“DOES GOD ALLOW DO OVERS?”
Luke 16: 19-31 (NRSV)
I
have the honor of preaching to our assembled community of faith today as we
celebrate the dedication of an elevator. I am reminded of the many times
such services have been celebrated here
at St. Paul’s Church as upgrades, modifications, and items have been added over
the last 266 years.
One
of the things churches with long histories have to consider is “what is the
legacy that has been left to me” from these prior gifts and what is the legacy
we here today desire to leave for those who come after?
Sometimes
we recognize the need to rededicate or renew legacies and efforts.
Today
we’re going to see how Jesus addresses the concept of a “do-over.” The desire
to wish for or desire a “do over” is fairly common. There have been books
written, TV shows presented, and any other type of message done to explore the
concept of being able to go back and re-do something in our lives.
Most
of the time the moral is always the same: It’s better to do something the right
way the first time to the best of one’s ability than to try to restore it. And
if you can’t restore then you need to repent, or turn from your not so
successful ways to try again.
We
could ask no better scripture than the actual Lectionary text for today in
keeping with this line of questioning. It pertains to a man who is experiencing
the afterlife and regretting the legacy, or lack of one, he has left. It should
encourage each of us to ponder our lives and how we’re using the precious time
and abundance God has provided:
“There was a
rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feastedsumptuously
every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even
the dogs would come and lick his sores.
The poor man
died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also
died and was buried.
In Hades, where
he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by
his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to
dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in
these flames.’
But Abraham
said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things,
and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you
are in agony.
Besides all
this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want
to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’
He said, ‘Then,
father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house – for I have five brothers-
that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of
torment.’
Abraham replied,
‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
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 listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Today’s
message presents some challenges for a Christian; superficially, this passage appears
as if it’s about “life” after death and whether messages can be sent to the
living from the dead so that behavior change happens.
But
that’s not what Jesus is talking about. In today’s world anything about
life-after-death can be controversial because of our human views, beliefs, and
fears.
This
story was a favorite one told to Jewish children about earthly rewards and
heavenly punishments. But Jesus takes the known story and puts a new twist on
it.
Jesus’
take on this story suggests that the real danger is that we will squander the
blessings and opportunities that His abundant blessings give us, and that we
will fail to use His teachings to share this blessing with others every chance
we get.
The
story’s moral is clear; it will be too late when we’re dead. Our lives here on
earth will affect our lives after physical death. Or for you Si Robertson fans
out there – I’m talking about the “meta-physical.”
Yet
we are not to be people who are goaded into being good because we fear eternal
punishment that others may have earned. God relates to us better in Love than
he does in fear. Our relationship to God is in Love and respect, not fear.
The
rich man makes a fundamental mistake in his request to Abraham. Too many
Christians relate only to fear and punishment rather than the joy and love of
grace.
The
rich man asks for comfort from an earned punishment after already living a life
of leisure. A life wasted in selfishness. He also asks that his brothers be warned.
We
discover that this is not quite the way Jesus suggests His Kingdom works. “Do
overs” are allowed while we are facing our first physical deaths, but no one
will be able to repent from Hell or Hades. It will be impossible.
Jesus
says that because the rich man has already ignored God’s word and warning, his heart failed to develop compassion for
people such as Lazarus. Since he has died a physical death he will now receive
the reward he asked for and earned – a world separated from God.
As
we dedicate this elevator this day let us remember its purpose and our
respective church’s purpose: of increasing the access to this church’s building
and programs for those who are elderly and physically challenged, and for those
who are searching for God’s Word and Truth.
It
is not built because we could afford it and now can boast. It was not built just
to satisfy one or two influential people’s ego; it was built because of need.
It was built to build up our community of faith.
Face
it: Paying for the elevator wasn’t as difficult as it could have been, because
the more difficult a thing is to achieve the more appreciated it is. Yet the
sweat equity put into this elevator is priceless to this community of faith.
Wealth,
both financially and physically, is nothing unless it serves a purpose just as
life becomes meaningless if it isn’t lived the way God has commanded us to live.
The
purpose a church and an individual gives to a community should be beyond any earthly
accounting. Today our wealth as a faith community has increased.
Billy Graham wrote in his autobiography Just as I Am,
that happiness is not determined by wealth or fame but by character. He writes
about an encounter he and his wife had while on vacation.
One of the wealthiest men in the world asked them to
come to his lavish home for lunch. He was 75 years old, and throughout the
entire meal he seemed close to tears.
“I am the most miserable man in the world,” he said. “I
have everything in the world to make myself happy. I can go anywhere. Yet I am as miserable as
hell.”
They prayed with him, trying to point him to Christ, who
alone gives lasting meaning to life, but didn’t seem successful in soothing the
man in his lonliness and lack of vision for his life.
Later that afternoon they met with the pastor of the
local Baptist church. He too was 75, a widower who spent most of his time
taking care of his 2 elderly sisters.
Yet he was full of enthusiasm and love for Christ and
others. “I don’t have two dollars to my
name,” he said with a smile, “but I am the happiest man on this island.”
Billy Graham would ask us, “Who do you think is the
richer man?"
Churches who don't use their wealth for service in God's Kingdom can become lonely and desolate. Let us never fall into a Lazarus mindset.
It is in this spirit of Christian character that we
dedicate this elevator.
Let
us pray that this building will long continue to be a symbol and tool of God’s
presence and that it will embody the Grace of Christ here on earth. May it ever
be an outreach tool for Christ.
Let
it be a shining example of the goodness of God and His people.
May
the word affirming Christ as Savior be preached here, may the Holy Bible
continue as our rule of Faith, and may our hands, minds, and hearts seek only His
Will.
Amen.
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