listen my friends,
I have an important story I wish to share with you
it teaches an important lesson
about how we must treat others in life
it is the story of a very rich man
and a poor beggar named Lazarus
you see this rich man was very rich indeed
all his life he had lots of money
and enjoyed all the finest things life has to offer
he ate the most delicious food
wore fine jewelry of gold, silver and diamonds
even though purple dye is very expensive
and normally only worn by royalty or very important people
this rich man didn't care and spent lots of money
so he could wear the fanciest purple clothes
he had a giant mansion by far the biggest in town
he used it to throw big fancy dinners with lots of exotic food
and held spectacular parties for all his friends
never did this rich man spare a thought before he spent any money
the rich man had everything he could have ever asked for in life
and everyone was very jealous of the luxury he enjoyed
but not everyone in the city was as fortunate as he was
just outside the magnificent mansion owned by the rich man
there lived a poor beggar named Lazarus
his life was full of pain and suffering
and he had not a single possession to his name
all he wore were torn rags as he had no money to buy clothes
living on the street made him sick
and his body was covered in painful sores that never seemed to heal
he lived among the wild street dogs who would come up to him and lick the sores on his body
whenever Lazarus did find food
the street dogs would fight him for it
making him even hungrier and even weaker than he already was
I am so hungry and I feel so weak
I have done everything I can to try and live a good life
and yet here I am if only someone would take pity on me and spare me just a scrap of food
as Lazarus lived and begged at the east gate just outside the mansion of the wealthy man
Lazarus would sit and watch all day as deliveries of fine food
jewelry and other treasures arrived at the rich man's house
look at all these fine gifts that pass in and out of these rich homes each and every day
oh if only I could taste even a bite of the fine foods that they must be eating
Lazarus was so hungry that he dreamed of eating just a single crumb from the rich man's food
as he would leave to go about his business in the city
the rich man would pass Lazarus at his front gate
Lazarus would see the wealth of the Richman
and beg him even just for some crumbs
please sir
could you spare me just a scrap of food I'm so very hungry
but the rich man did not care
every day he ignored the pleas of poor Lazarus
and continued to enjoy his life of luxury
without a care in the world
even though they pass me every day
not once of the people from these fine houses even looked in my direction
my hunger and suffering means nothing to them
even though we are practically neighbors and we are both children of god
one night his life of poverty reached its end
Lazarus died and his spirit left his body
on the very same night, the rich man also happened to die
finally, Lazarus's many years of suffering had come to an end
his spirit arrived at the gates of heaven
and was greeted by Abraham himself to live in eternal bliss
where am I? who are you?
welcome my son as you have arrived at the gates of heaven
I am Abraham
I am one of your ancestors and the first of god's chosen people
but as Lazarus was welcomed by Abraham at the gates of heaven
the Richman found himself in the pits of hell
surrounded by fire and suffering
the rich man watched as Lazarus entered paradise
and called out to his ancestor Abraham for help from the flames
please father Abraham have mercy on me
allow Lazarus to dip his finger in water and come down here and cool my tongue
these flames are so hot I am here in agony and wish to cool down
but Abraham could not help the rich man
my son do you not remember when you had all of the finest things in life
and poor Lazarus here had nothing at all to his name
he suffered each and every day while you lived in total luxury
he lived just outside of your doorstep and you had plenty to spare
yet did you ever stop to help poor Lazarus through his suffering when you could?
no, you didn't and so now you can never cross the great gulf between us
the gap between heaven and hell is too great
and you must live a good life to enjoy the kingdom of heaven
once you reach the afterlife
the rich man realized how he had misused his life of luxury
and began to fear for his family
then please father Abraham send Lazarus to the house of my father
if Lazarus speaks to them
maybe he can convince them to change their ways
and live more virtuous lives so they may live forever in the kingdom of heaven
but again Abraham could not grant the rich man what he asked for
alas my son
your father and brothers already have the word of Moses
and all the other prophets before them to offer them this very message
and yet they have not listened
but if they see Lazarus rise from the dead to give them this message
then they will be sure to listen and change their ways
but Abraham explained to the rich man
my son if they do not listen to Moses
if they do not listen to the prophets
then one man rising from the dead will surely not make them listen
and so Abraham left the rich man to face his fate
and joined Lazarus again in the kingdom of heaven
and so that is the story of Lazarus and the Richman
in the afterlife,
the Richman found himself with nothing but suffering
while Lazarus enjoys an eternity of comfort and satisfaction
let's discuss what we can learn from what happened to them
even though the rich man had every privilege in life
he shared no respect for god or care for his fellow man Lazarus
yes once we die
we can no longer rely on the material goods of life to bring us comfort and happiness
only by living a good life and caring for our fellow man
can we make sure that we live forever in peace in the kingdom of heaven