Luke 16 What follows here is an intriguing parable told by Jesus to a group of Pharisees intent on His destruction. The Pharisees were very “religious”, Jesus was “Godly” and they hated Him for exposing their hypocrisy. The Pharisees equated their wealth and stature to the rewards given by God to those who follow a strict religious law. This is a story of two fools, two failures two funerals, two futures, and for one of them it was too late 16:19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[d] from the rich man’s table. A Story of Two Fools: Look at the verses closely. Who would be so arrogant to call such a successful man as the first “A fool”. He had succeeded in life, was extremely wealthy, and treated himself to the luxury he felt he so richly deserved. He wore the best clothes, ate the best food, lived in the biggest mansion, and drove the best car, name in the paper and on the news every day, just like people today. He was a fool because he ignored God, had no time for God, and laughed at faith and salvation and people like the poor man. The Rich Man would pay a horrible price for his love for the world and the things of the world. Now it’s somewhat easier to call the Poor Man a fool. He had nothing; he was a beggar, an outcast, sick, and his body full of runny pus infected sores. His only livelihood was found at the garden gate of the Rich Man where he begged for food- and someone else laid him at the gate. What a fool most said, nasty, disgusting, don’t go too close you’ll catch something, there ought to be a law against begging at the Rich Man’s gate! But the Poor Man was a fool for God and knew his reward would come one day in eternity. He was a man of faith, deep faith, but look at his condition in life. I’ll let you make your own comparisons to some modern theology today about wealth. 16:21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[d] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. A Story of Two Failures It’s also easy to call Lazarus, the Poor Man, a failure. His only food was food from the Rich Man’s table which was actually thrown to the dogs and not to him. His only medicine came from the dogs with which he was competing for survival- they licked his sores. He was a failure. Can you hear the parents of the local school children saying to their children, “Go to school, study hard, go to college and then when you grow up we want you to be just like the Poor Man”. Not! The Poor Man succeeded in only one thing in his life, he pleased God with his faith. The Rich Man failed to honor God, but he had the honor of all the local community. Praises were heaped upon the Rich Man for his success, but he refused to praise God, and what an awful price he is about to pay. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. A Story of Two Funerals As it is with all of us both men died, but look at the difference between the two death processes. The Poor Man died and his soul was carried into heaven “by the angels”. God came and got Lazarus at death; the devil came and got the Rich Man who rejected God’s grace while alive. Nobody came to the funeral of the Poor Man, and everybody who was anybody came to the funeral of the Rich Man. The line of mourners was clear out the door, every politician was there shaking hands, and no doubt they even found a preacher who attempted to preach the Rich Man into heaven. The family waited in anticipation for the burial so they could divide the inheritance. But no one mourned the Poor Man. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ A Story of Two Futures Everybody has a future waiting in eternity. Where is yours? The Rich Man ignored spiritual truths while he was alive and woke up in hell. He could see Lazarus in heaven. This is not right he thought, this is “unjust”. The tables had now turned. The Rich Man woke up in hell a poor man, and the Poor Man woke up in heaven a rich man. Go figure. God rewards faith not success or failure. The lost man now was suffering so terribly in hell he asked for one drink of water from “his servant Lazarus”. Not so God told him, your eternal destiny is fixed. The eternal destiny of every man and woman is fixed at death, set, unreversably and forever fixed. 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” For One Man it was Too Late Just look at the bargaining taking place by a man who still thinks he can buy his way out of anything, even hell. Now he starts worrying about his family, but it’s too late. Why did he not take them to church while he was alive, now it’s too late. Why did he not seek the God of salvation in life, now it’s too late. Can you hear God’s answer to the suffering soul, IT”S TOO LATE! For those of you who are waiting on God to send you an angel to prove God is real here’s your answer in verse 31. If you won’t believe the Word of God you wouldn’t believe an angel either. God’s word is eternal, shun its warnings and you shun God. It’s God’s best, He will send you nothing else because He has sent the Word. If Jesus is not good enough for you God will send no one else, Jesus is His best. Despise Jesus and you despise God and your eternal future will be the same as this man. Accept Jesus by faith, live for Him and heaven awaits you. You may be poor in this life or successful but heaven awaits only people of faith. One more thing needs to be said. Look at the last part of verse 15: “for that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God”. What people see as being important in worldly things God may hate. What are you telling your children and grandchildren about the important matters of life? Don’t make the mistake this rich fool made. Seek God first and all things will be added unto you. Tell your children to strive to be “LIKE THE POOR MAN”.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 01:56:25 +0000
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