Parable of The Rich man and Lazarus

Day: Day 24

Text:    Luke 16:19-31(NKJV)

Introduction

Jesus was a very good and effective storyteller while on this earth. He uses parables in some instances to pass across His messages because He knew stories live photographic memories that cannot easily be forgotten. Today by His grace, we’ll be studying one of His parables, “The Rich Man and Lazarus” taken from Luke 16:19-31. The parable conveys very important messages about how we must live our lives as children of God. It also talks about wealth, poverty, and life after death and lays emphasis on justice, compassion, the reward for being faithful, and the consequence of doing otherwise – punishment (a brief expansion on the rich man and Lazarus).

Life Lessons

• Call to live a life of Compassion – We are called and encouraged to show compassion to all people especially, to those who are poor and less privileged. How? by doing good because the scripture says, there’ll always be poor among us. Colossians 3:12
• Remember the source of your wealth and use it for the good of humanity to the glory of God – Deuteronomy 8:¹⁸ 
• Do not be selfish or stingy; Remember, we’ll account for how we used the resources God gave us one day. Roman 14:¹² 

 Kings 7:8-10

• God is merciful, but He is also a God of justice – There will be reward and consequences for how we live and treat one another.
• There’s life after death – Heaven and Hell are real – Hebrews 9:27
• The Richman ended up in Hades or Hell (a place of torment), and
• Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom (a place of comfort and peace – Heaven)

^{Luke 16:22} 

• The righteous will be comforted – You may ask, why did God allow the wicked to prosper? Well, let’s look at what the Bible say in Psalm 73:1-17:

Life applications

• We must not live extravagant life to the detriment of the poor or the oppressed – Let us ask ourselves, what would Jesus do in this same situation?
• Do not let your wealth and comfort lead you to ignore the suffering of others, particularly the poor and less privileged.

• God sees and cares for the oppressed – Lazarus was later comforted in the afterlife, showing that God has rewards for the faithful and punishment for the wicked.
• We will all die someday as Christ tarries – Both men died (Hebrews 9:27

Remember, the tie could turn, and the master may be at the receiving end – Luke:²² 

• God is Just and will reward everyone according to their deeds – Proverbs 19:17

• The rich man’s wealth and neglect of Lazarus’ suffering did not save him or spare him from going to hell.
• Lazarus’ suffering was rewarded in the afterlife (Heaven), showing a reversal of wealth in God’s kingdom.

Lesson of the Day

• Be like Jesus; everywhere He went, He was doing good. ^{Acts 10:38 “}
• Show compassion to all men regardless of their place of origin, language, race, or “class”

Luke 10:30 –

• Remember there will be rewards and punishments.
• Know that it’s God who gives power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18); Luke 12:16-21 – The foolish rich man.
• There’s life after death, andHeaven and Hell are real

Complied by: Deacon Charles Kretsi