Introduction
This post tells us that God cares for the Rich as well as the poor
God chose Mary to be the Mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38)
Mary was an ordinary woman. She was not a King’s daughter. Yet she had a visitation from an angel. She praised and sang this song. She said that God fills the hungry and he sends the rich away empty. She was surprised to have this visitation that God cares for the poor and he sees them. God chose an ordinary woman to bring Christ to the world.
Jesus was laid in a manger (Luke 2:1-7)
Caesar Augustus made a decree that everyone had to be registered in their hometown. Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered there. Mary was pregnant. When the time had come for her to deliver the baby, she gave birth to Jesus. She laid him in a trough for feeding animals. There was no inn available at that time for them. By letting His son be laid in a manger, God clearly lets us know that His Son had come for the poor and the downtrodden.
Gospel first announced by the Angel to Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14)
Several shepherds were in the fields in night watching over their flock. They were in the countryside of Bethlehem. An angel appeared before them. A bright light surrounded the shepherds. When the shepherds saw the angel, they were afraid. But the angel told them not to be afraid. Angel gave them the joyful news about the birth of Jesus. The angel told them that the baby Jesus was lying in a manger, and that is how they can recognize Him. And suddenly with that angel, a large number of heavenly hosts appeared and started praising God.
The gospel of Lord Jesus was first preached to a bunch of lowly shepherds, the working class of the day.
God sent his son to preach the Good News to the Poor (Luke 4:18)
God very clearly says in Luke 4:18 that He had anointed Jesus to proclaim the good news to the poor. God cares about poor people to give them a bright future and to set them free.
Blessed are the poor in the Spirit (Luke 6:20)
In the beatitudes, Jesus said that the poor were blessed because the kingdom of God was theirs.
Selfish Rich (Luke 6:24)
Again, in the beatitudes, Jesus condemned the rich (I think the rich people who were selfish, self-centered and the greedy rich). He said they had already received consolation through their wealth.
A Generous Centurion’s Servant gets Healed (Luke 7:1-10)
A centurion’s servant feels very sick. He requested the elders of the Jews to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. They came and told Jesus that this centurion had built their synagogue. Jesus went with them to heal the servant.
When Jesus was getting close to his house. The centurion humbled himself before Jesus by saying that he was unworthy of having Jesus in his house. He just requested that Jesus command the healing from the distance. Jesus marveled and praised his faith. The servant was immediately healed.
The generosity of a rich man attracts Jesus
Woman with the Issue of Blood (Luke 8:43-48)
This woman had a discharge of blood for twelve years, she had lost all her money trying to get cured by physicians. None could heal her. She came from behind and touched Jesus’ garment and was immediately healed.
This woman was poor in her health. She lost all her money. She was greatly troubled by her disease because she was untouchable. And one touch of the Master and she was fully restored.
A Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)
A Certain man went from Jerusalem to Jericho and was beaten by the thieves on the way and they took everything he had. He became poor and helpless. When a priest and the Levite passed by, they saw a helpless wounded man but they ignored him and went their way. But when a certain man came, he saw a helpless wounded man and he had compassion for him. So, he went to him and gave treatment to his wounds. He set him on a donkey and took him to an inn, and took care of him. He gave some money to the innkeeper to take care of this person.
The Dependency should be on God (Luke 12:16-21)
Jesus spoke of a parable about a rich man who had a bountiful harvest. He had so much crop that he ran out of space to keep it. He said to himself, that he will rebuild his barns and make them larger for storing his crops. He also said to his soul that he now had enough crops for many years. So, his soul should not worry but eat, drink and be happy. But God called him a fool because that night he was to die. God called him a fool because his dependency was on his wealth and not on God. God delights in those who put their trust in Him.
Invite the Poor (Luke 14:13-14)
In these scriptures, we see clearly that when a rich person invites his rich friends, brothers, relatives, and neighbors for supper and feast. They can repay him by inviting them into their home. When a rich person invites the poor and gives them supper and feast. That is pleasing to God because He is doing it for the Lord and not for the man because poor people cannot repay him back. But God will repay the rich man for his goodness.
This tells us that this Rich person is dependent on God and not on his wealth or person.
The Parable of the Great Supper (Luke 14:16-24)
In this parable, a certain master made a great supper and invited many, but people made excuses that they cannot come. So, the master got very upset and asked his servant to invite the poor, the wounded, the lame, and the blind. And the servant did according to what the master commanded, but there was still room to accommodate more guests, So he asked his servant to bring more people from the highways and the hedges. The master wanted his house to be completely filled with guests.
