WEBVTT

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 Well, good afternoon to all of you.

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 Every few months, Dan and I, Dan Bielman and I, sit down and we plan out the preaching for the coming months.

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 And when we do this, we take a couple of things into account.

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 On the one hand, we want a balanced diet of Scripture.

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 We want to make sure that people are being exposed to the whole counsel of God.

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 And on the other hand, we take into account current things that are happening in the world,

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 issues that are relevant to our lives right here and now in Washington, D.C. and around the globe.

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 And so we try to bring those things together and then pray and ask the Lord

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 where we should be focusing our time and energy in our preaching on Sundays.

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 And there are a lot of issues we could focus on.

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 There's the whole issue of environmental degradation and climate change.

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 There's our work, our jobs, and how we think about those.

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 There's the whole realm of sexual ethics.

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 There's the whole realm of finances.

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 There's stress and the busyness culture that we live in.

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 There's relationships and friendships and parenting.

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 All of these things would be worthy topics.

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 But as we thought about this, we realized that there's actually a theme in Scripture

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 that runs from Genesis to Revelation that touches on all of these issues.

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 It actually runs under and shapes how we think about all of those things that I just listed.

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 And that theme is the theme of stewardship.

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 Now, I know that might not strike you as a profound topic to spend several weeks thinking about

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 because normally when it comes up in a church, it's capital campaign season

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 and it's time to raise some money.

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 And that's really the only time most churches talk about stewardship.

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 But if you look at Scripture, it actually is a central theme.

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 It's much bigger than money.

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 It's a theme that encompasses everything about what it means to be a human being

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 and then shapes how we think about our lives and the world that we live in.

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 And so over the next few weeks, we're going to be looking at this in more detail.

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 We're going to ask, what does it mean to be stewards of creation?

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 Stewards of our bodies.

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 Stewards of time itself.

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 Stewards of the grace and the gifts that the Lord has given us.

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 Stewards over our wealth and our privilege.

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 All of these different ways we'll apply it.

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 But this evening, what I want to do is just to spend a little time on the principle itself.

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 What is stewardship?

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 How do we understand it biblically?

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 And normally, for those of you who aren't a regular part of our church,

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 our practice is to preach expository sermons.

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 So we'll take a text and we'll walk through it and unpack it.

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 Every now and then, we do something a little different.

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 Tonight's going to be a little different.

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 We're going to do more of a survey.

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 So we will actually draw from all four passages that we read.

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 And from time to time, that's helpful when you're tracing a big theme like this,

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 just to see how all different parts of Scripture speak into and inform such a deep theme.

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 So that's what we're going to do.

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 So we're going to draw from all of those passages,

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 and we're going to see three things about stewardship.

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 We're going to see the foundation of it.

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 What's the basis for the whole concept of stewardship?

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 And then we're going to see the calling of stewardship,

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 and what that tells us about what it means to be a human being.

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 And then lastly, the promise of stewardship.

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 There is a promise woven into stewardship and an end toward which we all strive.

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 So foundation, calling, and promise of stewardship.

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 Let's pray.

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 Our Father, we will marinate in this truth that all of this is by you and for you.

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 And that includes this time.

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 And Lord, I thank you that we can gather around your written word

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 and rely not on the wisdom of human beings,

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 but on your promise to speak to us

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 and ultimately to reveal to us your living word, Jesus Christ.

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 And it's in his name that we hope and pray.

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 Amen.

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 So the foundation of stewardship,

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 this is the first thing we want to consider together.

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 The whole idea of stewardship is based on one central premise.

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 And that premise you see in Psalm 24, verse 1.

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 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,

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 the world and those who dwell therein.

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 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

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 What is that saying?

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 Well, it's pretty simple.

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 Everything that exists belongs to God.

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 He made it and it's all his.

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 Every single thing.

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 So just think about that for a second.

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 Every molecule that exists.

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 Every drop of water.

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 Right?

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 Every grain of sand.

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 Every hair on your head.

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 Every breath you take.

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 Every thought you think.

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 Belongs to God.

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 It all belongs to him.

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 Abraham Kuyper, the touch theologian, famously said,

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 There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence

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 over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry,

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 Mine.

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 It's all his.

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 And of course, if everything belongs to God,

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 if all of this belongs to him,

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 then logically, that means nothing belongs to us.

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 Right?

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 There is nothing over which we can say,

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 Mine.

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 Because Jesus has already claimed it as his.

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 So we live in a country, thankfully, that protects your right to own property.

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 Right?

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 Some countries don't.

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 We live in a country, free market capitalism is built on the idea of property ownership.

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 We can own personal property.

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 We can own the means of production.

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 That's the basis of our economy.

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 Right?

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 John Locke, Adam Smith, they talk a lot about this.

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 So legally, we can own stuff.

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 But spiritually, on a more fundamental level,

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 what this is saying is that we cannot own anything.

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 Because it's all God's.

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 Now, you may feel like I'm overdoing this a bit,

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 but there's a reason for that.

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 And that's because I think that this is a very easy concept to understand, logically.

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 But I also think it's just as easy to forget it.

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 So it's impossible for us to own anything,

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 because it all belongs to God.

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 Paul takes this a step further in Acts chapter 17,

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 during his speech at the Areopagus.

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 He says in verse 24,

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 What's this saying?

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 God can't be manipulated.

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 That's what it's saying.

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 You can't manipulate God.

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 People who say,

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 you know, well, I made a deal with God.

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 If God will do this for me,

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 and I'm going to go to church and pray

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 and spend the rest of my life reading the Bible.

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 No.

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 You can't make deals with God.

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 He can't be manipulated.

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 Because He made everything,

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 and because He owns everything,

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 He doesn't need anything.

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 And I hate to break it to you,

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 but He doesn't need us.

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 At all.

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 In fact, He doesn't need creation.

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 At all.

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 It's not as though God was just sitting there in eternity,

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 bored.

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 You know?

