The Rich Man and Lazarus: How Much is "Enough?"

(Luke 16:19-31) (22nd Sunday after Pentecost)

How much is “enough?” How much do we have to have of the things of this world to be satisfied, and put aside the pursuit of “more?” What level of income do we need to be content? How much is “enough?”

Some people have their definition of “enough.” At least one candidate for the presidency of the United States has said that the “magic number” is $200,000. That’s enough; and, if you’re earning more than that amount, you don’t need, and don’t deserve, a tax break. Now, I don’t think there’s anybody here today that needs to worry if that actually becomes the number! But when we hear these types of questions being raised in the public forum, we should also be asking ourselves, how much is enough?

OK, so there’s no one here above the $200,000 a year income level. But I’ll also bet that there also isn’t anyone here below the poverty level, either - which means that, in terms of the whole world, each one of us is rich. So: do we have “enough?” If everyone has food on the table, and a roof over their heads, and clothes on their back, and time to relax, and access to medical care, and things like that - can’t we say that we have “enough?”

This is important, as we can see from the Gospel reading today from St. Luke, the Apostle and Evangelist whose memory we celebrate today. We are shown the opposite ends of the spectrum: from the very rich to the very poor. The rich man certainly has enough: he is dressed in fine clothing, and eats sumptuously every day. Presumably, he is in good health. In contrast, we see also the poor man, Lazarus, who is outside the rich man’s gate, begging for food. He is ill, covered with sores, and so weak that he is unable to keep the dogs from coming and licking his sores. Lazarus has nothing; he is so needy that he would accept the crumbs from the rich man’s table gratefully, as a blessing. We need to ask ourselves: Of the two men depicted here, to whom does my life bear a closer resemblance - Lazarus, or the rich man?

The Gospel doesn’t tell us that there is anything wrong with being rich. The rich man does not find himself in a place of torment because he was rich; but rather because of what he did, and did not do, with the riches entrusted to him by God. How do you think the story might have turned out if the rich man, finding Lazarus at his gates, had brought this beggar into his home, fed him from his table, called the physicians, and nursed him back to health? Do you think he would have found himself departing this life into a place of torment, or into a blessed repose?

Maybe that’s too extreme, to have brought this sick beggar into his home. What if the rich man had provided that Lazarus should be taken to a hospital, or other place where he could have received food, and shelter, and medicine, and care? What if the rich man had said, “You know, I have enough that I can spare something to care for this beggar’s needs?” Do you think he would have found himself departing this life into a place of torment, or into a blessed repose?

Where might we find Lazarus today? Maybe on the street corners, holding a cardboard sign? Maybe he is downtown, sleeping on the grass? Maybe in line at a soup kitchen or the food bank or the thrift store or the clinic?

What have we done to help Lazarus today? Have we brought food, or money, to a food bank or soup kitchen? Have we given from our excess shoes and clothing to those who collect our donations to give to those in need? When was the last time you checked the box on your electric bill to give a dollar to help those who can’t afford to pay their bill? When was the last time you gave some spare change to the Lazarus on the street corner?

Now, there’s no doubt that there are more people and organizations asking for our help than we can give an answer to - no one of us can do it all alone. But do you know that, when we fast, a part of the reason for eating simpler foods is precisely to be able to have more that we can give to help to feed those who are in need? Not so easy to do when we are “fasting” by eating shrimp or lobster, in place of chicken, or of pork. I think, all too often, we lose sight of this aspect of the fast.

But what’s really at issue is the attitude of our hearts towards using the resources God entrusts to us, both to meet our own needs, and those of others. That’s why we have to determine how much is “enough.” For it’s possible to always be wanting more, and so never have anything to give for others; or it’s possible to realize that we probably already have enough, and more; and from this we can take the steps to meet the needs of those around us - feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and visiting the sick, and those in prison - and in the process, saving our souls.

How much do you need to truly be happy? Brothers and sister, for the sake of your souls, please consider: how much is “enough?”