Surprise [3-22-26]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQorN7KSHZE

March 22, 2026

Luke 16:19-31

“Surprise”

The first eighteen verses of Luke 16 have been very dense. But importantly dense. Grappling with them helps us understand the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

These are all sobering stories about money. Jesus never condemns money. He doesn’t condemn material blessings. Jesus doesn’t condemn all rich people. And he never says that all poor people are noble and pure. We are not defined by what we have or don’t have. Instead, we are defined by what we do with whatever it is that we have.

Here’s a point we’ve already made, which is important to remember:

Money is not a sign of God’s favor or a rightful reward for right conduct.

Money, more than anything else, helps us provide for ourselves and those we love. And God has given us a way to look at money that is beneficial in two ways:

It deadens the desire, driven by our sinful nature, to acquire more.

It warms our hearts to the desire to help others.

In other words…we are to be wise caretakers of God’s blessings. Our security comes from knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Therefore, we can hold loosely to the things of this world.

Here’s the first thing you might want to write down. When it comes to money:

IN DOING SOMETHING FOR OTHERS WE DO SOMETHING FOR OURSELVES.

Amen? Jesus builds toward the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus with teachings about cleverness, kindness, faithfulness, and generosity.

One last piece before we look at today’s passage. It is sort of an

underneathness to all of it. As we’ve said before, fear is a heck of a drug.

Fear can dominate people’s lives. It drives choices we make. It influences

our spending. It impacts consumer spending.

As devoted followers of the Risen Christ, we ought to have no fear. For us, there is no fear of death. There is no fear in death. Death is an entrance into the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As Revelation 5 promises:

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of

thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

In light of such a beautiful promise, how can there be fear? Finding safety in the things of this world is never an option. Life is full of risks. There is comfort and rescue in nothing less than Jesus. Many times Jesus says, “Fear not.” But how many times do people seek spiritual shelter in money? How many times do people seek emotional comfort in material things? I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t sometimes happen to me. But our safety…our security…is found in Christ and Christ alone.

So here in Luke 16, Jesus is building toward the truth of Christian self-denial. Jesus moves us beyond the safety of our lives. Jesus is moving us beyond the preservation of our lives. He is moving us to think about the virtue of life well-lived. Which has nothing to do with money or material things. A life well-lived is about doing those things which help others. Being generous. Being courageous and kind. Loving God, Jesus says, is more important than loving money and the false promise money brings. Loving God, Jesus says, means taking one small opportunity after another to help those around us.

Here are a couple of thoughts making the point:

Former Game Show Host Peter Marshall – “SMALL DEEDS DONE ARE BETTER THAN GREAT DEEDS PLANNED.”

Actor Neil McDonough – “WE CAN’T JUST WAIT FOR THE WORLD TO GET BETTER ON ITS OWN. EACH OF US HAS A ROLE TO PLAY. WITH FAITH, LOVE, AND COURAGE, WE CAN MAKE THIS WORLD A BRIGHTER PLACE FOR OURSELVES AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.”

Old Greek Proverb – “A SOCIETY GROWS GREAT WHEN OLD

MEN PLANT TREES WHOSE SHADE THEY KNOW THEY SHALL NEVER SIT IN.”

Old American Proverb – “WORRY IS LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR: IT

GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO BUT GETS YOU NOWHERE.”

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. There are all kinds of things we can do to make life better for ourselves and those around us. We focus our efforts on doing those things which are pleasing to God. Rather than pursuing safety and security, Jesus calls us to do those things which are a blessing to the lives of the people around us.

With all that as a foundation, let’s turn now to Luke 16:19-31:

“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.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house - for I have five brothers - so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

This is a sobering story. It gets to the heart of what Jesus has been

building to. We can go all the way back to the Parable of the Prodigal Son to see how Jesus is setting up the truth about being a blessing to the lives of those around us. One of the many layered points from the Prodigal Son is the horrible attitude and behavior of the older brother. Here he’s got a merciful and loving father. He’s got a brother who has repented and come home. Yet he stands alone, outside, sulking. All he has to do is be kind and join the party. Simply do a nice thing. Simply be happy. Simply embrace the joy of life. But no, he makes it all about himself. It costs him nothing to join the joy of his father. Step in to the celebration. Be a decent human being. Is that too much to ask?

