WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:05.020 Glad that you have joined us this evening. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:07.980 Thanking God that they fixed the air conditioning. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:11.820 I know you are as well if you were here last week. 00:00:12.300 --> 00:00:14.320 It's a different environment this week. 00:00:15.339 --> 00:00:16.800 But glad to be here. 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:20.580 Glad to be looking at the text that we're going to be looking at tonight. 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:25.480 It's the last passage in our study of Ephesians. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:26.900 We've been doing this for several months. 00:00:27.580 --> 00:00:28.679 And we've come to the end. 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:32.019 And I don't know about you, but I always get kind of sad when we get to the end of a book. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:35.960 I always wish that we could keep going because there's been so much here. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.519 Essentially, this letter is a thank you letter. 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:43.659 Paul is writing a thank you letter. 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:45.480 I don't know the last time that you wrote a thank you letter. 00:00:46.379 --> 00:00:50.620 But Paul is writing a thank you letter to a church that he hasn't seen for ten years 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.899 who has supported him again and again and again. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.740 And they've just sent a financial contribution. 00:00:55.740 --> 00:00:59.460 And so there's all kinds of rich themes in this thank you letter. 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:00.640 He talks a lot about joy. 00:01:01.620 --> 00:01:02.500 The joyful life. 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:04.280 He talks a lot about gratitude. 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:08.040 Talks a lot about contentment. 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:12.359 Talks about what it means to know and to be in Christ. 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:20.519 And yet, not surprisingly, as we come to the end of this letter, because it's a thank you letter in response to financial contribution, 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:22.819 he gets to the theme of generosity. 00:01:23.980 --> 00:01:27.180 And Advent's been around for, I guess, oh, about eight or nine years. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:35.659 And we haven't really talked about this topic much, which is surprising because it's a core aspect of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, 00:01:35.780 --> 00:01:38.359 is to understand and practice generosity. 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:38.920 Generosity. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:40.480 So that's what we're going to look at tonight. 00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:46.519 Paul's final parting words to the Philippians, where he talks about generosity, and he tells us three things about it. 00:01:46.539 --> 00:01:49.840 He says, first of all, that it flows from contentment. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:58.120 In other words, the more content we are, the more generous we're able to be. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:01:58.960 So we'll look at that. 00:01:59.019 --> 00:01:59.960 It flows from contentment. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:01.439 Second, it helps us grow. 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:03.840 It's actually necessary for spiritual growth. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:08.400 And then third and finally, that generosity glorifies God. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:12.980 So let's pray to God now to help us in our study of his word. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:19.719 Lord, we ask you, as we know that you're here, as we were just reminded as we read the gospel, that you're the God who is with us. 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:22.360 That you're not a silent partner. 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:25.199 But rather, you're the God who speaks. 00:02:26.379 --> 00:02:29.460 And our place is to, first and foremost, listen. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:33.700 Some of us are here, and we know you and know your son, Jesus. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:38.760 Some of us are here wondering what this is all about and trying to figure out what we believe. 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:48.260 Lord, we ask that you, being the only one who knows our hearts fully, you're the only one who can speak to us and tell us exactly what we need to hear. 00:02:48.860 --> 00:02:51.400 And so we pray that you would do that for each of us, including me, Lord. 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:53.939 We pray that you would do this by the power of your spirit. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:55.760 In the name of your son, Jesus. 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:56.100 Amen. 00:02:56.099 --> 00:03:04.240 So, Philippians chapter 4, beginning in verse 10, we'll go through the end of the book, verse 23. 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:12.139 But if you look at verses 10 through 13, if I could kind of summarize what's going on here. 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.340 Paul is as politely as he can. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.939 And, you know, Paul's not the most tactful individual. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:25.219 But as politely as he can, Paul is essentially saying here, thanks, sort of. 00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:27.879 And I'll explain what I mean. 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:28.879 He's in Rome. 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:30.280 He's on house arrest. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:32.400 Resources are running very low. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:34.740 He's not heard from anyone in a long time. 00:03:36.579 --> 00:03:44.959 And, you know, some people say when Paul was imprisoned here that he was, you know, shackled naked to the floor and birds were pecking out his eyes and all these hearts. 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:46.879 It wasn't that bad, but it was bad. 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:49.859 It meant that he needed outside support to live. 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:52.120 And he's running low. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:55.680 And finally, Epaphroditus shows up with a financial contribution. 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:57.620 They've taken up a collection. 00:03:57.780 --> 00:03:59.940 They've passed the hat, so to speak, in Philippi. 00:04:00.460 --> 00:04:02.420 And they've sent Epaphroditus with the money. 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:06.380 And Paul says, on the one hand, he says, I rejoiced greatly. 00:04:07.380 --> 00:04:11.240 When I saw Epaphroditus and I saw the money that you sent, it filled me with joy. 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:18.319 And then, on the other hand, he says, and he's trying to be careful. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.759 He says, you know, as much as I appreciate the money, I didn't actually need it. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:26.379 I would have been okay. 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:30.579 So you've got to ask, why such an odd response? 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:33.540 It doesn't sound like the kind of thank you letters we might write. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:38.000 And the reason for the oddity is this, is that at his core, Paul is a pastor. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:46.140 And Paul sees this generosity kind of growing up in the Philippian church like a little flower bud. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:50.700 And like any good pastor, when he sees something happening like that, 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:57.259 his first instinct is to want to cultivate it and protect it and nourish it and encourage it to grow. 00:04:57.259 --> 00:05:05.039 And so he takes this opportunity to do just that by teaching them for just a few verses about contentment. 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:12.980 Because, and this is really the first point, contentment, as we said a moment ago, is the kind of root bed of generosity. 00:05:13.159 --> 00:05:16.420 So he says, I want to encourage the growth of this generosity in you. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:19.319 And so you need to understand where this comes from. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:21.439 It actually is rooted in contentment. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:24.079 So let me tell you about contentment. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:31.819 The more content we are, the more generous we will be with our money and our time and our energy, etc. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:34.959 And Paul actually makes a powerful claim here. 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:38.899 He says, I've learned the secret of contentment. 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:44.719 Which sounds like the beginning of every self-help book and seminar out there. 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:47.219 You know, here's the secret for four easy payments. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:50.959 And so Paul is making this kind of bold claim. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.579 And so the question is, can he back it up? 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:01.219 If you look at most religions, and I know a lot of you kind of think a lot about this. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:03.279 And you're familiar with lots of different religions. 00:06:03.479 --> 00:06:05.199 And some of you have studied philosophy. 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:09.560 And if you kind of survey different religions and philosophies and thinkers out there. 00:06:09.979 --> 00:06:14.419 Most of them agree that contentment is among our, should be among our highest aims. 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:20.379 And actually most agree, more or less, on the way to contentment. 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:25.720 So most kind of say, here's how to get to contentment in the same way. 00:06:26.259 --> 00:06:31.360 The Stoic philosophers, like Epictetus, say, and this is to quote him, 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:36.180 wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:40.819 All right, it's not how much you have, it's how little you want. 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:41.800 That's true wealth. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:45.360 That sounds intuitively true. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:50.519 Buddhism, the third noble truth says the way to overcome suffering, 00:06:50.900 --> 00:06:55.120 a word that can loosely be translated kind of pervasive discontentment, 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:57.100 is to extinguish our desires. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:00.840 So the same kind of idea, right? 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:02.560 Limit your desires. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:07.899 Emmanuel Kant says this, we're not rich by what we possess, but by what we can do without. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:11.420 Again, same thing. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:16.100 John Stuart Mill, I've learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:18.879 rather than in attempting to satisfy them. 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:22.279 So you see, they're all kind of saying the same thing. 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.399 You know, contentment comes when we simplify, 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:29.399 when we limit our desires, or altogether extinguish them, 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:34.899 when we reduce that which we demand to live the good life. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:38.500 When we, you know, and it's funny, I think about just not too long ago in my life, 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:43.620 when I was younger, I used to idealize the simple life. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:46.479 And I actually had a lot of pride in the fact that I just owned some books, 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:49.339 and a desk, and a mattress, and some clothes. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:50.399 And that was just about it. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:52.599 And I used to take a lot of pride in that. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:57.560 And I sort of idealized, you know, I would think, wow, you know, 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.919 so many people around the world have so much less than we do, 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.479 and they're so much better off. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:06.699 And I would imagine, you know, how great, you know, 00:08:06.739 --> 00:08:08.779 there's kind of a blessing in being poor. 00:08:08.919 --> 00:08:12.579 And how amazing would it be if you could just reduce all of your possessions 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:14.319 to what would fit in a backpack? 00:08:14.539 --> 00:08:15.939 And how amazing would that be? 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:21.920 And then I kind of began to realize that, you know, 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:25.759 that doesn't really reflect wisdom so much as it reflects privilege. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:31.319 You know, it's a privilege of the wealthy to idealize poverty. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:37.240 And what it reflected is really a person who had no idea of the reality of poverty. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:41.240 But these are the kinds of ideas that we can cultivate 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:44.539 when we idealize the contented life. 00:08:44.539 --> 00:08:48.879 And most people assume that Christianity says the same thing. 00:08:49.079 --> 00:08:50.399 Well, the problem is your desires. 00:08:50.719 --> 00:08:51.860 You need to desire less. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.860 Your problem is that you desire too much. 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:58.079 And I'm just here to tell you that's completely wrong. 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.120 That's not at all what Christianity says. 00:09:01.199 --> 00:09:03.439 In fact, it's the opposite of what Christianity says. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.240 Christianity says this. 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:07.240 Our problem is not that we want too much. 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.779 It's that we want too little. 00:09:09.719 --> 00:09:10.860 It's that we settle. 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:16.500 The opening salvo in C.S. Lewis' The Weight of Glory. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:20.419 If you've not read this sermon, just prioritize it this summer. 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:24.120 And I know I kind of have put a limit on how many times I reference it, 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:25.700 so I apologize for bringing it up again. 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.500 But the opening words are worth the price of the book. 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:31.620 And so I'm just going to read a little snippet of the opening. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.139 He says this. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:33.659 He says, 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:59.839 And then listen to what he says. 00:09:59.839 --> 00:10:00.899 Just listen to this. 00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:05.240 Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:09.039 and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:13.679 it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, 00:10:14.459 --> 00:10:15.939 but too weak. 00:10:16.819 --> 00:10:20.779 We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition 00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:23.379 when infinite joy is offered us, 00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:27.639 like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:32.639 because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at the sea. 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:35.519 And then this next sentence floored me when I first read it. 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:38.539 We are far too easily pleased. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:40.779 Mmm. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.139 Those sentences. 00:10:42.699 --> 00:10:43.980 Every now and then in your life, 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.519 you come across a sentence that just changes you. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:47.980 And for me, it was that. 00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:49.740 That was like an arrow into my heart. 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:52.299 We're far too easily pleased. 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:54.399 I felt like somebody had been reading my mail. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.939 So the secret of contentment is this. 00:10:57.939 --> 00:10:58.659 Here's the secret. 00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:59.419 You want to know the secret? 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:01.179 You sitting down? 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:03.939 It's impossible in this life. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.840 That's not going to sell books. 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.379 I'm sorry. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.879 It's impossible in this life. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.399 For one simple, glorious, awful reason. 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:20.840 That we were made with desires that are simply too strong for this world. 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:25.160 We want more than we can ever find here. 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:27.360 It sounds like a curse. 00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:29.399 It feels like a curse. 00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:33.200 But one day it's going to give way to unimaginable blessing. 00:11:34.560 --> 00:11:38.680 You know, I was not too, just a few days ago with my family, 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:41.340 and we're sitting and we're watching the sunset, 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:43.500 and the boys are running around, wife's next to me, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.840 drinking in Old Fashioned. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:47.060 I make amazing Old Fashions, and I have one. 00:11:47.560 --> 00:11:48.560 And, just kidding. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.379 Not really. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:53.840 And it's this seemingly perfect moment, 00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:55.519 and I'm looking out, and I'm looking at the sunset, 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:57.899 and the family, and everything is just right. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:59.700 And I was just thinking, this is it. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.379 This is everything. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.399 This is contentment. 00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:03.980 And then even as I thought that, 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:07.139 there was a little voice in the back of that voice 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:09.720 that was saying, really, is this it? 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:11.960 This is it? 00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:13.620 I mean, this is great. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.419 Don't get me wrong. 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:15.840 But this is it. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:19.420 And there was an urge, a longing, a kind of thing in me 00:12:19.420 --> 00:12:21.620 that just wanted to kind of pierce through the sunset. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:23.899 As beautiful as this is, there's got to be more. 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:25.440 There's got to be something behind it. 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:27.460 I want that. 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:28.320 What is that? 00:12:29.780 --> 00:12:31.040 Lewis would say that's God. 00:12:32.280 --> 00:12:32.540 Right? 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:35.780 And it's taken Paul many, many, many years, 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:38.780 a lot of suffering, a lot of heartbreak, 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:39.920 to realize this truth. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:42.759 If anybody who's 20 tells you they've discovered 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:44.740 the secret to contentment, don't trust them. 00:12:45.099 --> 00:12:45.319 Okay? 00:12:45.579 --> 00:12:46.299 No offense. 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.919 But Paul is an old man. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.659 It's taken him many years, a lot of heartache, 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:52.719 to get to the place where he can finally say, 00:12:53.099 --> 00:12:56.659 I've learned, not in a book, 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.159 through blood and sweat and tears. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:02.559 I've learned the secret of contentment. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.240 I know how to be brought low. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.579 I know how to abound. 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:06.399 He's realized this, 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:08.259 that across the whole spectrum, 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:11.379 the low times and the times of abundance, 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:13.299 there is always discontentment. 00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:17.620 The low times, you know. 00:13:17.819 --> 00:13:18.819 You know those times. 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:20.220 Some of you are in them right now. 00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:21.139 Hopeless. 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:22.740 Struggling. 