I researched the Internet for how often Jesus spoke about money and possessions. This is what I found.
“Approximately 8% of the verses in the Gospels—over 300 out of 3,779—directly discuss these subjects. Additionally, about 11 of his 39 parables involve wealth and possessions, constituting nearly 30% of his parabolic teachings.”
Much of the material in Luke 16 concerns how humans interact with money and the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth.
Jesus summarized the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16.1-9) with these words:
“No slave can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16.13).
Jesus challenged the Pharisees who were lovers of money (vs. 15) and said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts, for what is prized by humans is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16.15).
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Chapter 16 concludes with the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, highlighting the truths Jesus taught about money and possessions.
Jesus describes a man who possessed great wealth. “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day” (Luke 16.19).
As we think about this man’s wealth, let’s remember earlier verses where Jesus said we can’t serve God and wealth (vs. 13). What is prized by humans is an abomination in the sight of God (vs. 15).
Jesus contrasted the rich man with a poor man named Lazarus, who was covered in sores and so desperate with hunger that he longed to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. When both men died, Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man simply died and awoke in the realm of the dead (vs. 20-23).
The rich man had ignored Lazarus, showing little concern for his needs despite apparently knowing his name. Even in death, he viewed Lazarus as inferior and asked Father Abraham to send Lazarus to his place of torment to bring him a drink of water (vs. 23-24).
This is the response that Father Abraham gave to the rich man. As we consider his words let’s remember Jesus’ earlier statements about material wealth.
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us'” (Luke 16.25-26).
There was a vast chasm between the life of the rich man and Lazarus, who sat at his gate in desperate hunger. Similarly, there is a significant divide between the wealth of Americans and the poverty experienced by people in impoverished nations.
While I don’t have a definitive solution to this problem, I believe we must heed Jesus’s teachings and allow the Holy Spirit to guide how we use our resources, rather than letting cultural norms dictate how we spend our wealth.
Will We Listen
The parable concludes with a conversation between the rich man and Father Abraham. The rich man pleads for Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his brothers, urging them not to repeat his mistakes.
Father Abraham responds like this: “‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead'” (Luke 16.31).
We must ask ourselves: Will we listen to the prophets? More importantly, will we heed what Jesus teaches us in Luke Chapter 16?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby and I discussed this parable on YouTube today.
Real Voices 