Luke 16:19-31
Think of the ultimate plot twist in your favorite book or movie. The villain who turns out to be the one you would least expect, the ultimate betrayal of trust, or the person’s death you mourned over just to find out it was fake and they were alive the entire time! This portion of scripture doesn’t have those exactly, but it is certainly a plot twist!
There are two very different men at the beginning of this story. One, was a rich man who lived in complete luxury. The other, a beggar who had nothing and lived in misery and sickness. They both suffered the same fate; death. But here’s the plot twist: the rich man who had everything was being tormented alone in Hades while the poor beggar was being taken care of in Heaven! One is next to the Lord and one is separated from Him. You would think that the rich man would inherit the beauty of Heaven and the beggar wouldn’t get anything good in eternity because that is what their life on earth looked like.
The contrast of the two people on completely different ends of the spectrum is a clear picture showing how materialistic riches in this life are meaningless, but true riches are eternal life with Jesus. The rich man realizes this after it is too late and begs for mercy. When that is not granted, he then begs for them to warn and save his family.
The rich lifestyle is continually filling a void with things. But really, what is missing is a relationship with Jesus. He wasn’t punished inherently for being rich, but for the neglect to help and serve the sick beggar at his gate. We cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
It is so easy for one to miss out on the riches of a life with Jesus until it is too late. That is why it is a believer’s duty to share the Gospel and love of Jesus with everyone they meet! We want to fight tooth and nail to make sure that people hear the Gospel and find the living water that Jesus offers before it is too late. Jesus fills that void so that we are full and needing nothing else.
There are two very different men at the beginning of this story. One, was a rich man who lived in complete luxury. The other, a beggar who had nothing and lived in misery and sickness. They both suffered the same fate; death. But here’s the plot twist: the rich man who had everything was being tormented alone in Hades while the poor beggar was being taken care of in Heaven! One is next to the Lord and one is separated from Him. You would think that the rich man would inherit the beauty of Heaven and the beggar wouldn’t get anything good in eternity because that is what their life on earth looked like.
The contrast of the two people on completely different ends of the spectrum is a clear picture showing how materialistic riches in this life are meaningless, but true riches are eternal life with Jesus. The rich man realizes this after it is too late and begs for mercy. When that is not granted, he then begs for them to warn and save his family.
The rich lifestyle is continually filling a void with things. But really, what is missing is a relationship with Jesus. He wasn’t punished inherently for being rich, but for the neglect to help and serve the sick beggar at his gate. We cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
It is so easy for one to miss out on the riches of a life with Jesus until it is too late. That is why it is a believer’s duty to share the Gospel and love of Jesus with everyone they meet! We want to fight tooth and nail to make sure that people hear the Gospel and find the living water that Jesus offers before it is too late. Jesus fills that void so that we are full and needing nothing else.
Posted in Devotional