A Little Awareness
Is there anything that can convince you to change your lifestyle?
Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" - Luke 16:19–31
Jesus had warned that it is so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom, and this is a good example of why.
The rich man had everything he needed to make his life comfortable, and so he did not pay attention to anyone else.
The poor man at the gate meant nothing to him. So, he went about his life without paying him any mind.
It isn't until he dies that his eyes are opened to see what the consequences are of ignoring those in need around him.
But then it is too late to save himself, and too late to save those he loves. So, what is Jesus trying to teach us?
All it takes is a little awareness of the plight of those around us to make a huge different in our lives, as well as theirs.
Sure, it can be work at times. Getting involved in someone else's life can be time consuming and even challenging. The poor man at the gate may need more than food. He may need a place to stay, clothes, a way to wash up.
It is easy to just give him some money and be on our way, but even to do that means we would have to take notice and care.
That is the least we can do, right?
But if we are afraid of getting involved, we may not even do that.
So, that is the lesson here. We should act out of love for one another, for then we would not hesitate to help. And we might even get to know a little about one another.
Love of neighbor trumps love of self every time.
More to come...