The Story of Two Beggars
by Gene Easley
Luke 16:19-31
The First Scene--This Present Life
There are three scenes in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The first scene represents this present life. A rich man was sitting in his well-furnished, beautiful home with servants to wait on him. He probably had expensive imported rugs and pictures by famous painters on the wall. His clothes were of the finest materials. His table was filled with the best of foods. He had no thought of going to bed hungry. It looks good so far, but don't get too excited. Wealth is not all it is made out to be.There was a beggar sitting at the gate of the rich man. He had a sickness from which he could not be cured. He daily knew the feeling of hunger pangs. His body was full of sores, and dogs came by and licked the sores. His life was full of misery.
There is a missionary message in this story. Although the rich man does not represent the church, there is yet a message here for the church. Have you looked outside your gate lately? Have you realized there are those who could desperately use your help? How far does one have to look to find a Lazarus? Maybe our churches our suffering spiritually because we are spending all our time enjoying our blessings. Will God hold us guiltless if we close our hearts of compassion?
It is difficult to believe that the rich man and the beggar lived so close together. Luxury and destitution are often neighbors. But they so often are not friendly neighbors. The rich man appears to have done nothing to help Lazarus. Perhaps the beggar could have received a few crumbs if he begged hard enough. And why wasn't a servant sent out to care for the sores? Why did Lazarus have to rely on the passing dogs to show him compassion? Is the heart of man really so merciless and unkind? I think so. If we look at the misery in this present world with so few willing to reach out to the suffering, we must conclude that the heart of man is far from being as compassionate as the heart of God.
Lazarus sat at the gate of wealth and plenty but could not enter in. He must have spent many cold nights wishing someone would care. But he was not to see that type of response in this life. He did, however, have one thing going for him. Lazarus loved God. Despite his poverty, his rejection by society, his bad health, his daily misery, he still maintained a love for God in his heart. We know this is true, because no one will make it to Heaven who doesn't love God.
The rich man felt that by throwing a few crumbs of bread to Lazarus he had fulfilled the Law of Love. How deceived! He could claim that he fed the poor, but God did not see it that way. We should be more concerned about God's observations. What tragedy awaits us when we feel we can just live for ourselves and not see the mission in life God has set before us!
Wealth seemed to be the rich man's greatest friend, but, in reality, as the apostle Paul so aptly warned Timothy, the rich man's money was drowning him "in destruction and perdition" (1 Timothy 6:9). Wealth can turn our eyes from God. Instead of wanting to fast and pray, we want to laugh and play. Life can become one long, happy time of self indulgence.
Today, the church is plagued by leaders who capitalize upon people's insatiable love for money. The gospel some preach is simply a message that if you come to Jesus, He will make you financially rich. Many are flocking to this gospel which clearly puts the material before the spiritual.
The saddest part of the so-called "prosperity gospel" is that its followers are not being led into a deep experience in the Holy Spirit. They are not developing the type of prayer life that brings the presence and power of God into the church. As a result, this false gospel does not produce the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of its followers.
The Second Scene--The Burial
The Scripture says that the beggar died (speaking of Lazarus). It is unlikely that many knew him by name. They just said, "The beggar died." There was probably no funeral service for Lazarus. No one appeared to mourn for him while he was alive, and it is very doubtful there were mourners at his death. Most likely his body was disposed of quickly. No big fanfare, just get him out of the way. At this point to most on-lookers, it would appear to be the expected end to a tragic life. A sad story had a sad ending and people just tried to forget.The rich man also died. But the Bible speaks of his having a proper burial. It was doubtless a place where the rich were laid to rest. Probably, it was a large tomb, with an entrance that later was closed and sealed.
Hired mourners were surely present at the rich man's burial. Wealthy dignitaries came to show their last respects. Both the religious and political hierarchy would have been expected to make known their presence at the death of this important man of the community. Money makes you important, and most people like to be near money even where there is corruption along with it. The hired religious leader gave his eulogy of how great this rich man was, how vital he had been to their community, and how he would be so greatly missed.
The Bible speaks of a place where there will be no more sunsets. The sunsets had been difficult for Lazarus. The days were bad, but the nights were horrible. The blackness, the coldness, the loneliness of the night--more than the soul could bear. But it was over now.
To most people the story ended there. They walked away from the gravesite of the rich man and thus ended the story of one man's life. Lazarus' body was taken somewhere, and it was just one less beggar on the streets. The last chapter has been written, and everyone will now go on with life.
But wait. There is a third scene to the story. And to the amazement of most of the human race, it is in this scene where life really begins.
