Don't worry about "things."

Our passage addresses “true wealth” that is internal and eternal. Contrary to our world of commercialism and materialism, true wealth is in a relationship with God and the kingdom of God.

I will break this in three this morning, so grab your bible and let’s go.

Prioritize Eternal wealth

Luke 12:13–14 NASB95

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

Luke 12:15–16 NASB95

15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.

Luke 12:17–18 NASB95

17 “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

Luke 12:19–20 NASB95

19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

Luke 12:21 NASB95

21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

What catches your attention in this passage?

What did the man demand from Jesus (v.13) and Jesus response (v.14)?

Tell my brother to divide inheritance

Who appointed me judge, arbitrator over you?

What was Jesus warning (v.15)? and how was He going to illustrate it (v.16)?

Beware, be on guard against greed

He told them a parable.

you may notice it went from the man, to the “them.” It was not an isolated thing, man can get greedy, in different ways and He taught the crowd.

Who did Jesus use as an illustration (v.16)?

A rich man who was very productive.

What was the man doing (v.17)?

Reasoning to himself.

Notice how many times in (vv.17-18) the pronoun, I or my are used (9 times).

Greed is selfish

What did the man think (v.19)? and what did God say (v.20)?

I will store up, drink and be merry.

You are a fool, your very soul will be required of you this very night. Then who will own your stuff?

What does Jesus about the man (v.21)?

He is storing up treasures for himself, but is not rich toward God.

Our passage emphasizes that our life is more than our possessions. You are a fool, and it futile to hoard earthly riches at the expense of eternal riches.

Covetousness is real and we all need to “beware” of it; be on guard against it.

So now going back to the questions posed earlier, What does the scripture define as “true wealth?”

It is an eternal relationship with God

What illustration does Jesus use to illustrate the concept of commercialism, materialism?

A rich man who was productive.

A man who was smart, worked hard, had a good return on the work, is there anything wrong with that?

What was wrong with the man?

He wanted to store it up for himself

Actually, I want to hold off on the third question until later, I think we can get a better answer when we go on.

Trust in God’s providence

Luke 12:22–23 NASB95

22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

Luke 12:24–25 NASB95

24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?

Luke 12:26–27 NASB95

26 “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

Luke 12:28–29 NASB95

28 “But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29 “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

Luke 12:30–31 NASB95

30 “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Anything stick out, stand out to you in this passage?

The one that catches me is the (v.22) “for this reason,” what is Jesus speaking of here. He is speaking of not putting your trust in material things.

Life is more than what according to (v.23)?

More than food, clothing

What illustration does Jesus use in (v.24)?

Ravens, that God cares for them, and you are more valuable then they are

He says what you cannot do (v.25), what is it?

Cannot add a single hour to his life’s span

What is the other illustration that Jesus uses (v.27)?

Lilies

Jesus gives a great fact, and an admonishment (vv.28-29) can you see them?

God clothes the grass, here today, thrown in furnace tomorrow, He will cloth you.

You men of little faith, do seek what you will eat, drink and do not keep worrying.

Extra credit, it will take some some thought, look at (v.31), what does Jesus mean by “these things?”

God knows what you need. He knows your need for food and clothes, He will take care of you. You seek Him and God will take care of You.

Without a doubt Jesus continues to show His followers do not worry about the material things of this world. Trust in God’s provision.

Worry cannot add an hour or a day to your life’s span, but worry can take from it. And it takes from today! And it can take from tomorrow.

To you, who have God’s word, who believe God’s word, hold God’s truth and the keys to the kingdom are within the words. If God cares for birds and flowers, know He cares for you more. So, seek the kingdom, seek it first as it says in Matthew. Trust in God’s provision.

Greed and worry can go hand in hand, they are closely related to one another.

Greed says I can never get enough.

Worry is being afraid I will never had enough.

Research shows worry and stress can deteriorate your immune system. People who live in constant stress or worry show lower T-cells counts, those are essential for our immune system. It can impact fertility, it impacts your brain, and it leads to heart failure, so it is a serious issue.

“There is a difference between a godly sense of responsibility and an ungodly, untrusting worry. However, an ungodly, untrusting sense of worry usually masquerades as responsibility.” (Guzik)

Now I do want to take a minute and talk about the Ravens, they do not worry, but they do work. They do not sit in the nest with mouths open waiting for God to fill them.

Want to help yourself when it comes to worry? Stop, think about how much God cares for You.

When it comes to little faith, I like what Spurgeon says:

“Little faith is not a little fault; for it greatly wrongs the Lord, and sadly grieves the fretful mind. To think the Lord who clothes the lilies will leave his own children naked is shameful. O little faith, learn better manners!” (Spurgeon)

Then this one is good too:

“This choice -to seek first the kingdom of God - is the fundamental choice everyone makes when they first repent and are converted. Yet every day after that, our Christian lives will either reinforce that decision or deny it.” (Enduring word commentary)

Pursue generosity

Luke 12:32–33 NASB95

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.

Luke 12:34 NASB95

34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Anything stick out in these three verses?

Jesus tells them not to be afraid, and why (v.32)?

The Father has chosen you to give you the kingdom

He instructs them to do something (v.33), what is it?

Sell, give, make money belts that do not wear out.

What is the final statement Jesus makes in this passage (v.34)?

Where your treasure is, there your heart is.

Jesus calls them His flock, little flock. He was their Shepherd and they were few, they were small but accomplished great things when they put Jesus first, they were given the kingdom of God to take it is share it with others.

He called for radical generosity in selling and giving things away, so not to be attached to the things of this world and seek God first and trust in His provision.

Where your treasure is, there your heart is also. If you treasure the things of this world, then that is where your heart is and you are selling yourself short, and can even be missing the kingdom of God.

“If a persons primary interest are earthbound, that is where his or her commitment will be.” (Pate)

Jesus calls for radical generosity, here selling, and giving, giving of time, your talents and yes your resources to open the door for the gospel.

Application

Trust in God’s provision

Be generous in helping others and the kingdom

Keep the right perspective, an eternal not temporal perspective.

Do a heart check, where is your treasure?

(Prayer) (Close)

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.