“And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
(Luke 16:21)
Seeing Ourselves Through a Distorted Mirror
When we look in the mirror every day, I’d like to think we see the best in ourselves.
But the truth is, we either force ourselves to see what we deem is the best, or we nitpick and try to cast away what’s considered lesser than.
As a collective, the majority of us have not truly learned the beauty that lies in our struggle and pain.
The moment we stop defining these moments as the epitome of our emptiness, then we might be able to grow.
The Story: A Rich Man and Lazarus
In the Bible, there was a rich man and Lazarus.
Each day the rich man stepped over Lazarus lying helpless at his gate, on his way into his mansion filled with the finest things.
Lazarus was just wishing to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.
Nobody showed compassion — except the dogs that licked his sores.
When both men died, Lazarus found himself alongside Abraham in paradise.
The rich man woke in torment and agony from the flames of what the Bible recounts as hell.
In desperation, the rich man begged Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool his tongue.
There Is a Lazarus and a Rich Man Inside Us
This story teaches compassion toward those less fortunate — but there’s another layer.
There’s a rich man and a Lazarus within each of us.
Every day, we step over the suffering inside us to focus on what we believe are better versions of ourselves.
We look down upon the parts of ourselves that lay injured on the ground beneath us and try to ignore them.
The versions of ourselves we try to erase are often the ones ordained by God.
And the identities we cling to — the “perfect,” curated versions — are the reason many of us still find ourselves in struggle instead of in the paradise of self-acceptance.
Where Do You Abandon Yourself?
So I ask you this:
In what ways do you look at yourself — past or present — as if you deserved to lie on the ground at the door of the person or the mask you put on now?
Worth Comes From Authenticity, Not Achievement
Society teaches us that our worth is tied to our success — but that is backwards.
Worth should be tied to authenticity.
Because authenticity brings success.
When we split ourselves apart and rewrite who we are to fit in, we disconnect from our wholeness.
Our entire existence — not just the polished parts — should be honored and alchemized through acceptance so that we can reach our full potential.
Don’t Bury Your Lazarus
Burying the Lazarus in you might allow you to present yourself as the rich man.
But as my pastor said: death levels the playing field.
The death of your rich-man identity will always bring you right back to the person you were when you lay on that ground.
And if you can’t see that version of yourself as worthy, then your riches are built on a fallacy — one that will end in demise.
Wholeness Is Where God Lives
In our wholeness, we discover the true gift of life.
When we honor the pure nature of who we are — the parts that have been thrown out and ostracized by societal standards — we become a direct reflection of the Creator themself.
We begin to live a life not created by insecurity, but curated by God.
Stop Stepping Over Your Lazarus
If this message finds you clear, then do yourself a favor and stop stepping over your Lazarus at the gate.
So that here on Earth, you can enjoy the fruits of your genuine greatness.
The rich man lives forever in torment.
Do you?
Thank you.
See you soon.
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