Sep
30
Am I Doomed for Wanting a Lexus?
September 30, 2007 |
Today’s readings send a very powerful message to all of us . . . be careful how we spend our time and resources while we are alive . . .
The first reading is from Amos 6, where he continues his dire warnings from last Sunday about how the people of the time were wasting their lives.
The gospel is from Luke 16, where Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the poor man who sat outside his door. The rich man lived the high life while Lazarus suffered and starved. They both died . . . one went to heaven . . . the other went the other direction. The rich man cried out to Abraham to save him . . . and Abraham replied . . .
“My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.”
The question of the day is . . . . are those with plenty in danger of missing out on a great afterlife? Who really knows? Afterall, we hear throughout the gospels about the dangers of being rich
I think the key to answering the question is determining how we live our lives . . . especially if we have comfort and means. If we have even modest wealth, how did we get it and at whose expense? What do we do with it? How do we spend our time? Who do we give the credit to?
If we gain our wealth through unethical means . . . misusing people along the way . . . working so hard we never really spend time with our wife and kids . . . not giving to those in need in proportion to our means or giving for non-altruistic purposes . . . spending our time in pursuit of more wealth, possessions and personal enjoyment . . . or thinking we are the cause of our great life because of how hard we work, etc. . . . then we might have some visa issues when we get to the customs desk at the pearly gates.
But, if we act ethically in business . . . treat people well . . . truly serve as a great father and husband, including being an active and physical presence in their lives . . . spend an appropriate amount on those in need (and for the right reasons) . . . spend our time helping others . . . give credit to God for our success . . . then I believe we won’t have an issue getting our passport stamped into heaven.
I really don’t think it matters with God how much or how little we die with in our estates. That by itself is not going to determine what happens to us in the afterlife. It’s how we expend our resources that God has given us - both in time and materials - that is important. And, we better never forget that everything we have comes from God. Even if we have wealth because we worked our butts off, did well in school, obtained multiple degrees, took enormous risks, or built lives from scratch . . . our abilities, our time, our effort, our success, our wealth, our possessions, everything . . . comes from God.
The rich man and the folks in the time of Amos forgot that last point . . . we would be wise not to make the same mistake.
Now . . . about that Lexus . . .
