The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
I have been thinking about this story from Luke ever since Rob Bell's new book buzz. Something I hadn't noticed before suddenly dawned on me; if light bulbs appear overhead when awareness strikes, I would have had a big, blinking light bulb overhead. From just this story it is clear that Jesus is telling there are no second chances after death nor are there opportunities to effect change on earth after death. Jesus is also clearly saying that if one is not convinced here in this life by the Scriptures, they will NEVER BE CONVINCED not even if a dead man visited them. The rich man during his life on earth had a lot of things - wealth, abundant provisions, lush living. It wouldn't be unfair to also say that these riches afforded the rich man a certain praised status in high society, a sheltered existence that was completely unaware of the quality of life existing just outside his gate. Lazarus was poor and thus despised, which is not much different from the way the poor are treated now. The narrative describes "dogs coming to lick his sores", this does not a blessed picture make. The poor have always been treated with a degree of contempt by many in high and privileged society. The poor are often blamed for their poverty and misfortune. In some societies the destitute are treated as less than human, forced to scrap out survival among trash heaps.
The new thing that dawned on me about this story is that the rich man even in death does not get that Lazarus is not "lesser" or inferior or contemptible. The rich man even in death was treating Lazarus as someone who should do his bidding and ease his suffering ("send Lazarus with water for me", "send Lazarus to my brothers"). The idea that he had treated Lazarus wrong never dawns on him or occurs to him. The idea that Lazarus was his equal, someone who should directly be addressed, directly be asked for a favor - is still completely missed by the "rich" man.
The way the poor and those on the fringes of society are treated is important to God; what is important to God is important to those who love God. May we look at who is lying right outside our own "gates", may we see them as our equal which they are and seek to help them as they need. May we also realize that there are no second chances after this life is over and appreciate that the greatest need mankind faces in not the physical but the spiritual. "...We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
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