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Lazarus and the Rich Man

March 5, 2026

Jeremiah 17:5-10|Luke 16:19-31|Psalm 1

Who am I more like—the rich man who feasts sumptuously every day or Lazarus, who has to beg for crumbs from the rich man’s table and is covered in sores?  If I am honest, I am more like the rich man.  While I wouldn’t describe myself as feasting every day, in truth I never intentionally go hungry.  I do not have sores, but even if I did, I could go to the doctor and get them treated.  Nevertheless, I want to see myself as Lazarus—a man who is so favored that he goes to be with Abraham when he dies, living in comfort.  I do not want to be like the rich man who dies and is in Hades in the flames in conditions he finds intolerable. It is clear to me that this story teaches us of the dangers of attaching too much importance to earthly, material wealth and of the extreme importance of compassion for the poor. 

Now that I can identify who I am in this story, it raises a host of questions.  Am I sufficiently generous to the poor? Could I really be described as generous to the poor at all?   Do I do enough to support my church?  Do I base decisions on scriptural teaching, or will I be among those that Jesus refers to when he says “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” 

I often avoid thinking about these questions.  After all, I do not lead a life of luxury, indulging in costly goods and doing all I can to make sure my every need is met.  Or do I?  There is a tendency to always compare ourselves to someone who is in the next income bracket above our own and say to ourselves “I’m not like them.”  But if we look down the economic ladder it is easy to see that the life of middle- or upper-class Americans is a luxurious and sumptuous feast compared to the lives of so many around the globe and even in the U.S. Why do we often feel that we live a life of hardship and sacrifice rather than recognizing the abundance that we have the good fortune to enjoy?  In our consumerist culture, we are encouraged to think of ourselves as always needing more.

Lent is the perfect time to reflect on the abundance of what we have and to share that abundance with others. 

Trish Morokoff