HoHum:
A Sunday School teacher told her class of 2nd graders the story found in Luke 16 of the Rich man and Lazarus. In conclusion, the teacher asked her students the question: "Now, which man would you rather be, Lazarus or the rich man?" One little boy’s hand shot up immediately and he said, "Well, while I’m alive I want to live like the rich man, but when I die I want to be like Lazarus."
WBTU:
One evening my family played the Game of Life by Milton Bradley. It is a board game where it simulates life like going to college, getting a job, getting married, having children, being fired and getting another job, going back to school for more education after being fired, etc. My wife Crystal won the game. The winner is the one who, after everyone has retired (in other words they have completed the trip around the board), has the highest money total, has the highest net worth. The theme of this board game seems to be to live comfortably and extravagantly and to have the highest net worth at the end. Many in our world believe this is the case. This is a winning life. After reading this teaching of Jesus we find that is not the case at all.
Many things to consider here and many questions
This is more than a parable unlike the ones we have considered. It is not introduced as a parable but it has some similarities to a parable. The concrete picture that Jesus is giving us here is a vision of the afterlife, a vision of Hades or Sheol. Two different areas to Hades. Pass out papers and look at the diagram. Not going to deal with this much tonight.
Is this rich man and Lazarus actual people or is this just an illustration of different walks of life in this world?
Is this conversation between Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man an actual conversation that goes on in Hades or is this conversation given just to help us understand the situation in Hades? If this is an actual conversation then Abraham must be very busy answering all of these people in torment. Since there is a great chasm doesn’t this also rule out conversations between the two sides? If they can talk back and forth and see each other this would definitely cause the mood in paradise to not be very pleasant. Know more when we get there.
Now that we have answered all of the questions (Ha! Ha!) let consider how Luke 16:19-31 applies to stewardship, wealth, and treasures.
Thesis: Discussing riches and poverty from Luke 16:31
For instances:
Notice how different worldly conditions are that God gives to different people
Jesus does not give any opinions on which is better, riches or poverty. He just describes the circumstances of each man. Both these men are living in the same land and subject to the same government but how different.
This vision is not teaching that all the rich go to torment and all the poor go to paradise. No, the conversation between this rich man and Abraham tells us this is not the case. Notice that Abraham, when he was alive, was one of the richest men and he appears to be an important person in Paradise. “So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.” Genesis 24:34, 35, NIV.
Abraham also said that if they don’t listen and respect and honor Moses, the Prophets, and Jesus Christ, then there is no hope for this man’s 5 brothers. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ doesn’t cause them to respond to the gospel and follow Jesus Christ, then they will be with this rich man in torment.
We must be careful not to draw lessons from this that are not there. No political movement is going to eradicate poverty. In this life we see that: “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” Matthew 26:11, NIV.
The main problem here with some being super rich and others being super poor is sin. Sin is the cause of all of this and until sin is eliminated (New Heaven and New Earth) there will always be some super rich and some super poor. The rich man and Lazarus are examples of two classes that will always be in the world until the Lord returns.
A Person’s Worldly Economic state is no test of the state of their soul.
As far as the rich man, take away his money and comforts and he has nothing. With all of his riches he has no treasure laid up in heaven. The rich man really was very poor.
Lazarus has nothing in the way of worldly goods. But from these Scripture we find that Lazarus was truly rich. He was an heir of glory. He possessed righteousness. His name was in the book of Life. His place was prepared from him in heaven.
When the Lord God looks down from heaven and sees the children of men, He ignores many things, which are highly valued by the world. He does not look at men’s money or lands or titles. He looks only at the state of their souls and judges them accordingly. As wonderful as it may seem to some, all the money in the world is worthless on God’s scales. “I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! ” Revelation 2:9, NIV.
Death is the great equalizer
This is the fate of all of us. Genesis 5 records all of those who lived long lives after the Fall. However, all but one end with: he died.
One man lived in the lap of luxury. Another scarcely had enough food to eat, and seldom enough clothes to put on. Yet both will die.
Oh, that we would learn to live with an awareness that one day we are going to die! It is a waste of time to set our hearts on this dying world and its short lived comforts and pleasures, and for the sake of these worldly things lose a glorious eternity in heaven! “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:25, NIV
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15
It mentions that rich man was buried. It doesn’t say that of Lazarus. Perhaps the rich man had an impressive funeral. The world had a memorial for the rich man, nothing for Lazarus.
How different from Heaven’s eyes! The angels carried him to Abraham’s side.
The soul ruining sin of selfishness
We have the rich man in a hopeless state. There is no clearer picture of a soul lost in the entire Bible than here. We meet him in the beginning, dressed in rich purple robes and fine linen. We see him at the end, tormented in the everlasting fire.
It does not seem that it was so much the things the rich man did, but the things he left undone that made him miss heaven. Lazarus was at this gate, and he let him alone. “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’” Matthew 25:42, 43, NIV.
Also riches bring special dangers with them. “Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”” Luke 18:24, 25, NIV.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10, NIV.
We also need to guard against selfishness in these last days. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,” 2 Timothy 3:1, 2, NIV.
Think of Scriptures we have been covering here over last couple of months. Luke 12:15, 21, 33; Luke 14:12-14; Luke 16:9
We need to examine ourselves on these matters. We are richest people on face of the earth.
I know that Jesus told the rich young ruler to give to the poor everything. However, that is not wise stewardship for most of us. We need to provide for our families. We need to be faithful in business and management. On the other hand, we need to look around and remember the poor- the poor in body and the poor in soul. We are only here for a few short years. How can we do the most good with the money the Lord has blessed us? How can we so use it as to leave the world somewhat happier and somewhat holier when we are gone? Might not these thoughts restrain us from selfishness and unnecessary luxuries?
Might we spend less on ourselves, and give more to Christ’s cause and Christ’s poor?
Conclusion and invitation:
We all lay, like Lazarus, at the gate, sick unto eternal death, helpless, and starving. Jesus came to help us. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9
Need to come and seek Him- the only One who made it possible for man to enter heaven and be saved- Jesus Christ. “But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”” Luke 15:2, NIV. Jesus Christ does welcome sinners.
Remember the hopeless end of the rich man. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” Hebrews 9:27, NIV. Once a person dies there is no longer any opportunity for the salvation of the soul.
