WEBVTT

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 Alright, thank you all very much. As was mentioned earlier, I had the flu this week, at least I think that's what I had this week.

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! On Wednesday, I had a temperature of almost 103. My highest measure was 102.9. I just felt like I cooked all day Wednesday.

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 And I was really hoping to have a little more energy for today, but I really feel like I could fall over just at any moment.

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 Like if the air comes on, I might just tip over here on the stage.

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 I told Wes before the service started that my hope this morning was to not say anything false and to not start just coughing madly during the sermon.

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 So, I've got my bottle of water in my hand. I might be drinking from it profusely this morning as we open up the Word of God together.

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 Now, we've been working together through the Gospel of Mark, and we're going to take another break from it today.

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 And I just want you to know that as a general pattern, as a church, we're committed to verse-by-verse exposition.

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 As a general pattern, we find it to be the healthiest way that we can work through the Word of God together.

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 However, there are times that it's important to stop and look at something in a more topical fashion.

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 And topical preaching can be done healthy, so don't ever hear us when we talk about believing a pattern of verse-by-verse exposition is the best pattern,

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 that other places are wrong for doing it differently.

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 There are a lot of very Gospel-centered, Christ-exalting churches that pastors preach on topics,

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 and they do so in an expositional way, which is essentially to say that they teach what the Bible has to say.

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 They don't use the Scriptures to support their own opinion, but they bring to you what the Word of God has to say about a particular topic.

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 So this morning, I don't know if anybody ever pays any attention to the bulletins that we give out,

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 but this morning we're going to look toward a biblical practice of the tithe.

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 That's what we're going to talk about this morning.

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 And I think this is a good time to do that for our church for multiple reasons.

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 Number one, if you do give to Christ Family Church, you just got your giving statement, so you know exactly how much you gave last year.

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 So you kind of know where you stand in that process, and it's a good time to stop and think and reflect on whether or not you're giving faithfully.

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 Secondly, we're coming in under budget for the year, and it's early in the year so far.

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 We are trusting in God's provision for this year, but as a church, we voted on a budget to support a budget,

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 and we're coming in up underneath that at this point, which doesn't cause any panic in anybody in the leadership's place.

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 We've been under budget at other times before, but sometimes things like that can be indicative of another thing,

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 a deeper thing going on within our church.

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 And it may not be, but it's probably a good time to stop and really look at what the Bible has to say about giving for that reason.

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 And then thirdly, just my own conviction about the topic of giving.

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 And this is what I mean.

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 In the past, in a lot of ways, I have really relegated this topic off and thought of it almost as,

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 and maybe even unintentionally taught it as, a necessary evil.

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 An example of that is the way we do giving, the box being in the back.

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 There's nothing wrong with doing that.

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 Not many healthy, biblical, Christ-exalting churches do the offering that way,

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 and I think it is a way to do the offering that is perfectly acceptable.

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 But I've got to tell you, the reason we started doing it that way is because I didn't want to make a big deal about collecting money at all.

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 Just shove it off there. It's a necessary evil. Stick it in the back. Don't make a big deal.

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 A little mention at the end of the service is enough.

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 And that really does you a disservice.

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 Because the Bible has much to say about giving.

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 And this is a giving that is to your profit, not to mine as a person who receives a salary from this church,

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 but to your profit.

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 My heart in this is the same as Paul's heart in 2 Corinthians chapter 12, where he says,

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 I seek not what is yours, but you.

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 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.

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 So understanding how it is that we ought to give and what we should be giving to is really incredibly important for our own sake.

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 How is it that if we're to be disciples of Christ, drawn into obedience in every way,

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 and following Him, that we are supposed to handle our money?

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 So, for example, turn to Mark chapter 4.

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 It's where we've been together.

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 We just finished up chapter 4.

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 The aim of Mark, as is the aim of all of the Gospels, is to convince us that Jesus is who He said He is,

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 that He is, in fact, the Son of God, and to find us following Him in every way.

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 And I've simplified that for you by saying that we would be disciple-making disciples.

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 Now, be clear, there is no other kind of disciple.

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 Disciples make disciples, because that's what Jesus did.

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 So if we're following Jesus, we will make disciples.

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 But because it seems in this age there needs to be some clarification on that point,

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 I'll continue to say to make disciple-making disciples.

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 This is the great calling that we have, and this is the argument that Mark is making for us,

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 using all of these different pictures of Jesus' life.

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 And he pauses, particularly in chapter 4, to give us some of the teaching of Jesus.

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 And he talks in these different parables.

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 This is entirely unplanned on my part, so forgive me here.

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 The parable of the sower.

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 And he talks about this good fruit that yields 30-fold and 60-fold and 100-fold.

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 Then he talks about the lamp under the basket.

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 It shouldn't be hidden under the basket or up underneath the bed,

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 but it should be put out to give light to the room.

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 He talks about the sower that doesn't know how it is that seed sprouts up,

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 but he sows, right?

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 And then the mustard seed.

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 We don't understand how it is that the kingdom of God becomes the thing that it becomes,

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 the magnitude that it has, but yet we still are to be about this work.

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 And so he's building this case for us here that we should be disciple-making disciples.

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 Our church has a vision statement.

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 The Christ Family Church exists to glorify God by experiencing, proclaiming, and displaying the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things to all peoples.

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 And this is unique to us.

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 I mean, this is our statement, but this should not be a unique drive of the Christian life, right?

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 We're not trying to create a cult of vision as if God has given us some special vision statement,

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 and we're going to follow this vision statement together, right?

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 This is the biblical mandate to all believers.

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 We've just put it in these words because we found them particularly beautiful,

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 and we thought we could communicate the different aspects of Christian living through such a statement.

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 And so we're called to be disciple-making disciples, and that includes the way we deal with our money.

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 It includes all aspects of our living.

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 The Bible is not silent about finances.

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 You sit in a lot of churches, and you would think so.

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 You would think that Jesus never spoke to the topic, but he spoke to it all the time.

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 The Bible is full of teaching about the potential evil of money, the way it should be used righteously,

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 and it's missed so often, so often in our churches.

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 And I don't want to be a church, and I don't want to be a pastor that leads you in that way.

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 There's a study, it's a really fairly famous study called Passing the Plate.

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 It was done in 2008.

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 I would encourage you to look at it in greater depth.

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 But it gives us a little bit of an idea of the state of giving of American Christians.

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 And this is of committed Christians.

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 So these are those who self-reported that their faith is very important to them,

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 and those who stated they attend church at least twice per month.

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 And that's another sermon about what it means to be a committed Christian.

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 But this is the way they qualified who these people were.

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 Committed Christians in America.

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 $2.5 trillion a year is the income of these committed Christians in America.

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 Which means that this group, if we pulled out committed Christians in this reporting,

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 this group could be admitted to G7.

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 I don't know if you know what that is, but that's the summit of the seven highest,

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 the seven largest economies in the world.

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 They get together and they talk world problem, world economy.

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 And Christians in America, committed Christians in America,

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 could be admitted to that group with the $2.5 trillion a year that are earned by those households.

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 Households.

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 So if we start with the premises of a tithe being 10%,

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 if 10% was given, $46 billion more than is currently given would be given.

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 If all of those households gave 10%,

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 46 billion more than is currently given.

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 That's a phenomenal amount of money.

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 And you may be thinking, well, 46 billion really isn't that much money in the scheme of things.

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 But 10 billion would sponsor 20 million children for a year.

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 Pretty phenomenal.

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 $330 million would sponsor 150,000 indigenous missionaries in countries close to religious workers.

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 150,000 indigenous missionaries in countries close to religious workers.

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 $2.2 billion would triple the current funding of Bible translation, printing, and distribution.

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 And we've only spent...

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 Oh, I can't do the math off the top of my head.

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 I'm such in a fog right now.

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 Anyway, after we've spent that, we still have $33.5 billion left to spend per year.

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 That money, it's a staggering amount of money.

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 And so much good can be accomplished with it.

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 The average percentage of income given across the board of these committed Christians is 6%.

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 However, the median amount...

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 This is the shocking fact.

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 The median amount given of each of these households is $200 a year.

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 The median.

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 That would be in college, right?

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 The average one in the middle, right?

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 The average number.

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 Not the average of the total, but the number in the middle.

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 $200 per year, which is just over half of 1% of after-tax income.

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 Just over half of 1% of after-tax income.

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 The reason it averages out to 6% is because there are many very generous, very philanthropic people counted in this number

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 that pull that average way the other direction and give everybody a little bit of credit there.

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 But it's not coming from the vast majority of believers, but from a few that are really faithful in their giving.

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 So, what does God's Word have to say about our giving?

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 And let's start just in one place.

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 We're going to get all over the place today.

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 But let's look in Luke chapter 12 together first.

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 Always good to start with our Lord's teaching.

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 Luke chapter 12 beginning in verse 15.

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 And He said to them,

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 Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness.

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 Or you could replace the word there with greed.

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 For one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

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 Now, beloved American church, just sit and let that soak into your heart for a moment.

