Apina:

Your sermon though wonderful doesn't really tell what the sin of the rich man was . Most persons have argued that he didn't love Lazarus, but I don't believe that was the case, cos he allowed him stay at his gate and eat from his table even though they were leftovers.

For The rich man to have been able to identify Lazarus at the other side simply points to the fact that he knows who Lazarus is, most probably while moving in and out of his mansion could have asked about him when he saw him sitting at his gate. The Bible said he lived in luxury while Lazarus begged and had sores all over, did he ever refuse to help Lazarus? I don't think so cos if that were to be the case, Lazarus would most likely not remain at his gate cos Lazarus would need to eat to survive and would have moved on to another place where he would get food but he remained and even died there. We can actually say the rich man was generous to the beggar cos he allowed him to lay his head within his property and allowed him to feed from his table, eating the same food he ate.

The sin of the rich man wasn't that he didn't love Lazarus but was that "He Was INSENSITIVE to the plight of the beggar". The sin of insensitivity is so faint that it's almost impossible to detect, and it's everywhere, in the church, on your streets and even in the family.

traeces:

Your assertion is great but I am convinced you missed an important point as your assertion is not rooted enough in scripture.

Condemnation which lands people in hell is first and foremost due to the sin of unbelief. John 3:18 What you do or do not do is immaterial as long as faith in God is not in place. You can give your body to be burnt for the poor if you want but unless you first believe that God is and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, you cannot please God. This thought is evident in verses 28-30 of the Luke scripture OP posted.

God calls everyone to put their faith in Christ Jesus and come to him in repentance.

Emmanystone:

Good sermon, thank you very much. BUT, your sermon seem to dwell on monetary wealth only.

Wealth is not necessarily the cash one has or poverty the lack of it. They are very wealthy people who are not as rich monetarily and they are very wealth men who do not have cash.

In the Kingdom of God, things are not the way they are in the secular world.

If you ask me, i'd say, the Rich man didn't end up in hell or Hades because he didn't feed Lazarus, Yes, he should have, but that was not his only fault. What was his motive for not doing it? Motive is what YHWH will primarily use to judge us. Why did you do it?

I'd say, he didn't do it because of his PRIDE OR HAUGHTINESS.

When you consider yourself better than the next person, then you have a problem with YHWH. If it were just a matter of giving, am sure if a man or woman of his status showed up in his house while at table, he'll insist that the person joins him. But, Pride was his undoing.

The Issue is Pride. His condescending attitude did not allow him consider that Lazarus was human just as he was.

And, Listen, when you stand preaching the Gospel but take a position to condemn another preacher, you invalidate your position. because, you are not called into that ministry by the master. Anyone who stands on others to be seen, will eventually fall.

If you take time to listen to the so called Prosperity preachers, you'd understand that, they try to go beyond 'the life of Jesus' which was offered as a propitiation for us, to the PRINCIPLES OF JESUS which he taught us what to do and how to do it to occupy this earth until his return.

If you decides to end at 'the Life of Jesus' without applying 'the Principles of Jesus', then be okay with that, instead of criticizing those who goes further.

The Rich man didn't go to hell because he was Rich and Lazarus didn't end up in the Bossom of Abraham because he was poor. All of them had attitudes which propelled their actions while alive, and that determined where they both ended.

As much as Jesus said 'The Poor shall not cease in our midst', we as Christians are also enjoined to work with our own hands. The Bible says 'A lazy man should not be given food. He that does no work, shd not eat.

Why was Lazarus poor? Was he sick hence, could not work with his hands or just lazy? I believe in Lazarus's case he was sick, so can be excused. But if not, he had no right to go to the rich man's house to beg.

Bottomline, poverty is not a mark of Holiness, for poverty is a spirit and it is evil. Jesus said, 'Let the poor say i am rich'. Why is that?

Again, Riches or wealth is not a mark of Sin. Anyone who workd hard will be wealthy. A believer or an unbeliever. Sowing and reaping happens to both.

There's no father of faith who was poor and a begger. Is it Abraham, or Jacob? ot Joseph, or who?

Stop preaching a wrong gospel pls.

If we work hard, especially if you are rightly planted and in a good soil, doing what pleases God, He'll prosper you and you'd leave substance for your offspring.

Poverty is sin.

Shalom.

Emmanystone:

Good sermon, thank you very much. BUT, your sermon seem to dwell on monetary wealth only.

Wealth is not necessarily the cash one has or poverty the lack of it. They are very wealthy people who are not as rich monetarily and they are very wealth men who do not have cash.

In the Kingdom of God, things are not the way they are in the secular world.

If you ask me, i'd say, the Rich man didn't end up in hell or Hades because he didn't feed Lazarus, Yes, he should have, but that was not his only fault. What was his motive for not doing it? Motive is what YHWH will primarily use to judge us. Why did you do it?

