¹³ Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” ¹⁵ Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

¹⁶ Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. ¹⁷ He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

²¹ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

²² Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. ²⁴ Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! ²⁵ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? ²⁶ And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

²⁷ “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ²⁸ And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

²⁹ “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. ³⁰ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. ³¹ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

³² “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

³³ “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. ³⁴ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

³⁵ “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. ³⁷ The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! ³⁸ He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

³⁹ “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Luke 12:13-40

Dear God, this is an interesting passage as I prepare to go to work on a Monday morning. I’ve got a lot of work to do. Some of my motivation is to serve our nonprofit’s clients well. Some of it is to make the day go as well as I can for the staff. And some of it is to make sure we survive financially both today and in the long run. I feel pressure in all three areas.

The one I didn’t realize I felt so much responsibility for until I started typing them down this morning is that second one. I guess I do carry a lot of responsibility for trying to make the staff’s day as good and easy as I can make it. I want them to have the resources they need. The job of helping people who are in different kinds of need and do not have resources of their own to meet those needs is hard enough by itself. I want to lessen the rest of the burdens that can come up as much as possible.

So I get worried about money. I worry about whether there will be enough to make payroll, which there is. In fact, you’ve blessed us very generoeusly, and I don’t really worry about the immediate payroll. But worrying about payroll in the future is one of the things that keeps me motivated in the fundraising parts of my job. And I think that’s healthy to some extent. I’m not necessarily thinkinig about my own income. I’m worrying about others and making sure they have what they need.

But then there are my own resources. Financially, I worry if I will have enough at the end of my life. I also worry if my wife and I will have adequate care at the end of our lives should we live a long time and die slow deaths. I don’t obssess about them, but I think about it regularly. And I don’t think that’s unwise to do so long as I am also not selfish with my resources and unwilling to share or give them to others in need.

Father, help me to be the man you need me to be today. Help me to be a minister of your peace, and part of that peace is to help release people from their own fears through you and your power. Help me to carry you to them. Comfort them. Direct them. Love them.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen