15. Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own.”
16. Then Jesus used this story: “There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food.
17. He 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 barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns.
19. Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’
20. “But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’
21. “This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich.”
22. Jesus said to his followers, “So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat or what you will wear.
23. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it.
24. Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in houses or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than crows.
25. None of you can add any time to your life by worrying about it.
26. And if you can’t do the little things, why worry about the big things?
27. “Think about how the wildflowers grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.
28. If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!
29. “So don’t always think about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don’t worry about it.
30. That’s what all those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. But your Father knows that you need these things.
31. What you should be thinking about is God’s kingdom. Then he will give you all these other things you need.