True Inheritance: Life Beyond Material Possessions

Devotional

Day 1: Life Does Not Consist of Possessions

True life is not measured by what we own, but by our relationship with God and the life He gives us. The world often tells us that our worth is found in our possessions, achievements, or status, but Jesus reminds us that these things are fleeting and can distract us from what truly matters. The story of the rich man who built bigger barns to store his abundance only to lose his life that very night is a sobering reminder that our earthly treasures cannot secure our souls. Instead, we are called to recognize that our most precious possession is the life God has given us—a gift to be cherished, stewarded, and offered back to Him. Let us not trade the eternal inheritance of the kingdom for temporary comforts or anxieties about material needs. [13:47]

Luke 12:15-21 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: What is one possession or comfort you find yourself clinging to for security? How can you intentionally loosen your grip on it today and trust God with your life instead?

Day 2: Beware and Guard Against Greed

Greed is a subtle and persistent temptation that can quickly turn our legitimate needs into consuming desires, leading us to place our hope in what we can accumulate rather than in God. Jesus warns us to both watch for and actively guard against every form of greed, knowing how easily our hearts can be drawn away from Him by the lure of possessions. This is not a condemnation of having wealth or resources, but a call to examine our attitudes and priorities—are we storing up treasures for ourselves, or are we rich toward God? Greed can sneak in unnoticed, but with vigilance and intentional action, we can keep our hearts set on the true treasure found in God’s kingdom. [32:19]

Luke 12:15 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: In what ways do you notice greed or discontentment creeping into your thoughts or actions? What practical step can you take today to guard your heart and redirect your desires toward God?

Day 3: Do Not Worry—God Knows Your Needs

God, who created you and knows you intimately, is fully aware of your needs and cares deeply for you. Jesus invites us to release our anxieties about daily necessities—what we will eat, drink, or wear—because our heavenly Father already knows and provides for us. Worry cannot add a single day to our lives; in fact, it often robs us of the joy and peace God intends for us. Instead of being consumed by anxiety, we are called to trust in God’s faithful provision, remembering that He has always cared for His creation and will continue to do so. Let your heart rest in the assurance that your Father knows what you need and delights to give you good gifts. [29:14]

Luke 12:22-30 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: What is one specific worry or anxiety you are carrying today? How can you bring it to God in prayer and trust Him to provide for your need?

Day 4: Where Your Treasure Is, There Will Your Heart Be Also

The location of your treasure reveals the orientation of your heart—what you value most will shape your desires, decisions, and destiny. Jesus challenges us to examine where we are investing our time, energy, and resources: are we building earthly storehouses that will one day fade, or are we seeking an inexhaustible treasure in heaven? When we place our treasury in God—entrusting Him with our hopes, dreams, and resources—we find a security and fulfillment that nothing on earth can match. The call is not to reject the good things of life, but to hold them loosely and let our hearts be anchored in the eternal riches of God’s kingdom. [37:33]

Luke 12:33-34 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: If someone looked at how you spend your time, money, and attention, what would they say your true treasure is? What is one way you can invest in God’s kingdom today?

Day 5: Inherit the Kingdom—Seek First What Lasts Forever

God’s desire is not just to meet your daily needs, but to give you the fullness of His kingdom—a life and inheritance that far surpasses anything this world can offer. The invitation is to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that all other things will be added as well. When you set your heart on God’s reign and His purposes, you step into the abundance and security of an inheritance that cannot be lost or diminished. Do not be afraid or distracted by the temporary pursuits of this world; your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Embrace your identity as His beloved child and live each day with the confidence and joy of one who has received the greatest treasure of all. [42:58]

Luke 12:31-32 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: What would it look like for you to seek God’s kingdom first in a specific area of your life this week? How can you step forward in faith to receive and live out your inheritance as a child of God?

