Luke chapter 16 tells us the account of two men - a rich man and a man named Lazarus. This story reveals to us many great truths and lessons.
But Luke 16 does not teach...
...that wealth is inherently evil.
We know that God blessed Abraham and Solomon with abundant wealth. The rich man's problem was that he did not serve God, and so his wealth became his god. The person who gains his wealth honestly and uses it for God's glory is always praised by God....that being poor is a virtue.
Must must remember that poverty may be brought on by laziness or by lifestyles that are wrong....detailed information about the hereafter.
Though we know from this account that a conscious soul exists after death, and that there is a great gulf, or separation, between the eternally saved and the eternally lost, we must see these facts only as broad illustration of what the afterlife is actually like. More specific information is not given to us from this story.What does Luke 16 teach?
It is given to us to emphasize the need for selfless sharing. It reminds us of our obligation to help those who are in need.
The rich man was probably a decent man. Yet he ended up in Hades outside the favor of God. What went wrong in this man's life? He made choices which were displeasing to God. He claimed ownership of things that really belonged to God.
In the final analysis, the roles of these two men were completely reversed:
The rich man was wealthy, and the beggar was poor... but the situation reversed.
The rich man was in comfort, and the beggar was in pain... but the situation reversed.
The rich man had everything, and the beggar begged... but the situation reversed.
The point of the story...
Selfishness can lead to Hell. Wealth is not the deciding factor. A person does not have to be wealthy to have this wrong attitude. It is entirely possible for any one of us to ignore the needs of others. When a person does this, he pushes God out of the picture - he fails to remember that the earthly possessions we each have are only on loan to us from God.
Every Christian should ask: Does selfishness control my attitude and actions? Does selfishness rule my life?
Luke 16:19-31
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And 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 thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
