The Sin of the Rich Man

Jesus tells the true story of the rich man and Lazarus.  

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared 
sumptuously every day.  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid 
at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from 
the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to 
pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the 
rich man also died, and was buried.  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in 
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and 
said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of 
his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  But 
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, 
and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

The sin of the rich man was not that he missed church.  Nor did he neglect his 
relatives.  The sin of the rich man was that he ignored the beggar at his gate. 
Every day he saw him in his misery.  And each time he shut up his bowels of compassion.

As Christians it is no secret that there are beggars at our gates.  Countless times we 
have heard missionaries share of the desperate need of souls beyond our borders.  The 
damning sin is to ignore them just like the rich man and go to hell.

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into 
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  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: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, 
or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then 
shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one
of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting 
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
 
Jesus preached the gospel to the poor.  He had compassion on the multitudes. If we 
follow him, we will do the same.  "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even 
so send I you."

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy 
land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut 
thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and 
shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth...  For the 
poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt 
open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."

           "Blessed is he that considereth the poor."