Compassion Over Wealth: A Call to Transformation

Summary

On this Family Sunday, we explored the deep challenge and hope found in Jesus’ parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Drawing a parallel to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we considered how both stories confront the dangers of a life consumed by wealth and self-interest, and the tragic consequences of ignoring the suffering at our gates. The Pharisees, often remembered for their legalism, were also lovers of money, and Jesus’ parable was a direct challenge to their cold-heartedness toward the poor and needy. The parable paints a stark contrast: a rich man, clothed in luxury, feasting daily, and a beggar named Lazarus, covered in sores, longing for scraps, helped only by the compassion of dogs.

Jesus’ words remind us that true righteousness is not measured by strict rule-keeping, but by a heart that loves its neighbor. The Pharisees’ failure was not just their legalism, but their lack of compassion. Jesus is not impressed by outward displays of piety that ignore the suffering of others. The parable’s reversal—where the poor man is honored in the afterlife and the rich man is left in torment—serves as a warning: there is a deadline to repentance and transformation. Unlike Dickens’ story, Jesus does not offer a sentimental ending; instead, he leaves us with the sobering reality that after death, the opportunity to change is gone.

Yet, there is hope. The story is not over for us. Like the Pharisees who heard Jesus’ words, we are still alive and able to respond. The example of Paul, once a Pharisee himself, shows that hearts can be changed by grace. Paul not only preached the gospel but also devoted himself to caring for the poor, embodying the love and generosity Jesus calls us to. Today, we are invited to examine our own hearts: do we love people more than our possessions? Are we willing to be moved by the suffering around us, to act with compassion, and to let God’s grace transform us?

We are not called to perfection, but to a life that is open to God’s work—one step at a time, growing in generosity, courage, and love. Whether we identify with the rich man, the Pharisee, or Lazarus, God sees us, calls us by name, and offers us the grace to live differently. As we share communion and serve our community, may we remember that the story is not finished, and by God’s grace, we can choose a better ending.

Key Takeaways

- True Righteousness Is Measured by Compassion, Not Rule-Keeping
Jesus challenges the notion that strict adherence to religious rules is the measure of righteousness. The Pharisees’ failure was not just their legalism, but their lack of love for their neighbors. God is not impressed by outward piety that neglects the suffering of others; instead, He desires hearts that are moved to action by compassion. [35:57]

- You Cannot Serve Both God and Money
Jesus’ words are unequivocal: it is impossible to serve both God and money. The temptation to believe we are the exception is strong, but Jesus insists that our loyalties will ultimately be revealed by our choices. The love of money hardens the heart and blinds us to the needs of others, making generosity and true worship incompatible with greed. [40:00]

- There Is a Deadline to Repentance and Transformation
The parable’s sobering ending reminds us that the opportunity to change does not last forever. Death is the final deadline—after which our choices are sealed. The urgency is not to induce fear, but to awaken us to the reality that today is the day to turn toward God, to love others, and to let grace reshape our lives. [01:00:54]

- Grace Can Transform Even the Hardest Heart
The story of Paul, once a Pharisee, demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Paul’s life was radically changed—not only did he preach Christ, but he also became a champion for the poor. When God softens our hearts, we are empowered to live generously, to care for the weak, and to reflect the heart of Jesus in practical ways. [01:05:02]

- God Sees and Names the Suffering
In all of Jesus’ parables, only Lazarus is given a name—a powerful reminder that God sees, knows, and honors those who suffer. If you find yourself in a place of need or pain, you are not forgotten. God’s compassion is real, and He promises to carry you, to be present with you, and to ultimately bring comfort and honor to those the world overlooks. [01:20:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
[02:00] - A Christmas Carol and Scrooge McDuck
[05:00] - The Pharisees: More Than Legalists
[10:00] - The Real Problem: Lack of Love for Neighbor
[13:00] - Jesus’ Challenge: You Cannot Serve God and Money
[16:00] - The Pharisees’ Sneer and Self-Justification
[20:00] - The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
[24:00] - The Great Reversal: Death and Afterlife
[28:00] - The Chasm and the Call to Repentance
[32:00] - No Happy Ending: The Urgency of Now
[36:00] - Paul: A Pharisee Transformed by Grace
[40:00] - Practical Ways to Love and Serve
[45:00] - Communion: Receiving Grace and Second Chances
[50:00] - God Sees the Suffering and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Rich Man and Lazarus – Family Sunday

