If Only

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 Luke 16:19-31, CEV 

19 There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. 20 But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man's house. 21 He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. 22  The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23  He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, 24 he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I'm suffering terribly in this fire.” 25 Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. 26 And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.” 27 But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father's home. 28 Let him warn my five brothers, so they won't come to this horrible place.” 29 Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.” 30 Then the rich man said, “No, that's not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.” 31 So Abraham said, “If they won't pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”

This sermon is about more than giving to others when you have enough, more than heaven and hell. It’s about awareness: awareness of ourselves, of other people, of God’s will, of what righteousness really is.

First, though, let’s talk about giving. We all know, without being reminded, that it’s good to share. We probably learned that as children. We’ve also learned that we can give much more than money: we can give time, empathy, and affection. And we understand that it’s important to pay attention to people so we can have a clear sense of what they need. 

As we grew to be adults, hopefully we learned that God is glorified when we share with love. 

And we probably understand now that three things happen when we refuse to share: the person we didn’t give to is deprived of what we could offer. We are deprived when we don’t give, because we miss out on the opportunity to grow closer to our Creator. And God is deprived too, because it brings God joy when the people who call themselves Christians actually strive to be like Christ.

Back to our story. Probably due to a lifetime of being self-centered, the bad guy was oblivious: unaware of Lazarus in his need, and equally unaware of the Scriptures in their richness. 

Earlier in this same chapter Jesus told the people, “God knows your hearts.” In the parable, Lazarus and the other man landed where they did because of their character, not their financial standing. Poverty is not a virtue, wealth is not a vice.

Here’s a bit of Bible trivia – Napkins were not commonly used when Jesus told this parable. The wealthy did not wipe their hands or mouths with napkins after they ate, but instead they used pieces of dough or soft bread. Then they just threw the bread on the floor. So you can imagine there was a fair amount of sustenance in what was thrown away, and a starving person like Lazarus would have been glad to get it. Kind of like the mountains of food that our society discards without even thinking about it.

Anyway the bad guy didn’t help Lazarus. And when he was confronted by his failure, he implied that he would have done the right thing IF ONLY someone had returned from the dead to tell him what to do. Father Abraham replied, in essence, “You had everything you needed to make good decisions.”

We have what we need to make good decisions. Let’s study, be aware of, and embrace the meaning of the Bible as seen through the lens of Jesus’ life and work on Earth. Let’s not get trapped in IF ONLY.

I think there are at least three types of IF ONLYs – it can be an excuse, a regret, or a lament. Sometimes IF ONLY can be a combination of all three types. Listen closely, because there’s going to be a test.

IF ONLY can be an excuse (when we are unwilling to accept responsibility for something that we did or failed to do).

IF ONLY can reflect regret: If only I’d made another choice, gone a different way. The mistakes that we make can generate shame, guilt, fear. Those reactions are paralyzing, and they keep our attention on ourselves as though our failures could ever be greater than God's grace.

And IF ONLY can belament, a reflection of grief or heartache: If only so-and-so were still here, if only my loved one hadn’t gotten sick or injured, if only that tragedy hadn’t happened. When horrible things happen, they must be acknowledged. Our grief and pain must be spoken, even if only in prayer. But we can’t stay there. Focusing on harmful things that other people did can lead to resentment and anger.

Sometimes we even get angry at God when we can’t understand situations. We can be blinded to opportunities and blessings and open doors when we focus on IF ONLY.

The Lord is our righteousness, our wrong made right – for all sorts of IF ONLYs. To know the Lord more deeply, more truly, is to be aware that God is able to turn all wrong to right, somehow—to know that evil cannot win—and to gradually learn what to do about IF ONLYs.

Let’s examine some of them in the light of what we’ve learned. Here’s that test I promised you. I’m going to name some IF ONLYs, and you consider whether each one is an excuse, a regret, a lament….or a combination.

Ready? If only I had better parents, a better education, better information, or better help.

What kind of IF ONLY is that? It could be an excuse, but it could also be a lament.

Here’s another: If only I hadn’t made that one big mistake.

Or,

If only I said something kind to that person before they left.

If only I hadn't been hurt the way I was.

If only our city/state/country had a better leader.

If only I knew then what I know now, I would have been a better parent

I’d trust God’s promises if only God would explain something or prove something to me.

If only I'd made a different decision, gone a different way.

I would have done the right thing if only it hadn’t been so hard.

If only so-and-so were still here.

I’d serve God if only people around me were more understanding.

And you’ll recognize the last one-- If I only had a brain, a heart, the nerve, a home.

Now that we’ve learned to identify the IF ONLYs, how can we deal with them?

Well, if we’re making excuses, we can own up, accept responsibility, repent, ask God for help to do better.

What if we’re struggling with regrets, wallowing in IF ONLYs? We can learn the habit of obeying and trusting God, and work on doing the next right thing.

And when the IF ONLY is something bad that happened to us or to a loved one, we can 

first acknowledge the harm or the pain, then we lament or express our grief, then look UP to the Lord. 

Sometimes we can’t see anything ahead of us. But we can always look UP and offer the sacrifice of praise, which means being aware of—and acknowledging—who God is. We thank God for what God does, but we praise God for who God is. God never changes, so we can always offer praise. 

And when we offer up praise after an honest lamentation, we magnify the Lord. We become more aware of God’s presence, power, affection, and activity on our behalf.

I invite you to consider your IF ONLYs, and be aware of what they are. You have them, and I do too. Are they excuses? Regrets? Laments? Combinations?

How will you react to this awareness? I earnestly hope that we will all choose to react in a way that glorifies God, because that will be the way that is best for us.

This heightened awareness can also help us be conscious of God’s loving presence with us, always. Maybe at some point in your life you’ve snugged up by someone you love—a spouse or partner, a parent, a child—and asked, “What are you thinking about?” 

Let’s use just a moment to imagine getting close to our Creator, and asking, “What are you thinking about, God?” 

Then take a breath, and listen. The Bible says God’s thoughts toward us are numerous. So you might hear a still small voice in reply: “I’m thinking about how much I love you. I’m thinking how proud of you I am, for the challenges you’ve faced and the ways you’ve overcome; for the temptations you’ve encountered, and how you either resisted or gotten up and tried again. I’m thinking about your very special gifts and graces, and how glad I am that you’re in this place at this time.” 

When at any point you become aware of God whispering this to you – now, or later – what will be your response? How will you reply?  [PAUSE]

Will you pray with me? O God, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. In you we live, and move, and have our being. Help us, please, grow more aware of your presence, more confident of your love, more eager to walk in the paths of truth and freedom. May we love and pray in Jesus’ dear name. Amen.