Dear Christian friends:

Do you wish to be rich? I think almost everyone wishes to be rich. Maybe you are rich and are not aware of how rich you really are. Also, remember that riches are a strong temptation to lead you away from God. Your faith and soul may be better off if you are poor. Also riches are a heavy responsibility. Its not fun to be rich.

In our text Jesus warns us about these things. He tells a story about a rich man and a poor man and what happened to them after they died. I think we better listen and attend to what Jesus says about


Jesus shows the differences between the rich man and the poor man.

First, Jesus shows their differences while they lived here on earth.

The rich man had a large beautiful home and many servants. He had fine clothes, “purple and fine linen." He had delicious food to eat every day. He also seems to be a Pharisee, an honored member of the Jewish church. He had a fine, comfortable life and enjoyed many pleasures. (verse 19) Although he was rich, he refused to share his money and things with the poor, the hungry and the sick. He felt no pity or responsibility for the poor.

The poor man, Lazarus, was a beggar. He was always hungry and sick and can't walk. Some friends carried him to the rich man's gate so he could cry and beg for crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. He had no doctor or medicine, no hospital or medicare or medi-cal. Dogs came to "lick his sores." (verses 20-21) Few people felt sorry for him.

So, we see a big difference between the rich man and the poor man during their life here on earth.

Jesus explains that both men then died. Rich people must die same as the poor. Money can't save anyone from death. All are sinners before God and must die.

B Now Jesus explains about the difference between the two men after they died.

The poor man died, but he had no money for a funeral. Jesus says nothing about his burial. But Jesus does say that the rich man "was buried." No doubt the rich man had a large and expensive funeral and a new sepulchre where his body was placed after the morticians embalmed it. The poor man had no such funeral or burial. But we read that when he died "the angels carried him to Abraham's bosom." (verse 22)

The poor man now receives love and comfort from Abraham, the father of all who believe in the Savior Jesus. He enjoys the love of God and the love and fellowship of all believers who have died and gone into heaven. Before on earth he had only hunger, pain and sorrow. Nobody loved him. People avoided him and despised him. But now in heaven God and Abraham and Jesus and all the saints love him and welcome him. Now he has perfect joy and eternal pleasures.

But Jesus says the rich man is now in hell. Although he had a large expensive funeral and many people honored him he is in hell. Now he suffers terribly and begs for one drop of water to cool his tongue. But even that is forbidden to him. Before on earth he enjoyed every excitement and pleasure, all that his riches could buy, many fine wines and other drinks, but now he can't even get one drop of water. Worse, he sees Lazarus, whom he before despised, now enjoying the bliss of heaven.

After death the poor man goes to heaven and the rich man goes to hell.

All poor people go to heaven? All rich people go to hell? Some people think that. Not true! Well, why did this poor man go to heaven? Why did the rich man go to hell?

They had different faiths. The poor man had true faith in God. The rich man had false faith.

The poor man, like Abraham, believed in the Savior God promised to Abraham. He was a true son of Abraham, a true Jew. He believed what Moses and all the prophets had written about the Savior God promised. He knew himself a poor sinner. It is easier for poor people to understand about sin. They see and experience the terrible results of sin more than the rich do. They experience the hate and cruelty of men more. No man loved or pitied Lazarus here on earth, not even the rich Jewish church member! So he had to look to heaven for mercy. He found none here on earth. Lucky man! God pities the poor. He shows them the Savior Jesus! He takes them home to heaven! Lazarus went to heaven because he confessed his sins and believed in the Savior Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

This rich man went to hell. Why? He belonged to the Jewish church. He has read Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament. He knew about the promised Savior. But he did not confess his sins and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. He loved and served mammon, his riches. He had a dead faith. Faith without love and pity for the poor is dead. James writes, "Faith without good works is dead." (James 2:17-20) He refused to give food, clothes and shelter to poor Lazarus. He was a hypocrite church member. So he must go to hell.

What should we learn from this story about the rich man and the poor man?

First, if you are poor, sick and have much pain like Lazarus, don't despair. God loves you anyway. Believe in Jesus, His Son, the Savior! God will at last free you from all pain and sorrow and take you to His heavenly home. Yes! He will send His angels to carry you there!

Secondly, if_you are rich, and most of us who live in America today are rich, beware! Your riches can steal your love from God as they did from this rich man in our text! Don't love and serve mammon! Confess your sins and unworthiness to God. Attend regularly to His Word, "Moses and the prophets." His Word only can save you from mammon and hell. (verse 29) His Word shows to you your sins and that you have deserved hell. His word also shows you God's mercy and forgiveness in Jesus. His word can give you true faith and new heart, new life in Jesus. Then you will not be a hypocrite church member, but a humble, honest member. You will pity the poor and give food to the hungry and invite the homeless into your home. And remember: for your salvation its better to be poor than rich!

Amen.