Warnings on Wealth and Worry

The Life of Christ — Luke 12:13–34

Rick Page

Big Idea

Jesus calls us to stop building our lives around what we can accumulate or control and instead trust the Father, seek His Kingdom, and invest our lives in what lasts forever.

Refined Synopsis

We live in a culture that constantly tells us we need more—more money, more security, more possessions, more experiences, more recognition, and more control over the future. And once we have more, we're told we need to protect it.

The result is often two struggles that seem very different but actually come from the same place:

Greed and worry.

Greed says, “I need more.”

Worry says, “What if I don't have enough?”

In Luke 12:13–34, Jesus addresses both. He warns us that possessions can never give us the life, security, or significance we expect from them. Then He reminds us that our heavenly Father already knows what we need.

Jesus isn't condemning possessions, planning, saving, or responsible stewardship. He's confronting something much deeper: What are we trusting to give us security?

Through the parable of the rich fool, the ravens, the wildflowers, and His promise to the “little flock,” Jesus invites us to exchange the exhausting pursuit of more for something infinitely better—a life that is rich toward God.

The question running through this passage is simple:

What has your heart?

Because Jesus says:

Luke 12:34 NIV

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

Introduction — “How Much Is Enough?”

Approximately 4–5 minutes

There is a question our culture is constantly answering for us:

How much is enough?

And the answer is almost always:

A little more.

A little more money.

A little bigger house.

A little newer car.

A little better retirement account.

A little nicer vacation.

A little more recognition.

A little more security.

There's nothing inherently wrong with having any of those things. The problem begins when we start asking those things to do something they were never designed to do:

Give us security. Give us identity. Give us peace. Give us life.

And that's where today's passage begins.

A man interrupts Jesus with a financial problem.

Luke 12:13 NIV

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Apparently, family arguments over money aren't anything new.

We don't know the whole story. Maybe the brother was being unfair. Maybe this man had a legitimate complaint.

But Jesus sees something deeper than an inheritance dispute.

He sees the man's heart.

And Jesus gives a warning that sounds as though it could have been spoken directly to twenty-first-century America:

Luke 12:15 NIV

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Notice that Jesus doesn't say:

“Possessions are evil.”

He says:

“Possessions are not life.”

That's an important difference.

And from there Jesus addresses two powerful forces that compete for our hearts:

Wealth and worry.

Greed asks:

“How can I get more?”

Worry asks:

“What if I don't have enough?”

Jesus answers both by teaching us where real security is found.

1. RECOGNIZE TRUE RICHES

Luke 12:13–21

Approximately 9 minutes

Jesus responds to the man's request by telling a story.

Luke 12:16–17 NIV

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

Notice something important.

The man's problem isn't that he's rich.

His problem isn't even that he had a successful harvest.

In fact, the harvest was a blessing.

His problem is what happens inside his heart when the blessing arrives.

Listen to his solution:

Luke 12:18–19 NIV

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

Listen to the words:

My barns.

My grain.

My surplus.

My future.

The man has plenty of possessions.

But apparently, he has no one else in the picture.

No gratitude toward God.

No generosity toward others.

No recognition that everything he possesses ultimately came from God.

His entire world revolves around himself.

And then God speaks.

Luke 12:20 NIV

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

That's a sobering verse.

Everything this man had spent his life accumulating would remain behind.

The barns stayed.

The grain stayed.

The wealth stayed.

He left.

Jesus isn't teaching that preparing for tomorrow is wrong.

Scripture encourages wisdom, planning, work, and responsible stewardship.

The issue isn't that this man had possessions.

The issue is that his possessions had him.

A Modern Version

We might tell the story differently today.

“My investments are doing well.”

“My house is almost paid off.”

“My retirement account looks good.”

“I've got enough put away.”

“Now I'm secure.”

Planning responsibly is wise.

But there's a dangerous moment when:

“I have prepared wisely”

quietly becomes:

“Therefore, I am secure.”

