Rich Man

Luke 16: 19-31
Jesus continues to share with His disciples the true value of the Kingdom by telling them the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  (I think it is interesting to note that He used the name Lazarus in this story just as He is preparing to go to Bethany, to His friend Lazarus, who He would raise from the dead in just a few short days.)  This, to me, is just one of those scary parables.  It really lays it on the line as far as the reality of hell and the consequences of not following God's ways.  No matter how much the rich man begged it could not change the fact that while he was alive he held no belief in Moses, the prophets, or the Messiah, he lived his life lavishly for himself with no compassion for others, his fate was sealed.  In contrast, the beggar Lazarus was comforted and found peace...a beautiful picture of the eternal fellowship awaiting those who trust in the one who would soon be resurrected.  Money, we see the effects every day of the corruption greed causes.  As with the rich man in this story, money blinds and ensnares so subtly we barely recognize its hold on us.  Take for example tithe, giving to the Lord's Kingdom work, checkbooks don't lie and is a great litmus test for the heart.  Do we say to the Lord, "Lord, I offer to you first, for the work of the Kingdom, what I made this week ", or do we say to ourselves, "God surely knows I barely have enough to get by as it is and will understand I can't afford to give anything right now, maybe later?"  We can't serve God and money.