I'd say, he didn't do it because of his PRIDE OR HAUGHTINESS.

When you consider yourself better than the next person, then you have a problem with YHWH. If it were just a matter of giving, am sure if a man or woman of his status showed up in his house while at table, he'll insist that the person joins him. But, Pride was his undoing.

The Issue is Pride. His condescending attitude did not allow him consider that Lazarus was human just as he was.

And, Listen, when you stand preaching the Gospel but take a position to condemn another preacher, you invalidate your position. because, you are not called into that ministry by the master. Anyone who stands on others to be seen, will eventually fall.

If you take time to listen to the so called Prosperity preachers, you'd understand that, they try to go beyond 'the life of Jesus' which was offered as a propitiation for us, to the PRINCIPLES OF JESUS which he taught us what to do and how to do it to occupy this earth until his return.

If you decides to end at 'the Life of Jesus' without applying 'the Principles of Jesus', then be okay with that, instead of criticizing those who goes further.

The Rich man didn't go to hell because he was Rich and Lazarus didn't end up in the Bossom of Abraham because he was poor. All of them had attitudes which propelled their actions while alive, and that determined where they both ended.

As much as Jesus said 'The Poor shall not cease in our midst', we as Christians are also enjoined to work with our own hands. The Bible says 'A lazy man should not be given food. He that does no work, shd not eat.

Why was Lazarus poor? Was he sick hence, could not work with his hands or just lazy? I believe in Lazarus's case he was sick, so can be excused. But if not, he had no right to go to the rich man's house to beg.

Bottomline, poverty is not a mark of Holiness, for poverty is a spirit and it is evil. Jesus said, 'Let the poor say i am rich'. Why is that?

Again, Riches or wealth is not a mark of Sin. Anyone who workd hard will be wealthy. A believer or an unbeliever. Sowing and reaping happens to both.

There's no father of faith who was poor and a begger. Is it Abraham, or Jacob? ot Joseph, or who?

Stop preaching a wrong gospel pls.

If we work hard, especially if you are rightly planted and in a good soil, doing what pleases God, He'll prosper you and you'd leave substance for your offspring.

Poverty is sin.

Shalom.

irynterri:
thanks for your wonderful contribution, not loving his neighbor as himself covers the umbrella of insensitivity, although I think your mentioning insensitivity hit the nail on its head. thanks for the correction

DLondonboiy:
At least he allowed his dogs take care of the pooor man's wound, init?
The rich mans sin was simply being rich. Jesus was mostly against rich people...He always wanted them to sell their properties and give all to the poor.

Notice the apostles folllowed that same pattern. Everybody sold whatever they had and gave to the poor.

But today, an oyedepo or one of those charlatans would take from the poor and build schools and hotels and tell you "Job was the richestman in the east"..

SMH

Apina:
what condemnation are u talking about? Where did I talk about condemnation? What has belief in God got to do with what I said? what makes my supposed assertion unscriptural and the yardstick for such measurements? And how does what u just said apply to my submissions?

correctguy101:


Na by force?
He has a right to decide who to give his hard earned cash, doesn't he?

irynterri:
Happy New Year to every one. The discussion today is the story of the rich man and Lazarus, let us read the Bible verse before the discussion. Luke 16:19-31New International Version (NIV)
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘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, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Apina:

Insensitivity is not necessarily the absence of love . Lazarus for example slept by his gate and ate the crumbs from his table, the question is, was Lazarus the only one around the rich man and was his going to hell based on just that? I missed something important in my first submission which is "The sin of OMISSION" which borders on what he failed to do not just for Lazarus who was just a template but also to others and from what he said to Abraham about sending Lazarus to his brothers meant they lived in a particular manner not different from the way he lived.

MyFlair:
The rich man had no love for Lazarus. were he his brother wouldnt he have treated him of that tormenting wounds?

traeces:


According to your submission, "The sin of the rich man wasn't that he didn't love Lazarus but was that "He Was INSENSITIVE to the plight of the beggar ". " but I am saying the sin of that rich man and indeed every unbeliever is the sin of unbelief. To back up my position, I quoted John 3:18 which says,

"He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]" Amp

seagulsntrawler:

I disagree with what you've just said up there. Poverty is not a sin and the Gospel of Christ was mainly for the poor hence the reason he said, " the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath appointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;"

seagulsntrawler:

All through his life Christ mingled more with the poor cos he was one himself[/b]and it partly accounts for the reasons why the Jews never accepted him as the messiah,

seagulsntrawler:

" and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2

seagulsntrawler:

And today's gospel of prosperity has led many not to desire Christ, to walk in his path and be their brothers keeper. Again, he said, 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

seagulsntrawler:

Lastly, you used Abraham as an example of someone that was wealthy who we should all strive to be like, but sadly none of his wealth, cattles and houses are around anymore.

seagulsntrawler:

