In Luke, Lazarus longed for the crumbs from the rich man’s table.
Luke 16:20-21
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.
This passage is often understood as a picture of the rich man’s failure to be rich toward God. He spent his days feeding his flesh while starving his relationship with his Creator. Lazarus, on the other hand, lived with little, yet he was rich toward God.
While the rich man filled his days with comfort, entertainment, and pleasure, Lazarus sat outside the city gate meditating on the goodness of the Lord.
The contrast between these two individuals raises an important question for us as men: Are we giving Jesus our crumbs? Do we desire worldly things or even the things of God more than we desire God Himself?
Interestingly, the rich man in this passage is never named, while Lazarus is. Lazarus means “God has helped,” and that name points us to a deeper truth about the heart of God toward us through Jesus. Jesus did not simply save us; He called us into a deep and abiding relationship with Him.
Our relationship with God begins with time. Spending time with Jesus—both in His Word and in personal prayer—shapes us into living reflections of Him. The deeper we go with Him, the more our souls are filled by His presence, because that is what we were created for.
Salvation is not simply a moment in time that we experience and move on from. We come to the cross, are washed from the filth of our past, and then begin the lifelong journey of walking with Him. Our faith will only grow as deep as we allow it to grow. If we never spend time in God’s Word and prayer, we will remain in shallow waters.
Many of us want what Jesus offers, yet we hesitate to walk through the doors He calls us to enter.
As men, we are filling our days by either pursuing the things of this world or investing in the things that nourish our soul. Only one of those paths produces lasting peace and joy. The other never truly satisfies.
Proverbs 27:20
Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.
To receive the gift of salvation yet never experience the deep daily fellowship that Jesus desires to have with us is like eating a wonderful meal and then later choosing to starve. We remember how good the food tasted but live only on the memory of the moment, wondering if we will ever experience it again.
Salvation may meet our greatest need, but neglecting a daily walk with our Savior leaves many believers living defeated lives. How tragic it is for a man to be saved from his sins but continue to walk in defeat.
Life on this earth will always bring thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:17-18). However, our walk with Jesus brings the light of life.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Men, Jesus calls to those who are tired, weary and burdened by the pressures of life, when He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Have we traded eternal things for things that rust and never satisfy? Are we spending every weekend running from one event to the next while neglecting the only One who restores our soul? The things of this world are choking out the time we should spend walking hand in hand with Jesus in the light of our Heavenly Father!
Are we giving our time to the Creator of time, or are we giving Him our crumbs and leftovers?
The richness of our walk with God depends on our willingness to spend quality time with the One who truly cares about the path we choose to follow.
Have a great weekend,
SL Thomas