From a humble background. Three siblings struggling to make sense out of life with no parental guidance, love, care or input. Lazarus and his two sisters were considered the scum of the society; Everyone in the community where they lived knew them as destitute who begged and engaged in ignoble works to survive, not having enough to eat or wear; facing the harsh realities of life all alone.
They have had no connection with the noble neither were they known to the kings but, yet they were known in their village and the community as strugglers. They knew what it meant not to have enough or none at all. Rather than moaning and groaning about the economic crisis in the city or be overwhelmed by their circumstances or engage in the blame culture of runaway or deceased parents, they became acquainted with hard work, always trying to ensure that there was food on their table, roof over their heads. They had grown to watch out for themselves as siblings, they had become each other’s trusted friends; they refused to be idle but always finding something to do in the most unbelievable situations under the despicable circumstances. It didn’t matter whether they engaged in a job on the road side as beggars or in the pub or brothel or working or trading from home and selling whatever was produced from their home bakery. They learnt to be industrious rather than being sorry for themselves. Even though they were considered poor by the standard of man, they were rich in the sight of God. Luke 16.
In their time of scarcity, littleness and nothingness, they had opened up their house to Jesus the meeter of all needs, the one who ministers seed to the sower and who also ministers bread for food who is capable of multiplying the seed sown and increase the fruits of their gesture of kindness. As much as their physical needs remained enormous they were still willing to part with the little that they had in order that they may gain what money could not buy. They embraced Jesus not just as a guest in their home or just as a need ‘meeter’ but received him as the ‘Word of God’. They gave Christ room in their heart by engaging Him; they had found wine and milk without money and without cost. Receiving him not just as a guest in their home but received him as the ‘Word of God’ that gives life eternal. (Luke 10:38-42, 2Corinthians 9:10, Isaiah 55:1-3)
They were rejected by men in their community; no one wished to associate with them but they found a friend in Jesus who was not ashamed to call them His friends. They loved Him and were loved by Him. Knowing Him provided them a way out of the crypts of anxiety, worry, lack, rejection, abandonment and feeling of dejection. They knew Him who is the Father for the fatherless, husband for the widow, the eyes to the blind, hope for the hopeless and help for the helpless, they had come to know Him whose word heals the sick, ministers to the hungry and thirsty soul. He became to them the rescuer, deliverer, saviour, provider, sustainer, supporter, the joy and the rejoicing of their heart.
Knowing Jesus showed them out of the crypts of neglect and moved them from the continuity of painful labor of their worldly business to embrace the one thing that was needful, the salvation of their souls and they became the benefactors of the love and favour of God that could not be taken away like their parents had walked away from them. So, the ‘nobodies became known as the friends of Jesus and He called them His friends.
Beloved, if a friend, a husband, a wife or a family, had walked out on you or you have suffered a loss of something you considered so important to you, your business, work or opportunity and you have been struggling in silence because of the pain of the loss you have suffered, the neglect, rejection, hardship or toiling, and you have become busy in engaging in worldly business in order to cover up your pain, and it has led you further in the depths of the crypts of unforgiveness, bitterness, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, hopelessness and depression. You can come out of the crypts today! Open your heart to Jesus! Let him come and reside in your heart as a father, a friend, a lover, a saviour and a redeemer, a provider and sustainer. Receiving Jesus in your heart is simple. All you have to do is believe that he died for your sins and resurrected for your justification and confess Him as your Lord; you are saved! Romans10:9-11.
Consider this:
- When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. [Psa 27:10 KJV]
- A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. [Pro 17:17 KJV]
- Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. [Joh 15:15 KJV]
- For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Rom 8:38-39 NIV]
- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. [Rom 8:28 KJV]
