WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.540
 Father in heaven, there is no one like you.

00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:12.439
 There is no one in history, no one in the past, present, or future that is comparable to you.

00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:15.019
 You are the great creator.

00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:17.940
 You are the great I am.

00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:22.260
 And Lord, this morning, we remember your goodness.

00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:31.380
 You promised you would send your son, Jesus, to save us from our brokenness, from our depravity, and from our sin, and you did.

00:00:32.740 --> 00:00:35.740
 Thank you that Christ came not after we repented.

00:00:36.620 --> 00:00:40.140
 He didn't come after we confessed our sin.

00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:42.880
 But Jesus, you came before.

00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:51.120
 You gave your life for us while our backs were still turned away from you.

00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:52.780
 Thank you, Jesus.

00:00:53.739 --> 00:00:54.559
 Thank you, Lord.

00:00:55.939 --> 00:01:01.399
 This morning, we remember Kevin as he is in Taiwan at the City to City intensive training.

00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:09.500
 God, may your spirit fill him to see more clearly your heart for church planting in Hong Kong and elsewhere,

00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:11.620
 and how Watermark fits into that plan.

00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:18.579
 We lift up City to City, Asia Pacific to you, asking God that your hand be upon this ministry.

00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:23.060
 We pray for Gunnar Raman and the City to City Asia Pacific leaders.

00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:29.759
 Please, God, would you inspire them to maximize the spread of the gospel through your vision for church planting.

00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:32.659
 Would you encourage them to persevere when times get tough?

00:01:32.980 --> 00:01:37.539
 Would you remind them that although we are all called to plant and water,

00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:40.480
 it is you, God, who brings the harvest.

00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:45.359
 So, God, may prayer be a core foundation of their work.

00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:50.700
 And we also lift up International Christian Fellowship to you.

00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:56.800
 Thank you, God, that many students in Hong Kong have come to dedicate their lives to you through ICF.

00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:00.420
 And thank you for the relationships that have been established there.

00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:05.300
 We pray that more students would come to know the love of Christ through ICF.

00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:10.439
 God, as this is exam time for the students,

00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:16.460
 we pray that your presence will be with them as they study and take these exams.

00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:20.020
 May they feel your peace instead of stress.

00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:25.599
 And I pray, God, that the students would know that their future is not tied up in grades,

00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:29.539
 nor A's or B's or C's, nor even career, God,

00:02:29.579 --> 00:02:32.120
 but their future is secure in you.

00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:39.680
 And I also want to pray specifically for the ICF students who will be returning to their home countries.

00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:46.300
 Simon, Alex, Shearer, Joanna, Annie, Justin, and Wayne.

00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:50.740
 I pray, God, as they head back to their home countries,

00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:52.180
 would you go before them?

00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:53.360
 May your spirit be with them.

00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:57.460
 Would you provide them with godly, centered relationships?

00:02:57.460 --> 00:03:03.680
 And finally, God, I pray for the rest of this service.

00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:07.159
 I pray for this sermon on the topic of money.

00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:10.960
 I pray that your truth will be made known.

00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:14.460
 May your word come through loud and clear.

00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.420
 May my word be in the background.

00:03:17.100 --> 00:03:20.900
 And would our hearts be soft and open to receiving and accepting

00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:24.100
 and responding to your word this morning.

00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:26.919
 In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.

00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:28.280
 Amen.

00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:33.079
 Can I invite Kwadjo and Lorna up to read today's passage?

00:03:40.659 --> 00:03:41.579
 Good morning.

00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:42.519
 Good morning.

00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:47.519
 The scripture reading comes from Luke chapter 12.

00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.400
 Please follow along in your bulletins on the screen.

00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:52.819
 I think we might be blocking people.

00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:59.919
 Someone in the crowd said to him,

00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:04.579
 Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

00:04:04.959 --> 00:04:06.079
 But he said to him,

00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:10.039
 Man, who has made me a judge or arbitrator over you?

00:04:10.519 --> 00:04:11.579
 And he said to them,

00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.840
 Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness.

00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.060
 For one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:22.699
 And he told them a parable saying,

00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:26.639
 The land of a rich man produced plentifully.

00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:28.500
 And he thought to himself,

00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:30.399
 What shall I do?

00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:33.039
 For I have nowhere to store my crops.

00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:34.240
 And he said,

00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:35.980
 I will do this.

00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:40.120
 I will tear down my barns and build larger ones.

00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.579
 And there I will store all my grain and my goods.

00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:45.800
 And I will say to my soul,

00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:50.000
 Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years.

00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:54.419
 Relax, eat, drink, be merry.

00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:56.560
 But God said to him,

00:04:57.219 --> 00:05:00.360
 Fool, this night your soul is required of you.

00:05:00.799 --> 00:05:04.079
 And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?

00:05:04.479 --> 00:05:07.959
 Soul is the one who lays up treasure for himself.

00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:10.939
 And is not rich toward God.

00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:13.139
 This is the word of God.

00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:19.939
 Thanks, Kwadro and Lorna, for reading the passage.

00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:24.959
 Money and greed are difficult topics to talk about.

00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:29.099
 So difficult, in fact, that both Kevin and Chris have took today off.

00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:32.839
 I'm kidding, of course.

00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:36.659
 As we prayed, Kevin is in Taiwan at the City of City conference.

00:05:36.659 --> 00:05:40.000
 And Chris has taken a delegation from Watermark to Turkey.

00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:45.959
 But money and greed are still difficult topics to talk about.

00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:50.459
 Even within our families, those to whom we're closest,

00:05:51.339 --> 00:05:54.180
 money is oftentimes a very sensitive subject.

00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:58.899
 At work, we openly talk about our career ambitions

00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:01.899
 or where we want to be financially in 10 years.

00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:04.740
 But admitting that we're greedy for money

00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:07.639
 because of the security and pleasure that money provides,

00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:09.639
 who says that, right?

00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:14.240
 And in the Christian church context,

00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:17.319
 I would argue we don't talk about money enough.

00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:19.779
 We talk about other messy things,

00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:21.939
 other aspects of sin in our lives.

00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.759
 But admitting we love money too much

00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:27.579
 or confessing we have a problem with materialism,

00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:31.699
 not very common, at least from my experience.

00:06:31.699 --> 00:06:35.560
 But Jesus Christ, when he walked this earth,

00:06:36.039 --> 00:06:37.899
 spoke about money a lot.

00:06:38.979 --> 00:06:42.779
 And that is because money has the ability to do a lot of good,

00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.779
 but a lot of harm as well.

00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:50.980
 15% of all of the recorded words of Jesus

00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:53.219
 were on the topic of money.

00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:58.740
 As a whole, the Bible mentions money 2,350 times,

00:06:58.880 --> 00:07:01.480
 more than faith and prayer combined.

00:07:01.640 --> 00:07:04.040
 An astonishing fact when you think about it.

00:07:05.260 --> 00:07:06.500
 And that is why at Watermark,

00:07:06.580 --> 00:07:08.900
 we've dedicated five Sundays to talk about

00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:11.280
 or to see what the Bible talks about

00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:12.880
 on this topic of money.

00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:18.060
 Because whether we lived in the first century in Israel

00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:20.620
 or in 2019 in Hong Kong,

00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.639
 the principle is the same.

00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:25.040
 How we view and treat money

00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:27.719
 is a measure of our true character.

00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:29.860
 Money is real.

00:07:30.159 --> 00:07:30.600
 It's tangible.

00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:31.800
 It's concrete.

00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:33.860
 How we spend it,

00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:36.360
 how we save it or hoard it,

00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:38.240
 and how we give it away

00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.899
 speaks to the very core,

00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:42.680
 the very essence of our lives.

00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:44.000
 As Christians.

00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.759
 So today as we continue this sermon series on money,

00:07:49.219 --> 00:07:51.680
 we will look at the teachings of Jesus Christ.

00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:55.079
 And as we consider this passage from Luke 12,

00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:57.540
 I'll try to make these three points.

00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:01.620
 Be on your guard against greed,

00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:05.699
 how the pursuit of money clouds our vision of God.

00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:10.159
 And finally, let's be rich toward God.

00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:13.660
 It's very quiet in here right now.

00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:17.400
 Let's dive right into it.

00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:19.840
 Be on your guard against greed.

00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:23.500
 Looking at Luke 12, verse 13,

00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.740
 the very first verse of this passage.

00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:28.260
 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,

00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:32.259
 Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:36.500
 So, the context of this passage is

00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:39.000
 Jesus has been teaching about the kingdom of God.

00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:41.360
 And he taught that in his kingdom,

00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:45.399
 it's this upside down or counterintuitive kingdom

00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:48.340
 whose values and principles are totally opposed

00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:49.480
 to the values of this world.

00:08:50.819 --> 00:08:53.899
 Christ taught that blessed are the poor in spirit,

00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:56.080
 for theirs is the kingdom of God.

00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.139
 Blessed are those who mourned,

00:08:59.139 --> 00:09:00.779
 for they will be comforted.

00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:05.919
 He taught that it's not the proud or the self-righteous

00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:07.720
 who will see God and know God.

00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:08.620
 No.

00:09:09.819 --> 00:09:12.439
 Jesus taught it's the meek, the lowly,

00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:14.259
 the one who humbles himself

00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:16.080
 and admits his desperate need

00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:17.659
 for God's grace and forgiveness.

00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:21.259
 That is a person who will see God and know God.

00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:23.860
 Then imagine, all of a sudden,

00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:27.259
 this man elbows his way through the crowd,

00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.899
 desperate for Christ to hear what he has to say.

00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:32.100
 He finally gets within earshot and he yells out,

00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:35.700
 Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:40.539
 Now, according to the Jewish law regarding inheritance,

00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:43.840
 which you can find in Deuteronomy 21, verse 17,

00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:46.259
 if a father had more than one son,

00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.939
 he must give his eldest son

00:09:48.939 --> 00:09:52.539
 a double share of the inheritance over other sons.

00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:56.139
 And so clearly, this man, this son,

00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.120
 didn't think the inheritance laws were fair.

00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:02.159
 But interestingly,

00:10:03.079 --> 00:10:05.379
 instead of addressing this man's request

00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:07.000
 or his demand,

00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:10.240
 instead, Christ uses this opportunity

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.620
 to teach a very valuable lesson

00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:15.000
 on money and greed.

