WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.620 The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, I love that name, once told a story about a group of thieves that broke in one night to a jewellery store. 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:18.379 But they didn't take anything. Instead, they just switched all the price tags on the jewellery. 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:25.460 Next day, the shop opened and things looked a little bit different, but nobody could quite work out what had happened. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:35.600 So it was business as usual, except it wasn't, because for the rest of the day, people were leaving that store in a number of different ways. 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:44.100 People had gone in thinking, having spent a lot of money, thinking that they were coming out with very valuable jewels, whereas in fact they were going away with all the cheap stuff. 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:49.859 On the other hand, there were the people that couldn't afford the great treasures and had spent very little. 00:00:49.859 --> 00:00:56.600 In fact, they were coming out of the store with the most valuable, precious things of all. 00:01:01.159 --> 00:01:05.780 Our world places value on material wealth. 00:01:06.460 --> 00:01:11.019 It places value on money and the security that money promises. 00:01:11.659 --> 00:01:13.780 There's nothing new about that. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:18.680 But the gospel calls us to think again. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:22.120 The gospel reverses those values. 00:01:23.240 --> 00:01:29.680 It's like when Jesus comes on the scene and everything that Jesus and his kingdom that he promises represents, 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:38.380 it's like all of those price tags in life have been suddenly jumbled up. 00:01:39.020 --> 00:01:40.860 Everything is turned upside down. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:58.519 If you get a pot of water and you boil a kettle and you fill the pot of water with boiling hot water from the kettle, 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:04.219 and then you get a live frog and drop the frog in the boiling water, 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:09.519 the frog will, or at least it will try to escape the boiling water. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:15.660 However, if you get the same pot and you fill it with cold water, 00:02:16.260 --> 00:02:22.620 and you get the frog and drop it into the water, it will be quite happy because it's nice and cool. 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:28.100 But if you then put it on the hob and then gradually bring it to boiling point, 00:02:28.640 --> 00:02:32.800 the frog won't actually notice until it's too late. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:42.760 Why? Well, because the frog's instincts are geared towards detecting sudden change, not gradual. 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:47.340 Now, as I share that with you, let me tell you a couple of things. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:53.500 Firstly, while I have a number of different hobbies, frog boiling isn't one of them. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.280 So I haven't actually tried this out. 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:57.620 I read about it. 00:02:57.620 --> 00:03:02.719 But secondly, let me tell you why I share that with you. 00:03:03.379 --> 00:03:03.920 It's this. 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:11.920 You see, I think probably most of us, probably all of us, would to some degree or another, 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:21.319 agree with the proposition that actually, of all the different things in life that could be important to us, 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:26.480 money, whilst it might be important at times, is not the most important thing. 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:31.780 And actually, I don't think it's just Christians that would go along with that belief. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:39.420 I think actually most people would, to some extent, agree with some of that. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:47.400 That would say actually, you know, okay, whilst we might prize money and the things that it offers, 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:54.159 and whilst we might think that material possessions might be quite important, 00:03:54.500 --> 00:03:56.219 they're not the most important thing. 00:03:56.219 --> 00:04:01.020 I think most human beings would actually probably go along with at least some of that. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:08.219 But the thing is, we must hold that in principle, but we live in a world, and I ought to say, 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:09.860 there's nothing new about this. 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:11.740 It's as old as time itself. 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:19.100 We live in a world in which we're surrounded with a conflicting message, and it's ever so subtle. 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:26.439 And it's a message that actually says the very opposite, that the most important things are actually the pursuit of wealth, 00:04:26.820 --> 00:04:32.860 and the pursuit of financial security, and the peace of mind that that can bring. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:38.120 And it's actually the accumulation of possessions, those things that actually really matter. 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:46.699 Now, whilst maybe most of us, Christian or not, would want to distance ourselves from the bold claim that actually money is everything, 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:49.819 the reality is different. 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:57.120 So whilst we might have in our minds and in our hearts this conviction that actually money is not the most important thing, 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:03.459 when we then find ourselves in the culture that surrounds us, 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:09.199 our sensitivities may not be tuned in always to what's going on. 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:15.079 And you don't have to go very far to hear an advertising message or a claim or something. 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:22.879 It comes up in conversation, where we're led into this climate that actually says that, you know, 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:30.379 material stuff is rather more important than we actually want to think it is. 00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:37.259 And the pursuit of wealth, actually it's something that perhaps we ought to be thinking a bit about more. 00:05:37.799 --> 00:05:40.120 And it's subtle when we don't notice it, 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:46.840 and we don't notice it because we become desensitized because we are exposed to it and its subtlety all the time. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.519 We need to be aware of it. 00:05:51.840 --> 00:05:54.620 And that is certainly what Paul was trying to say. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:03.699 In 1 Timothy, it's one of the, what is known in the New Testament as the pastoral letters, pastoral epistles, 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.639 that were written from one church leader to another. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:11.399 And here Paul writes to Timothy as a church leader to another church leader, 00:06:11.899 --> 00:06:17.399 saying to him of a number of, addressing a number of different pastoral issues, 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:22.519 life issues that he can encounter as one who's been put in charge of leading a church. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:30.539 And Paul is saying to him about the importance of remembering the life that we're called to as Christians 00:06:30.539 --> 00:06:36.360 and how our attitude to wealth and material possessions fits into all of that. 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:38.800 And so he says this, let me read it to you again. 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:42.520 Command those who are rich in this present world, 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:46.000 not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:47.879 which is so uncertain, 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:50.240 but to put their hope in God, 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:53.639 who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 00:06:54.780 --> 00:06:56.300 Notice that he begins that by saying, 00:06:56.420 --> 00:06:58.460 command those who are rich. