30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 02 The meaning of the Gospel
📖 Luke 16:19-31
05May2020 - *The meaning of the Gospel* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Luke 4:18-19_
The rich man was in hades and from hades, everything became crystal clear to him. He knew without a doubt that his five brothers needed to repent. Repent from what? Repent from their self-centeredness, for that was how he was when he was on earth. _Luke 16:19-23 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (20) But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, (21) desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom._
Self-centeredness will take us to hell. We live in a world where people are rejecting God and are so centred on themselves. Everyone is waiting for this lock-down period to get over and to begin a new chapter. What will the new chapter look like? It will be a new form of self-centeredness. This is the reason God has permitted this pandemic to hit us, in order that our eyes will open and we will get out of our self-centeredness and be concerned for others, before it too late. If we do not learn our lesson now, humanity will be like the rich man, in hell, where we will see everything clearly.
_Luke 16:27-31 "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, (28) for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' (29) Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' (30) And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' (31) But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "_
We saw that the problem of self-centeredness can only be dealt with at the cross, for that is the reason why Jesus went to cross so that we no longer live for ourselves. _II Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live *no longer for themselves*, but for Him who died for them and rose again._ The self within us must be taken to the cross and there we need to be crucified with Christ so that the life that we live in our bodies is no more an ‘I’ centred life but a life, where the life of Jesus manifests from within us.
Let us understand the meaning of the Gospel. The Gospel is to be released from our self-centeredness and be concerned for others. We have made the Gospel into a message that we share to others (often as an obligation) but our own self-centeredness remains.
Let us please understand that the Gospel is for people. _Luke 4:18-19 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."_
At our very core, if we are not others concerned, then we are no different from the rich man and then we know where our destination will be.
The people of God were eager to know the ways of God. They took delight in approaching God and were asking God, why He was not listening to their prayers when they had fasted with sackcloth and ashes.
_Isa 58:5-8 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD? (6) "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? (7) Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? (8) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard._
The Lord’s answer to the people jolts us. He is telling them that their spirituality was revolving with them at the centre. The people and their concerns were not at their centre.
*Thought to ponder*
```Where would we stand, as God looks at us and measures us?```