Jesusspoke of wealth and riches often during His ministry.  Three passages in particular deal with various rich men who struggled to find faith because of their finances.  If these men could offer any advice to us today it would be the following:

Beware of the Possession of Riches (Luke 12:13-21).  This rich man had such an abundant harvest that he had to tear down his barns to build bigger facilities.  Consumed with the possessions of life he failed to prepare his soul.  The Lord warned, “…a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Beware of the Position of Riches (Mark 10:17-22).  This young man was not only rich, he was a ruler.  He lived a good, moral, decent life but equated his position with salvation.  He refused to relinquish his title for the treasures of heaven, and walked away from true happiness.

Beware of the Pleasure of Riches (Luke 16:19-31).  This rich man “fared sumptuously every day.”  He dressed in the finest clothes and lived a luxurious life, but he did so at the expense of eternity.  When he died he lifted his eyes in hell.  These three men would warn us to guard our hearts against the love, obsession, and pursuit of money.