For some reason, modern culture likes to assume that if someone was rich and famous, and provided them with laughs, enjoyment, or entertainment, that that means that when they die they are going to heaven.
I don't know any of these people. I don't know their hearts, or exactly where they stand with God. I do know that the things I just listed are absolute rubbish to God.
You can't get into heaven because you entertained people. You can't get into heaven by being rich and famous. Getting into heaven has to do with having a relationship with God. If Jesus's parables are to be believed, if you suffered a lot on Earth that means if you weren't rotten to the core there's a good chance there's a place for you in heaven. Jesus didn't mince words, particularly when he told the parable of Lazarus and the rich man:
Luke 16:19-31, New International Version
The Rich Man and Lazarus
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.’”
I think... if I were to understand this correctly, being wealthy on Earth means you have an added responsibility to care for people around you, and to live by faith for God and not just preserving your financial success on Earth. Based on a cursory reading of the gospels, I would say that Jesus isn't the hugest fan of people who are wealthy on Earth but not wealthy towards God. If you are wealthy towards God, then you will tend to see your earthly treasures as a way to acquire heavenly treasure. God cares A LOT about how we see our money and possessions. So... read the gospels. The above passage isn't the only one- Jesus is very unambiguous about his feelings about people who are wealthy on earth but haven't really done any due diligence about being right with God. God cares more about what you have left over than what you give, so next time you give a big gift, remember- it's how big a gift it was TO YOU that matters more than how big it seems to the world.
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.’”
I think... if I were to understand this correctly, being wealthy on Earth means you have an added responsibility to care for people around you, and to live by faith for God and not just preserving your financial success on Earth. Based on a cursory reading of the gospels, I would say that Jesus isn't the hugest fan of people who are wealthy on Earth but not wealthy towards God. If you are wealthy towards God, then you will tend to see your earthly treasures as a way to acquire heavenly treasure. God cares A LOT about how we see our money and possessions. So... read the gospels. The above passage isn't the only one- Jesus is very unambiguous about his feelings about people who are wealthy on earth but haven't really done any due diligence about being right with God. God cares more about what you have left over than what you give, so next time you give a big gift, remember- it's how big a gift it was TO YOU that matters more than how big it seems to the world.
I say all this as a warning. Be wary of being attached to your earthly possessions. It's fine to have them, but at some point God may demand something of you, and hopefully you'll be up to the task to give God what he asks. Your possessions aren't really "yours;" in fact we're all really stewards of what is in our lives- hopefully we'll be found to be good at taking care of what God handed to us as well as using what God gave us for his glory. As Jesus said: "Beware of all forms of greed...."
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