Sermon on Luke 16:19-31

Text: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 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.’
25 “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. 26 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.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “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.’”

A lot is said about priorities. One generation may look at another and say that they have their priorities all mixed up. On the job or farm there are certain things that must be done and others that can be done. Some you must accomplish while you can put others off. Some things are naturally more important than others and should be treated as such. This morning, we have before us the story of the rich man and poor Lazarus. As we study the text, we will focus our attention on the rich man and his misplaced priorities. As we do so, we ask ourselves the searching question, “DOES GOD HAVE FIRST PLACE IN MY LIFE?”. 1. What Does My Attitude Toward My Possessions Say? 2. What Does My Interest In My Fellow Man Say? 3. What Does My Love For God’s Word Say?

Jesus had been speaking with a group of people about the love of money; especially highlighting the misplaced emphasis on it. He told this story as an example of how riches in this life do not necessarily mean anything after death. Jesus introduced this man by saying, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.” (Verse 19) Jesus doesn’t give this man a name. He only speaks about the characteristics of this man.

We are told that he dressed himself in purple and fine linen. Purple was the color of royalty. Because of its expense, only royalty and the wealthy could afford it. Linen was the most expensive cloth of the day. We also note that he did not have just one set of these clothes. He was accustomed to wearing them. He would think of them as his everyday clothes. We are told that he “lived in luxury every day.” You can imagine that he had the best that money could buy. He probably had a large house, furnished with the best. His table was probably loaded with the choicest of foods and the best of wines. Very likely, he felt that he did not have a care in the world. If anyone had made it, he had.

Before we go any further, let us be reminded of the fact that any material blessings we have, we have received from God. We praise God for all that he has given us. Money and material possessions are not, in and of themselves evil. It is not “Money is the root of all evil,” as some incorrectly quote 1 Timothy 6:10. Rather, it is “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” That appears to be the problem of the man in our text. He had misplaced priorities. He felt that having all the fine things in life was all that was important. He made the pursuit of happiness in this life the goal of his life.

Sometimes, we also fall into the same trap. We place an overemphasis on getting things. We feel that we need more and more. We never have enough of this or that, and each of us could fill in whatever it is that we feel we do not have enough of. Rather we are told in 1 Timothy 6:8, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Notice the words, “we will be content.” How often don’t we find ourselves complaining about our lot in life? Are we really that bad off? We have plenty to eat, plenty to wear. We have a roof over our heads. God has graciously provided for us, but we often act like spoiled children because we do not get what we want. As we learn from Luke 12:15, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” It doesn’t matter how much you have in this world, as long as you are rich in God. That you have all the wealth that you need.

Another place where our priorities regarding our possessions, at times, get mixed up is in the area of giving to God. All too often it happens that God gets the leftovers. We must pay this bill and that bill and all these other expenses and whatever is leftover is what God gets. Remember that all you have is a gift from God. You are merely managing a portion of God’s things. Can we truly hold back on something that is already his? We also want to give as we have been given. Look at all that God has given us, including his own Son. Can we do anything less than give our very best back to him? Our attitude toward our possessions will help us to see if God has first place in our lives.

Jesus goes on to describe Lazarus. He was a “beggar . . . covered with sores.” (Verse 20) He was placed at the rich man’s gate, hoping to satisfy himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Here is a man in dire straits. All he asked for was just a few scraps of food. However, apparently, that was too much to ask from this rich man. There was only one person he was interested in, and that was himself. His interest in himself rather than in his fellow man showed he did not put God first place in his life. He was so wrapped up in his world that he could not see another person in need.

Sometimes that happens to us, as well. We know that someone else has a need and we could fill it. However, because it would inconvenience us, we look the other way. We would do well to look at James 2:14-16, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” We are to be concerned about other people. We place their needs ahead of our own. If we see a need, we go and do something about it, whether it is a physical, emotional or spiritual need. This is pleasing to our God. He tells us, “Serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) By doing so, we show that we have not made ourselves to be number one. By our interest in our fellow man, we show that we have made God number one in our lives.

Jesus continued the story by telling us that both the rich man and Lazarus died. Lazarus, because he was a believer, was taken to Abraham’s side, that is, he went to heaven. Finally, he was free from all the suffering that he had endured during this life. The rich man also received the reward that was due him. Because of his misplaced priorities, he was sent to hell. His misplaced priorities showed that he did not have faith in Jesus as his Savior. He very painfully recognized that a lifetime without God meant an eternity without God, as well. He was in torment. Hoping to ease the pain, he asked that Lazarus be allowed to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool the rich man’s tongue. Abraham told him that this was impossible.

Then the rich man made another request. He knew why he was in hell. So he made this request, “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.” (Verses 27-28) Apparently, the rich man’s five brothers were living the same sort of life that he had lived. He knew that, if they continued in this way, they would join him in this place of agony. So, he wanted Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn them.

Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” (Verse 29) Abraham pointed out that they had the Bible. They were to listen to the message found in the Bible. If they did so, they would be saved. However, that was not good enough for the rich man. He replied, “No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” (Verse 30) He did not think that the Bible was enough. If something spectacular, like some one rising from the dead, occurred, they would listen. Abraham said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Verse 31) The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God. If someone refuses to hear the Word, they have cut themselves off from the Holy Spirit’s work. This rich man had no love of or regard for God’s Word.

May the same never be said of us. May we see that it is only through the message that is found in the Word that we are saved. Only there do we find God’s plan of salvation revealed to us. May our attitude be that of the psalmist who wrote, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’” (Psalm 122:1) May we be filled with joy and anticipation as we gather together to hear God’s Word. Since this is the place where we gather to hear that Word of God, may we make it a priority to be here as often as we can be. In addition, may we make it a priority in our lives to include at least some reading of God’s Word for ourselves, every day. We go into our daily Bible reading, not with the attitude of ‘What do I have to read today,’ but ‘What do I get to read today.’ Look for other opportunities to study his Word in Bible Class, Confirmation Class, Sunday School, Ladies Aid, etc. In addition, let us strive to not only hear what God has to say to us, but also put it into practice in our lives. In his Word, our Lord tells us what is pleasing to him. Out of love for all that he has done for us, we want to obey that Word. Just because we may be finished with confirmation class, does not mean that we know all that there is to know. God still has much to teach us. May we gladly hear and learn his Word.

Unfortunately, as we have studied our text this morning, we see how time and again, we have failed to give God first place in our lives. We have not always gladly heard and learned God’s Word. We have been selfish, looking out for ourselves, rather than looking out for others. We have not always been as generous in our giving to the Lord as we could have been. We have not always been content with what God has given us. We, also, deserve to stand right next to that rich man in the fires of hell. Yet, in his love for us, Jesus died and paid for those sins, as well as all our other sins. You and I have been washed clean. May we, then, strive to live a God-pleasing life. When we look at all that God has done for us, can we do any less?

At this time of year, you will hear a football or volleyball team or their fans shouting, “We’re number one!” Very rarely, if ever, will you hear them say, “You’re number one!” May the same not be said of us. May we remember that we are not number one. God is. May we show that God does have first place in our lives by our attitude toward our possessions, our interest in our fellow man and in our love for his Word. We pray: Dear heavenly Father, help me to keep my priorities straight. Amen.