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 Jesus said,

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 Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness or greed.

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 Whether you have money or you don't have money.

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 We're all in this category, speaking to every single one of us.

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 What is going on in your heart as it concerns money?

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 Right?

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 For one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

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 Verse 16.

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 And He told them a parable saying,

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 The land of a rich man produced plentifully.

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 And He thought to Himself,

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 What shall I do?

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 For I have nowhere to store my crops.

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 And He said,

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 I will do this.

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 I will tear down my barns and build larger ones.

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 And there I will store all my grain and my goods.

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 And I will say to my soul,

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 Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years.

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 Relax, eat, drink, be merry.

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 But God said to him,

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 Fool, this night your soul is required of you.

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 And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?

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 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

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 Now this is not a parable He's teaching here to tell us that we ought not save.

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 That we ought not invest in the future.

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 That we ought not be in some way planning now for retirement later.

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 This is not what He's saying here.

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 Remember, this is a parable coming right off of Him saying to be on our guard against greed.

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 Because our life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions.

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 So recall that.

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 If we do not want to be the fool, what is He saying to us?

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 He's saying that we should be rich in what we do with our money toward God.

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 We should spend what we have on the kingdom.

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 The Bible teaches elsewhere that we should save.

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 I would commend it to you, having worked as a budget coach.

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 You should do some saving.

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 It's a good thing.

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 In fact, your saving can serve the kingdom of God.

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 What he's saying is, don't live for yourself.

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 Don't take possessions and hold on to them tightly.

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 That you may have them and you may turn them over and treasure them.

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 He will call you a fool one day.

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 These things you cannot hang on to.

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 You can't take them with you.

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 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

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 Now there's an Old Testament practice, an Old Testament law called the tithe.

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 And we should look at that together to begin with.

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 So turn with me to Leviticus chapter 27.

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 I have to tell you this morning that I desperately want to make tithing a law to you.

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 It would just make things so easy.

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 If I could just simply make a simple justification.

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 It was an Old Testament law and nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus negate it.

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 He doesn't.

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 He doesn't tell people to not tithe in the New Testament.

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 I would love that you say, so 10%, get it done.

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 If you're not doing 10%, you're being disobedient.

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 How dare you?

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 You should do 10%.

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 Let's all go home.

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 It would be a lot easier.

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 It would be easier for me personally.

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 It would be very nice just to simply pull out my calculator.

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 Anytime I had any income come into our house.

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 Do the quick calculation.

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 Write the check.

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 Put it in the box.

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 And I'm done.

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 That would be so simple.

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 But it's not quite that simple.

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 Now, there were two types of giving taught in the Old Testament.

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 There was required giving and there was voluntary giving.

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 So, in required giving is where we first start to see this picture of the tithe.

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 Which, in Hebrew, ma'aser literally means tenth part.

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 So, Leviticus chapter 27, verse 30.

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 Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's.

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 It is holy to the Lord.

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 Now, what was done with all that tithe?

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 What was done with it?

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 Because it's the Lord.

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 Does the Lord store it up?

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 Does the Lord have it someplace?

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 No.

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 It was used to support the administrative work of the government.

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 But remember that this was a theocracy at the time.

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 At the time, God reigned over Israel.

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 And the Levites were agents in God's governance.

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 So, the Levites received payment for the work that they did in the temple.

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 But this was the way the government itself was run.

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 It was a theocracy.

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 I praise God one day we'll return to such a rule.

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 We won't live in a democracy in your Lord, but a theocracy.

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 A righteous rule over the top of us.

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:32.159
 But this was what was going on at this time.

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:32.899
 Right?

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:36.120
 There were actually other tithes as well.

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:38.480
 Not just the general tithe, but there was a tithe.

00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:40.639
 We don't turn there, but Deuteronomy chapter 14.

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:42.299
 We'll take a look at it later.

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:45.799
 But there was a tithe for the funding of a national festival.

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:46.919
 It happened.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:50.000
 Every year, they brought in tithes and they ate.

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.439
 And if they couldn't travel with the food that they ate to the place they were supposed

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.900
 to go to, they sold it, took the money, and they went and bought whatever they wanted in

00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:57.380
 this place.

00:16:57.680 --> 00:17:01.400
 And it was a big festival that that tithe took care of.

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:05.860
 There were smaller requirements, right, that were intended to provide for the poor.

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.299
 Turn to Leviticus chapter 19.

00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:08.880
 I'll show you what I mean.

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.299
 This is not the only place this is found.

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:20.539
 Smaller requirements or laws placed on the Israelites.

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:22.519
 Leviticus 19, verse 9.

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:27.039
 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge.

00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:29.659
 Neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.680
 You shall not strip your vineyard bare.

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:34.279
 Neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard.

00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:36.579
 You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner.

00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:38.000
 I am the Lord.

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.319
 So there was requirements placed on them even for how they were to provide for the poor.

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.920
 And that just wouldn't go to the edge of the field.

00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.440
 Just don't take everything out.

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:49.859
 When you pull the harvest, don't strip it completely clean, but leave some behind for those who are

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.180
 poor.

00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:52.779
 And this was required giving in that day.

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.720
 Secondly, there was voluntary giving.

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.339
 Exodus chapter 25, verse 2 says,

00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:02.720
 Speak to the people of Israel that they take for me a contribution.

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:09.319
 From every man whose heart moves him, you shall receive the contribution for me.

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:12.200
 1 Chronicles 29, 9.

00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:15.039
 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly.

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:18.799
 For with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord.

00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:25.059
 And this was to gather in the things necessary to build the temple, to decorate it, to make

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:27.079
 it ornate the way the Lord had commanded.

00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.940
 And this was voluntary giving.

00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.339
 This was not compulsory.

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:32.319
 It was voluntary.

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:36.500
 So these are the two types we see in the Old Testament.

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:44.199
 And you could argue, I've heard the argument made that we are now given the same command,

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:47.699
 the same required giving to support the government with our taxes.

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.299
 And we are.

00:18:48.439 --> 00:18:49.619
 I mean, not negate that.

00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:51.919
 Matthew chapter 22, verse 15 through 22.

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.039
 And Romans 13, 1 through 7.

00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:57.419
 We are supposed to obey civil authority.

00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:59.939
 And we are supposed to pay to Caesar what is Caesar's.

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:01.120
 So pay your taxes.

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:08.620
 As a good part of a democracy, vote for people and vote for laws that decrease taxes.

00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:10.480
 That's a good thing that we can do together.

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:16.740
 There's no thing that the government can do better than a private individual, I would assert

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.140
 to you.

00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:19.920
 I digress.

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.560
 Right?

00:19:20.560 --> 00:19:20.680
 Right?

00:19:21.820 --> 00:19:26.620
 So you can make this argument that we're now fulfilling that requirement, the Old Testament

00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:30.860
 requirement of the tithe, because now our governing is being taken care of that way.

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.180
 But it's a little more complicated than that, isn't it?

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:37.080
 Because that doesn't include the running of our churches.

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.480
 And I praise God for that, that we don't have state church.

00:19:40.560 --> 00:19:42.960
 But it's a little more convoluted than that.

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:48.000
 But the point of what I'm trying to say to you, in so many words, is that tithing just

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.320
 can't be taught as a law.

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.360
 Right?

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:56.819
 Giving 10% of everything that you have just simply can no longer be taught as law.

00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:59.079
 But it certainly can be taught as principle.

00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:01.179
 It certainly can be taught as principle.

00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:05.579
 And I want to show you why, as we look at the New Testament, what it has to say on the

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.000
 matter with four reasons.

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:07.619
 Right?

00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:08.159
 Four reasons.

00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:08.859
 And there are some more.

00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:15.879
 But four reasons to give at least a tenth of what you make to the work of God.

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:27.339
 Number one, giving at least a tenth today is in keeping with the purpose of the tithe

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:30.379
 in its day, at least in part.

00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:35.240
 Another example, Old Testament example, Numbers 18, 20, 21.

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:39.219
 And the Lord said to Aaron, you shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall

00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:40.899
 you have any portion among them.

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:44.479
 I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.

00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:49.299
 To the Levites, I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance in return for the

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:53.159
 service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting.

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.980
 You remember when the Israelites were led into the promised land, the land was divided

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.579
 up amongst the tribes.

00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:02.119
 And there was one tribe that didn't get the vision in that.

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:07.200
 They didn't get the means by which to produce income, which would have been land.

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:07.919
 Right?

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.639
 And those were the Levites.

00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:11.940
 They were specially set aside for temple service.

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:18.160
 And so the way they were able to profit was that they were given a tenth of everybody else's

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:22.259
 earnings because they served in this special role in that way.

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:22.759
 Right?

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:25.559
 So Old Testament, just stick with me.

00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:26.880
 I'm building that case for you.

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.779
 I've already said it.

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.640
 We're saying it again.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:37.559
 There are still men and women who set aside vocational employment in order to serve the needs

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.900
 of the church at home and abroad.

