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We can learn a stern lesson about money from the story of a certain rich man that Jesus told the Pharisees in Luke 16:19-31.  The Pharisees were strictly religious but they loved money.  And in the context of the Jewish culture of their day, they equated money and material possessions with being under God’s blessing (there is nothing new under the sun).

Jesus paints a drastically different picture than what you might hear preached by those promoting the prosperity gospel.  In the story, you have two men, living in two different classes, with two different lifestyles.  In the end, both would die, but they would arrive at surprisingly two different fates.  The rich man, who lived with complete satisfaction of his desires in wealth and luxury, found himself in scarcity and torment while Lazarus, whose name means, “God is my helper,” was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom in paradise.

The rich man had material possessions and wealth but was spiritually bankrupt.  His love for wealth and luxury blinded him to his sin and his complete ignorance and lack of understanding of the scriptures.  He was in desperate need of a savior, but so consume by the worship of “mammon,” he never established a relationship with God.  In the end, he lost the asset he could not afford to lose the most – his own soul.

Meanwhile, Lazarus found comfort and satisfaction in paradise.  While on earth, the most compassion he received came from the dogs that would lick his sores.  Yet, to everyone’s surprise, it was Lazarus who was rich through his utter dependence of God and his mercy. 

From this story, we can see that true wealth is found in having a rich relationship with God.  Being wealthy, in and of itself is not a sin.  But we all must beware of the tendency that wealth and privilege has in masking our own sin and dulling our hearts to his Word.

There are beggars outside our gates today.  We will not get a second opportunity to show godly compassion once this life has ended.  Has your wealth hardened your heart to accepting the forgiveness and gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ?