13-14 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ 15  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.’ 16-19 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 my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” vs 20-21 ‘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 towards God.’

22-23 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. 24-28 Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are 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! 

29-31 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. 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. Luke 12:13-34 New International Version.

A request in vs 13 from a man in the crowd led Jesus to teach, first the people (vs 15-21), and then His disciples (vs 22-34) important truth concerning our attitude to possessions. What is the false philosophy of life that He warns against in vs 15?

It's the belief that the main purpose in life and it's ultimate joy is tied up with having lots of things! That includes basic things like food and clothing, but it progresses to property, transport and, in our generation, all the gadgets that've been invented in recent years including Smartphones etc. The belief is that if we have an abundance of these things we can take life easy and live it to the full. But what vital fact does Jesus point out in vs 20-21?

He reminds them of life’s uncertainty - and of the appointment we all have with our Creator. The wealth of this world doesn't make us rich in what matters to God. It certainly won't pay for sins like greed and selfishness. He then goes on to apply this even to His followers. What is the principle He sets out in vs 22-23 and 29-31?

Christians mustn't let their needs in this world drive them to worry and fear. Jesus wasn't being unpractical because He used illustrations from nature of God's care for His lesser creatures to assure them of His care for them. What mindset does He encourage believers to have? (vs 31-34)

We must not set our hearts on possessions - but make the Kingdom of God what we treasure most. We must be ready to share rather than to horde. It's not a sin to own things as Christians in Bible days did own houses and lands. But we should always be willing to ask God how these may best be used for His glory and the blessing of others.