Luke 16 begins with Jesus telling His disciples about the manager of a rich man who was going to lose his job. The manager, knowing he had few other options for work, decided to lessen the debts of those who owed his master. “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.” (Luke 16:8) Jesus went on in verse nine and said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Chapter 16 closes with the story of a rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus was a beggar who laid at the gate of a rich man, covered in sores, longing to have even the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. The beggar died and angels carried him up to Abraham’s side, and the rich man suffered in torment when he too died, and ended up in Hades. Begging for Lazarus to dip his fingers in water to cool his mouth, the rich called out in agony. “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” (verses 25 & 26) The rich man went on to ask for someone to go to his family to warn them of what would happen if they would not repent, He was told that they have Moses and the Prophets, and if they wouldn’t listen to them, they surely would not even listen if someone returned to them from the dead.
To love each other,
we must choose to share;
from that which we have,
so all know God’s care.
For each time we give,
others come to know;
God’s love is for real,
as they see it shown.
Lord, help us to live,
most generously;
give time, help, talent,
with love, cheerfully.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to teach us and show us how to live. Forgive us for the times that we have the mentality of the rich man and neglect the ones in need. Teach us to do what we can with what we have, wherever we are. Show us how to love as You love so that Your heart is made tangible to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us the ways to give and live and love as You intended for us all. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. – 2 Corinthians 9:6
Revelations In Writing 