Covered with Sores and Longing to Be Fed

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Covered with Sores and Longing to Be Fed

People often judge circumstances wrongly.      One tends to think  that if we can just be rich and successful,  we will have all  we will ever need.      Much of our striving  in this world  is to get more stuff  and gain a measure of worldly success.      With this,  people often  “judge”  the poor  as not knowing what life is all about.      They might think  that the poor are  “dumb”,  lazy,  incompetent,  poor managers,  etc.      That can be true in some cases  —  with the rich  and with the poor.

With all our  “judging”  of others,  we need to listen  to what Jesus has to say  about man’s perceptions compared  to God’s truths.      It’s bundled in Jesus’ parable  in Luke 16:19-31,  and shows us  where our true riches are.

Now  there was a certain rich man,  and he habitually dressed  in purple and fine linen,  gaily living  in splendor every day.

And a certain poor man  named Lazarus  was laid at his gate,  covered with sores,  and longing to be fed  with the crumbs  which were falling  from the rich man’s table;  besides,  even the dogs  were coming and licking his sores.

Now it came about  that the poor man died  and he was carried away  by the angels  to Abraham’s bosom;  and the rich man also died  and was buried.      And in Hades  he lifted up his eyes,  being in torment,  and saw Abraham  far away,  and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried out  and said,  “Father Abraham,  have mercy on me,  and send Lazarus,  that he may dip  the tip of his finger  in water  and cool off my tongue;  for I am in agony  in this flame.”

But Abraham said,  “Child,  remember that during your life  you received your good things,  and likewise Lazarus  bad things;  but now he is being comforted here,  and you are in agony.      And besides all this,  between us and you  there is a great chasm  fixed,  in order that  those who wish to come over  from here to you  may not be able,  and that none may cross  over from there  to us.”

And he said,  “Then I beg you,  Father,  that you send him  to my father’s house  —  for I have five brothers  —  that he may warn them,  lest they also  come to this place of torment.”

But Abraham said,  “They have Moses  and the Prophets;  let them hear them.”

But he said,  “No,  Father Abraham,  but if someone goes to them  from the dead,  they will repent!”

But he said to him,  “If they do not listen  to Moses and the Prophets,  neither will they be persuaded  if someone rises  from the dead.”

Poor Lazarus  was judged by the rich man  as being unworthy  of any blessings.      That is why he never helped Lazarus  while they were living.      But,  even when the rich man  was in hell  and Lazarus in heaven,      he still thought of Lazarus  as some sort of  unworthy servant,  who should bring him water  and go warn his brothers.

The rich man  was unable to see  that even while starving,  Lazarus had been  in God’s loving care.      How could God Almighty  be loving and caring for Lazarus,  while he suffered so much?      God sustained Lazarus’ faith,  hope,  and love  throughout every miserable circumstance.      All the world’s riches  are not an indication  of being better  than anyone else.

The only riches that really matter  in this world  are our faith,  hope,  and love.      These are our true riches.      With faith,  hope,  and love,  God will carry us  through every trial,  temptation,  and trouble.      The world may look down on us,  but the world also  looks down on Jesus Christ,  who is  God in the flesh.      God came to this world  in poverty,  to live a life of poverty  for us.      He was despised and rejected  by those  who deemed themselves  as superior.      But,  it was our LORD,  God,  Creator,  and Redeemer  they were despising  and rejecting.

In every circumstance,  let us rightly perceive  and hold onto God’s truths  regarding our faith,  hope,  and love.      In God’s care  we are eternally blessed.      Knowing that,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  let us always see  and know  the riches  of Your loving care  in every situation.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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