00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:41.420
 This is still something that happens today, is it not?

00:21:41.800 --> 00:21:42.780
 It happens quite often.

00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:45.200
 In fact, I use myself as an example.

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:47.500
 Up until last year, I worked two jobs.

00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:51.540
 And for quite some time, I worked a full-time job so that I could work here for no money.

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:55.360
 And then we've slowly transitioned those two things.

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.880
 But I've set aside vocational employment.

00:21:58.100 --> 00:22:03.660
 I don't have time to do a job that earns income for my household so that I can serve the

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.000
 church.

00:22:04.300 --> 00:22:05.420
 Be an example of that.

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.640
 Another example.

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:08.120
 I'm sitting amongst us.

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.120
 I haven't spotted a space yet, but I'm sure I will in a moment.

00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:12.660
 Daniel Gentry is a member of our church.

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.600
 There he is, right in the middle.

00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:15.420
 Daniel Gentry is a member of our church.

00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:22.100
 And our church's hope is to send him and his soon-to-be wife, brand-new fiancé, sitting

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:23.080
 on the front row with him there.

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.060
 It's the first time I've said hi to you.

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:30.539
 To Nicaragua in a little over a year if the timeline works the way we think it may.

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:34.379
 And as a church, we would like to support him in doing that.

00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:38.039
 And Daniel, great guy, said, I'll just go down there and work.

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:42.899
 But we would love to be able to send him so that he can devote himself fully to the work

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:45.159
 of God in that place.

00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:47.460
 Now, we're all called to be missionaries.

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.639
 We're all called to lead.

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.819
 We're all called to be pastors.

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:51.539
 But we just do it in various ways.

00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:55.980
 And there are some who are set aside for this particular way in which to serve.

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.480
 And we have to make a living somehow.

00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:01.339
 My family doesn't eat apart from your generosity.

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.740
 And I thank you for it.

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:04.079
 Because we do eat.

00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:04.779
 And we eat well.

00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.980
 We're doing just fine.

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:11.579
 But this is the way in which God cares for these people.

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.839
 A couple of examples of that.

00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:17.000
 Paul writes in 1 Timothy 5, verses 17 and 18,

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:20.900
 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:23.279
 Which, fascinatingly, he's talking about pay here.

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:26.119
 Especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:29.400
 For the Scripture says, in Deuteronomy 25, verse 4,

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:32.279
 You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.880
 and the laborer deserves his wages.

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:39.319
 This is from Luke 10, verse 7, and some other places as well.

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:42.559
 So, the worker's worth is wages.

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.960
 You shouldn't muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:49.259
 There should be some provision for this kind of worker.

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:53.539
 Again, in 1 Corinthians 9, verse 13 and 14,

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.799
 Paul writes,

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.960
 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service

00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:59.299
 get their food from the temple,

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:02.660
 and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.299
 He's talking about the Levites there,

00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:06.240
 and their service in the temple.

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.299
 Verse 14,

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.640
 In the same way,

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:11.460
 the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:14.660
 should get their living by the gospel.

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.980
 Right?

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:22.220
 So, giving at least a tenth today is in keeping with the purpose of the tithe in its day.

00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:22.799
 Right?

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.079
 At least in that way.

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:27.460
 To help to provide for the work being done.

00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:29.680
 Now, the question gets asked here,

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:34.759
 If I'm going to give at least a tenth of what I make,

00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:37.079
 should I only give it to the church?

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.439
 And my answer,

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:40.119
 my simple answer to that is no.

00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:43.579
 Again, I'd like to make a law here and go,

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.619
 Yeah, you should.

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:46.500
 All of it should come here.

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:49.639
 But you need to be very, very prayerful about where it is given,

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:52.099
 because many churches are anemic,

00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:53.819
 and are starved financially,

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.819
 and as a church,

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:56.819
 it's such a blessing to pool our resources,

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.879
 and get to do things in our community,

00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.839
 to have the kind of resources we need,

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:03.839
 to really reach out and do stuff as a church.

00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:04.759
 Right?

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:07.419
 You should really consider bringing it together,

00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:10.460
 so that we can cooperate in efforts in that way.

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:13.659
 If you're constantly shooting your money out in a thousand different directions,

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.480
 because there are already,

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:14.980
 I mean,

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.519
 millions,

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.680
 you get offers all the time,

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.059
 places that you can send your money.

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:22.920
 It becomes really difficult as a church to be effective in a community,

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.960
 and so you should consider that.

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.299
 But,

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.660
 you're going to have people come to you going on trips,

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.819
 and living overseas full time,

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.819
 and doing things like that,

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.200
 and I would say,

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.639
 Yes,

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.200
 give.

00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:32.000
 Yes,

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.480
 give.

00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.980
 Support the work of the local church,

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.500
 and I would say,

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.579
 support it primarily,

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.200
 but look to the ways you can give otherwise.

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:41.039
 I can't make a law at that point.

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.059
 Right?

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:42.619
 So,

00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.839
 giving at least a tenth today,

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:49.019
 recognizes and honors that Old Testament principle.

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.019
 Secondly,

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.439
 giving at least a tenth today,

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.740
 honors God as the owner and giver of all things.

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.839
 Psalm 24.1 says,

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.939
 The earth is the Lord's,

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.339
 and the fullness thereof,

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:11.339
 the world and those who dwell therein.

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:14.119
 Everything belongs to God.

00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.079
 You're very,

00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:17.619
 very deluded in your thinking,

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:20.419
 if you think that only a tenth belongs to God,

00:26:20.459 --> 00:26:21.619
 and therefore you're going to give it to Him.

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.959
 And the other 90% you can do with as you please.

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.299
 Everything that we have,

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:29.839
 ought to be carefully considered,

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.220
 and we ought to be looking at it and saying,

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:35.059
 how is it that I can use this to the glory of God?

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:35.980
 So,

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:41.700
 how is it that Sam and I can pick a home in a location that we can serve God in?

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:46.380
 How is it now that we have a home that we can use it to the glory of God?

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:46.759
 Right?

00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:48.259
 Is it our private refuge?

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.339
 Is it our place to get away from people?

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.160
 Sometimes,

00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:52.440
 because that's good for the kingdom.

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:55.339
 Sometimes it's good to get away and be in a refuge.

00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.279
 Wednesday,

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:58.819
 I cooked at 102 degrees all day.

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.120
 No one needed to be around me.

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.859
 I needed to be in my home by myself that day.

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:04.500
 But our home should also be a place that's welcoming,

00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.119
 where we can be hospitable,

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:08.599
 where you can bring people in and show them what family life looks like,

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:10.039
 and wrap our arms around them.

00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:10.239
 Right?

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.399
 Like our home should be used in that way.

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:13.500
 Our cars should be used in that way.

00:27:13.679 --> 00:27:13.879
 Right?

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.639
 Can I fit an extra person in the back seat of this car versus this car?

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:19.159
 This car has got cool rims,

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:21.199
 but this one will hold another person.

00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:21.799
 Right?

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.939
 Maybe that's the decision that you should be making.

00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:24.879
 Right?

00:27:24.959 --> 00:27:28.359
 We need to be thinking about how is it that everything belongs to God,

00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:32.959
 and how is it he would use everything that we have for his service.

00:27:33.439 --> 00:27:35.179
 Now turn with me to Deuteronomy chapter 14.

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:38.619
 I'm really going to only make you look at one verse.

00:27:38.979 --> 00:27:41.319
 I just want you to see it in its context.

00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.299
 I'll go there with you too.

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:56.399
 I didn't set it as one of my goals not to have a voice at the end of this,

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.180
 so we'll see how that goes.

00:28:02.419 --> 00:28:03.480
 So Deuteronomy chapter 14,

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:06.240
 we've got instruction beginning in verse 22

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:12.680
 for this tithe that was for this banquet that was to be had each year,

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.220
 this festival that was to be had each year.

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:17.400
 And there's a lot of instruction about exactly how it was to take place.

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:21.839
 There's some instruction at the end for a philanthropic part of it,

00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.660
 that there should be things left for the Levites

00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:26.220
 and for the father of the will of the sojourner.

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:28.180
 We see that in verse 29.

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:32.200
 But the main thing I want to draw your attention to is to verse 23.

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:41.120
 Where God says that you may learn to fear the Lord, your God, always.

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:45.100
 To have this big festival, to recognize,

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:53.380
 to give proper place to the fact that God had provided all of these things.

00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:57.140
 Matthew Henry and his wonderful commentary on the whole Bible,

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:58.320
 on this text, says,

00:28:58.320 --> 00:29:03.780
 The whole appointment evidently was against the covetousness, distrust,

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.980
 and selfishness of the human heart.

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:09.060
 It promoted friendliness, liberality, and cheerfulness,

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.940
 and raised a fund for the relief of the poor.

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:15.940
 They were taught that their worldly portion was most comfortably enjoyed

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:19.540
 when shared with their brethren who were in want.

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:23.759
 So that's why this particular tithe was put in place,

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:27.920
 that they might learn to fear the Lord God.

