What We Know

Paula Shockley
Sep 25
3 min read

A poor man sitting at the window where a man in a business suite is eating. — Created using ChatGPT

24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'

(Luke 16:24-26)

In Jesus' story about a rich man and Lazarus, Jesus defied expectations right from the start. People were in the habit of equating wealth with virtue, and Jesus upended that assumption with his introduction of a rich man who ignored a poor man, Lazarus, who was at his gate each day. It was an unwritten rule that the wealthy would give something to the poor people in their community. Even if it was just scraps and even if it was only for show, it still enabled those in need to be fed. But the rich man in Jesus' story, who is unnamed, regularly feasted without acknowledging the man in need right outside of his door. When both men died, Lazarus finally received comfort with Abraham while the rich man was tormented in Hades. Part of the rich man's torture was that he could see that Lazarus was at ease. But even Hades did not cure the rich man of his arrogant pride. He called out to "Father Abraham" (attempting to invoke a familial responsibility) asking that Lazarus be sent to comfort him with some cool water. Abraham responded by saying that they were both receiving the treatment that their lives had earned them and the chasm now between them was too great to cross.

God owes us nothing. For generations God has given us direction on how to live, how to love, how to reflect the image of our Creator. Even before Jesus' death and resurrection, God had been graciously patient and mercifully generous, with the expectation that we extend that grace, mercy and care to one another. If we choose to live selfishly, in contempt of God's gifts, then the chasm between us and the kingdom of God will be so great that even Jesus' ultimate sacrifice will have been in vain. Everything God could do to save our souls has already been done - the choice now is ours. May we choose daily to live in humble gratitude for God's grace by taking seriously our responsibility for one another and all of God's creation.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(1 Timothy 6:6-12)

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