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:00.699 Now, in listening to this, 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:02.339 we might be very tempted, 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:03.500 ever so tempted to think, 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:04.379 well, that's okay, 00:07:04.479 --> 00:07:06.639 because I don't really fall into that category. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.839 So I can kind of listen in on this, 00:07:09.099 --> 00:07:13.240 but these words clearly aren't targeted directly to me myself. 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:16.240 I'd want to challenge that. 00:07:16.719 --> 00:07:18.199 And the reason I want to challenge it 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.539 is certainly in 2018, 00:07:21.039 --> 00:07:22.179 in the UK, 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:26.740 we can probably safely say 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:31.560 that by virtue of living in the UK in 2018, 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:35.180 it is highly likely that we are part 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:40.699 of the richest 20% of the world's population. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.300 We can look at all sorts of statistics 00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:45.220 that will actually confirm that. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:46.899 The point is, 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:48.379 it's a very basically simple one, 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.540 but it's a really important one. 00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:52.379 If we think that these words don't apply to us 00:07:52.379 --> 00:07:53.819 because we're not really wealthy 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:56.520 in the sense that Paul was writing to Timothy here, 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:58.240 actually, we need to think again, 00:07:58.300 --> 00:07:58.840 because we are. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:00.040 In global terms, 00:08:00.340 --> 00:08:02.080 we are stinking rich. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:04.020 So we need to bear in mind 00:08:04.020 --> 00:08:06.140 that these words are definitely, 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:07.620 definitely for us. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:10.439 But it's not just Paul's words to Timothy 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:12.140 that say this. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:13.680 Jesus says the same things. 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:15.439 In fact, Jesus had more to say 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:17.759 about the themes of money and wealth 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.300 than he had to say about pretty much anything else, 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:22.259 even prayer and faith. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:23.959 Time and time again, 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:27.819 he told stories to draw attention to that theme. 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:30.319 One of the most well-known stories 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:32.860 that Jesus told was the parable of the sower. 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:34.460 And he said the kingdom of God 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:35.480 and its operation, 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:37.779 it's growing or not growing within the world, 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.779 has about it similar dynamics 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:41.299 of, if you can imagine, 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.480 somebody going out to plant seed. 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:44.939 And as they plant seed, 00:08:44.940 --> 00:08:47.420 some of the seed falls on stony ground, 00:08:47.560 --> 00:08:49.500 some of it falls on good soil, 00:08:49.660 --> 00:08:50.100 some of it, 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:51.180 some of it, he says, 00:08:51.400 --> 00:08:53.580 falls among thorns. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.880 And then as the seeds begin to grow, 00:08:56.160 --> 00:08:57.900 so the thorns grow up around them, 00:08:58.140 --> 00:09:02.020 and the thorns choke those plants from growing. 00:09:03.420 --> 00:09:04.880 And then Jesus says this. 00:09:06.660 --> 00:09:09.500 He says that the thorns in that story, 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:11.640 and it's one of the few parables 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:12.980 that Jesus then went on 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:15.199 and actually explained to his disciples 00:09:15.199 --> 00:09:15.799 the meaning of. 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:16.439 Most of the time, 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.399 Jesus didn't do that. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.360 He just let people work it out for themselves. 00:09:19.699 --> 00:09:21.220 But here's one where he was asked, 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:22.480 what does that story mean? 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.179 And he went on to say, 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:23.620 he said, 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:26.460 the thorns represent 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:29.259 the worries of life 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:32.439 and the deceitfulness of wealth 00:09:32.439 --> 00:09:36.840 as things that can choke 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:38.980 the growth of God's word 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:41.159 and God's plans within our lives. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:44.379 Notice that Jesus doesn't just say 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:46.300 the thorns represent wealth, 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:50.300 but he says the worries of life 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:53.080 and the deceitfulness of wealth 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.860 are both things that can choke 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:57.600 our growth in God. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:00.500 You see, the point is, 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.980 is whether when you think of money 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:05.680 and possessions, 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:07.279 it's something that worries you 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.379 because it's something that you haven't got, 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:11.500 or whether it's because 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:12.120 when you think of it, 00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:12.559 actually you think, 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.720 yeah, I've got so much, 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:14.899 and you're really wealthy 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:16.659 because it's something you have got. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:18.120 It doesn't really matter. 00:10:18.319 --> 00:10:19.279 The point is, 00:10:19.299 --> 00:10:19.939 is those things, 00:10:20.059 --> 00:10:21.399 whether it's things we worry about 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:22.779 or things that actually 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:23.659 we just accumulate 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:24.740 and that we have, 00:10:25.839 --> 00:10:26.860 they're equally dangerous. 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:29.199 They can choke, 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.600 to come back to that image, 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:32.079 just like a thorn 00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:33.839 choking the growth of a plant. