30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 05 Desiring only for crumbs
📖 Luke 16:19-31
08May2020 - *Desiring only for crumbs* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Acts 3:2-8_
We have understood the reason for the evil in our world and why the innocent suffers. It is in this context that the Lord places us so that we will manifest the truth and release people from their predicament.
What was Lazarus’s condition? He had to be laid at the gate of the rich man. He was a burden on someone else and Lazarus’s desire was for the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. This is the oppression and slavery to which the devil drives people to. He reduces people to a place of 'no worth' He makes people think that they deserve only the crumbs that fall from someone else's table. The ones who give them the crumbs also think that this is all that is expected of them to do and so both sides get along side by side in our society. When we engage with people at our gates, we must know the domination from which we need to release people.
_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._
We see the same tyranny being played out in _Act 3:2-3 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; (3) who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms._
Please allow me to digress. Sadly, this has been the mindset to a large extent of those of us, who do ministry in the developing world. We think that unless we have financial support from the west, we cannot do ministry in our countries. Some of those who support us also look at us as incapable to run our ministries, financially. It is not wrong to receive financial support from the west but let us, in God's strength, get out of the dependency syndrome and may those who support us also ensure that ministries in the developing world are mature and not remain at an unweaned stage.
How did Peter and John deal with this person, who was oppressed? _Act 3:4-8 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." (5) So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. (6) Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." (7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God._
1. When we engage with people, we give them respect and regard them as equal to us. _Act 3:4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."_
2. Even when we level with people, they will try to get something from us. _(5) So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them._
3. We must help people realise that money is not necessarily the solution to their woes. Money is needed but their need is far greater than what money can provide for them. _(6) Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have,…_
4. We must lead them to the source of life and help them realise that their fullness of life is in Jesus. _...but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."_
5. Sharing the gospel of Jesus does not make our work of engaging with the people complete. We must offer people our right hand, which is our arm of strength, to lift them up. _(7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up,…_
6. This is when the miracle takes place and people are released. _...and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength._
7. The man leapt to his feet, he stood, walked without anyone's help. He leapt to demonstrate total deliverance from his earlier pathetic life and he became a worshipper of God, ready to serve God and man. _(8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God._
This is what the rich man should have done for Lazarus and this is what each of us needs to do for the people at our gates.
*Thought to ponder*
```We cannot anymore give excuses for not engaging with the people at our gates.```