Welcome back to JUST STRAIGHT TALK, Bonus Segment: “Lazarus and the Rich Man.”
Luke 16:19-31
There’s a story Jesus told that reminds us how quickly this life can change — and how what we do here can echo forever. It’s the story of a rich man who had everything money could buy and a poor man named Lazarus who had almost nothing. The rich man lived in comfort and ease, dressed in fine clothes, while Lazarus lay outside his gate, sick and hungry, hoping for just a few crumbs from the table.
But here’s where things turn. They both died. And in a moment, the rich man found himself in torment, while Lazarus was carried by angels to a place of peace — what scripture calls Abraham’s bosom. The rich man looked up, saw Lazarus far away, and begged for even a drop of water to cool his tongue. But Abraham told him that the time for mercy was gone. A great gulf had been fixed — one that no one could cross.
When the rich man realized he couldn’t change his fate, he pleaded for someone to go warn his five brothers so they wouldn’t end up the same way. But Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” In other words, they already have God’s word. If they won’t listen to that, no miracle — not even someone rising from the dead — will change their hearts.
This parable isn’t just about wealth or poverty. It’s about the condition of the heart. The rich man’s sin wasn’t that he had money — it was that he had no compassion. He walked past Lazarus every day and never cared enough to act. He ignored the suffering at his own doorstep.
It’s easy for us to read this story and think, “Well, I’d never do that.” But the truth is, many of us have a “Lazarus” near our gates — someone who needs encouragement, someone who could use a little kindness, or someone we’ve grown too busy to notice. Jesus is showing us that how we treat people here on earth is deeply tied to how we honor God.
There’s another message here too: the time to change is now. Once this life ends, the choices are sealed. There’s no crossing over, no do-over, no second chance. That’s why faith matters today — not tomorrow, not someday — but now. Because when our final breath comes, what we believed and how we lived will be the only things that follow us.
And don’t miss this: Lazarus’ name means “God is my help.” He didn’t have money, health, or comfort, but he had faith — and that faith carried him where wealth never could.
So ask yourself tonight — am I living like the rich man, caught up in comfort, or like Lazarus, leaning on God? Am I sharing what I have, not just money, but mercy, kindness, and truth?
Remember, every choice, every act of compassion, and every moment of faith builds something eternal.
Heavenly Father, help us to see the Lazarus in our lives. Soften our hearts to care, to give, and to love. Keep us from being blind to the needs around us. Teach us to value eternal things over temporary comfort. And when our time comes, may we be found resting in your arms, not separated by the gulf of regret. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Remember, TRUTH DON’T CHANGE. JUST STRAIGHT TALK.