Rich vs Poor – Who really needs who for Salvation?
Biblical Proof: Please read the “rich man” vs the “beggar, poor Lazarus” in Luke 16:19 – 31.
God is Perfectly Fair.
Why?
“And having cried out, he [the RICH MAN] said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus [to Hades/Sheol/Hell], that he might dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am suffering in this flame.’
And Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you [the RICH MAN] did fully receive your good things in your lifetime, and Lazarus likewise the evil things. But now he is comforted here, and you are suffering.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 16:24 – 25, BLB)
What’s the “Biblical Logic of Judgment”?
“but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From EVERYONE who has been GIVEN MUCH, MUCH will BE REQUIRED; and to whom they ENTRUSTED MUCH, of him they will ask ALL the MORE.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 12:48, NASB)
Did earliest authorities of Orthodox Christian Doctrine “understand” this Passage in Luke 16:19 – 31 likewise?
Yes, please read page 477 to page 478 or Pages 486 – 497 in the Free Downloadable PDF Book, Lost Orthodoxy in link below quoting St. Irenaeous of Lyons saying this SAME TEACHING in Principle of 1 Corinthians 1:10. Link:
Conclusion
Respect the “poor” and if we are not careful, we may find yourself in the ‘same place’ as the ‘rich man’ who ‘shared not with the poor or didn’t care even probably thinking that the poor are cursed’.
Remember what He said to ‘remind His Disciples by Gazing at them’:
“And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “BLESSED are you who are POOR, for yours is the kingdom of God.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:20, NASB)
I repeat,
It’s NOT ‘cursed are the poor’ as the FALSE ‘Prosperity Gospel Heresy’ teaches —–> but “BLESSED are you who are POOR…”.
Amen.
P/S: Is there HOPE for the RICH?
Yes, but it’s REALLY HARD (and requires a ‘miracle’ equivalent to ‘a camel to go through the eye of a needle’ – in analogy – Can you see it?):
“AGAIN I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:24, NASB)
To quote (from Page 476 of the same book):
Is there HOPE for the RICH then?
Yes, if he practices these (God is Indeed STRICTER with the RICH to be ‘fair toward the poor who did not receive such an advantage in their earthly lives prior as opposed to their rich counterparts’ – Can you see how FAIR God really is? Perfect):
“INSTRUCT THE RICH in the PRESENT AGE (AEON, AGE1) not to be high-minded, nor to have hope in the uncertainty of riches, but on God, the One richly providing us all things for
enjoyment; to DO GOOD, to be RICH in GOOD WORKS, to be GENEROUS in DISTRIBUTING, READY to SHARE, treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future [AEON2 onward], so that they may take hold of that which is indeed life [AGE-DURING life in AEON2 onward].” – apostle Paul (1 Timothy 6:17 – 19, NASB)
Yes, please practice TRUE RELIGION which is THIS ONLY:
“PURE and UNDEFILED RELIGION in the sight of our God and Father is this: to VISIT ORPHANS and WIDOWS in their DISTRESS, and to keep oneself UNSTAINED by the WORLD.” – apostle James (James 1:27, NASB)
A Great WARNING by apostle James himself below resounds in the SAME BIBLICAL CONTEXT (please take note ‘carefully’ before preaching anything ‘against the poor and in favour of the rich to be in the good books of the rich’):
“Your GOLD and your SILVER have rusted; and their RUST will be a WITNESS AGAINST YOU and will CONSUME YOUR FLESH like FIRE. It is in the LAST DAYS that you have STORED up YOUR TREASURE!” – apostle James (James 5:3, NASB)
The ‘Gifts of God’ has NOTHING to do with ‘Prosperity or Money’:
“But [apostle] Peter said to him, “May your SILVER PERISH WITH YOU, because you THOUGHT you could OBTAIN the GIFT of GOD with MONEY!” (Acts of the Apostles 8:20, NASB)
‘The way you disregard (and cause suffering to) the poor is the same way you will be disregarded (and suffer) in Hell’ – Anonymous
“He who SHUTS his ear to the CRY of the POOR will ALSO CRY himself [from SHEOL/HADES/HELL] and NOT be answered.
A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.” (Proverbs 21:13, 16, NASB)
[Emphasis mine in Brackets]