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:35.500 These things, 00:10:35.660 --> 00:10:36.200 whether they're things 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:37.019 we worry about 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:37.700 or things that we just 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:39.000 go after all the time, 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:41.420 they can choke our growth. 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:43.660 Whether we have wealth 00:10:43.660 --> 00:10:45.660 or whether we don't have wealth, 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:49.639 it's the preoccupation with it 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:51.240 that is the point 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:52.899 that Jesus addressed 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:55.139 and which Paul is addressing 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:56.320 in his letter to Timothy. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.320 So what are the dangers? 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:00.940 Well, isolate two of these things, 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:03.080 and if you've read the book 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:04.280 that our current series 00:11:04.280 --> 00:11:05.240 is based on, 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:06.500 or if you're reading it 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:07.120 or if you're following it 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:07.840 in your growth group, 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:10.040 giving, unlocking the heart 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:11.640 of good stewardship, 00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:13.560 then if you're reading this, 00:11:13.640 --> 00:11:15.420 then you may have already read 00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:17.340 this section 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:19.280 that I'm about to read to you. 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:22.480 Because in this book, 00:11:22.640 --> 00:11:23.860 the writer says 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:26.280 that there are two key dangers 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:29.019 when it comes to the theme 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:31.980 of wealth and possessions. 00:11:32.459 --> 00:11:33.819 The first danger 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:35.819 is materialism. 00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:38.120 Materialism being 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:40.319 a sense of preoccupation 00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:41.559 with owning 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:43.399 and accumulating stuff. 00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:44.539 Whether we're talking 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.459 about possessions 00:11:45.459 --> 00:11:47.039 over what we've got, 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:48.620 or whether we're talking 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:49.600 about worrying 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.539 about what we haven't got. 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:53.120 The theme remains the same. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.759 It means the preoccupation 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.620 with those things. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.019 Let me read to you. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.539 According to Webster's 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:02.320 New College Dictionary, 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:05.220 materialism is defined as, 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:05.759 I quote, 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:08.120 a theory that physical matter 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.480 is the only 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.500 or fundamental reality, 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:13.460 that the highest values 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.139 or objectives 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:16.240 lie in material well-being. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.960 He goes on to say, 00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:21.240 materialism begins 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.080 with what we believe. 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:25.560 Not merely what we say 00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:26.680 we believe, 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.419 but the philosophy of life 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:31.200 we actually live by. 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:32.680 Hence, 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:34.200 while any true Christian 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.600 would deny belief 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.860 in the philosophical 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:39.019 underpinnings of materialism, 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.259 they couldn't be a Christian 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:40.960 if they didn't, 00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:42.580 they may nonetheless 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:44.080 be preoccupied 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.120 with material 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.659 rather than 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:48.259 spiritual things, 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.600 and therefore, 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.500 in fact, 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:51.980 be a practicing 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:53.340 materialist. 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:56.100 Practicing materialists 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:56.779 may say 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:58.040 whatever they wish 00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:59.639 about the spiritual realm. 00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:01.560 They may go to church 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.200 every week, 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.500 serve communion 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.360 or preach, 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:05.399 but if they 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:06.680 center their lives 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:07.960 around the accumulation 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:09.120 of things, 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:10.560 they are, 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:11.820 despite their 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:13.340 most heated denials, 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.200 materialists. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.360 And a question 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.060 that I think 00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:18.600 that presents 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.340 each and every 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.320 one of us with 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.740 is what might 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.740 that look like 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.720 in terms of 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.620 our own lives. 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.600 Yes, 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.720 we may lay hold 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:28.139 to that principle 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.180 that it's not 00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:30.100 material things 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.639 that matter, 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:31.840 that we believe 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.960 that it is the spiritual 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:34.039 that is most important, 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:35.220 but how does that 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.500 translate into reality? 