LUKE 16:19-31

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

 

In your life time you will encounter many problems.

Some of your problems will be very small, such as having a light bulb burn out or having to decide what to make for dinner.

But you will also have some bigger problems.

 

You might encounter financial problems.

You might encounter family problems.

You might encounter health problems.

You might encounter work or school problems.

There is a host of problems which you, your loved ones, and your friends will face.

 

Have you ever stopped to think about the biggest problem anyone could ever face?  The first thing that might come to your mind might be death. That's a mighty big problem, especially when you consider Hebrews 9:27

 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 

Considering the fact that judgment will follow, perhaps the biggest problem anyone has is sin!  Yes, sin is a mighty big problem!

 

Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

But there is a solution to the death problem.

And there is a solution to the sin problem.

 

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Jesus Christ is the one who made it possible for sin and death not to be a problem through his substitutionary death on the cross for our sins.

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

Any person can have the problem of sin and eternal death solved through faith in Christ.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. –

 

So if sin and death are not the biggest problem that men and women face, what is it? 

 

Dottie and I met someone with that problem Friday night when we went out to eat with Pastor and Mrs. Smith from Pine Creek.  The waitress was rather friendly and talkative.  In the course of conversation we discovered that this gal was studying the Wicken religion.  She either was trying to be or was a witch!  By looking at her, you would have never thought so.  Now her biggest problem was not that she was a witch, but that she was not a believer in Jesus Christ as Savior.  Her biggest problem was her unbelief!

 

The most serious problem that folks face is that of unbelief!  Failure to trust Christ by faith for eternal life is the biggest problem there is! The way has been made for salvation, and God convicts people of their need through the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

John 16:7-8 - Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;

 

The Holy Spirit convicts folks of the sin of unbelief.

The Holy Spirit convicts people that they have not trusted Christ, and they need to!

The only sin that is unpardonable, that is, it can't be forgiven, is unbelief.  There is no solution for the problem of not trusting Christ as Savior.

 

John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

Our text is the Scripture we have already read, Luke 16:19-31.

 

You may be wondering why I am belaboring this need for belief in Christ when most of you sitting here already know Christ as Savior. There are two reasons.

1.     There are some here who are pretenders. They claim to have trusted Christ as Savior, but in reality, they have not.

They claim to have trusted Christ, but there was never true belief, and hence, no change in the life.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

2.     We all have relatives and friends who have not trusted Christ, and we are having special meetings this coming weekend.  We want to remind you of the urgency to bring people with you to these events as you come.

 

This story in front of us reminds us of the serious and dangerous situation our friends and loved ones are in.

 

The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 found himself in hell, not because he was rich, but because he was an unbeliever! His story shows us the seriousness of unbelief!

COMFORT ON EARTH Vss. 19-21
CRY FROM HELL Vss. 22-26
 CONCERN FOR FAMILY Vss. 27-31

Jesus’ story here could very well have been another parable.

But Luke does not say this is a parable, and one of the two main characters in the story, Lazarus, is given a name.  Therefore it is very possible that this is more than a story that Jesus was telling, but a true life event!  Whether this is a true story or a parable, the principles it conveys are still true!

 

COMFORT ON EARTH - Vss. 19-21

 

Vs. 19 - This rich man was what we call "filthy rich" today.

              He is the type of man who a few years ago might

              have been featured on the TV show, "Lifestyles of

              the rich and famous."

 

People who wore purple were wearing royal type clothing. It was extremely expensive!

 

His undergarments were made of linen, again, extremely expensive!

He ate the very best every day, not just once in a while! Very expensive!

 

This man's sin was not in being rich.  Many rich men, such as Abraham and Joseph of Arimethia went to Heaven when they died.

 

This man's sin probably centered around the fact that he trusted in his wealth instead of trusting in God!

 

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil…

 

There is nothing here that directly lists any sins this man had.

He probably went to synagogue regularly.

He was probably a respected citizen.

He evidently even allowed Lazarus to be at his gate to beg. No doubt, he could have done more to help Lazarus.

The man had a very comfortable life, especially as you contrast his life with that of Lazarus.

 

Vs. 20-21 - Lazarus was a beggar. He was also a cripple, who was full of sores. He laid there so that hopefully he could be fed by the leftovers from the rich man's table. To add insult to injury, dogs would lick the man's sores!

 

Other than comfort level, what was the difference between these two men?

Lazarus, whose name means "helped by God", was obviously a man of faith.

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

The rich man was not excluded from Heaven because he was rich, although trust in his riches may have excluded him.

And Lazarus did not go to Heaven because he was poor. But his poverty placed him in a better position to trust God.

