November 23

There was a certain rich man. ... And there was a certain beggar. — Luke 16:20

In this world the rich man seemed to have the better of it. He had all that human heart could wish, of wealth, splendor, luxury, and power. The beggar had a hard time. Nobody cared for him in his need – the only friends he had were the dogs.

But things were changed when the two men crossed the line. The beggar died first. Nobody mourned him, and there were no flowers, but he was carried by the angels into the place of blessedness. The rich man died too – death cannot be bribed. He had a great funeral, with pageant and splendor. He was lauded as a prosperous man, generous to his friends and charitable toward the poor. But meanwhile the man was in Hades, in torment, seeing the beggar now far above him, in blessedness.

The lesson is that not what one has, but what one is, counts with God. A poor man who loves God and his fellow man and is faithful in all duty is richer by far than the millionaire who never thinks of God nor cares for his fellows.