Sunday 09/25/22 - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title: “The Real Sin of The Rich Man!”
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
New Testament Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19
Gospel Lesson: Luke 16:19-31
Since I moved to Sidney in 2018, I
have met many people that are hard workers. Some of these folks have or did
work for Bendix/Amphenol, or Acco, or Unilam, etc. In getting to know some of
these folks, some of them started out in apartments, or lived at home for
awhile while they worked. They saved up, eventually moved out, or maybe even
bought a house. Some of them are retired now, and have a comfortable life.
Many of these people that I have met
and have gotten to know here in Sidney are generous, loving, and caring people.
I have met people here in Sidney that would truly give you the shirt off your
back, or show up in the middle of the night to help. As I said, many of these
people are hardworking people. There hard work and their efforts got them
ahead. Some got raises, promotions, better jobs, etc. Yet all the while they
were still generous, and still did all they could to help people. It seems to
some in our society today however, that if anyone gets ahead, they must have
been dishonest and or did something wrong.
The question to consider this morning
then, is it a sin to work hard and get ahead? Is it a sin to toil, to advance,
and accomplish, if at the same time you are kind, generous, and giving? My
parents worked very hard their whole lives, and as they worked, they got
raises, were promoted, got better jobs, etc. I do not think that any of this is
a sin. It would be a sin though if my parents and the good folks I have gotten
to know here in Sidney were only concerned about themselves, and never did
anything to help anyone. You see, there is difference between working hard and
getting ahead, and being selfish, greedy, and unloving.
Some people in fact, worked hard and
advanced so much that they may have even retired fairly financially wealthy. Is
that a sin? I do not think so, as everything that we have is God’s. All we have
is God’s, and we are simply caretakers of those things on behalf of God. What
we do with what God gives us, and how we live though, matters. In fact, some of
the most giving and generous people that I have ever met have succeeded and
done well. Working hard and getting ahead is a good thing, as long as Christ is
at the center, and we are being generous and loving. Some in our culture seem
to assume, as I said, that if you get ahead, work hard, and move forward that you
must have done bad things to get where you are. For many, this just simply is
not true.
No matter what becomes of our lives
here on earth, we are called to love and care for all people. Some of us might advance
in some ways that others do not, but we are still called to love and care for
each other. As God provides for us, we can in turn help and provide for others.
For God gives us all good things, so we then can do the same for other. In fact, our reading from Psalm 91 says in
91:1-2 once again:
1 You
who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide
in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust” (Ps. 91:1-2, NRSV).
Some
of us have sung these words of scripture in the song “On Eagle’s Wings”. We are
reminded of God’s love, providence, and our command through Jesus Christ to
love and care for others. No matter how far we go in this world, Christ commands
us to be generous, giving, caring, and loving to all people.
Our
reading from the 1 Timothy 6:6-19 for this morning speaks more to what we are talking
about this morning. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 say once again:
6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined
with contentment; 7 for
we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out
of it; 8 but if we
have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those
who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful
desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich
some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains (1 Tim. 6:6-10, NRSV).
If our goal in this world is greed,
possessions, and just money, then we have a created and idol in the place of
God. Desiring wealth, possession, and riches is indeed not Godly. Working hard
however, and getting ahead, if our focus in on Christ and others is not sinful.
If we are willing to do anything to accumulate wealth, power, and possession,
then we are not following God. If someone works hard their whole life and is
loving, generous, and caring, this is a good thing.
In
continuing on in our reading from 1 Timothy, it says, once again, picking up starting
in 6:11:
11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the
good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called
and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses. 13 In
the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his
testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the
commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 15 which
he will bring about
at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings
and Lord of lords. 16 It
is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one
has ever seen
or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen (1 Tim. 6:11-16, NRSV).
The Apostle Paul tells his friend Timothy and
us to not pursue money, riches, and possessions, but rather righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. The Apostle Paul then tells
Timothy and us to live for and like Christ, the King of kings and Lord of
Lords.
This
scripture reading conclude with the Apostle Paul telling his young friend
Timothy and us, how to live. Our reading from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 concludes for
this morning, saying once again:
17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command
them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but
rather on
God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to
do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the
future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life (1 Tim. 6:17-19, NRSV).
If
you work hard in this life, and if you accumulate some wealth, power, and
possessions, do not be haughty, do not worship wealth and possessions, instead
focus on God and each other. This is where the true riches are.
This
leads us to our gospel of Luke 16:19-31 reading for this morning once again.
This is also where I got my sermon title, “The Real Sin of the Rich Man”. Starting
in Luke 16:19 it says once again in this the parable or story of “The Rich man
and Lazarus”:
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine
linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor
man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with
what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his
sores (Lk. 16:19-21, NRSV).
So,
a rich man, no doubt rich in wealth, property, and possessions, had great
feasts every day. This man was dressed in purple and fine linen. Purple is the
color of royalty, which is why our paraments are purple during the seasons of Lent
and Advents. We are preparing for the death and the resurrection of the king in
the season of Lent, and we are preparing for his birth in the season of Advent.
This rich man, who can see in our
worship picture, lived very well, and had more than enough. We do not know how
this man acquired his wealth. This man could have acquired his wealth honestly
or dishonestly. We really do not know. In this way, perhaps the rich man
acquired his wealth honestly, or did not. Either way, the scripture tells us
that the rich man feasted, which Lazarus lay sick at the gate in front of his
house. I would think that the rich man was more than aware of the fact that
Lazarus was there. I mean after all the rich man’s dogs would come and lick
Lazarus’ sores. What was Lazarus’ affliction? We do not fully know that either.
It could have been leprosy or something else. What we do know is that he was
homeless and not well.