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.860 When we leave 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.379 this place, 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:39.080 when we face 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:39.840 the rest of our lives, 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.279 when we go into 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.940 our workplaces, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.539 when we go into 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.019 the shops, 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.460 when we go online, 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.420 when we pick up 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:45.100 our iPads, 00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:45.680 our laptops, 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.199 or whatever, 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:46.759 what is it 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.879 that actually drives us? 00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:48.319 What is it 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:49.500 that preoccupies us? 00:13:49.719 --> 00:13:50.500 What does our 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.919 lifestyle actually 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.199 spell out? 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.939 Not just what we say 00:13:54.939 --> 00:13:56.559 we think we believe, 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:57.799 but what does 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.500 the reality 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.319 of our lives 00:13:59.319 --> 00:14:00.239 look like? 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.019 Honestly, 00:14:01.479 --> 00:14:02.219 when we think about 00:14:02.219 --> 00:14:02.899 the things 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.399 that preoccupy us 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.399 and the things 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:07.419 that set the map, 00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.459 the direction 00:14:08.459 --> 00:14:09.419 for our lives 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.500 throughout the week. 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:13.319 That's the first danger. 00:14:14.219 --> 00:14:14.779 Materialism, 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.579 a sense of 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.779 preoccupation 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:18.019 with things 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.639 material 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.579 and the accumulation 00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:20.639 of or the worry 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.120 about those things. 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.379 Whether we've actually 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.959 got them or not, 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.079 what is it 00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:26.679 that we spend 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.220 our time 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:28.759 thinking about most? 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.459 The second danger, 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:33.259 the second danger 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.379 when it comes to this 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:36.419 is what we might call 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:37.699 asceticism. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.919 If materialism 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:41.299 is a preoccupation 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:42.620 with or worry 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.259 over accumulating 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.919 things, 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.240 asceticism 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:47.879 means 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.679 the preoccupation 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.600 with denying 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.519 the good 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.039 immaterial stuff. 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.679 And in its 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.799 extreme form 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:56.679 it can lead 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.500 to a mindset 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.200 whereby I think, 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:58.340 well, 00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.120 we must never 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.139 ever enjoy ourselves. 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:00.740 We must never 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.700 have that sort of thing 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:03.259 because it's 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.320 almost bad 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.299 to ever spend 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:05.860 any money 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:07.060 or it's bad 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:08.299 to have anything 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:08.820 for ourselves. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.419 There's a story 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:09.840 that's told, 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.440 a wonderful story 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.400 about a farmer, 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.160 his wife was 00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:12.700 approaching 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:14.560 a round figure 00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.080 birthday 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.560 and he thought 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:17.160 he wanted to 00:15:17.160 --> 00:15:17.680 treat her 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:18.560 but he didn't 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:18.960 really want to 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.600 spend that much 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:19.940 money. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:20.980 He knew that 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.740 for years 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.680 off and on 00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:23.400 she'd mentioned 00:15:23.400 --> 00:15:24.140 how she'd always 00:15:24.140 --> 00:15:25.140 fancied going up 00:15:25.140 --> 00:15:25.980 in one of those 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.380 open cockpit 00:15:27.380 --> 00:15:28.140 planes. 00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:30.740 So he went 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.720 over to an 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.520 airport that he 00:15:32.520 --> 00:15:32.980 knew of 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:35.539 and managed 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.300 to talk 00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:36.980 to somebody 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:39.920 who had 00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:40.659 one of these 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.639 open cockpit 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.340 planes 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.940 with seats 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.340 in it. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:45.659 One for the 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:47.000 pilot 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.600 and then another 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.039 one behind that 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:48.440 for the first 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:48.759 passenger 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.159 and then one 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:49.620 behind that 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.200 for another 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:50.639 passenger. