SIX BROTHERS, SAME ATTITUDE

Sunday: 29th September, 2019

Reference text: Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:27, 28 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Although the degree of influence exerted by each is relative, there is largely a consensus that Nature and Nurturing are the two main contributors to one’s personality. Whenever we hear the parable involving Lazarus and the rich man, a number of key things stand out, many of which we have heard over and over again. A reminder, however, that the parable was not spoken against the wealth of the rich man, but his attitude – because ‘he didn’t care’.

Nonetheless, let’s shine more light on an area of this parable that caught my attention today: ‘the five brothers of the rich man’. Bearing in mind that nature and nurture are influences, it may not sound much of a surprise that all six brothers had the same attitude- ‘they all didn’t care’. This we know because the experience of the rich man caused him to plead for someone from the dead to warn his brothers for only then “WILL they repent.” One can only repent from something they are already involved in.

So I asked ‘what could have gone wrong in their father’s house for all six sons to develop a carefree attitude towards others? Though I could find no answer, I know something went amiss. Thus, I throw it to us to consider the life lessons, morals and values we teach in our homes or have present in our daily lives.

Some homes are known to be charitable, others hospitable and approachable. Some God-fearing, others full of love and even some, peaceful. The homes of the six brothers were however characterised by ‘an absence of care and concern for others’ – they lived only for themselves.

My dear, what kind of home do you live in and what kind of home do you want to create for the generations after you?

Think about this.

#sly