Luke 16.19-31 ~ Rich and Poor

A drama again taken from a parable, offered in a humorous way with serious undertones. Written at a time when charity envelopes were collected at houses.

Narrator stands centre stage, with a poor man lying on a raised surface or table to his left.  Rich  person enters from the right, large cream cakes are  on the table.

Narrator: (Reads from Luke 16 verse 19).  There was a rich person dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived in luxury every day. 

Rich  Person: (trying to decide)  . . . And now for dessert. Black forest gateau,  tarte au citron or a chocolate profiterole? Hmmm!  I really shouldn’t, but I will.  (Picks up cream cake) Twist my arm, won’t do any harm.  (Eats cake and enjoys it).

Narrator: And at his door was laid a beggar named Lazarus.  He was covered in sores and longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  Even the dogs came and licked his sores.  (Poor man lifts his hand weakly, begging for food).

News reader: (Behind TV screen of cardboard). Here is the news…..  According to the lates poverty statistics approximately 700 million people, live in extreme poverty., which is mainly concentrated in developing countries, such as  African regions south of the Sahara desert. and South Asia. In addition to those living in extreme poverty, roughly 1.3 billion people, live in moderate poverty, which disproportionately affects children, with about half of the world's poor being children under the age of 18. Poverty has serious consequences for children's health, education, and overall well-being, as children who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience poverty as adults.

Narrator: And now back to the rich person’s house.

Rich Lady: AND I simply cannot do without so large a car, so I use the Lamborghini when I don’t go QUITE so far. I love my period furniture, my titanium i phone,  I love Parisian couturier, each design  my very own.  For our holiday this year, we’re just sailing in the yacht, to leave me with sufficient cash to buy a hat for Ascot.  And what do you buy for birthdays when the kids have everything, and when Christmas comes round yet again, my head is in a spin!  (Front doorbell sounds).

Collector:  Could I interest you in sponsoring our charity each month? It's  . . .

Rich Lady: It's  . . .out of the question. No thank you! But I am willing to make a small donation : Just a tick, I’ll try to be quick.  Aside; pushy people make you sick.  (Oh! I can't see any spare cash lying around, oh here's the kiddies piggy bank).  They won’t mind, they’ve got to learn to be kind.  (coins are extracted)  There you are! Thank you. 

Collector; Thank you! (door closes)

  Of course I give to charity, what do you take me for?  I give them each spare coin I have, do they expect me to give more?  I live in the lap of luxury, I cannot tell a lie.  And I intend to live this way until the day I (Has heart attack or chokes)

Narrator: Die!

 (verse 22)  The time came when the beggar too died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  (Beggar rises and dances or moves to Narrator’s side.  Glockenspiel can be used to represent ascent).

Narrator: The rich man was also buried, in hell, where he was in torment.  (Rich lady descends to hell writhing in agony.  Glockenspiel can be used to represent descent).

Narrator: The rich man looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

Rich Lady: (Uncomfortably hot, still in fur coat).  I say, I’m most frightfully sorry to bother you, but it’s awfully hot down here, and I’m rather thirsty. Is there a teensy-weensy drop of water up there?  

 Narrator: (Verse 25) But Abraham replied “Remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

 Rich Lady: Well!  I’m just off to warn my family about this.  So it really is true after all, I won’t be long.  I’ll be right back.

Narrator: No!  They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them.

Rich Lady: But don’t you see, if someone from the dead goes to them, they’ll change their ways

Narrator: (Verse 31)  If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.  (updated 2024)