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.600 And he made 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.519 inquiries and 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:54.879 said he would 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.440 really like to 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.600 treat his wife 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.980 to a trip up 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.700 in one of these 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.740 on her birthday. 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:00.779 And he said, 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.340 yeah, we can do 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:01.980 that for you. 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.519 When is it? 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.279 And sure enough 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.159 that was convenient 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.899 for that particular 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:05.319 day. 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:06.639 He said, how much 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.240 would it be? 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.199 They said, 500 00:16:08.199 --> 00:16:08.740 pounds. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.319 He said, you're 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:09.659 joking. 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.120 He said, I want 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.879 to speak to the 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.240 pilot. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:13.399 Well, eventually 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:13.939 they managed to 00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:14.799 get the pilot 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:15.500 to come out 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.539 and he said, 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.840 I'd like to do 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.539 this for my wife 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:18.960 for a birthday 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:19.340 but there's no 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.120 way I'm paying 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.059 500 pounds. 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:21.519 He said, well, 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:22.460 how much were 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.079 you wanting to 00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:23.399 spend? 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:23.939 He said, how 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.620 about 50? 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.600 He said, you're 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:27.939 joking. 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.919 He said, I'm 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.519 not doing that. 00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:30.059 He said, no, 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.240 that's how much 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.799 I'm prepared to 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:32.019 spend. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.100 The pilot 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:33.579 thought really 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:33.819 quickly. 00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.139 He said, I'll 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.559 tell you what, 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.139 I'll take you 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.399 up for 50 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.000 pounds. 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.679 For half an 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:39.879 hour. 00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.439 But on one 00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:41.879 condition. 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.460 That when we're 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.819 up, your wife 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.559 and yourself, 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.559 neither of you 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.480 must make a 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.340 single sound. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.500 I don't want you 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.779 here to shriek 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.879 or holler out 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.399 anything. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.100 If you can 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.939 remain completely 00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.740 quiet for the 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.379 full half hour 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.899 of the flight, 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.659 flight, then I'll 00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.899 let you have it 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.799 for 50 00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.600 pounds. 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.980 What he 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.519 didn't tell 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.000 him was he 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.600 was actually a 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:03.919 bit of a 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.619 stunt pilot. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:06.859 So the 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.359 farmer wanted 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:07.900 to grab the 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:08.200 deal, he 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:08.400 said, I'll 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.680 tell you what 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:08.859 it's on. 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.119 I'll give you 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:09.660 a 50 quid 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.579 cash now. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.139 And provided 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:14.720 we fulfill what 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.539 you've just said, 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:16.440 then that's it. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.779 If we do make a 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.559 sound, either of 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:19.940 us during the 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.319 course of the 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:20.799 flight, well, 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.759 then we owe you 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.599 another 450. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.379 They shook 00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.000 hands, deal 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.459 was done. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.659 Day of the 00:17:25.659 --> 00:17:26.279 birthday, the 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.939 flight came 00:17:26.939 --> 00:17:27.279 around. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.059 The husband 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.879 told his wife 00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:32.799 what he had 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.279 done, what he 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.839 had arranged. 