Luke 16:19-31
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.''No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'
Thr rich man and Lazarus is an example of one who lives according to the desires and passions of the sinful nature and one who doesn't. The consequences of living both the kinds of lifestyles are warned here. In this world, it is more attractive to the eyes, to live a lifestyle of obeying the sinful nature of the Devil in us. The lifestyle of obeying Christ is not perceived to be attractive. In fact, it is even despised by some who claim to follow the Lord. Living in comfort and style is the norm of all those who obey the sinful nature because this could make them attractive to gain more and more luxury for themselves to enjoy. For those who choose to obey the sinful nature of the Devil in them, a lifestyle of sufferings is avoided at all costs.
There is nothing wrong in living without lack but no one in this world can live without experiencing a lack, no one! If you do not have material lack, there will be that spiritual lack, as in this case above. What kind of lack do you take it to be grave and dangerous for you? We will have a spiritual lack that was once stolen from Adam and Eve that we need to recover. The rich man viewed life in the opposite direction from beggar, Lazarus. Beggar Lazarus accepted the lack he had suffered and decided to do something about it, but the rich man did not. He did nothing about his actual lack. How will all these relate to a life of prayer? Humility is important, more important than pride and arrogance. Humility can only come from Christ, as pride and arrogance can only come from the sinful nature of the Devil in us. Satan is a proud and arrogant being. Let's read this verse below that speaks of our prayer life that should be our daily lifestyle. Sadly, many do not view a consistent prayer life as an important part of their daily lives.
Proverbs 8:34
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