Further,
our gospel of Luke reading tells us that Lazarus was not jealous or angry at
the rich man’s wealth and possessions. All Lazarus wanted was the food, the
crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. I mean even the dogs got those, but
not Lazarus. My sermon is called, “The Real Sin of the Rich Man,” because the
sin of the rich man, was not being rich, unless he acquired his wealth
dishonestly. The real sin of the rich man was selfishness, greed, and a lack of
love and compassion.
In
being in this community for over four years now, Melissa and I, like many of us
have developed a great respect for Kyle Wescott over at the Great American
grocery store. Twice every week, someone from the Great American brings over
all the bread and pastries that are close to there expiration date. Could Kyle
legally and rightfully just through those close to date bread and pastries in
the garbage. Yes, he could. Instead, though, Kyle realizes that there are Lazarus’
in this community that would love some bread to eat. “The Real Sin of the Rich
Man” this morning was not having some earthly success, it was being greedy,
self-centered, and having no compassion and or concern.
Nobody
should have nothing to eat, especially in the richest country in the history of
the world. The rich man’s sin was having so much, and not sharing even a little
with a man who had nothing. Part of the reason we give on Sunday morning when
the collection plates go around the sanctuary is to honor God with our generosity,
love, and to be like Christ. All of us have seen food go to waste. Look at the
garbage cans in many public-school cafeterias. All Lazarus wanted from the rich
man, was a little food. He did not want his house, his property, or his wealth,
he just wanted to eat. Likely the rich man threw out extra food, and for the
longest time God put a man right in front of his house that he could have fed.
Is our food bank vital to the mission and ministries of this church? You bet it
is.
In
about month, our scouts are going to be having there annual “Scouting for Food”
event, where people in the community are invited to give extra food for those
in need. Friends it is not a crime, not a sin to work hard and get ahead, but
if a man is sick and at the front gate of our house and we do nothing, is that
not a sin?
Well,
how goes this parable or story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” end”. Picking up
in Luke 16:22 it says of Lazarus:
22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be
with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being
tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his
side (Lk. 16:22-23, NRSV).
Lazarus
dies and carried away by angels to be with Abraham in heaven. The rich man also
died and was buried, but went to Hades. In many ancient religions, all people’s
souls went to the underworld. A common view of the underworld, or Hades, or Sheol,
was that there where two parts of the underworld. One part is what we now call
heaven, and one part is what we now call hell. Lazarus goes the heaven part of
Hades, and the rich man, well he does not go to the heaven part of Hades.
So,
the rich man in the fires of hell or Hades, and Abraham and Lazarus go to him. Mostly
likely not the most popular vacation destination, but they go to the rich man.
In part I think, to see if the rich man changed at all. Well, what will the
rich man do when Abraham and Lazarus see him. The rich man beats them to it,
and in Luke 16:24 it says of Lazarus and the rich man this:
24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames’ (Lk. 16:24, NRSV).
So,
the rich man does ask Abraham for forgiveness. The rich man does not even talk
to Lazarus directly. The rich man says to Abraham, basically, “tell that “boy”
to come over here and put his finger in water to cool off my tongue”. The rich
man says that he is agony in the flames. Yet even in hell fire, the rich man
does not talk to or address Lazarus. The rich man in no way acknowledges or
apologizes to Lazarus. Instead, he says to Abraham “tell that “boy” to come over
here and put his finger in water to cool off my tongue”. Even now, in the fires
of hell, the rich man is unrepentant, does not apologize to Lazarus, and still
shows him no respect or dignity.
So, what does Father Abraham have to
say to the rich man then. This is what it says once again, picking up in Luke
16:25:
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us’ (Lk. 16:25-26, NRSV).
Remember,
that in this parable or story, we have no repentance from the rich man, The
rich man just asks to be taken out of hell fire. Abraham tells him that he will
remain where he is. As a result, the rich man then asks Abraham to do something
for him.
Our
gospel of Luke reading ends this morning with 16:27-31, with the rich man
asking Abraham to have Lazarus do something else. Once again it says of the
rich man:
27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s
house— 28 for I have five
brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place
of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have
Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father
Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do
not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if
someone rises from the dead’ ” (Lk.
16:27-31, NRSV).
Powerful
words, from the parable or story that tells us our duty to each other. It is
not a crime or sin to work hard, but it is a sin to be selfish, heartless, and
uncaring for others. Perhaps there are Lazarus’ in our midst, and what do we do
with all God has allowed to work so hard for?
What
gets me every time I read and or preach on the parable or story of “The Rich man
and Lazarus” is that the rich man want his five brother to repent, but he himself
does not repent. In his writing the “Problem with Pain” the great Roman
Catholic scholar said this of hell:
“I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense,
successful, rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside” (The Problem of Pain, 130).
What
do we do with someone who selfish, greedy, unrepentant, unloving, uncaring, and
even in hell fire, won’t even talk to the man he wronged. The rich man does not
repent, does not show remorse, instead he tells Abraham of Lazarus “tell
that “boy” to come over here and put his finger in water to cool off my tongue”.
Then the rich man tells Abraham to have Lazarus warn his brothers of the fate
he has come to have. Never apologizes to Lazarus, never asks for forgiveness.
Maybe CS Lewis is right “that the doors of hell are locked on the inside” (The Problem of Pain, 130).
So, what is
the take away here my friends? Work hard, do your best for God, but realize
that if God has given us the gifts, graces, and abilities to do anything that
we are still to love, care for, and be good to one another. Lest, we are unapologetic
and say “tell that “boy” to come over here and put his finger
in water to cool off my tongue”. For this is “The Real Sin of the Rich Man”. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment