Christ Commands

Scripture

Primary passage

Luke 12:15–21

15 He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” 16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. 17 He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ 18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Primary passage · World English Bible

The command

Hear what Jesus commands.

Guard against covetousness and become rich toward God rather than building security around accumulated possessions.

In context

Hear the whole passage.

Jesus refuses to become a tool in an inheritance dispute and tells of a prosperous man whose larger barns cannot preserve his life.

What this reveals

What this reveals about God.

Jesus forms grateful stewards who measure life by relationship with God and generosity rather than abundance stored for self.

Practice this command

Take one concrete step.

Choose one surplus resource you are storing primarily for self-protection and redirect a responsible portion toward worship, generosity, or a genuine need.

Discuss

Talk about it.

Where does prudent provision end and covetous self-security begin?

Pray

Pray this.

God, guard us from covetousness. Make us grateful, generous, and rich in the things that matter before you.

Teach

Teach it simply.

Jesus is not condemning every form of saving; He exposes a life defined by abundance, isolated self-talk, and no richness toward God.

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