In the first part of this series of articles about “rich and poor” based on Like 16, we thought of the first lesson that “God allots different conditions to different people.”  In continuation,

(2) A man’s temporal condition is no test to the state of his soul. 

(a) The rich man in the parable appears to have been the world’s pattern of a prosperous man.  If the life that now is 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 e everything else which money could procure.  The wisest men had good cause for waying, “Money answereth all things” (Ecclesiastes 10:19), or “The rich hath many friends” (Proverbs 14:20). 

Who could see among all who read this parable 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 boon companies, he had no friend, no advocate at God’s right hand.  With all his sumptuous fare he had never tasted the bread of life.  With all his splendid palaces, he had no home in the eternal world.  Without God, without Christ, without faith, without grace, without pardon, without holiness, he lives for himself for a few short years and then goes down hopelessly into the pit.  How hollow and unreal was all his prosperity!  Judge what I say – The rich man was very poor. 

(b) Lazarus appears to have been one who had literally nothing in the world.  It is hard to conceive a case of greater misery and destitution than his.  He had neither house, not 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 that fell from the rich man’s table.  Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.  Verily the wise man might well say, “The poor is hated even of his neighbour” (Proverbs 14:20), and “The destruction of the poor is their poverty” (Proverbs 10:15).  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 Saviour.  He had the best of friends – God Himself was his portion.  He had the best of food – he had meat to eat the world knew not of.  And best of all, he had these things for ever.  The angels 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.” 

If we have to measure a man, we ought to measure him by God’s standard – not to measure them by the amount of their income but by the condition of their souls.  When the Lord God looks down from heaven and sees the children of 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.  Therefore, my friends, especially, Hopefuls, strive to do likewise.  We should value grace above titles, or intellect, or gold!  Often, too far often, the only question asked about a man is, “How much is he worthy?”  It would be well for us to remember that every man is pitiably poor, until he is rich in faith and rich toward God.  Wonderful as it may seem to some, all the money in the world is worthless in God’s balances compared to grace!  If we convert such a thought to apply to Lazarus, we would say, “a converted beggar is far more important and honourable in the sight of God than an unconverted king.”  The one 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 for ever.  The other may crawl through the world like a crushed worm and be despised byevery 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 thy … poverty, but thou art rich” (Revelation 2:9).

We may find many such examples from church history.  Ridley and Latimer were deposed from all their dignities, cast into prison as malefactors and at length burnt at the stake.  Bonner and Gardiner, their persecutors, were raised to the highest pitch of ecclesiastical greatness, enjoyed large income and died unmolested in their beds. Yet who can doubt which of the two parties was on the Lord’s side?  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 honours.  Yet who can doubt who was the good man of the two, the Lord Chief Justice or the author of the Saint’s Rest?”  The Amazon books introduce the book, the Saint’s Rest, as following: “Throughout his life, Richard Baxter suffered from ill-health, and it was during one of the more serious periods of illness that he began writing The Saints Everlasting Rest.  His intention was to provide suitable meditations on the theme of heaven.  The book was published in 1650, and it became one the best known of his writings and has continued to be so to the present day.” 

Be sure that riches and worldly greatness are no certain marks of God’s favour.  They are often, on the contrary, a snare and hindrance to a man’s soul.  They make him love the world and forget God.  The wisest man on earth said, “Labour not to be rich” (Proverbs 23:4).  Paul says, “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 Timothy 6:9). 

Be sure that poverty and trial are no certain proof of God’s anger.  They are blessings in disguise.  They are always sent in 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.  Job 5:17 says, “Happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.”  Hebrews 12:6, “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.”

One great secret of happiness in this life is to be of a patient, contented spirit.  Strive daily to realise the truth that this life is not the place of reward.  Judge nothing hastily before the time of God’s final judgment.  This day shall put all in their right places. At last, there shall be seen a mighty difference between him who fears God and him who fears Him not. 

Lovingly,

Your Pastor

More Lively Hope

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