What’s the first thing Jesus wants us to pay attention to? How the man is dressed. Clothed in purple. Very expensive cloth. And there’s a reason Jesus does this. It’s very rare for Jesus to make note of how someone is dressed. But here, it makes an important contrast. Right from the start, we are clearly told he is rich in so many ways. The best clothing. He eats sumptuously every day. That’s huge. Daily diet of an average person is soup, bread, and fruit. More than an abundance food, sumptuously means that he enjoys a fine feast daily. Such a vivid picture painted in one verse.

Here’s an important point to remember:

The rich man lives a good life fencing himself off from the cries of despair outside his gate.

That plays into the point of taking one small opportunity after another to help those around us.

Next comes Lazarus. Of all the parables told by Jesus, Lazarus is the only named character. That is a huge point. The rich and powerful man is a man with no name. But Jesus gives Lazarus a name. The man forgotten by others has a name.

Some of you probably have cool stories about your first name…what it means, why your parents chose it. Whenever we are someplace where you have to give a name for your order, I always use “Bob.” Sometimes, in certain circumstances, the easiest name is the best name.

Here’s a list of the most unique names for 2025, by state:

Alabama: Zaykeese

Alaska: Atigun

Arizona: Noname

Arkansas: Maziyah

California: Alique

Colorado: Aristea

Connecticut: Nayeliz

Delaware: Naim

District of Columbia: Meklit

Florida: Kendly

Georgia: Nyyear

Hawaii: Lehiwa

Idaho: Moroni

Illinois: Kotryna

Indiana: Nymeir

Iowa: Brex

Kansas: Macklyn

Kentucky: Eleia

Louisiana: Ryda

Maine: Winner

Maryland: Danera

Massachusetts: Jadalys

Michigan: Fatme

Minnesota: Sabarin

Mississippi: Johneisha

Missouri: Carmya

Montana: Treysen

Nebraska: Halsey

Nevada: Eluney

New Hampshire: Babyboy

New Jersey: Mariaeduard

New Mexico: Charmayne

New York: Hudes

North Carolina: Aryya

North Dakota: Cauy

Ohio: Firman

Oklahoma: Daycee

Oregon: Trask

Pennsylvania: Pater

Rhode Island: Jahziel

South Carolina: Tradd

South Dakota: Wicahpi

Tennessee: Kavious

Texas: Taslin

Utah: Arikka

Vermont: Wylder

Virginia: Lakhi

Washington: Chelan

West Virginia: Haylea

Wisconsin: Yuepheng

Wyoming: Mazikeen

Your name’s not looking so weird right about now, is it? We’ll round things out with a few of my favorites:

Cosmo

Dragonfly

Lumikukka

Gwaine

Paisleigh

Names are important and significant and meaningful in one way or

another. Of all the parables he tells, Jesus intentionally names one character, and only one. It is Lazarus. And here’s why. Remember again one of the essential themes of Luke 15 and 16…Loving God, Jesus says, means taking one small opportunity after another to help those around us. Jesus teaches it and models it because God commands it. “Lazarus” is the Greek form of “Eleazar,” which is Hebrew for “God has helped” or “God is my help.”

The meaning is quite simple. As the parable develops, if no one, not even a rich and well-fed man, is willing to help someone in need, God ultimately gives the greatest and best help of all. And, oh, by the way, woe to anyone who doesn’t help.

That’s where we’re going to stop. Lazarus is laid outside the rich man’s gate, with all the other riffraff looking for help. He’s a helpless beggar. Come back next week and see how quickly his fortunes will turn. While the rich man rides the fastest handbasket to hell.

As many of you know, I am quite fond of quoting Charles Spurgeon. He

was a pastor in England in the mid-late 1800s. He believed that helping those in need was a vital, practical, and non-negotiable duty for Christians. He believed that our primary role, as believers, is to share the gospel, followed by giving practical aid to hurting people. This was seen in his founding of orphanages, schools, and homes for the elderly. Spurgeon gets the final word today:

"If Christ has saved you, he will save you from being selfish."

And together, the saved people of Covenant Church said:

AMEN.