Sermon Summary

Today’s passage from Luke 12:13-33 invites us to consider the true nature of our inheritance and the meaning of life itself. The story of Timothy Gray—a homeless man who died unaware that he was the heir to a $300 million fortune—serves as a sobering parable for our own spiritual lives. Like Timothy, we can be surrounded by unimaginable riches and yet miss them entirely if we do not recognize what is truly valuable. Jesus, confronted by a man demanding his share of an inheritance, refuses to be drawn into the legalities of possessions. Instead, He redirects the conversation to the heart: “Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”

Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who, after a bountiful harvest, decides to build bigger barns to store his goods, believing he can finally “relax, eat, drink, and enjoy” himself. Yet God calls him a fool, for that very night his soul is required of him. The point is clear: life is not found in possessions, but in the gift of life itself, which comes from God. Our true possession is not what we accumulate, but the very breath God has given us, and the relationship He offers.

God’s original intent is seen in the garden, where Adam’s every need was met—not by Adam’s striving, but by God’s provision. Yet, even necessary things—food, clothing, shelter—can become distractions if they become our focus. Jesus urges us not to worry about these things, for our Father knows we need them. Instead, we are called to seek the kingdom, to place our “treasury” in God, not in earthly storehouses.

The challenge is not to demonize possessions or wealth, but to guard our hearts against the subtle shift where needs become wants, and wants become greed. The real tragedy is not in having or lacking possessions, but in missing the inheritance God has prepared for us: the kingdom itself. When our hearts are set on God’s kingdom, we discover a treasure that cannot be lost, stolen, or diminished—a life that is truly life, both now and forever.

Key Takeaways

1. Life Is Not Found in Possessions, but in the Gift of Life from God The parable of the rich man reveals that no amount of accumulated wealth can secure or define our lives. Our most precious possession is the life God has breathed into us, and to mistake material abundance for true life is to miss the very purpose for which we were created. The call is to recognize that our value and security are rooted in God’s gift, not in what we own. [13:47]
2. Guard Against Greed—Both Passively and Actively Jesus commands us to “beware” and “be on your guard” against greed, using two distinct Greek words: one for watchfulness, and one for active protection. Greed is not just a temptation for the wealthy; it is a subtle force that can infiltrate any heart, regardless of means. We must both notice its approach and take deliberate steps to keep it from taking root in our lives. [32:19]
3. God’s Provision Is Sufficient—Worry Is Futile Just as God placed Adam in a garden of abundance, He knows and cares for our needs today. Worrying about food, clothing, or the future cannot add a single day to our lives; in fact, it often robs us of the joy and peace God intends. Trusting in God’s provision frees us from anxiety and allows us to focus on what truly matters: seeking His kingdom. [25:23]
4. Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be Also The location of our “treasury”—what we value most—determines the orientation of our hearts. If our treasure is in earthly things, our hearts will be tethered to what is temporary and uncertain. But if our treasure is in God and His kingdom, our hearts are anchored in what is eternal, unshakable, and infinitely more satisfying. [37:33]
5. The Kingdom of God Is Our True Inheritance—Don’t Miss It Like Timothy Gray, it is possible to live and die unaware of the inheritance that is ours in Christ. God’s desire is not merely to meet our daily needs, but to give us the kingdom itself—a reality far greater than any earthly possession. To inherit the kingdom is to enter into the fullness of life, relationship, and purpose that God has prepared for His children. [42:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:55] - The Story of Timothy Gray
[04:36] - The Tragedy of Missed Inheritance
[07:48] - Jesus Confronted with an Inheritance Dispute
[09:52] - Jesus’ Response: Not Your Lawyer
[12:25] - Life Does Not Consist of Possessions
[13:47] - The Parable of the Rich Fool
[16:17] - God’s Provision in the Garden
[18:46] - Life as Our True Possession
[20:46] - The Distraction of Necessary Things
[25:23] - The Futility of Worry
[28:14] - God Knows Our Needs
[30:28] - Where Is Your Treasury?
[32:19] - Guarding Against Greed
[36:59] - The Heart Behind Our Storehouses
[41:06] - The Loss of Relationship with God
[42:58] - The Kingdom as Our Inheritance
[44:50] - The Fleeting Comfort of Greed
[45:25] - Inherit the Kingdom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 12:13-33 — (The parable of the rich fool, Jesus’ teaching on possessions, worry, and seeking the kingdom)