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 Or lonely.

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 You know, saying,

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 I need some distraction,

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 diversion.

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 You know?

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 Let there be light.

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 Something.

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 No.

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 God was perfectly whole,

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 self-sustaining,

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 complete,

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 lacked for nothing.

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 There's no reason

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 that He needed to create anything at all.

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 And so what does that mean about all of this?

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 In a word,

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 it's unnecessary.

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 To God.

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 It's unnecessary.

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 Now, I'm not trying to make you feel insignificant.

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 In fact,

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 if you really think about it,

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 it's the unnecessity of creation

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 that makes it so absolutely,

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 breathtakingly wonderful.

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 people.

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 Because God is the kind of God

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 who would do this.

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 But He doesn't need it.

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 Right?

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 So I just want to sit with this for a few minutes

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 and let it sink in.

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 Why does this matter

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 and why would we spend time talking about it?

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 Well,

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 here's the thing.

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 C.S. Lewis,

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 if you've ever read his book,

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 Mere Christianity,

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 he says

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 that unless we understand

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 this concept

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 that God doesn't

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 need us,

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 we can't really come to understand

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 the gospel.

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 He says,

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 you cannot come to saving faith

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 if you don't get this idea.

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 And I say,

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 what in the world?

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 What's the connection there?

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 Well,

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 in order to understand the gospel,

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 we have to understand

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 and come to terms

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 with this fact.

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 No matter what we do for God,

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 no matter what we give God,

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 no matter how much we might try to serve God,

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 God will never owe us anything.

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 He doesn't need it.

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 He will never be in our debt.

00:09:46.979 --> 00:09:47.519
 Lewis says,

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 every faculty you have,

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 your power of thinking

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 or of moving your limbs

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 from moment to moment

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 is given you by God.

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 If you devoted every moment

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 of your whole life

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 exclusively to his service,

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 you could not give him anything

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 that was not,

00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:03.979
 in a sense,

00:10:04.119 --> 00:10:05.339
 his own already.

00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:07.219
 Right?

00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:08.659
 So if you spend all day

00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:10.639
 helping your friend move,

00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.579
 God bless you if you do that.

00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.199
 It's amazing.

00:10:13.699 --> 00:10:15.559
 It's a common need in D.C.

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 as people shuffle around

00:10:16.719 --> 00:10:17.619
 from place to place.

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 You spend all day

00:10:18.959 --> 00:10:19.559
 helping your friend.

00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:20.500
 You're giving your time.

00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:21.659
 You're giving your energy.

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 They're not entitled to that.

00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:23.579
 It's yours,

00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:24.759
 but you're giving it to them.

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 They're in your debt.

00:10:26.359 --> 00:10:27.000
 They owe you.

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 I hope they admit that.

00:10:28.099 --> 00:10:29.419
 I hope they at least got you pizza

00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:30.719
 or told you thank you.

00:10:30.819 --> 00:10:31.000
 Right?

00:10:31.099 --> 00:10:32.179
 But they're in your debt.

00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:35.000
 It's not like that with God.

00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:37.719
 Because God already owns

00:10:37.719 --> 00:10:38.879
 all of your time

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 and all of your energy.

00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.579
 It's already his.

00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:43.460
 Right?

00:10:43.520 --> 00:10:44.360
 So Lewis says,

00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:45.800
 it's kind of like

00:10:45.800 --> 00:10:46.700
 a little girl

00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:48.620
 borrowing $20 from her dad

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.520
 to go buy him

00:10:49.520 --> 00:10:50.180
 a birthday present.

00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:52.000
 You know?

00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:52.320
 I mean,

00:10:52.400 --> 00:10:53.900
 it's sweet and nice

00:10:53.900 --> 00:10:55.460
 and he opens the present

00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:57.040
 and I'm sure he appreciates it.

00:10:57.660 --> 00:10:58.720
 But nobody would argue

00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.060
 that he's just gained $20.

00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.160
 Right?

00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:02.300
 That's his money.

00:11:02.540 --> 00:11:03.800
 It just did a big circle.

00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:04.360
 Right?

00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:05.620
 And just came right back to him.

00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:07.040
 And he says,

00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:08.420
 all of our time,

00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.000
 all of our energy,

00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:10.100
 if we spent the rest of our lives

00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:10.620
 serving God,

00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:12.140
 that's like we just borrowed $20

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:13.139
 and then gave it back.

00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.879
 That's all it is.

00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:17.439
 It doesn't work that way with God.

00:11:18.939 --> 00:11:19.139
 So,

00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.399
 here's how this connects

00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.779
 to our faith.

00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:24.720
 If we want to think about it.

00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:25.259
 First of all,

00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:26.399
 just kind of a side point,

00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.939
 this is one of the reasons

00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:29.960
 that the medieval Catholic doctrine

00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:31.259
 of indulgences

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.679
 just doesn't hold up.

00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:35.000
 Because that's based on the idea

00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:36.200
 that I can do works

00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:37.419
 of super irrigation.

00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:37.759
 Right?

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:39.220
 I can go above and beyond

00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:41.560
 what is required of me

00:11:41.560 --> 00:11:42.899
 and earn credit with God

00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:44.680
 and then I can use that

00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:45.899
 to bring about

00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:47.360
 supernatural results.

00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.680
 I can kind of cash it in.

00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:49.040
 Right?

00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:51.080
 It doesn't work that way.

00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.420
 Because you could spend

00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:53.120
 your whole life

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.920
 going above and beyond

00:11:53.920 --> 00:11:55.259
 and you're just giving to God

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.440
 what is already God's.

00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:59.019
 You can't accumulate credit.

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:00.840
 Now,

00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.139
 to get a little more practical

00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.700
 for the rest of us

00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:04.100
 who are not

00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:05.220
 kind of mired

00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:06.420
 in medieval Catholicism,

00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:07.939
 how does this touch

00:12:07.939 --> 00:12:09.219
 our lives right now?

