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9 - Selfishness Leads to Hell |
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Luke 16:19-31
Sunday Morning, January 19, 2003
Selfishness Leads to Hell
INTRODUCTION:
This parable is a stern warning for how we should live our life! Found only in Luke’s gospel, this is a classic story which contrasts two men in their material status in this life and in their destiny beyond this life. The real purpose of this parable is to emphasize the eternal results of really poor management of God’s assets with which he has blessed us. In particular, it stands as a stern condemnation of selfishness and causes us to focus upon our obligation to share what we have with others in greater need.
DIGGING DEEPER:
I. The Rich Man
A. No name is given for this man. The hearers may or may not have known such a person. This rich man had everything. Every day was a banquet occasion. It was a beautiful scene except for one eyesore. At the edge of the picture, outside the gates of the palace was a lowly beggar.
B. There is nothing in Jesus’ description of the rich man to suggest that he had obtained his fortune illegally or dishonestly. Neither does it say that he was not respected as a person of honor in his community. There is no reason to suppose that he did not tithe or was a Sabbath breaker, or even that he did not attend the temple rituals. The rich man obviously thought he was living correctly. He certainly didn’t think he would end up in hell.
IV. A Beggar Named Lazarus
A. This is the only one of Jesus’ parables where any in his cast of characters are given names. Jesus describes a neglected beggar and names him Lazarus. The Hebrew word for Lazarus was “Eleazar” meaning “God is my help” and was an honored name among Jews. The parable supplies us with no resume on the beggar. The status of this poor man was the very opposite of the rich man.
B. That Lazarus was unable to walk is implied by his being laid at the rich man’s gate. Sadly, the rich man selfishly ignored his pitiable plight and made no effort to share with him. The plight of the beggar is not the point of the story.
V. Role Reversal
A. The primary storyline is the dramatic reversal of roles that takes place following the death of these two men.
B. Both men died and went to very different eternal abodes – the beggar to paradise and the rich man to a fiery hell. From what we learn in the story, what are the reasons why the rich man was sentenced to spend eternity apart from God?
C. What does the rich man’s conversation with Father Abraham (16:24-31) teach us about human nature?
• The rich man’s first request of Abraham was to send Lazarus over with water to cool his tongue. Abraham pointed out that in their previous situations, their roles were reversed – Lazarus was in need of help while the rich man had lived in luxury.
D. Abraham informed the rich man that a giant chasm (gulf) between him and Lazarus could not be bridged.
E. The rich man, still refusing to acknowledge his own sin, then urged Abraham to perform a miracle, that being to send a messenger from the dead back to earth to convince his brothers to abandon their sin. Abraham refuses by insisting that his brothers, like him, had the Scriptures but paid no attention to them, and they would not be impressed by a miracle.
VI. A Brief Word on the Two Destinations
A. This parable was not intended to give precise information on “After death, what then?” To serve the purposes of this story, the two places were within sight and earshot of each other so that communication was possible.
B. Generally in the New Testament the Greek word “hades” (Hebrew word “sheol”) refers to the unseen realm of departed souls of the lost (Mt. 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 20:13).
• According to this parable and what we find in Acts 2:27, 31, all the dead are in Hades. However, in contrast to the rich man, Lazarus found himself in Abraham’s bosom (also called comfort and Paradise) - the place where righteous souls go at death. The expression is figurative and suggests the deep fellowship of Abraham with all his true descendants.
• The NIV incorrectly translated the word in v. 23 and uses the term “hell”. “Hell” (or “Gehenna”) occurs twelve times in the Greek New Testament. Uniformly, this term refers to the place of punishment after the last judgment, punishment of eternal duration (Mt. 10:28; 25:41, 46; 23:15, 33; Mk. 9:43-47).
CONCLUDING POINTS:
5. In this story, Jesus showed the money-loving Pharisees that the material status of wealth or poverty in this life is no index to standing with God.
6. The rich man clearly made choices in life that so displeased God that he lost his hope for eternal life. Instead of admitting that he was only a manager of God’s possessions, he claimed outright ownership. He spent them selfishly rather than devoting them to the needs of others.
7. We, like the rich man, are also so very susceptible to the subtle idolatry of materialism and selfishness.
8. Here are some questions we should ask ourselves to avoid selfishness –
• Do others see me as a selfish person?
• Are others in my life in need while I enjoy plenty?
• Is my life and work driven by a desire for good things – at others expense?
• Do I only give from my excess?
• Do I ever miss what I have given?
• Do I consider my money and time my own?
• Do I withhold my love for others?
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