The Good Things – The Presidential Prayer Team

Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things.  – Luke 16:25

The sober message Jesus relates in Chapter 16 of Luke echoes the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). Both those who do good works and those who do not will receive their respective reward. Luke 16 tells the story of a rich man who died and went to Hades, a place of torment, while a poor man died and went to Abraham’s side, a place of comfort. While the parable does not mention the good deeds that Lazarus had done, it describes that he had a miserable life – poor and sick – while the rich man had his comforts, ignoring Lazarus’ condition.

In the story, Abraham tells the rich man, “Remember that you in your lifetime received your good things“ (v. 25). Americans, in general, are better off than the rest of the world, even better off than kings of old. There is abundant food, modern plumbing, and available goods and services, to name a few examples. Salvation is in Christ alone. Jesus says to lay up your treasures in Heaven, emphasizing the importance of sharing with those in need. The apostle Paul says that the fire of God will burn up a believer’s useless works that are as “wood, hay, and straw,” but the soul will be saved (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

You may currently be having financial struggles, as many do during this time, but remember and be thankful for the good things the Lord has given you. Ask God to lead you in sharing with those in need. Pray that government officials will not waste money on ungodly projects and methods. Ask that both those in the USA, and throughout the world, will receive their daily bread, be led away from temptation, and be delivered from evil.

Today’s Verse: Luke 16:25

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.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: James 2:14-26

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.