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:26.240 You know, Laura and I know firsthand 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.679 what it's like to get the email 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.759 or the phone call that you do not want. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.360 And to have that feeling of you would do anything 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.319 to change it. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:37.120 And it's so easy to think 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.620 that if you can just change this one thing, 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:41.080 nothing else will matter 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.220 and everything will be okay 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.800 and you'll be content. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.520 And we can live off that fantasy for lifetimes. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:50.940 But I wonder if it's even worse 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.500 to be one of the few people 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.000 who actually achieves it all. 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.420 I think it's worse. 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.140 At least in the low times, 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:02.100 you can imagine that times will get better. 00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:03.560 But what about in your best times? 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:06.039 And you think this is it. 00:14:07.739 --> 00:14:09.419 Assuming you know who Judd Apatow is, 00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:12.659 kind of a genre-defining director, producer, 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.919 bridesmaids, 00:14:14.339 --> 00:14:14.939 This is 30, 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:15.959 Knocked Up, 00:14:16.219 --> 00:14:16.599 I don't know, 00:14:16.739 --> 00:14:17.119 all those, 00:14:17.239 --> 00:14:18.399 that whole genre of movies. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.159 And anyway, 00:14:22.359 --> 00:14:22.559 I mean, 00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:23.039 you know, 00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:24.659 if anybody's a picture of success 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:25.839 these days in the film world, 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.539 it's Judd Apatow. 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.839 And he says this. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.860 There was a great interview 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:31.079 in Rolling Stone last year. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:33.199 And listen to what he says. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:33.899 He says, 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:36.439 All the success in the world won't heal you. 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:40.240 It doesn't do anything. 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:44.299 There's great distraction in thinking 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:46.500 that when I get to the top of that hill, 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.799 it's all going to be awesome. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:50.939 And then when you get to the top of the hill, 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:51.459 you're like, 00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:52.579 Oh, 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:54.799 I guess now I really have to deal with my problems 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.620 because that didn't work at all. 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:03.039 There's great distraction in thinking 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.219 when I finally get that job, 00:15:05.859 --> 00:15:07.339 when I finally get that degree, 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.500 that credential, 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:10.979 when I finally get that spouse, 00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:12.519 when I finally get pregnant, 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:14.959 when I finally am able to arrive, 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:16.580 then I'll be content. 00:15:17.660 --> 00:15:18.620 And then you get there. 00:15:20.420 --> 00:15:20.780 No. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.780 Paul knows that true contentment 00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:25.240 is not found in circumstances, 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.080 but the God behind the circumstances. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.280 He knows that true contentment 00:15:29.280 --> 00:15:30.519 is not found in things, 00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:33.160 but in the God who made all things. 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.600 And he knows that it's not even found 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.519 in human relationships. 00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:39.420 It's found in the God who became a human 00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:43.080 in order to have a relationship with us. 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.480 He knows that because he has Christ, 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.420 one day, 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.259 not today, 00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:51.920 but one day, 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:55.060 he will experience full contentment 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:57.379 because he'll be in the arms of his Savior. 00:15:58.540 --> 00:15:59.379 Not today. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.200 See, 00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:01.340 a lot of people say, 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.120 except Christ, 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:02.400 you know, 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.020 no Jesus, 00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:03.720 no peace, 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.620 no Jesus, 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.100 no peace, 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:05.820 the bumper sticker. 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.540 It's a lie. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.140 It's not true. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.120 The Bible doesn't say 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.120 you're going to have total contentment 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:09.680 and peace now. 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:10.920 No, 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.560 it promises that one day you will. 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:14.460 But not now. 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.440 Read Philippians. 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:17.960 It's full of longing. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:19.920 Paul says, 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:20.300 I, 00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:20.700 I, 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.240 he says, 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.800 I don't know, 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.340 I'm facing imminent death. 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:26.200 And I don't know, 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.060 and he's being serious, 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.920 no bravado here, 00:16:28.020 --> 00:16:29.120 I don't know if I, 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:31.879 if I would prefer to die 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.820 so that the longing will be over 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:36.020 and finally I will see Jesus face to face 00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:36.759 or if I, 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:38.060 or if I should continue here 00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.420 to see you grow in your faith. 00:16:39.920 --> 00:16:41.379 And he really can't decide. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:41.939 Right? 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:45.179 This is Paul's longing for contentment, 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.100 longing to be with his Savior. 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:50.279 He talks about finishing the race, 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.659 forgetting what lies behind, 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.419 and fixing his eyes on Christ. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:58.639 And because he trusts God's promise 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.240 to get him there one day, 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.080 he's able to achieve 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.420 a relative contentment today. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:06.660 So, 00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:08.380 what does this have to do with generosity? 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.580 Long first point, 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.200 admittedly, 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.400 but very foundational. 00:17:12.580 --> 00:17:12.840 Yeah, 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.160 yeah. 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.120 What does this have to do with contentment? 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:16.640 I'll tell you. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:19.140 The reason we're not more generous 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:20.700 is because we look at our time 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.700 and look at our stuff 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.800 and look at our money 00:17:22.800 --> 00:17:23.740 and look at our energy 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.860 and somehow we imbue it 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:26.680 with significance 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.900 and importance 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:29.340 that it was never meant to have. 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.599 This is going to make me happy. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.859 This is going to make me content. 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:34.740 This is going to make life worth living. 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.720 Not true. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.659 It's a lie. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:38.000 But the more we believe that, 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:39.279 the less generous we're going to be 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.639 because we're going to clutch it 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:42.259 and we're going to protect it 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.279 and we're going to make sure 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.199 that you can't have any. 