We don’t know this man’s name but time and tradition has given him a name. He is referred to as “the rich young ruler” and his many possessions stood in the way of his following Christ.

Three rich people in the Bible show up in the parables of Jesus.

There is the rich young ruler distracted by his possessions.

There is a rich farmer who surveyed his accomplishments and said “I will build bigger barns.”

There was a rich man who died and lifted up his eyes from the place of torment. The poor man, who previously had begged for crumbs from the rich man’s table, was in a place of comfort.

Some have suggested that the three men were actually the same man in three stages of life. All three men would have lived an abundant life by the world’s standards but not by God’s standards.

Don’t be distracted by your stuff. You can’t take it with you!