The COVID 19 pandemic and the economic fallout has created further financial challenges for more people. The poverty cycle is now much bigger than what we use to know. In effect, we now have more Lazarus-es with us than ever before. They are in the church, in your neighborhood and in your family. I have a question for you today: who is that Lazarus sitting at your gate. Remember, the way you respond to the Lazarus at your gate may determine where you spend eternity. Before you answer the question above, let us examine the lessons from the story in the Bible that prompted the reflection in this article.

1. Who is a Lazarus?: The beggar as depicted in the Bible, is a  representative figure of the NEEDY in our midst: the poor, the unemployed, the sick , the orphans, the prisoners,the unsaved souls. Anyone for that matter that is desirous of one help or the other.

2. Who is the Rich Man?: The helper, the able, the answer- possessor, the one with connection, the man of means, the evangelist. Anyone for that matter that the Lord has blessed in any way to be able to offer help to his fellow human beings.

3. The Gate/ Door: This represents our awareness and consciousness of the Needy among us; and the access we have been offered to reach out to these needy.

4. The Indifference of the Rich: Lazarus, sore- ridden, just sat at the gate with desires and never cried for the rich man’s attention. There are many helpers in our midst that are simply unconcerned about the plight of the less privileged or claim not to know them even when the appearance of these needy “shouts” at us that this person needs help. The problem with some of us is that we want to wait for people to grovel at our feet or linger at our gate before we will reach out to them. The word of the Lord is very clear in Matt. 25: 34-46 about the judgment of the rich(helpers etc) that failed in their responsibilities. May we not be numbered among the goats in the name of Jesus.

There are many ways we can escape the damming fate that befell the rich man in our story of today:

• Show sensitivity to the obvious needs of brethren around you: that brother whose shirt collar has worn out; that sister with only one hat with colours that suggest it has seen better days rather than a new fashion; that sickly looking brethren. Offer them help without them asking. Approach them and enquire ways you can be of help. The Bible records that there was no lack among brethren in the first church, “Neither was there any among them that lacked….”(Acts 4:32-37).

• Visit the church’s welfare department and drop your support. Every Sunday, scores of brethren throng the welfare department for help. The church counts on you to empower the department so that it can meet the needs of the needy in our midst.

• Offer your expertise, contacts, network to the Dominion Foundation (or any other NGO) which has been given the mandate to empower the needy by providing them with the boat and net required to become bread winners.

• Join evangelism outreaches to rescue the perishing souls of spiritual Lazarus-es out there in the world.

As we trudge on in our Christian walk, may the good Lord continue to open our eyes to other seemingly insignificant obstacles and “the little foxes that spoil the vines“( Song of Solomon 2:15), that might hinder our entrance into the gate of heaven. And surely, it will be testimonies galore for you in this month in the name of Jesus. Amen.