So how many people do you think like to be common? Common amongst our friends, family. If you think about it, in our youth, some wanted to be so common like others, wanted to fit in so badly that some would do just about anything to get that status as being one of the guys or girls. While we was yet young, we needed to learn what it meant to be part of something, and sometimes, that let down the wrong path in life. Being common isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but in perspective to how it relates to God, its totally opposite. In scripture the word common is used many times, and its definition has a meaning in conjunction with a belonging to human beings (especially as contrasted with God). In the old testament, common is used in relation to earth, profaneness and even like a son or daughter. Common is something that relates to us and what God has for us. It ties us into God by way of creation, what we do everyday, and how we use.
In thinking about what is common and not, I remember early on my life I learned the quote, “It takes all kinds of people to make this world turn.” We find some very good people in our paths, some not so bad. Then we find those we wish we knew more of, and those we hope we never met again. We each have something in common amongst everyone. We are made in Gods image, we are His and His alone. We are bought for a price.
When overseas and even when I watch television, it fascinated me seeing people of a different culture and how they respond to tragedies and joys in life. To no surprise, when they lost a loved one, they cry as we do; when they have concerns, they express themselves in in such a way to find a solution like we do. When they are excited, they jump for joy; when they do something embarrassing, they blush and try to hide. We each have the same commonalities in life. From survival to the fittest to the poor and destitute, we each are subject to what life throws at us by God's will. In addition, we are subject to what comes after this life. As Hebrews tells us, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment.” We are all in the same boat per-say.
Even though we are common in the manner of being human, there is absolutely nothing common about why God made us and what we are here on earth for. Believe it or not, some people deliberately find ways to become stranded, to avoid God's true purpose and design for them. They tend to build barriers in their life to hide them from others and even God; so they can do things that give them a false guarantee of success. Mankind seems to choose a cheap Heaven on earth and can hardly expect to have real Heaven beyond death. Why? Because humanity lost the importance of what we are to do while we are here! We seem to have lost the taste and aptitude for what God has designed. In titling todays message, I would like for you to focus on the phrase, “Nothing we do is common,” as a means to understand that no matter how trival the work we do for God and our fellow man, it has a divine purpose, not to be ignored, even taken lightly.
So begins our journey in reading the Gospel of Luke Chapter 16. We start with verse 14, which tells us Jesus was directly speaking to Pharisees who were lovers of money. Jesus was contextually giving the Pharisees, who believed merit saved a person, who thought wealth and status proved God's approval of them, and that rich people were most likely to enter Heaven, all which is untrue.
The parable starts with an unknown rich man who was very wealthy and had aspired high rank in his culture. Then there was a simple beggar named Lazarus, who was fed the crumbs from the rich man's table and was even was so lame that dogs lick his wounds. The story also declares that Lazarus was layed about the gate, where everyone coming and going would be able to see him—so It's stands to reason the rich man walked by him often. A postscript note here. Of all the parables Jesus told, this is the only one where a character was specifically named. Lazarus in Hebrew means 'God Is My Help.'
So it came to pass that both the rich man and begger died. The parable tells us the begger was swept away by angels of God into the arms of Abraham, and then the rich man died and was buried, and it specifically says he ended up into hell and torment. So lets read from here. He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 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.’
Right off the bat, we tend to wonder what warranted the rich man to end up in hell and be tormented and then ask for pity. What did he do wrong? Whatever happened, it was too late! An we see the torment was so much, that he even asked the promoted angel Lazarus to relieve him of his torment. Knowing full well a drop of water could do it. I believe the rich man knew what had happened, where he was, and why he was there. The short answer to why, He left God out of his life.
But lets read on, “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.’
We are starting to see a picture form. We hear the words good, bad, comfort and agony all in the same sentence. A destined principle is being addressed that all the inequalities of Lazarus life has now been addressed in Heaven. Lazarus suffered on earth, and was rewarded in Heaven. So it begs the question, did the non-responsiveness of the rich man to God and his fellow man land him a seat in torment? From what we read, yes. The rich man’s selfishness, attitude, and decisions that were not founded on God's love, was in turn the cause of his own demise. The rich man turned a blind eye to God who had no treasures found in Heaven. Everything the rich man did, he did for himself while on earth. This is where you also find a piece of scripture fitting to this parable, you reap what you sew.
