Three Rich Men

Introduction

This morning, we are going to look at three rich men, who according to this world had everything going for them. According to this world, they would have been successful, however, the Bible tells us otherwise.

We can see a progression in these accounts, even though they aren’t the same person, we know this because one of them was in a parable. However, even though the person is not the same, the principle is the same, and we can see a progression...

First, the rich young ruler, so enthusiastic, so open, but making a fatal choice. Then we have the tough case business tycoon with his great possessions and his narrow interests. Then we have a dead rich man.

Let’s examine these three rich men...

A Burdened Man

Mark 10:17–22 KJV 1900

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

He said, “It’s too much!”

This passage right here tells us the story of a man that went to Hell with Heaven on his mind!

This man - the rich young ruler as he has been known - had a burning question on his mind…

Notice, he went to the right person!

Evidently he had heard Jesus teach and was impressed with what he heard. He did not walk to Jesus, he ran to Him.

He asked the right question! “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

From every outward appearance, this young man was riding high on the pinnacle of success. He was everything a mother or father could want their child to be. If you looked at his life, you might think that he had it all. But, appearances are deceiving!

In spite of everything he has going for him, this young man had one mighty big skeleton in his closet! He had much, but with his much, he had an itch he could not scratch!

He had found that his youth left him unsatisfied. His money had left him feeling unfulfilled. His morality, his clean living and his religious activity had not been able to satisfy the deepest longing of his soul. His swift climb up the rungs of the social ladder had failed to give him what he wanted most: peace with God.

Jesus tells him:

Mark 10:21 KJV 1900

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

As the Son of God, Jesus had lived for all of eternity in the glory, wealth, love, and sweet fellowship of His Father. What He was about to ask this man to do was not unfamiliar to Him! He had already left it all behind.

2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus told him he lacked one thing. What was that? It was his relationship to God. The thing that was hindering him was his riches. He had called Jesus good; and if he will follow Jesus, he’ll find out that the reason Jesus is good is because He is God. Jesus asked him to separate himself from his riches and follow Him.

At the very time Jesus was speaking here, He was on His way to die for the sins of this man, and for the sins of the whole world!

If this rich young ruler had followed Jesus, he would have come to the cross for redemption.

But the young man “was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

Let’s look at the second rich man...

A Business Man

Luke 12:16–20 KJV 1900

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

He said: “It’s too hard!”

We see a man in this parable, who was blessed with fertile ground, and by adding some hard work to the fertile ground, he had become financially successful.

As a matter and fact, he was so successful, he had a problem...

The problem with the rich fool was not that he had bumper crops, or that he decided to build more storage space...

The problem was that he invested his entire life in his possessions...

Luke 12:15 KJV 1900

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

This man drew all his security from his material goods, and failed to reckon with God.

Luke 12:19 KJV 1900

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

He had the mentality of many today: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

He was living as if he would never die and had forgotten the importance of spiritual riches - God calls that man a fool!

Luke 12:20–21 KJV 1900

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

This man owed his life, his livelihood, and his wealth to God; but most of all he owed his soul to God, and it would be required of him.

His soul was obligated to God every day of his life, but would be required on the day of his death.

Let’s look at the third rich man...

A Buried Man

Luke 16:19–31 KJV 1900

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

He said: “It’s too late!”

It’s here, after the rich man died, we find out the flames of Hell are very real...

The Flame of Unquenchable Thirst...

Luke 16:24 (KJV 1900)

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue...

We see here that in eternity, it’s the rich man that is now begging instead of the other way around...

The Flame of Unrelenting Pain

Luke 16:24 (KJV 1900)

24 ...for I am tormented in this flame.

The Flame of Unforgettable Memory

Luke 16:25 (KJV 1900)

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember ...

The Flame of Undeniable Separation

Luke 16:26 KJV 1900

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

The Flame of Unanswered Prayer

Luke 16:27 KJV 1900

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

The Flame of Unseen Compassion

Luke 16:30 KJV 1900

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

Conclusion

Think about where your faith is today.

What do you trust to give you eternal life? Good works? Clean living? A good name? All those things will fail!

You might have a lot going for you, but if you do not have Jesus Christ, you are lost, doomed and headed to Hell.

You might be thinking about eternal matters.

Don't be satisfied to just think about eternal things, come to Jesus today and get your eternity settled. Don't go to Hell with Heaven on your mind! Don’t make the mistake these three rich men did...