Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in
purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And
lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from
the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.”
Luke 16:19–21
One of the reasons this story is so powerful is because of the
clear descriptive contrast between the rich man and Lazarus. The
contrast is not only seen in the passage above, it is also seen in
the final outcome of each of their lives.
In the first contrast, the rich man’s life seems much more
desirable, at least on the surface. He is rich, has a home to live
in, dresses in fine clothing and eats sumptuously every day. By
contrast, Lazarus is poor, has no home, has no food, is covered
with sores and even endures the humiliation of dogs licking his
wounds. Which of these persons would you prefer to be?
Before you answer that question, consider the second contrast. When
they both die, they experience very different eternal fates. When
the poor man died, he was “carried away by angels.” And when the
rich man died, he went to the netherworld, where there was ongoing
torment. So again, which of these persons would you prefer to
be?
One of the most seductive and deceptive realities in life is the
lure of riches, luxury and the fine things in life. Though the
material world is not bad in and of itself, there is great
temptation that goes along with it. In fact, it is clear from this
story and from the many other teachings of Jesus on this topic that
the lure of riches and its effect on the soul cannot be ignored.
Those who are rich in the things of this world are often tempted to
live for themselves rather than living for others. When one has all
the comforts this world has to offer, it’s easy to simply enjoy
those comforts without concern for others. And that is clearly the
unspoken contrast between these two men.
Though poor, it is clear that Lazarus is rich in the things that
matter in life. This is evidenced by His eternal reward. It is
clear that in his material poverty, he was rich in charity. The man
who was rich in the things of this world was clearly poor in
charity and, thus, upon losing his physical life, he had nothing to
take with him. No eternal merit. No charity. Nothing.
Reflect, today, upon that which you desire in life. Too often, the
deceptions of material wealth and worldly possessions dominate our
desires. In fact, even those who have little can easily become
consumed with these unhealthy desires. Seek, instead, to desire
only that which is eternal. Desire love of God and love of
neighbor. Make this your only goal in life and you, too, will be
carried away by angels when your life is completed.
My Lord of true riches, You chose to be poor in this world as a
sign to us that true riches come not with material wealth but with
love. Help me to love You, my God, with all my being and to love
others as You love them. May I be wise enough to make spiritual
riches my single goal in life so that these riches will be enjoyed
for all eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Lazarus and the Rich Man’s Table
(from Luke XVI) by Kasper or Gaspar van den Hoecke, via Wikimedia
Commons
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