00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:30.559
 That they might put their heart in a proper place

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:34.680
 and recognize that all things come from Him.

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.420
 Now, let me give you just a simple example of this.

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:42.759
 I have a three, almost four-year-old now,

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:46.299
 going on seven-year-old, named Caban.

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:49.740
 And when I get home from work, often I'm tired.

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.419
 I've spent the day with people.

00:29:51.659 --> 00:29:55.599
 I've spent the day in thought, hopefully deep thought.

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:59.799
 And I am usually very exhausted when I get home.

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:02.619
 And the question that always arises,

00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:04.339
 a couple minutes after I've been home, is,

00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.899
 Hey, Daddy, you want to come play with me?

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:08.079
 Hey, Daddy, you want to come play trains with me?

00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:09.799
 Hey, Daddy, you want to come play cars with me?

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.440
 And most of the time I really feel like going,

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.200
 Nope, I don't.

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.299
 I don't.

00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:15.859
 I feel like sitting in that chair

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:18.519
 and doing nothing for a couple of hours.

00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:22.740
 And it's not really acceptable in that case,

00:30:22.919 --> 00:30:24.000
 is it, for me to say,

00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:25.859
 Caban, I've spent all day loving you.

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:28.079
 Look, I've been at work today.

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:30.680
 I've been trying to earn income for our household.

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.759
 I've been trying to do things that are good

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.819
 for our community and for our church.

00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:37.379
 I've really been spending all day loving you.

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.379
 Go play by yourself.

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:40.140
 It just wouldn't even resonate with him, right?

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:42.260
 He wouldn't get that at all.

00:30:42.760 --> 00:30:43.820
 So how do I show him?

00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:46.080
 How do I prove to him that I love him?

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.600
 I go play with him, right?

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.280
 I get down on the floor.

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.700
 I'm sore and hurting.

00:30:50.820 --> 00:30:52.780
 And I lay on my side on the hardwood floor.

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:57.620
 And I play trains and cars with my son, right?

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.800
 Now, certainly God is not a toddler.

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:03.700
 And God doesn't need us to express our love to him in this way.

00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:06.860
 But the way we show ourselves that we trust him,

00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:11.379
 the way we show ourselves that we believe that he is the provider of all things,

00:31:11.459 --> 00:31:13.319
 that all things belong to him,

00:31:13.439 --> 00:31:17.979
 the way we show others that we believe that that is true is we give.

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.559
 We give liberally.

00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:24.000
 We give a tenth and a beyond.

00:31:24.459 --> 00:31:28.379
 We say this money came from God.

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:30.199
 It belongs to God.

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.579
 He can use it however he wants to use it.

00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:34.639
 And I know he'll continue to provide for me.

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:37.279
 I can tell you in my own life,

00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:41.000
 in my short life of earning money and giving,

00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:44.139
 God has never, ever failed me.

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:48.679
 You all have all had everything you've ever needed.

00:31:48.939 --> 00:31:51.220
 Even in some of your stinginess, right?

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.099
 You've had what you needed.

00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:54.679
 Try giving and see what God will do for you.

00:31:54.679 --> 00:31:59.619
 See if he won't continue to provide for you faithfully.

00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:03.119
 So it honors that God is the owner and giver of all things.

00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:04.500
 He is the owner and giver of all things,

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.919
 whether you recognize it or not.

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:07.079
 But it honors that.

00:32:07.159 --> 00:32:09.559
 It gives evidence that you believe it to be true.

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:12.359
 It shows other people that as well.

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.199
 Thirdly,

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:18.659
 giving at least a tenth today

00:32:18.659 --> 00:32:23.000
 helps protect our hearts from the wiles of money.

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:27.880
 From the wiles of money,

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:29.119
 the deceitfulness,

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.299
 if you would prefer,

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.660
 of money.

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.859
 That was the word that popped into my head

00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:33.440
 and I liked it.

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:33.700
 So,

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.980
 I used it.

00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:38.579
 It helps protect our hearts

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.460
 from the wiles of money.

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:40.720


00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.819
 hear me carefully.

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.000
 It helps protect our hearts.

00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:43.980
 It's not the only thing.

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:46.559
 You can consistently give,

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:49.140
 put a number in your head and give,

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:52.059
 and still be deceived by money.

00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:52.619
 Right?

00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:54.319
 But it helps protect.

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:56.159
 Letting it loose into the kingdom

00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:57.419
 helps protect our hearts

00:32:57.419 --> 00:32:59.440
 from the wiles of money.

00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.940
 Turn to Hebrews chapter 13.

00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:08.799
 This is going to be the reason

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.140
 you guys prefer verse by verse.

00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:20.920
 Beginning in verse 5.

00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:24.799
 Keep your life free from love of money

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:27.039
 and be content with what you have.

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.660
 For he has said,

00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.600
 this is so good,

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:32.599
 keep your life free from love of money

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:33.939
 and be content with what you have

00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:34.779
 because of a promise.

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:35.759
 Right?

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.799
 You can do this

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.839
 because there's a promise

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.240
 that's been made to us.

00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.779
 I will never leave you

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:42.599
 nor forsake you.

00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:43.799
 So,

00:33:43.899 --> 00:33:44.619
 we can say,

00:33:44.959 --> 00:33:46.879
 the Lord is my helper.

00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:48.240
 I will not fear.

00:33:48.719 --> 00:33:51.079
 What can man do to me?

00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:52.599
 And that's Psalm 118.6

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:54.079
 that the writer of Hebrews

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.819
 is quoting there.

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:55.759
 Right?

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:57.759
 Money is not the solution

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.619
 to our problems.

00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.180
 Money is not our security.

00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:02.119
 The fact that Jesus has said,

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.920
 I will never leave you

00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:05.119
 nor forsake you

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:05.779
 is our security.

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:06.660
 Right?

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.400
 Therefore,

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.880
 we can keep our life free

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.659
 from love of it.

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.679
 We can keep ourselves

00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.960
 away,

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.719
 our hearts from being captured

00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:16.559
 by the deceitfulness

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.639
 of money

00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:19.119
 because Jesus has said,

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.539
 I will never leave you

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:22.380
 nor forsake you.

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:24.700
 I will care for you

00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:25.700
 as a father does

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.940
 for a son.

00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:29.260
 Matthew 6,

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:30.360
 verse 19.

00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.340
 I'm going to start reading it.

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:32.760
 You can get there

00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.260
 if you want to.

00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:35.860
 Do not lay up for yourselves

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.000
 treasures on earth

00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:38.860
 where moth and rust destroy

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:40.579
 and where thieves break in

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.039
 and steal.

00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:44.340
 But lay up for yourselves

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.220
 treasures in heaven

00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:47.119
 where neither moth nor rust destroys

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:48.680
 and where thieves do not break in

00:34:48.680 --> 00:34:49.640
 and steal.

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.980
 For where your treasure is,

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:53.880
 there your heart will be also.

00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:57.400
 The eye is the lamp of the body.

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.519
 It's beginning in verse 22.

00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:01.059
 So if your eye is healthy,

00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:03.099
 your whole body will be full of light.

00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:04.980
 But if your eye is bad,

00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:06.960
 your whole body will be full of darkness.

00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:10.180
 If then the light in you is darkness,

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:12.140
 how great is the darkness.

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:14.880
 No one can serve two masters

00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.460
 for either he will hate the one

00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.780
 and love the other

00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:19.700
 or he will be devoted to the one

00:35:19.700 --> 00:35:21.519
 and despise the other.

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:25.960
 You cannot serve God and money.

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:28.800
 Ah, these words of Jesus

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:31.059
 should just rip through our Christian culture.

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:31.960
 Right?

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:35.119
 Just leave people laid waste

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.699
 through our Christian culture.

00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:41.840
 You cannot serve God and money.

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:43.620
 Now the interesting language

00:35:43.620 --> 00:35:44.600
 beginning in verse 22

00:35:44.600 --> 00:35:45.480
 about the eye,

00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:49.519
 this was a common Greek analogy,

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.740
 a metaphor.

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.220
 This eye was thought to be

00:35:52.220 --> 00:35:53.420
 the eye of the mind.

00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.059
 So essentially,

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.120
 he's saying

00:35:55.120 --> 00:35:58.980
 the way in which you think,

00:35:59.120 --> 00:36:00.340
 the way in which you process,

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.660
 the things that you love

00:36:01.660 --> 00:36:02.579
 and hold dear,

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:04.620
 that is a lamp to the body.

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.120
 Right?

00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:06.700
 So if you love the world,

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.940
 if you serve money,

00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.480
 if you do that kind of thing,

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.559
 that's what's going to fill you.

00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:11.760
 That's what he's saying to us here.

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:12.480
 Right?

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.699
 If you love God,

00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.260
 your body will be full of light.

00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:15.619
 Right?

00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.679
 This is the idea

00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.519
 that's being communicated.

00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:17.880
 He says,

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:19.000
 so if your eye is healthy,

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.519
 your whole body will be full of light.

