Christian Living

---

Dubai, a city located on the Persian Gulf in the second largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, could be called the ninth wonder of the world. Its 2006 economy was 46 billion dollars with just over a million population. Rich beyond all reason, it is a tourist mecca--a veritable city of gold. Everything is new and shiny and obscenely extravagant. They are busily building the tallest skyscraper in the world, currently working on the 150th story. Midas was a piker compared to Dubai's citizens.

About 4,000 miles south on the eastern coast of SubSaharan Africa is the little country of Malawi. In spite of considerable outside help during the last 15 or 20 years, people are still starving there. There are inadequate medical facilities, few schools, and safe water supply is not assured. Aids runs rampant among children as well as adults. Bare subsistence is their goal, and it's not reached by everyone.

Reminds one of the parable Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31 about the rich man and Lazarus: modern day rich folks--and beggars (but actually the people of Malawi don't beg; they just suffer quietly and are so so sweetly grateful for any help they receive). Wonder if there are some conclusions that could be drawn here?

Remember the rich man pleaded with Abraham to send someone back to warn his brothers, saying if one rose from the dead, they would repent. But Abraham said no they wouldn't repent even then. And he was right. Because Someone has risen from the dead and warned us, but we are still making the same old mistakes. Dubai and Malawi are eloquent proof of a lesson not yet learned.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE