Trust in God’s Provision

Jesus reminds us to seek God first and trust His provision.

Luke 12 has 59 verses filled with profound teachings from Jesus. This chapter includes stories and lessons such as:

• Jesus teaches the fear of God
• Confessing Christ before men
• The Parable of the Rich Fool
• Do not worry
• The faithful and evil servants
• Christ brings division
• Discern the time
• Make peace with your adversary

Encouraging Verse: Luke 12:34

• NIV: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• The Message: “The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”

Context of Luke 12:34

If you have a red-letter Bible, you’ll notice that most of this chapter is in red—Jesus is speaking directly to the people. In these 59 verses, He addresses an innumerable crowd eager to hear His words.

Jesus begins with warnings about hidden things being revealed and about God’s wrath, balanced by His love and attention. He highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit, explaining that the Spirit will provide the right words when we don’t know what to say. However, He also warns about the unpardonable sin: blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

A man in the crowd prompts a teaching about material possessions when he asks Jesus to intervene in a family dispute over inheritance. Jesus responds with the Parable of the Rich Fool, a sobering story of someone who stored up wealth but died before enjoying it.

From there, Jesus speaks directly to His disciples, urging them not to worry about food, clothing, or material needs. He explains that God provides for the sparrows and clothes the lilies—how much more will He care for His children? Jesus assures us that God knows our daily needs and encourages us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else.

This is the context of Luke 12:34, where Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts by evaluating where our treasure lies.

Kingdom Money Principles

Money and the Kingdom of God are deeply connected, though many prefer to separate them. Jesus frequently spoke about money and its role in our spiritual lives. Here are some biblical principles to remember:

1. We reap what we sow:
   “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38, NIV)
2. God gives us the ability to create wealth:
   “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant.” (Deuteronomy 8:18, AMP)
3. We are only stewards:
   “For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world.” (1 Timothy 6:7, AMP)
4. Everything comes from God:
   “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17, NASB)
5. Honor God with your wealth:
   “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10, NIV)
6. Do not love money:
   “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10, NKJV)
7. Do not serve money:
   “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV)

Practical Application: Do a Heart-Check

This verse invites us to pause and evaluate where our treasure lies. Use these questions to guide your reflection:

1. Where does the bulk of your money go?
2. Did you realize how your money is being spent?
3. Do you tithe or give offerings? If not, why not?
4. Can you tie your money to eternal value? (e.g., works related to salvation, discipleship of the saints – helping others grow in faith), or discipleship of the nations

To realign your finances with Kingdom principles:

• Review your spending and adjust your budget to reflect your spiritual priorities.
• Start small with regular giving, and let it grow into a habit.
• Ask God for wisdom and provision to give more generously.

Your Turn

How can you apply Luke 12:34 to your life? What insights or reflections do you have from this chapter?
Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you!

Until tomorrow—Peace & Love, Coach D.