00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:09.399
 Well,

00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.259
 let's just think about this

00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:10.740
 for a second.

00:12:12.479 --> 00:12:14.500
 I think that most of us,

00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.719
 whether we admit it or not,

00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:17.599
 I think you sit in church

00:12:17.599 --> 00:12:19.039
 and we talk about the gospel

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.819
 and the amazing grace

00:12:20.819 --> 00:12:22.139
 that is on offer to us

00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:23.159
 and I think most of us

00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:23.860
 just kind of say,

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.120
 eh,

00:12:25.479 --> 00:12:26.399
 alright.

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:27.919
 Yeah,

00:12:27.979 --> 00:12:28.579
 God forgives.

00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:29.099
 I know.

00:12:29.959 --> 00:12:30.879
 And preachers like me

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.519
 stand up and we say,

00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:32.339
 isn't it amazing

00:12:32.339 --> 00:12:33.139
 that God forgives sin?

00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:33.519
 And we say,

00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:34.360
 yeah,

00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:35.219
 I guess.

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:37.019
 But if I'm really honest,

00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.259
 you know,

00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.160
 I've just been hearing that

00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:38.720
 for years

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:40.560
 and it's kind of boring.

00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:41.300
 Yeah,

00:12:41.420 --> 00:12:42.000
 God forgives.

00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:42.879
 I know.

00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:43.960
 And we just sort of

00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:44.680
 feel numb to it.

00:12:44.800 --> 00:12:45.759
 We feel apathetic

00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.340
 to the gospel.

00:12:46.920 --> 00:12:47.399
 And honestly,

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.480
 I think one of the reasons

00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.120
 that we may feel that way

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.340
 when we think about forgiveness

00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.600
 is because I think

00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.100
 deep down

00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:54.860
 we kind of think

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.320
 we're entitled to forgiveness.

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.060
 You know,

00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:00.220
 as though it's a kind of

00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:03.100
 contractual obligation.

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.660
 Right?

00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:06.259
 We've set up this contract

00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:06.759
 with God.

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.699
 As long as I come

00:13:07.699 --> 00:13:09.379
 and I say that I'm sorry

00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.579
 and I do my part

00:13:10.579 --> 00:13:11.639
 and I promise to do better,

00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:12.699
 then of course God

00:13:12.699 --> 00:13:13.620
 is going to forgive me.

00:13:13.719 --> 00:13:14.000
 In fact,

00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:15.459
 God is probably

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.399
 ethically bound

00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.399
 to forgive me.

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.459
 In fact,

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:18.659
 you know,

00:13:18.699 --> 00:13:19.559
 if God's in the business

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.439
 of forgiving people,

00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:21.959
 He probably is going to

00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:22.839
 forgive somebody like me.

00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:23.819
 I'm not nearly as bad

00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:24.799
 as a lot of people out there.

00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:26.159
 Of course He would forgive

00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:26.860
 somebody like me.

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.439
 And I think what we need

00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:29.199
 to understand is

00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:31.299
 God does not owe us anything.

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.240
 There's no reason

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.480
 why God should forgive us.

00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:35.240
 He's not bound

00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.779
 by anything to forgive us.

00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.080
 And here's the hard thing

00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:39.000
 that we need to wrestle with.

00:13:39.060 --> 00:13:40.139
 It's not a popular thing

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.159
 to talk about these days.

00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:43.740
 But if God's response

00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.639
 to our sin

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.460
 and our rebellion

00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:48.519
 was to cast us into,

00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:49.539
 as the parable says,

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.700
 the outer darkness

00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.340
 of hell

00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:52.919
 where there's weeping

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.980
 and gnashing of teeth

00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:55.680
 and turn His back on us,

00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:58.519
 He would be perfectly justified

00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:59.860
 in doing so.

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.419
 Perfectly justified.

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:03.319
 If I fell on my face

00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:03.899
 before God

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:04.199
 and said,

00:14:04.459 --> 00:14:05.299
 I repent of everything

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.259
 and I spent the rest

00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:06.860
 of my life

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:08.579
 outdoing Mother Teresa

00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:09.659
 in goodness

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:11.360
 and God cast me

00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.059
 into the outer darkness,

00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:13.179
 He would be perfectly

00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:14.479
 justified in doing so.

00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:15.779
 He has no obligation

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.579
 to forgive us.

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.919
 The only reason

00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.299
 that God chose

00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:21.139
 to send Jesus,

00:14:21.839 --> 00:14:23.019
 chose to make a way

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.379
 to be reconciled to Him,

00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:26.379
 extends the grace

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:26.939
 of forgiveness,

00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:29.500
 is because He chooses to.

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:32.500
 It's simply a matter

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.720
 of His willingness

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:35.919
 to suspend justice

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.159
 and extend mercy.

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.799
 He doesn't owe us anything.

00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:42.480
 So the Gospel says

00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.720
 that even though God

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.820
 owed us nothing,

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.460
 He gave us everything.

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.840
 But until you understand

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.840
 the nothing part,

00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:52.279
 the everything part

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.100
 is not going to really

00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.840
 mean a whole lot.

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:57.240
 So this is the first aspect

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:57.920
 of stewardship.

00:14:58.060 --> 00:14:59.200
 The foundation of stewardship

00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:02.240
 is that everything belongs

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.720
 to God,

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:04.300
 nothing belongs to us.

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:06.100
 God doesn't owe us anything

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.700
 or need us for any reason.

00:15:08.660 --> 00:15:09.560
 Now that's what makes

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:11.120
 the second point so amazing

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:11.820
 because even though

00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.740
 we're completely

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:14.340
 cosmically unnecessary,

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.879
 God still chooses

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.860
 to give us a central role

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.840
 in the cosmos,

00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:22.120
 which is an amazing thing

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:22.720
 to think about.

00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:24.360
 So this brings us

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.100
 to the second point,

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:27.340
 the calling of stewardship,

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.700
 that stewardship is a calling.

