Even more disruptions – The Rich Man and the Beggar

 

Study for September 26: Kerry Groch

Towards the end of her message about the rich man and the beggar (Lazarus) Kerry made a remark that this is one of Jesus’ ‘disruptive parables’. It is an excellent description because of the challenge that it offers to the very middle class affluent Australian church. However, Kerry pointed out that this is not a parable to make us feel bad about wealth itself; rather it is a story that asks us to be part of the mission to ‘not just show mercy to the poor in their need but also to find justice for the society they live in.’

Prayer: Lord we ask that as we read the parable you will enable us to see clearly what is written for us as individuals and for your church. Give us the strength and courage to face the truth in this story and to act upon it.

The Reading: Luke 16: 19-31

As you read the passage try to think about your response to each section of the parable. Take some time over each section.

• The difference in wealth between the rich man and Lazarus
• The death of both men  and the requests of the rich man
• Abraham’s response to the rich man’s requests
• The resolution of the story – ‘if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’

Reflection (multiple choice is hard!)

After reading the passage, consider what you think the passage is mostly about:

a)      The perils of wealth

b)      The need to attend to the poor

c)       The reality of heaven and hell

d)      Jesus’ foreshadowing the response to his own death and resurrection

Exploring the Reading

Given the difficulty of the multiple choice test, it seems only fair to revisit Kerry’s analysis and discussion of the reading. It is easy to feel guilty about this reading and indeed it is, as Kerry commented, “supposed to make us squirm in our seats at the very thought of a human being so badly off that they are happy to get the crumbs from another man’s table.” In the end, Kerry argued that (like any story about riches and wealth ) we are not meant to simply feel that wealth is a bad thing which would be understandable as Jesus does speak against wealth on a number of occasions. Commentator Marcus Borg writes that while ‘it is not clear that Jesus opposed wealth in principle… he clearly saw the desire for wealth as one of the primary distractions and preoccupations in life as a consuming and blinding passion.” This concept of blindness, of not seeing is a central one in Kerry’s message.  She identified that the key part of the story is recognition that the “rich man’s sin is the chasm he dug between himself and Lazarus”. This idea is extended through the use of heaven and hell. Kerry made it clear that the point of the story is not that rich people go to hell while the poor go to heaven.  (Note that Jesus listeners would have understood these terms differently to 21^st century readers). Kerry’s full comments are worth reflecting on: “His sin was not one of simple omission; ignoring the man while he lived lavishly. Instead, the rich man very intentionally dug a ditch between himself and the crippled beggar. And so when the rich man died and went to Hell, the ditch that he dug himself became a  fixed chasm that could not ever be crossed.” In effect, the rich man damns himself.

But as they say in current affairs the story doesn’t end there. In keeping with Kerry’s observation that there is more to this story than a guilt trip, we know that we cannot repent and change on our own. It is God’s love and grace that changes us – we cannot simply strive to do better (though there is value in that too!) This parable sends us back to God’s grace who transforms us with his love that knows no boundaries.

It is from God’s grace and love that we are provided with the transforming ‘fruits of the spirit’: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. All of these aspects emerge when we put Christ at the centre of our lives each day.

Application

• Having worked through the reading and the study, what practical applications can you make in your life?
• Try to develop a specific plan in which you can apply this story and remove the chasms between yourselves and others
• In what ways can you apply mercy and justice to the world circumstance in which you live?
• Commit your plan of action to prayer and ask for transformation of your heart which will in turn provide you with courage and strength