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
There was a man who had two sons. The younger son asked his father to give him his share of the property. And he gave the share of the property to his younger son. The younger son took all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he wasted his property in careless living. And when he had spent everything, he became very poor. He was so poor that he ate the food that the pigs ate to satisfy his hunger.
Then one day he had the good sense to return to his father and repent before him. When he returned to his father with a repentant heart, his father restored honor and sonship to him.
The Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)
Jesus told about the parable of a rich man who had a steward. The steward was wasting his master’s goods. So, the master decided to fire him. But the steward because he was cunning, went to all his master’s debtors and he reduced the quantity they owed in the accounting books. His thought was that by doing this favor to the debtors, they would receive him and give him the job. But the master found out about this. Instead of scolding the steward, he praised the steward for his cunningness.
Jesus has used this parable to be faithful in money matters, Whether it is the money of God (Tithes, Offerings, Church Collections) or the Money of Other People.
Either we will serve money or we will serve God.
Lazarus and his Rich Neighbor (Luke 16:19-26)
This story is about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was clothed with good clothes and he had more than enough. He feasted every day. He was greedy, unkind, and selfish. He did not give and care for the poor man named Lazarus.
Lazarus was clothed with pain. He was hungry. He desired to eat food from the rich man’s table. But he could not get it because the Rich Man did not give him. His body had wounds and the dogs came licked his wounds.
After the death of Lazarus, He was taken to Heaven by angels to be with Abraham. There he got comforted and received good things, food to eat, and good clothes to wear.
After the death of Rich man, he was taken to Hades to be tormented, to be in pain, and not receive anything. He even did not get water.
Rich Young Ruler rejects Jesus’ Invitation to Follow Him (Luke 18:18-23)
A young ruler wanted to inherit eternal life. He gave full honor to Jesus by calling Him, “Good teacher”. He kept all his commandments from his Youth. But still, he lacked one thing. Jesus asked him to sell everything he has and distribute it to the poor and he will have treasure in heaven Jesus also asked the young ruler. to follow Him. He gave priority to wealth. Since he gave priority to his wealth he lost his treasure in heaven and he did not follow Jesus.
The Blind Beggar receives his Healing (Luke 18:35-43)
As Jesus was coming near Jericho, A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And he heard a commotion. So he asked somebody, who was passing by? And somebody told him that it is Jesus who was passing by. When the blind beggar heard this, He called out to Jesus in a loud voice. He said, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”. And Jesus stopped and asked him to come to him. And Jesus healed him of his blindness. And he was able to see.
Even with his blind eyes, this poor beggar could see that Jesus was the promised son of David. He must have heard the stories of Jesus from others. Because he could see Jesus even with his blind eyes, His natural eyes got healed to the glory of God.
How the Rich Man Zaccheus humbled himself before God (Luke 19:1-10)
This story is about Zaccheus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was a cheater, and sinner, and does not care and give to the poor. People hated him. He was so curious to see who Jesus was. But because of the crowd, he cannot see Jesus for he was short. So, he went and climbed on the tree to see Jesus. He ignored people. He did not consider what people thought of him. He considered what Jesus was said of him. He received Jesus joyfully when he said that he will come and stay in his house. He repents and humbles himself to God. He even decides to give half of the goods to the poor and to the people whom he had cheated he decided to give fourfold.
Here in this part, Zaccheus’s encounter with Christ brings repentance, confession, and salvation.
The widow’s two mites (Luke 21:1-4)
Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, he saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. He said that the poor widow has put in more than all. All that she had she gave to God out of her poverty. God does not see how much we give. But God sees the heart and not the amount.
Pilate Condemns the Innocent (Luke 23:24)
Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent in Luke 23:4, 23:14, and 23:22. But he still delivered Jesus to be crucified.
When riches, position, status, and praise from people are our God, then we are at risk of making an erroneous judgment.
The crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:33-38)
The soldiers crucified Jesus and with him two other criminals. Jesus asked God to forgive everyone for they do not know what they were doing. Jesus became poor on the cross for our sakes. Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that through His poverty we might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
A Humble Criminal on the Cross (Luke 23:39-43)
There were two criminals who were hung besides Jesus when he was crucified. One criminal mocked Jesus. The other rebuked him. Then he prayed to Jesus asking him to remember him in his kingdom. And Jesus answered him by saying that he will be in Heaven with Jesus the very same day.
God gives immediate grace to the humble, even when it is a condemned thief.