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:29.879
 And so we're going to

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.500
 shift our attention

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.820
 away from Psalm 24

00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:32.860
 and Acts 17.

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.840
 We're going to look briefly

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.799
 at Genesis 1.

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.759
 Genesis 1 says this.

00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.759
 It shows us that human beings

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.799
 are created by God

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.240
 and then it essentially

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:44.000
 shows us the mission statement

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.399
 that God gives human beings.

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.500
 Here's why you're here.

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.440
 Verse 28.

00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:50.120
 Be fruitful and multiply

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.540
 and fill the earth

00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:52.200
 and subdue it

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.360
 and have dominion

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.440
 over the fish of the sea

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.120
 and over the birds

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.640
 of the heavens

00:15:55.640 --> 00:15:57.180
 and over every living thing

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:58.260
 that moves on the earth.

00:15:58.400 --> 00:16:00.040
 So here's humanity's purpose.

00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:01.660
 Have dominion.

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:04.180
 Here's why you're here.

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.720
 Have dominion.

00:16:06.140 --> 00:16:07.960
 Exercise lordship.

00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:09.520
 Now God is not saying,

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.380
 I created this world,

00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:11.140
 here you go,

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:11.920
 had fun with it,

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.620
 I'm out of here.

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.100
 God says,

00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:13.419
 no,

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.940
 this is my world

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.779
 but I want you

00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:17.960
 to rule over it.

00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.240
 I want you to have dominion

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.799
 in my name.

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.320
 Right?

00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.659
 So this is by definition

00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.419
 a call to stewardship.

00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.220
 You know,

00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:28.220
 in the Greek,

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.340
 the word steward

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.940
 is made up of two words.

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.960
 Oikos and namos.

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:34.879
 And oikos means house

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.580
 or household.

00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:37.560
 Namos means rule or ruler.

00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:39.200
 So a steward is literally

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.700
 the ruler of the house.

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:42.900
 And in ancient times

00:16:42.900 --> 00:16:43.660
 and biblical times,

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:46.040
 the steward had dominion

00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:47.020
 over the house.

00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.040
 They had dominion

00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:50.800
 over all of the family affairs.

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.820
 They had dominion

00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:53.440
 over all the family finances

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.300
 and investments,

00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.140
 the family business.

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:56.620
 They had dominion

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:59.040
 over all of the servants

00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:00.120
 and all of the slaves

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:00.900
 and all the personnel

00:17:00.900 --> 00:17:02.540
 connected to the oikos.

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.120
 They had total dominion,

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.759
 total say.

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.580
 And yet,

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:09.100
 rarely if ever,

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:11.219
 was that steward

00:17:11.219 --> 00:17:12.319
 the owner.

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.539
 In fact,

00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.839
 the vast majority of the time

00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.379
 the steward was a slave

00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:17.659
 who belonged to

00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.759
 the owner,

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.059
 the master of the house.

00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:21.759
 And in the same way,

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.659
 when we look at Genesis,

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.299
 it's as though God

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.419
 is creating this great

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.899
 cosmic house,

00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:27.480
 a temple.

00:17:27.959 --> 00:17:28.779
 All of creation

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.480
 is like a great household.

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.039
 Oikonomia, right?

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.039
 Economy, right?

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.659
 He's creating

00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.679
 the whole cosmos

00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:36.279
 and he's saying,

00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.059
 I want you,

00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:37.799
 my servants,

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.180
 to be stewards

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.700
 and have dominion

00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.599
 over all of this.

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.519
 So this is the calling

00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.359
 that he gives

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.180
 to human beings.

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.220
 And a good steward

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.339
 is marked by one

00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.279
 central characteristic.

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.220
 What makes a good steward?

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.039
 What would you think

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.839
 makes a good steward?

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.319
 A good steward uses

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.299
 all that's been

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.279
 entrusted to her

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:58.000
 in ways

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.899
 not that advance

00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:01.339
 her own self-interest,

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.000
 but rather in ways

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.619
 that advance

00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:04.460
 the interest

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:06.140
 of the owner, right?

00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.380
 So she's not about

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:08.220
 advancing her own

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.779
 self-interest

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.360
 and agendas

00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:10.279
 and pet projects.

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.019
 She wants to use

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.740
 everything that's been

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.140
 given to her

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.079
 in ways that advance

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.740
 the interests

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.299
 of the owner.

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.519
 That's by definition

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.140
 what it means

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.180
 to be a steward.

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.460
 And I hope you understand

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.579
 that stewardship

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.539
 as a mentality

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.559
 is radically

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.360
 counter-cultural

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:26.360
 in our society.

00:18:27.840 --> 00:18:28.579
 Because we live

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.140
 in a society

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.519
 where there's

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.240
 a high focus

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.880
 on ownership.

00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.400
 And yet the

00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.279
 ownership mentality

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.059
 and the stewardship

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.639
 mentality

00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:37.139
 are radically

00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:37.720
 opposed

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.539
 to one another.

00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:40.240
 I mean,

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.660
 just think about

00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.079
 the difference.

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.559
 I'll just give you

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.240
 a couple of differences

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.460
 between these two

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.339
 ways of thinking

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.480
 and living in the world.

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.799
 An ownership mentality

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:49.940
 focuses on rights,

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.879
 first of all.

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.119
 So when you're

00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.859
 thinking like an owner,

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.460
 you're focused

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.139
 on your rights.

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.079
 This is

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.180
 my time,

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.359
 my home,

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.079
 this is

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.859
 my money,

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.500
 this is

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.240
 my body,

00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.039
 this is

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.259
 these are

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.000
 my resources,

00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:05.519
 right?

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.339
 And I have

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.079
 a legal right

00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.679
 to do whatever

00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:09.279
 I want

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.759
 with my stuff.

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:12.059
 And that's

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.539
 how an owner

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.000
 thinks.