00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:18.240
 He turns to the whole crowd

00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.779
 and in verse 15, Jesus says,

00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:23.879
 Be on your guard against all covetousness,

00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.699
 for one's life does not consist

00:10:26.699 --> 00:10:28.779
 in the abundance of his possessions.

00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:32.000
 The NIV says,

00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:35.039
 Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.

00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:37.699
 Last year,

00:10:37.839 --> 00:10:40.220
 my wife and I heard about

00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:42.600
 an attempted abduction of a kindergarten student

00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:43.959
 right here in Hong Kong.

00:10:44.839 --> 00:10:46.059
 And when we heard about this,

00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:48.079
 we immediately started teaching

00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:49.840
 our three-year-old daughter, Kiva,

00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.220
 to be extra careful

00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:52.139
 when leaving her school.

00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:53.600
 In particular,

00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:55.340
 not to let any strangers

00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:56.540
 talk to her

00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:57.900
 or certainly not to touch her.

00:10:58.720 --> 00:10:59.639
 We tried to teach her

00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:00.639
 to be on her guard

00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:02.060
 against strangers.

00:11:03.160 --> 00:11:04.220
 This is kind of what

00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:05.560
 Jesus is saying here.

00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:07.580
 Be on your guard against greed.

00:11:07.780 --> 00:11:09.379
 It's the unseen villain

00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.759
 who prowls around

00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:11.980
 waiting to attack.

00:11:13.280 --> 00:11:15.180
 Let's think about a few examples.

00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:19.000
 You did not get a pay raise this year,

00:11:19.079 --> 00:11:19.759
 but your colleague,

00:11:19.859 --> 00:11:20.519
 who you don't think

00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.579
 works as hard as you,

00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.079
 got one.

00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:24.639
 And NIV starts creeping into your mind.

00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:26.979
 Be on your guard

00:11:26.979 --> 00:11:28.359
 against greed.

00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.500
 Or someone you know

00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:31.839
 just bought an apartment in Hong Kong

00:11:31.839 --> 00:11:33.399
 and you find yourself

00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:34.539
 feeling a little bit resentful

00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:35.459
 because you're still renting.

00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:38.099
 Be on your guard

00:11:38.099 --> 00:11:39.639
 against greed.

00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:42.579
 And so we need to recognize,

00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:44.500
 it doesn't matter where you are

00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.500
 on the financial spectrum,

00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:47.420
 whether you live paycheck to paycheck

00:11:47.420 --> 00:11:48.300
 or you have enough money

00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:49.639
 in the bank to retire today,

00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.440
 greed is a real danger

00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:52.080
 and temptation

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.259
 for all of us.

00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.940
 It's kind of there.

00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:57.480
 It's like the virus

00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.139
 on the computer.

00:11:59.020 --> 00:11:59.420
 It's there,

00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:00.240
 we don't even know it.

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:04.560
 Now most of us here

00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:05.480
 probably know

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.420
 that do not covet

00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:08.440
 was the tenth commandment

00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.780
 that God gave Israel

00:12:09.780 --> 00:12:10.940
 in Exodus 20.

00:12:12.580 --> 00:12:13.300
 Do not covet

00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:14.160
 your neighbor's house.

00:12:14.540 --> 00:12:15.020
 Do not covet

00:12:15.020 --> 00:12:16.480
 your neighbor's wife

00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.820
 or his manservant

00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:18.840
 or maidservant,

00:12:19.040 --> 00:12:20.180
 his ox or donkey

00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:21.480
 or anything that belongs

00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.440
 to your neighbor.

00:12:24.520 --> 00:12:26.280
 The first nine commandments

00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:27.620
 were instructions

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.300
 about outward actions.

00:12:30.020 --> 00:12:31.520
 Have no other gods before me.

00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.300
 Remember the Sabbath day.

00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.040
 Honor your father and mother.

00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:35.920
 Do not murder,

00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:36.920
 lie, steal

00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.020
 or commit adultery.

00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:39.320
 These are all

00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:40.300
 outward actions

00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:41.199
 that we can tangibly

00:12:41.199 --> 00:12:42.899
 do or not do.

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.439
 But what's unique

00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:46.819
 about the tenth commandment

00:12:46.819 --> 00:12:48.319
 of do not covet

00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:50.599
 is that it has to do

00:12:50.599 --> 00:12:52.740
 with the inward motivation.

00:12:53.299 --> 00:12:54.219
 It has to do

00:12:54.219 --> 00:12:55.319
 with the heart.

00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.500
 And the Bible says

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.839
 that everything we do,

00:13:00.199 --> 00:13:01.259
 good or bad,

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.740
 comes from this

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:03.779
 inward motivation.

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:06.120
 It comes from the heart.

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.539
 Listen to what Jesus said

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.960
 in Luke 6, 45.

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:13.240
 A good man brings

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:13.899
 good things

00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:14.580
 out of the good

00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:15.980
 stored up in his heart.

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.679
 And an evil man

00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:18.980
 brings evil things

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.919
 out of the evil

00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.360
 stored up in his heart.

00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.259
 For the mouth speaks

00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:24.560
 what the heart

00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:25.860
 is full of.

00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:28.840
 Most people,

00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:29.720
 whether you are a follower

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:30.960
 of Jesus Christ or not,

00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:32.080
 would probably agree

00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:32.700
 that murder,

00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.159
 stealing, lying,

00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:36.719
 adultery, or morally wrong.

00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.899
 But if you think about it,

00:13:39.339 --> 00:13:40.279
 coveting or greed

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.120
 is a foundation

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:41.899
 or root

00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.159
 of all of these

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:44.199
 outward actions.

00:13:46.579 --> 00:13:47.259
 Let's look

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.259
 at a few more examples.

00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:50.779
 You want a promotion

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.219
 at work

00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:52.079
 for higher pay

00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:52.679
 so you can

00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:54.000
 buy the newest

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.000
 gadget or

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.120
 handbag.

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.759
 And so you speak poorly

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.480
 about your colleagues

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.419
 so you look better.

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.319
 Or,

00:14:01.839 --> 00:14:02.659
 in your heart,

00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.579
 do you secretly

00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.419
 desire your

00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:05.459
 married colleagues

00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:06.079
 so you'll flirt

00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:06.899
 with this person?

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:08.299
 Maybe ask this person

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.419
 out for a coffee alone?

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:11.699
 This may end

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:13.240
 in physical adultery,

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:13.799
 but it would have

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.199
 started

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:15.799
 in the heart.

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.879
 The Apostle Paul

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.600
 gave this instruction

00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.079
 in Colossians 3.5.

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:22.600
 He said,

00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:23.259
 Put to death,

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:23.779
 therefore,

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.500
 whatever belongs

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.860
 to your earthly nature,

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.500
 sexual immorality,

00:14:28.839 --> 00:14:29.379
 impurity,

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.100
 lust,

00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.279
 evil desires,

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:32.480
 and greed,

00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:34.179
 which is idolatry.

00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.419
 Greed is idolatry.

00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.639
 And like any kind

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.339
 of idolatry,

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:39.899
 it means this false idol

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.699
 has been elevated

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:41.899
 to a point in our life

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.919
 which is higher

00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.139
 or greater than that

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.019
 of God,

00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.159
 our Creator.

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.539
 So why should we be

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.120
 on our guard

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:51.620
 against greed?

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.360
 What is the big deal?

00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:54.179
 What's the consequence

00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:55.100
 if we have this

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.939
 heart condition?

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.079
 Well,

00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:58.659
 that leads us

00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.419
 to the second point,

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.620
 which is that greed

00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.759
 and the pursuit

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.419
 of money

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.459
 clouds or obscures

00:15:04.459 --> 00:15:06.179
 our vision of God.

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:08.319
 Greed and the pursuit

00:15:08.319 --> 00:15:08.759
 of money

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.399
 clouds or obscures

00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.059
 our vision of God.

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.679
 As it relates

00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:17.279
 to coveting

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.000
 or being greedy

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.860
 for money

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.379
 and possessions,

00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:20.979
 we learn it starts

00:15:20.979 --> 00:15:21.519
 in the heart

00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.319
 but it manifests itself

00:15:23.319 --> 00:15:24.039
 physically

00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.819
 with how we deal

00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.240
 with money.

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.000
 Specifically,

00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:27.919
 how we spend,

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:29.299
 how we save

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:30.079
 or hoard

00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:31.519
 and how we give away

00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.539
 money.

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.299
 And so Jesus,

00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.240
 after warning

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.439
 about greed,

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.279
 tells a parable

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.179
 or a story

00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:38.740
 to illustrate

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.839
 in a concrete way

00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:41.120
 how this heart condition

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.959
 impacts the way

00:15:41.959 --> 00:15:42.659
 we treat money.

00:15:44.839 --> 00:15:46.179
 He tells a story

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.419
 about a wealthy farmer

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:48.740
 whose land

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.879
 produced plentifully.

00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:51.879
 So abundant

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.120
 was his harvest

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.759
 that he had nowhere

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.699
 to store his crops

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:56.040
 and so he tears

00:15:56.040 --> 00:15:57.200
 down his old barns,

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:57.900
 he builds newer

00:15:57.900 --> 00:15:59.320
 and bigger barns

00:15:59.320 --> 00:15:59.780
 and he stores

00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:00.879
 all his excess grain

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.160
 in there

00:16:01.160 --> 00:16:01.560
 and this,

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.120
 he thinks,

00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:03.620
 will allow him

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.940
 to relax,

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:05.920
 eat,

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:06.780
 drink,

00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:07.900
 and be merry.

00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:10.160
 Essentially,

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:10.860
 this farmer

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.600
 wanted to have

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.000
 a cushy retirement

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.040
 with a big bank account.

00:16:15.900 --> 00:16:16.900
 Anyone like that?

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.160
 Okay,

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:17.759
 you don't have to answer

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.200
 that question.

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.640
 It's okay.

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:19.640
 It's okay.

00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:21.720
 He thought his life,

00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:22.259
 his security

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:23.560
 were all tied up

00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:24.719
 in his wealth.

00:16:26.479 --> 00:16:27.619
 But God said to him,

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.179
 you fool,

00:16:28.979 --> 00:16:30.119
 this very night

00:16:30.119 --> 00:16:30.939
 your soul

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.919
 is required of you

00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.639
 and the things

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.219
 you are prepared,

00:16:33.619 --> 00:16:34.779
 whose will they be?