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:34.419 Obviously 00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:35.179 didn't mention 00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:36.500 any of the 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:39.480 conversation that 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:39.879 had taken 00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:40.279 place. 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.779 And she was 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.179 delighted. 00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:42.559 So they 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.199 arrived at the 00:17:43.199 --> 00:17:44.359 airport, got 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:47.480 to the plane, 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.159 got on board, 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:51.599 and the pilot 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.279 started off. 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:53.039 And they 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.000 went up into 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.139 the sky, and 00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.139 this pilot was 00:17:56.139 --> 00:17:57.319 determined that 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.419 he was going to 00:17:58.419 --> 00:17:59.439 win this one. 00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.599 Up he went, 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.519 looped the loop, 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.139 up, down, 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.079 tumbled around, 00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:03.939 through this thing 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:04.599 all over the 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.099 place to the 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.579 point that the 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.459 actual pilot was 00:18:06.459 --> 00:18:07.099 getting scared. 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:08.339 And yet to his 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.480 astonishment, over 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.480 half an hour of 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.459 stunt after stunt 00:18:11.459 --> 00:18:12.259 after stunt, there 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.779 was not a sound 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.980 from the back. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.879 And eventually he 00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.719 decided he would 00:18:17.719 --> 00:18:18.519 have to just cut 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.099 his loss. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.539 So he was just 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.519 coming into land, 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.619 and as he did 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.419 so, he shouted 00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:25.240 back to the 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.539 farmer. 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.000 He said, well, 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.579 I guess you 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:26.919 win. 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.719 It's 50 pounds, 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.699 that's it, you 00:18:29.699 --> 00:18:30.219 don't know me 00:18:30.219 --> 00:18:30.639 anymore. 00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.179 And just as he 00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:33.480 was touching the 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.539 ground, the 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.279 farmer shouted 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.259 back to him, he 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.179 said, you almost 00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:38.219 won, you almost 00:18:38.219 --> 00:18:38.519 won. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.919 I almost shouted 00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:41.000 when my wife 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.599 fell out. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:52.579 we might think it's 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.419 a good thing to 00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:54.259 try and cling 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.579 hold of every 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.459 last thing. 00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.199 We might think 00:18:57.199 --> 00:18:57.639 there's something 00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:59.039 virtuous about it, 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.359 but it's not a 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.480 truly authentically 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:04.599 biblical approach 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:07.099 to wealth, to 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:07.859 money, and to 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.299 possessions. 00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:08.500 Christians. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.500 And in fact, we 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.099 haven't got time to 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:11.919 go into detail, but 00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:13.079 when we look at the 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:14.579 whole scriptural 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.599 narrative, the story 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.000 of the Old 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.079 Testament of people 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.379 of God, and the 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:19.119 whole culture into 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.619 which Jesus came, and 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.940 which Jesus indeed 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.279 affirmed, it was a 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.259 culture that liked to 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.379 party, that liked to 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:25.759 feast. 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.159 We see so many of the 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:27.980 festivals in the 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.639 Hebrew tradition, 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.539 because they were a 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.500 people that actually 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:32.339 would celebrate the 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.279 goodness of life in the 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.639 material world, and 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:36.380 would do so lavishly. 00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:40.120 So asceticism, when 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:41.200 it means that sense 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.340 of despising the 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:43.560 material, and 00:19:43.560 --> 00:19:47.900 being suspicious of 00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:49.460 any sense of 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:52.259 embracing wealth as a 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:54.180 good thing, it 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.240 misses what is 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.620 essentially at the 00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.480 heart of what Paul is 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.500 talking about here. 00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:01.020 There is the danger of 00:20:01.020 --> 00:20:01.960 preoccupation. 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:03.960 preoccupation in the 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.100 material sense of 00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:07.640 things, where we only 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:09.039 ever think about either 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.240 accumulating more 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.579 stuff, or we worry 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.400 about the stuff that 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.200 we don't have. