The first of these parables was an answer to a request from someone in the crowd concerning the division of an inheritance. The first and last parables tell of the dire consequences of living a life of greed and covetousness; the second shows us what one should do with one’s money. All three parables are interspersed in Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount.
Just before speaking the first of these parables, Jesus warned the crowd, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Is this not a good motto for today? There are many people whose only goal in life seems to be to obtain certain possessions and to have "a good time." The rich man in the parable had the same goal. He stored up his possessions so he could retire and enjoy "the good life." But his life was cut short and he left it all behind. He did not get to enjoy the possessions here and he couldn’t take them with him. The rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) evidently got to enjoy his wealth here for a time, but he had an eternity of deprivation, and the memory of his good times on earth brought him no comfort.
Is it wrong to be rich? The rich man in Luke 12 couldn’t help being rich_his land was very productive (verse 16). God blessed him with good weather and good land. What he could help was how he used his wealth. In 1 Timothy 6 the apostle Paul addresses two groups of people_those who want to get rich (verses 9,10) and those who are rich (verses 17-19). Wanting to be rich is a snare and an unworthy goal; being rich can be a snare but can also be used for the glory of God and the good of other people.
What should the rich person do with his or her money? The Lord Jesus tells us to "lay up … treasures in heaven." How can one do that? The parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) gives us some guidelines. Unlike the rich men in the other parables who lived as though their earthly lives would continue indefinitely, the steward knew the future was going to be different from the present and prepared accordingly. He made friends who would receive him into their homes by use of his master’s money. We are stewards and all of our money is actually our Master’s. If we use that money in such a way that other people receive the gospel and are helped to grow as Christians, they will be our friends in eternity even though we may never meet them on this earth. We are investing in the future, in heaven, for the spiritual welfare of other people is the only "commodity" we can invest in which will last for eternity. The steward is an example for us, not necessarily in his methods, but in his recognition of the importance of preparing for the future.
The Pharisees understood the main point of this parable, but scoffed because they loved money. They hoped to acquire, accumulate, and enjoy it here on earth. They were not interested in investing in a heavenly future. The Lord Jesus then told them the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to show them the terrible results of that attitude. It is not that being rich or poor determines our eternal destiny, but true faith will express itself in some other way than by living sumptuously while the poor and sick starve around us.
Perhaps some readers are saying in effect, "I am not rich, so scriptures addressed to the rich do not have much to say to me." However, the average member of the American middle class compared to the average person of New Testament times or the average person in the world today is rich. What are we doing with our riches?
True faith and true love are demonstrated in great measure by how we treat those less well-off than ourselves (Jas. 2:14-17; 1 John 3:14-18). Let us be diligent to convert the temporal riches into the true riches that will last for eternity.
FRAGMENT The difference between the Samaritan and the others (in the parable of Luke 10) was that he had compassion. That is quite different from feeling sorry for someone. Surely the priest and Levite felt something, just as we do. But who cares enough to stop and help? This is the love God would have us show to our neighbor. True compassion moves the person to action.