Faith Over Wealth: The True Treasure in Christ

Grace, mercy, and peace flow from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and today’s reflection centers on the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This account, often debated as to whether it is a parable or a literal story, is best understood as a parable—one that uses the symbolic language and storytelling methods familiar to Jesus’ first-century audience. The details, such as “Abraham’s bosom,” are not meant to be literal descriptions of heaven or hell, but rather serve to communicate a deeper spiritual truth. The focus is not on the afterlife itself, nor is it a simple call to social justice or a condemnation of wealth. Instead, the heart of the story is about faith—specifically, faith in the promises of God as revealed through Moses and the prophets, and ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

The context is crucial: Jesus is addressing the Pharisees, religious leaders who prided themselves on their knowledge and observance of the law, yet missed the true message of the Scriptures. Their trust was not in the coming Messiah, but in their own works and status. The rich man in the parable represents those who, despite having access to God’s word, place their faith in wealth and self-sufficiency rather than in God. His lack of faith is revealed not only in his disregard for Lazarus, his suffering neighbor, but also in his ultimate separation from God.

This story challenges us to examine where our own trust lies. Are we, like the Pharisees, so consumed by the pursuit of wealth, comfort, or religious activity that we neglect the living and active word of God? Do we believe that God’s word and sacraments are enough, or do we seek to supplement them with our own cleverness or cultural trends? The parable warns against the temptation to treat God’s gifts as mundane or insufficient, reminding us that the word of Christ is the true treasure—greater than any earthly possession.

Ultimately, the call is to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, to live lives of daily repentance and faith, and to store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth. The peace and forgiveness found in Christ are the only riches that endure, and they are freely given to all who trust in him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Parable’s True Focus Is Faith, Not Wealth or Poverty The story of the rich man and Lazarus is not a lesson about the morality of wealth or the virtue of poverty. Rather, it exposes the danger of placing trust in anything other than God’s promises. The rich man’s downfall was not his riches, but his lack of faith in what God had revealed through Moses and the prophets, and his disregard for the needs of others as a result. [32:34]
• 2. Scripture Interprets Scripture—Context Matters Deeply Understanding any passage of Scripture requires attention to its context, both immediate and broader. The parable’s meaning is illuminated by recognizing Jesus’ audience—the Pharisees—and their spiritual blindness. Isolating verses or stories from their context leads to misunderstanding; the whole counsel of God’s word must be considered to grasp its true message. [31:17]
• 3. Religious Activity Without Faith Is Empty The Pharisees were diligent in religious observance, yet missed the heart of God’s revelation. Their devotion to wealth and status crowded out true worship and love for neighbor. This warns us that outward religiosity, even when impressive, is hollow if not rooted in genuine faith and trust in Christ. [33:49]
• 4. God’s Word and Sacraments Are Sufficient and Powerful There is a temptation to believe that the word of God needs to be supplemented with entertainment, novelty, or cultural accommodation to be effective. Yet, the living and active word, together with the sacraments, is God’s appointed means for salvation and transformation. Faith clings to these gifts, trusting that they are enough, even when they seem simple or unimpressive. [38:07]
• 5. True Treasure Is Found in Christ Alone Earthly riches, comfort, and recognition are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying. The only treasure that endures is the forgiveness, peace, and eternal life found in Christ. Storing up treasure in heaven means holding fast to the word of Christ, living in daily repentance and faith, and letting his promises shape our lives above all else.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:35] - Is the Story a Parable?
• [28:13] - Symbolic Language and First-Century Context
• [28:50] - Dangers of Literalism
• [29:28] - What the Parable Is Not About
• [30:38] - The Importance of Context in Scripture
• [31:17] - Jesus’ Audience: The Pharisees
• [31:55] - The Pharisees’ Misunderstanding of the Messiah
• [32:34] - The Heart of the Parable
• [33:12] - Faithless Living and Neglect of Neighbor
• [33:49] - Wealth, Worship, and Idolatry
• [35:05] - The Rich Man’s Epiphany and Abraham’s Response
• [36:19] - Modern Attempts to Supplement God’s Word
• [38:07] - The Sufficiency of Scripture
• [40:44] - Storing Up Treasure in Heaven
• [41:24] - Letting the Word Dwell Richly
• [42:03] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Reading

Luke 16:19–31 (ESV) — > “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Amos 6:1, 4–7 (ESV) — > “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria... Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what does Abraham say is the reason the rich man’s brothers will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead? (Luke 16:31; [32:34])
2. According to Amos 6, what is the main problem with those who are “at ease in Zion” and “lie on beds of ivory”? ([33:12])
3. What does the sermon say about the Pharisees’ understanding of the Old Testament and the Messiah? ([31:55])
4. What are some of the ways the sermon describes people trying to “supplement” God’s word in worship or church life? ([36:19])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the example of the rich man and Lazarus to address the Pharisees, and what does this reveal about the dangers of trusting in wealth or status? ([31:17])
2. How does the parable challenge the idea that outward religious activity or impressive worship is enough without genuine faith? ([33:49])
3. What does it mean that “if they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead”? How does this relate to the sufficiency of Scripture? ([32:34])
4. Why do you think people are tempted to add entertainment or cultural trends to God’s word and sacraments? What does the sermon suggest is lost when we do this? ([36:19])

Application Questions

1. The rich man’s downfall was not his wealth, but his lack of faith and disregard for his neighbor. In what ways might we be tempted to trust in our own resources or status instead of God’s promises? ([33:49])
2. The sermon warns against treating God’s word and sacraments as “mundane” or “insufficient.” Have you ever felt like God’s gifts were too simple or unimpressive? How did that affect your faith or worship? ([40:04])
3. The Pharisees were diligent in religious observance but missed the heart of God’s message. Are there areas in your life where you are “busy” with religious activity but missing genuine trust in Christ? ([33:49])
4. The parable calls us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. What are some practical ways you can make God’s word a greater treasure in your daily life? ([41:24])
5. The sermon mentions that some churches try to make worship more entertaining or culturally relevant. Have you experienced this? Did it help or distract from your faith? ([36:19])
6. Amos warns about being “at ease” and not grieving over the suffering of others. Is there someone in your life or community whose needs you have overlooked? What is one step you can take this week to show care? ([33:12])
7. The call is to live lives of daily repentance and faith. What does daily repentance look like for you? Is there a specific area where you need to turn back to God and trust his promises more fully? ([41:24])