Every last
one of us settles. We search and then
put life energy into maximizing our selected “sig factor”, which somehow cements
our place in this world. One of our most
prominent "sig factors" is the riches of this world, having more than those among whom we live. Jesus told a story about
the rich man and Lazarus in Luke Chapter 16.
Both Lazarus, the rich man and the poor beggar die. Lazarus goes to hell to suffer in the flames
while the beggar goes to “Abraham’s side”. It
would seem that their eternal destination and the wisdom of God is merely an
economic decision.
If we read
the story literally, this is the only possible conclusion, but to most of us, something
appearing missing. Their will be divine
judgement after death but upon what will it be bases, will divine judgement be
fair? If you or I have settled upon
money, riches, career, etc., are we automatically condemned? I and some credible biblical theologians have
suggested that the whole story, the intent of the story teller, may not be a
message to avoid settling but rather the message would be don’t “just settle”.
Because we
may have more than our neighbors, does not absolve us from the greatest
commandment to love our neighbors.
Lazarus was judged deficient for being totally captivated by his
riches. Riches do that to we humans. Our family had relatives 150 year ago who went
to Alaska captivated by “gold fever”, never to be heard from again. Jesus told us in Mathew 19, “Again I tell you,
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God”.
Why would
God put us in such an impossible lose, lose situation in this world? Could it
be that God did not ordain our situation but that somehow it has resulted from
our own twisted human condition? Could it be
that God may be about fixing all of us, sooner or later?
G. Goslaw
Landers, CA
