FINDING DIRECTION: THE PARABLES OF JESUS

“The Rich Man and Lazarus”

Luke 16:19-31

Pastor Brandon Hovey | 6.18.2012

Common Christian Responses to the Gap Between the Rich and Poor

1. Government Solutions

2. Private Sector Solutions

3. Boot Straps Solutions

4. Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is the gradual lessening of compassion over time. In what ways does this problem affect your interaction with the poor in Chandler and around the world? How did Jesus deal with the socioeconomic discrepancies of his day?

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And bes ides all this, between us and you 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.'

He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

-Luke 16:19-3

There will always be poor people in the land…. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward the poor and needy in your land.” -Deuteronomy 15:11

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. -James 2:14-17

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on the, how can the love of God be in you?” -1 John 3:17

P: Jesus responds to the disparity between the rich and poor with personal solutions. He encourages his followers to care for the poor around them in tangible ways since God identifies with the poor. As Klyne Snodgrass says, “Any gospel that is not good news to the poor is not the gospel Jesus” (Luke 4:18-22)

CHRISTIANS SEE AND SERVE THE POOR

Who is the Lazarus at your gate? How can you serve this person(s) serve over the next four weeks?