30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 17 A fruit-bearing life is a mandate
📖 Luke 16:19-31
20May2020 - *A fruit-bearing life is a mandate* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Luke 3:8-9_
_Luke 16:24 “Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'_
As we read this verse, it sends shudders down our spine. This verse is a graphic picture of hell. It is a place of torment, a place of flames and a place of extreme thirst. It is a place where people will burn for perpetuity. We must realise that this is not imagery but the reality of hell. Hell cannot be laughed at and wished away. It stands to warn us to take our life here on earth, seriously, so that we may spend eternity with God in heaven.
The rich man addresses Abraham as “Father Abraham,…”. We must keep in mind that we are still in Old Testament times, in terms of relating to God. This was before the cross. For the Jews, being children of Abraham was important. Being children of Abraham made them be children of God.
We will consider this matter of being children of Abraham and what were its implications, in the coming days but for the moment let us look at the matter of the relationship that the rich man was claiming with Abraham.
He was calling Abraham as his father. This was an intimate relationship. How did Abraham respond to this relationship that the rich man claimed with him? Did Abraham refute and deny this relationship? No. Abraham acknowledged the relationship and called the rich man as “Son” in the next verse.
So, the rich man and Abraham were in a father-son relationship. Just because they were in a father-son relationship did it mean that the rich man’s self-centeredness during his lifetime on earth would be overlooked and that he would be with Abraham, in his bosom, in heaven and he would escape the torment of hell?
The answer shakes us up. This is what is happening with us today. We claim to be believers, born again, Spirit-filled, children of God but the question is, ‘what is the substance of our life here on earth?’ Are we self-centred as the rich man? We may claim a relationship with God as our Father and God too would acknowledge the relationship and call us, son or daughter” but He will tell us, as Abraham told the rich man, “A gulf now separates us”.
What did John the Baptist teach his Jewish audience? _Luke 3:8-9 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (9) And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."_
Fruit-bearing is about living a life that produces the fruit of the Spirit of God, which results in being a blessing to others. Many of us are keener to receive the gifts of the Spirit, which is good but what we need to be more desirous for is the fruit of the Spirit so that our lives would be fruit-bearing or be a blessing to others.
Fruit-bearing for the child of God is not optional but is a mandate. John the Baptist is making it definite to us that the tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. The place where the rich man was, the place of the torment of flames and intense thirst.
Will we respond to what the Lord is revealing to us? Will we fall at His feet and offer ourselves to Him to be set free from self-centeredness and be rich in blessing others?
*Thought to ponder*
```This time may be the final window of opportunity that the Lord is giving for His children to repent.```