The Double-Edged Gift: How Riches Can Build or Bury -Your Money Is Either a Tool—or a Trap

It will build the Kingdom—or bury your soul.

Wealth is not a sin. In fact, throughout Scripture, God blesses His people with abundance, provision, and overflow—not so they can hoard it, but so they can steward it. This article isn’t a rebuke of the wealthy—it’s a reminder. A call to see riches through the lens of eternity. Jesus never condemned money itself; He warned against the danger of allowing it to rule the heart.

There is both good and bad news about having wealth: it can become a powerful tool for Kingdom impact—or a silent barrier to eternal reward. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is not about humiliation—it’s about alignment. God is looking for stewards, not just earners. What we do with what we have reveals who we trust most.

“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...”—Luke 16:19–20Luke 16:19–31

“He ignored the man at his gate—now he’s the one begging.”

The rich man lived in luxury while Lazarus suffered just outside his gate—so ignored that even the dogs noticed him more than people did. He never cursed Lazarus or attacked him. His sin was quieter but just as deadly: he lived as if Lazarus didn’t exist. He feasted while someone starved. He wore fine linen while a man lay clothed in sores. And for that willful disregard, Jesus says he lifted his eyes in torment.

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”—Luke 6:24

Proverbs 14:31 – “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

The Great Reversal: Death and Destination

He had wealth on earth—but not a drop of mercy in eternity.

Here, the story takes a dramatic turn. Lazarus, who was forgotten and neglected in life, dies and is now carried by angels—a powerful sign of honor, heavenly recognition, and divine welcome—he is received as a child of promise, now free from pain and shame.

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.”—Luke 16:22

The rich man, in contrast, dies and is simply buried—no escort, no mention of comfort, just silence and separation. In life, he had status, feasts, and fine linen. In death, he awakens in torment, not because he was rich, but because he lived without compassion, without repentance, and without God through Jesus Christ.

Lazarus had nothing in life but gained everything in eternity. The rich man had everything in life but entered eternity with nothing that mattered.

Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Cry for Mercy

As torment sets in, the rich man cries out for relief—but his heart hasn’t changed. He still sees Lazarus as beneath him, asking that he be sent like a servant. The same hierarchy he clung to on earth follows him into eternity. But now, the mercy he ignored is out of reach—and he’s desperate for the very compassion he once refused to give.

“...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...’”—Luke 16:24

Scripture is clear: death is not the end—it’s the doorway to judgment.

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

There are no second chances, no do-overs, no negotiations. And for those who turned a deaf ear to the needs of others, the warning is sobering:

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered” (Proverbs 21:13).

Mercy denied in life becomes mercy withheld in death. What we ignore now, we may desperately long for later.

The Fixed Chasm

“You don’t fall into the chasm—you drift there, one selfish choice at a time without Jesus.”

As the conversation continues between the rich man and Abraham, we encounter one of the most sobering truths in all of Scripture: there is a point of no return. After death, the divide between those in comfort and those in torment is no longer a matter of choice, change, or chance. It's fixed—eternally sealed. And that reality should awaken every soul, especially those who think there will always be more time to get things right.

“...Between us and you a great chasm has been set in place... so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”—Luke 16:26

The word chasm refers to a deep fissure or gulf—a vast, uncrossable separation. In the context of this parable, it represents the irreversible spiritual divide between the righteous and the unrighteous after death. The rich man can see Lazarus. He can feel his own agony. He can even speak across the gap. But he cannot cross it.

This adds a haunting layer to his torment: he is aware of what he missed, fully conscious of what could have been, yet eternally cut off from reaching it. This isn't just a warning about hell. It’s a warning about procrastination, about letting our hearts grow cold toward the things of God and the needs of others—believing there's always more time. But Jesus is clear: once the chasm is fixed, mercy is no longer an option—only memory remains.

The Plea for the Living

Hell has no mission trips—yet from its depths, the rich man finally becomes an evangelist. Suddenly, his priorities shift. Too late for himself, he now begs for his five brothers, pleading that someone warn them before they end up where he is. The man who once ignored the suffering at his own gate now burns with urgency for others to avoid his fate. But the answer he receives isn’t what he expects—and it’s one that speaks just as loudly to us today.

“Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them...”—Luke 16:27–28

In torment, the rich man finds urgency—but not repentance. His concern turns outward, asking Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his family. Yet Abraham responds with a truth both eternal and tragic:

“They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.”(Luke 16:29)

Abraham is saying: They already have the Word. And if the Word of God isn’t enough to soften their hearts and awaken their souls, then even a miracle—a resurrection—won’t convince them. This is a chilling insight: the problem isn’t evidence. It’s hardness of heart. It’s not that people need more signs—it’s that they ignore the ones they’ve already been given. Jesus Himself would later rise from the dead, and still many would refuse to believe.

