Generosity Series - Be Generous To The Poor

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Be Generous To The Poor

The Warning Against Covetousness: Luke 12:13-15

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”  

Observations and Questions (Verses 13-15):

• Verse 13: The Request: What does this man's request reveal about his priorities and his understanding of Jesus' role? Why might he have approached Jesus with this financial dispute?

• Verse 14: Jesus' Response: Why does Jesus refuse to get involved in this legal matter? What does this tell us about his primary mission and focus?

• Verse 15: The Warning: 

  • Jesus pivots from the specific request to a universal warning: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed." What does "greed" or "covetousness" mean? Why does Jesus emphasize "all kinds"? How can greed manifest in different ways?

  • What is the fundamental truth Jesus declares: "...life does not consist in an abundance of possessions"? How does this challenge the world's values and our own potential inclinations? What does true life consist of, according to Jesus' broader teachings?

    
    

The Parable of the Rich Fool: Luke 12:16-21

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”  

Observations and Questions (Verses 16-21):

• The Rich Man's Situation: What was the man's initial blessing? What was his immediate concern? Was his problem the abundance itself, or his reaction to it?

• His Solution: What was the rich man's plan? What was the focus of his thinking? Notice the repeated use of "I" and "my." What does this reveal about his perspective?

• His Self-Talk: What was the rich man's ultimate goal in accumulating more wealth? What did he plan to do with his abundance? What was missing from his plans?

• God's Judgment: What does God call the rich man? Why is this label so harsh? What is the tragic irony of his situation?

• The Application: How does Jesus connect this parable back to the warning against covetousness? What does it mean to be "rich toward God"? How does this differ from being materially rich? What are some ways we can be rich toward God?

  
  

Do Not Worry - Seek God's Kingdom: Luke 12:22-31

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

Observations and Questions (Verses 22-31):

• The Command Not to Worry: Why does Jesus tell his disciples "therefore do not worry"? What is the connection between the warning against covetousness and the command not to worry?

• The Value of Life: What does Jesus mean when he says, "life is more than food, and the body more than clothes"? What should be our primary focus?

• The Examples from Nature: 

  • Ravens (v. 24): What do we learn about God's provision from the example of the ravens? What does it mean that they "do not sow or reap"?

  • Wildflowers (vv. 27-28): What do we learn about God's care and beauty from the example of the wildflowers? How does Jesus contrast their natural beauty with human splendour? What does he call those who worry in light of God's care for nature?

• The Futility of Worry (v. 25-26): Why is worry presented as futile? What practical point does Jesus make about its ineffectiveness?

• The Contrast with the Pagan World (v. 30): What characterizes the concerns of the "pagan world"? How should the priorities of Jesus' followers differ?

• The Key Instruction (v. 31): "But seek his kingdom..." What does this involve in our daily lives? How does this shift our focus away from material anxieties?

• The Promise: "...and these things will be given to you as well." What "things" is Jesus referring to? What is the relationship between seeking God's kingdom and receiving our needs? Is this a guarantee of material wealth?

Treasures in Heaven: Luke 12:32-34

 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  

Observations and Questions (Verses 32-34):

• "Do not be afraid, little flock...": Why does Jesus address his followers as a "little flock"? What comfort does this image offer?

• "...for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.": This is a powerful statement of God's gracious initiative. What does it mean that the Father is "pleased" to give them the kingdom? What are the implications of already possessing this kingdom?

• "Sell your possessions and give to the poor.": This is a challenging command. Is it meant to be taken literally by all believers at all times? What is the underlying principle or attitude Jesus is promoting? How does this relate to the warning against covetousness and the call to seek heavenly treasure?

• "Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail...": What are these imperishable "purses" and unfailing "treasures"? How do we acquire them? How do they contrast with earthly possessions?

• "...where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.": This echoes Matthew 6:19-20. Why does Jesus repeat this idea? What is the security and permanence of heavenly treasure?

• "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.": This is a key principle. How does where we invest our resources and affections shape our priorities and our very being? How can we intentionally direct our hearts towards heavenly treasure?

Connecting the Sections:

• How does the initial request about inheritance serve as a springboard for Jesus' broader teaching?

• What is the relationship between covetousness, worry, and the pursuit of earthly treasure?

• How does seeking God's kingdom provide a solution to the problems of greed and anxiety?

• What does it mean to prioritize heavenly treasure over earthly possessions? What are the practical implications of this?

Personal Reflection questions:

• In what areas of your life are you most tempted by greed or covetousness?

• What are your primary sources of worry or anxiety? How might Jesus' teachings in this passage address those concerns?

• Where is your treasure right now? What do your spending habits, time commitments, and thoughts reveal about your priorities?

• What steps can you take to more actively "seek God's kingdom" and store up "treasure in heaven"?

• How can you cultivate a greater trust in God's provision and a deeper detachment from material possessions?