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### Bible Reading

Luke 16:19-31
(Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus – the main text of the sermon)

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### Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what are the main differences between the lives of the rich man and Lazarus while they are alive? ([46:56])
2. According to Jesus, why can’t the rich man and Lazarus cross the chasm after death? What does Abraham say about this? ([54:40])
3. How do the Pharisees respond when Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money”? What does this reveal about their hearts? ([40:00])
4. Who is the only character in all of Jesus’ parables to be given a name, and why is that significant? ([46:56])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. What does Jesus want us to understand about true righteousness, especially in contrast to the Pharisees’ focus on rules? ([35:57])
2. Why do you think Jesus gives such a sobering ending to the parable, instead of a “happy ending” like in A Christmas Carol? What is he trying to communicate about repentance and second chances? ([01:00:54])
3. The sermon mentions that even the dogs showed compassion to Lazarus, while the rich man did not. What does this say about the kind of compassion God values? ([49:47])
4. How does the story of Paul, a former Pharisee, show that God’s grace can transform even the hardest heart? ([01:03:12])

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### Application Questions

1. Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Are there areas in your life where you feel torn between serving God and holding onto your possessions or comfort? What would it look like to choose God in a specific situation this week? ([40:00])
2. The parable warns that there is a deadline to repentance and transformation. Is there something God has been prompting you to change or do, but you’ve been putting it off? What is one step you can take today? ([01:00:54])
3. The Pharisees’ main failure was not just legalism, but a lack of compassion for their neighbors. Who is someone in your life or community that you might be overlooking or ignoring? How can you show them practical love this month? ([35:57])
4. Paul’s life was changed by grace, and he became passionate about caring for the poor. What is one way you can grow in generosity or service to those in need, either as an individual or as a group? ([01:05:02])
5. The sermon mentioned practical ways to serve: bringing communion to the homebound, making blessing bags, or joining a 6K walk for clean water. Which of these (or another idea) could you commit to as a next step? ([01:06:29])
6. If you feel more like Lazarus—wounded, overlooked, or in need—how does it change things to know that God sees you, knows your name, and promises comfort? How can the group support you in this season? ([01:20:48])
7. The story is not finished for us. What is one area where you want to invite God’s grace to help you “choose a better ending” in your life or relationships? ([01:09:08])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for open hearts, courage to take the next step, and eyes to see the needs around them. Pray for God’s grace to transform each person, just as He did for Paul and so many others.

Devotional

Day 1: You Cannot Serve Both God and Money
Jesus teaches that devotion to God and devotion to wealth are mutually exclusive; we must choose whom we will serve. The Pharisees, though outwardly religious, were exposed for their love of money, which blinded them to the needs of others and hardened their hearts. This warning is not just for them, but for all who are tempted to justify their own priorities and ignore the call to generosity and compassion. The challenge is to examine our own hearts and ask whether we are truly serving God, or if we are clinging to the security and comfort that money promises. Jesus’ words cut through our self-deception and call us to wholehearted allegiance to God, trusting Him above all else. [40:00]

Luke 16:13-15 (ESV)
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can choose to serve God over money today, especially when it comes to how you view or use your resources?


Day 2: True Righteousness Means Loving Your Neighbor
Righteousness is not measured by strict rule-keeping, but by a heart that loves and serves others, especially those in need. The Pharisees were known for their legalism and outward displays of piety, but Jesus revealed that they missed the heart of God’s law: love for neighbor. Their failure was not just in loving rules, but in neglecting the suffering around them, placing burdens on others without lifting a finger to help. Jesus calls us to a righteousness that surpasses theirs—not by being stricter, but by being more compassionate, letting the love of God flow through us to the lost and the least. [37:11]

Matthew 5:20 (ESV)
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life or community that you have overlooked or ignored? How can you show them the love of Christ in a tangible way this week?


