Luke 12:13-36

¹³“Teacher,” a man in the crowd said to Jesus, “tell my brother to share the property with me.”

¹⁴But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

¹⁵And then he added, “Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of their prosperity a person's true life does not depend on what they have.”

¹⁶Then Jesus told them this parable — “There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile;

¹⁷and he began to ask himself ‘What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?

¹⁸This is what I will do,’ he said; ‘I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them;

¹⁹and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’

²⁰But God said to the man ‘Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared — who will have it?’

²¹So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God.”

²²And Jesus said to his disciples, “That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here — what you can get to eat; or about your body — what you can get to wear.

²³For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes.

²⁴Think of the ravens — they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; and yet God feeds them! And how much more precious are you than birds!

²⁵But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong your life a moment?

²⁶And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things?

²⁷Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendor was not robed like one of these.

²⁸If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass which is living today and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!

²⁹And you — do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver.

³⁰These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them.

³¹No, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added for you.

³²So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

³³“Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out — an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin.

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

³⁵Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight;

³⁶and be like servants who are waiting for their Master's return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once.