Luke 16:25-31

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” vs. 31

So how can people be convinced to open their hearts to the poor and stop their mindless pursuit of luxury? Jesus says in this parable that if they haven’t already been convinced by scripture, nothing is going to change their minds, not even a visit from a dead person. The allure of riches is that powerful! Our own experience shows this to be true. Most people simply ignore the clear message of Jesus regarding the dangers of wealth. We even hear reports that some pastors claim that Jesus wants them to be rich. They say their mansions and private jets are blessings from God. Humans have an infinite capacity to rationalize their deep desires and justify whatever it is that they want to do. As a result countless thousands of talented people will continue to scheme and maneuver to make themselves rich while believing in their hearts that this is their calling and destiny. And no one will convince them otherwise! But not everyone buys into the lie. Equal numbers of gifted folks will keep on devoted themselves to making life better for society’s marginalized. They’ll use their time, energy, and resources to walking in the footsteps of Jesus and making his mission their own. And their blessings will be eternal!

Thought for the Day: How have I been motivated by a desire for wealth?