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.599
 If your eye is bad,

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:24.159
 your whole body will be full of darkness.

00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:25.360
 And then he sums this up

00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:25.860
 by saying,

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:30.579
 you cannot serve God and money.

00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:33.079
 And I think that we all have read this

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.679
 and we've all said,

00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.340
 well, that's fine.

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.719
 Like, that's cool.

00:36:35.819 --> 00:36:36.319
 I get that.

00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.579
 That's very clear to me.

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.880
 I understand that to be true.

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:41.299
 And we quickly then want to say,

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:43.179
 well, but it's okay to have things.

00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:45.039
 We just can't serve things.

00:36:45.259 --> 00:36:46.619
 And to a degree,

00:36:46.799 --> 00:36:48.199
 I'd say, yes, that's true.

00:36:48.279 --> 00:36:49.340
 There are some things you can have.

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:51.619
 I'm not making a call to you today

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:53.319
 that you ought to be impoverished

00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:55.059
 by any stretch of the imagination.

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:55.719
 Right?

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:57.119
 Some people would make a pitch

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.000
 at this point to say

00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:59.119
 that much of the world

00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:00.440
 only lives on a dollar a day.

00:37:00.539 --> 00:37:01.319
 Well, it's more expensive

00:37:01.319 --> 00:37:02.500
 to live in the United States.

00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:02.779
 Right?

00:37:02.819 --> 00:37:04.099
 It's not really a fair comparison.

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:06.299
 It costs more to live

00:37:06.299 --> 00:37:07.179
 in the United States.

00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:10.859
 But we all have so much more

00:37:10.859 --> 00:37:11.920
 than we need.

00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:15.460
 We all have so much more

00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:16.519
 than we need.

00:37:16.799 --> 00:37:17.799
 Many places in the world

00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.400
 they're very thankful

00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:19.679
 to have one pair of shoes

00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:20.699
 that are not worn out.

00:37:20.759 --> 00:37:22.099
 How many pairs of shoes do you have?

00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.199
 Can you count them?

00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:27.000
 Socially acceptable

00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:28.500
 to have a couple different pairs of shoes.

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:29.679
 I would agree.

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.119
 Not really probably good

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:32.480
 to wear flip-flops to a formal.

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.199
 Right?

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.380
 It's okay to have

00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.599
 some things like that

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:37.019
 in the culture that we live in.

00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:38.920
 But you have to really ask yourself.

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:39.480
 Right?

00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:40.639
 Really ask yourself.

00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:41.699
 If I have

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:42.719
 some of the things I have,

00:37:42.760 --> 00:37:43.639
 do I not worship them?

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:44.820
 Right?

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:46.119
 If I came to you

00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:47.119
 and any given thing

00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:47.639
 that you owned

00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:48.179
 and I said,

00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.559
 this would serve

00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.559
 the kingdom of God.

00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:52.500
 If I could only take this from you

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.659
 and I could sell this,

00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.860
 we could do such good things

00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.599
 with the kingdom of God.

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:57.239
 How long would you hesitate

00:37:57.239 --> 00:37:58.079
 before you said,

00:37:58.719 --> 00:37:59.539
 okay?

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:00.679
 Right?

00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.619
 Test yourself

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.579
 in this way.

00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:05.079
 Ask God to show you

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:06.199
 the things that you serve

00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:07.360
 in your life.

00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:08.259
 Right?

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.199
 These things

00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:10.719
 will be indicative

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.619
 of where your heart

00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:12.360
 is at.

00:38:12.779 --> 00:38:13.159
 Let me give you

00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:14.400
 a couple of examples.

00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:16.420
 Some men in history.

00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:17.799
 Many of you,

00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.239
 I hope,

00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:19.579
 know who Rich Mullins is.

00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:20.480
 Many of you probably

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:21.319
 don't know who he is

00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:21.840
 and you should.

00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.460
 You should go

00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:24.400
 check out his lyrics.

00:38:26.240 --> 00:38:26.860
 Rich Mullins

00:38:26.860 --> 00:38:28.220
 took all the profits

00:38:28.220 --> 00:38:28.920
 from his tours

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:29.780
 and album sales

00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:31.200
 and gave them,

00:38:31.240 --> 00:38:32.039
 they were entrusted

00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:33.140
 to his church.

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.840
 He gave all of these

00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:35.880
 to his church

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:37.019
 who paid him,

00:38:37.080 --> 00:38:38.080
 and this was by his request,

00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:40.240
 the average salary

00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:41.320
 in the U.S. that year.

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.019
 Right?

00:38:42.120 --> 00:38:43.460
 He made millions of dollars

00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.340
 in his career.

00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:46.860
 Very, very popular,

00:38:47.120 --> 00:38:48.300
 famous Christian artist.

00:38:48.720 --> 00:38:49.780
 Made millions of dollars.

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.500
 It was all given

00:38:50.500 --> 00:38:51.099
 to his church,

00:38:51.219 --> 00:38:52.099
 and all he asked for

00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:52.599
 in return

00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:53.079
 was that he wanted

00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:53.559
 an allowance.

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.179
 He wanted to make

00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:55.739
 what the average male

00:38:55.739 --> 00:38:57.099
 made in the U.S. that year.

00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:58.219
 And the rest of it

00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:59.099
 was given away

00:38:59.099 --> 00:38:59.980
 to kingdom purposes.

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:01.099
 Right?

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:02.420
 Rich Mullins

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:03.519
 didn't trust himself

00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.340
 with his own money.

00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:05.780
 That's why he did it that way.

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:06.719
 He said,

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:09.219
 I don't want to be deceived

00:39:09.219 --> 00:39:09.780
 by riches.

00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:12.099
 I don't want to be drawn away

00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:13.420
 from my devotion to God

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:14.500
 by the temptation

00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:15.920
 of all that money.

00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:16.800
 So I'm going to give it

00:39:16.800 --> 00:39:17.199
 to the church.

00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:18.159
 It's all going straight

00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:18.539
 to them,

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.500
 and they're going to

00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.380
 give it out.

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.280
 In that way.

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.219
 Just give me what it takes

00:39:22.219 --> 00:39:22.880
 for the average guy

00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:24.079
 to live each year.

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.960
 Another great example

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.739
 is John Wesley.

00:39:28.260 --> 00:39:29.239
 In the first year

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:29.800
 of his ministry,

00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.559
 his income

00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:32.539
 was 30 pounds.

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.539
 I don't know how

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.179
 to translate that

00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:34.860
 to you.

00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:37.000
 Especially not for the year

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.579
 that he lived in.

00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:38.780
 1700s.

00:39:39.340 --> 00:39:40.199
 But it was 30 pounds.

00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:41.340
 And he found

00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:42.300
 he could live on 28.

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.360
 So he gave away two.

00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:45.440
 In the second year,

00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:46.920
 his income doubled.

00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:48.400
 But he held

00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.300
 his expenses even.

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:50.119
 And so he had

00:39:50.119 --> 00:39:51.240
 32 pounds

00:39:51.240 --> 00:39:52.159
 to give away.

00:39:52.340 --> 00:39:53.340
 So catch that.

00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:55.180
 He gave away

00:39:55.180 --> 00:39:56.579
 more than he lived on.

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.139
 So he was giving away

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.420
 a full salary.

00:40:00.700 --> 00:40:01.820
 In the third year,

00:40:02.180 --> 00:40:03.099
 his income jumped

00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:04.260
 to 90 pounds

00:40:04.260 --> 00:40:05.519
 and he gave away

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:07.079
 62 pounds.

00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:09.079
 In his long life,

00:40:09.260 --> 00:40:10.159
 Wesley's income

00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:11.820
 advanced to as high

00:40:11.820 --> 00:40:12.920
 as 1,400 pounds

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:14.480
 in a year.

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.200
 But he rarely let

00:40:15.200 --> 00:40:16.139
 his expenses rise

00:40:16.139 --> 00:40:17.800
 above 30 pounds

00:40:17.800 --> 00:40:18.440
 in a year.

00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.800
 So he was able

00:40:19.800 --> 00:40:22.240
 to do so much.

00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:23.000
 And this is where

00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.960
 we begin to think

00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:24.599
 of this idea

00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:26.500
 of giving at least

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:27.500
 a tenth.

00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:28.960
 Giving at least

00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.579
 a tenth.

00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:30.780
 I would commend

00:40:30.780 --> 00:40:31.740
 to you for the reasons

00:40:31.740 --> 00:40:32.960
 that I already stated

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.579
 that you ought to

00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.000
 just go ahead

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.400
 and sit down

00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:34.720
 and pull out

00:40:34.720 --> 00:40:35.280
 the calculator.

00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:36.519
 Young people,

00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:37.360
 I know you don't

00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:38.119
 make a lot of money.

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:39.119
 I know that your jobs

00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:39.820
 seem pitiful.

00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:41.360
 But you do

00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:42.180
 make money.

00:40:42.179 --> 00:40:43.579
 And it adds up.

00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:44.779
 It really does.

