Wholehearted Surrender: Trusting God Beyond Possessions

The call of the gospel is not simply to agree with Jesus, but to submit every part of our lives to him. It’s easy to say, “Why would God call me to do this?” when the real question is, “Why wouldn’t I go where he leads?” Whether that means going across the world or simply taking the next step of obedience in our daily lives, God desires all of us, not just the parts we’re comfortable giving. As we enter a new season, especially for students and families, the challenge is to prioritize Christ above all else—not just in word, but in the way we schedule, serve, and give.

Looking at Luke 12:13-21, Jesus warns us about the danger of covetousness and the lie that life consists in the abundance of possessions. The parable of the rich fool is not just about money, but about what truly has our hearts. Jesus doesn’t want our money—he wants us. Our use of treasure reveals the state of our hearts. The issue isn’t how much we have, but whether what we have has us. The world tells us that more will satisfy, but Jesus exposes this as a trap that leads only to emptiness and anxiety.

Generosity is both a response to God’s generosity and a safeguard against the illusion that we are our own providers. Saving is wise, but hoarding is a sign that we trust ourselves more than God. The real test is not the amount we give or save, but whether we trust God to provide and are willing to lay everything at his feet. Jesus’ call is not for a minimum standard of obedience, but for wholehearted surrender. He gave everything for us, and our response should be to give all of ourselves back to him.

Ultimately, we all face a choice: to lay up treasure for ourselves or to be rich toward God. The only things that last are God and people. Investing in God’s kingdom—through generosity, service, and love—aligns our hearts with his and frees us from the grip of materialism. The invitation is to trust God enough to “get in the wheelbarrow,” believing that he will provide, protect, and use our lives for his glory.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Submission, Not Just Agreement, Is the Goal It’s possible to affirm everything Jesus says and still miss the heart of discipleship. True following means submitting to his authority, not just agreeing with his teachings. Agreement without submission leads to a constant struggle when our desires clash with God’s word, but surrender brings freedom and transformation. [06:35]
• 2. Generosity Reveals the State of Our Hearts What we do with our possessions is a window into what truly has our allegiance. Jesus cares less about what we have and more about what has us. Generosity is not about meeting a quota, but about responding to God’s generosity and allowing him to shape our hearts away from self-reliance and toward trust. [11:20]
• 3. Covetousness Is a Subtle but Deadly Trap The desire for more is never satisfied; it only grows as we feed it. Jesus warns that even those with little can be ensnared by the longing for what they don’t have. The antidote is to recognize that our worth and security are not found in abundance, but in God’s provision and presence. [19:40]
• 4. Saving Is Wise, Hoarding Is Idolatry Scripture commends wise stewardship and saving, but condemns hoarding that springs from fear and self-trust. The difference lies in who we believe is our provider—ourselves or God. Regularly asking, “Who do I trust to provide for me?” helps us discern whether our financial habits honor God or reveal misplaced trust. [28:06]
• 5. Wholehearted Surrender Is the Only Satisfying Response God does not want the minimum from us; he wants everything. Asking, “What’s the least I can do and be okay with God?” is a sign of a divided heart. Jesus’ generosity on the cross calls for a response of total surrender, trusting that laying down our lives is the path to true life and joy. [25:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:31] - The Call to Go: Why Not You?
• [01:07] - Reaching the Next Generation
• [02:19] - The Acts 2 Flywheel: Gather, Group, Give, Go
• [02:55] - Scheduling Life Around Jesus
• [04:06] - Reading Luke 12:13-21
• [05:18] - The Difference Between Agreement and Submission
• [07:46] - Falling and Rising: The Righteous Get Back Up
• [08:58] - God Grabbing Our Attention
• [10:07] - Jesus Wants All of You, Not Just Your Money
• [11:55] - The Parable’s Context: More Than Money
• [14:51] - Wanting Rescue Without Reign
• [17:15] - The Warning Against Covetousness
• [19:40] - The Insatiable Desire for More
• [22:03] - Equal Sacrifice, Not Equal Gifts
• [25:01] - The Danger of Minimal Obedience
• [28:06] - Saving vs. Hoarding: Who Do You Trust?
• [30:27] - The Folly of Self-Reliance
• [32:54] - Laying Up Treasure in Heaven
• [34:44] - The Example of Israel: Wanting God, Not Just His Gifts
• [36:29] - The Wheelbarrow Illustration: Trusting God Fully
• [38:20] - Prayer and Response

Bible Reading

Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) — 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 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.”
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 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. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what was the rich man’s main concern when he realized he had an abundance of crops?
2. According to Jesus, what is the real danger of covetousness, and how does he describe the true meaning of life? ([17:15])
3. What does God say to the rich man at the end of the parable, and what is the significance of that statement?
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say Jesus is really after when it comes to our possessions? ([10:07])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus warn against covetousness even when speaking to people who don’t have much? What does this reveal about the human heart? ([19:40])
2. The pastor says, “Jesus cares less about what you have and more about what has you.” What does this mean in practical terms for a follower of Jesus? ([11:20])
3. How does the difference between “agreement” and “submission” to Jesus show up in the way we live? Why is agreement alone not enough? ([06:35])
4. What is the difference between wise saving and hoarding, according to the sermon? How can someone tell which one they are doing? ([28:06])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to ask, “Why wouldn’t I go where God leads?” instead of “Why would God call me to do this?” Is there an area of your life where you’ve been hesitant to obey God’s leading? What’s holding you back? ([00:31])
2. When you look at your schedule, your serving, and your giving, what does it reveal about what you truly prioritize? Is there a change you feel prompted to make this season? ([02:55])
3. The parable warns about the trap of always wanting more. Can you think of a time when the desire for “more” (money, stuff, recognition, etc.) left you feeling empty or anxious? How did you respond? ([19:40])
4. The pastor says, “Jesus doesn’t want our money—he wants us.” Are there areas of your life (not just finances) that you tend to keep off-limits from God? What would it look like to surrender those areas? ([10:07])
5. The sermon draws a line between saving wisely and hoarding out of fear or self-reliance. How do you decide what is “enough” to save, and how do you check your heart for trust in God versus trust in yourself? ([28:06])
6. The “wheelbarrow” illustration asks if we trust God enough to “get in.” What would “getting in the wheelbarrow” look like for you right now? Is there a step of faith or generosity you sense God calling you to take? ([36:29])
7. The pastor warns against asking, “What’s the least I can do and be okay with God?” Have you ever found yourself thinking this way? How can you shift your mindset toward wholehearted surrender? ([25:01])