¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰ And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹ who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ²⁴ And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ ²⁷ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— ²⁸ for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ ²⁹ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Luke 16:19-31

I think we forget, that in God’s economy, what we have ultimately belongs to Him. Our live belongs to the Lord. Our gifts belong the the Lord. Our money belongs to the Lord. If we have – we are blessed but we are not blessed just to be blessed. We also know that it isn’t on our merits that we are blessed. It is His grace. By His grace we have strength to get and acquire.

So what do we do with what we have?

Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Somewhere in your life there is a person who is not as well off as you, like this rich man, who had a poor man at his doorstep. Perhaps you can find some way to give in secret to them. Not to become their benefactor or to receive praise because we know He is their Great Benefactor and He deserves all the praise. Rather for you to ask your Father, who shall I give a bit of what You have given me, so that someone else may be cared for by the economy of Your Kingdom.

Determine what you are able to give and ask the Lord for the whom to give it to.
Then in faith – give it.

Father, forgive me for the way I have been like the rich man clothed and feasting while the poor man at my doorstep is going hungry. Lord, thank you for the blessings that You have given me; the gospel, extra goods, extra food, or money. Help me Lord to give it – not for show or appreciation but rather in thanks to You for what you have already given me. In Jesus name. Amen.

All is grace,

Starla