Observation Questions

In the parable Jesus tells, what does the rich man decide to do after his land produces a bountiful harvest? What is his reasoning? [13:47]
According to Jesus, what is the real danger behind the man’s request for his share of the inheritance? [12:25]
What two actions does Jesus command regarding greed, and what do the original Greek words mean? [32:19]
What examples does Jesus use to show God’s care for our needs, and how does He contrast these with human worry? [25:23]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus refuse to get involved in the inheritance dispute, and what does this reveal about His priorities for people’s lives? [09:52]
The rich man in the parable believes he can “relax, eat, drink, and enjoy” after storing up his goods. Why does God call him a fool, and what does this teach about the source of true security? [13:47]
Jesus says, “Life does not consist of possessions.” What does He mean by this, and how does it challenge common assumptions about success and happiness? [12:25]
The sermon mentions that even necessary things like food and clothing can become distractions. How can good things become obstacles to inheriting the kingdom? [20:46]

Application Questions

The story of Timothy Gray was used as a warning about missing out on an inheritance you never realized was yours. Are there “riches” in your spiritual life that you might be overlooking or taking for granted? What would it look like to recognize and receive them? [04:36]
Jesus warns to “beware” and “be on your guard” against greed. What are some subtle ways greed can creep into your life, even if you don’t consider yourself wealthy? What practical steps can you take to notice and guard against it this week? [32:19]
The rich man’s focus on building bigger barns was rooted in anxiety about the future. What are you most tempted to “store up” for security? How does this affect your relationship with God and others? [36:59]
Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life… your Father knows that you need these things.” What is one area of your life where worry is stealing your peace? How can you practice trusting God’s provision in that area? [25:23]
The sermon challenges us to ask, “Where is your treasury?” If someone looked at your calendar, bank statement, or thought life, what would they say you treasure most? Is there a shift you feel called to make? [37:33]
The kingdom of God is described as our true inheritance—far greater than any earthly possession. What does it mean for you, personally, to “seek the kingdom” in your daily life? What is one step you can take this week to put God’s kingdom first? [42:58]
The sermon says the real tragedy is not in having or lacking possessions, but in missing the inheritance God has prepared. Is there a way you’ve been distracted by “necessary things” and missed out on deeper relationship with God? What would it look like to reorient your focus? [20:46]

Sermon Clips

Don't worry, he knows. Don't worry, he knows. Don't worry, he knows. It's your inheritance. Inherit the kingdom. Don't go after the meat and the drink and the possessions. That is not life. Life is the inheritance. Life is what God has given us. That is life everlasting. Inherit the kingdom. Inherit the kingdom. [00:29:52] (28 seconds)

Having wealth, having possessions, there's nothing wrong with that. Nothing. But when that becomes your life, it doesn't matter if you have five million or five dollars. When that becomes your life, you've traded it for something that is a mere imitation of what God has in store for you. A tiny imitation. [00:33:37] (30 seconds)

But seek the kingdom and these things will be provided for you. Seek the kingdom. These things, these possessions, the stuff you need, it will be provided to you. Don't be afraid, little flock, because your father has chosen to give you the kingdom. [00:42:21] (31 seconds)

Be aware of greed. Guard against it. Guard against its pull. Guard against its enticement. It is a relentless attack. And greed, when satiated, feels comfortable. Only for a little while. Only for a short period of time. It doesn't last for eternity. It doesn't last forever. But what does last forever is the kingdom of God. What lasts forever is life and life everlasting. Your father knows what you need. And you need to accept it. Inherit the kingdom. Inherit the kingdom. Inherit the kingdom. [00:44:38] (56 seconds)

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