Trading Places

• A movie star with millions of fans?
• A famous athlete who wins championships?
• Someone with so much money they could buy anything?
• The homeless person you see holding a cardboard sign asking for help?

That last one probably made you stop and think, "Who would ever want to trade places with someone who has nothing?" Well, in today's Bible story from Luke 16, we'll discover that sometimes the person who seems to have everything actually has nothing that really matters, and the person who seems to have nothing actually has everything that counts forever.

Jesus told this story about two very different men. The first was incredibly wealthy - so rich that he wore purple clothes (which back then cost more than a car costs today!) and fine linen every single day. Purple dye was made from thousands of tiny sea snails, making it extremely expensive. Only the richest people could afford it. This man lived in a mansion and threw elaborate dinner parties every night with the finest foods money could buy.

Right outside this rich man's gate sat a poor beggar named Lazarus. His name means "God helps" - and he desperately needed God's help. Lazarus was covered in painful sores that wouldn't heal, and he was so weak from hunger that he couldn't even chase away the stray dogs that came to lick his wounds. All Lazarus wanted were the leftover scraps from the rich man's table - the pieces of bread that wealthy people used like napkins to wipe their hands, then threw away.

Here's what's shocking: the rich man walked past Lazarus every single day. He saw his suffering, his hunger, his pain. But he never stopped to help. He never shared even the smallest portion of his abundance. It's like having a huge pizza and watching someone starve right next to you, but never offering even one slice.

Think about this: What if you had a backpack full of granola bars and saw a classmate who forgot their lunch and was really hungry? What would you do? The rich man had warehouses full of food but wouldn't share a crumb.

Then both men died. Here's where the story gets really intense. Lazarus, who had suffered so much on earth, was immediately carried by angels to heaven to be with Abraham, the father of faith. Imagine going from lying on hard, cold ground to being welcomed into paradise by angels! Lazarus finally had comfort, peace, and joy beyond anything he could have dreamed.

But the rich man? He found himself in hell - a place of terrible torment and separation from God. The man who had everything on earth now had nothing. He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus right beside him, finally at peace.

In desperation, the rich man called out, "Father Abraham! Please send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue - I'm in agony!" But Abraham replied, "Remember, during your lifetime you received all your good things, while Lazarus received nothing but bad things. Now he's comforted here, and you're in anguish. Besides, there's a great chasm between us that no one can cross."

This isn't just a story about being rich or poor with money. It's about what we do with what God gives us and where we put our trust. Lazarus had almost nothing materially, but he trusted in God. Even when life was incredibly hard, he believed God cared about him. The rich man had everything money could buy, but he thought he didn't need God or anyone else. He was completely self-sufficient - or so he believed.

Here's what Jesus wants us to understand: What matters isn't how much stuff we have, but what we do with it and whether we trust in God or trust in ourselves. The rich man's real problem wasn't his wealth - it was his hard heart. He could have used his resources to help others and honor God, but instead he ignored the suffering right outside his door.

Let's think about our own lives. You might not be super wealthy, but compared to many kids around the world, you probably have a lot. You have a home, food, clothes, maybe video games or sports equipment. The question is: How can you use what you have to show God's love to others?

Maybe it's sharing your lunch with someone who forgot theirs. Maybe it's donating toys you've outgrown to kids who don't have any. Maybe it's using your allowance to help feed hungry families. When we see people in need and we have the ability to help, what do we do?

The story also teaches us about eternal perspective. Things that seem super important now - like having the latest phone, wearing cool clothes, or being popular - won't matter at all in eternity. But how we treat others, especially those who are hurting or in need, matters forever.

Lazarus trusted God even when life was really, really hard. That's not always easy to do. When bad things happen, when we're disappointed or hurt, it's tempting to think God doesn't care. But this story shows us that God sees everything, and He cares deeply about those who trust in Him, especially when they're suffering.

So here's the big question: If you could trade places with anyone, who would you choose now? Would you rather be the rich man who had everything but lost his soul, or Lazarus who had nothing but gained everything that truly matters?

The choice of where to put our trust is one we make every day. We can trust in money, popularity, our own abilities, or the things we own. Or we can trust in God, who loves us no matter what and promises to take care of us forever.

Father God, help us to trust in You and not in the temporary things of this world. Open our eyes to see people around us who need help, and give us generous hearts to share what You've given us. Help us remember that our real treasure is in heaven with You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.