It means your salvation transcends wealth and should be seen as form spiritual currency.

seagulsntrawler:

Your being wealthy should be seen as an undeserved favor from God to help others and he giveth riches to whom it pleases Him, believers and non believers.

irynterri:
thanks for your contribution, but I doubt you read the sermon 'cos if you did you will understand the sin I pointed out was not loving his neighbor or as someone pointed out been insensitive to the plight of his neighbor, in no part of this sermon did I say his wealth was sinful.thanks

yungchivvy:
poverty is sin?? Woow. Just woow. Ntin else to say mr preacher

Emmanystone:

If it wasn't why will Christ die to take it away from the poor?

akhis:


Nice write up. Very well detailed but little contradictions. Poverty is not sin. As said there will always be some poor among us its left for us to work and pray not to be poor. Work alone may not make you reach, hence pray as you work. For He gives them both same time and chance, meaning but the poor and the rich have same life and opportunity while some will have it some may not

realmindz:


excellent question


@Emmanystone, pls whatz the righteousness of the poor man.

DLondonboiy:
At least he allowed his dogs take care of the pooor man's wound, init?
The rich mans sin was simply being rich. Jesus was mostly against rich people...He always wanted them to sell their properties and give all to the poor.

Notice the apostles folllowed that same pattern. Everybody sold whatever they had and gave to the poor.

But today, an oyedepo or one of those charlatans would take from the poor and build schools and hotels and tell you "Job was the richestman in the east"..

SMH

Doerstech:


Poverty is not sin.....as simply as ABC....Lazarus at the gate was solely poor...and so were many Holy Men in the scripture ....so how's poverty now a sin?


The promises of the Lord are sure and Amen....if you claim them as His Child it will work for you as simply as ABCD.

Apina:

Insensitivity is not necessarily the absence of love . Lazarus for example slept by his gate and ate the crumbs from his table, the question is, was Lazarus the only one around the rich man and was his going to hell based on just that? I missed something important in my first submission which is "The sin of OMISSION" which borders on what he failed to do not just for Lazarus who was just a template but also to others and from what he said to Abraham about sending Lazarus to his brothers meant they lived in a particular manner not different from the way he lived.

walosky:



I dont really believe working hard makes someone to be rich.....it can only put food on your table . It's only God that gives the POWER to make WEALTH cos it doesnt matter how long you've trived ; it takes HIS GRACE AND FAVOR moreso following His steps/will

Apina:

Your sermon though wonderful doesn't really tell what the sin of the rich man was . Most persons have argued that he didn't love Lazarus, but I don't believe that was the case, cos he allowed him stay at his gate and eat from his table even though they were leftovers.

For The rich man to have been able to identify Lazarus at the other side simply points to the fact that he knows who Lazarus is, most probably while moving in and out of his mansion could have asked about him when he saw him sitting at his gate. The Bible said he lived in luxury while Lazarus begged and had sores all over, did he ever refuse to help Lazarus? I don't think so cos if that were to be the case, Lazarus would most likely not remain at his gate cos Lazarus would need to eat to survive and would have moved on to another place where he would get food but he remained and even died there. We can actually say the rich man was generous to the beggar cos he allowed him to lay his head within his property and allowed him to feed from his table, eating the same food he ate.

The sin of the rich man wasn't that he didn't love Lazarus but was that "He Was INSENSITIVE to the plight of the beggar". The sin of insensitivity is so faint that it's almost impossible to detect, and it's everywhere, in the church, on your streets and even in the family.

pol23:
.
No doubt you're well rooted in the living words.
But I cease to believe poverty is a spirit,A close friend once said "The only time He will stop serving God is when He doesn't eat anything for a whole day without him fasting" the standard prayer by Jesus teach us to request for our daily bread,not for the week...
He's the Almighty God,He gives riches to both believers and non believer.
In my own assumption,I believe the difference between a Christian and non believer will be the eternal Life...
He will bless all of us according to his riches in glory Christians and pagans, but everlasting life will be the difference.
While on earth a Christian can be poor and he will pray till forever,no answer...why:The answer is not far fetch...He said as the heaven is from the Earth ,so is thought against ours...

pol23:
.
If you're a billionaire and you send your kid to go buy Razor blade from aboki down the street, the kid got there and start calling you that He wants biscuits and chocomilo...you might choose not to answer him..because there are better biscuits and chocolate at home in excess,so in just your less than 2 minutes walk from Aboki store down here,you will not die without biscuits.

A man lives a 100 years on earth is nothing compare to eternity.....
If you think I'm wrong let me know...I'm ready to learn.
Thank you.

franchasng:
you spoke well but poverty is not sin. The poor must be found around us. Some poor people are righteous, likewise some rich people. How you live your life as a poor or rich person determines whether you're a sinner or not.

Pride, arrogance, envy, greed are the things God Almighty hate so much.