Deceitfulness of Riches
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every day, and Lazarus, who was in abject poverty and loathsome to
the sight, and who begged the few crumbs which the rich man despised.
Our Saviour shows His estimate of the two. Although Lazarus was
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in so deplorable and mean a condition, he had true faith, true moral
worth, which God saw, and which He considered of so great value
that He took this poor, despised sufferer and placed him in the most
exalted position, while the honored and ease-loving man of wealth was
thrust out from the presence of God and plunged into misery and woe
unutterable. God did not value the riches of this wealthy man, because
he had not true moral worth. His character was worthless. His riches
did not recommend him to God nor have any influence to secure His
favor.
By this parable Christ would teach His disciples not to judge or
value men by their wealth or by the honors which they received of
others. Such was the course pursued by the Pharisees, who, while
possessing both riches and worldly honor, were valueless in the sight
of God and, more than this, were despised and rejected of Him, cast out
from His sight as disgusting to Him because there was no moral worth
or soundness in them. They were corrupt, sinful, and abominable in
His sight. The poor man, despised by his fellow mortals and disgusting
to their sight, was valuable in the sight of God because he possessed
moral soundness and worth, thus qualifying him to be introduced into
the society of refined, holy angels and to be an heir of God and a joint
heir with Christ.
In Paul’s charge to Timothy he warns him of a class who will
not consent to wholesome words and who place a wrong estimate
on riches. He says: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing,
but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from
such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
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nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted