You have the rich man in the parable, in a
hopeless state.
If there was no other picture of a lost soul in Hell in
all the Bible - you have it here.
You meet him in the beginning - clothed in purple and fine linen...
You part with him at the last - tormented in the everlasting fire!
And yet there is nothing to show that this man was a
murderer, or a thief, or an adulterer, or a liar.
There is no reason to say
that he was an atheist, or an infidel, or a blasphemer.
For anything we know - he faithfully attended to all the ordinances of the Jewish religion.
But
we do know that he was lost forever.
There is something to my mind very solemn in this
thought.
Here is a man whose outward life in all probability was correct at all events, we know nothing against him.
He dresses richly but then he
had money to spend on his apparel.
He gives splendid feasts and
entertainments but then he was wealthy, and could well afford it.
We read
nothing recorded against him that might not be recorded of hundreds and
thousands in the present day who are counted respectable and good sort of
people.
And yet the end of this man, is that he goes to Hell.
Surely
this deserves serious attention!
I believe it is meant to teach us to
beware of living only for ourselves.
It is not enough that we are able to say, "I live correctly."
I pay every one
his due.
I discharge all the relations of life with propriety.
I attend to
all the outward requirements of Christianity.
There remains behind another
question, to which the Bible requires an answer...
To whom do you live...to
yourself or to Christ?
What is the great end, aim, object, and ruling motive
in your life?
Let men call the question extreme if they please.
For myself,
I can find nothing short of this in Paul's words...
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2Co 5:15)
And I draw the
conclusion that if, like the rich man, we live only to ourselves...we shall
ruin our souls forever!
I believe further that this passage is meant to teach us
the damnable nature of sins of omission.
It does not seem that it was so much the things the rich man did...but the things he left undone, which made him miss Heaven.
Lazarus
was at his gate and he merely let him alone.
But is not this exactly in
keeping with the history of the judgment in the twenty-fifth chapter of
Matthew?
Nothing is said there of the sins of commission of which the
lost are guilty.
How does the charge run?...
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat:
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:
I was naked, and ye clothed me not:
I was sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
(Matthew 25:42-43)
The charge against them is simply that they did not do
certain things.
On this their sentence turns.
And I draw the
conclusion again, that except we take heed, sins of omission may ruin
our souls!
Truly it was a solemn saying of good old Usher, on his death-bed:
"Lord, forgive me all my sins...but specially my sins of omission."
I believe further, that the passage is meant to teach us
that riches bring special danger with them.
Yes! riches, which the vast majority of men are always seeking after...
Riches for which they spend their lives, and of which they make an idol...
Riches entail on their possessor immense spiritual peril!
The possession of
them has a very hardening effect on the soul...
They chill; they
freeze; they petrify the inward man!
They close the eye to the things of
faith.
They insensibly produce a tendency to forget God.
And does not this stand in perfect harmony with all the
language of Scripture on the same subject?
What does our Lord say?...
Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
What does Paul say?
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:10)
What can be more striking than the fact that the Bible
has frequently spoken of money as a most fruitful cause of sin and
evil?
For money, Achan brought defeat on the armies of Israel, and death on
himself.
For money, Balaam sinned against light, and tried to curse God's
people.
For money, Delilah betrayed Samson to the Philistines.
For money, Gehazi lied to Naaman and Elisha, and became a leper.
For money, Ananias and Sapphira became the first hypocrites in
the early Church, and lost their lives.
For money, Judas Iscariot sold Christ, and was ruined eternally.
Surely these facts speak loudly!
Money, in truth is one of the most unsatisfying of
possessions.
It takes away some cares, no doubt - but it brings with it
quite as many cares as it takes away!
There is trouble in the getting of it...
There is anxiety in the keeping of it...
There are temptations in the use of it...
There is guilt in the abuse of it...
There is sorrow in the losing of it...
There is perplexity in the disposing of it.
Two-thirds of all the strifes, quarrels, and lawsuits in
the world, arise from one simple cause...money!
Money most certainly is one of the most heart-ensnaring
of possessions.
It seems desirable at a distance - yet it often
proves a poison when in our hand!
No man can possibly tell the effect
of money on his soul, if it suddenly falls to his lot to possess it.
Many a
one did run well as a poor man...who forgets God when he
becomes rich.
Reader, I draw the conclusion that those who have money,
like the rich man in the parable, ought to take double pains about their
souls.
They live in a most unhealthy atmosphere...
They have double need to
be on their guard!
I believe, not least, that the passage is meant to stir
up special carefulness about selfishness
in these last days.
You have a special warning in 2 Timothy
3:1-2...
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
I believe we have come to the
last days, and that we ought to beware of the sins here mentioned, if we
love our souls.
Perhaps we are poor judges of our own times...
We are apt
to exaggerate and magnify their evils, just because we see and feel them...
But after every allowance, I doubt whether there ever was more need of
warnings against selfishness than in the present day.
I am sure there
never was a time when all classes in England had so many comforts and
so many temporal good things...
And yet I believe there is an utter
disproportion between men's expenditure on themselves and their
outlay on works of charity and works of mercy.
I see this in
the miserable donations to which many rich men confine their charity.
I see
it in the languishing condition of many of our best Christian societies, and
the painfully slow growth of their annual incomes.
I see it in the small
number of names which appear in the list of contributions to any good work.
There are, I believe, thousands of rich people in this country, who
literally give away nothing at all.
I see it in the notorious fact that few,
even of those who give - give anything proportioned to their means.
I
see all this, and mourn over it!
I regard it as the selfishness and
covetousness predicted as likely to arise in the last days.
Readers, I know that this is a painful and
delicate subject.
But it must not on that account, be avoided by the
minister of Christ.
It is a subject for the times, and it needs pressing
home.
I desire to speak to myself, and to all who make any profession of
religion.
Of course I cannot expect worldly and utterly ungodly people to
view this subject in Bible light...
To them the Bible is no rule of faith and
practice; to quote texts to them would be of little use.
But I do ask all professing Christians to consider
well what Scripture says against covetousness and selfishness,
and on behalf of liberality in giving money.
Is it for nothing that the Lord Jesus spoke the
parable of the Rich Fool, and blamed him because he was not "rich
towards God?" (Luke 12:21).
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Is it for nothing that in the parable of the
Sower, He mentions the deceitfulness of riches as one reason why the
seed of the Word bears no fruit?
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Is it for nothing that He
says...
Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Is it for nothing that He says...
Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luk 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Is it for
nothing that He says...
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Luke
12:33.)
Is it for nothing that He says...
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Is it for nothing...
That He warns us against the
example of the priest and Levite...
Who saw the wounded traveler - but passed
by on the other side?
Is it for nothing...
That He praises the good
Samaritan, who denied himself to show kindness to a stranger?
Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Luk 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Is it for nothing...
That Paul classes covetousness
with sins of the grossest description, and denounces it as idolatry?
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
And is there not a striking and painful difference between this
language and the habits and feeling of society about money?
I appeal to any
one who knows the world.
Let him judge what I say.
Reader, I only ask you to consider calmly the passages of
Scripture to which I have referred.
I cannot think they were meant to teach
nothing at all.
That the habits of the East and our own are different, I
freely allow; that some of the expressions I have quoted are figurative
I freely admit; but still, after all, a principle lies at the bottom
of all these expressions.
Let us take heed that this principle is not
neglected.
I wish that many a professing Christian in this day, who perhaps
dislikes what I am saying, would try to write a commentary on these
expressions, and try to explain to himself what they mean!
To know that alms-giving cannot atone for sin, is well.
To know that our good works cannot justify us, is excellent.
To know that we
may give all our goods to feed the poor, and build hospitals and cathedrals,
without any real charity, is most important.
But let us beware lest we go
into the other extreme, and because our money cannot save us - give
away no money at all.
Has anyone who reads these pages money?
Then take
heed and beware of covetousness!
Remember you carry weight in the
race towards Heaven.
All men are naturally in danger of being lost
forever; but you are doubly so, because of your possessions.
Nothing is said
to put out fire so soon as earth thrown upon it...
And nothing, I am
sure, has such a tendency to quench the fire of religion as the possession
of money.
It was a solemn message which Buchanan, on his death-bed, sent to
his old pupil: "He was going to a place where few kings and great men
would come."
It is possible, no doubt, for you to be saved as well as
others.
With God, nothing is impossible.
Abraham, Job, and David were all
rich and yet saved.
But oh, take heed to yourself!
Money is a good
servant but a bad master.
Let that saying of our Lord's sink
down into your heart: "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of Heaven!"
Well said an old divine: "The surface above gold mines is
generally very barren."
Well might old Latimer begin one of his sermons
before Edward VI by quoting three times over our Lord's words: "Take heed
and beware of covetousness!"
And then saying, "What if I should say nothing
else these three or four hours?"
There are few prayers more wise and more
necessary than that petition: "In all time of our wealth, good Lord deliver
us!"
Has anyone who reads these pages little or no
money?
Then do not envy those who are richer than yourself?
Pray
for them.
Pity them.
Be charitable to their faults.
Remember that
high places are giddy places, and be not too hasty in your
condemnation of their conduct.
Perhaps if you had their difficulties you would do no better yourself.
Beware of the love of money!
A
man may love money overmuch, without having any at all.
Beware of the love
of self ...it may be found in a poor cottage as well as in a palace.
And beware of thinking that poverty alone will save you!
If you would sit
with Lazarus in glory you must not only have fellowship with him in
suffering but in grace.
Does any reader desire to know the remedy against
that love of self, which ruined the rich man's soul, and cleaves to
us all by nature, like our skin!
I tell him plainly there is only one
remedy, and I ask him to mark well what that remedy is.
It is not the fear
of Hell.
It is not the hope of Heaven.
It is not any sense of duty.
Oh, no!
The disease of selfishness is far too deeply rooted to yield to such
secondary motives as these.
Nothing will ever cure it, but an experimental
knowledge of Christ's redeeming love!
You must know the misery and guilt of
your own estate by nature...
You must experience the power of Christ's atoning
blood sprinkled upon your conscience, and making you whole...
You must taste
the sweetness of peace with God through the mediation of Jesus, and feel the
love of a reconciled Father shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit.
Then, and not until then, the mainspring of
selfishness will be broken!
Then, knowing the immensity of your debt to
Christ, you will feel that nothing is too great and too costly to give to
Him.
Feeling that you have been loved much, when you deserved nothing...
You
will heartily love in return, and cry, "What shall I render unto the Lord
for all His benefits?"
Feeling that you have freely received countless
mercies, you will think it a privilege to do anything to please Him to Whom
you owe all.
Feeling that you have been bought with a price, and are no
longer your own - you will labor to glorify God with body and spirit, which
are His.
Yes, reader, I repeat it this day!
I know no effectual
remedy for the love of self but a believing apprehension of the love
of Christ.
Other remedies may palliate the disease. - this alone will
heal it.
Other antidotes may hide its deformity - this alone will work a
perfect cure.
An easy, good-natured temper may cover over selfishness
in one man...
A love of praise may conceal it in a second...
A self-righteous discipline and an affected spirit of self-denial, may keep it out of sight
in a third...
But nothing will ever cut up selfishness by the roots but the
love of Christ revealed in the mind by the Holy Spirit, and felt in the
heart by simple faith.
Once let a man see the full meaning of the words,
"Christ loved me and gave Himself for me!" and then he will
delight to give himself to Christ, and all that he has to His service.
He
will live to Him, not in order that he may be saved...but because he
is saved already.
He will work for Him, not that he may have life and
peace...but because life and peace are his already.
Go to the cross of Christ...all you who want to be
delivered from the power of selfishness.
Go and see what a price
was paid there to provide a ransom for your soul.
Go and see what
an astounding sacrifice was there made that a door to eternal life
might be provided for poor sinners like you.
Go and see how the Son of
God gave Himself for you...and learn to think it a small thing to give
yourself to Him.
Reader, the disease which ruined the rich man in
the parable, may be cured.
But oh, remember, there is only one real remedy!
If you would not live to yourself...you must live to Christ.
See to it that
this remedy is not only known - but applied...
Not only heard
of - but used.
~J. R. Miller
