Daily Scripture: Luke 16:19 “Once there was a rich man who used to dress in the most expensive clothing and spent his days in magnificent luxury. 20 At his gate had been laid a beggar named El‘azar who was covered with sores. 21 He would have been glad to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table; but instead, even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 In time the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Avraham’s side; the rich man also died and was buried.
23 “In Sh’ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El‘azar at his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Avraham, take pity on me, and send El‘azar just to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I’m in agony in this fire!’ 25 However, Avraham said, ‘Son, remember that when you were alive, you got the good things while he got the bad; but now he gets his consolation here, while you are the one in agony. 26 Yet that isn’t all: between you and us a deep rift has been established, so that those who would like to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Reflection Questions:Jesus told this haunting parable after discussing how wealth, badly handled, can separate us from others and from God. His story had two main characters—“a certain rich man” and a poor man “named Lazarus.” (A hint at where this was going: the poor man, not the rich man, got the dignity of a personal name.) Jesus wanted to make it clear that God cares more about how generously we do (or do not) treat the poor than about the size of our bank balance.
- This was an example of what scholars call a “status inversion” story. The rich man got this life’s good things (fine clothes, daily feasts), while he ignored a poor beggar at his gates. But the beggar got joy in heaven, while the rich man (like Jacob Marley in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) faced a hellish eternity. How did Jesus’ choice to live as a poor, non-royal person show the way God’s kingdom inverts human values? In what ways have you found your values shifting as you live in the kingdom?
- In his teaching about wealth and poverty, Jesus carried on the message of the Old Testament prophets (cf. e.g. Isaiah 1:15-17, Amos 2:6-7). In response to his first mission trip to Malawi, Resurrection member Brian Hague wrote “The River.” Click here to hear Lance Winkler sing the song. How does your heart respond when you see people suffering at your “gate” (which today is the size of our whole planet)?
Today’s Prayer:
Lord of all, teach me more and more what it means that all I am and all I have is yours. Lead me to the river of life that flows freely from you, and gives me everything I truly need. Amen.Insights from Courtney Felzke
Courtney Felzke is Pastor of Silver Link. Resurrection’s Silver Link Ministry serves the frail and elderly with dementia by maintaining a connection through pastoral care and worship with older persons who become unable to fully engage in the life of the church.
As I read this passage, I’m reminded of the importance of giving of our time as well as our money to help those who are in poverty. I feel like often we may think we don’t have much to offer someone who is need. Not all of us may have extra money or resources to give, but all of us can give of our time. There are tons of food pantries and soup kitchens in the area who can always use an extra hand in organizing, preparing, or serving food. We could volunteer in one of the many mission projects that the church leads or participates in. There are so many ways we can help our brothers and sisters in need.
This passage also reminded me that we need to remember to care for those who are poor in spirit. While this passage talks about someone who is in poverty and in need of basic necessities, many other people may be poor in spirit. These people may have their basic physical needs met, but may need more than anything to have emotional and spiritual support. We could help raise their spirits by simply giving them space to speak, giving them a shoulder to lean on, or, most simply, by showing them the love of God.
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Lord of all, teach me more and more what it means that all I am and all I have is yours. Lead me to the river of life that flows freely from you, and gives me everything I truly need. Amen.Insights from Courtney Felzke
Courtney Felzke is Pastor of Silver Link. Resurrection’s Silver Link Ministry serves the frail and elderly with dementia by maintaining a connection through pastoral care and worship with older persons who become unable to fully engage in the life of the church.As I read this passage, I’m reminded of the importance of giving of our time as well as our money to help those who are in poverty. I feel like often we may think we don’t have much to offer someone who is need. Not all of us may have extra money or resources to give, but all of us can give of our time. There are tons of food pantries and soup kitchens in the area who can always use an extra hand in organizing, preparing, or serving food. We could volunteer in one of the many mission projects that the church leads or participates in. There are so many ways we can help our brothers and sisters in need.
This passage also reminded me that we need to remember to care for those who are poor in spirit. While this passage talks about someone who is in poverty and in need of basic necessities, many other people may be poor in spirit. These people may have their basic physical needs met, but may need more than anything to have emotional and spiritual support. We could help raise their spirits by simply giving them space to speak, giving them a shoulder to lean on, or, most simply, by showing them the love of God.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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