00:16:37.599 --> 00:16:38.539
 So what's wrong

00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.359
 with the rich farmer?

00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:41.919
 Well, first,

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.519
 let's be clear

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.059
 in what Jesus

00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:43.819
 is not saying.

00:16:45.599 --> 00:16:46.859
 Jesus is not saying

00:16:46.859 --> 00:16:47.439
 that it's wrong

00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:48.419
 to work hard for a living.

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.059
 He's not saying

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:51.119
 that it's wrong

00:16:51.119 --> 00:16:51.759
 to be a successful

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.459
 business person.

00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:54.540
 We need more

00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:55.100
 honest,

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.460
 successful business people

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:58.160
 to give their money

00:16:58.160 --> 00:16:59.860
 away to honest ministry

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.680
 so that many

00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.420
 will be blessed,

00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:02.139
 the poor,

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.680
 the marginalized,

00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.320
 the lost.

00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:04.559
 They would all know

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.680
 the love of Christ.

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.600
 But what Jesus

00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:09.440
 is saying

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.740
 is that the rich farmer

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:12.400
 elevated his personal wealth

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.680
 and his desire

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.680
 to retire rich

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.259
 and eat,

00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:15.799
 drink,

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.420
 and be merry.

00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.400
 He elevated this

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.140
 far above

00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:18.940
 his view

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.860
 of God.

00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:21.159
 in short,

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.919
 his greed,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.299
 his desire

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:24.859
 for wealth

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.479
 and security,

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.539
 that was his God.

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.279
 And we know this

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.559
 because the farmer

00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.359
 never acknowledged

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.439
 that God was the one

00:17:33.439 --> 00:17:34.079
 that gave him

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.000
 all that he had.

00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.259
 He wasn't thankful.

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.139
 Psalm 24,

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.139
 verse 1 says,

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.799
 the earth is the Lord's

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.879
 and everything in it,

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:44.699
 the world

00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:46.379
 and all who live in it.

00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:49.100
 It's hard to argue

00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:49.500
 with that one.

00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:53.140
 James 1, 17 says,

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:53.980
 every good

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.900
 and perfect gift

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.980
 comes from above,

00:17:56.280 --> 00:17:56.760
 coming down

00:17:56.760 --> 00:17:57.440
 from the Father

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.560
 of the heavenly lights.

00:17:59.760 --> 00:18:00.620
 Also hard

00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:01.400
 to argue with.

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:04.160
 And second,

00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:04.800
 the farmer

00:18:04.800 --> 00:18:05.900
 never thought

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:07.500
 about how he could

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.480
 use the blessing

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.220
 he received

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.480
 to bless others.

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:13.100
 He wasn't generous.

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.620
 He hoarded,

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.559
 he hoarded

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.239
 all that stuff

00:18:16.239 --> 00:18:16.819
 to himself.

00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:19.739
 And so God,

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.539
 his creator,

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.779
 the one who generously

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.239
 gave him

00:18:22.239 --> 00:18:23.359
 all that he had,

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.019
 says to him,

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.179
 you fool.

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:29.959
 So how does

00:18:29.959 --> 00:18:30.879
 the pursuit of money

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.119
 make us foolish?

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.119
 How does the pursuit

00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:35.079
 of money make us foolish?

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:35.679
 Well,

00:18:35.959 --> 00:18:36.699
 there are probably

00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.339
 many reasons,

00:18:37.459 --> 00:18:38.679
 but the one I'm focusing on

00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:39.799
 and highlighting is

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.219
 because the pursuit

00:18:41.219 --> 00:18:41.719
 of money

00:18:41.719 --> 00:18:43.219
 clouds or distorts

00:18:43.219 --> 00:18:44.079
 or obscures

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.439
 our vision

00:18:45.439 --> 00:18:46.659
 of God.

00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:49.399
 Going back

00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.240
 to what Jesus said

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.519
 in verse 15,

00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:54.139
 for one's life

00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:54.879
 does not consist

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.399
 in the abundance

00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:56.240
 of his possessions.

00:18:57.919 --> 00:18:58.319
 Okay?

00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.599
 So what is the point

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.220
 of life then?

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:03.059
 Maybe your answer is

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.740
 to have a fulfilling career.

00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.119
 The point of life

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:06.639
 is to have meaningful

00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.220
 relationships,

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.500
 to fall in love,

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.519
 get married,

00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.139
 have children,

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.000
 raise a family.

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.579
 These are all

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:13.159
 good things.

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.500
 But throughout the Bible,

00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.620
 both the Old

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:17.960
 and the New Testament,

00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:19.300
 the purpose of

00:19:19.300 --> 00:19:20.279
 every human life

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.340
 is to glorify

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.040
 the name of

00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:23.040
 Almighty God.

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.380
 Life consists

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.380
 in making God's

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.580
 name great,

00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:27.620
 to worship him

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.500
 by finding our deepest

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.480
 and truest delight

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.740
 in him,

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.300
 and by living lives

00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:33.500
 that reflect his goodness,

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.279
 his sacrifice,

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.680
 and his love.

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:39.779
 But we can only do this

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.820
 if we have the correct

00:19:40.820 --> 00:19:42.160
 vision of God

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.759
 as sovereign,

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.340
 as holy,

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.900
 as perfect

00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.860
 and righteous,

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.720
 worthy to be praised

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.840
 above all things

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.880
 created on this earth.

00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.380
 And we can only do this

00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:55.640
 if we see God's Son,

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.220
 our Lord Jesus,

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.220
 as our greatest treasure,

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.920
 understanding that

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.640
 although Jesus

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.400
 was rich,

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.660
 he became poor for us,

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.880
 that you and I

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.480
 may know God.

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:11.839
 I've talked to many

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.319
 Christians

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.839
 over the years,

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.680
 and I

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:16.200
 think,

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:16.819
 if we're really honest

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.420
 with ourselves,

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.779
 many of us struggle

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.440
 to see God

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.720
 as real,

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.579
 as tangible.

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.299
 We read about God

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.779
 in the Bible,

00:20:25.939 --> 00:20:27.079
 we listen to sermons

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.859
 on Sunday morning,

00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:30.699
 but day to day,

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.500
 God is not real,

00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:33.480
 he's not tangible,

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.699
 he's not there

00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:37.359
 in the nitty-gritty

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:38.659
 everyday moment of life.

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.480
 Maybe that's why

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.460
 we worry so much.

00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:45.799
 And I think

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.720
 for many of us,

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.279
 this is because

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.639
 the pursuit of money,

00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:51.460
 or the struggles

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.539
 with money,

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.539
 or our desire

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.500
 to make more money,

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.099
 clouds

00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.299
 our vision

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.619
 of God.

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.659
 Two reasons for this.

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.059
 First,

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.839
 it's distracting.

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.879
 It takes up so much

00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.659
 time and effort

00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.440
 to pursue money.

00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.039
 Whether you're living

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.819
 paycheck to paycheck

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.819
 or you can retire

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.599
 today

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.839
 with the money

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.399
 in your bank,

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.319
 pursuing money

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:16.519
 takes up so much time

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.619
 in our hearts.

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.779
 How can we fit

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.639
 the worship of Christ

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.099
 in there?

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.420
 Much more than actual

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.500
 hours spent working,

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:25.320
 it's the time spent

00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:27.140
 worrying about money

00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:28.680
 or striving to make

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.220
 more money

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.640
 that drains our spirit

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.820
 the most.

00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:34.019
 And second,

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.800
 the pursuit of money

00:21:36.800 --> 00:21:39.519
 clouds our vision of God

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.480
 because it's deceiving.

00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:43.140
 In a different passage,

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.539
 Jesus talks about

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.420
 how the deceitfulness

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.140
 of riches

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:47.320
 can choke his word.

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.360
 Meaning we can hear

00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:50.360
 the good news

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:50.859
 of the gospel

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.579
 with our ears

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:53.679
 but it has no relevance

00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:55.659
 in our day-to-day lives

00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:56.399
 because the worries

00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.000
 of the world

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.679
 or the lies

00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.339
 that wealth

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.759
 would give us happiness

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.299
 blinds us

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.259
 as to the realness

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.799
 and the power

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.339
 of God.

00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:07.539
 A number of years ago,

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.379
 Watermark hosted

00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:10.019
 an executive

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.859
 at one of the world's

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.099
 largest technology companies.

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.579
 This man was a Christian

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:16.539
 but he's also wildly

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.779
 successful in his career.

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:21.779
 He gave a small group talk

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:24.059
 and out of the many words

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.899
 of wisdom that I heard,

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.960
 one thing I'll never forget

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.079
 is this man said that

00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.779
 as his career progressed,

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:32.359
 as he got very successful,

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.099
 the main temptation

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:36.680
 he faced was this idea

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.980
 that it was him himself

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.240
 that drove his success.

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.079
 You see, success

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:44.019
 in any sense,

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.980
 doing well on your exams,

00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.160
 getting a good bonus,

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.940
 getting a promotion,

00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:49.840
 success in any sense

00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.980
 can lead us to believe

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:52.500
 that it's our hard work,

00:22:52.800 --> 00:22:53.460
 it's our great

00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.540
 decision-making abilities,

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.600
 it's our great network

00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:56.220
 of relationships

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:59.920
 that drives everything.

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.200
 We work hard,

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.860
 we deserve it.

00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:06.680
 That's a lie.

00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:09.660
 That is money obscuring

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.340
 or blocking

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.920
 our vision of God.

00:23:13.540 --> 00:23:14.440
 Think about it this way.

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:16.759
 Think about stargazing.

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.059
 Think about stargazing

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:19.200
 in Hong Kong, right?

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.700
 Hard, yes.

00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:24.019
 In Hong Kong,

00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:24.539
 at night,

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.980
 you look up at the sky,

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:26.920
 you would struggle

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:28.440
 to see even one star.

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.180
 There's so many bright lights

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.640
 out there,

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:33.519
 you can't see anything.

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.039
 But it doesn't mean

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.740
 the stars aren't there.

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:39.140
 The stars are always up there

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.779
 in all their God-created beauty.

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:42.119
 But we can't see them

00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.599
 in most places in Hong Kong

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.700
 because of the distraction

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:46.299
 of the man-made light.

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.940
 Now imagine you're

00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.279
 on the plains of Mongolia.