00:19:13.979 --> 00:19:15.139
 Now by contrast,

00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.500
 a steward

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:16.959
 says,

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.859
 I may have

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.539
 a legal right

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:18.979
 to some of

00:19:18.979 --> 00:19:19.439
 this stuff,

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.179
 but they don't

00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:21.779
 think really

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.359
 in terms of

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:22.599
 rights,

00:19:22.679 --> 00:19:23.179
 they focus

00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:24.399
 on responsibilities.

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:25.959
 What is

00:19:25.959 --> 00:19:26.819
 my responsibility

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:28.119
 with all

00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:28.459
 that's been

00:19:28.459 --> 00:19:29.219
 entrusted to me?

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.759
 And for our

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.100
 purposes,

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:33.460
 how am I

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.160
 responsible to

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.079
 God for

00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.900
 how I use

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.700
 all that's

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.140
 been entrusted

00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.460
 to me?

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.319
 And so you

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:38.779
 have to ask,

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.079
 what are

00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.880
 God's priorities?

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.680
 What's

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.600
 God's design

00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.759
 for this?

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.120
 What was

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:44.980
 God's intention

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.140
 in creating

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:46.600
 this and

00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.079
 giving it

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.420
 to me?

00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:48.559
 What are

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.279
 God's values?

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.160
 What is the

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.960
 end that God

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.440
 wants to

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:51.940
 bring about?

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.100
 And then how

00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:53.799
 do I use

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.160
 all that's

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.579
 been entrusted

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.120
 to me to

00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:55.740
 serve that

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.160
 end?

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.299
 It's a very

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.880
 different mentality,

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.640
 rights versus

00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.440
 responsibilities.

00:20:00.560 --> 00:20:01.100
 Another way

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:01.500
 that owners

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:01.960
 and stewards

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.340
 are different

00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:02.840
 is people

00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.180
 with an

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.540
 ownership

00:20:03.540 --> 00:20:04.420
 mentality

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:06.100
 assume they

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:06.800
 are completely

00:20:06.800 --> 00:20:07.320
 autonomous.

00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:09.440
 I can do

00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:09.900
 what I want

00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.660
 with my stuff,

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.259
 it's my stuff,

00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:11.900
 nobody can tell

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.600
 me how I

00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:12.759
 can,

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.140
 what I should

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.420
 or shouldn't

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:14.820
 do with my

00:20:14.820 --> 00:20:15.040
 stuff,

00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:15.520
 nobody has a

00:20:15.520 --> 00:20:15.840
 right to do

00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:16.780
 that because

00:20:16.780 --> 00:20:17.240
 it's mine.

00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:20.240
 And there's

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.720
 an assumption

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.380
 there that there

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:21.840
 will never be

00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:22.259
 an accounting.

00:20:23.060 --> 00:20:23.400
 I can do

00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:23.740
 what I want,

00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:24.140
 live how I

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:24.380
 want,

00:20:24.520 --> 00:20:25.320
 no problem.

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.460
 Nobody will

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:26.880
 ever have a

00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.340
 right to speak

00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:27.720
 into that.

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.680
 But stewards

00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.480
 recognize that

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:30.960
 we're not

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.560
 ultimately

00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:33.120
 autonomous.

00:20:33.560 --> 00:20:34.120
 We may have

00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.720
 a functional

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.040
 autonomy here

00:20:36.040 --> 00:20:36.440
 and now,

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.540
 but one day

00:20:37.540 --> 00:20:38.100
 just like in

00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:38.780
 the parable

00:20:38.780 --> 00:20:39.420
 of the talents,

00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:40.500
 the master

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.020
 will come

00:20:41.020 --> 00:20:41.860
 and ask us

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.200
 to give an

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.580
 accounting.

00:20:43.520 --> 00:20:44.040
 So stewards

00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.780
 live every day

00:20:44.780 --> 00:20:45.259
 knowing that

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.820
 one day we

00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:46.320
 will be called

00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:46.680
 to give an

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:46.960
 account.

00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:48.280
 There's a

00:20:48.280 --> 00:20:48.800
 passage in the

00:20:48.800 --> 00:20:49.220
 New Testament

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.940
 that speaks

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.800
 specifically to

00:20:50.800 --> 00:20:51.460
 pastors and

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:51.940
 church leaders,

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.820
 not just

00:20:52.820 --> 00:20:53.300
 pastors,

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.520
 church leaders

00:20:54.520 --> 00:20:55.020
 in general.

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:56.119
 people and

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:56.579
 says one

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.059
 day you

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.339
 will be

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.779
 called to

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:57.980
 give an

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.500
 account for

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:58.900
 how you

00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.539
 stewarded

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.139
 God's

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:00.420
 people.

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.720
 That should

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.259
 be chilling

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.420
 if you're

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.240
 in church

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.619
 leadership.

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.619
 One day

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.819
 you'll have to

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.000
 give an

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.299
 account.

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.099
 Were you a

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.500
 good steward?

00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.660
 So there's a

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:12.980
 sense of

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.440
 accountability.

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.319
 So rights

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:14.599
 versus

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.319
 responsibilities,

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:15.900
 autonomy

00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.319
 versus

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.000
 accountability,

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:17.839
 radically

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.220
 different

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.839
 mentalities.

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.539
 So human

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.019
 beings are

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.660
 called to be

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.639
 stewards who

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:23.639
 are responsible

00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.280
 and accountable

00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:24.860
 to God

00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.720
 rather than

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.300
 owners who

00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:26.840
 think only

00:21:26.840 --> 00:21:27.280
 about their

00:21:27.280 --> 00:21:28.100
 rights and

00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:29.060
 their autonomy.

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:29.480
 Now again,

00:21:29.540 --> 00:21:30.120
 let's just ask

00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:30.740
 why does this

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:30.980
 matter?

00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:31.380
 Why are we

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.800
 talking about

00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.140
 this?