Because no bank account can guarantee tomorrow.

No insurance policy can guarantee tomorrow.

No retirement plan can guarantee tomorrow.

No amount of possessions can guarantee tomorrow.

Our security was never meant to rest in what we own.

Jesus concludes:

Luke 12:21 NIV

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

And that gives us the real question:

What does it mean to be “rich toward God”?

It means recognizing that everything we have belongs to Him.

It means gratitude instead of entitlement.

Generosity instead of hoarding.

Stewardship instead of ownership.

Kingdom priorities instead of merely personal priorities.

The question isn't simply:

“How much do I have?”

A better question is:

“What am I doing with what God has entrusted to me?”

Heart Check

Ask yourself:

If I lost some of the things I own, would I feel as though I had lost who I am?

Because our identity isn't found in what we possess.

Our identity is found in whose we are.

Transition

But Jesus knows there's another side to money.

Some people hear a sermon about money and think:

“I'd love to have a greed problem. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to pay the electric bill.”

Jesus speaks to that person too.

He moves from greed to worry.

2. RELEASE EARTHLY WORRIES

Luke 12:22–28

Approximately 9 minutes

Jesus turns to His disciples:

Luke 12:22–23 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

When Jesus says, “Do not worry,” He isn't pretending life's problems aren't real.

He's not saying:

“Bills don't matter.”

“Health doesn't matter.”

“Jobs don't matter.”

“Your family doesn't matter.”

Jesus knows exactly what His disciples face.

Instead, He's telling them:

Don't allow tomorrow's uncertainty to rob you of today's trust.

Then Jesus gives them two illustrations.

Look at the Ravens

Luke 12:24 NIV

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Remember the rich man?

What did he build?

Barns.

Now Jesus points to birds that don't have barns at all.

And yet God cares for them.

Then Jesus says:

“And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

Jesus isn't really teaching us about birds.

He's teaching us about God.

The God who notices the raven notices you.

The God who provides for His creation hasn't forgotten His children.

Then Jesus asks:

Luke 12:25 NIV

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

That's the frustrating thing about worry.

We can spend enormous amounts of energy worrying about something without changing it at all.

Worry gives us something to do while accomplishing nothing.

It can steal today's joy without solving tomorrow's problem.

Look at the Flowers

Jesus gives another example:

Luke 12:27 NIV

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Imagine Jesus standing outside while teaching this.

He points toward a bird:

“Look at that.”

Then He points toward a flower:

“Look at that.”

He's saying:

“Everywhere you look, creation is reminding you that your Father can be trusted.”

And then:

Luke 12:28 NIV

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!

There's that phrase again:

How much more.

If God cares for birds—

how much more does He care for you?

If God clothes flowers—

how much more does He care for you?

Our peace doesn't come from knowing everything will happen exactly the way we want.

Our peace comes from knowing God will still be God whatever happens.

Practical Application

When worry comes, ask three questions:

1. Is there something responsible I can do about this today?

If yes—do it.

Make the phone call.

Have the conversation.

Make the budget.

Schedule the appointment.

Complete the application.

Take the next responsible step.

2. Is this something I cannot control?

If so, recognize that worry will not give you control.

3. Have I actually given this to God?

Not just thought about it.

Not just worried about it.

Prayed about it.

There's a difference between carrying something while asking God to help us carry it and actually placing it in His hands.

Transition

Jesus has warned us about two traps.

Greed says:

“I need more to be secure.”

Worry says:

“I'm afraid I won't have enough to be secure.”

Jesus offers a better way.

3. RESOLVE TO SEEK HIS KINGDOM

Luke 12:29–34

Approximately 9 minutes

Luke 12:29–31 NIV

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Notice Jesus doesn't say:

“You don't need those things.”

He says:

“Your Father knows that you need them.”

That's one of the most comforting statements in this entire passage.

Your Father knows.

He knows what you need.

He knows what you're carrying.