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:53.700
 No 10-tower apartment complexes,

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.920
 no skyscrapers in Central,

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.680
 no man-made light,

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.899
 nothing to obscure

00:23:58.899 --> 00:24:00.639
 or block your vision

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.599
 of the stars.

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.359
 Look up at the sky at night,

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.279
 you'd see hundreds,

00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.259
 if not thousands,

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.980
 of stars.

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.680
 We need God

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.420
 to remove

00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.700
 that which blocks

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.700
 or obscures

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:17.519
 our vision of Him.

00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.700
 Because in Hong Kong,

00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:22.640
 perhaps more than

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.619
 in any other city

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.400
 in the world,

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:26.220
 we are constantly blinded

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.500
 as to the realness of God

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:27.920
 because,

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.180
 let's be honest,

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.460
 the God here is money.

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.740
 All over Hong Kong,

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.640
 billboards are telling me

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.759
 that money will make me happy,

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.359
 safe and secure.

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.960
 The slogan of Hong Kong,

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.220
 the unofficial slogan

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.019
 of Hong Kong is,

00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.279
 you have to have a property.

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.440
 If you do,

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.000
 you'll be happy.

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.579
 This culture is telling me,

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.859
 have a good career,

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.660
 have a property,

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.579
 be happy,

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.879
 be your own God.

00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.619
 Sorry,

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.359
 I lost my place now.

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.339
 I'm getting too passionate

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.799
 about this.

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.480
 But that worldview

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.500
 leads to death.

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.420
 Because you'll never

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.400
 be truly satisfied

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.400
 because we all know

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.920
 that if you're fortunate enough

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:13.099
 to have a one-bedroom apartment,

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.279
 pretty soon you want

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.039
 a two-bedroom apartment

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.319
 and then you want

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.120
 a three-bedroom apartment

00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:18.019
 and then you want

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:19.539
 a bigger three-bedroom apartment

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:22.059
 and so on and so forth

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:24.279
 because earthly possessions

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.759
 will never quench

00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.839
 our intrinsic thirst

00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:27.519
 for something

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:29.259
 that is not from this earth.

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:31.539
 earthly possessions

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:33.059
 will never quench

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.339
 our intrinsic thirst

00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.119
 for something

00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.859
 that is not

00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:37.519
 from this earth.

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.319
 Or,

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:41.460
 as in today's passage,

00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.019
 literal death

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.599
 will come knocking

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.059
 at your door

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.099
 when you least expect it.

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.740
 And all the stuff

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.299
 that we store up

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.920
 in barns

00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.400
 will be,

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.940
 will turn into dust

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.279
 pretty quickly.

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:56.299
 Developed cities

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.099
 like Hong Kong

00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:58.019
 are getting more

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.460
 and more materialistic,

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.859
 not less.

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.539
 More than ever,

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.660
 we need Almighty God

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.299
 to cut out

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.839
 all these material distractions

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.740
 which leads to death

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.879
 and open our eyes

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:10.160
 to see God again

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.079
 in all His beauty

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.339
 and majesty.

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.619
 And if people

00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.359
 like you and I,

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.819
 people who are clouded

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.579
 by our wealth

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:21.099
 and our pursuit

00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:21.559
 of money,

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.099
 if we really

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.299
 want to see God,

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.480
 not just hear about Him,

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.419
 not just read about Him,

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:30.019
 but truly know God

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.079
 deep in our hearts,

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.759
 then we need to be

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.659
 rich toward God.

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.779
 Jesus ends this parable

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:43.259
 by saying,

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.699
 so is the one

00:26:45.699 --> 00:26:46.779
 who lays up treasure

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.519
 for himself,

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.000
 i.e.,

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.680
 the rich fool

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.640
 and is not rich

00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.960
 toward God.

00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:55.559
 So what does it mean

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.200
 to be rich

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.460
 toward God?

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.220
 Well, first,

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.220
 every single aspect

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.140
 of our lives

00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:03.339
 should be dedicated

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.000
 to God.

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.400
 Our careers,

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.839
 our families,

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.559
 our children,

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.819
 our money

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.440
 and possessions.

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.160
 And this is because

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.859
 we realize that

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.839
 we only have anything

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.940
 in this world

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.599
 because God

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.259
 has been so

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.539
 incredibly generous

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.779
 to us.

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.839
 John Piper

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.720
 says it like this,

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.460
 being rich

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.059
 toward God,

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.519
 therefore,

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.460
 is the heart

00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.079
 being drawn

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.799
 toward God

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.559
 as our riches.

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.200
 Rich toward God

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.159
 means we are drawn

00:27:31.159 --> 00:27:32.119
 or pulled,

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.859
 excuse me,

00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.779
 rich toward God

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.799
 means counting God

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.519
 greater riches

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.039
 than anything

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.839
 on this earth.

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:39.059
 It means using

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.899
 earthly riches

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.500
 to show how much

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:43.480
 you value God.

00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:45.720
 So,

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.400
 instead of being drawn

00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:47.960
 in the direction

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.700
 of money

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.640
 and possessions

00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.960
 and the security

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.640
 and comfort

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.100
 that money provides,

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.160
 being rich

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.680
 toward God

00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.660
 means we are drawn

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.440
 or pulled

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.400
 toward God,

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.580
 dedicating our lives,

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.460
 giving our lives,

00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:01.360
 including our money

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:03.320
 as worship to Him

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:04.500
 because God

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.600
 is our greatest treasure

00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:07.400
 and our highest value.

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:07.500
 value.

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.259
 So,

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.060
 what does this look like?

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:13.960
 Well,

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.940
 as it relates to money,

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.140
 being rich

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.780
 toward God

00:28:16.780 --> 00:28:18.200
 means we regularly

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:19.400
 give financially

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.560
 back to God

00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.860
 what He has first

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.680
 given us

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:24.100
 as worship.

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.780
 Being rich

00:28:26.780 --> 00:28:27.400
 toward God

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.940
 means we regularly

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:30.000
 give financially

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.960
 back to God

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.120
 what He has first

00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:32.920
 given us

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.240
 as worship.

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.140
 we don't just

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.620
 talk about

00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.099
 giving back

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.539
 to God.

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.420
 We don't just

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.180
 pray about it.

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.559
 We don't just

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.420
 do it once in a while

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.220
 when it's convenient

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.900
 or when we remember.

00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.640
 We regularly

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.759
 give back to God

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.819
 what He has first

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.500
 given us

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.539
 as worship.

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.039
 Now,

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.319
 I don't know

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.839
 about you,

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.700
 but this idea

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.440
 about being rich

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.120
 toward God

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.559
 has been very

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.680
 challenging to me

00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:03.000
 my whole life.

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.839
 See,

00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.339
 I grew up

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.839
 believing

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:07.240
 that money

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.980
 equaled

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.500
 security.

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.319
 And so,

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:12.940
 as a teenager,

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.579
 as a college student,

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.140
 fresh grad,

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:18.620
 I worked hard

00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:19.160
 because I thought

00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:20.180
 that having a good career

00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.000
 would give me money

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.500
 and money

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.460
 would give me security.

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:26.620
 The 2008 financial crisis

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.839
 had a big impact

00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:28.180
 on me.

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.039
 I was living

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.460
 in New York

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:30.940
 at the time

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.519
 and I lost

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:33.539
 my high-paying job

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.899
 in New York

00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.720
 and I also lost

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.659
 a decent amount

00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.299
 of my savings

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.059
 during the crisis.

00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:41.440
 And this made me realize

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:43.920
 that life

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.779
 does not consist

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:46.420
 in the abundance

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:48.079
 of possessions.

00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.359
 And over the years

00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.180
 as I've invested

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.859
 my own money,

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:55.579
 I began to realize

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:58.099
 I was only doing so

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:58.879
 for myself.

00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:02.100
 before I invested

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.300
 I never prayed

00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.120
 and I never asked

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.500
 God

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.640
 how can he use

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.380
 the profits

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.520
 to bless others.

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.520
 I realized

00:30:11.520 --> 00:30:14.340
 I realized

00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:14.800
 how greedy

00:30:14.800 --> 00:30:15.420
 I was.

00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:21.720
 Generosity

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.200
 was never

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.300
 in my vocabulary

00:30:23.300 --> 00:30:23.940
 up until

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:25.120
 a few years ago.

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:27.039
 when my wife

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.259
 and I

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.019
 first got married

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.339
 she told me

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.019
 that it's tradition

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.739
 in her family

00:30:30.739 --> 00:30:32.719
 for all the married

00:30:32.719 --> 00:30:33.019
 couples

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.859
 to give presents

00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.619
 to all the children

00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:35.219
 in the family

00:30:35.219 --> 00:30:36.479
 and Celeste

00:30:36.479 --> 00:30:37.919
 has a very big family.

00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.939
 So I was like

00:30:41.939 --> 00:30:43.899
 there were so many kids

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.559
 we had to give presents

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.839
 to every single one of them

00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:47.059
 and two months later

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.539
 we had to give

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.039
 life seed

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.879
 to all of them as well.

00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.519
 We got into

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.299
 a massive fight

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.939
 over this.

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:57.239
 I realized then

00:30:57.239 --> 00:30:58.279
 how much

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:58.779
 this idea

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.739
 of giving

00:30:59.739 --> 00:31:01.459
 being generous

00:31:01.459 --> 00:31:03.979
 it bothered me.

00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:07.719
 I had been attending

00:31:07.719 --> 00:31:08.259
 Watermark

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:08.739
 for a number

00:31:08.739 --> 00:31:09.459
 of years

00:31:09.459 --> 00:31:11.059
 but my giving

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.759
 to God

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.919
 it

00:31:12.919 --> 00:31:14.479
 it wasn't

00:31:14.479 --> 00:31:15.679
 it wasn't regular

00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:17.379
 it wasn't

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.939
 sacrificial

00:31:17.939 --> 00:31:19.739
 it certainly

00:31:19.739 --> 00:31:20.459
 wasn't

00:31:20.459 --> 00:31:21.119
 worship.

00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:25.939
 See what I'm trying

00:31:25.939 --> 00:31:26.619
 to say is

00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:28.659
 I've been the rich fool

00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:30.719
 most of my life.

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.339
 Most of my life

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:32.899
 as a Christian

00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:33.659
 I've been pursuing

00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:34.479
 my own gain

00:31:34.479 --> 00:31:36.799
 trying to build up

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.899
 stuff in barns

00:31:37.899 --> 00:31:38.759
 for myself

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:40.459
 and I have never

00:31:40.459 --> 00:31:41.500
 truly been rich

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.519
 toward God.