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.480 So, 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.059 generosity flows from contentment. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.459 Second two points 00:17:50.459 --> 00:17:52.079 flow out of this point 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:52.859 and they're shorter. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:55.539 Second point is this. 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.740 Generosity not only flows from contentment. 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.740 You go on and you see that Paul 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.879 wants to make it clear 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:03.000 that generosity helps us grow. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.279 It's a part of growth. 00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:05.939 It's actually necessary. 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:07.579 So, 00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.899 as much as their generosity 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.859 may help Paul, 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.979 Paul actually makes it clear 00:18:10.979 --> 00:18:13.000 that it has an even greater impact 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.319 on the Philippians themselves. 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.519 And he begins to recount 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.639 all their generosity, right? 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.979 These are not kind of like 00:18:17.979 --> 00:18:19.659 one-off givers, right? 00:18:20.179 --> 00:18:20.599 He says, 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:22.240 when nobody else believed in me, 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.660 nobody else was supporting me, 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.819 you were supporting me. 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.200 When I got kicked out 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.680 and I had to go down to Thessalonica, 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:28.880 you supported me. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.200 When there was need in Jerusalem, 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.440 you gave me money 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.700 to bring to Jerusalem, right? 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.420 And now you've sent me money again. 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.740 Nobody else is supporting me. 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:37.579 So, 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.900 he recounts all of this 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.480 and then he says in verse 17, 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.559 bear in mind again, 00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.579 this is a thank you letter, 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.920 not that I seek the gift, 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.180 but I seek the fruit 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.880 that increases to your credit. 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:50.839 In other words, 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.620 thanks for the money, 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.759 it's not really about the money. 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.179 That's not actually the main thing. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.299 The main thing is, 00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:59.719 in the act of giving, 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:02.500 the fruit in your life 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.619 has increased. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.019 So back in chapter 1, 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.639 you may remember, 00:19:05.979 --> 00:19:07.599 Paul says that his prayer for them 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.639 is that God would bring to completion 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:11.399 the good work began in them 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.579 so that they would be 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:16.859 filled with the fruit of righteousness 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:19.679 that comes through Jesus Christ. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.240 So in other words, 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.860 he's saying this, 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.700 generosity is necessary 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.680 for spiritual growth. 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.200 There's a lot, 00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:28.320 you guys work in the non-profit world, 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.480 you know a lot better than I do 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.400 about this stuff, 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.820 but there are a lot of groups now 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:34.700 that are kind of big on outcome studies. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:35.640 Right? 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:39.400 So like GiveWell and AidGrade, 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.060 do you know these groups? 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:40.540 And maybe, 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:40.940 I don't know, 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.740 some of you work for them, 00:19:41.780 --> 00:19:42.140 but anyway, 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:44.980 their whole reason for existing 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.820 is to evaluate outcomes 00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:47.400 and to make sure 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:48.600 that every dollar we give 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:50.060 has maximum impact. 00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:51.340 Because you don't want 00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:52.900 your charitable contributions 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.720 to get absorbed 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.500 into the bureaucracy. 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.900 You want it to go 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.980 to where it matters, 00:19:57.020 --> 00:19:58.460 or at least we want to feel like 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.480 we're really making a difference. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:19:59.920 And so, 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:02.040 and this is good. 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:02.980 I'm not knocking this. 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.940 This is actually really necessary. 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.759 We want our charities to be effective. 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:07.779 We want to trim the fat. 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.740 All that stuff is great. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:12.400 But in all the emphasis on outcome, 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.740 I think we can forget 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:16.579 the impact of generosity on us. 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.460 And I'm not talking about 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.500 feeling good about ourselves. 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.920 That can actually be its own idol. 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.700 I'm talking about 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.960 the impact that it has 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.799 on our spiritual growth. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.220 Our hearts. 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.920 Paul's saying he wants 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.960 the Philippians to give, 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:32.120 not primarily because 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.960 he needs their money, 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.099 he's actually survived 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.039 for years without it, 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.759 but because they need to give 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.099 in order to grow. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.319 Habitual generosity 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.920 is a major part of how we grow. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.279 And there's really two reasons 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.940 that we see 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:47.920 why that enables us to grow. 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.579 Verse 14, 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.599 you see the first reason. 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.759 Habitual generosity 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.860 is actually a mark 00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.559 of true community. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.519 That's what true community 00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.019 looks like. 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.240 Right? 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.660 So Paul uses an amazing word 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.279 in verse 14. 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.819 He says, 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.639 yet it was kind of you 00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.700 to share my trouble. 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:06.819 Right? 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.799 Kind is like beautiful. 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:08.940 What you did 00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:09.759 was a beautiful thing. 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.460 Why was it beautiful? 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:12.960 Not the money, 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.859 the fact that you were willing 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.079 to share my trouble. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.740 And the share there 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.839 comes from the Greek word 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.480 koinonia, 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.599 which is the word we use 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.339 for Christian fellowship. 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:24.220 To share in that way 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.160 is profoundly intimate. 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.059 It means we are so connected 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.980 and I so love you 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.899 and you so love me 00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:29.980 that when you struggle, 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.860 I feel the pain. 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.680 When I struggle, 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.480 you feel the pain. 