Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 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.’
“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. 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.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“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.’”
Reflection
The rich man’s heart was set on having a good life. He may have performed rituals for God religiously but his heart was on riches and power and God allowed him to have them. Lazarus, on the other hand, had a heart for God (he wasn’t brought to Abraham’s side for being poor). Despite being in hell, the rich man showed no signs of repentance and continued to treat Lazarus as if he were still in his service.
God shows us in this parable that we are given everything we need to know who God is and that we must choose to love Him with all our hearts, minds, and strength. It’s worth it to spend eternity with Him!
Have you placed God first in your life? Or are you still struggling with placing Him before things in this world? Does your non-marital relationship take precedence? Is becoming famous or holding a position of power keeping you from loving God with all you have? When we keep God at bay, it’s not because we can’t come through for Him, but that we won’t. What steps can you take today to trim your life from worldly goods that keep you apart from Him?
Please share your comments below. We’d love to hear how God moves in your life!
