The Hidden Curse: The Wicked And The Rich Who Profit From The Pain Of The Poor: A Story
What if I told you that the rich and powerful are profiting from the suffering of the poor? That, in secret, the wicked are making fortunes off the backs of the oppressed, the hurting, and the desperate? It’s happening right now, and the consequences are dire. But this isn’t a new story. It has been happening for centuries, hidden in plain sight, while the cries of the afflicted rise to Heaven.
This is a story of the rich who grow fat from the brokenness of the poor, of how the world’s most powerful exploit the vulnerable. This is a story of greed, injustice, and the inevitable wrath of a just God. And it is a warning that all who indulge in such wickedness will face a reckoning.
The Prophets’ Cry for Justice
The pain and suffering of the poor has never gone unnoticed by God. In the Old Testament, the prophets cried out against the exploitation of the vulnerable. They condemned the wealthy who used their power to oppress the poor, who took advantage of the desperate to line their own pockets.
The prophet Amos, speaking to the people of Israel, delivered a scathing rebuke against those who “trample the poor” and “steal from the needy”:
"Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?" (Amos 8:4-5)
These rich people were so consumed with their desire for wealth that they could not even wait for the sabbath to end before they resumed their fraudulent schemes. They altered the weights and measures, deceived the poor, and used dishonest scales to steal from the most vulnerable in society.
It wasn’t just in Israel. This sin is universal, and it continues to this very day. The wicked and the rich have always found ways to make a fortune from the suffering of the poor.
Jesus’ Rebuke of the Greedy and the Unjust
When Jesus walked on the earth, He confronted the same wickedness. He saw firsthand how the rich and powerful took advantage of the poor, and He denounced it. The religious leaders of His time, those who were supposed to care for the people, were among the worst offenders.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke to the crowds and His disciples, warning them about the greed and corruption of the religious leaders, who, in their pursuit of wealth and power, exploited the weak and poor:
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." (Matthew 23:14)
The religious leaders made a show of their piety, but behind closed doors, they were profiting from the suffering of the widows and the poor. Their greed knew no bounds, and they were willing to take advantage of the weakest in society to build their own empires.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
One of the most chilling parables Jesus told was the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This parable paints a vivid picture of the fate of those who live in luxury while ignoring the pain of the poor. The rich man lived in opulence, feasting every day while Lazarus, a poor beggar, sat at his gate, covered in sores and longing for crumbs from the rich man’s table.
"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores." (Luke 16:19-21)
The rich man’s heart was cold to the suffering of Lazarus. He saw the beggar, but he did nothing. He went on living in his wealth and comfort, indifferent to the agony of the poor man at his door. And when both men died, their fates were sealed. Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s bosom, a place of comfort and rest, while the rich man found himself in torment, separated by a great chasm from the peace he had once enjoyed.
"And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." (Luke 16:23)
This parable is a stern warning for the wealthy who profit from the pain of others. The rich man’s fate was sealed because of his indifference, his greed, and his failure to recognize the suffering of those around him. The wealth he had accumulated was meaningless in the face of eternal judgment.
The Widows’ Offering: A Lesson in True Riches
In stark contrast to the greedy rich, Jesus also pointed to the example of a poor widow who gave all she had, even though it was only a small amount. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus observed the rich putting large sums of money into the temple treasury, but He commended the widow who gave her two small coins. She gave everything she had, and Jesus made it clear that her gift was worth more than the wealth of the richest.
"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." (Mark 12:41-44)
This widow’s offering was a sign of her heart. She gave out of her poverty, not her wealth. The wicked may give generously from their surplus, but their hearts are far from God. The rich who profit from the pain of others may seem to have everything, but they lack the one thing that matters—true righteousness, true compassion, and the heart of God.
The Fate of the Wicked and the Rich Who Exploit the Poor
In the end, the wicked and the rich who profit from the suffering of others will face the judgment of God. The cries of the poor rise to Heaven, and God hears them. The rich may enjoy their luxuries for a time, but they will not escape His justice.
In the book of James, a letter written to the oppressed and exploited, the fate of the wicked rich is made clear:
"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." (James 5:1-4)
The wicked rich may keep their ill-gotten gains for now, but they will face a reckoning. Their riches will rot, and the cries of the oppressed will be heard by the Lord. The wealth they have accumulated through fraud, exploitation, and greed will be a testimony against them in the Day of Judgment.
The Call to Justice and Compassion
But there is hope. For those who repent, for those who turn away from greed and injustice, there is mercy. God calls us to be compassionate, to care for the poor and the broken, to use our wealth and power to help those in need.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told His followers that they would be judged by how they treated the least of these—those who were poor, hungry, sick, and imprisoned. He said:
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me." (Matthew 25:35-36)
The call is clear: those who love Jesus will serve the poor, the sick, the needy. They will not exploit or harm them. Instead, they will be a source of hope and healing.
The choice is yours. Will you profit from the pain of the poor, or will you use your resources to bring justice and healing to a broken world? The rich may thrive for a time, but God’s justice will not be delayed forever. Turn from greed, turn from exploitation, and seek the heart of God.
The reckoning is coming. Will you be ready?
