September 14, 2012
Jesus responds:
Luke 16 includes the narrative of the Rich Man and Lazarus. On earth—the rich man thought he was in control. He lived in luxury. He had the best of everything. On earth—Lazarus had nothing. He begged for scraps; he was covered in sores; he had nothing. Yet, when both men died, the rich man was sent to Hades and Lazarus was carried in the arms of angels to Abraham. The rich man could see the Paradise side but he could not cross the gulf between to cross over. He went from an earthly life of comfort to an eternal life of pain. Lazarus went from an earthly life of discomfort to an eternal life of comfort and happiness.
The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus over with water to cool his tongue. He still had his earthly attitude of being served and entitlement. Send Lazarus (into the fire) to me, to help me. Abraham reminded the rich man what their respective earthly lives had been. Then he said, "There is a big pit between you and us, so no one can cross over to you, and no one can leave there and come here." When the rich man realized his fate was sealed, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers. Abraham said they have already been given everything they needed to change their hearts and lives. The rich man said, "No... if someone goes to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives." But Abraham replied, "If they won't listen to" the people God has already put in their path, "they will not listen to someone who comes back from the dead."
Incredibly sad, but true. Some people have eyes to see—but don't see; ears to hear—but don't hear.
Next Entry: Luke 17:1–37
Jesus responds:
"Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?" (Luke 16:10-12)Jesus goes on:
"No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches." (Luke 16:13)If it is all about the money, then you are serving the desire for wealth and not God. When you serve God, then you realize that any wealth you have is His and not yours. Luke 16:14 - "The Pharisees, who loved money, were listening to all these things and made fun of Jesus." They were religious leaders but they were actually religious unbelievers. They knew how to talk, but they did not walk the walk. The rich man who gained his wealth dishonestly, praised the manager who cheated him because of his shrewd strategies. The "religious" Pharisees make fun of Jesus and His teachings because they "loved money." Jesus said to them, "You make yourselves look good in front of people, but God knows what is really in your hearts. What is important to people is hateful in God's sight."(Luke 16:15)
Luke 16 includes the narrative of the Rich Man and Lazarus. On earth—the rich man thought he was in control. He lived in luxury. He had the best of everything. On earth—Lazarus had nothing. He begged for scraps; he was covered in sores; he had nothing. Yet, when both men died, the rich man was sent to Hades and Lazarus was carried in the arms of angels to Abraham. The rich man could see the Paradise side but he could not cross the gulf between to cross over. He went from an earthly life of comfort to an eternal life of pain. Lazarus went from an earthly life of discomfort to an eternal life of comfort and happiness.
The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus over with water to cool his tongue. He still had his earthly attitude of being served and entitlement. Send Lazarus (into the fire) to me, to help me. Abraham reminded the rich man what their respective earthly lives had been. Then he said, "There is a big pit between you and us, so no one can cross over to you, and no one can leave there and come here." When the rich man realized his fate was sealed, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers. Abraham said they have already been given everything they needed to change their hearts and lives. The rich man said, "No... if someone goes to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives." But Abraham replied, "If they won't listen to" the people God has already put in their path, "they will not listen to someone who comes back from the dead."
Incredibly sad, but true. Some people have eyes to see—but don't see; ears to hear—but don't hear.
Next Entry: Luke 17:1–37
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