He Did Nothing Right

I watched my TV in silent horror as I saw and imagined the utter desolation of the world’s most recent victims of natural disaster. They helplessly watched while their world, and those in it, was torn away by relentless flood waters. They had little before the destruction; now they had literally nothing. Then I turned off my TV, and went to my comfortable bed. If you paid for these notes then you and I are the “rich man” (19) in Jesus’ parable.

This rich man did nothing wrong. It was what he didn’t do that mattered. He did nothing right! Lazarus with all his needs had been laid at his gate in the hope that those passing by would see him, have compassion and give him something. The only attention he got was from dogs. The rich man was too self-occupied with his expensive clothes and luxurious cuisine to notice Lazarus, or do anything to alleviate his suffering. Lazarus probably died of starvation. There was no burial, but the angels carried him to the eternal security of divine care. When the rich man died, was buried and entered eternity, everything was suddenly reversed. He still arrogantly expected others to meet his personal needs and those of his family, but now reality had hit. The consequences of what he had not done were terrible.

We are accountable to God for how we respond to the needs of our fellow humans. Many of us live in places where the needy may not be at our gate but appear daily in our living rooms on the television. We must not hurry past. God cares for them, and as the “rich” in this world, he gives us the privilege of taking his loving provision to them. If we fail them, our failure risks eternal judgment.

What situation of need is God laying on your heart? How will you respond to it? Do something … today!