Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘ Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.
{[The rich man had an opportunity to help the poor beggar. He was laid right at the rich man's gate. He couldn't miss him. The beggar didn't require much. All the beggar wanted was the crumbs from the rich man's table. In other words, the things the rich man would not be using anyway. But the poor man was of no concern to the rich man. Then the poor man died. That might seem to be a sad ending for him but it is not the end of the story. The poor man went to Paradise. What good was his life? His life was meant to be an opportunity for someone to help him. He was part of the rich man's test. Even when it seems our life has no meaning and we are not successful even at making a living, it does not mean our life has been in vain. And we should not be proud if circumstances prevent us from being financially successful and be upset about it. It provides an opportunity for those who are better off to help us. After all, there are those born poor and those born rich. This is all God's will. Some Christians seem to expect God will make every pious Christian wealthy in worldly goods. This is not God's will for most of us. Some of us are poor and will remain that way. If the rich do not help us, we are still serving God's purpose for us. Again, God's grace can be sufficient for us and we can gain joy from this. Not easy to do, I admit, but a worthy goal. . . . No, don't try to be poor, but don't be concerned about your 'success' if you cannot obtain it. (Doesn't the bible speak this very same thing - if you are poor don't seek to be rich, if you are rich don't seek to be poor. Remain in the condition God has called you.) God measures success much differently than man. Look where the poor man and rich man ended up and recall that Jesus said it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.}
We all know that Jesus left God's presence to come to earth and become a weak baby in swaddling clothes. Later in His ministry He had no where to lay his head down. He lived weak, died weak. He voluntarily became weak in order that God's power and goodness might be seen through that. And it worked! He became an example of obedience by the things He suffered.
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Hebrews 5:8-10
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek
{As a result, we have someone who can relate to us and we can be encouraged by Him, our high priest.
Hope you got some benefit from this. What a difference it makes in our lives when we realize that God is working through our weaknesses, problems and failures as well as our successes and talents. Then we can truly say "his grace is sufficient for me."}
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