City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple linen clothes everyday. He lived like a king would live with the best of food. There was a poor man named Lazarus who had many bad sores. He was put by the door of the rich man. He wanted the pieces of food that fell from the table of the rich man. Even dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man who asked for food died. He was taken by the angels into the arms of Abraham. The rich man died also and was buried. In hell the rich man was in much pain. He looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus beside him.”

Luke 16:19-23 (NLV)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Reflection

Until recently, I was confused by this parable, did the rich man go to hell for his wealth? No (if it was so, America is in BIG trouble!), he was denied Heaven because he denied God in his lifetime (Luke 16:27-28). The Rich Man knew there was a suffering soul right at his gate, he even knew his name, he probably knew he ate out of his garbage, but he did not care. He reminds me of pre-redemption Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol (the Christmas season has officially begun!). In the novella, movies, and musical (personally, I like the Muppet version), Scrooge is a miserly, mean-spirited curmudgeon who makes it clear to the reader/viewer that he cares nothing for those less fortunate, his own family, or even God.

When Jacob Marley was alive, he was no different, and his ghost comes wrapped in a chain with money-boxes, deeds, and heavy wallets linked to it, which he confesses was worn of his own free will in life. Jacob Marley was bound to his love: money. The fires the rich man experiences seem to be the fires of greed and pride, neither of which are ever truly satisfied, they just keep consuming and consuming. Like drinking salt water, at first it seems to do the trick, but it makes the victim thirstier and thirstier until it kills them. Both Jacob Marley and the Rich Man were given over to their true desires in death, which weighed them down or consumed them.

It’s interesting Jesus mentions Abraham, who owned a lot of wealth but didn’t let his wealth own him. He valued God above all else. 

Application

What is your true desire? It’s better to be honest with yourself now than later, as that desire will follow you into eternity. Like preparing for a trip, assess where you want to go, what you’re packing, and what you’ll use at your destination. And if it’s the wrong thing you’re after, you can change it now, like Scrooge did. I have to end with Tiny Tim’s words: God bless us everyone!

Prayer

Dear Lord, please show me my true desire. If it isn’t You, grant me the courage to be honest, the will to desire You above all else, and perseverance in my relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.