International Children’s Bible

Luke 12:11-22 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

11. “When men bring you into the synagogues before the leaders and other important men, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say.

12. At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”

13. One of the men in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us.”

14. But Jesus said to him, “Who said that I should be your judge or decide how to divide the property between you two?”

15. Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. A man’s life is not measured by the many things he owns.”

16. Then Jesus used this story: “There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop of food.

17. The rich man thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’

18. Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones! I will put all my grain and other goods together in my new barns.

19. Then I can say to myself, I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’

20. “But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?’

21. “This is how it will be for anyone who stores things up only for himself and is not rich toward God.”

22. Jesus said to his followers, “So I tell you, don’t worry about the food you need to live. Don’t worry about the clothes you need for your body.