00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:45.819
 Sit down and do

00:40:45.819 --> 00:40:46.500
 the calculation

00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:47.359
 and figure it out

00:40:47.359 --> 00:40:48.739
 and start at this place

00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:50.199
 and begin to ask God

00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:50.960
 how he would have

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.819
 you give more

00:40:51.819 --> 00:40:53.279
 and the ways

00:40:53.279 --> 00:40:53.819
 in which he would

00:40:53.819 --> 00:40:54.440
 have you give.

00:40:54.639 --> 00:40:55.399
 Should I give it

00:40:55.399 --> 00:40:56.299
 every bit of it

00:40:56.299 --> 00:40:57.019
 to the church?

00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:57.659
 Are there some

00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:58.799
 other ministry areas

00:40:58.799 --> 00:40:59.480
 that are important

00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:00.399
 that need my funding

00:41:00.399 --> 00:41:00.839
 as well?

00:41:01.119 --> 00:41:02.879
 Begin to be drawn

00:41:02.879 --> 00:41:03.960
 into relationship

00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:04.899
 with him

00:41:04.899 --> 00:41:06.039
 that he might direct

00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:07.099
 the way you give.

00:41:07.759 --> 00:41:08.699
 And that is the beauty

00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:09.559
 of us not being able

00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:10.619
 to make just a simple

00:41:10.619 --> 00:41:11.460
 easy law,

00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:12.860
 just a little dogmatic

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.980
 thing that we go through

00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:15.079
 is that God says

00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:16.119
 there's some parameters

00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:16.820
 to the giving.

00:41:17.340 --> 00:41:17.500
 Right?

00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:19.380
 I want you to check this out.

00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:20.079
 It's going to be

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.340
 about like this.

00:41:21.860 --> 00:41:22.679
 Here's the dangers

00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.920
 of not doing it.

00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:24.900
 Come to me

00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:25.380
 and I'll give you

00:41:25.380 --> 00:41:25.840
 the answers.

00:41:26.440 --> 00:41:26.539
 Right?

00:41:26.860 --> 00:41:27.480
 Come to me.

00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:28.420
 Spend time with me.

00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:29.179
 Sit with me.

00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:30.440
 Abide in my word.

00:41:30.639 --> 00:41:30.780
 Right?

00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:31.599
 Begin to care about

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:32.900
 the things that I care about

00:41:32.900 --> 00:41:33.960
 and you'll start spending

00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:34.340
 your money

00:41:34.340 --> 00:41:34.920
 the way you're supposed

00:41:34.920 --> 00:41:35.659
 to spend your money.

00:41:36.699 --> 00:41:36.920
 Right?

00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:38.260
 So if you care about

00:41:38.260 --> 00:41:38.800
 how it is

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.539
 you spend your money

00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:41.539
 then you're going

00:41:41.539 --> 00:41:42.360
 to draw it deeper.

00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:43.019
 You're going to go

00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:44.300
 into a deeper place

00:41:44.300 --> 00:41:45.039
 with the Lord

00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:46.019
 and that is always

00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:46.779
 always

00:41:46.779 --> 00:41:48.199
 a good thing.

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:50.940
 Now people have asked me

00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:54.139
 various questions

00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:54.840
 about how

00:41:54.840 --> 00:41:56.039
 to do giving here.

00:41:56.139 --> 00:41:56.500
 We're actually

00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.099
 next week

00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:58.279
 going to pass

00:41:58.279 --> 00:41:58.920
 not a plate

00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.619
 probably a bucket.

00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:01.099
 So just look for

00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.840
 that change

00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:03.460
 next week.

00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:04.239
 We're going to be

00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:04.980
 looking for some ways

00:42:04.980 --> 00:42:06.619
 to better incorporate

00:42:06.619 --> 00:42:07.799
 giving together

00:42:07.799 --> 00:42:08.480
 as part of our

00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:09.299
 worship service.

00:42:09.299 --> 00:42:10.679
 Not to manipulate you

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:12.339
 but to serve you.

00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:13.539
 To say this is important

00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:14.480
 and it matters.

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:14.960
 We're going to be

00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:15.859
 looking for some ways

00:42:15.859 --> 00:42:16.639
 to do that.

00:42:16.679 --> 00:42:17.319
 But people have asked me

00:42:17.319 --> 00:42:18.000
 questions like

00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:19.559
 can we do online giving?

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:20.559
 Is there a way

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.159
 that maybe we could

00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:22.960
 take cards for giving?

00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:24.579
 Things like that.

00:42:25.299 --> 00:42:26.259
 And there's a

00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:27.319
 primary reason

00:42:27.319 --> 00:42:28.239
 that we don't do it.

00:42:28.299 --> 00:42:28.679
 Well I mean

00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:29.980
 there's two primary reasons.

00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:30.779
 The first one is

00:42:30.779 --> 00:42:32.980
 many of you may not

00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:33.279
 know this

00:42:33.279 --> 00:42:34.179
 but if you run a credit card

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:34.599
 you have to pay

00:42:34.599 --> 00:42:36.199
 a credit card transaction fee

00:42:36.199 --> 00:42:36.639
 on it.

00:42:36.699 --> 00:42:36.960
 It's usually

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:38.639
 just under 3%.

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:40.179
 As a church

00:42:40.179 --> 00:42:40.739
 we don't want to pay

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:42.719
 3% of all of our giving

00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:43.639
 to credit card companies.

00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:44.599
 That would

00:42:44.599 --> 00:42:45.440
 that would actually be

00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:46.059
 a pretty good ding

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:46.960
 in our small budget.

00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:48.619
 And I don't think

00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:49.699
 you want that happening either.

00:42:49.779 --> 00:42:50.099
 I don't think

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:51.460
 3% of what you give

00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:52.059
 you want going

00:42:52.059 --> 00:42:53.759
 to a credit card company.

00:42:54.819 --> 00:42:55.460
 But secondly

00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:56.559
 and really more importantly

00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:59.119
 it's good for you

00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.900
 to get into

00:42:59.900 --> 00:43:00.900
 the habit

00:43:00.900 --> 00:43:03.019
 of sitting down

00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:04.179
 writing the check

00:43:04.179 --> 00:43:05.059
 counting out

00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:05.739
 the singles

00:43:05.739 --> 00:43:06.559
 whatever it is

00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.159
 that you do

00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:07.879
 and going through

00:43:07.879 --> 00:43:08.599
 the practice

00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:09.440
 of doing that

00:43:09.440 --> 00:43:10.579
 of coming together

00:43:10.579 --> 00:43:11.319
 as we come together

00:43:11.319 --> 00:43:11.839
 as a church

00:43:11.839 --> 00:43:13.099
 and giving should be

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.759
 something that's

00:43:13.759 --> 00:43:14.719
 on your mind.

00:43:15.299 --> 00:43:16.219
 We're a culture

00:43:16.219 --> 00:43:17.639
 that tends to consume

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.799
 so much

00:43:18.799 --> 00:43:20.059
 in church setting

00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:21.279
 but to be thinking

00:43:21.279 --> 00:43:22.339
 about what can I do

00:43:22.339 --> 00:43:23.339
 to come and give

00:43:23.339 --> 00:43:23.739
 and of course

00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:24.379
 I don't just mean

00:43:24.379 --> 00:43:24.899
 financially

00:43:24.899 --> 00:43:25.539
 if that's what we're

00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.500
 talking about this morning.

00:43:26.739 --> 00:43:27.079
 You should be thinking

00:43:27.079 --> 00:43:27.819
 about how you can give

00:43:27.819 --> 00:43:29.239
 in all aspects

00:43:29.239 --> 00:43:30.919
 of our service together

00:43:30.919 --> 00:43:32.059
 but that's a way

00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:32.859
 for you to be thinking

00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:34.420
 like what is my part

00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:34.780
 to play?

00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:35.559
 What do I do

00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:36.980
 in this service?

00:43:37.140 --> 00:43:37.880
 How is it that I can

00:43:37.880 --> 00:43:38.700
 come and contribute

00:43:38.700 --> 00:43:39.760
 to what's going on?

00:43:39.820 --> 00:43:40.559
 You can certainly

00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:42.019
 always contribute

00:43:42.019 --> 00:43:43.099
 in that way.

00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:45.300
 You can never give

00:43:45.300 --> 00:43:46.079
 too much

00:43:46.079 --> 00:43:46.820
 to our church.

00:43:48.120 --> 00:43:49.079
 I promise

00:43:49.079 --> 00:43:49.579
 that we will do

00:43:49.579 --> 00:43:50.539
 God honoring things

00:43:50.539 --> 00:43:51.500
 with the budget.

00:43:52.780 --> 00:43:53.780
 Getting involved

00:43:53.780 --> 00:43:54.300
 in giving

00:43:54.300 --> 00:43:55.340
 is a really

00:43:55.340 --> 00:43:56.480
 really valuable way

00:43:56.480 --> 00:43:57.300
 for you to get involved

00:43:57.300 --> 00:43:57.760
 with the life

00:43:57.760 --> 00:43:58.519
 of a church too

00:43:58.519 --> 00:43:59.300
 and I'm speaking

00:43:59.300 --> 00:43:59.940
 specifically

00:43:59.940 --> 00:44:00.940
 to young people.

