THE KING’S BUSINESS
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one jot or tittle o f its requirements and so by law-keeping there is no hope for any one o f us (Gal. 3T 0 ) but the law has been perfectly kept by another, even by our rep resentative, Jesus Christ, and furthermore, the penalty o f our breaking this law has been paid by Him, and so we may be justi fied through simple faith in Him (Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Acts 13:38, 39). Sunday, January 23 . Luke 16 : 19 - 2 1 . The following verses contain some o f the most solemn utterances that ever fell from the lips of our Lord. What is said is often taken as a parable, but it is nowhere stated that the story is a parable. It is related as if it were an historical incident. W e are first introduced to “a certain rich man,” God did not think him o f sufficient im portance to mention his name. Rich men are not o f as much consequence in God’s eyes as they are in ours. As far as we are told he was not an immoral man, so it is plain that a moral man can go into tor ment in the next life. He was not lost simply because he was rich. Abraham, who appears further down in the parable, was a rich man, and yet he appears among the redeemed. He was lost because he sought his good in the things o f this life (v. 25). He lived a life o f magnificence and indulgence o f the flesh. God is not pleased to have us squander our money (or rather His) on fine clothes and rich fare. The wrong use o f wealth will damn a man. A few small charities will not cover up a life which, on the whole, is a life o f self- indulgence. The man got no real satis faction out o f his luxury and self-indul gence even while here. W e are told the name o f the poor man. Though he was poor he was o f more consequence in God’s sight than the rich man, so his name goes down in history. The fact that his name is mentioned is another indication that this is not a parable, but history; names are never given in any o f the parables. Laza rus, lying at the rich man’s gate took away from the rich man all excuse for his sumptuous living, and the poor today who are lying at our very gates, take away from
us all excusé for sumptuous living. But how many today, even among those who call themselves Christians, spend their money in self-indulgence while misery and want lie at their very gates, crying for help. The picture o f Lazarus is given in a few graphic touches, and it is extremely sad. But it is better to be a beggar here, full o f sores, and vainly longing for the rich man’s crumbs and go to heaven here after, than to be the rich man here, clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day, and go to hell hereafter. The persons to be pitied are likelier to be found on the avenues than in the allays. Lazarus really enjoyed the life that now is' better than the rich man. His name means “ God his help,” and is an index o f his godly character. It did not look much at the time as if God really were his help, but the sequel proves that he, was. Our Lord evi dently intends to teach us that the fact that a man is in poverty and distress o f body, is no proof that God, is displeased with him. It is true God promises to sup ply all our need, but that does not neces sarily mean that we shall never hunger (1 Cor. 4:11; 2 Cor. 11:27; Phil. 4:12). Hun ger is sometimes just what we really need. Lazarus did have some friends after all, “the dogs.” They had more heart than the rich man (v. 21 R. V .). Dogs often have more heart than rich men. The dogs could not feed Lazarus, but they could lick his sores, and they did: the rich man could easily have fed him, but did not. The rich man could not plead ignorance that Lazarus was there, he had noticed him and learned his name (v. 24), and knew his condition (v. 25). All Lazarus desired was “ crumbs.” That is often whaUthe rich give the poor, their cast off things. Apparently in this case Lazarus did not even get that. Monday, January 24 . Luke 16 : 22 - 3 1 . In one respect the rich man and the beg gar were alike, they both “died.” Neither riches nor poverty can ward off death. That is a good sentence to ponder, “the rich man died.” Most rich men forget that they will ever have to die, but they will. It was a
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