Cost of Living - Day 12
Day 12 - Tuesday, January 23
Read Luke 16:19-31
Highlight
The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is directly connected with yesterday’s parable of the Dishonest Manager. After hearing the parable of the Dishonest Manager and the following lesson on money, the Pharisees scoffed. This second parable is told to the scoffing Pharisees, and is therefore appropriately confrontational.
This is a tragic parable that highlights the hopeless horror of hell and the infinite regret that will eternally haunt well-to-do and self-righteous people whose wealth or religion or other earthly advantages have insulated them from the reality of their need for divine grace. The story has one purpose: to warn the hearers that hell will be full of people who never expected to be there.
The common belief (and direct teachings of the Pharisees) of the time was that riches were proof of the favor of God and disabilities & poverty were a result of His curse. Jesus challenged this teaching regularly during his ministry, never more so than through this parable. A way that he subverts this teaching in the parable is through the use of names (and lack thereof).
Lazarus is named in this parable precisely to mark him out with honor. His name (a form of the name Eleazar) means, ‘whom the Lord has helped.’ It invokes the idea of divine favor, which is exactly opposite of the common belief towards crippled beggars. The rich man, by contrast, isn’t given a name. He has been stripped of all the badges of prominence, including his name, while the beggar has been given all the privileges of God’s eternal blessing. This is a gift of grace rather than because of any status, wealth, or lineage.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read Luke 16:19-31
Highlight
The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is directly connected with yesterday’s parable of the Dishonest Manager. After hearing the parable of the Dishonest Manager and the following lesson on money, the Pharisees scoffed. This second parable is told to the scoffing Pharisees, and is therefore appropriately confrontational.
This is a tragic parable that highlights the hopeless horror of hell and the infinite regret that will eternally haunt well-to-do and self-righteous people whose wealth or religion or other earthly advantages have insulated them from the reality of their need for divine grace. The story has one purpose: to warn the hearers that hell will be full of people who never expected to be there.
The common belief (and direct teachings of the Pharisees) of the time was that riches were proof of the favor of God and disabilities & poverty were a result of His curse. Jesus challenged this teaching regularly during his ministry, never more so than through this parable. A way that he subverts this teaching in the parable is through the use of names (and lack thereof).
Lazarus is named in this parable precisely to mark him out with honor. His name (a form of the name Eleazar) means, ‘whom the Lord has helped.’ It invokes the idea of divine favor, which is exactly opposite of the common belief towards crippled beggars. The rich man, by contrast, isn’t given a name. He has been stripped of all the badges of prominence, including his name, while the beggar has been given all the privileges of God’s eternal blessing. This is a gift of grace rather than because of any status, wealth, or lineage.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
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