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.880 Or there can be the 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.079 preoccupation that 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.740 effectively translates as 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.460 denying any goodness 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:21.600 in anything material. 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:26.620 Paul says, guard what 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:28.700 has been entrusted to 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.380 your care. 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:32.880 Guard what has been 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.440 entrusted to your 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.800 care. 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:37.920 See, wealth brings 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.820 with it responsibility. 00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:43.920 What we have, and we 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:45.100 may think it's a lot, we 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:46.140 may not think it's a lot. 00:20:46.260 --> 00:20:47.580 Globally, it is a lot. 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:50.820 What we have carries 00:20:50.820 --> 00:20:51.880 with it responsibility. 00:20:53.760 --> 00:20:55.100 Responsibility to use 00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:56.980 before God. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:21:01.059 responsibility before God 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:02.480 with the things that he 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:05.039 has entrusted us with. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.380 One last story. 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:10.559 The composer, Liszt, 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:13.279 years ago, was asked to 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.339 perform at court on the 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:17.559 piano before the Russian 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:20.099 czar, Nicholas I. 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.179 first. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:24.939 And as he was in the 00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:26.279 middle of his first 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:29.519 sonata, he noticed in 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.699 the corner of his eye 00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:33.559 that the Russian czar was 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.059 actually chatting with one 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:36.679 of his aides. 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:40.619 Liszt continued to play his 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:42.000 way through the sonata, but 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.219 as he noticed that the 00:21:44.219 --> 00:21:46.359 chatting between the czar 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:48.479 and his aide was not 00:21:48.479 --> 00:21:48.959 stopping. 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.500 He found himself more 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.619 and more irritated. 00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:58.819 Eventually, Liszt stopped 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:02.439 playing midway through the 00:22:02.439 --> 00:22:05.479 piece and just placed his 00:22:05.479 --> 00:22:07.399 hands on his lap. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:11.199 Suddenly, the czar stopped 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:11.600 talking. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.019 And he sent his aide to 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:18.080 inquire what the problem 00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:18.580 was. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:21.640 Liszt replied, 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:24.680 when the czar speaks, 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:27.539 everyone should be silent. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:31.319 There were no more 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:33.059 interruptions after that. 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.299 See, recognising the 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:40.339 greatness of that which 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.680 we are in the presence 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:44.859 of changes how we act. 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.899 Recognising the goodness, 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:51.099 the greatness of that which 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:52.339 we have been given and 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.420 which has been entrusted 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.000 into us. 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.399 And recognising not only 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:57.240 that we have so much, 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.880 but recognising that we 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:01.339 are allowed to have so 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.819 much and that God is 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:04.099 there and is present in 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.880 our lives changes the 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:08.299 way in which we 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.680 approach the way we 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.759 handle those things and 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.660 the way we live our 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.140 lives. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:18.059 God, says Paul, what 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:19.220 has been entrusted to 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.779 your care. 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.120 And so as we pray now, 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.759 let's do that. 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.940 Let's reflect on what we 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.279 have. 00:23:27.100 --> 00:23:29.759 Let's reflect on the way 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.160 in which we tend to 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.620 approach that which we 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:32.920 have. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.600 And let's entrust it to 00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:37.440 God as he has 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.420 entrusted it to us. 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:38.900 Commerce back. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.080 For thereich software, yes, 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.420 we are Jesús. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:40.880 Thank you. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.279 Look, 00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:48.779 for the 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:51.160 누� wprowad wydru the 00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:55.140 government had more 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.320 adjustments and 00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:57.340 exactly what they 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.000 want to do. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.640 I'm going to 00:24:00.800 --> 00:24:01.360 bring your 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.019 results. 00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:02.440 Take care. 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.060 Take care. 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.060 Take care. 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.660 Michael Pyram, 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.240 take care.