“Jesus said, ‘There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.’” (Luke 16:19 NLT)
It’s not a sin to have wealth. It IS a sin when your wealth has you! There’s no indication that the rich man in Jesus’ parable was grossly sinful, in the sense of his lifestyle, yet he obviously had no compassion for those in need. Lazarus was covered with sores and lay at the rich man’s gate “each day,” yet there’s no indication that he ever took notice of Lazarus or offered him help in any way.
His wealth created in him an air of superiority that caused him to look condescendingly upon those who weren’t like him. Even after he died and was in hell, he still wanted Lazarus to serve him be giving him water to cool his tongue. Finally, his thoughts shifted to his lost brothers, but his attitude was still condescending, asking Abraham to allow Lazarus to return to life long enough to warn his brothers.
It takes an exceptional person to have wealth yet remain humble and pliable in the Lord’s hands. Sin is no respecter of persons and will violate the heart of any person whose desire is to use others to please themselves, whether they have money or not.
One of the saddest lines in Scripture is found in Matthew 12:14 written to describe the Pharisee’s response to Jesus healing a man with a deformed hand. Matthew wrote: “Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.” All He did was heal someone, but they hated Him for it, so much so they wanted Him dead! The height of wickedness.
There is no limit to the distortion sin causes in the heart and mind of a person who sees evil as good and good as evil. Why do you think drugs, alcohol, prostitution, sex trafficking of tender age children, and other violations of people’s rights and needs is so prevalent in our society today? It takes money to run these wrongful enterprises, yet the effort is made because the profits are plentiful because the demand is so high.
The rich make demands to meet their needs despite the pain, heartache, and personal tragedies of those who are violated to meet their demands. Do you think God is standing by, quietly wringing His hands wondering what He’s going to do? The fires of hell are burning brightly in anticipation of those who think they’re special or are somehow exempt from punishment.
One day they will see the error of their ways, but, unfortunately for most of them, it won’t be in this lifetime. The wickedness of riches lies largely in the blinding effect of its earthly benefits. Treating oneself to the best of everything the world offers has a numbing effect on the heart, preventing the person from realizing there is nothing this world offers that’s worth more than their soul.
As I look over what I’ve written I notice a constant reference to “them.” It’s so easy for me to see the proverbial “speck” in the eyes of the rich, when I’d better be very careful to first remove the “log” in my own eye. Though I’ve never made very much money, in world terms, I’m a very rich man.
May I caution those of us who may not have multi-millions, yet live better than 95% of the world’s population? May we use the wealth God has given us to forward His eternal purposes, not simply to invest in the things of this world? Wickedness is not necessarily and only gross outward manifestations of sin, but to look upon a woman with lust, or to covet another’s possessions, or to ignore the obvious needs of those who beg at the gates of our spheres of influence.
Pride, greed, lust, and covetousness are beggars that camp at our doorways for more often than we care to admit. May the Lord enable us to guard our hearts and minds from the wickedness of riches in whatever form it may present itself.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 