The parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. A rich man living in a beautiful house, adorned with fine clothes, enjoying rich food, but at the door of his house, a homeless person covered with sores and suffering hunger and thirst. But the rich man does not do anything for the poor Lazarus. You might think this parable is an extreme example and thus unrealistic.
Contemporary psychologists and sociologists show that this is exactly the reality. Through case studies and surveys, they find that wealthy and successful people are insensitive to poor ones. And through experiments, they also demonstrate that wealth and success make anyone insensitive to the underprivileged. Indeed, a modern rich man does not feel much about a homeless person. When money and success take one’s mind and heart, they change one’s personality. Psychologists and medical scientists find that richer and more successful people have different brain chemistry that makes them less emphatic with others. Money and success reinforce this trait. Researchers consistently find that richer and more successful people are much more likely to ignore laws and cheat on others for their goals. In contrast, statistical data show that people with moderate or less income make more donations than those with higher income. In the meantime, researchers also demonstrate that rich people can change more emphatically through learning and training.
Money and success so often separate and isolate us from others. It would be so wonderful if we could share much time with others and be victorious in competitions at the same time. But unfortunately, it rarely happens. Economically more affluent societies have a higher portion of a single-person household. And they have a higher rate of depression and suicide. It is undeniable that richer people are lonelier and suffer more anxiety and depression. Even before their judgment before the Lord, they must pay for the price of their wealth and success on earth. It is an illusion that money and success would bring a more meaningful life and make us happier.
As the rich man in the parable relates, riches blind people to the afterlife. The rich man wants to remind his brothers of the judgment and hell, but Jesus tells him it would be useless. Running for material success drives us to the unfortunate judgment. But like narcotics, people cannot stop while they suffer from this unending race.
If we find any of the rich man in ourselves – being insensitive and unemphatic to others’ misfortunes and poverty – it is time to turn around from our wasteful race and competition.