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.960 We share in it. 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:34.880 And he says, 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.420 it's beautiful 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.200 when I see the fact 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.779 that you're miles away 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.680 and it's been 10 years 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.480 since I've seen you 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.920 and you could be doing 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.759 all kinds of other things 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.079 and yet I'm here in prison 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.480 and you're sharing this. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.740 You're experiencing it. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.480 So he's saying, 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.099 your motive is actually 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:50.099 motivated primarily 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.700 by empathy. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.339 And that's a beautiful thing. 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.839 Spiritual growth means 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:58.120 learning what it means 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.660 to be so much 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.960 a part of a community. 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.720 So much a part 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.960 of a fellowship, 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.599 a koinonia, 00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:08.660 that you feel the struggle, 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.360 that you feel the pain. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.819 This isn't just a couple 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.559 getting divorced 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.200 and oh well, 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.339 sorry it didn't work out. 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.059 This isn't just somebody 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.579 who needs help moving 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:21.480 and hope they find some help. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.220 You know, 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:22.960 this isn't somebody 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.200 who just seems really depressed 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.659 and withdrawn 00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.399 and wow, 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.139 they haven't been to church 00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:26.599 in a while 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.419 and too bad. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:30.119 That when people are struggling, 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.879 we feel it. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.619 We share it. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.960 It keeps us up at night. 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:35.299 And we feel a certain amount 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:35.899 of responsibility 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.559 to make sure 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.519 that that need gets met. 00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.079 Paul says, 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.859 that's a beautiful thing. 00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:41.839 So that's a part 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.459 of how generosity 00:22:43.459 --> 00:22:45.639 provokes our growth 00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:47.519 is that it requires, 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.559 it necessitates 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:50.519 the growth of empathy 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.339 in our hearts. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.679 By the way, 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.000 this is one of the reasons 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.519 that we all give regularly 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.859 and sacrificially 00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.559 to the church. 00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.740 It's just one way 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:01.799 that we embody 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.699 that sense 00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:04.319 of seeking 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.059 the well-being 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.740 of the whole. 00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:08.679 And then the second reason 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.140 is this, 00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:10.299 habitual generosity 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.539 actually requires 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.500 habitual trust. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.600 You can't give 00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:15.420 sacrificially, 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:18.400 you can't give 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:20.500 meaningfully 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.140 unless 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:23.240 at some point 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:25.200 you have to address 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.560 the issue 00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.480 of what are you going to do 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.460 now that you don't have 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:27.860 the stuff 00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.820 that you gave away. 00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.080 Right? 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.000 To put yourself 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.980 in a position of need 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.500 and vulnerability. 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.660 And that's why Paul 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.360 reassures them 00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.120 in verse 19, 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.740 and my God will supply 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.640 every need of yours. 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.680 According to his riches 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.200 and glory 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.000 in Christ Jesus. 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:42.820 Now, 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.960 this verse has been 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.420 twisted and perverted 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.680 by the kind of 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.960 prosperity gospel movement, 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.000 which is essentially 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.380 a kind of 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:52.340 get-rich-quick scheme 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:53.000 with a kind of 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.980 veneer of spirituality 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.740 over it. 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:54.980 I mean, 00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:56.360 so verses like this 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.140 get co-opted 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.440 and taught in this way. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:58.940 Well, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.720 you have this little bit 00:23:59.720 --> 00:23:59.980 of money 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.880 and you sow that 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.519 as a seed. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.080 You know, 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:03.039 you send it to me 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.380 and then God 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:04.880 in response 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.480 is going to give you 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.860 three times more. 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.340 And it says so 00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.039 right here in the Bible. 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:09.819 You know, 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.579 or if you do it 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.500 in the next ten minutes, 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.480 it's ten times more. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.639 And you get a prayer cloth. 00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.759 And it's that kind of thing. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.179 And that's not 00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:17.099 what Paul's saying here. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.859 Paul's saying, 00:24:18.959 --> 00:24:19.980 I know that you've given 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.619 to the point, 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:20.959 like, 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:22.159 you sending this money, 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.939 this wasn't extra income, 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.379 this wasn't a surplus 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.079 of cash. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.259 You sending this 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.279 means you may not eat. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.079 And I know that, 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:31.279 and I just want to assure you, 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.339 God will provide. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.919 God will provide. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.039 You can trust God. 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.340 Generosity like this 00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.900 requires trust. 00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.460 And it's interesting, 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:40.860 you know, 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:45.519 Paul's saying, 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.680 well, 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.560 you know, 00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:49.080 I just think about 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.840 people in my life. 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.140 You know, 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:50.560 I think about, 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.700 I think about my parents. 