Of Burials and Funerals

Luke 16:22

New King James Version

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

For Meditation

For a brief reflection this morning, can you put on your imagination cap and look into the funeral grounds of Lazarus and the rich man?

There laid on the bier the stiff body of Lazarus, the notorious beggar with sores that feasted dogs at the gate of the House of Revelry and extravagance. The scene is in a shanty house. Count the number of mourners and their status symbols, and observe how long the entire ceremony takes.

Come over to the house of the rich man whose dead body also lies to receive mourners and sympathizers. It is a Jewish funeral, so you can be sure the best commercial mourners are there to sing the best dirge. Here, too, observe the crowd, the dignitaries, the crème de la crème of the town and beyond—those who had indulged at his daily feast and their seating.

What a difference in settings! How humbling and satisfying each one stands out!

Our friends from Ghana and Nigeria have a lot to say here. Perhaps many of you have returned from funerals in faraway places. You can testify to the absurdity of the ceremonies—the luxury and showmanship, and the abject poverty of people in the same homes and communities—the living who need help but can’t find any. Your body is protesting loudly now, but you have a pile of similar invitations you ‘have–to’ honor. Poor you!

The question to ponder over today is: How does the elaborate funeral they hold for your dead body lying there affect the eternal situation of your soul? Yes, the people have glamorized your funeral and minted memorabilia for attendees, but does anybody care where your soul is while they party?

Did any of the rich buddies of the rich man care where his soul was at his funeral? Would they care for yours?

So, why don’t you secure your soul with Jesus today before it is too late (Rm 10:9-10, 13; Jn 1:12-13)?

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mk 8:36).