April 28 2025

Monday April 28

Luke 16:19-23 – A Covetous Life Can Lead to Hell

19 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Today, we're looking at a solemn passage of Scripture as we examine Luke 16:19-23. Jesus has just silenced the sneering Pharisees, pointing out their covetousness—their love of money over their love of God. In fact, Luke 16:14 says, "Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard these things and they derided him.” They sneered at him. They mocked at him. Jesus talked about money and the consequences of living a covetous life, pursuing the world, the flesh, the devil, and money rather than living for God. Remember in this same passage Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon."

Over the years, I've heard some preachers say, "You'll never hear me talk about money." They're scared that if they discuss money from the pulpit, people might think they're money-hungry and run them off. My friend, they're not following the example of Jesus. Jesus spoke often about money, its use, and how we're to be good stewards of the resources, money, and wealth that God has blessed us with. There's nothing wrong with talking about money from the pulpit, Jesus did. If you want to follow His example, you may need to do the same. It's good teaching; it helps people understand stewardship because money is where we live. We need money for everything we do in this life.

Money, as I've said before, represents our life. We exchange our time, skills, and talents for a paycheck at the end of the week so we can buy food, shelter, and transportation, and meet necessary needs. Money is a representation of our life, and how we spend our money shows how we spend our life. It’s very important and reveals whether we're covetous or not. If we fail to apply God's principles in our lives and follow them in the use and stewardship of money, using it to make friends for eternity, as mentioned in this passage, we miss the mark.

The Pharisees didn’t like what Jesus was saying, and Jesus is about to confront them powerfully, explaining the consequences of their covetousness if they do not repent and come to the Lord. Notice that Jesus told a story in verse 19: "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom."

You see a contrast in this story. First, I want to point out that Jesus began this chapter by saying in verse one, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward." Now in verse 19, He again uses the same wording, "There was a certain rich man." This one was clothed in purple and fine linen. Jesus is telling two very real stories about two very real men in both stories.  In the first one, a rich man and a unfaithful steward, and in this one, a rich man and a beggar. Jesus is not making up a parable, as some try to claim, to dismiss this and avoid believing in a place called hell. My friend, we miss the holiness and righteousness of God if we ignore the reality of hell.

Jesus talked about money, and He talked about an eternity in hell, a place of fire and torment for eternity. And if we reject God and His only way of salvation and choose to live for temporal things rather than what is eternal, failing to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him to be our Lord and Savior, it will be our eternal destination.

This passage caught my attention as a 19-year-old teenager 54 years ago and led me to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I believe God can use it in your life too. I trust that today you will choose to live for Jesus and eternity.

God bless!