FOOD FOR YOUR JOURNEY

26 August

 RICH MEN -2

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 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.

Luke 16:19-25

In this chapter of Luke’s Gospel we have the account of:

• 2 lives.
• 2 deaths.
• 2 hereafters.

It should be noted that this is NOT a parable, and therefore the serious implications of these two lives cannot merely be explained away. What is also worthy of note is that the rich man did not land up in hell because he was rich. He was condemned because of his unbelief in the Saviour. The same fate awaits all who do not repent and receive Christ into their lives. The rich man lived a life of luxury and had a careless disregard for those around him who were less fortunate. Lazarus lay at his gate, day after day, begging for crumbs that fell from the table of the rich man and he was ignored!

In the same vein, Lazarus was not saved because he was poor. He was saved because he trusted the Lord for his salvation.

In explaining Abraham’s bosom, William MacDonald has put it like this:

Abraham’s bosom is a symbolic expression denoting the place of bliss. To any Jew, the thought of enjoying fellowship with Abraham would suggest inexplicable bliss and we take it as the same place as Heaven. 

THE GREED OF A CERTAIN RICH MAN

The rich man portrayed here lived a life of luxury in all sense of the words. He was dressed in the finest clothes and ate the finest meals. He ignored the suffering beggar laid at his gate day after day. He had an unending feast in time, and an unending fast in eternity as a result of his careless indifference to others. We would do well to heed the warnings and make sure our lives in Christ reflect Christ’s life in us.

Tomorrow in RICH MEN -3 we will look at:

THE GOAL OF A CERTAIN RICH MAN