GOD WILL MAKE IT RIGHT

I do not think highly of myself because I am but a sinner. But I know what I am capable of. God has blessed me with a quick mind and a lot more talents than I could ever ask for. And I acknowledge that I could not do anything without God, and that without Him, I am nothing.

I applied for a higher position in my job but I did not get it. Since I did not want to be jobless before Christmas, I accepted their offer even though it gave me a pay cut of $4.58 per hour. I work hard and I pick-up fast, so modesty aside, I feel it is unfair whenever I see those who got higher positions that look lost almost everyday because they do not know what they were doing. It feels funny for sometimes I have to show my bosses how to do things instead of the other way around.

But God has answered my silent questions in today’s reading. It shows how the poor and those who suffer are closest to God’s heart. Of all the parables Jesus told, this is the only one that He named a character – Lazarus. In the others, He called one a prodigal son, another a rich young man, the vineyard owner, the sower. All nameless.

So why was Lazarus very important? It’s because of who and what he symbolizes. A poor beggar, his life on earth was spent begging at the table of the rich man who couldn’t probably finish all the food laid on their tables. Yet, he couldn’t spare him a decent meal.

When they both died, Lazarus found solace at the bosom of Abraham while the rich man went to hell. God righted the injustice brought about by the rich man’s lack of love, mercy and compassion to a fellow in need. It surely would not hurt him to spare some to help Lazarus but he CHOSE not to.

This is a very important lesson Jesus wants to tell all of us. When God created the world, He meant for it to be a perfect one. But man sinned. That fall from grace cost us death. But Jesus paid for that with His own life. It is only but natural that we do good any way that we can. We should not just think of ourselves and how we could make money all the time. We must not turn our backs on those who need our help.

We have a duty as Christians to show love to EVERY human being within our reach that needs it.

Jesus looks at our HEART because to Him, LOVE is the most important thing. A whole chapter defined it and as the last verse of 1 Corinthians 13 says “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

I know that all the things that happen to my life have reasons, most of them I could not understand until He reveals them to me. But I have hope as I have faith in God’s love, whatever there are that to me seems so unfair right now, He will make it right in His time.

“Lord God in heaven, You are the fairest, loving God of all. Help us to understand that we may suffer injustice right now but You will make them right in the proper time. May we always thank You for the many many blessings we sometimes take for granted. In the mighty name of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.”

Meditation: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.’“

–that in all things God may be glorified