Bible ReadingLuke 12:13–34 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
[42:42] [43:36] [47:04] [54:16]Matthew 6:19–21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
[01:02:20]Malachi 3:10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
[01:07:27]Observation questions- What words in the rich farmer’s inner conversation show how he viewed his crops, barns, grain, goods, and future? [49:08]
- What does Jesus say the ravens and lilies do not have or do, and what does God nevertheless do for them?
- In Luke 12:30–32, what does Jesus say the Father knows, gives, and takes pleasure in giving to His little flock? [54:09]
- What connection do both Luke 12 and Matthew 6 make between a person’s treasure and the direction of that person’s heart? [01:04:24]
Interpretation questions- Why does Jesus turn an inheritance dispute into a warning about greed? What deeper danger might exist even when a person’s complaint or financial concern is understandable? [44:40]
- The farmer is called a fool even though he appears hardworking and prepared. What makes his planning different from faithful stewardship and wise saving? [56:27]
- Jesus places the warning against storing treasure for oneself directly before His teaching about anxiety. How do greed and worry reveal the same fear about the future? [50:38]
- Jesus says, “Your Father knows that you need them,” and “your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” How should the security of this inheritance shape a believer’s relationship to money and possessions? [57:35]
Application questions- What are the “bigger barns” you are most tempted to trust for security—savings, career progress, a home, investments, possessions, or something else? What fear sits underneath that desire for more? [50:48]
- Where do you most often live as though everything depends on you? What would it look like in that area to remember that you have a Father who sees you, loves you, and knows what you need? [01:06:02]
- Is there a financial decision, bill, future need, or uncertainty that is producing anxiety right now? How might Jesus’ words about the ravens and lilies help you bring that concern to the Father without becoming passive or irresponsible? [52:55]
- When you look honestly at where your money goes, what does it suggest about where your heart is currently being drawn? Is there anything that may be gripping your heart more tightly than you realized? [01:04:14]
- What is one specific, prayerful step of generosity you could take this week—with money, time, possessions, or abilities—to bless someone in need and practice trusting the Father? [01:10:22]
- If giving feels difficult or even frightening, what do you think you are afraid might happen? How does the Father’s generosity in giving Jesus Christ speak into that fear? [01:11:23]
- Rather than treating a tithe or any amount as merely a minimum requirement, how can you ask God to form a heart that recognizes everything you have as His gift? [01:09:44]
