A Parable of a Rich Homeless Beggar
A homeless man sat on a street corner in Colorado Springs, asking passersby for money. He was there through the bitter cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer. Year after year, no matter how hard he tried, his life never seemed to change.
One day, a wealthy man walking down the street stopped when he saw the beggar. He could hardly believe his eyes. The man on the corner was his brother.
“Brother, what are you doing here?” he asked. “Why are you living on the street and begging? Don’t you know our father left you a considerable fortune? It’s waiting for you in the bank.”
The beggar had just heard wonderful news. But hearing it was only the beginning. How would he respond?
1. The Unbeliever
“I don’t believe you,” the beggar said. “That sounds like a made-up story. Do you think I’m a fool? Please don’t waste my time.”
He dismissed his brother and went back to begging. Nothing changed. He spent the rest of his life on that corner, never receiving the wealth that was waiting for him.
2. The Angry Child
The beggar looked up, his face filled with anger.
“Don’t talk to me about our father. Where was he when I needed him? If he loved me, why did he let all those things happen to me? With all his power and wealth, why didn’t he do something?”
He told his brother to leave and never bring up their father again. His anger kept him on the corner, while the inheritance remained untouched.
3. The Proud Religious Son
This beggar greeted his brother warmly. But when his brother told him about the inheritance, he replied, “Why would I need it? I’m doing fine on my own. I work harder than anyone else on these corners. I’ve studied everything there is to know about begging, and I help other people too. I’ll make it without Father’s help.”
He worked all his life trying to earn what had already been given to him. His pride kept him from receiving it.
4. The One Who Felt Unworthy
When the beggar recognized his brother, he tried to hide his face.
“Brother,” the wealthy man said, “why are you sitting here when you have an inheritance waiting for you?”
“I’m not worthy of Father’s love,” the beggar answered. “After everything I’ve done, I can’t believe he would forgive me or want to give me anything.”
Unable to believe the gift was meant for him, he remained on the corner.
5. The Son Who Received the Gift
The wealthy brother called out, “Brother, it grieves me to see you living here without food or money. Our father has left you an inheritance. It’s waiting for you. Come with me, and let me show you.”
The beggar looked up in amazement. “That sounds too good to be true!”
But he believed his brother and went with him. Together they went to the bank, and the beggar received what his father had left him. His brother then helped him learn to live a new life.
The Meaning of the Parable
This parable points to the good news of Jesus Christ. God came to us in the person of His Son because He loves us and wants to reconcile us to Himself.
God did not ignore our sin or pretend it did not matter. Jesus paid the debt of our sin at the cross. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He opened the way for us to be forgiven, welcomed into God’s family, and given eternal life.
Like the beggar, we must decide how to respond to this news:
- We can dismiss it as religious fiction and refuse to believe it.
- We can hold on to anger, blaming God for the pain in our lives and the wrongs we see in the world.
- We can trust in our own efforts, believing that good works, church attendance, baptism, religious practices, or simply being a good person will earn us a place in heaven.
- We can believe we are beyond forgiveness, as though our sins are greater than God’s love and grace.
- We can receive God’s gift, trusting in what Jesus Christ has done for us.
The fifth response is the one I pray you will choose. Jesus has paid the debt we could never pay ourselves. We cannot earn His forgiveness, and we do not have to. We are invited to repent, place our faith in Him, and receive the new life He offers.
If you have questions about eternal life or how to receive this gift, please read How Do I Receive Eternal Life?.
