The story of Lazarus and the rich man which Jesus relates to his disciples and to the Jews, among other things, makes it plain that, ultimately, all rewards are the rewards of a God Who’s grace alone governs ALL His dealings with His people (yes, even rewards), and that ultimately His rewards are future: “stored up in heaven for you.”
The story of Lazarus seems to fly in the face of all Biblically based notions that western Christians entertain of the forms which God’s covenant faithfulness must take in His temporal dealings with His people: There is not a particle of temporal covenant love and faithfulness evident in this story (for example, how are Lazarus’ faith and obedience honored by God? Where is even a hint of Gods temporal blessing evident? How is God’s temporal faithfulness displayed: Where is deliverance? Honor? Help? Protection? Support? Supply? Healing? Rescue? Vindication…much less comfort, food and clothing)? Where are the believers in his town (probably a big town since it boasted a rich man–possibly Jerusalem itself… and what sort of a God would they represent anyway who could not find it in themselves to relieve even the least of this man’s miseries–Job, at least, had Elihu and a temporal restoration of many of his lost blessings)? And who would put their faith in a Jesus who treated (at least some of) His people this way? Dare we argue in defense of the Lord that the sum and substance of His great and precious promises is reserved only and always for the world to come…that they never have, to the least degree whatsoever, a temporal referent? Certainly not! Surely we don’t live that way (even non-western Christians)…we do pray the Lord’s prayer, don’t we? So did Lazarus; often and fervently! But the Lord turned a deaf ear to him.
Or did He? He preserved his life (however tenuously) long enough for him, among many other things to remain an everlasting lesson (not to mention, encouragement!) to us. And that lesson is very rich…unsearchably rich! Surely this man, who was ushered by God’s mighty ones, not to a back row seat, but into the very arms of the father of the faithful, was full of the Spirit and His fruits (even the rich man had recognized it all the while he withheld from him the least kindness: There were very many greater lights whom he could have asked Father Abraham to send him; he had to be certain they would not come! This man, however, whom he had treated so badly, he was equally certain WOULD COME. He knew this because Lazarus had been to him, for every moment of his personal agony, a living demonstration of the Hope of Glory…Jesus Christ in you)! Yes, the rich man knew now well enough in the end (and too late) what grace was; it had dwelt every day at his gate!
Lazarus pictures for the western church the much needed (and largely forgotten) lesson that SANCTIFICATION IS PRIORITY ONE; all else is intrigue. That being the case, of all people, Lazarus must be numbered among those most blessed. The end of the story bears that out: he’s not only comforted (with all that so richly implies); he’s perfected–a man completely made over into the Lamb’s likeness, who would gladly and quickly go to help this lost man if Justice had been willing.
It is good (but hard) to keep this in view when the going gets rough (and sometimes–as in Lazarus’ own case–rougher and rougher…even unto death…We know well enough that he is not alone; that’s another one of the reasons that we have this story recorded for us in Scripture).
Things are not always as they seem: The believers in Lazarus’ town were absolutely certain that he was experiencing God’s displeasure… and for perfectly good and right and just (if not completely apparent) reasons. And they were equally sure that the rich man was what he was (blessed of the Lord) because of who he was (he was nominally a believer, after all: that’s why he calls Abraham, “Father”). I expect he was a prominent member of the visible church, too, and honored by many because he was so obviously favored of the Lord. Surely there were many (sadly) who were as surprised as himself by the ending of his and Lazarus’ story!
Let the Lamb deal with us as He may: He has the Father’s Glory in view…and our transformation; that we may be a Bride fit for Him at last. “Bring on trouble, Lord Jesus, if it should yield, under your wise and
loving care, such an end as this!”