00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.440
 Well, on the

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:34.720
 one hand,

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.000
 we're going to

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.420
 talk a lot

00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:35.780
 more about

00:21:35.780 --> 00:21:36.180
 this in the

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.540
 weeks to

00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:36.840
 come.

00:21:37.020 --> 00:21:37.240
 We're going

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.660
 to focus,

00:21:37.780 --> 00:21:38.320
 as I said,

00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.120
 on applying

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:39.920
 this idea

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.440
 in lots of

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:40.960
 different ways.

00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.540
 But I just

00:21:41.540 --> 00:21:41.920
 want to make

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.640
 one brief

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.820
 overarching point

00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:45.020
 that we'll

00:21:45.020 --> 00:21:45.720
 come back to

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:47.120
 in the weeks

00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:47.520
 to come.

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:48.600
 Here's the

00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.400
 overarching point.

00:21:49.560 --> 00:21:49.880
 Let's just

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.540
 use logic.

00:21:51.560 --> 00:21:52.060
 If human

00:21:52.060 --> 00:21:52.620
 beings were

00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.200
 created,

00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:55.420
 to be

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:55.860
 stewards,

00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.120
 that means

00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.220
 that a

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.720
 stewardship

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.500
 mentality

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:02.080
 is inherently

00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:03.140
 humanizing.

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.100
 In other

00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:04.259
 words,

00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:04.720
 the more

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.400
 I live

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:05.940
 and think

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.400
 and act

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.960
 like a

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.400
 steward,

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:08.759
 the more

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.800
 truly human

00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:10.480
 I become.

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:11.960
 And I just

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.320
 want you to

00:22:12.320 --> 00:22:12.780
 think about

00:22:12.780 --> 00:22:13.640
 what that

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.220
 looks like.

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:14.440
 I mean,

00:22:14.520 --> 00:22:15.480
 just imagine

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.940
 the world

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.180
 if everyone

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.140
 lived with

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.900
 a stewardship

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.480
 mentality.

00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:20.940
 If we all

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.120
 assumed I'm

00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:22.940
 responsible to

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.940
 God and

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.500
 I'm accountable

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.059
 to God

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.980
 with how I

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.660
 use everything

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.120
 that's been

00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:27.860
 entrusted to

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.059
 me.

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:28.680
 And I want

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.039
 to live in

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.380
 ways that

00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:30.140
 advance his

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.559
 interests over

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.059
 my own.

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.480
 What's a great

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.900
 summary of

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.620
 God's interests

00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.299
 and priorities?

00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.980
 We just said it

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.259
 earlier.

00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:39.900
 Love God with

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.360
 all your heart,

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:40.700
 soul,

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.259
 mind,

00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:41.740
 and strength,

00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.360
 and love your

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.720
 neighbor as

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.140
 yourself.

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.059
 Right?

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.100
 So imagine if

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:45.880
 that ethic

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:47.440
 shaped how we

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.200
 used our money

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.120
 and our homes

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:50.000
 and our time

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.880
 and our bodies

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:51.779
 and our jobs

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.380
 and our privilege

00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:52.940
 and our wealth

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.359
 and everything

00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:53.819
 that we could

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.039
 list.

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.000
 Imagine that

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.319
 world.

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.000
 It would be a

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.579
 world of

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.359
 sharing.

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.480
 It would be a

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.000
 world of

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.619
 generosity.

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.000
 It would be a

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.460
 world of

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.400
 interdependence.

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.019
 It would be a

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.539
 world of

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.559
 closeness and

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.000
 community.

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.839
 It would be a

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.220
 world of

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.460
 justice and

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:07.900
 mercy.

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.059
 That's the kind

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.240
 of world we

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.759
 want to live

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.019
 in.

00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.059
 What an

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.980
 amazing world

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.640
 that would

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.460
 be if that

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:16.859
 was the

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.400
 dominant ethic,

00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.960
 if we all

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.380
 lived like

00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:18.759
 stewards.

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.720
 See, it's

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.380
 radically

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.299
 humanizing

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:24.000
 to live as

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.440
 a steward.

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.019
 Now, if

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.619
 that's true,

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.279
 then the

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.779
 opposite is

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.339
 also true.

00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.259
 If a

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.500
 stewardship

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.000
 mentality

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.579
 humanizes

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.119
 us, then

00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:32.880
 an ownership

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.539
 mentality

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:35.380
 dehumanizes

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.319
 us.

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.660
 It's

00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.480
 destructive

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:39.299
 to human

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.400
 life and

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:40.880
 potential.

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.779
 Now, that

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.279
 may not be

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.660
 an immediate

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.240
 connection.

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.599
 Let me just

00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:44.900
 give you a

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.700
 concrete example.

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:46.980
 Harvey

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.460
 Weinstein.

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.480
 Great

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:49.839
 example.

00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:50.680
 Current

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.039
 example.

00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.059
 But by

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.420
 no means

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:52.740
 unique.

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.259
 See, the

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.700
 whole Harvey

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.079
 Weinstein

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.759
 situation is

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.460
 not just a

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.779
 case of

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.400
 sexual addiction

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.619
 or a

00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.259
 failure of

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.299
 sexual assault

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.579
 laws or

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:04.140
 the result of

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.619
 too many people

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.220
 keeping quiet.

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.519
 I mean, it's

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:05.960
 all of those

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.420
 things, but it's

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.099
 not just those

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.460
 things.

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.660
 This is a

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.619
 great portrait

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.259
 of what it

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.220
 looks like when

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.079
 a human being

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.759
 lives with no

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.720
 sense of

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.799
 responsibility

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.000
 responsibility

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.779
 or accountability

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:20.500
 to anything

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.279
 outside their

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:21.940
 own desires.

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.240
 This is what

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.259
 it starts to

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.839
 look like

00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.579
 when we live

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.579
 for too long

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:31.220
 unchecked

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.180
 like we own

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.720
 the place,

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.879
 like we can do

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.879
 whatever we want,

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.740
 whatever our heart

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.500
 puts into our

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.220
 minds to do.