“He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”—Luke 16:31

 We don’t need to wait for someone to rise from the dead… He already did.

Wealth Is Not Evil

There’s nothing inherently sinful about being rich. But the illusion of safety, the worship of self-sufficiency, and the temptation to look down on the less fortunate—these are soul-destroying traps.

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain...”—1 Timothy 6:17

“Rich in style, bankrupt in mercy.”

It is dangerous to live as if your bank account is your Savior. When trust shifts from God to gold, the soul begins to harden—quietly, but surely. It is dangerous to believe that your success makes you superior, as if your effort alone earned you comfort, while others struggle just outside your gate. And it is dangerous—eternally dangerous—to look at the suffering of others and say, “That’s not my problem.” Because the moment you close your heart to compassion, you close the door to the very mercy you’ll one day need. Jesus didn’t commend wealth, status, or accomplishment—He commended those who saw, who gave, who loved, and who acted when no one else would. Eternity isn’t shaped by how much we’ve stored, but by how much we’ve surrendered.

Jesus didn’t name the rich man. But He named Lazarus—a man covered in sores, invisible to the world, but known and cherished by heaven.

“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”—Proverbs 21:13

Self-Reliance is a Silent Killer of the Soul

You may say, “I’m thankful I’m not struggling like others.” And that’s okay—gratitude is godly. But gratitude that stops at comfort becomes dangerous. Gratitude without compassion becomes pride, and pride without Christ leads to eternal separation. Our thankfulness should stir us toward generosity, not just appreciation. True gratitude overflows into service, into lifting those who are still in the place we’ve been delivered from. If God has blessed you, it’s not just for you—it’s because He’s entrusting you to be a vessel of mercy for others. The blessings we enjoy today are opportunities to reflect His heart to a hurting world.

This parable is not about a one-time mistake. It’s about a lifestyle of willful blindness. A refusal to see, to feel, to act. And for that, the man was cast into torment.

“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”—Proverbs 14:31

“When the righteous feed the hungry, they feed the King.” —Matthew 25:40

If you live your life apart from Christ—numb to others, hardened by wealth, unmoved by suffering—you are in grave danger of joining the rich man in Hades. But here is the good news: there’s still time. Jesus shared this story before the cross, before His resurrection, and before the final judgment. That means the door is still open, and mercy is still available. There is still time to repent, to open your eyes, and to live generously. You can still choose to serve those at your gate, to trust in Christ rather than your cash, and to pour out what you have before your heart is buried with it.

But more than that, there is still time to receive Jesus as your Savior—to trust Him not just with your eternity, but with your life, your wealth, your family, and your legacy. He alone secures our souls, softens our hearts, and teaches us how to steward every blessing with eternal purpose.

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matthew 6:20–21

The Rich Man, Lazarus… and the Eye of a Needle

After warning of the rich man’s eternal fate in Luke 16, Jesus says in Luke 18,

“How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”  Not because it's impossible—but because wealth often builds pride, self-reliance, and false security and an "I don't need God attitude." (Luke 16:19–31 + Luke 18:24–29) He adds, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle...” (What does THAT even mean?)

“The camel kneels—or it never passes through.”

Some believe this refers to a narrow gate in Jerusalem called the Eye of the Needle, where a camel had to kneel and be unloaded to pass through. Whether literal or symbolic, the message is clear: you can’t carry pride or possessions into the Kingdom. Riches must be surrendered, and the heart must kneel.

“Then Who Can Be Saved?”

When Jesus said how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom, the disciples were stunned.

He wasn’t cursing the rich. He was exposing the risk that comes with having much: the risk of putting trust in treasures instead of trust in Him.

Jesus’ Answer:

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”—Luke 18:27

Jesus wasn’t saying wealth automatically disqualifies you. He was saying: you can’t save yourself—not through effort, religion, or money. But with God, hearts can change. Pride can bow. Greed can be replaced with generosity. And spiritual blindness can be healed. The message is simple: Include God in your life—through Jesus Christ. You don’t have to lose your wealth. But your heart must change. Work for the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of self, "to thy own self be true."

Let’s be clear—"To thy own self be true" is not divine wisdom. It’s a feel-good phrase that flatters the flesh and silences surrender. At first glance, it sounds innocent—even wise. But look again. It’s a subtle gospel of self, not of the cross. It whispers, "You are the source of truth. You are the authority. You decide what’s right." And underneath it all, it’s demonic at the core as Satanism has always existed—not always in black robes and rituals, but in the exaltation of self-will over God's will. It began in the garden, not with a ritual but with a lie:

“You will not surely die... you will be like God.” —Genesis 3:4–5

Aleister Crowley later gave that ancient lie a voice, declaring, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” Years later, Anton LaVey echoed the same spirit even louder with the words, “Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence.”

