The Two Masters

Luke 16:19-31

 

Rich man, poor man. The rich man had a feast every day, but the poor man longed to eat the crumbs that fell of the rich man’s table. The poor man was a beggar that laid outside the gate of the rich man’s mansion. He was covered in sores. Dogs licked his sores.

 

This is not a parable. Jesus said, ‘a certain rich man’ and the poor man had a name, ‘Lazarus’. It is a true story.

 

The poor man died, and angels carried him to the bosom of Father Abraham. When the rich man died, he opened his eyes in the flames of hell. He could see Abraham and Lazarus and cried out that Abraham would send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger into water and come and refresh his tongue for he was suffering in the flames. But Abraham said there is a great divide between them, and Lazarus could not cross it.

 

Then the rich man asked if Abraham would send Lazarus to warn his five brothers that they do not end up in the same place he did. But Abraham explained that they have the Law of Moses and the books of the Prophets, and they should adhere to them.

 

Jesus added: you cannot serve two Masters, you either hate the one and love the other or you are faithful to one and have contempt for the other. The French:

‘Vous ne pouvez pas server a la fois Dieu et l’argent.’ You cannot serve God and money.

 

The question arises: who do you and I love most? God or money? And the question that follows is: ‘where will you and I end up after this life?’

Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are already condemned but those who believe in Him will have everlasting life. (Romans 6:36)