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.019 I think about our bishop, 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.500 Steve. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:53.940 You know, 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.420 these are people 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.740 a generation or two past 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:57.240 or before me, 00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.019 older than I am, 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.340 where I get to see them 00:24:59.340 --> 00:25:00.019 at kind of 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.620 the other end of life 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:03.059 and what it's like 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.959 to talk to somebody 00:25:03.959 --> 00:25:05.819 who's prioritized giving 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.759 over the course 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.439 of a lifetime. 00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:08.279 And, 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:08.439 you know, 00:25:08.439 --> 00:25:09.059 my parents 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.699 have done that 00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:12.039 amazingly over the years. 00:25:12.719 --> 00:25:13.399 And somehow, 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.519 they didn't agree on much, 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.079 but that was one thing 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.899 they always agreed on. 00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:18.739 And I see it in our bishop. 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:18.979 You know, 00:25:18.979 --> 00:25:19.659 he was talking about it 00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:20.179 the other day, 00:25:20.219 --> 00:25:21.699 and I think back 00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:22.619 to the seminary, 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:23.259 the same seminary 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.699 that taught me 00:25:23.699 --> 00:25:24.699 that Mark comes first. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.339 And, 00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:26.379 but I, 00:25:27.239 --> 00:25:28.919 it was written first. 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.259 It was written first. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:32.079 But, 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.940 I think about 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.240 these, 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.299 these two professors, 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.000 Bill and Ida Spencer. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.279 They were like a dream team 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.339 married couple. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.460 They were both teachers, 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.680 both professors, 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.119 brilliant. 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.940 I learned a lot 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.720 of good theology 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.519 and stuff from them. 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.140 But I remember 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:44.980 the biggest impression 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.839 they left on me 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:47.319 is when I went over 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:47.900 to their house, 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:50.019 and this is in Massachusetts, 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.519 mind you. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.759 And I went over 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.240 to their house, 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.379 and in Massachusetts, 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.379 they heated their house 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.059 with a wood stove. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.640 And I said, 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.759 why do you guys do that? 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.940 Can't you get Central Air, 00:25:59.400 --> 00:25:59.799 HVAC? 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.700 And they said, 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:01.839 well, 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.539 you really want to know? 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.220 And I said, 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.519 yeah. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.299 And they said, 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:04.460 well, 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.519 we don't tell many people this, 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:07.279 but when we got married 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.119 when we were really young, 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.599 we wanted to make it a priority 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.259 that every year 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.539 we would give a little more away. 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.200 And so, 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:13.920 they had built up 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.480 to this point 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.240 when I talked to them 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.240 where they were giving away 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.519 50% of their income. 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.559 50% of everything 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.000 that they made, 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.480 they gave away. 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.339 They gave to the church, 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:22.799 primarily their church, 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.619 and then they gave to 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.819 a number of other things. 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:26.539 50%. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.960 Wood stove. 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.680 It necessitated a wood stove. 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:31.220 Their goal was to get 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.500 their cost of living down 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.740 so they could give away more. 00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:35.420 And I remember thinking 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:37.160 of all the books I've read 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:38.259 and all the talks I've heard 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.539 and the sermons I've sat under, 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.220 I remember seeing that 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:44.079 and that made more of an impression on me. 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:46.860 And it has continued to challenge me 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.660 and convict me. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.200 So if you live like that, 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.420 you have to trust God. 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.579 Right? 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.799 So people say, 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.539 people like me say, 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.819 I want to trust God more. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:57.099 We get down on our knees at night 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.399 and we say, 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.759 God, please help me trust you more. 00:26:58.879 --> 00:27:00.019 And then we start working 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.740 on the insulation. 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.139 Right? 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.259 And we insulate 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.779 our whole life. 00:27:04.939 --> 00:27:05.119 You know? 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.619 It's like we're living in a bunker. 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.480 And we build the walls 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.179 and we, you know, 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:10.019 make sure that they're, 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.220 you know, 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.139 10 feet thick 00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:12.519 and then we're like, 00:27:12.679 --> 00:27:13.419 God, please help me 00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:14.079 to trust you more. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.799 And then we kind of 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.699 go back to work, you know? 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.779 And we just want to make sure 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:18.000 that although I trust God 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.259 ideally, 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:19.939 theoretically, 00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:20.639 theologically, 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:22.180 I don't ever want to actually 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.480 have to put that to the test. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.800 That's not trust, 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.480 it's talk. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.100 If you want to grow 00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:29.180 in your trust of God, 00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:30.380 you have to put yourself 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.920 in a position 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:32.240 where God has to come through. 00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.820 Where if he doesn't come through, 00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:34.580 you're through. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:38.800 So this is why generosity 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:39.640 helps us grow 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.820 because quite frankly, 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:43.280 sacrificial giving, 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:46.520 that's what it means 00:27:46.520 --> 00:27:47.259 to respond 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.360 when you share 00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:49.540 in the needs 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.159 and the struggles 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.839 of a community 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.500 and sacrificial giving 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.139 requires that we trust God. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.680 So that's the second thing 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.279 we see here 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.019 about generosity 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.039 and the third thing, 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.059 the third thing 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.399 is really a great way 00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.240 to wrap up the book 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.879 and that's this, 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.920 that generosity 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:07.159 not only flows 00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:07.839 from contentment 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:09.059 and not only helps us grow, 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.759 but it actually glorifies God. 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.460 You know, 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.039 generosity, 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.940 when we give 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.559 of our time 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:13.980 and energy 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.399 and money, 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.779 when we give those things 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.779 freely and joyfully, 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:18.539 we're actually glorifying God. 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:21.259 Paul calls their gift, 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.099 listen to this language, 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.859 this is money, 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.159 and he calls it 00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:26.359 a fragrant offering, 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:28.200 a sacrifice acceptable 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.339 and pleasing to God. 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.819 And then he says 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.480 of all of this 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.139 in verse 20, 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.259 to our God 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.940 and Father 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:35.099 be glory 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:36.000 forever and ever, 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:36.420 amen. 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:36.920 He's saying 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.779 all this is actually 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.779 about the glory of God. 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.200 Generosity itself 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.539 is about the glory of God. 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.200 Why? 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:46.420 Because our generosity 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.620 reflects God's generosity. 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.860 Because the gospel, 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.819 which is at the heart 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.400 of our faith, 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.460 is actually the truth 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.759 of God's ultimate generosity. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.580 It's this great story 00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:58.980 of people who hate 00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.940 and spit in the face 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:00.920 of the God who made them, 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:01.840 say, 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.059 we want to go it alone, 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.440 never want to see you again. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.799 And God, 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.420 in response, 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:07.880 says, 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.319 okay, 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.880 I'm going to give you 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.740 everything I have. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:13.240 I'm going to give it all to you. 00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.859 Everything that is 00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:15.819 most precious to me. 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:17.579 Because I love you. 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:21.099 And when that kind of generosity 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.539 pierces the world, 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.680 it changes it. 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.579 It alters it. 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.279 Because of this offer 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.599 of Jesus on the cross, 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:33.220 we see that God's answer 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.400 to all of the pain 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:35.620 and suffering of the world 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:37.539 is an act of ultimate generosity. 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:37.659 generosity. 00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:40.420 So, 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.240 Paul says, 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.119 our generosity 00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:45.539 is like a fragrant offering 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.240 to God. 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:46.539 Why? 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.339 Because it reflects 00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:49.559 God's offering. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.539 It reflects 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.920 Jesus' offering 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.539 of himself 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.740 for us. 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.220 So that's why 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.740 every week, 00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:00.139 before we come to this table, 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.619 every week just before that, 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.299 we give an offering. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.619 And that's not just kind of like, 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:04.819 well, 00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.920 we had to fit it in somewhere. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.920 It's because 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:09.920 before we can really 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:11.539 come and receive 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:13.660 what God has done 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.680 for us in this meal, 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.480 and this meal represents 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.140 the sacrificial death 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:19.360 of Jesus on our behalf, 00:30:19.800 --> 00:30:21.960 before we can really receive that, 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.620 we have to reflect 00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.220 on the impact 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.740 that it has 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.039 in our own life. 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.140 And so as an act of worship, 00:30:26.300 --> 00:30:27.180 we give 00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.519 in a way 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.420 that reflects 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.279 the generosity 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:32.400 of Christ 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.279 on our behalf. 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.340 So that's why 00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:34.720 we do it 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.320 when we do it. 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.039 And this is, 00:30:36.179 --> 00:30:36.419 by the way, 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.139 why we say 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.759 that if you're 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.839 a Christian, 00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.279 don't do this 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.579 because the church 00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:42.259 needs the money. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.220 God's going to provide 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:43.720 for the church. 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.819 Do this as an act 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.279 of worship. 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.000 We say that every week. 00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:48.299 And this is why we say 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.059 if you're not a Christian, 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.539 if you're one of the people 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.319 who's a part of our church, 00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:52.079 praise God. 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.720 We love that you're here. 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.439 If you're one of the people 00:30:54.439 --> 00:30:54.939 who's not sure 00:30:54.939 --> 00:30:55.899 what you believe about Jesus, 00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:58.039 then we don't want you 00:30:58.039 --> 00:30:59.379 to give an offering. 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:01.339 We don't need your money. 00:31:01.419 --> 00:31:02.339 We don't want your money 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.259 because it's not about 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:03.639 the money. 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:06.220 It's about a heart 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.820 that knows and understands 00:31:07.820 --> 00:31:08.980 the generosity of God 00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:11.060 so much that generosity 00:31:11.060 --> 00:31:12.259 is its response. 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:13.700 Right? 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.960 So that's how we encourage 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.780 people to give 00:31:15.780 --> 00:31:17.620 as a response 00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:18.620 to God's generosity, 00:31:19.040 --> 00:31:19.700 an overflow 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.940 of gratitude. 