LOST AND FOUND:
The Long Way Home
Luke 16:19-31
Introduction
Being Lost or Being Found are two profound experiences. To be lost is to be separated from God, our Creator and Father who loves us and who reaches out to us. To be found is to experience acceptance, peace, forgiveness - grace and mercy - by our Father. But looks can be deceiving and when we see only the outward appearances, we can miss what God wants us to see.
In today’s text we are going to look at a teaching of Jesus about two people who had opposite experiences in life and in death. As we spend some time with this haunting story we will ask God to give us guidance and insight. (Read Text)
Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, 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. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
This is a story of contrasts that give us insight into three eternally important truths.
1. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD WEALTH
The Rich Man was living the best life! Dressed in the best his time had to offer. When he ate, he enjoyed a feast every day. He had swagger and money. He knew all the right people. He had places to be. Important influencer. Isn’t This the kind of person we admire most? We are all very blessed with earthly possessions and wealth. Do we fall into the mistakes of the rich man?
What were the Rich Man’s mistakes? (Lightfoot)
1. He was indifferent. How long was the beggar at his gate? He was calloused to human distress, even with a man he passed every day who needed his help.Barclay: "It’s a terrible warning to remember that the sin of [the Rich Man] was, not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing.”
2. He was selfish. “Lying behind his cold unconcern was a self-centered life occupied with pleasures. His physical enjoyments were his chief pride. Absorbed in them, he became mercilessly oblivious to the needs of others.” (Lightfoot) Even in torment, his first thoughts are for himself - and believing he could send Lazarus on an errand for him.
3. He minimized the place of God’s Word in his life. God told him that his brothers could listen to Moses and the prophets and believe. This was something he did not do himself.
Wealth is not wrong, but the wrong attitude toward wealth can rob us of eternal life.Often when we have the wrong attitude toward wealth, we have the wrong attitude toward the poor.?
2. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE POOR
Lazaras was a beggar at the gate of the rich man. When giving a parable, Jesus never named a character - an honor reserved for Lazarus! He went unnoticed in his days on earth, but God noticed him. (Lazarus = God is my Helper.) He was the opposite of the Rich man. Dressed in rags instead of luxury. Hungry for crumbs instead of feasting daily. Laying at the gate instead of in a big house. Covered in sores instead of in good health. Licked by dogs instead of having servants to attend to him. Lazarus went unnoticed by the Rich Man.
I wonder if any of us are thinking … who is the Lazarus that I pass every day? Who is alone? Who is sick? Who is home bound? Who is struggling with crushing weight of life's troubles? Who is hurting because of choices in life? Who are we failing to notice? How can I minister to Lazarus? What organizations can we help with? What can we do to be of help to someone? How can we show the love of Christ using what God has given us?
Lazarus had a lifetime of suffering. He never even says one word in this story. His was a long way home, but he did ultimately find his eternal home. Which leads to our third attitude…
3. Our Attitude Toward Eternity
Both Rich Man and Lazarus died. We might not be surprised that Lazarus died. Maybe it was infection? Hunger? sickness? But the Rich Man did not live a long and happy life. He died when he was not expecting to.
Hebrews 9:27 “…People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…”
Neil Lightfoot noted four things that death cannot destroy:
1. Consciousness - both men were dead, but vividly alive. MT. 22:32 “He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
2. Identity - they were conscious of being themselves. The rich man knows Lazarus and he knows he is of a family of six brothers. The individual self lives on.
3. Memory - Abraham said, “Son, remember…” He remembered his selfish life, Lazarus, his brothers.
4. Destiny - there are only two alternatives for our life following death. The rich man was in bitter pain while Lazarus was in a place of joy and comfort.
None know how many days we have left on this earth. This story causes us to think about our eternity. Jesus tells us that to trust and obey Him is to correct our course for the life after death. These images are both disturbing and comforting. What a dark irony to see the Rich Man begging the beggar.
Conclusion
This parable leaves us with the question: Are you ready for our journey to eternity? Put your faith in Christ.
Begin your new life in Him by being baptized. Wash Away Your sins. Brings a new birth. Places you in His church.
In the end Lazarus had a long journey home but received the comfort he never had in this life and the Rich Man was concerned that no one from his family end up like he did.
This striking story of being lost and found encourages us to have the right attitudes toward wealth and self, the poor, and eternity.
Video of this message can be found by searching the YouTube channel of Forsythe Church of Christ.
Audio of this message can be heard by searching Forsythe Church of Christ at our podcast host, Podbean.com.
Thanks for reading.
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Resources
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Luke, 1953.
Lightfood, Neil. R. Lessons from the Parables, 1965.