He knows what keeps you awake.

He knows what's happening in your family.

He knows the financial pressure.

He knows the uncertainty.

He knows what tomorrow holds even when you don't.

And because your Father knows, you don't have to live like everything depends entirely upon you.

Instead:

“Seek his kingdom.”

That means we change the primary question of our lives.

Instead of:

“How can I get more?”

Ask:

“How can God use what I already have?”

Instead of:

“How can I protect everything I've built?”

Ask:

“How can what God has entrusted to me serve His Kingdom?”

Instead of:

“What will make me comfortable?”

Ask:

“What will make me faithful?”

Then Jesus says something beautiful:

Luke 12:32 NIV

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Don't miss the tenderness in those words.

“Little flock.”

Jesus isn't speaking as an angry accountant demanding to see our receipts.

He's speaking as a shepherd.

“Don't be afraid.”

Why?

Because:

“Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Christianity isn't primarily about everything we're giving up for God.

It's about recognizing everything God has already given us in Christ.

Forgiveness.

Grace.

Adoption.

Hope.

Purpose.

Eternal life.

A Kingdom that cannot be taken away.

When you realize what you've been given, generosity stops looking like losing.

It starts looking like investing in eternity.

Jesus continues:

Luke 12:33 NIV

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Jesus challenges the assumption that the goal of life is simply to accumulate more.

The world says:

Get all you can.

Jesus says:

Give.

The world says:

Protect what is yours.

Jesus says:

Use what you've been given to bless others.

The world says:

Your security is in what you possess.

Jesus says:

Your security is in your Father.

And then comes one of the most familiar statements Jesus ever made:

Luke 12:34 NIV

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

Notice Jesus doesn't say:

Where your heart is, your treasure will follow.

He says your heart follows your treasure.

Where we invest our money, time, energy, attention, and affection shapes what becomes important to us.

Want your heart more invested in God's Kingdom?

Put some treasure there.

Give.

Serve.

Invest in people.

Support ministry.

Help someone who's struggling.

Use your home for hospitality.

Use your abilities to serve others.

Use your time to disciple someone.

Use your resources for something that will matter 100 years from now.

Because someday everything we own will belong to someone else.

Every house.

Every vehicle.

Every piece of furniture.

Every dollar.

Everything we've accumulated.

But what we have invested in the Kingdom of God lasts forever.

Conclusion — What Are You Building Your Life Around?

Approximately 4 minutes

Jesus gives us two warnings and one invitation.

Don't build your life around what you can accumulate.

That's greed.

Don't build your life around what you're afraid you might lose.

That's worry.

Instead:

Build your life around the Kingdom of God.

The rich farmer thought he had everything.

Big harvest.

Big barns.

Big plans.

But he had missed the biggest thing.

God.

And Jesus doesn't want us to make the same mistake.

So perhaps there are three questions we need to take home today:

1. What am I holding too tightly?

Is there something I possess that has begun to possess me?

2. What am I worrying about that I need to entrust to God?

Maybe you've done everything you know to do.

Now you need to put it in the Father's hands.

3. Where is my treasure going?

Look at your calendar.

Look at your bank statement.

Look at your attention.

Look at what consumes your thoughts.

They tell a story about what you treasure.

And Jesus invites us to something better than both greed and worry.

He invites us to trust.

Trust the Father with what you have.

Trust the Father with what you need.

Trust the Father with what you cannot control.

And seek first His Kingdom.

Because Christian peace doesn't come from finally having enough money that nothing can go wrong.

Christian peace comes from knowing that whatever happens, we belong to a Father who knows us, loves us, and has promised us a Kingdom.

So we can loosen our grip.

We can be generous.

We can stop living as though everything depends on us.

We can invest in eternity.

Because:

Our security isn't found in what we store up.

Our security is found in the One who holds us.

And Jesus leaves us with the question:

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

Where is your treasure?

Because wherever your treasure goes—

your heart won't be far behind.