There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine
linen and lived in luxury every day.
The rich man
in the parable appears to have been the world's pattern of a
prosperous man.
If the present life were all...he seems to have had
everything that heart could wish.
We know that he was clothed in purple and
fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day...
We need not doubt that he had
everything else which money could procure.
The wisest of men had good cause
for saying, "Money answers all things;" "The rich has many friends".
Ecc 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Pro 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
But who that reads the story through to the end, can fail
to see that in the highest and best sense - the rich man was pitiably poor?
Take away the good things of this life, and he had nothing left...
Nothing after death...
Nothing beyond the grave...
Nothing in the world to come.
With all his riches - he had no treasure laid up in Heaven.
With all
his purple and fine linen - he had no 'garment of righteousness'.
With all
his admiring companions - he had no Friend and Advocate at God's right hand.
With all his sumptuous fare - he had never tasted the bread of life.
With
all his splendid palace - he had no home in the eternal world.
Without God,...
Without Christ...
Without faith...
Without grace...
Without pardon...
Without
holiness...
He lives to himself for a few short years...
And then goes down
hopelessly into the pit of Hell!
How hollow and unreal was all his
prosperity!
Reader, judge what I say - The rich man was very poor!
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered
with sores and longing to eat the crumbs which fell from the rich man's
table.
Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Lazarus appears to have been one who had literally nothing in
this world.
It is hard to conceive a case of greater misery and destitution
than his.
He had neither house, nor money, nor food, nor health, nor, in all
probability, even clothes.
His picture is one that can never be forgotten.
He lay at the rich man's gate, covered with sores; he desired to be fed with
the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table; moreover, the dogs came and
licked his sores.
Truly the wise man might well say, "The poor is hated even
of his neighbor." "The destruction of the poor is their poverty." (Pro 10:15)
Pro 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich hath many friends
Pro 10:15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
But who that reads the parable to the end, can fail to
see that in the highest sense Lazarus was not poor - but rich?
He was a
child of God.
He was an heir of glory.
He possessed durable riches and
righteousness.
His name was in the book of life.
His place was prepared for
him in Heaven.
He had the best of clothing - the righteousness of a Savior.
He had the best of friends - God Himself was his portion.
He had the best of
food - he had food to eat which the world knew nothing of.
And, best of all,
he had these things forever!
They supported him in life...
They did
not leave him in the hour of death.
They went with him beyond the grave - they were his to eternity.
Surely in this point of view, we may well say,
not "poor Lazarus," but "rich Lazarus!"
Reader, you would do well to measure all men by God's
standard...
To measure them not by the amount of their income -but by the
condition of their souls.
When the Lord God looks down from Heaven upon men,
He takes no account of many things which are highly esteemed by the world.
He looks not at men's money, or lands, or titles.
He looks only at the state
of their souls - and reckons them accordingly.
Oh, that you would strive to
do likewise!
Oh, that you would value grace above titles, or
intellect, or gold!
Often, far too often, the only question asked about a
man is, "How much is he worth?"
It would be well for us all to remember that
every man is pitiably poor - until he is rich in faith, and rich toward God.
As astonishing as it may seem to some — all the money in
the world is worthless in God's balances, compared to grace!
As hard as the
saying may sound - I believe that a converted beggar is far more important
and honorable in the sight of God - than an unconverted king.
The king may
glitter like the butterfly in the sun for a little season, and be admired by
an ignorant world...
But his latter end is darkness, and misery forever!
The
beggar may crawl through the world like a crushed worm, and be despised by
every one who sees him...
But his latter end is a glorious resurrection and a
blessed eternity with Christ!
Of him the Lord says, "I know your poverty but you are rich!" (Rev. 2:9).
Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
King Ahab was ruler over the ten tribes of Israel.
Obadiah was nothing more than a servant in his household.
Yet who can
doubt which was most precious in God's sight - the servant or the king?
Ridley and Latimer were deposed from all their dignities,
cast into prison as malefactors, and at length burned at the stake.
Bonner
and Gardiner, their persecutors, were raised to the highest pitch of
ecclesiastical greatness, enjoyed large incomes, and died unmolested in
their beds.
Yet who can doubt which of the two parties was on the Lord's
side?
Richard Baxter, the famous divine, was persecuted with
savage malignity, and condemned to a long imprisonment by a most unjust
judgment.
Jeffreys, the Lord Chief Justice, was a man of infamous character,
without either morality or religion.
Baxter was sent to jail and Jeffreys
was loaded with honors.
Yet who can doubt who was the good man of the two,
the Lord Chief Justice or the author of "The Saint's Everlasting Rest?"
Reader, be very sure that riches and worldly greatness
are no certain marks of God's favor.
They are often, on the contrary - a
snare and hindrance to a man's soul.
They make him love the world and forget
God.
What says Solomon? "Labor not to be rich!" (Proverbs 23:4).
Pro 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
What says
Paul? But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Tim. 6:9).
Reader, be no less sure that poverty and
afflictions are no certain proof of God's displeasure.
They are
blessings in disguise!
They are always sent in divine love and
wisdom.
They often serve to wean man from the world;;;
They teach him to
set his affections on things above.
They often show the sinner his own
heart...
They often make the saint fruitful in good works.
What says the book
of Job? Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: (Job 5:17).
What says Paul? For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6).
One great secret of happiness in this life is to be of a
patient, contented spirit.
Strive daily to realize the truth that this
present life is not the place of reward.
The time of retribution and
recompense is yet to come!
Do not judge anything hastily before that time.
Remember the words of the wise man: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. (Eccles. 5:8).
Yes, there is a day of judgment yet to come!
That
day shall put all in their right places.
At last, a mighty difference
there shall be seen between him who fears God and him who does not fear
God.
The children of Lazarus and the children of the rich man, shall at
length be seen in their true colors...
And everyone shall receive according
to his works.
~J. R. Miller
