The Rich Man

There is a story, or parable, Jesus spoke of in Luke 16:19-31 about a rich man and a beggar, called Lazarus.  Read about it, “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 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 from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

“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.’ 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. 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.’

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 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.’”

The Bible says many things about the rich and one of them is in Matthew 19:23-24, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, 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.’”

So does this mean that if you are rich you cannot go to heaven?  I don’t think so.  I think Jesus was talking about the attitude the person had.  What was the person depending on, their money or was it their faith in Jesus?  Were they stingy or giving people that were willing to help others and help further God’s kingdom or did they just hoard their money and keep it all for themselves?  Who was their God, was it the Lord or their money?  Money can end up being a blessing or a curse, money can either be a stumbling block or a blessing and it will be instrumental in changing people’s lives either for good or bad.

Read what it says in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

There is a short parable in Luke 12:16-21, “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

I don’t think Jesus is condemning rich people, He loves everyone and is not willing that any be lost.  I think He is speaking of covetousness and, like I said earlier, being stingy or hoarding things for your own benefit, thinking only of one’s self and not the concerns of others.  Our attitude is very important, it is important that we love others and are willing to be a blessing to others with what we possess.  Did you ever think the reason you are rich is to bless others?  

So, if this is speaking to you, resist the temptation of self-gratification and be a cheerful giver!!  All the riches in the world cannot buy you a place in heaven and money will never bring true happiness.  Only the Lord can make you truly happy and, think of this also, I have never seen a hearse towing a U-Haul trailer with all the person’s possessions to a grave site.  No, you can’t take it with you!!   There are so many needs and the rich can help in many ways to help meet many of those needs, enough said.

I have given you something to think about and hope you do the right thing. May God bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!  And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord, He is worthy!!