In Luke 16, Jesus is talking in parables again about the wealth of people. In Luke 16:19; Jesus tells the story of a rich man and a beggar by the name of Lazarus. The rich man had all he could ever need, for he stored up his riches on earth. As for Lazarus, he laid by the rich’s man gate day in and day out, not begging for much; he simply asked will you give me the scraps or crumbs. Yet the rich man refused. Then one day they both died. In Lazarus’ dying, he was carried to be by Abraham’s side and in the rich man’s dying, his soul went to hell. The rich man looks up and sees Lazarus, the beggar, standing beside Abraham and he calls out saying, “Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames, (Luke 16:24); now he found himself in need of the beggar. Oh but Abraham responds saying, in Luke 16:25, “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.”
See, the rich man didn’t think about anything other than his living on earth while missing out on his blessing of helping those in need. He didn’t take into consideration that he wouldn’t miss the crumbs, had he gave them to Lazarus, but it was the fact of him not helping regardless of who it was. The bible says in Luke 16:9 “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Baby, your address down here won’t mean nothing in Heaven. Your bank account balance, down here, won’t mean a thing when you give an account at judgment. Your fancy wardrobe and shoe collection doesn’t amount to anything, if you’ve never helped anyone. Listen, there’s nothing wrong with building up, down here, the problem comes when you become selfish. What would it have hurt the rich man to feed Lazarus? Even more, why couldn’t he get him up from the gate and give him a job so that he could continually feed himself? All I’m saying is, while you are so busy eating at the table of riches; what are you doing with the crumbs? Are you helping anybody? Are you bringing others up now that you’ve come up? Are you reaching back? What are you doing with the crumbs from your table? For Jesus says in Luke 16:10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
Lakisha, the Author 