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.539
 That Christmas

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.559
 when I gave

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.219
 those presents

00:31:47.219 --> 00:31:48.919
 to the kids

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:50.440
 who are now

00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.279
 part of my family

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:54.660
 it was God

00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:55.360
 slowly

00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:56.080
 starting

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.680
 to change

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.180
 my heart.

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.519
 As I gave

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.519
 those Lego toys

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.080
 to them

00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.980
 or the Marvel

00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:03.220
 toys to them

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.279
 I could see

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.720
 the joy

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.460
 on their faces

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.860
 and I

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:08.060
 also received

00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:08.440
 joy.

00:32:10.820 --> 00:32:12.220
 As I finally

00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.840
 confessed

00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:13.640
 my sin

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.920
 my sin

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.519
 of greed

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.900
 my sin

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.340
 of this

00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:17.759
 lack of

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.259
 generosity

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.740
 I began

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.140
 to see

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.740
 Christ

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.879
 in a new

00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:22.339
 way.

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.279
 As I realized

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.839
 how truly

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.640
 messed up

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.400
 I was

00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:28.279
 how truly

00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.759
 sinful

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.420
 I was

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.460
 I was more

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.140
 desperate than

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.460
 ever

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.400
 for the grace

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:32.940
 of God

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:35.960
 and as I

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.480
 received

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.240
 that grace

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:39.240
 Christ

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.079
 became more

00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.920
 beautiful

00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:42.359
 and wonderful

00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:43.160
 to me

00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:44.759
 than ever

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.279
 before.

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:48.720
 and then

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:48.980
 I

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.940
 started giving

00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:51.339
 regularly

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:51.879
 to God

00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.899
 through this

00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:53.639
 church body

00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.639
 at Watermark.

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.079
 I was

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.660
 convicted that I

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.240
 needed to give

00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.000
 a meaningful

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.119
 sacrificial amount

00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.759
 of my monthly

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.220
 income

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.299
 back to God

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.220
 as worship.

00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:04.539
 And then after

00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.240
 I started giving

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.500
 to other ministries

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.059
 families

00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:08.440
 and individuals

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.299
 who

00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.139
 through prayer

00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:10.920
 I thought

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.680
 God wanted to

00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.059
 bless

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.579
 through me.

00:33:14.679 --> 00:33:15.240
 See I

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.179
 wasn't

00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:17.119
 blessing them

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.539
 it was

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.279
 God

00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.099
 blessing them

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.799
 through me.

00:33:19.919 --> 00:33:20.619
 I was just

00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.359
 I'm just

00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.119
 this conduit

00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:23.059
 I'm just

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:23.759
 this middleman

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.000
 of sorts.

00:33:26.659 --> 00:33:27.440
 But you know

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.019
 even today

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.980
 man I still

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.440
 struggle

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.079
 and I still

00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:31.440
 wrestle

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.500
 with this idea

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.000
 of giving

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.579
 to God.

00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:36.220
 Every time

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:37.099
 I write

00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:37.839
 a check

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.559
 to Watermark

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.639
 or I give

00:33:39.639 --> 00:33:40.079
 money

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.319
 and I think

00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:41.619
 about my

00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.399
 monthly expenses

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:42.839
 with three

00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.500
 kids and all

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.019
 that stuff

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:45.319
 man it's

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.819
 painful.

00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.359
 Does anybody

00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:48.720
 know what I'm

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.119
 talking about?

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.439
 Anybody?

00:33:49.899 --> 00:33:50.099
 Anybody?

00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.899
 You know one of

00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:54.199
 the beautiful

00:33:54.199 --> 00:33:54.960
 things about being

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.699
 part of a church

00:33:55.699 --> 00:33:56.639
 body is that

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:58.240
 all of us come

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.679
 from different

00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:59.740
 walks of life.

00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.519
 But this topic

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.059
 of money

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.559
 and greed

00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:06.199
 touches every

00:34:06.199 --> 00:34:06.939
 single one

00:34:06.939 --> 00:34:07.480
 of us.

00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.259
 For some

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:09.880
 of us here

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.440
 giving to

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.180
 God is a

00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:11.860
 regular activity

00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.520
 in your life.

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.620
 My challenge

00:34:14.620 --> 00:34:15.200
 to you is

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:16.540
 let's not do

00:34:16.540 --> 00:34:17.500
 that religiously.

00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.020
 You know

00:34:19.020 --> 00:34:19.500
 we worship

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.060
 God through

00:34:20.060 --> 00:34:20.780
 sung worship

00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.220
 right?

00:34:21.640 --> 00:34:22.160
 But if we

00:34:22.160 --> 00:34:22.860
 sing songs

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.320
 with our

00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.160
 mouths but

00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:25.340
 our mind

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:25.760
 is on the

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.380
 football game

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:26.780
 or on

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.400
 dim sum

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:27.980
 afterwards

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.760
 that's not

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.120
 worship.

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.160
 We worship

00:34:31.160 --> 00:34:31.600
 God with

00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:32.000
 our heart

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.280
 soul

00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:32.800
 mind

00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:34.860
 and strength

00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.320
 and so

00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:35.860
 my challenge

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.480
 to you is

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:36.820
 the next

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.240
 time you

00:34:37.240 --> 00:34:37.740
 write a check

00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:39.179
 do so

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.779
 prayerfully

00:34:39.779 --> 00:34:41.699
 and worshipfully

00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:43.439
 praying that

00:34:43.439 --> 00:34:43.799
 God would

00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:44.439
 multiply

00:34:44.439 --> 00:34:46.479
 those resources

00:34:46.479 --> 00:34:47.019
 a hundred

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.079
 times for

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.719
 his kingdom

00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.519
 so that

00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:49.959
 many would

00:34:49.959 --> 00:34:50.379
 know the

00:34:50.379 --> 00:34:50.979
 love of

00:34:50.979 --> 00:34:51.399
 Christ.

00:34:54.399 --> 00:34:55.379
 For others

00:34:55.379 --> 00:34:55.679
 here

00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:57.459
 perhaps giving

00:34:57.459 --> 00:34:57.879
 to God

00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:58.579
 isn't something

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:58.919
 you're used

00:34:58.919 --> 00:34:59.299
 to doing

00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:02.079
 or maybe

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.439
 you don't

00:35:02.439 --> 00:35:03.519
 think you

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:04.059
 can give

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.479
 to God

00:35:04.479 --> 00:35:04.919
 because of

00:35:04.919 --> 00:35:05.399
 your financial

00:35:05.399 --> 00:35:06.079
 circumstances.

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:09.259
 some of

00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:09.480
 you I

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:09.799
 imagine

00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.279
 are thinking

00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:11.319
 even right

00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:11.739
 now

00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:14.659
 don't you

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.139
 know Oscar

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.559
 that my

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.059
 salary in

00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:16.500
 Hong Kong

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.239
 hasn't changed

00:35:17.239 --> 00:35:17.579
 in ten

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.059
 years but

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.699
 property

00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.219
 prices are

00:35:19.219 --> 00:35:19.460
 up two

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:19.699
 to three

00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:20.159
 times?

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:21.840
 Or don't

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.119
 you know

00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.579
 Oscar that

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:22.880
 I have to

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.380
 give a

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.219
 huge percentage

00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:24.500
 of my

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.099
 monthly income

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.440
 to my

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.619
 parents and

00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.299
 I have no

00:35:27.299 --> 00:35:27.619
 money for

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.199
 myself left

00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:28.480
 over?

00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:30.500
 I can't

00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:30.840
 give.

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.940
 I need to

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.400
 save.

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.099
 I'm not

00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.480
 hoarding,

00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:34.819
 I'm being

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.159
 prudent.

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:39.099
 I can

00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.440
 relate to

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:39.639
 that.

00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:41.199
 My wife

00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:41.400
 and I

00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:41.659
 had our

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.239
 second and

00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:42.799
 third child

00:35:42.799 --> 00:35:43.360
 seven months

00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:43.779
 ago and

00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:45.139
 man when I

00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:45.500
 was crunching

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.000
 those numbers

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.579
 on diapers,

00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:47.199
 formula,

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.659
 potentially school,

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.239
 tuition,

00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:50.860
 man I just

00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:51.119
 stopped.

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.039
 I had a

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.279
 headache.

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.639
 But you

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:55.940
 know in

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.619
 spite of our

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.119
 financial

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:58.119
 struggles,

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.539
 in spite of

00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.319
 our financial

00:36:00.319 --> 00:36:01.500
 uncertainties,

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:04.380
 I want to

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:04.920
 encourage us

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.400
 to follow

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:06.659
 God's

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.179
 kingdom

00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:08.059
 principles,

00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:08.760
 this upside

00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:09.199
 down

00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:10.340
 counterintuitive

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:11.019
 kingdom

00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.500
 principles.

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:12.619
 I want to

00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.340
 encourage us

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:14.340
 to be rich

00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.539
 toward God.

00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.199
 As I

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:18.599
 close,

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.079
 let me

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:20.760
 highlight three

00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:21.400
 reasons why.

00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:23.599
 First and

00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.059
 foremost,

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.219
 because Christ,

00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.219
 Jesus Christ,

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.960
 has made us

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:28.280
 incredibly rich.

00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:29.620
 rich, but

00:36:29.620 --> 00:36:29.880
 it's only

00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.680
 because Christ

00:36:30.680 --> 00:36:31.580
 became poor

00:36:31.580 --> 00:36:32.540
 so that you

00:36:32.540 --> 00:36:32.880
 and I

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.280
 through his

00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:34.540
 poverty might

00:36:34.540 --> 00:36:35.400
 become rich.

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.500
 Before the

00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.000
 world began,

00:36:38.120 --> 00:36:38.640
 before any

00:36:38.640 --> 00:36:39.120
 human was

00:36:39.120 --> 00:36:39.600
 ever born,

00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:40.320
 before money

00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:41.060
 and banking

00:36:41.060 --> 00:36:41.620
 existed,

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.400
 Jesus Christ

00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:44.400
 decided to

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.320
 come to

00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:45.820
 this earth

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.880
 and live a

00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.320
 very poor

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.780
 life.

