Servants of the Rich

Luke 16:22-25

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Some know this Scripture best as the story of Lazarus and the rich man. But see, the descriptions are somewhat misleading at first. Could it not also be alternatively known as the servant and the rich man, or in other words, the servant of the rich. In the text just before we find the rich man "clothed in purple and fine linen." Now have we not been seated in Heavenly places through the goodness of God the Father. Here are we not dressed in his righteousness alone. So, the church of Laodicea once found to their awful shame. It seems their position was not that far removed from that of the guest who dared enter the wedding feast without a wedding garment on.

See also the fine food which the rich man consumed in abundance. It is almost the reverse image of the Israelites fed manna day by day at the hands of the Lord in the desert. Only then, the Israelites were hardly clothed in fine linen and living in a palace. Then were they once seen as the beggars themselves yet fed by the own Father's hand. It might sound sacrilegious to you at first. Hold up for a moment if you will. More than that, the text says he fed sumptuously. See, Isaiah 25:6 speaks of that mountain of the Lord's on which he has spread the table of the Lord for whosoever will. Should you be a people in this world, you are invited. Then, notice the conditions in which the beggar was kept.

And in hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Somebody shout 'through all this he kept me.' Herein lies the temptation which crept in among the holy angels that God is somehow that rich man in danger of treating his servants thus. Yet is he not subject to such himself being the head of the body and the Christ of the church. Was it not for our sake Scripture testifies that for this cause became he poor. Even as one poured out upon the cross who had not ought to lay his head. Whether servant of the Lord or Savior, he has always fulfilled his roles perfectly. I can hear some of you now screaming of 'sacrilege in the church.' How often the Scripture speaks of the angel of the Lord with scarcely a differention between his messenger and himself. Lest it also trip you up, know this that the Lord's place is his place. So then, what of the angels and us also of ours. But that never stopped the curious from looking into such things as Scripture says ever so anxiously. Nor have the angels ceased from being entertained unawares of man; much less have the sons of God quit coming down among the daughters of men as in the days before the flood to defile them.

Some of you really should know by now to stop putting the Lord your God to the test. See how when the fullness of days is come, that the beggar died. The angels came down to carry him away to some different place. Yet the place they took him to was that of his spiritual father, Abraham. Now we see our beggar finally has a name, probably for the first time in his life. So is he getting the dignity and respect he well deserved. Notice his name Lazarus, so similar to that of the man to which Jesus arrived too late. The Lord came when this man was dead and gone, buried, long since rotting away. Scripture tells the story how Jesus came when there was none watching and his family still grieving. Notice the sister's words of John 11:32 'Lord, had you only been here.' Are you not glad no one has made a song that says that yet in the church. Here we see Lazarus, the raised. Meet Christ, who possess power over even the cemetery.

Oh, my friends, of such is the kingdom even of John 11:25, the One that is "the resurrection and the life" himself. Some of you dead and passed away really ought to come walking on up out of your grave. Come on up out of your mess, your distress, the places of your own making, and those to which others have thrown you. God, our first fruits says "Lazarus come forth" to each and every one of you. Notice the meaning of the name Lazarus. The word comes from the main concept of being raised then just adds us. Now to him who is able to bring us forth. He is so named because the Lord called him forth first. Thus, the place, the power, and the invitation was his alone to give. See, Lazarus could by no means have risen of his own accord. Without the invitation of Jesus then, his words and situation then meant nothing. Notice then his positions one seated in Abraham's bosom safe from harm and all alarms but apart from the Lord. For the rich man came no such word nor yet the resurrection.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Note the role reversal when Lazarus died. His fortunes were suddenly reversed. How he sat outside the rich man's gate on a daily basis begging for some small crumbs of mercy to be had. Could it be that the rich man was the cause of Lazarus' situation. Hold on for a minute if you will. I have to speak to God about something: 'Lord, I hope I am never the cause of someone else's misery and then gloat about it.' Notice that when Lazarus died, all that changed. See, nothing settles the score quite like our Father God. You might feel like revenge or getting even is the answer. Notice how the point is not all the such much that the rich man undoubtedly had. If you think it is, you have also missed it completely. Now I know that no one likes to think of any being sent to hell. I can hear some of you now 'how can a just and loving God do such a thing.' Yet is not the point of it all that he is just.