Christian Living

Easy Street Blues

by Mari Morris
08/20/26
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Easy Street Blues

Mari Morris

Copyright 08/12/2026

There once was a very rich man who loved to live opulently. He paraded himself daily, in front of his family, friends, neighbors and strangers alike in all of his finery.

He fared sumptuously from day to day.  He also had very great stores in all of his barns.  He had enough to feed the entire city and townspeople for a year or more - with all that they could possibly hope to eat.

And he lived on the Finest street in town.  Which was called Easy Street.

One day the townspeople met together in an effort to help a very poor and ill neighbor.  They began counseling among themselves on how they could help the man. 

One of the most respected members of the council stood up and said to all the others:

“We are most fortunate indeed to have in our midst, one of the richest most distinguished personages in the entire world. Is there any reason why we could not take poor Lazarus to the rich man’s gate, in the hopes that he might receive all the help and treatment that we are unable to give him?”

For the first time ever, each and every person at the meeting were in complete agreement.

Next, they chose four of the strongest townspeople to approach Lazarus with the notion.

Lazarus answered them and said:  “Yes, I will go.  Why should I sit here until I die.  No matter what happens, I will at least have some hope, whereas now I have none.”

With that, the four strong men took Lazarus as gently as possible and laid him at the rich man's gate. After all, he was covered head to toe in open sores, that were oozing with infection.

The four townsmen were very humble, but afraid to ask the rich man for assistance.  Because they were clothed in rags and did not wish to cause Lazarus any further distress.

But Lazarus overlooked all of those considerations. He arrived at the gate with such hope in his heart that he ignored all the tragic pain and hunger that he was in. 

When a day or two passed, the rich man had yet to appear. But Lazarus saw both the gatekeeper and the groundskeeper.  Though neither spoke to him, he felt certain that they would alert their master to his presence at the gate. But his gnawing hunger and pain only continued to grow fiercer. 

At last, a spectacular carriage pulled up to the gate.  Lazarus thought to himself that any moment the rich man would emerge and the days of waiting would finally be rewarded.

The carriage sat there for about three hours, before the gates flew open with a mighty clatter.  Activity swirled from every possible quarter. 

Servants and footman alike suddenly scurried about looking extremely fearful and afraid to even speak to one other.

And there, was the rich man adorned in a purple robe stitched with thread made from pure gold.  The crowd of servants attending him covered him from sight. The only thing that Lazarus could see - from his place in the dirt, were the tails of the rich man's garment.

But what Lazarus heard told him everything. The rich man had kept all the servants waiting for hours. Then he became angry because they could not anticipate his every possible whim.

He never even saw Lazarus for the throng of servants attending him.  The servants were so fearful, and attentive of their master, that they actually stumbled over and stepped on Lazarus.

Against all odds though, Lazarus still was not without hope.  The rich man never saw him that day and did not know that he was there. 

Perhaps he was only angry because he was in a hurry and running late for some very important task. Surely, with all his wealth and advantage, he did not always behave this way.

But then, day after day the rich man passed him by pretending not to see him. Lazarus realized this because the rich man could be loudly overheard complaining to the servants about living on the richest street in town and having to deal with "beggars" at the gate.

Yet Lazarus never even spoke to the rich man. And he never asked anything of him at all. In fact, he felt so ashamed that he would not even lift his head to look at the rich man. And the rich man's dogs licked his open wounds.

And shortly after  his hope died,Lazarus died too.

As  he lay there dying, the Angels came and delivered him into Abraham's bosom.

At last, Lazarus finally received the love, joy and care that he had always hoped for.

The same day eventually came for the rich man.  But the outcome was quite the opposite.  The rich man was cast into flames and torment.

The rich man asked Father Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger into water to cool his tongue.

But Abraham said to the rich man:

“During your life, you possessed all manner of wealth.   But you never even noticed one of the greatest gifts that you were given at all...

The chance to share the Gift of God to relieve Lazarus’ suffering.

Yet, even in his suffering Lazarus never complained.

Now Lazarus' suffering is at an end. And he has everything that he has always hoped for, with the greatest possible joy. 

And though he would gladly share all that he has with you, the gulf between you (both in his life, and in his death) is, - and was -too great for Lazarus to cross.”

Epilogue:

And though the outcomes would not be the same in the example I am about to share:

Do you think that we could ponder one single question before I go:

Of the two characters, which one are you?

Neither?

You must mean that you are neither opulently wealthy, nor poor, and covered in open sores head to toe.

Maybe...

But what IF:

The rich man, in this life… is the one who has Christ

And Lazarus is the one in this life… who does not know Christ?

Now:

Which character are you?


And What are You doing with Your Riches in Christ?

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