6Think about the sparrows. They are worth so little that you can RHQ buy five of them for only two small coins. But not one of them is ever forgotten by God {God never forgets one of them}!
7You are worth more to God than many sparrows. So do not be afraid of what people can do to you! God even knows how many hairs there are on each of your heads, so that if you(sg) lose one hair, he knows about it. So nothing bad can happen to you without his knowing it.
8I want to tell you also that if people, without being afraid, are willing to tell others that they are my disciples, I, the one who came from heaven, will acknowledge before God that they are my disciples. I will do that while God's angels listen.
9But if people are afraid to say in front of others that they are my disciples, I will say, while God's angels listen, that they are not my disciples.
10I will tell you also that God is willing to forgive people who say bad things about me, the one who came from heaven, but he will not forgive anyone who says evil things about what the Holy Spirit does.
11So when people ask you in Jewish worship houses and in the presence of rulers and other authorities about your trusting in me, do not worry about how you will answer them when they accuse you. Do not worry about what you should say,
12because the Holy Spirit will tell you at that very time what you should say.”
13Then one of the people in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my older brother to divide my father's property and give me the part that belongs to me!”
14But Jesus replied to him, “Man, ◄no one appointed me in order that I would settle matters when people are disputing about property!/did anyone appoint me in order that I would settle matters when people are disputing about property?► RHQ”
15Then he said to the whole crowd, “Guard yourselves very carefully, in order that you do not desire other people's things in any way! No one can make his life secure by obtaining many possessions.”
16Then Jesus told the people this illustration: “There was a certain rich man whose crops grew very well.
17So he said to himself, ‘I do not know what to do, because I do not have any place big enough to store all my crops!’
18Then he thought to himself, ‘ I know what I will do! I will tear down my grain bins and build larger ones! Then I will store all my wheat and other goods in the big new bins.
19Then I will say to myself SYN, “Now I have plenty of goods stored up. They will last for many years. So now I will take life easy. I will eat and drink all that I want to and be happy for a long time!”’
20But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Tonight you will die! ◄Then all the goods you have saved up for yourself will belong to someone else, not to you!/Do you think that you will benefit from all that you have stored up for yourself?► RHQ’”
21Then Jesus ended this illustration by saying, “That is what will happen to those who store up goods just for themselves, but who do not value the things that God considers valuable.”
22Then Jesus said to his disciples, “So I want to tell you this: Do not worry about things you need in order to live. Do not worry about whether you will have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.
23It is important to have sufficient food and clothing, but ◄the way you conduct your lives is more important./is not the way you conduct your lives more important?► RHQ
24Think about the birds: They do not plant seeds, and they do not harvest crops. They do not have rooms or buildings in which to store crops. But God provides food for them. And you are certainly much more valuable than birds. So God will certainly provide what you need!
25◄There is not a one of you who can add a little bit to how long he lives by worrying about it!/Is there any of you who can add a little bit to how long he lives by worrying about it?► RHQ
26Worrying is a small thing to do. So since you cannot add to your life, ◄you certainly should not worry about other things that you need to have in order to live!/why do you worry about other things that you need to have in order to live?► RHQ
27Think about the way that flowers grow in the fields. They do not work to earn money, and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that even though King Solomon, who lived long ago, wore very beautiful clothes, his clothes were not as beautiful as one of those flowers.
28God makes the flowers beautiful, but they grow in the fields for only a short time. Then they are cut at the same time that the grass is cut, and thrown into an oven to be burned to make heat for baking bread. So they really are not worth very much. But you are very precious to God, and he will care for you much more than he cares for the grass by filling it with beautiful flowers. So he will certainly provide clothes for you, who live much longer than the grass. Why RHQ do you trust him so little?
29Do not always be concerned about having enough to eat and drink, and do not be worrying about those things.
30The people who do not know God are always worried about such things. But your Father in heaven knows that you need those things, so you should not worry about them.
31Instead, be concerned about letting God completely direct your life. Then he will also give you enough of the things you need.
32You who are my disciples are like a small flock of sheep, and I am like your shepherd. So you should not be afraid. Your Father in heaven wants to let you rule with him in heaven.
33So now sell the things that you own. Give the money that you get for those things to poor people. If you do that, it will be as though you are providing for yourselves purses that will not wear out, and God will give you a treasure in heaven that will always be safe. There, no thief can come near to steal it, and no termite can destroy it.
34Remember that the things that you think are the most valuable are the things that you will be constantly concerned about.”
35“Be always ready for doing God's work MET, like people who have put on their work clothes and are ready during the day, with their lamps burning all night.
Luke 12
Luke 12:6-35