Money, Death, and Hell

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some topics attract attention like flies. Jesus touches on many of those interesting themes here in this section of parables, instruction, and discipleship.

The first is a parable about money and ambition. On the surface it looks like Jesus praises a crook. But unlike the other Gospel writers who use comparison, Luke often tells parables of contrasts. This is what it is not like. Unlike the worldly steward, Jesus teaches we are to be strategic and wise with our money, managing what God gives us for what is right. Money is only a tool, and our use of it is a spiritual discipline.

In another parable, again concerning a wealthy man, Jesus actually named names. This story tells of two men who died on the same day: A rich man who lived and died without God, and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man’s spirit went to the place of torment with others who are lost. The beggar went to paradise or Abraham's Bosom. Going through the doorway of death certainly changed their status, not because they were rich or poor, but their eternal destinies were determined by their heart condition. The rich man becomes the beggar, while the beggar is now the rich man.

What about today? Where do our bodies and souls go after we die? Since Jesus conquered death at His resurrection, when followers of Jesus Christ die today, their bodies go into the grave, but their spirits go to be with Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:8.) The lost today still go to the place of torment in Hades where they will ultimately be judged and then cast into the lake of fire.

Heaven is a real place and so is hell. Today is the day to decide where your spirit goes after death. Do not delay making your choice. You will have no opportunity after death.

As Jesus taught, many views came up about what it means to follow Him. The same rings true today. Some people believe if they follow the Sermon on the Mount and are good neighbors and try to love people, that someday God is going to pat them on the back and say, “What a fine person you are. You have earned your way to heaven.” Even if you could keep the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount (you can’t), Jesus said keeping God’s Law is what God’s people do because they want to please God (not to be saved by doing it). Real salvation is a gift from God; you can’t work for it.

One of the great paradoxes of Scripture is that if you try to be saved on your own terms, you’ll lose your life. But if you are willing to lose your control and turn your life over to Jesus Christ, you’ll be saved.

As Jesus considered the Cross, just days away now, this view of the future took its proper place.

1. If the correct view of money is as a tool that can be used for good, what are some of the wrong perspectives on money we can adopt?

2. What are some things the story of the rich man and Lazarus can teach us about our condition as humans and what happens after we die?

3. What is so appealing to people about believing that they can get to heaven through their own efforts?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on Luke 16:1-18 and Luke 16:19—17:37.