Is there something to be said about what we do for God and our fellow man? Absolutely! Lazarus was common amongst the people as a beggar. So the rich man put himself into a different status, that he didn’t deal with the commonalities of life, including people. He thought himself better than that. Does this sound familiar to the lives of people today?
Sometimes we tend to ignore those less fortunate, to walk by the gate, as did the rich man, maybe everyday, and not give them regard. You see, this is what the Pharisees instilled into the people of Israel. If you are a sinner, if you are not one of us, you should be shunned. I tell you friends, when we ignore the uncommon duties of God, including coming to the aid of the less fortunate, we dig a huge ditch between us, God and our fellow man. Every time the rich man walked by the begger, and didn’t supply him with Godly love, the rich man was building his own house in hell while here on earth; storying no treasures in Heaven. Everytime Lazarus was rejected by the rich man, Lazarus was building his house in Heaven. I would go as far as to say the rich man was so indwelled with himself that he may never gave the begger a second thought outside of the fact that Lazarus was known to be timely in cleaning up the scraps of food off the floor.
You see friends, nothing the rich man could have done for Lazarus would have been common to mankind because what he COULD have been doing was for God in the first place. The rich man didn’t see helping the beggar as a duty, but a chore and even degrading. What we do for God, no matter how trivial, honors Him and spreads His love. Without a doubt, we are not meant to live alone in this world any more than a house is meant to be built and never lived in. When people like a house are shut away, it becomes a prison, a place of torment. All the rich man could have done was stretch out his heart just a little bit and give God's love to someone in need, like Lazarus. The rich man obtained no second chances. This life was it, just like it is for us today. We each have one life to live, and we need to live it with God at the helm. However, some people, like the rich man, just can’t see God in the way they should.
I read a story about a mother of a blind child. Her expectations were very high as, at last, an operation was performed to help the child see. When the child was strong enough to test their new sight, the doctors slowly opened their eyes, the light started to glare in, and the child suddenly started crying. Looking around the child saw the bright blue sky, the brilliant green trees, then turned and saw their mother. While crying, the child said, “Mommy, why didn’t you tell me everything was so beautiful?” Not able to hold back the tears, the mother said, “I tried to tell you, dear, but you could not understand me!”
Like this blind child, the rich man lived in darkness. Unless Gods spirit is living in each of us, we cannot see correctly, hence we cannot understand. 2 Corinthians tells us “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” This is where the Holy Spirit, the one who shines the light of Christ, the beacon of faith, hope and love into our lives, help us actually see for the first time, who God is, and what we, His adopted children are to do. “Open my eyes Lord, that I may behold wondrous things of you.”
Jesus' simple answer to the Pharisees in this parable was to say being Godly is not by what the world gives, not what we earn, but by what we freely receive from God and by what we freely give to others in Christs name. We serve others, as Christ came to serve, not to be served.
When we see those that are less fortunate than us, I would reflect on the statement, ‘What would Jesus do?’ Everything we do for God, no matter how small it may seem, is meant to be of service to Him. Collossians 3 tells us Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
In closing, I would like you to reflect, receive and respond to todays message, in understanding the question, what do we need to do to avoid the same fate as the rich man. But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ … ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Friends, this simply means that Gods living word, Gods instructions, Gods laws is what will ultimately save us. We have to listen and obey. God is the judge who promises to set things right in the future, to overturn social structures, cultural practices and bad habits. Death, hell and the grave have been conquered. So why are we to reject Him? Why avoid what creates our treasures in heaven.
This parable gives a sobering thought that even what we take as uncommon is really important to God. When we want to fit into the crowd, is it for God or ourselves? Every Godly thing we do friends, we too will be storing our treasures in heaven. We need to tear down those walls that barricade us from doing God's work. We need to pray for discernment, pray for guidance, pray for strength in doing His work. Nothing we do for God is common; everything we do is extraordinary. I want to leave you with this statement, if we do not speak out for God, then the rocks and the trees will. Amen.