The Storyteller: Rich Man and Lazarus day 1

The Rich Man and Lazarus

If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? Luke 16:11 ESV

Our Lord’s role of master teacher is wonderfully laid out in this story. It is powerful teaching about God and the life of faith, wealth and poverty, kindness and selfishness!

Earlier in the chapter, verse 1 and 2, our Lord taught the danger of the love of money. The deceitful and treacherous nature of riches is pointed out in verse 9-11. Verse 15 makes it clear that God hates things that are highly esteemed on earth, ‘unrighteous wealth’. In verses 11 and 12 He specifically points out that people who did not use their property in a godly manner could not be received into heaven. Verse 16 and 17 focuses on the critical importance of listening to the Word of God, (Moses and the Prophets) to hear God’s truth! Then the parable begins in verse 19 clearly pointing out the responsibility of the people of God to care for the poor!

The point of all this powerful teaching on the role of stewardship was to tee up our parable. He impresses on those in roles of leadership that with all their supposed righteousness and all their attempted external correctness in following the law, they might well be missing the care of the people entrusted to them!

The point for us today is no different! God calls us in faith to live a life that gratefully receives God’s gifts and to use them to show mercy and compassion to others in our community. God grant us such strength of faith!