the country, I order you: Be open-handed to poor and needy fellow Israelites in your country.”
The rich man dies nameless and is buried. Lazarus is remembered by the LORD and is carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man is tortured in hell for he had no regard for the LORD, did not acknowledge him or obey him in trust. Lazarus who trusted in the LORD to take care of him is comforted by Abraham. Who gives you your wealth? Who gives you more wealth than you need today? What does God want you to do with your extra wealth? We know everything we have is from the LORD. We know Jesus wants us to open our hands to the poor for concerning salvation we are nothing but beggars before him. He has extended and opened his hand to us, providing us not only with daily bread but forgiveness, mercy and grace freely. He expects us to be free with our wealth to those who have none so they may know his grace, mercy and peace.
Most Gracious God and Father, you freely give us all things to satisfy body and soul. Grant us faith to open our hands to the needy trusting you will constantly supply all our needs. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.