Thursday, August 28, 2008
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead’”(Luke 16:19-31).
IDEA: What matters most in the eyes of men and women may not matter at all to Jesus.
PURPOSE: To help listeners evaluate whose evaluation of them really matters.
Sometimes we need to take people out of the pages of the Bible and let them stand before us. We have the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, but I’d like to interview some people who knew these two men. Let’s see what they would say:
INTERVIEW #1: With the caterer to the rich man’s table.
Tell me exactly what your relationship to Mr. Dives was.
When you think of him, now that he’s gone, what is the characteristic that comes to your mind?
What do you think were his greatest skills? What stands out to you?
Tell me how he entertained.
Do you miss him?
INTERVIEW #2: With the rich man’s brother.
He holds his brother in high esteem; he was CEO of Dives and Company, got along well with people, knew how to entertain. Lazarus was a scourge in the neighborhood. He attracted wild dogs with his running sores.
Tell me a bit about your family.
I understand you went into business together. Was it successful? What part did your brother play?
Did he have a good marriage and family?
When you think about him, now that he’s gone, what’s the impression left in your mind?
By the way, there was a beggar that used to sit in front of your brother’s house. Do you remember him?
INTERVIEW #3: A Pharisee.
Everybody held him in high esteem. He didn’t break any of the laws. He entertained well. He divorced two of his wives, but for just cause. (What just cause?) First wife was loud, and the second spoiled the food. He’s a gourmet. But it was all according to the law. A fine person.
Tell me about the Pharisees? Who exactly are you?
Tell me about Mr. Dives. What would you say was his standing in your group or in the community?
Do you think he had a good reputation? How about the way he kept the commandments? (He did nothing wrong. He didn’t break them.)
You spoke at the funeral. What was the eulogy you gave?
Do you remember the beggar that sat at his gate?
Do you think he was a righteous, godly man?
Do you know what happened to the beggar?
Just curious. If you were thinking of the eternal destiny of these two men, where are they now?
Now let’s listen to Jesus as He tells about the two men and what happened to them.
Conclusion:
Jesus’ heroes are sometimes our villains; our heroes become His villains.
Things aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes people who are held in high esteem by people because of what they have are despised by God because of what they are. One thing is certain: the old southern spiritual is right: “Ever' body talkin’ about heaven ain’t necessarily goin’ there.” Jesus goes to the heart of the matter.