30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 35 Understanding the totality of life
📖 Luke 16:19-31
07Jun2020 - *Understanding the totality of life* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Matthew 6:31-33_
_Luke 16:27-28 "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.'_
The rich man is shouting out a powerful message to the world and to the church as he pleads with father Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn them of the reality of life, in its entirety. The rich man began to see life and eternity in its right understanding. He saw clearly the futility of the pursuits in which people are engaged in on earth.
What is the rich man saying? _Ephesians 4:17-19 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; (19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness._
This is the condition of the people of the world and the church is to be distinct from the world in terms of our understanding and perception of life and eternity. _Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth._ He is speaking to the church, for the church is responsible to bring the message of God to the people of the world. If the church too is pursuing after the vain and futile pursuits of the world then we have no message to share to a world that is already hurting now and is not aware of the torment that awaits.
The Gospel message is a message that includes the present but is far-reaching and covers the whole of eternity. This perspective of the gospel message must be demonstrated by the church as we share the good news with people around us.
Look at how effectively the devil has confused the church. On one side we have made our relationship with God to be that of God is blessing me/us, He is taking care of us, He is providing for us, etc. We live as the rich man lived, while he was on earth, so full of himself. While on the other side, we have made our sharing of the Gospel message as one of an activity/ commitment/ mission/ evangelism etc. The devil has made us to comfortably live in these two separate compartments.
Friends, let us understand that the gospel message is a message of eternity. We live here on earth with eternity in our hearts and out of that way of life, we share the good news of Jesus to the world around us. The gospel ought not to be separated from the everyday life that we live here on earth.
If we too are pursuing the goals of the world, of my comfort, my well being etc then we are contradicting the gospel message. Our wellbeing is God’s concern, not ours to be anxious about.
_Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
The rich man’s concern began with his father's house and for his five brothers. Here again, is a message for the church. Each of us has been brought in by God into the world, purposefully, to reach our own particular culture, people and language group, we are responsible for our father's house.
Why is this so? We are to demonstrate the right understanding of life and eternity to the people with whom we can identify with closely and they can too identify with us and see how we are living here on earth with our mindset on eternity.
When we demonstrate the gospel and share the message to our father’s house, their eyes will begin to open for they can see the practical demonstration of the gospel.
Are you listening to the plea of the rich man?
*Thought to ponder*
```Can you, with all truthfulness, say that your life is not being lived in two compartments?```