You and I are Wealthy.
If the world were a village of 100 people…
60 would be from Asia
16 would be from Africa
10 would be from Europe
9 would be from Latin America & the Caribbean
5 would be from North America
31 would be Christian
23 would be Muslim
16 would not be religious or identify themselves
as being aligned with a particular faith
15 would be Hindu
7 would be Buddhist
8 would believe in other religions
The world is diverse!
“The son of man came to seek and save the lost.”
Luke 19:10
1. The Kingdom of God is OPEN to all people.
Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.
Will everyone will be ok in the end?
Many think because they are wealthy and healthy, God is smiling on them.
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
This is a picture of the world.
The inequality of life.
“The poor you will always have with you…”
Matthew 26:11a
I am responsible for what I do, NOT whether poverty is irradiated from the earth.
If the world were a village of 100 people…
86 would be able to read and write; 14 would not
78 people would have a place to shelter them
from the wind and the rain, but 22 would not
1 would be dying of starvation
14 would have no toilets
11 would be undernourished
22 would be overweight
91 would have access to safe drinking water
9 people would have no clean, safe water to drink
If you have a bed,
a roof over your head,
and a bank account,
your are among the wealthiest 8% of the world’s population.
Comfort can be dangerous.
The rich man purposely forgot about Lazarus at the gate of his house.
2. The truth doesn’t change because it’s forgotten.
What is important to God?
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:34-40
Those who have “much” easily forget those who have “little”.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Urgency quadrant:
The not urgent but important moves to important and urgent if left unattended.
Examples: Brushing your teeth, changing oil on your car, filing your taxes, doing little things for your wife to show her you love her…
No news isn’t always good news
3. God’s silence isn’t necessarily approval.
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Contrast between life on earth and the after-life.
What is a chasm?
Eventually it will be too late.
4. Eventually there will be finality
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
I’m sure God was grateful for the great ideas.
IF, IF, IF…
5. Everyone get’s what they need to repent.
Interesting the beggar’s name was Lazarus.
God might have even done that very thing.
Remember Lazarus raising from the dead then hanging out with Jesus.
“When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.”
John 12:9-11
God knows the heart…
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20
6. God is speaking today, right now.
If the world were a village of 100 people…
If you have a bed, a roof over your head, and a bank account,
your are among the richest 8% of the world.
We are in the position of
the Rich Man.
- Visit a cemetery (remember that eventually there will be finality)
- Fast a luxury you take for granted (remember what it’s like to go without)
- Pray for God to soften your heart (overcome selfishness)
- Take a trip to the the 3rd world (look deliberately at the “less than”.