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.420
 He lived

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:50.220
 33 years

00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:50.920
 financially

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.340
 poor,

00:36:51.580 --> 00:36:52.000
 he served

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.700
 thousands of

00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.019
 people,

00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:53.680
 he worked

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:54.019
 hard,

00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:54.760
 but he never

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:55.100
 started up

00:36:55.100 --> 00:36:55.720
 anything in

00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:56.519
 barns for

00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.000
 himself.

00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.420
 and then

00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:58.800
 he died

00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.360
 for us.

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.639
 And on

00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.380
 that cross,

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:03.780
 when he

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.199
 died,

00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:06.639
 he died

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.019
 poor,

00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:08.519
 in spirit

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.679
 and in

00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.099
 finances.

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.360
 Through the

00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:12.840
 poverty of

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.260
 Christ,

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.579
 you and I

00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.860
 have become

00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.260
 rich.

00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:18.980
 Do we

00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.559
 see ourselves

00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.039
 as rich?

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:20.820
 Do we?

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.360
 If I were

00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:22.760
 to guess,

00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:23.099
 I would say

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:23.460
 most people

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:23.639
 would say

00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:23.860
 no.

00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.400
 Lee Ka-Shing

00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:25.840
 is rich,

00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.400
 Jeff Bezos

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:26.900
 is very

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.220
 rich,

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.340
 but you

00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:28.740
 and I,

00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:29.800
 we're not

00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:30.099
 rich.

00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:31.920
 But if you

00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:32.220
 are running

00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:32.800
 water and

00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.360
 a roof over

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:33.800
 your head,

00:37:33.880 --> 00:37:34.300
 you are among

00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:34.740
 the richest

00:37:34.740 --> 00:37:35.500
 people on

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.160
 this planet.

00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.440
 How much

00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.059
 more then are

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.559
 you and I

00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.940
 spiritually rich

00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.980
 because our

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.220
 faith is in

00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:43.000
 Jesus Christ?

00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:45.500
 Because our

00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.099
 faith is not

00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:46.660
 in stocks,

00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:47.480
 not in bonds,

00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:48.039
 it's not in

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.440
 real estate.

00:37:48.660 --> 00:37:49.099
 All those

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:49.599
 things can be

00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.400
 wiped out in

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:50.800
 a heartbeat

00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:51.460
 during any

00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:52.280
 random financial

00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:52.800
 disaster.

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:53.740
 No.

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:55.119
 Our faith

00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:55.699
 is in

00:37:55.699 --> 00:37:56.079
 God,

00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:57.000
 the one

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:57.219
 who is

00:37:57.219 --> 00:37:57.919
 unshakable,

00:37:58.139 --> 00:37:58.719
 unchanging,

00:37:58.899 --> 00:37:59.379
 eternal,

00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:00.500
 the one

00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.000
 who existed

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.799
 before time.

00:38:02.939 --> 00:38:03.419
 And our

00:38:03.419 --> 00:38:03.939
 faith is

00:38:03.939 --> 00:38:04.299
 in Jesus

00:38:04.299 --> 00:38:04.719
 Christ,

00:38:04.959 --> 00:38:05.559
 his son,

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.839
 who paid

00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:07.419
 that ultimate

00:38:07.419 --> 00:38:08.459
 price for us

00:38:08.459 --> 00:38:09.359
 so that you

00:38:09.359 --> 00:38:09.779
 and I

00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:10.279
 have an

00:38:10.279 --> 00:38:10.619
 eternal

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.159
 future

00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:11.959
 which is

00:38:11.959 --> 00:38:12.439
 secure.

00:38:14.259 --> 00:38:14.779
 Today,

00:38:14.919 --> 00:38:15.099
 if your

00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:15.500
 faith

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.559
 is in

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:16.779
 Jesus

00:38:16.779 --> 00:38:17.259
 Christ,

00:38:17.799 --> 00:38:18.119
 you are

00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:18.699
 the son

00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.359
 or daughter

00:38:19.359 --> 00:38:20.199
 of the

00:38:20.199 --> 00:38:20.879
 great king.

00:38:21.939 --> 00:38:22.519
 Forget about

00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:23.179
 dividing the

00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:23.599
 inheritance.

00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:24.340
 You and

00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:24.759
 I will

00:38:24.759 --> 00:38:25.340
 receive the

00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:25.719
 full

00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.179
 inheritance

00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:27.179
 in heaven.

00:38:28.139 --> 00:38:28.380
 Amen.

00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.360
 Therefore,

00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:31.199
 we can be

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:31.679
 rich toward

00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:32.519
 God in

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.019
 this life

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.500
 because we

00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:33.980
 know our

00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:34.759
 inheritance is

00:38:34.759 --> 00:38:35.199
 eternal

00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:35.940
 through the

00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.519
 blood of

00:38:36.519 --> 00:38:36.820
 Jesus.

00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:39.920
 Second

00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:41.239
 reason is

00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:42.500
 because it's

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:42.980
 the only

00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:43.719
 way to

00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:44.219
 fight

00:38:44.219 --> 00:38:44.920
 greed.

00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:46.940
 If this

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:48.159
 warning about

00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:49.119
 greed that

00:38:49.119 --> 00:38:50.500
 Jesus gives,

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.099
 if this

00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.440
 has impacted

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.079
 you today,

00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:53.440
 then you

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.460
 realize it's

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.019
 a battle we

00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:55.319
 need to

00:38:55.319 --> 00:38:55.639
 fight.

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:56.940
 So let's

00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.480
 fight this

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.259
 battle together.

00:38:59.420 --> 00:38:59.679
 And the

00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.239
 only way to

00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:00.980
 fight greed

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:01.920
 is to

00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.779
 regularly give

00:39:02.779 --> 00:39:03.679
 your money

00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:04.440
 away.

00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:05.960
 The only way

00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:06.659
 to tear down

00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:07.219
 these false

00:39:07.219 --> 00:39:07.719
 idols of

00:39:07.719 --> 00:39:08.259
 materialism,

00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.699
 comfort,

00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:09.420
 pleasure,

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.719
 is to

00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.619
 regularly give

00:39:11.619 --> 00:39:12.519
 your money

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.460
 away.

00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:14.619
 Why?

00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:17.019
 Because then

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.599
 it's not about

00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:17.880
 you.

00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:19.639
 It's not about

00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:19.940
 me.

00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:20.000
 money.

00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:22.920
 Worried about

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:23.300
 how you're

00:39:23.300 --> 00:39:23.420
 going to

00:39:23.420 --> 00:39:23.820
 raise your

00:39:23.820 --> 00:39:24.519
 children in

00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.099
 Hong Kong

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:25.460
 when the

00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:25.940
 city is so

00:39:25.940 --> 00:39:26.300
 expensive?

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.599
 Give your

00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:28.940
 money to

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:29.220
 God.

00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:30.740
 Worried about

00:39:30.740 --> 00:39:31.000
 how you're

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:31.099
 going to

00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:31.619
 pay rent

00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:32.119
 when property

00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:32.760
 prices here

00:39:32.760 --> 00:39:32.940
 are the

00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:33.440
 most expensive

00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:33.700
 in the

00:39:33.700 --> 00:39:33.940
 world?

00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:35.300
 Give your

00:39:35.300 --> 00:39:35.900
 money to

00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:36.300
 God.

00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:39.300
 Concerned

00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:39.679
 that perhaps

00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.460
 money has

00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.760
 too tight a

00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:42.400
 grip on

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:42.579
 you?

00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.340
 Yeah,

00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:44.700
 you guessed

00:39:44.700 --> 00:39:44.920
 it.

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:46.119
 Give your

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:47.200
 money to

00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:47.579
 God.

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.119
 And as you

00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:49.619
 do so,

00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:50.799
 get on your

00:39:50.799 --> 00:39:51.159
 knees and

00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:51.440
 pray.

00:39:51.940 --> 00:39:52.440
 Let's pray

00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:52.880
 together.

00:39:53.319 --> 00:39:53.659
 Let's pray

00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.119
 that God

00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:54.579
 would tear

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.139
 down this

00:39:55.139 --> 00:39:55.759
 false idol

00:39:55.759 --> 00:39:56.319
 of money

00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:57.279
 and greed

00:39:57.279 --> 00:39:58.599
 and put

00:39:58.599 --> 00:39:59.659
 Christ in

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:00.159
 his rightful

00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:01.440
 place as

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:01.739
 the only

00:40:01.739 --> 00:40:02.219
 one we

00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:02.500
 worship.

00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:05.359
 If you

00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:05.599
 are a young

00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:06.039
 adult this

00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:06.819
 morning or

00:40:06.819 --> 00:40:07.400
 fresh grad

00:40:07.400 --> 00:40:07.940
 here today

00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:09.299
 and you've

00:40:09.299 --> 00:40:09.739
 never given

00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:10.239
 to God,

00:40:11.380 --> 00:40:11.839
 I want to

00:40:11.839 --> 00:40:12.380
 encourage you.

00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:15.279
 Look,

00:40:15.339 --> 00:40:15.759
 I know how

00:40:15.759 --> 00:40:16.299
 difficult it

00:40:16.299 --> 00:40:16.980
 is to

00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:17.420
 part with

00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:17.859
 money you

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.380
 think you've

00:40:18.380 --> 00:40:18.720
 earned.

00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:19.820
 You think

00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:20.420
 it's yours,

00:40:21.140 --> 00:40:22.000
 but it's

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.260
 not.

00:40:23.300 --> 00:40:23.860
 You only

00:40:23.860 --> 00:40:24.180
 have it

00:40:24.180 --> 00:40:24.640
 because God

00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:24.960
 gave it

00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:25.260
 to you.

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:27.519
 So just

00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:27.940
 start by

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.599
 giving $50

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:30.140
 or $100

00:40:30.140 --> 00:40:30.820
 a month

00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:32.460
 and pray

00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:32.960
 that God

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.599
 will change

00:40:33.599 --> 00:40:34.280
 your heart

00:40:34.280 --> 00:40:34.920
 to start

00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:35.200
 giving

00:40:35.200 --> 00:40:36.059
 sacrificially

00:40:36.059 --> 00:40:37.380
 and worshipfully.

00:40:40.620 --> 00:40:41.260
 Final

00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:41.680
 reason

00:40:41.680 --> 00:40:43.240
 to be rich

00:40:43.240 --> 00:40:43.860
 toward God

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.960
 is because

00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:45.460
 you will

00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:46.019
 receive

00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:46.920
 eternal

00:40:46.920 --> 00:40:47.659
 joy.