“The world saw fame—Heaven saw a serpent whispering just behind her.”

That same ancient lie now struts through culture in glamor, glitter, and fake empowerment. It’s not raw evil—it’s refined rebellion. Same message, new disguise. And tragically, it’s working.

What looks like self-love is often spiritual poison. Believers drink it, stop denying self, and start enthroning it. They’re baptized in water but not surrendered in heart—nodding at Jesus while still building altars to themselves.

Let’s be clear:

“Whoever is not with Me is against Me.”—Matthew 12:30

There’s no neutral ground. You're either aligned with God, or you're not. But here’s the good news: if you trust Him, He promises to bless you even more—not just with provision, but with purpose. And there is a desperate world waiting for what you’ve been given. You can change lives, advance the Kingdom, and store up treasure in heaven—all at the same time.

“No one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”—Luke 18:29–30

“Buried with Him in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.” —Romans 6:4

Jesus never said you must throw away your wealth to be saved. He said you must follow Him above all else. And if your riches get in the way, cling too tightly, or harden your heart, that’s the danger. Because the real issue isn’t how much money you have—It’s what your money has over you.

The Kingdom Is Not Anti-Wealth

We serve a King whose streets are paved with gold (Revelation 21:21), whose throne is surrounded by jewels, and whose very nature is abundance. Jesus didn’t die to make us beggars.He died to destroy lack (2 Corinthians 8:9) and give us access to Kingdom inheritance.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”—2 Corinthians 8:9

What God gives us isn’t for hoarding, flaunting, or controlling. It’s for stewarding.

If you’re wealthy, you’re not in trouble—you’re in position. God has placed you in a seat of influence, not to condemn you, but to entrust you. You’re in position to feed families crying out for provision, to rescue children trapped in hopeless cycles, and to fund missionaries, ministries, and Kingdom work that reaches beyond borders. You can provide medical aid, shelter, and education to the overlooked. You can restore dignity to the oppressed, build churches, dig wells, and launch schools in places where hope has dried up. You have the ability to answer silent prayers with quiet generosity—and when it’s done in secret, God sees it all.

“Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.”—Matthew 6:3–4

Your wealth is not a threat to your salvation—unless it becomes your god. But when surrendered, it becomes a weapon of healing in the hands of the King. This isn’t a call to abandon your business, your investments, your land, or your legacy. It’s a call to lay your heart before God and say:

“Lord, how can I use what You’ve given me to heal, to serve, to lift, and to love in Your name?”

You don’t have to walk away from riches to walk toward Jesus. But you do have to let Him be Lord over every dollar. Because when your wealth bows to the King, it becomes a weapon of healing—not hindrance.

“Turning away doesn’t make it disappear—it reveals your heart.”

In Luke 16, the rich man didn’t go to torment because he had money. He went because he ignored suffering, lived without compassion, and walked by those at his gate. And in Luke 18, the ruler wasn’t rejected because he had wealth. He simply couldn’t let go—not even for the Son of God.

So if you’re wealthy—praise God. But don't let your gold outshine your heart and be a stumbling block that says, "I don't need God because all my needs are already met by my wealth." You will have needs after you die and Jesus is the the only insurance policy you will have to help you.

This message isn’t just for the wealthy unbeliever or the wealthy believer—it’s for the Christian who’s grown comfortable, complacent, and calculated in their giving. It’s for the one who’s been baptized, attends church, quotes Scripture—yet still clings tightly to their bank account, their status, their degrees, and their pride. But if Christ is truly your Savior, then He must also be your Lord—over your money, your motives, and your mission. Real salvation isn’t partial. And real Christians don’t walk past the broken at their gate and call it wisdom.

You may not call yourself greedy—but does your life say otherwise? You may not see yourself as lost—but have you really surrendered? Because Christ doesn’t share headship. If you still make the final call over how, where, and why you give, then maybe it’s time to ask: Is Jesus your Savior—or just your symbol?

This is a heart check—for all of us. Not to shame, but to reposition. Not to strip you of wealth, but to redirect your worship. There is still time to change. Still time to give. Still time to open your hands, open your eyes, and open your heart. Don’t miss heaven by clinging to earth.

Heavenly God,

I come before You with honesty and humility. Forgive me for allowing wealth, comfort, and success to blind me from seeing You clearly—or from wanting You at all. I’ve trusted in what I could earn and hold, not in who You are.I see now that riches without You are empty. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God who died for my sins and rose again.I ask You to be not just my Savior, but my Lord—over my life, my heart, my finances, my family, and my future.Break down every idol of pride, and teach me how to steward what I’ve been given for Your Kingdom.I surrender all that I am, and all that I have, to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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