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

What lesson can we learn from these two men?

Comfort in this life does not guarantee comfort in the next life.

Misery in this life does not guarantee misery in the next life.

 

COMFORT ON EARTH Vss. 19-21
CRY FROM HELL Vss. 22-26

Now we really see the seriousness of unbelief.

Vs. 22 - First we are told that the beggar died. We are not told that he was buried.  If he was, it was in a pauper's grave.

The rich man also died, and he was buried.  He would have had a nice burial place, the professional mourners, and the spices on the body. It would have been a rich man's funeral!

 

Lazarus was taken to Abraham's Bosom. Although there has been much discussion as to where that was before Jesus died for our sins, let's just think of it as Heaven!  He was with Abraham, the Father of faith. 

 

When a feast was held the guests reclined. The seat of honor was on the right side of the host. It was if one's head was leaning in the guest's bosom.

 

Vs. 23 - The rich man finds himself in hell, or Hades. He is in the place of the unsaved dead! 

 

Notice, first of all, that the rich man is in pain.

Many jokes picture hell as a place of friendship with other sinners!

This just isn't so. Hell is a place of consciousness. People will be aware! Hell is a place of pain!

 

Also notice that at a distance, the man can see Heaven. And, adding insult to injury, the man can see that Lazarus, the poor beggar, made it, and he didn't!

 

Vs. 24 - So that rich man cries out for mercy.

 

Let me tell you something.  God is a loving God. God is a merciful God.  God delights in showing love and mercy. 

But God has deemed that the time for mercy is in this life!

2 Corinthians 6:2 - (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

Right now the Lord Jesus is reaching out to poor lost sinners and inviting them in! God is rich in love, mercy and grace, and he says to come.

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Revelation 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

You need to come now!

Your unsaved friends neighbors and loved ones need to come now! After death, it's too late! Now is the time to secure mercy!

 

Going back to our text, the man is suffering and begs for water.

 

In Mark 9:44 Jesus describes hell as the place

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

 

Vs. 25 - Abraham's answer is not encouraging.

First of all the man is told to remember.

People in hell will have memory! They will probably be able to remember their sins, and their rejection of Christ.

This man is told to remember that he had a good life, one that excluded true faith.

On the other hand Lazarus, who had faith, had a miserable life.

Abraham now informs the man that the roles are now reversed.

 

I am reminded of two things here:

 

1.     No matter how comfortable a person may be in this life, without faith in Christ they will be miserable in the next.

 

2.     No matter how miserable things are for a believer in Christ in this life, the next life is one of bliss!

 

A little while ago we sang,

"It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus;

Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ:

One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ."

Esther Kerr Rushtoi

 

Vs. 26 - Abraham gives more bad news for the man in hell.

There is a great gulf fixed. There's no going back and forth.

 

My friend, I hope the seriousness of unbelief is sinking in!

 

COMFORT ON EARTH Vss. 19-21
CRY FROM HELL Vss. 22-26
CONCERN FOR FAMILY Vss. 27-31

Vss. 27-28 - For Christians, this should be one of the most thought- provoking passages of all! This man has five living brothers. "Please send Lazarus to warn them," is his cry!

 

People in hell are evangelistic!

They don't want those they care about to come there.

 

What about us? Do we care if our friends and loved ones go to hell? Are we burdened for the lost and dying? 

Remember, later will be too late! People need to come to Christ in this life!

 

Vss. 29 - Abraham's answer was that they had the word of God.

 

Vs. 30 - The former rich man thinks that if someone returned from the dead, that his brothers would listen!

 

Vs. 31 - This verse was true for another man named Lazarus. Jesus rose him from the dead and some wanted to kill Him. 

Jesus also rose from the dead and many still reject him.

 

The point of this morning's message has been the seriousness of unbelief.

 

COMFORT ON EARTH Vss. 19-21
CRY FROM HELL Vss. 22-26
CONCERN FOR FAMILY Vss. 27-31

 

How will you respond to this message?

If you have never really trusted Christ will you do it now?

If you know Christ as Savior will you…

 

·        Invite people to the coffee houses on Friday Nights?

·        Invite people to Sunday School next Sunday.

·        Invite people to the morning and evening services?

·        Pray not only for you lost friends and loved ones, but for others to attend and be saved.

 

We are providing music.

We are providing child care.

We are providing food.

We are providing a speaker.

Will you provide people and prayer?

 

Hell is a real place.

We don’t want anyone to go there!

 

COMFORT ON EARTH Vss. 19-21
CRY FROM HELL Vss. 22-26
CONCERN FOR FAMILY Vss. 27-31