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.119
 This is what it

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.680
 looks like.

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.559
 And it

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.659
 dehumanizes.

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:41.779
 Right?

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.420
 So you have a

00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.160
 man who has

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.660
 power, and yet

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.079
 he doesn't

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.879
 steward that

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.279
 power.

00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.859
 He doesn't see

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.519
 it in terms of

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.519
 responsibility or

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.220
 accountability.

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.200
 And we see what

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.480
 it does.

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.099
 It doesn't just

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.059
 begin to dehumanize

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.220
 him, it begins

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.359
 to dehumanize

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.759
 other people in

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.119
 his perception.

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.559
 Right?

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.639
 So other people

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:02.319
 become bodies

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.599
 to be owned

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.839
 and used

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:06.139
 however we see

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.480
 fit.

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.579
 It's literally

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.099
 inhuman.

00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:11.399
 Right?

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.580
 So as we

00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:13.080
 think about

00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:13.720
 this mentality,

00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.460
 it's much more

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.019
 than just an

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.680
 esoteric concept.

00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:17.920
 The more we

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.620
 live like stewards,

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.160
 the more we're

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:19.840
 being true to

00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.640
 our design as

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.140
 human beings,

00:25:21.300 --> 00:25:21.860
 the more we

00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.500
 live like owners,

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.360
 the more twisted

00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.700
 and distorted

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.019
 we become.

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.600
 So the

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.340
 premise behind

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.000
 stewardship is

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.360
 that everything

00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:31.340
 belongs to God,

00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.560
 and yet humans

00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:33.320
 by design are

00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:33.900
 called to be

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.320
 stewards.

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.259
 What's all

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.900
 this for?

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.400
 As we move

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:36.920
 to the final

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.040
 point, what's

00:25:38.040 --> 00:25:38.600
 the point of

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:38.980
 all this?

00:25:39.040 --> 00:25:39.400
 What's the

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:39.700
 hope?

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:41.440
 And here's

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.819
 where I think

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.440
 stewardship is

00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.299
 really fascinating.

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.819
 We get a

00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.279
 glimmer of this

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.120
 in Matthew 25.

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.620
 Jesus tells the

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.180
 parable of the

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.620
 talents, and as

00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:50.600
 you just heard

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.840
 me read, the

00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.360
 parable is

00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.019
 essentially this,

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:53.319
 that the

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.380
 master is going

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.840
 to go away on

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.400
 a business trip,

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:55.980
 and he brings

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.220
 his three trusty

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.880
 servants to him,

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:59.080
 and he disperses

00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:00.240
 his wealth, and

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.160
 don't worry about

00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:02.660
 how much a talent

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:02.900
 is.

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:03.460
 Essentially,

00:26:03.580 --> 00:26:04.019
 imagine he

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.740
 says, I'm going

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.019
 to give you

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.580
 five million

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.140
 dollars, I'm

00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:06.380
 going to give

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:06.660
 you two

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.240
 million dollars,

00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:07.539
 and I'm

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:07.819
 going to give

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.160
 you one

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.660
 million dollars.

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.039
 A lot of

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.659
 money, and

00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:11.039
 he goes away

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.379
 on a business

00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:13.240
 trip, and the

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.639
 first two double

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.379
 their money, they

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:15.859
 double the

00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:17.319
 investment, and

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.940
 so when the

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:19.599
 master returns and

00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.319
 finds out what

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.799
 they've done, he

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.579
 says to each of

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.680
 them, well done,

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.680
 good and faithful

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.099
 servant.

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:25.960
 You've been

00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.819
 faithful over a

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.759
 little, I will set

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.559
 you over much.

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.819
 Enter into the

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.480
 joy of your

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.859
 master.

00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.440
 See, this is

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.920
 pointing us towards

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.579
 something that the

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.559
 Bible teaches in a

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.420
 number of places,

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:39.820
 faithful stewardship

00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:41.840
 is rewarded, that

00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:43.080
 those who are over

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.420
 little in this

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.620
 life will be set

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.980
 over much in the

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.700
 life to come, and

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.300
 even more than

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:49.980
 that, that they

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.640
 will be able to

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.920
 enter fully into the

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.660
 joy of their

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.039
 master.

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.580
 Now, what does

00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:55.039
 that mean for us as

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.460
 we think about

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.860
 God?

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.519
 All of this that

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.539
 we're stewards over

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:03.259
 now will one day be

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.240
 ours to enjoy

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.140
 forever.

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:05.180
 forever.

00:27:06.280 --> 00:27:07.180
 It will be ours.

00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:08.680
 The Bible says that

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:10.280
 we are co-heirs with

00:27:10.280 --> 00:27:11.560
 Christ, and so we're

00:27:11.560 --> 00:27:13.200
 stewarding that which

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.300
 will become our

00:27:14.300 --> 00:27:16.320
 inheritance that we

00:27:16.320 --> 00:27:19.100
 gain alongside Jesus

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:20.580
 Christ, which is an

00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:21.420
 amazing thing to think

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.620
 about.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.400
 But it's not the world

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.200
 that it is now.

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.780
 We're just over a

00:27:24.780 --> 00:27:25.300
 little now.

00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:28.180
 This is the world as

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:29.920
 it will be when Jesus

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:31.720
 Christ makes all things

00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.380
 new.

00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:34.980
 Imagine this world, the

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.740
 healing of all

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:38.279
 creation, justice

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:40.700
 filling the earth, all

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:42.400
 humanity united as

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.500
 one, no more racial

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:46.099
 division, the end of

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:48.259
 all disease and decay

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.279
 and death.

00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.860
 The Bible says that as

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.839
 we're co-heirs with

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.500
 Christ, one day we

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.860
 will inherit the world

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:56.140
 that Christ has

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:57.059
 remade.

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.539
 So then you ask,

00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.180
 okay, well, what's the

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.099
 point then of stewardship

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.440
 now?

