If we would judge men according to outward appearances, we shall oftentimes judge amiss. Here is a rich man who, to outward appearances, appears as the blessed man better by far than the beggar, inasmuch as he is rich and the beggar poor; he is well-clothed but the beggar is nearly naked; he feasts sumptuously but the beggar would be glad for dog's food.
Oh, who would not rather be in the rich man's state!
A wealthy man, with all sorts of new suits and dainty dishes every day, has enough to make one who minds nothing but his belly, his back, and his lusts to say, "Oh, that I were in that man's condition! Oh, that I had as much as that man has! Then I would live indeed; then I would live pleasantly, and would say to my soul: Soul, be of good cheer you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink and be merry! You are in a most blessed condition!"
This is the conclusion with those who judge according to outward appearances. But if the whole parable is well considered, you will see that that which is held in high estimation with men is an abomination in the sight of God.
We see that the saddest condition, according to outward appearances, is oftentimes the most excellent one; for the beggar had ten thousand times the best of it, though, to outward appearances, his state was the saddest.
Those who judge according to outward appearances, for the most part, judge amiss. For here in the parable, a man of wealth, and a child of the devil may be the same person! A man may have an abundance of outward enjoyments and yet be carried by the devils into eternal burnings!
This is the trap in which the devil has caught many thousands of poor souls, namely by getting them to judge according to God's outward blessings. Ask a poor, carnal, covetous wretch, how we would know a man to be in a happy state, and he will answer, "Those whom God blesses and gives an abundance of this world to."
Yet, for the most part, these are the cursed men. Alas! Poor men, they are so ignorant as to think that because a man is increased in outward things therefore God loves that man with a special love. Ah! Poor soul, it is the rich man who goes to hell! "The rich man died, and in hell (mark it, "in hell") he lifted up his eyes, being in torment!"
[John Bunyan]
Luke 16:19-23 … There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
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