[Jesus speaking]
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭27‬
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

The poor give us an opportunity to be thoughtful and kind. It may not be a beggar at your door, but it might be someone in your community who is in need or in trouble. Some people have a resource-hoarding mentality. I worked hard for it … I deserve it. There is no concept of the idea that God blessed them in their hearts. What will be said of me when I die and God judges me? Will he find that I shared my resources or hoarded them?

This rich man was so bad at sharing that he couldn’t even let Lazarus eat the crumbs from his table, or his leftovers. In America most of us are rich by the standards of this world. How will we share our time, our talents, and our resources to help those in need?

I also think there is comfort here for those who are truly poor. God notices the struggle of the poor and rewards them in heaven. When we are poor on this earth — monetarily, emotionally, or in other ways — we can go to the Lord of all and he loves us. He also has eternal rewards for those who are poor who still serve him!

Lord, thank you for setting the record straight! You love those who share and give generously. And you expect us not to be greedy with our things. Teach me to be a better giver! Your eternal kingdom is the reverse of the things that get rewarded in this world. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭16‬)