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:04.539
 Well, stewardship is the

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.200
 way that we as

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:07.940
 Christians offer a

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:10.120
 preview to the rest of

00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:12.380
 the world of what new

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:14.200
 creation will be like.

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:16.039
 Here's what families will

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.440
 look like.

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.400
 Here's what relationships

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.080
 will look like.

00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.740
 Here's how wealth will be

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.340
 distributed.

00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:22.039
 Here's how time will be

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.559
 spent.

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.580
 Here's how all of these

00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:24.519
 things will be used.

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:28.360
 Here's a kingdom vision, a

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:28.779
 preview.

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:30.459
 Right?

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.899
 So Christians are called

00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:33.240
 to be a radically

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.539
 countercultural community

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:36.819
 and we're called to use

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:39.019
 things like sex and money

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:41.639
 and power not to advance

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:43.299
 our own self-interest but

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.299
 in ways that advance the

00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:47.240
 interests of our Lord Jesus

00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.619
 Christ.

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.979
 That's stewardship in this

00:28:49.979 --> 00:28:50.779
 world and it's a living

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.259
 preview.

00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:53.459
 Right?

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:55.339
 And of course as we think

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:59.240
 and we reflect on this, the

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.619
 greatest example of

00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:03.419
 stewardship in history is

00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:04.500
 of course Jesus Christ.

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.519
 If you want to see a good

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:09.059
 steward, look to him.

00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:11.980
 His entire life was one

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:13.519
 great act of stewardship.

00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:14.159
 How do we know?

00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:15.419
 Because it was defined by

00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:15.799
 this.

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:19.119
 Not my will but thy will be

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.359
 done.

00:29:19.439 --> 00:29:20.339
 That's the essence of

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:20.679
 stewardship.

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:23.840
 So he was willing to give

00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:25.600
 up glory and honor.

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.259
 He was willing to give up

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.779
 comfort.

00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:29.320
 He was willing to become

00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:31.900
 essentially homeless, to be

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:33.380
 rejected, to ultimately be

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:35.539
 tortured and suffer and die

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.680
 to be rejected by his

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.039
 father.

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:39.860
 All for the sake of doing

00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:41.000
 his father's will.

00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:43.680
 His father had a plan, had

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.799
 an end and Jesus said my

00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:47.039
 entire life, earthly life, I

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:48.420
 will devote to the father's

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:48.660
 end.

00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.220
 That's stewardship.

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.440
 And he didn't withhold

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.060
 anything.

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.600
 And I think this is our

00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:56.860
 great hope as we consider

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.940
 the calling of stewardship

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.700
 in our own lives.

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.259
 I mean the fact is we're

00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.500
 going to constantly slip

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:04.500
 back and forth into an

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.660
 ownership mentality.

00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:07.000
 I'm going to do it all the

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.279
 time.

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:09.100
 I do it, you know, I'm at

00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:09.660
 great risk.

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:11.100
 The greatest risk in terms

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.700
 of my time is Sunday

00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:12.980
 night.

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.820
 I have a great day.

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.759
 We have church in

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.620
 Brooklyn in the morning

00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:18.340
 and I normally have lunch

00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:19.279
 and hang out with people in

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.440
 midday and then I come

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.460
 here and we worship

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.299
 together in the evening

00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:23.580
 and then after that I go

00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:24.840
 home and I'm so prone to

00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:26.440
 say this is my time.

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.320
 This is my time.

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.759
 You know who needs me

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.059
 then?

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.820
 My kids who haven't seen

00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:32.259
 me all day.

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:34.200
 My wife who's been taking

00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:36.240
 care of our soon to be

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:38.000
 12 week old by herself all

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.220
 day.

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.460
 They need me.

00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.340
 Right?

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.960
 But I'm so prone to go home

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:43.039
 and say this is my time.

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.620
 It's not my time.

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.100
 There's no such thing as my

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.320
 time.

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:48.900
 It doesn't exist as a concept.

00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:50.019
 It's totally meaningless.

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.420
 But I do it anyway.

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.680
 And again and again and

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.480
 again we're going to fall

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:55.120
 back into that ownership

00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:56.660
 mentality again and again

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:56.940
 and again.

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.280
 And so our hope ultimately

00:30:58.280 --> 00:30:59.440
 is not to get it right.

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:00.980
 Right?

00:31:01.060 --> 00:31:02.200
 One day we'll get it right.

00:31:03.060 --> 00:31:03.920
 It's to try.

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.580
 But then to know that when

00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:06.540
 we fail, guess what?

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:08.420
 Jesus, the perfect steward,

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.519
 is our hope.

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.720
 Because he was the steward in

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.600
 his father's house.

00:31:13.040 --> 00:31:14.080
 He was the son in his

00:31:14.080 --> 00:31:14.700
 father's house.

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:16.580
 And yet he was willing to

00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:18.460
 be cast out into the outer

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.360
 darkness where there is

00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:20.840
 weeping and gnashing of

00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.080
 teeth.

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:21.620
 Why?

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.940
 To guarantee that we always

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:25.680
 have a place in the father's

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:25.880
 house.

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.759
 That no matter how much we

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.640
 might screw up, how unfaithful

00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.680
 we might be with our

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:31.799
 investment, that we will

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.819
 always have a place.

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:35.519
 Not just as stewards, but as

00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.380
 sons and daughters who will

00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:41.059
 one day inherit the earth with

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.759
 Jesus Christ.

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.819
 Let's pray.

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:45.960
 children's choice Claus Extremis

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.000
 details like this is

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.279
 policial finding

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.059
 talking about

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.419
 news orRAP

00:31:51.000 --> 00:32:02.079
 face

00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.939
 possono

00:32:04.939 --> 00:32:06.419
 mouvements

00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:07.539
 frustrations

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.679
 even

00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:08.720
 with

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:10.019
 the

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.740
 work

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.679
gruppnell

00:32:11.679 --> 00:32:12.720
 face