Who Is At Your Gate?

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores” Luke 16: 19-21.

The text is about a man who needed a keeper and one who had no intention of being a keeper.  The symbolism is obvious. Dives in Latin means “rich man” and Lazarus in Greek means “God is my help”.  In the parable Lazarus is at the gate of Dives who is unable to find any empathy or responsibility for the beggar. The beggar is starving, covered in sores, lacking even the energy needed to stop the dogs licking his sores and ignored by the only person who could have made a difference in his earthly life. Then they died. The unsuccessful beggar is carried by angels to be with Abraham in heaven and Dives, despite the security of his riches, is carried to the place of torment.  From his abode in Hades Dives sought help and relief for himself and subsequently for his family. The request was denied.

Dives was in Hades because he refused to notice Lazarus and not because he was rich. Our wealth or lack thereof does not determine our eternal destiny. Note as well that Dives never accepted that his wealth provided an opportunity to reach out to Lazarus. It is clear from this message that irrespective of gender, race, colour, status or creed, all human beings are interconnected. Dives’ self-centeredness obscured his recognition of his part in this interconnection. Consequently, by his actions, he never accepted Lazarus as a brother and separated himself from him.

Who is at your gate? If you understand “gate” to mean opportunities to reach out and touch others then the person at your gate might be the person sitting beside you in church; your boss or supervisor; the child whose parents died of HIV/AIDS; a drug addict; the child whose father is in prison; the child who has been repeatedly sexually, emotionally, or physically abused or is being molested; the spouse who is being emotionally, physically, psychologically, sexually, economically and verbally  abused; the child who has no lunch money; the unhappy wealthy; the bewildered new immigrant or friendless new-comer to our church or community; the farmer whose crops have failed or whose livestock was stolen by thieves. Such persons who are at our “gates” might not necessarily be recognized but they are there.

Joining Charles Wesley let us say:

Help us to help each other, Lord,
Each other’s cross to bear,
Let each his friendly aid afford
And feel his brother’s care.

THOUGHT:              Who has been sitting outside your “gate” lately?

PRAYER FOCUS:   For God to open our eyes and hearts to persons at our “gate”