00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:02.559
 You should be

00:44:02.559 --> 00:44:03.179
 giving your money

00:44:03.179 --> 00:44:03.980
 to a local church

00:44:03.980 --> 00:44:04.559
 and you should be

00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:05.320
 caring what the local

00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:05.860
 church is doing

00:44:05.860 --> 00:44:06.519
 with those funds.

00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:07.800
 It should matter to you.

00:44:08.200 --> 00:44:08.880
 We have a quarterly

00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:09.440
 budget meeting

00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:10.500
 for that very reason.

00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:11.380
 We want to be

00:44:11.380 --> 00:44:12.320
 very above board.

00:44:12.460 --> 00:44:12.840
 We want to say

00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:14.019
 this is the budget

00:44:14.019 --> 00:44:15.380
 that we decided on

00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:16.220
 together as a church.

00:44:16.360 --> 00:44:17.039
 This is the direction

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:18.380
 we said that the Lord

00:44:18.380 --> 00:44:19.079
 is leading us in

00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:19.900
 this year

00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:21.019
 and we're supporting it.

00:44:21.059 --> 00:44:21.420
 Here's what we're

00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:21.840
 doing with it.

00:44:21.860 --> 00:44:22.460
 This is where the money

00:44:22.460 --> 00:44:23.059
 is going or

00:44:23.059 --> 00:44:24.039
 we don't have enough money.

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:24.720
 What are we going to do?

00:44:24.800 --> 00:44:26.099
 What are we not going to do

00:44:26.099 --> 00:44:27.000
 as a result?

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:28.200
 Look, we have an abundance.

00:44:28.199 --> 00:44:28.480
 Abundance.

00:44:29.179 --> 00:44:30.199
 Praise God for the times

00:44:30.199 --> 00:44:30.779
 that that's happened.

00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:31.699
 What should we do

00:44:31.699 --> 00:44:32.319
 with the abundance?

00:44:32.519 --> 00:44:33.419
 How should it be spent

00:44:33.419 --> 00:44:34.339
 on the kingdom?

00:44:34.839 --> 00:44:35.879
 It's a valuable way

00:44:35.879 --> 00:44:36.599
 to get involved

00:44:36.599 --> 00:44:37.859
 in the life of a church

00:44:37.859 --> 00:44:39.819
 and as you get older

00:44:39.819 --> 00:44:40.899
 you're going to make more

00:44:40.899 --> 00:44:41.960
 and you're going to give more

00:44:41.960 --> 00:44:42.559
 and I really hope

00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:43.679
 that you get more invested

00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:44.359
 in a church

00:44:44.359 --> 00:44:46.159
 in that way.

00:44:47.639 --> 00:44:48.539
 Alright, that was thirdly.

00:44:49.579 --> 00:44:49.980
 Fourthly,

00:44:51.239 --> 00:44:53.619
 giving at least a tenth today

00:44:53.619 --> 00:44:58.739
 is a means for good works

00:44:58.739 --> 00:45:00.079
 which glorify God.

00:45:01.880 --> 00:45:03.579
 It's a means for good works

00:45:03.579 --> 00:45:05.980
 which glorify God.

00:45:07.559 --> 00:45:08.719
 I think most of you

00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:09.559
 who are hearing me

00:45:09.559 --> 00:45:10.839
 and understanding

00:45:10.839 --> 00:45:11.900
 what I'm saying right now

00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:13.000
 understand that things

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:14.599
 cost money in this world.

00:45:14.599 --> 00:45:15.039
 Right?

00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:17.900
 The way things get accomplished

00:45:17.900 --> 00:45:18.940
 in this world

00:45:18.940 --> 00:45:20.579
 is by money.

00:45:20.579 --> 00:45:22.139
 2 Corinthians chapter 9

00:45:22.139 --> 00:45:24.380
 verse 6 through 10.

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:28.480
 Turn there.

00:45:28.579 --> 00:45:29.099
 You should turn there.

00:45:30.599 --> 00:45:31.819
 I didn't hear pages flipping.

00:45:31.940 --> 00:45:32.480
 You should turn there.

00:45:38.340 --> 00:45:39.380
 And we're almost done.

00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:54.880
 2 Corinthians 9

00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:55.699
 beginning in verse 6.

00:45:55.960 --> 00:45:57.039
 The point is this.

00:45:58.420 --> 00:45:59.920
 Whoever sows sparingly

00:45:59.920 --> 00:46:02.219
 will also reap sparingly.

00:46:02.579 --> 00:46:04.039
 And whoever sows bountifully

00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:06.319
 will also reap bountifully.

00:46:06.960 --> 00:46:07.880
 We've been talking about

00:46:07.880 --> 00:46:08.920
 sowing, haven't we?

00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:09.579
 Back in Matthew,

00:46:10.019 --> 00:46:10.559
 I mean, excuse me,

00:46:10.619 --> 00:46:12.539
 Mark chapter 4.

00:46:12.679 --> 00:46:13.719
 The one who sows sparingly

00:46:13.719 --> 00:46:14.340
 will reap sparingly.

00:46:14.440 --> 00:46:15.199
 Whoever sows bountifully

00:46:15.199 --> 00:46:15.840
 will also reap bountifully.

00:46:17.079 --> 00:46:18.840
 Here, Paul's talking about giving.

00:46:19.199 --> 00:46:20.159
 How is it that we give?

00:46:20.159 --> 00:46:20.879
 Financially.

00:46:21.319 --> 00:46:21.759
 Verse 7.

00:46:22.139 --> 00:46:22.899
 Each one must give

00:46:22.899 --> 00:46:24.259
 as he has decided in his heart,

00:46:24.420 --> 00:46:25.480
 not reluctantly

00:46:25.480 --> 00:46:26.539
 or under a compulsion,

00:46:26.920 --> 00:46:28.079
 for God loves

00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:29.839
 a cheerful giver.

00:46:30.679 --> 00:46:31.719
 And God is able to make

00:46:31.719 --> 00:46:33.460
 all grace abound to you

00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:34.059
 so that having

00:46:34.059 --> 00:46:35.119
 all sufficiency

00:46:35.119 --> 00:46:37.079
 in all things

00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:38.519
 at all times,

00:46:39.019 --> 00:46:39.899
 you may abound

00:46:39.899 --> 00:46:41.960
 in every good work.

00:46:42.779 --> 00:46:43.559
 As it is written,

00:46:44.079 --> 00:46:45.339
 He has distributed freely.

00:46:45.460 --> 00:46:46.399
 He has given to the poor.

00:46:46.519 --> 00:46:47.339
 His righteousness

00:46:47.339 --> 00:46:49.199
 endures forever.

00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:50.539
 He who supplies

00:46:50.539 --> 00:46:51.719
 seed to the sower

00:46:51.719 --> 00:46:52.819
 and bread for food

00:46:52.819 --> 00:46:54.599
 will supply and multiply

00:46:54.599 --> 00:46:55.559
 your seed

00:46:55.559 --> 00:46:56.460
 for sowing

00:46:56.460 --> 00:46:57.559
 and increase

00:46:57.559 --> 00:46:58.179
 the harvest

00:46:58.179 --> 00:46:59.359
 of your righteousness.

00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:00.799
 Now, get what Paul

00:47:00.799 --> 00:47:01.799
 is saying here to us.

00:47:02.119 --> 00:47:02.719
 That if you

00:47:02.719 --> 00:47:04.939
 give bountifully,

00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:05.759
 right,

00:47:05.799 --> 00:47:06.919
 it's the admonition

00:47:06.919 --> 00:47:07.559
 he's making there

00:47:07.559 --> 00:47:08.119
 in verse 6.

00:47:08.319 --> 00:47:09.299
 If you give bountifully,

00:47:09.579 --> 00:47:10.159
 God will continue

00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:11.219
 to provide to you

00:47:11.219 --> 00:47:11.759
 bountifully,

00:47:11.980 --> 00:47:12.960
 but not so that you

00:47:12.960 --> 00:47:14.159
 can have stuff,

00:47:14.399 --> 00:47:14.679
 right?

00:47:14.839 --> 00:47:15.359
 He doesn't say

00:47:15.359 --> 00:47:16.739
 having all sufficiency

00:47:16.739 --> 00:47:17.579
 in all things

00:47:17.579 --> 00:47:18.759
 in verse 8

00:47:18.759 --> 00:47:20.279
 and ended at that.

00:47:20.759 --> 00:47:21.500
 Yeah, give

00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:22.439
 so that you can have.

00:47:22.539 --> 00:47:22.939
 No, that's not

00:47:22.939 --> 00:47:23.519
 what he's saying at all.

00:47:23.599 --> 00:47:24.039
 He's saying give

00:47:24.039 --> 00:47:24.839
 so that you can have

00:47:24.839 --> 00:47:26.159
 so that you can give

00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:27.219
 in verse 8.

