Wealth and poverty are two realities that confront us every day and everywhere. The biblical approach to both realities is a bit complex. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in today’s Gospel from Luke 16:19-31 presents a classic picture of wealth and poverty. In some passages of the Bible, wealth is seen as a great blessing from God and in some other passages, it is presented as a snare that can lead one to damnation, as in the present story of the rich man.
In the same vein, poverty is abhorred in some passages while in others it is seen as an ideal to be pursued. However, misery and penury are frowned at. The author of Proverbs makes this interesting prayer in 30:7-9: “Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, “Who is the LORD?” or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God” (NRSV).
Israel’s wisdom writers are very positive about wealth when acquired in a just manner, but they also see it as a factor in the furtherance of oppressive structures (see Qoh 9:13-16; Sir 13:3,23; 28:10; 31:5-11). However, poverty is not recommended but generally condemned when it is a fruit of laziness. In fact, the sages often encourage their students to abhor it (Prov 20:13; Sir 22:1-2; 37:11).
The Rich Man’s Fault
The ordinary reader of the story would think that the rich man was condemned because he enjoyed his wealth while the poor man, Lazarus, was rewarded because he was poor. This may not exactly be the message. The story does not condemn wealth, per se, just as it does not endorse poverty. It is, rather, a message about justice and compassion, about the just use of wealth. The story is actually about the rich man.
Lazarus is only brought in as a contrast. It is a story about a rich man that failed to pay attention to social justice. He failed to show solidarity with the poor and needy. However, we are not told that this unnamed rich man blatantly refused to help the poor Lazarus. The logic of the story is that he did not even notice Lazarus who was sitting at his gate.
There lies the problem. He was so concerned with his sumptuous living and feasting that he forgot or rather failed to take notice of the poor person lying at his gate. The story is rather narrated in a way to evoke the passion and sympathy of the reader.
Opulence of the Rich and Neglect of the Needy
The description of the bodily condition of Lazarus shows that he was not just poor, he was sick and in pain. He needed help which never came. He was not noticed. His final reward in the bosom of Abraham is seen as great rehabilitation, a restoration of justice.
The rich man, on the other hand, who feasted sumptuously, is now in misery, needing rescue and even a drop of water. This is a lesson that wealth itself does not provide security. This is why in today’s first reading from Amos 6,1,4-7, the prophet warns the rich people who feel so secure in Zion, and those who feel secure with their palatial ivory beds and flamboyant lives in the mountainous Israelite capital in Samaria, to expect a terrible reversal of fortune for trampling on the poor and forgetting justice and righteousness.
In a similar vein, Paul counsels us together with Timothy in today’s second reading: “But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim 6:11-12 NRSV).
