Luke 16:20-21 But
there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his
gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.
Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.
Lazarus is blessed because he made himself
poor by denying himself of all worldly possessions, wisdom, abilities,
qualifications, for the sake of his spiritual man so that he can follow our
Lord Jesus Christ without distraction.
Mat 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Luke 9:23 Then
He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Just like Paul who was persecuted by fellow
worldly Christian leaders, Lazarus faithfully carries his cross daily.
1 Cor 4:10-13 We
are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you
are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour
we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being
persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the
filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Even Paul, a rich, powerful, feared and
respected Pharisee before his conversion, was treated as the filth of the world
and a beggar. How much more will Jesus’ disciple, Lazarus be reviled,
humiliated and put to shame by covetous pastors and carnal brethren.
Mat 5:11-12 “Blessed
are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against
you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your
reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Mat 10:41-42 “He
who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s
reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man
shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little
ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to
you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Brethren, when you give to the poor and
needy ministries, rejoice for He has given you a chance to be blessed. Also
ensure that in your heart, you have given to His disciples and servants who are
faithfully running His ministries and they are not beggars. Otherwise you may
receive a beggar's reward and this may cause you to borrow money to relief your
needs.
James 2:5-9 Listen,
my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in
faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you
have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the
courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you
really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself,” you do well! but if you show partiality, you commit sin,
and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
