For no Christian is to think that when he fares ill God has forgotten him or is angry with him. For this is God’s way and manner, that like a good father He is always after His children with the rod, in order that through such correction they may be admonished and kept from sin; since they would otherwise, if there were no correction, feel secure and continue in sin. Therefore a Christian is not only not to be offended at his misery, but to derive the assurance therefrom that God loves him, thinks of him and seeks what is best for him. As also the wise man says: “If a father really loves his son, he corrects him.”

Hence it is a great mistake if you judge of God’s goodness and grace by your temporal condition. It is true, indeed, money and goods, a healthy body, and the like, are gifts and blessings of God, but such a blessing as shall not endure forever. For at last everything must be left behind at any rate. Besides, to this blessing the evil attaches itself, that if one does not especially abide in the fear of God and pay strict attention to the Word, it gives rise to much sin on account of our sinful nature. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the First Sunday after Trinity, Volume 3, p. 647)

For these two examples of the rich man and Lazarus the Lord places before the whole world. The first is that of the rich man, who for a short time lived here on earth in joy and happiness, but in the other world is lost and eternally sad; and the second one, that of Lazarus, who for a certain length of time here on earth was poor and miserable, but in the other world is rich and happy. These are set before us in order that each one may learn to act according to these examples; for in respect to both we must receive a certain instruction and must conduct ourselves correctly, or eternal life is lost.

Therefore whoever here on earth is poor and miserable, like Lazarus, let him learn not to be offended at such misery, and not to seek his comfort in this temporal life, but to hope in that which is future and
eternal. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the First Sunday after Trinity, Volume 3, p. 647)