00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:24.720 So just a few implications 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:26.220 to pull all this together 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.020 before we move on 00:31:27.020 --> 00:31:27.520 in the service. 00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:28.500 A few things 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.480 we can glean from this 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.060 as we think about 00:31:30.060 --> 00:31:30.680 our own lives. 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:32.620 First thing is this, 00:31:32.840 --> 00:31:33.820 if generosity really 00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:35.240 is rooted in contentment, 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.640 if it flows from contentment, 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.500 then if ever, 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.220 like me, 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.759 you struggle to be generous, 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.560 and I do, 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.240 if ever you struggle 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.820 to be generous, 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.640 that should be like 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.860 a canary in a coal mine 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:50.900 where you say, 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.299 okay, 00:31:51.820 --> 00:31:52.860 this is telling me 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.920 that I'm beginning 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.100 to clutch something 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.860 in my life. 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:58.259 I'm beginning to imbue it 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.359 with promise 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.479 and hope 00:32:00.479 --> 00:32:01.679 that it doesn't deserve, 00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:03.519 that it can't bear up 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.479 under the weight of. 00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.619 I need, 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:07.000 and it's a warning 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:10.479 that we're clutching 00:32:10.479 --> 00:32:11.859 rather than holding 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.719 freely and lightly 00:32:12.719 --> 00:32:14.259 that which we've been given. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.299 The second thing is this, 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.319 if generosity really 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:18.500 does help us grow, 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.599 then I would encourage you 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.579 to be as intentional 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.619 about your giving 00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:23.119 as you are 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:23.919 about your diet 00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:24.679 or your grooming 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.680 or your job, 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.480 your education, 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:27.640 right? 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.120 Some of you, 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.279 like at age three, 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.160 had your plan 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:31.039 through age 50. 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:31.480 You know, 00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:33.200 it was all mapped out 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:33.720 of where you were going 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.420 to go in the degrees, 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.039 and that's amazing. 00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:35.840 I'm not like that. 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.840 I admire that. 00:32:38.320 --> 00:32:39.440 Can we at least be 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.580 half as intentional 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:42.140 about our generosity? 00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:43.539 You know, 00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:44.320 when you're laying out 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:44.820 your house, 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.580 are you laying it out 00:32:45.580 --> 00:32:46.299 in a way where you can 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.380 fit a bunch of people in it? 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:47.900 You know, 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.880 when you're buying a table, 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.019 you're buying the kind of table 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.960 that you can get 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:52.140 a bunch of people around, 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.480 right? 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.799 When you're planning 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.440 your weekend 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.259 or planning your 00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:56.299 kind of time off, 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.640 are you planning ways 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.680 that you might make yourself 00:32:58.680 --> 00:33:00.160 more available to people? 00:33:00.320 --> 00:33:02.200 Are we thinking about that? 00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:03.980 When we do our budgets, 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.200 I just keep coming back 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:06.779 to the Spencers. 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.059 You know, 00:33:08.100 --> 00:33:08.860 what's the priority 00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.640 in budgeting? 00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:12.160 What are our kind of budget goals 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.860 down the road? 00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.580 I rarely meet people 00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:14.900 who say, 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.059 well, 00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:16.180 my number one financial goal 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.480 is to be able 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.160 to give more away. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:20.420 It's staggering to me. 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:22.460 And then the third thing 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:22.980 is this, 00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.920 or the last thing 00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:25.400 is this, 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:29.200 if you're someone like me 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:30.160 who struggles 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.900 to be generous, 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:33.820 the answer is not 00:33:33.820 --> 00:33:34.920 to try harder. 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:37.100 The answer is not 00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:38.240 to leave here saying, 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.420 well, 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:44.060 I just need to buckle down. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.440 You know, 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:47.000 the answer is right here 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.440 in front of us. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.759 The answer is to look 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.299 at the cross. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:50.940 You want to become 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:51.460 more generous? 00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:53.900 The only way 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.720 to become more generous 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:57.559 is to fix your eyes 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.160 on the cross, 00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.620 to allow the truth 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:01.779 of God's ultimate generosity 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.860 to sink into your heart 00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:04.080 so that it melts your heart. 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:06.120 And it's out of that place 00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:07.200 of gratitude 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.260 and amazement 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:09.220 and awe 00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:10.659 that true generosity 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.659 springs. 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.420 The more that sinks 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.019 into our hearts, 00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.579 the more generous 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.099 we become. 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.720 Let's pray. 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.039 Lord, 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.019 we recognize 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:21.220 that all of this, 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.340 this entire gathering 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.099 is a response 00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:23.820 to your generosity. 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.980 We thank you for that. 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:28.179 It staggers the mind. 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:31.099 It breaks our hearts. 00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:32.780 Lord, 00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.740 as we continue on, 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:36.139 we pray that this truth 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.780 would sink deep 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.420 into our hearts. 00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:41.039 We pray that we would be known 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:43.200 as a generous community. 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.760 We pray, 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.700 we thank you 00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:45.200 and praise you 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:46.099 for all of the ways 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:47.099 your generosity 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:48.599 is reflected in this community 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:51.259 and we pray for more of it. 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:53.980 We pray for more of it. 00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:55.639 We ask this in your Son's holy name. 00:34:55.919 --> 00:34:56.059 Amen.