Who is Wise?

When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

Proverbs 19:3 (ESV)

How many times have you heard people who claim not to believe in God turn around and vilify Him when things go wrong? That doesn’t make any sense.

Let’s take that a step further. One day, though they will be condemned for eternity, they will finally confess that Jesus is Lord. But it will be too late.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about a poor man and a rich man, each entering the moment of death, each with a different destination.

While we are not certain, most Bible scholars believe it is possible that Jesus was relating a true event. The reason the scholars believe this is not simply a parable is because actual names were used, the event is not introduced as a parable as most of them were, and finally because it is not metaphorical.

But even all of that is not important. If it were, Jesus would have made it plain.

Let’s hear from Luke.

Jesus said, “There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes. He lived in luxury every day. There was also a very poor man named Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores. Lazarus was often placed at the rich man’s gate. He wanted to eat only the small pieces of food that fell from the rich man’s table. And the dogs would come and lick his sores! Later, Lazarus died. The angels took Lazarus and placed him in the arms of Abraham.

The rich man died, too, and was buried. But he was sent to where the dead are and had much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his arms. He called, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to me so that he can dip his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am suffering in this fire!’ But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember when you lived? You had all the good things in life, but all the bad things happened to Lazarus. Now Lazarus is comforted here, and you are suffering. Also, there is a big pit between you and us. No one can cross over to help you. And no one can leave there and come here.’ 

The rich man said, ‘Then please send Lazarus to my father’s house on earth!  I have five brothers. Lazarus could warn my brothers so that they will not come to this place of pain.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to read; let them learn from them!’ The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham! If someone came to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives.’  But Abraham said to him, ‘No! If your brothers won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, then they won’t listen to someone who comes back from death.’”

Luke 16:19-31 (ESV)

What have you done about your choice for salvation?

Share the Gospel in your world.

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Proverbs 19:23

English Standard Version (ESV)

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.