Preschool
This is my beloved Son: hear him. Luke 9:35
Abraham and Lazarus
Memory Verses
Primary
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Luke 9:35
Junior
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Luke 9:35
Background Scripture: Luke 16
Lesson Scripture: Luke 16:19-31
Introduction
Jesus endeavors to reach us and to teach us the essential truths about ourselves, our lives, and God’s will. This lesson is not to muse on the challenges, responsibilities, or weaknesses of the rich. Neither need we ponder the abject poverty of the poor.
What is the personal message Jesus wants me to hear in this teaching? What can I change in my habits, attitudes, thought patterns, and lifestyle to be more productive in God’s kingdom?
Key Verse
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate (1 Tim. 6:17-18).
Lesson Scripture
Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Studying the Lesson
Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and to teach us God’s will in a way that we could understand. When Jesus spoke in parables, He was aware that many people were not comprehending the deeper spiritual meaning of his teachings. Even those who assumed that they understood Jesus’s teachings and believed they were righteous often misunderstood his words.
With mankind’s tragic fall in Eden, his values became skewed. Poor people are unknown while the names of the wealthy are esteemed. We read in the news of those who are financially successful because the wealthy of this world are considered important to society. They are honored for their works and viewpoints, and people follow their advice. Financially poor people, in contrast, are only known to their families and circles of acquaintances. Many of them desire to be wealthy; however, they struggle through life and try to succeed in their responsibilities. The poor may be admired or disdained, appreciated or despised, according to what they do and the God or gods they serve.
Jesus teaches us that things are different in his kingdom. Though He did not give the rich man’s name, Jesus lovingly calls the poor man by name. While the rich man found security in his wealth, Jesus said nothing of his wealth, success, philanthropic efforts, and children’s inheritance. On the other hand, Lazarus, for all his imperfections, found security in his heavenly Father’s care.
Jesus does not condemn the rich man’s lifestyle, clothing, or eating habits. However, after he died, “Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented” (Luke 16:25). Perhaps the rich man justified himself because he allowed Lazarus his crumbs.
In this parable, Jesus pronounces a positive warning to those who are rich. To the poor, He offers hope to bear their situation patiently. In the time to come, the faithful and patient shall be comforted and see the end of their present suffering.
God’s Word suffices for the rich man, his brothers, and Lazarus. Each had sufficient information to avoid hell. All will be judged by a righteous God.
Practical Truths for Today
Today as then, the good news of salvation is for those who admit they do not understand but sincerely want to know. To those who are meek, poor in spirit, and hunger and thirst after righteousness, Jesus teaches with quiet confidence and simple enthusiasm.
The rich man was obviously ultrarich. We therefore dismiss association with him. However, we may fit the category of the rich better than we wish to admit, even while criticizing them. Though we tend to see ourselves as being of the poor with a legitimate desire for a better life, North American residents must acknowledge that in many ways they are like the rich man. We are very wealthy compared to 95 percent of the world’s population, and our lifestyle is highly esteemed. We have abilities and potential, if channeled correctly, to do good for many people. Though Jesus does not say that the rich man did not give to Lazarus, obviously, the rich man did not esteem Lazarus better than himself. Jesus warns his listeners through this parable to be unselfish and generous with what comes to them from day to day.
Those who struggle financially may struggle with unbelief, thinking God does not care about them. Unintentionally, while wishing for more, they may criticize those who seem more successful and feel that a better income would solve their difficulties. And some, subconsciously, place virtue in poverty. Jesus offers hope to the poor and destitute. He instructs them to be patient in tribulation, to not begrudge others their possessions, and to not judge the rich.
God will guide us in building good life patterns of generosity if we surrender our desires to his will and obey his quiet voice. To freely distribute to the needs of others, we must diligently deny ourselves. And we must not procrastinate, comforting ourselves in our optimistic intentions for tomorrow. After this earthly life passes, we will step into eternity. As we have lived our life on earth, so we will meet God.
Our older brethren tell us we live in prosperous times. Why, then, do we struggle to make a living? How shall we have compassion on those with less when we struggle to meet our own financial obligations? Are the effects of affluence, perhaps some of which we are not aware, causing us spiritual drowsiness? When we continue to accumulate, we tend to forget our Maker and lose our dependence on Him.
We are tempted to put confidence in riches. In John Bunyan’s example, the muckraker diligently raked, looking down to the earth for value. Had he only looked up he would have seen angels offering him the priceless crown of eternal life in exchange for his rake. How tragic our attempts at a fulfilling life when our motives are selfish. Christ must be the beginning, center, and end of all we do. God is the reason for our existence, and Christ must daily receive our offering of sacrifice and praise.
When we appraise our spiritual situation as children of God, we find we are rich and blessed beyond measure. We have an enlightened knowledge of the Bible. We have spiritual brothers and sisters with whom we share blessed fellowship, discussing God’s Word as well as exchanging inspirations. We can trust one another’s care and proving; this confidence is also an unmerited gift of God’s grace. We have trusted and faithful ministers who pray for us and care for our souls. In a spiritual sense, we are dressed in the King’s robes and fare sumptuously every day.
Meanwhile, most people in this world have not been given these opportunities. They may have followed leaders who led them astray. At times, people they trusted hurt them. Poor, ill-informed choices with negative results make mockery of their sincere attempts to prosper. Broken, wounded, and ill-clothed, full of sores and unpleasant to consider, they may lie where we pass by. These, impoverished in soul and spirit, may feel no resentment toward us; however, is our responsibility to them more than to give them crumbs from our sumptuously loaded tables? As we find security in our Father’s care, He will direct us in the paths of generous giving.
Questions
- Does it give us a feeling of fulfillment to share our crumbs with the destitute?
- What are ways for the wealthy of our day to maintain Christian life?
- Are the poor people of the world also the spiritually hungry?
- What should young Christians set as goals and make priorities for life?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).