‘The Parable of the Rich Man from the Gospel of Luke’
By Pastor Tom Ellison
Each week the pastors of Jefferson County Ministerial Association present this column with a desire for everyone’s lives, bringing words of life from the Holy Bible. Words that each of us can take as words of guidance for our daily lives.
This week’s lectionary calls for the reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16:19-31 and 1st Timothy, chapter:6:6-19.
The Gospel reading has our Lord telling the parable of the rich man, the very rich man,who passed by a very poor man with lots of sores that were licked by the dogs, The rich man passed him frequently, sort of like those folks that we see out there with cardboard signs seeking a little help in parking lots and on interstate overpasses. They ask for some money, but all too frequently we just pass them by, probably averting eye contact. The difference between Lazarus of our Lord’s parable and the folks with the cardboard signs–we don’t know their needs or their situations, just as the rich man, clothed in his fine purple and linen knew poor Lazarus’s situation other than he was begging just for a crumb and he was covered in sores.The rich man dies as does Lazarus. But, they end up in different places–Lazarus in the arms of Father Abraham and the rich man in a place that is even warmer than Southern Illinois in August and it is even drier! The rich man is thirsty and asks Abraham to have Lazarus, dirty old sores all over, Lazarus. to dip the tip of his finger in the water and cool his tongue. My, how low the rich and mighty have fallen.
Then the rich man has idea–send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his 5 brothers! Hey, someone from the dead, can tell them what dire straits I am in and if they clean up their acts maybe they won’t end up here. They will listen to someone that comes to them from the dead! No, it is right in front of them just as it was right in front of you. If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, just as you did not, well, sending back poor old Lazarus with all that had befallen him–well, I guess they won’t be convinced if someone rises from the dead.
Rises from the Dead!? We have someone that came back from the dead! Jesus Christ came back from the dead, and gave instructions to his disciples and you and I. To share the good news! Each of us should remember and live our Lord’s very simple and easy instructions–love God with all your heart and love your neighbor. To love our neighbor with no restrictions as to sex, color, origin, language, the name they call God–We are all God’s children.!
One of the “cutesy” sayings in our world today is to know our priorities. Too often you and I, that’s me and thee, put our priorities on ourselves. Money, property, clothes, status, position in our community, and yes, politics. The Apostle Paul in his first letter toTimothy, wrote, “We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t take anything out of it.” Regarding having lots of “stuff”, Paul wrote, “we’ll be happy with food and clothing.” The Apostle also wrote in his first letter to Timothy, in verse 10, “money is the root of all kinds of evil.” We see so much evidence of that in the world, and particularly in our own nation. “Feed the poor and hungry?” Gotta get that money for my friends, and of course myself.
Bottom line? We have a risen Lord and Savior in Jesus Christ who rose from the dead to give us instructions for everlasting life. To love God and all of our neighbors, regardless of where they may be or what they look like or talk like. We all have the Holy Spirit each and every moment of our lives to empower. us and guide us in our lives. May you & I, me and thee, go forward as children of God, knowing and loving our Lord and Savior, and enjoying the warmth of theHoly Spirit.