00:40:48.840 --> 00:40:49.260
 If you

00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:49.500
 want to

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:49.920
 receive

00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:50.680
 eternal

00:40:50.680 --> 00:40:51.059
 joy,

00:40:51.139 --> 00:40:51.559
 joy which

00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:52.200
 transcends

00:40:52.200 --> 00:40:52.579
 all the

00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.099
 temporal

00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:53.820
 materialistic

00:40:53.820 --> 00:40:54.320
 joy that

00:40:54.320 --> 00:40:54.920
 we have

00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:56.500
 in materialism

00:40:56.500 --> 00:40:57.039
 and possessions,

00:40:57.700 --> 00:40:58.539
 then give.

00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:00.000
 If you

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:00.260
 want to see

00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:00.559
 the beauty

00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:01.019
 of Christ

00:41:01.019 --> 00:41:01.619
 more clearly

00:41:01.619 --> 00:41:02.280
 without being

00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:03.220
 blinded by

00:41:03.220 --> 00:41:03.740
 this pursuit

00:41:03.740 --> 00:41:04.200
 of money,

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:05.960
 then give.

00:41:07.119 --> 00:41:07.700
 Jesus said

00:41:07.700 --> 00:41:08.000
 it's more

00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.619
 blessed to

00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.840
 give than

00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.559
 to receive.

00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:12.700
 This is so

00:41:12.700 --> 00:41:13.019
 true.

00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:14.900
 I believe

00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.179
 there's a

00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:15.820
 very close

00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:16.280
 relationship

00:41:16.280 --> 00:41:16.739
 between

00:41:16.739 --> 00:41:17.880
 giving to

00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.300
 God

00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.500
 and receiving

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.259
 incredible

00:41:20.259 --> 00:41:20.800
 joy.

00:41:21.860 --> 00:41:22.340
 And that

00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:22.800
 is because

00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.539
 as we

00:41:23.539 --> 00:41:24.179
 give to

00:41:24.179 --> 00:41:24.579
 God,

00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.099
 praying that

00:41:26.099 --> 00:41:26.380
 he would

00:41:26.380 --> 00:41:26.900
 multiply

00:41:26.900 --> 00:41:27.480
 or giving

00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.320
 a thousand

00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:29.420
 times so

00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:30.179
 that the

00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:30.480
 poor,

00:41:30.579 --> 00:41:31.119
 the marginalized,

00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:31.860
 the widows

00:41:31.860 --> 00:41:32.519
 and orphans

00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:33.019
 would be

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:33.599
 comforted,

00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:34.679
 so that

00:41:34.679 --> 00:41:35.239
 the woman

00:41:35.239 --> 00:41:35.460
 in the

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:35.699
 red light

00:41:35.699 --> 00:41:35.980
 districts

00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:36.360
 of Hong

00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:36.559
 Kong

00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:36.920
 would be

00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:37.360
 free of

00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:38.099
 that bondage,

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:39.480
 so that

00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:40.039
 the lost,

00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:40.940
 those who don't

00:41:40.940 --> 00:41:41.280
 know him,

00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:41.559
 would know

00:41:41.559 --> 00:41:42.000
 the love

00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:42.559
 of Christ.

00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:43.920
 And as

00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:44.279
 we see

00:41:44.279 --> 00:41:45.000
 God's hand

00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.659
 working in

00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.360
 those lives,

00:41:46.579 --> 00:41:47.360
 we receive

00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:48.119
 joy because

00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:49.320
 we receive

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:49.739
 a glimpse

00:41:49.739 --> 00:41:50.420
 of God's

00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:51.219
 own heart.

00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:52.699
 Because

00:41:52.699 --> 00:41:53.420
 God loves

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:54.460
 the poor.

00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:56.019
 God loves

00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:56.579
 the marginalized.

00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.440
 He loves

00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:58.900
 the lost.

00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:00.579
 So as

00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:01.239
 we give,

00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:02.159
 we receive

00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:02.579
 joy.

00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:03.920
 And as

00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:04.320
 we receive

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:04.599
 joy,

00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:05.279
 we're encouraged

00:42:05.279 --> 00:42:05.759
 to give

00:42:05.759 --> 00:42:06.119
 more.

00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:08.259
 As we

00:42:08.259 --> 00:42:08.679
 give more,

00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:10.739
 we are

00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.279
 encouraged,

00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:11.840
 we receive

00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:12.180
 joy,

00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:12.660
 we give

00:42:12.660 --> 00:42:12.860
 more,

00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.300
 there's

00:42:13.300 --> 00:42:13.519
 this

00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:14.340
 symbiotic

00:42:14.340 --> 00:42:14.840
 two-way

00:42:14.840 --> 00:42:15.920
 feedback loop

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.920
 that goes

00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:18.180
 on and

00:42:18.180 --> 00:42:19.200
 on and

00:42:19.200 --> 00:42:19.660
 on.

00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:24.060
 So let's

00:42:24.060 --> 00:42:24.340
 be rich

00:42:24.340 --> 00:42:24.620
 to our

00:42:24.620 --> 00:42:25.160
 God because

00:42:25.160 --> 00:42:25.980
 Christ has

00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:26.320
 made us

00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:26.700
 rich,

00:42:27.540 --> 00:42:28.400
 because it's

00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:28.720
 the only

00:42:28.720 --> 00:42:29.140
 way to

00:42:29.140 --> 00:42:29.800
 fight greed,

00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:32.560
 and because

00:42:32.560 --> 00:42:32.880
 you will

00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.400
 receive

00:42:33.400 --> 00:42:34.200
 eternal

00:42:34.200 --> 00:42:34.519
 joy.

00:42:37.160 --> 00:42:37.740
 Let me

00:42:37.740 --> 00:42:38.000
 close.

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:40.599
 friends,

00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:42.639
 the world

00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:43.219
 is constantly

00:42:43.219 --> 00:42:43.840
 telling us

00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:44.420
 this lie

00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:44.940
 that money

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.260
 will make

00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:45.699
 us happy.

00:42:49.019 --> 00:42:50.059
 That is

00:42:50.059 --> 00:42:51.119
 a lie.

00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:52.519
 That is

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:53.280
 the foolishness

00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:54.300
 of greed.

00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.159
 Let's not

00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:56.800
 let money

00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:58.880
 cloud our

00:42:58.880 --> 00:42:59.239
 vision

00:42:59.239 --> 00:43:00.940
 of God.

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:01.000
 God,

00:43:01.880 --> 00:43:04.460
 there's an

00:43:04.460 --> 00:43:04.820
 eternity

00:43:04.820 --> 00:43:06.019
 after this

00:43:06.019 --> 00:43:06.400
 life.

00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:08.440
 If your

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:09.200
 faith and

00:43:09.200 --> 00:43:10.579
 hope is

00:43:10.579 --> 00:43:10.980
 in Jesus

00:43:10.980 --> 00:43:12.159
 Christ this

00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:12.559
 morning,

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:14.019
 on the last

00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:14.360
 day,

00:43:15.059 --> 00:43:15.519
 you and I

00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:15.980
 will stand

00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.659
 before him.

00:43:18.099 --> 00:43:18.780
 He'll show

00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:19.420
 us his

00:43:19.420 --> 00:43:21.019
 scars on

00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:21.599
 his hands.

00:43:22.559 --> 00:43:23.000
 He'll show

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.619
 us the wound

00:43:23.619 --> 00:43:24.639
 on his

00:43:24.639 --> 00:43:25.019
 side.

00:43:25.019 --> 00:43:26.460
 And I'm

00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:26.900
 pretty sure

00:43:26.900 --> 00:43:27.420
 you and I

00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:27.920
 will fall

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:28.280
 to our

00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:28.940
 knees in

00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:29.320
 worship,

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.420
 finally realizing

00:43:31.420 --> 00:43:32.019
 the depth

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.980
 of the love

00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:34.900
 and sacrifice

00:43:34.900 --> 00:43:35.980
 of Christ.

00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:39.980
 But before

00:43:39.980 --> 00:43:40.480
 then, we

00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:40.880
 have a little

00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:41.460
 bit of time

00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:42.000
 left on

00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:42.360
 earth.

00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:44.000
 So let's

00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:44.519
 be rich

00:43:44.519 --> 00:43:45.619
 toward God.

00:43:46.280 --> 00:43:46.900
 Let's give

00:43:46.900 --> 00:43:47.739
 Jesus everything

00:43:47.739 --> 00:43:48.500
 we have,

00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:50.099
 our lives,

00:43:50.559 --> 00:43:51.119
 including our

00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:51.480
 money,

00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:53.239
 because he

00:43:53.239 --> 00:43:53.739
 has given us

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:54.239
 a secure

00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:54.719
 future,

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:55.820
 and he

00:43:55.820 --> 00:43:57.019
 alone is

00:43:58.039 --> 00:43:58.400
 worthy.

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:00.500
 Let's pray.

00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:06.239
 Father,

00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:09.519
 this is a

00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:09.900
 challenging

00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:10.500
 subject.

00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:10.980
 It's very

00:44:10.980 --> 00:44:11.539
 challenging for

00:44:11.539 --> 00:44:11.940
 me, Lord.

00:44:12.039 --> 00:44:12.500
 You know my

00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:12.960
 heart, God,

00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:13.199
 and you know

00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:13.880
 my struggles.

00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:15.199
 You know all

00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:15.440
 of our

00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:15.739
 struggles,

00:44:15.940 --> 00:44:16.079
 Lord.

00:44:19.320 --> 00:44:20.059
 Forgive us,

00:44:20.179 --> 00:44:20.400
 God,

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:22.599
 where greed,

00:44:23.440 --> 00:44:23.759
 the pursuit

00:44:23.759 --> 00:44:24.239
 of money,

00:44:25.019 --> 00:44:27.780
 have clouded

00:44:27.780 --> 00:44:28.199
 our vision

00:44:28.199 --> 00:44:28.719
 of you.

00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:31.420
 Forgive us,

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:32.019
 Lord, where

00:44:32.019 --> 00:44:33.860
 we've elevated

00:44:33.860 --> 00:44:34.619
 this idol of

00:44:34.619 --> 00:44:36.920
 money above

00:44:36.920 --> 00:44:37.340
 you.

