The rich man may think that he is near to paradise and providence and that he is close to God and saints. The poor may think that they are in hell on earth and neglected by providence. The truth is that what is important is what goes through the heart and not what one can have or get, not even what goes through the gut. The more one has the more likely one is so distracted and too preoccupied to have time and resources to cultivate the heart towards Godliness - the purity of mind and heart.
The far may be near and the near may be far. This did Lord Bo Tien say. Thus those who are well endowed be it in body, wealth, politics or in religious trappings such as a concrete temple or crystal church may well be at serious disadvantage compared to those who have little and are not endowed. One may be rich in standing in the eyes of men as birds of feather flock together and fools think alike but the one who is alone may well be of better standing in eyes of God and saints. This echoes what the Christian Bible says in Luke 16:19 - 31.
The far may be near and the near may be far. This did Lord Bo Tien say. Thus those who are well endowed be it in body, wealth, politics or in religious trappings such as a concrete temple or crystal church may well be at serious disadvantage compared to those who have little and are not endowed. One may be rich in standing in the eyes of men as birds of feather flock together and fools think alike but the one who is alone may well be of better standing in eyes of God and saints. This echoes what the Christian Bible says in Luke 16:19 - 31.
Luke 16:19-31 New International Version (NIV)
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.”