Day 3: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus—A Call to Compassion
Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus starkly contrasts a life of self-indulgence with a life of suffering at the margins, highlighting the eternal consequences of ignoring those in need. The rich man, clothed in luxury, feasted daily while Lazarus, covered in sores, longed for scraps at his gate. Even the dogs showed more compassion than the rich man. In the end, their fortunes are reversed: Lazarus is comforted, and the rich man is in torment. The parable is a sobering reminder that our response to the suffering around us matters deeply to God, and that there is a deadline to turn from selfishness to compassion. [44:32]

Luke 16:19-26 (ESV)
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”

Reflection: Is there a “Lazarus” at your gate—someone in need whom you have the power to help? What step can you take today to move toward them with compassion?


Day 4: It’s Not Too Late—Grace and the Opportunity to Change
The story of the rich man and Lazarus ends with a warning, but Jesus’ message is ultimately one of hope: as long as we are alive, it is not too late to change. Like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, we are given the chance to wake up, repent, and live differently before our time is up. The apostle Paul, once a Pharisee who loved the things of the world, was transformed by Jesus’ grace into someone who cared deeply for the poor and devoted his life to serving others. God’s grace offers us second chances, and the invitation is open to turn from self-centeredness to a life of generosity and love. [01:01:41]

Galatians 2:10 (ESV)
“Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God calling you to change or grow in compassion? What is a first step you can take today to respond to His grace?


Day 5: God Sees and Cares for the Suffering
For those who feel like Lazarus—wounded, overlooked, or desperate—there is comfort in knowing that God sees, knows, and cares deeply for you. In Jesus’ parable, Lazarus is the only character given a name, and he is carried by angels to a place of honor. Your suffering is not hidden from God; He knows your name and promises to be with you in your pain. The community of faith is called to reflect this heart of God, welcoming, loving, and serving one another as the body of Christ. [01:20:48]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Reflection: If you are hurting or feeling unseen, how can you open your heart to God’s comfort today? If you are able, how can you be God’s hands to someone who is suffering?

Quotes

Over and over again, he's like, they put heavy burdens on other people, but they don't help them lift them. He's trying to correct the Pharisees not just in their love of rules, but he wants them to love people. Love of neighbor is so important. It's such a big picture of what actual righteousness is. [00:36:57] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sights. [00:41:15] (16 seconds) Edit Clip

Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Sometimes people read that as though it's like adding to his misery. Oh my gosh, the dogs won't even leave him alone. But actually, it's thought that this is actually the dogs trying to help, right? The dogs will lick their own wounds. The dogs will lick each other's wounds, and it's trying to help kind of clean a wound. So when it says, even the dogs, it means even the dogs try to help. The dogs see a hurt man, and they try to help. The dogs do what the rich man refuses to do, because the dogs care more. [00:49:44] (49 seconds) Edit Clip

If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. And of course, Jesus is then foreshadowing his own death and resurrection and the rejection. People will see him risen. And they will still not believe because they love other things more. [00:58:09] (21 seconds) Edit Clip

Apparently there's a deadline to turn things around. And actually, that is in common with a Christmas carol because Scrooge had the same deadline, which is death. In both stories, you've got to turn around before death because when you die, it's pencils down, time's up, turn in the test. [01:00:49] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

The good news is that the story is not over. It was a parable. Jesus is giving like, hey, here they are. He's not telling about a historical event. Jesus is creating a story and he's saying, hey, here's what happened, right? But he's speaking to Pharisees who are not yet dead. They could turn around. They could choose to love people more than their possessions and their comfort. They are not dead yet. [01:01:16] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

Let me not ignore the beggar at the gate. Let me not be beat by the compassion of the dogs. Let me engage my life to live like Jesus in this world. Lord, I will fail. I'll mess up. I'll have selfish days. Lord, your grace will cover over that chasm. But oh, Lord, may you do your good work in me. [01:09:52] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

We are broken. We are sinners. We have messed up. We have been Pharisees. We have been rebellious. We've done all kinds of things, and there's a great chasm, but we believe that by the death of Jesus, that he pays for our debt, and he makes that bridge over that chasm, that we can be redeemed by his grace, by his mercy alone. [01:11:01] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Some of you may relate to the Lazarus of the story. You may see yourself as a person who's laying at the gate, covered in wounds, hungry and desperate. And maybe that's you and that's where you are. I want you to hear this promise from the text. He sees you. Lazarus is the only person in all the parables that receives a name. He's the one who's carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. When you suffer in this life, you don't suffer alone. God sees and God cares for you. [01:20:17] (45 seconds) Edit Clip