There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31
“A rich person lives in grave spiritual danger. Among the perils he or she faces are the soul-destroying temptations to hoard, to become hard-hearted and tight-fisted, to exploit the vulnerability of others, to turn a blind eye to the plight of the needy, to trust in riches, to become deaf to the call of God, to forget that God is the giver and owner of all, to indulge in worldly pursuits and excesses, to give in order to gain prestige or position, to act arrogantly toward those of lower status, and to flaunt what they have. The wealthy can greatly reduce these spiritual risks by acknowledging God as the source and Lord of all, by trusting Him without anxiety, and by opening their hearts and pockets freely to meet the needs of others.”
Karen L. H. Shaw in Wealth and Piety: Middle Eastern Perspectives for Expat Workers (Pasadena: William Carey Publishing, 2018) 55-56.
At the Retirement Reformation Roundtable yesterday in Colorado Springs (the view of Pikes Peak from our meeting room is pictured above), I gave remarks and read from Luke 16:19-31. Many in modern times profess faith in Christ and yet accumulate for themselves while ignoring hurting people at their doorstep.
I titled today’s post “God has helped” (or I could have used the title “whom God helps”) because that’s the meaning of the name “Lazarus” in the parable, a rare instance where Jesus names a character in a parable. Why mention this as we continue to think about Jubilee related to generosity?
In reading Shaw’s new book on my flights to and from NYC this past weekend, I was struck that people from economically poor parts of the world likely perceive me as a rich Westerner, but the question I must lean into is this: Do they think I am godly? In other words, they are watching what I do with what I have.
Shaw graphically reminds us of the danger of riches. They can lull people to sleep like the rich man in the parable, which leads to eternal regret. My advice for everyone with riches, about a decade after releasing our accumulated assets, is to put everything you have to work for God beyond a mina (three month’s income, cf. Luke 19:11-27).
The risks, for you, your spouse, and your family, associated with holding on to wealth are destructive. I am not trying to rob you but help you. Practice justice and generosity. Be a helper for God. Use the wealth you have to bless the poor and advance ministry for God’s glory today as you may not live until tomorrow.