Riches to be Handled

Scripture/Bible:  "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. 24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' 27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" Luke 16:19-31

Reflection: It is a story about a rich man and a poor man. It’s a story about their lifestyle.  One had all the riches of this life and the other had nothing but poverty to live with.

What leads the rich man to hell fire was not so much his absence of charity but his lifestyle of rich satisfied life.  He had the good things of life.  On the other hand, in the case of the poor man, he had his hunger and desires which were not satisfied.

What could be the reason why the rich man had the good things of life? He could have been a men pleaser or a cheat or maybe an honest businessman who did not have his priorities right and did not know how to please God in the wealth God had blessed him with. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:21

If he cared about God, then from the Lord himself he would have learnt the right attitude of life; to be generous with what he has been given, especially towards his poor brothers and sisters.

We could be satisfied with various riches, such as self confidence, speaking abilities, organizing abilities, learning abilities, the various talents or even the ability of giving and being generous about the things we have and posses and yet we may not be rich towards God.

Prayer: Lord my God, teach me not to be haughty on account of the riches that thou hast given me but instead to put my trust in you. (cfr. 2 Tim. 6: 17)

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