Devotion • June 4
Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 16:19–31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 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.’ 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. 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.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house — for I have five brothers — that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Reflection
This parable seems to suggest that those who suffer in this earthly life will be comforted in the next life and that those who are comfortable in this earthly life will suffer in the next. But the idea that God loves and rewards only those who suffer on earth is not supported by what we read in the rest of the Bible or, frankly, by our observations of God’s creation. God has made us and has made this amazing world we live in. God has blessed us with free will to choose how to spend this life. Jesus enjoyed his life on earth, spending time with family and friends and pursuing his purpose, his ministry. Surely Jesus is not using this parable to teach us that it is better to be an infirm beggar than to enjoy a rewarding life.
What, then, are we to make of this parable? If we read the description of the rich man in the story carefully, we see that he is not simply wealthy. He idolizes his wealth. He luxuriates in expensive things and an indulgent lifestyle. It is not the fact that he is rich that causes his demise, but his relationship to that wealth. He prized his extravagant lifestyle more than he revered the “law and the prophets.” His attention was focused solely on himself and his needs. He clearly knew the one begging outside his gate was Lazarus — he knew him by name! Yet the story suggests that the man did nothing to try to alleviate Lazarus’s suffering.
The message of this parable is that we must not create idols of earthly things, whether wealth, status, or reputation. Rather we should put God and God’s will for us above all else, seeking the good of God’s kingdom here on earth.
Prayer
Dear God, show us where we tend to idolize those things that distract us from your plan for our lives. Keep our hearts and our lives focused on your will for us, and lead us to seek your will in our lives. Amen.
Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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