15 November 2010
Psalm 89.1-18; Hab 2.1-20; James 2.14-26; Luke 16.19-31

Do we think very often that all that we do is known to the Lord? Our liturgy begins with what is known as the Collect for Purity. It says, “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord.” Habakkuk reminds us of God’s omniscience, that he sees and knows all things, even for this nation, the Chaldeans, who have been used as His instrument for judgment on His people. They too will be judged for what they have done. What we do is a measure of what we believe in many ways. A pattern of conduct in our lives betrays character. Most of the time in my life I cherish the theological understanding of the omniscience of God more than I do the reality. We need to recall that God knowing all things has personal implications for our conduct.

The story here is not indicated to be a parable. Is Jesus telling an actual story? It would seem so. We don’t know whether the man in the story is a religious person or not, we only know he was a rich man. There is a Scrooge like character to the story and one wonders if it inspired Charles Dickens. It is interesting that the rich man is not named and the beggar is, an indication of eternal import versus earthly import when the rich man’s name would likely have been known to many while the poor man would have been relatively nameless. What we do know is that Abraham knows all about the earthly lives of these two men and that the rich man ignored the poor man and his needs. Are we guilty of the same attitude of indifference to the suffering and needs of others? Does the fact that we have insulated our lives from contact with those in need absolve us from caring?

What does it mean that faith apart from works is dead? Faith in Jesus Christ risen from the dead is to enliven us to Christ-likeness, rouse us from the dead. Paul will say we were formerly dead because of our sin but the Holy Spirit living in us and through us is life-giving. We have died to sin and risen to Christ and that should show in our lives. The new life in Christ is not simply an affair of the heart and head, it should involve all our being. If we are living by the Spirit then what concerns us should reveal that fact. We are to be shaped by a different set of facts and a different perspective on this life. We have received a great gift, the perspective of the reality that this life isn’t all, we have eternal life, and how we use this short life matters to God. Have we asked Him lately how He would have us live and what we can do with our few years here?

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.