The Poor Lazaruses

Luke 16: 19-21(KJV)

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Church of God in Christ Spring Retreat 2005

Seoul, South Korea

BIG IDEA: How we use our finances to care for the sick, hungry, and the less fortunate in this life - determines where we spend eternity hereafter.

REFERENCES:

Movie: TRADING PLACES (starting Eddie Murphy) was a 1983 comedy of high finace about a homeless con artist who becomes a Wall Street baron. All because of an argument beteen super-rich siblings : Lazarus and The Rich Man: Luke 16:19-31 (KJV); Genesis 15:2: Eliezer was a SERVANT OF ABRAHAM; 1 Tim 6:17-19 (KJV): Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life; Deut 15:10-11 (KJV) The Seventh Year Release of the Poor - Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.; Luke 12:48 (KJV) For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more; Proverbs 19:17 -KJV ( He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again); Psalms 41:1 – KJV (Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble); Quote: The tragedy of life and the world is not that man don’t know God; The tragedy is after knowing God, they still insist on going their own way. – Christianity Today.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Deuteronomy 15:10-11; Luke 16:19-21 (KJV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (KJV); Luke 16:19-21

III. READ THE TEXT: Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (KJV) - Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

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Luke 16:19-21 (KJV) - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 2And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to use their personal finances to care for the POOR Lazaruses (the sick, hungry, and less fortunate in this life) in order to ensure their HEAVENLY destiny hereafter.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “The POOR Lazaruses”

INTRODUCTION:

… Who can ever forget Paul’s instructions to Timotheus - in 1 Tim 6:17-19 (KJV) -when he said:

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Remind – the rich Paul says - that they should do good, that they should be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Laying up in store for themselves … a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

***********TAKE 5 BEATS*********

MOVE 1: Likewise, my brothers and sisters, it has been said that “charity is a human obligation.

a. Man owes CHARITY to his fellow-man as a brother.

b. For it is expected of all men … and toward all men who, by example …

c. … and precept, teaches charity … in "helping the poor and the feeble and sharing every gift of God with the NEEDY.

********TAKE 5 BEATS********

Move 2: Therefore, I submit to you this evening that Jesus has a special place in his heart for those …

a. … that are among the less fortunate of our church community; our city; our country; and OUR WORLD.

b. For don’t you remember, Our SAVIOR had a special sense of mission to poor and oppressed people.