00:47:27.299 --> 00:47:27.739
 You may abound

00:47:27.739 --> 00:47:28.579
 in every good work,

00:47:29.299 --> 00:47:29.599
 right?

00:47:29.719 --> 00:47:30.159
 And you see,

00:47:30.239 --> 00:47:31.359
 the result of this

00:47:31.359 --> 00:47:33.759
 is that our righteousness

00:47:33.759 --> 00:47:35.679
 has an increase,

00:47:36.339 --> 00:47:36.579
 right?

00:47:37.379 --> 00:47:38.279
 The reason we're

00:47:38.279 --> 00:47:39.159
 given things

00:47:39.159 --> 00:47:39.819
 is that we might

00:47:39.819 --> 00:47:40.919
 enjoy God

00:47:40.919 --> 00:47:41.939
 and enjoy the kingdom

00:47:41.939 --> 00:47:42.379
 of God,

00:47:42.419 --> 00:47:42.859
 that we might

00:47:42.859 --> 00:47:44.479
 give freely to it

00:47:44.480 --> 00:47:45.340
 and experience

00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:46.659
 what God does

00:47:46.659 --> 00:47:47.960
 in those circumstances,

00:47:48.519 --> 00:47:48.840
 right?

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:50.260
 That we give away

00:47:50.260 --> 00:47:50.940
 something that we

00:47:50.940 --> 00:47:51.760
 can't hold on to

00:47:51.760 --> 00:47:52.599
 and we can't keep

00:47:52.599 --> 00:47:53.900
 to gain things

00:47:53.900 --> 00:47:54.380
 that we can.

00:47:54.440 --> 00:47:55.139
 We store up treasure

00:47:55.139 --> 00:47:55.900
 in heaven

00:47:55.900 --> 00:47:56.740
 rather than treasure

00:47:56.740 --> 00:47:57.800
 on earth.

00:47:58.840 --> 00:48:01.019
 So we give

00:48:01.019 --> 00:48:01.760
 so we can get

00:48:01.760 --> 00:48:02.340
 so we can give

00:48:02.340 --> 00:48:02.800
 so we can get

00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:03.340
 so we can give

00:48:03.340 --> 00:48:03.699
 so we can get

00:48:03.699 --> 00:48:04.300
 so we can give

00:48:04.300 --> 00:48:05.380
 and this is God's economy

00:48:05.380 --> 00:48:06.159
 and the way in which

00:48:06.159 --> 00:48:06.820
 God's people

00:48:06.820 --> 00:48:07.940
 can accomplish

00:48:07.940 --> 00:48:10.780
 so, so much

00:48:10.780 --> 00:48:12.000
 financially.

00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:15.440
 There's a test

00:48:15.440 --> 00:48:17.639
 God asks of us

00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:19.219
 or we ask of God

00:48:19.219 --> 00:48:20.099
 in Malachi 3,

00:48:20.239 --> 00:48:20.579
 verse 10.

00:48:20.679 --> 00:48:20.820
 He says,

00:48:21.019 --> 00:48:21.639
 Bring the full tithe

00:48:21.639 --> 00:48:22.360
 into the storehouse

00:48:22.360 --> 00:48:23.199
 that there may be

00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:24.079
 food in my house

00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:25.480
 and thereby put me

00:48:25.480 --> 00:48:26.119
 to the test,

00:48:26.239 --> 00:48:27.039
 says the Lord of hosts,

00:48:27.519 --> 00:48:28.860
 if I will not open

00:48:28.860 --> 00:48:30.059
 the windows of heaven

00:48:30.059 --> 00:48:31.159
 for you and pour down

00:48:31.159 --> 00:48:31.960
 for you a blessing

00:48:31.960 --> 00:48:32.920
 until there is no

00:48:32.920 --> 00:48:34.380
 more need.

00:48:35.139 --> 00:48:36.019
 Just see what will

00:48:36.019 --> 00:48:37.159
 happen if you begin

00:48:37.159 --> 00:48:38.420
 to give the way

00:48:38.420 --> 00:48:39.599
 I've asked you to give.

00:48:40.699 --> 00:48:41.820
 See if I don't just

00:48:41.820 --> 00:48:43.080
 continue to pour down

00:48:43.080 --> 00:48:44.340
 on you and provide

00:48:44.340 --> 00:48:45.420
 and to provide

00:48:45.420 --> 00:48:46.480
 and to provide

00:48:46.480 --> 00:48:47.559
 and to provide.

00:48:48.380 --> 00:48:49.280
 This is the way

00:48:49.280 --> 00:48:50.240
 in which God

00:48:50.240 --> 00:48:51.280
 accomplishes

00:48:51.280 --> 00:48:52.500
 His work.

00:48:52.920 --> 00:48:53.559
 And I hope

00:48:53.559 --> 00:48:54.280
 that it is your

00:48:54.280 --> 00:48:54.960
 great desire,

00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:55.660
 I hope it is your

00:48:55.660 --> 00:48:56.700
 primary desire

00:48:56.700 --> 00:48:57.580
 in your life

00:48:57.580 --> 00:48:58.720
 to magnify

00:48:58.720 --> 00:48:59.640
 God.

00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:01.500
 Because of what

00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:02.039
 He's done on your

00:49:02.039 --> 00:49:03.539
 behalf in the gospel.

00:49:04.280 --> 00:49:05.480
 Because He sent Christ

00:49:05.480 --> 00:49:07.280
 to die on your behalf.

00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:08.500
 That it is your

00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:09.300
 great desire

00:49:09.300 --> 00:49:10.039
 and great joy

00:49:10.039 --> 00:49:10.519
 in this life

00:49:10.519 --> 00:49:11.300
 to magnify

00:49:11.300 --> 00:49:11.880
 the person

00:49:11.880 --> 00:49:12.280
 and work

00:49:12.280 --> 00:49:13.320
 of Jesus Christ.

00:49:13.440 --> 00:49:14.239
 And so by

00:49:14.239 --> 00:49:15.340
 magnify the Father.

00:49:15.780 --> 00:49:16.519
 Shouldn't it be?

00:49:16.960 --> 00:49:17.280
 It would be the

00:49:17.280 --> 00:49:17.980
 great desire

00:49:17.980 --> 00:49:18.840
 of all of our lives

00:49:18.840 --> 00:49:19.400
 not to have

00:49:19.400 --> 00:49:20.320
 more stuff,

00:49:20.840 --> 00:49:21.320
 not to own

00:49:21.320 --> 00:49:22.039
 more things

00:49:22.039 --> 00:49:22.519
 or go on

00:49:22.519 --> 00:49:23.380
 better vacations

00:49:23.380 --> 00:49:24.139
 or have a

00:49:24.139 --> 00:49:25.259
 better experience

00:49:25.259 --> 00:49:26.000
 here or there.

00:49:26.619 --> 00:49:27.519
 But to make

00:49:27.519 --> 00:49:28.800
 Christ known,

00:49:29.800 --> 00:49:30.480
 it should be.

00:49:31.460 --> 00:49:32.159
 That's not always

00:49:32.159 --> 00:49:32.519
 for me.

00:49:32.679 --> 00:49:33.280
 It should be.

00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:34.239
 It should always be.

00:49:34.440 --> 00:49:35.139
 It should always

00:49:35.139 --> 00:49:36.579
 be the case.

00:49:36.579 --> 00:49:38.400
 How is it

00:49:38.400 --> 00:49:38.619
 that we're

00:49:38.619 --> 00:49:39.380
 using our money

00:49:39.380 --> 00:49:40.759
 to accomplish

00:49:40.759 --> 00:49:41.319
 this thing?

00:49:41.420 --> 00:49:41.799
 So giving

00:49:41.799 --> 00:49:43.519
 at least a tenth

00:49:43.519 --> 00:49:44.299
 today is in

00:49:44.299 --> 00:49:44.759
 keeping with

00:49:44.759 --> 00:49:45.259
 the purpose

00:49:45.259 --> 00:49:45.759
 of the tithe

00:49:45.759 --> 00:49:46.319
 in its day.

00:49:46.539 --> 00:49:47.340
 It honors God

00:49:47.340 --> 00:49:48.579
 as the owner

00:49:48.579 --> 00:49:49.380
 and giver

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:50.279
 of all things.

00:49:50.460 --> 00:49:51.119
 It helps protect

00:49:51.119 --> 00:49:51.659
 our hearts

00:49:51.659 --> 00:49:52.380
 from the wiles

00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:53.039
 of money

00:49:53.039 --> 00:49:54.539
 and it is a

00:49:54.539 --> 00:49:55.759
 means for good

00:49:55.759 --> 00:49:56.239
 works

00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:57.559
 which glorify God.

00:49:57.880 --> 00:49:58.759
 Let's pray together.

00:49:59.200 --> 00:49:59.200


00:49:59.200 --> 00:49:59.200


00:49:59.200 --> 00:49:59.200


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00:49:59.200 --> 00:49:59.200