THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

137William Barclay titles this passage, "The Punishment of the Man Who Never Noticed."The rich man is not punished for his riches, but for neglect. Lazarus was at his door and he didn'tnotice. Who is at our door that we don't notice? Could it beThe needy illegal aliens who avoid the social welfare system for fear of beingdeported?Divorced mothers with kids who are living below the poverty level but are tooignorant of how to get help or too proud to ask for help?Families where the breadwinner is sick or shiftless or missing?The poor in third world countries who are out of sight and out of mind?The neighbor next door who is lost, like the rich man?As Christians we have the benefit of both the Old and New Testaments with theiremphasis on caring for the poor. If we don't notice and minister to the poor, what excuse will wehave?This does not mean we should give out of guilt or give unwisely or give to whoever criesthe loudest. Rather, we are to give out of the love of God within us. Instead of giving selfishly toassuage our guilt, we should give selflessly to care for someone else's need.NOTE1The following Scriptures are a sample of what God expects of us concerning the poor:Exodus 22:25-27; 23:11; Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22; 25:25-28,35-37; Leviticus 25:39-43;Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 15:2-14; 24:12-21; 26:12-13; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 37:21; 26; 41:1-3;112:4-5,9; Proverbs 28:27; 29:7; 31:9; 20; Isaiah 1:17; 16:3-4; 58:7,10; Ezekiel 18:1-32; Daniel4:27; Zechariah 7:10.