Here is the story:

"19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, 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.'

27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

People get distracted by many things in this story. Some people want to take this story as a literal interpretation of hell and literal flames.....which is not the point or intent of the story at all. The point of the story is not that the poor go to heaven and the rich go to hell, though if you are taking this story completely literally that is what you are going to come up with. In fact, in the end this story is not really even about heaven and hell.

No, this story is a strong social commentary a direct rebuke to the power of the day. To the rich, many of them the religious leaders of the day, who lived in great wealth and excess while the poor outside were suffering. Through the strong symbolism it shows how those that exalt themselves will be brought down, and the poor and outcast will be honored. It is a very subversive and controversial story for the day. During this time, the general sentiment was that if you were wealthy, it was because you deserved it and you were blessed by God, while if you were poor, you obviously must have been doing something wrong. Somehow, those same sentiments seem to remain strong today.

I am afraid that we tend to line up with the rich men much more than we think. We are among the most affluent and wealthy people in the world, but how much of a second thought do we give to the Lazarus's on our doorsteps? I mean, aren't they there because they are lazy or because of their sin? We rave about tax increases, but show little concern about the uninsured, disabled, or poverty stricken who may need those funds.