00:44:37.500 --> 00:44:38.259
 Oh, God,

00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:38.759
 would you

00:44:38.759 --> 00:44:39.860
 tear down

00:44:39.860 --> 00:44:40.699
 this idol of

00:44:40.699 --> 00:44:41.360
 money, God,

00:44:41.420 --> 00:44:42.019
 of greed,

00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:42.519
 Father?

00:44:45.820 --> 00:44:46.199
 Father,

00:44:46.280 --> 00:44:47.400
 comfort us,

00:44:47.500 --> 00:44:47.659
 Lord,

00:44:47.739 --> 00:44:48.199
 when we worry

00:44:48.199 --> 00:44:48.799
 about money.

00:44:49.879 --> 00:44:50.539
 Teach us,

00:44:50.659 --> 00:44:50.779
 Lord,

00:44:50.879 --> 00:44:55.399
 that money

00:44:55.399 --> 00:44:56.839
 is not the

00:44:56.839 --> 00:44:57.099
 key to

00:44:57.099 --> 00:44:57.579
 happiness,

00:44:57.839 --> 00:44:59.139
 that we can

00:44:59.139 --> 00:44:59.579
 only receive

00:44:59.579 --> 00:45:00.419
 true joy

00:45:00.419 --> 00:45:02.919
 in you,

00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:03.259
 Jesus,

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:04.879
 that you are

00:45:04.879 --> 00:45:05.899
 our greatest

00:45:05.899 --> 00:45:06.480
 treasure

00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:07.619
 and our

00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:08.739
 highest value.

00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:09.739
 Lord,

00:45:09.739 --> 00:45:10.739
 we're

00:45:10.739 --> 00:45:11.500
 rich toward

00:45:11.500 --> 00:45:11.739
 you.

00:45:11.739 --> 00:45:12.419
 And,

00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:13.819
 Father,

00:45:13.919 --> 00:45:14.500
 help us

00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:16.239
 to be rich

00:45:16.239 --> 00:45:16.859
 toward you,

00:45:17.139 --> 00:45:18.879
 not because

00:45:18.879 --> 00:45:19.219
 of some

00:45:19.219 --> 00:45:20.159
 religious need,

00:45:20.259 --> 00:45:20.679
 not because

00:45:20.679 --> 00:45:21.399
 of legalism,

00:45:21.519 --> 00:45:21.919
 not because

00:45:21.919 --> 00:45:22.439
 of guilt,

00:45:23.179 --> 00:45:23.919
 but help us

00:45:23.919 --> 00:45:24.419
 to be rich

00:45:24.419 --> 00:45:25.179
 toward you,

00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:25.839
 God,

00:45:25.919 --> 00:45:27.059
 because we

00:45:27.059 --> 00:45:27.519
 see you

00:45:27.519 --> 00:45:28.139
 as wonderful,

00:45:28.699 --> 00:45:29.539
 we see you

00:45:29.539 --> 00:45:31.000
 as beautiful,

00:45:31.639 --> 00:45:32.299
 we know you

00:45:32.299 --> 00:45:32.919
 as holy,

00:45:33.059 --> 00:45:33.619
 as sovereign,

00:45:33.719 --> 00:45:34.279
 as perfect,

00:45:34.419 --> 00:45:35.000
 as righteous,

00:45:35.359 --> 00:45:36.059
 and worthy

00:45:36.059 --> 00:45:37.119
 to be praised

00:45:37.119 --> 00:45:38.139
 and worshipped.

00:45:39.460 --> 00:45:40.400
 Give us

00:45:40.400 --> 00:45:43.380
 the vision

00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:43.799
 of you,

00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:44.279
 God,

00:45:45.059 --> 00:45:47.159
 that is so

00:45:47.159 --> 00:45:47.639
 beautiful

00:45:47.639 --> 00:45:48.719
 and so

00:45:48.719 --> 00:45:49.199
 wonderful

00:45:49.199 --> 00:45:50.579
 that all

00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:51.239
 these idols

00:45:51.239 --> 00:45:52.079
 of life

00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:53.019
 are meaningless

00:45:53.019 --> 00:45:53.719
 and nothing

00:45:53.719 --> 00:45:54.440
 compared to

00:45:54.440 --> 00:45:54.699
 you.

00:46:02.460 --> 00:46:03.219
 I want

00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:05.219
 to invite

00:46:05.219 --> 00:46:05.599
 the prayer

00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:05.900
 team

00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:06.279
 to come

00:46:06.279 --> 00:46:06.599
 up

00:46:06.599 --> 00:46:09.039
 in a

00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:09.460
 moment.

00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:12.920
 If

00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:14.719
 this warning

00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:15.539
 against greed,

00:46:18.019 --> 00:46:19.819
 if

00:46:19.819 --> 00:46:21.799
 this,

00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:22.500
 the word

00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:22.839
 of God

00:46:22.839 --> 00:46:23.400
 today has

00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:24.179
 impacted you,

00:46:24.500 --> 00:46:24.819
 right,

00:46:25.259 --> 00:46:25.980
 and you

00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:26.699
 realize that

00:46:26.699 --> 00:46:27.039
 greed is

00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:27.480
 something which

00:46:27.480 --> 00:46:27.799
 has gripped

00:46:27.799 --> 00:46:28.339
 your heart,

00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.539
 that the

00:46:29.539 --> 00:46:30.159
 worries about

00:46:30.159 --> 00:46:30.559
 money,

00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:31.139
 the lies

00:46:31.139 --> 00:46:31.400
 that this

00:46:31.400 --> 00:46:32.159
 world tells

00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:32.440
 us that

00:46:32.440 --> 00:46:32.819
 money will

00:46:32.819 --> 00:46:33.039
 give us

00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:33.360
 happiness,

00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:33.739
 if this

00:46:33.739 --> 00:46:34.179
 is something

00:46:34.179 --> 00:46:34.739
 that you

00:46:34.739 --> 00:46:35.339
 have

00:46:35.339 --> 00:46:35.779
 realized

00:46:35.779 --> 00:46:36.199
 has gripped

00:46:36.199 --> 00:46:36.679
 your heart

00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:38.679
 and you've

00:46:38.679 --> 00:46:38.980
 never been

00:46:38.980 --> 00:46:39.419
 rich toward

00:46:39.419 --> 00:46:39.859
 God,

00:46:39.919 --> 00:46:40.480
 I encourage

00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:40.779
 you to

00:46:40.779 --> 00:46:41.159
 come up

00:46:41.159 --> 00:46:41.519
 here for

00:46:41.519 --> 00:46:41.919
 prayer.

00:46:42.539 --> 00:46:42.739
 We would

00:46:42.739 --> 00:46:43.079
 love to

00:46:43.079 --> 00:46:43.480
 pray with

00:46:43.480 --> 00:46:43.719
 you and

00:46:43.719 --> 00:46:44.159
 walk with

00:46:44.159 --> 00:46:44.339
 you.

00:46:45.239 --> 00:46:45.599
 Pray for

00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:46.019
 God to

00:46:46.019 --> 00:46:46.599
 plant his

00:46:46.599 --> 00:46:47.719
 spirit into

00:46:47.719 --> 00:46:48.159
 your heart

00:46:48.159 --> 00:46:48.719
 to see that

00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:49.239
 he is our

00:46:49.239 --> 00:46:49.899
 greatest treasure,

00:46:50.079 --> 00:46:50.739
 not money,

00:46:51.480 --> 00:46:52.379
 to tear down

00:46:52.379 --> 00:46:53.099
 these idols

00:46:53.099 --> 00:46:55.859
 of materialism,

00:46:56.460 --> 00:46:56.759
 gaining

00:46:56.759 --> 00:46:57.719
 possessions,

00:46:58.679 --> 00:46:59.399
 storing up,

00:46:59.619 --> 00:47:00.419
 securing stuff

00:47:00.420 --> 00:47:00.980
 because we're

00:47:00.980 --> 00:47:01.300
 worried about

00:47:01.300 --> 00:47:01.720
 the future.

00:47:02.460 --> 00:47:03.019
 Let's pray

00:47:03.019 --> 00:47:03.579
 together.

00:47:04.860 --> 00:47:05.619
 Let's be a

00:47:05.619 --> 00:47:06.820
 church who

00:47:06.820 --> 00:47:07.940
 truly elevates

00:47:07.940 --> 00:47:09.280
 Christ at the

00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:09.840
 forefront of

00:47:09.840 --> 00:47:10.500
 our lives,

00:47:11.500 --> 00:47:13.240
 doing so

00:47:13.240 --> 00:47:13.659
 because we

00:47:13.659 --> 00:47:13.900
 have this

00:47:13.900 --> 00:47:14.400
 picture and

00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:14.820
 vision of

00:47:14.820 --> 00:47:15.240
 him as

00:47:15.240 --> 00:47:15.840
 awesome and

00:47:15.840 --> 00:47:16.200
 sovereign.

00:47:17.579 --> 00:47:18.340
 Maybe be a

00:47:18.340 --> 00:47:20.360
 church who

00:47:20.360 --> 00:47:21.019
 worships the

00:47:21.019 --> 00:47:22.240
 only God who

00:47:22.240 --> 00:47:22.700
 is worthy.

00:47:22.700 --> 00:47:22.820
 Amen.

00:47:22.820 --> 00:47:22.880
 Amen.

00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:22.940
 Amen.

00:47:22.940 --> 00:47:22.980
 Amen.

00:47:22.980 --> 00:47:23.400
 Amen.

00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:23.880
 Amen.

00:47:23.880 --> 00:47:23.920
 Amen.

00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:24.880
 Amen.

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:24.940
 Amen.

00:47:24.940 --> 00:47:25.440
 Amen.

00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:25.880
 Amen.

00:47:25.880 --> 00:47:25.940
 Amen.

00:47:25.940 --> 00:47:26.440
 Amen.

00:47:26.440 --> 00:47:26.880
 Amen.

00:47:26.880 --> 00:47:26.940
 Amen.

00:47:26.940 --> 00:47:27.440
 Amen.

00:47:27.440 --> 00:47:27.480
 Amen.

00:47:27.480 --> 00:47:27.519
 Amen.

00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:27.539
 Amen.

00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:27.559
 Amen.

00:47:27.559 --> 00:47:28.039
 Amen.

00:47:28.039 --> 00:47:28.559
 Amen.

00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:28.639
 Amen.

00:47:28.639 --> 00:47:28.659
 Amen.

00:47:28.659 --> 00:47:30.400
 Amen.