Prosperity now or Comfort for Eternity

I have been thinking on the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores” (Luke 16:20-21). If one were to stop reading here they would likely think that the rich man was far better off than Lazarus. What we need to realize in such circumstances is that the one who is poor, or sickly or struggling in some way may be far better off than the one who (from an outward appearance) is living his/her best life now.

If we are professing Christians, we need to understand that all of life’s trials are for the purpose of our sanctification. The hope that we have in this life is an eternal one, not one for prosperity and ease in the here and now. In Hebrews 3: 3-5 we are admonished to “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.” In our struggles against sin, we must understand that all the troubles and trials we undergo- no matter how big or small, are for the purpose of making us more and more like Christ. Our Heavenly Father is disciplining us. Too many times we think of discipline as punishment. Since the time of public education, the word discipline became associated with punishment. Discipline is not punishment. The definition of discipline according to the 1604 edition of the Robert Cawdrey dictionary meant simply “instruction or training up” and the definition of disciple was “scholar.”Just as Jesus instructed his disciples, disciplining them through his word, (never punishing them), so too are we disciplined through our Lord’s instructions, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, ” (Hebrews 12:6 (a)). “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

If we are truly born again, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16-17).

Reading on in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus we discover the truth of who was really better off in the end, “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish” (verses 22-25). We should never wish for our best life now, we just might get it.

Thankfully, if we are in Christ, we need not fear eternal punishment,“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

If we suffer in this lifetime, we should not be surprised nor discouraged, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Praise God for our “hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (Titus 1:2).