WEBVTT 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:06.700 Dave read the epistle, and he's a new dad. I don't know if you folks all know this. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:16.399 Jonathan Alexander at 7 pounds 12 ounces, is it, was born on Tuesday morning at 7 o'clock in the morning. Is that right? 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:22.039 So the Maurydes and the Alexanders have this thing about 7 o'clock in the morning babies being born, 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:25.900 which is a wonderfully convenient time to have a baby, I suppose. 00:00:25.899 --> 00:00:33.399 And congratulations, Anne. I can't see Dave. He's gone out of the room, so you guys can all congratulate. 00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:36.960 And I think young Jonathan is here. Yeah, you want to clap? Yeah, we should clap, eh? 00:00:41.460 --> 00:00:43.500 That's just fantastic. Congratulations. 00:00:44.659 --> 00:00:50.519 And after that word of congratulation, next, a word of apology, although maybe none of you noticed it, 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:56.180 but I sort of flubbed my sermon last week with you folks. Maybe none of you thought that I flubbed it. 00:00:57.140 --> 00:01:01.740 One of the things, this is actually a lot of notes this morning. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:06.540 Normally I just have like one page of notes, and I sort of just preach from notes, 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:09.079 and so a lot of my sermon is extemporaneous. 00:01:09.939 --> 00:01:13.879 And the benefit is I get to sort of look at you a lot rather than looking at paper. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:18.719 But the downside is that sometimes something, when you're being extemporaneous, 00:01:19.119 --> 00:01:22.479 that means things come into your mind and you say them. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:26.799 And I, about a, right early on in my sermon, I said something, 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:29.840 and almost instantly I said to myself, why did I say that? 00:01:29.979 --> 00:01:33.579 Like, I'm preaching to you, and inwardly I'm saying, why did I say that? 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.780 And then I tried to fix it and put things in the wrong order, 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:39.060 and then I kept trying to fix it and fix it and fix it. 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:42.120 And I eventually got sort of to the right order and finished the sermon. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:47.579 But after the service, I asked Andrew if he could tape the 11 o'clock sermon. 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:53.840 Normally it's the 9.15 sermon that goes on the web, not the 11. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:57.300 So normally it's 9.15 that goes on the web, not 11. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:00.960 And I said to Andrew, could you please tape the 11 o'clock sermon? 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:03.520 So if you want to hear how it was supposed to go, 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:09.300 you can go on the web page and then compare it to your memory. 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:15.680 I don't lose any sleep over it because God is made perfect in our weakness and in our mistakes. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:19.240 And thirdly and finally, 00:02:20.980 --> 00:02:28.540 if you ever come to a wedding rehearsal that I do, 00:02:29.140 --> 00:02:35.300 there's a point in time in the wedding rehearsal where I give the maid of honour permission to ignore me. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:38.400 In fact, not only do I give her permission to ignore me, 00:02:38.480 --> 00:02:41.580 I encourage her to ignore me. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:46.840 Because I say that, you know, when the bride has come up to the front and the maid of honour is there, 00:02:46.939 --> 00:02:48.240 it's the maid of honour's job. 00:02:48.860 --> 00:02:50.820 It's never the best man's job, by the way. 00:02:50.900 --> 00:02:52.600 Guys just generally aren't good at this. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.720 But the maid of honour's job is that every time the bride turns or kneels or sits or does anything like this, 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.960 the maid of honour's job is to always be sort of ignoring me, 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:08.000 looking at the bride's dress and fluffing and turning and doing all that type of stuff 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.259 so that the bride always looks spectacular. 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:15.699 And so I said, you know, obviously many people ignore the minister lots and lots of times, 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.620 but you have, in this ceremony, you have permission. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:21.620 In fact, my encouragement to ignore me. 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:24.159 I could be up front blethering away about whatever, 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:26.500 but you should be looking at the bride's dress 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:30.439 and making sure that it's looking and hanging very nice. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:34.319 And if you are a guest here this morning 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:38.719 and you have not come to know Jesus as your saviour, 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:43.159 I want to tell you right now that I don't want you to put any money in the plate. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:47.140 Okay, you have not only my permission to not put money in the plate, 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.040 my encouragement for you not to put a single penny in the plate. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.679 And in fact, as long as you come to this church as a seeker, 00:03:55.620 --> 00:04:02.139 before coming to Christ, I would be happier if you put no money in the plate. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:03.620 And go downstairs. 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.879 One other time I said this, we didn't have any coffee that Sunday, 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.639 so I sure hope we have coffee today. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.799 But go downstairs, buy some, you know, have as much, 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:16.620 not buy, the coffee's free, have as much coffee as you want. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:17.620 You're our guest. 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:20.120 We don't have visitors in this church. 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:21.220 We only have guests. 00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:24.519 And as you're going to see in a moment in the sermon, 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:27.399 the offering plate is for Christians. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.939 And in particular, it's for those Christians who call St. Albans their church home. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:36.980 The offering plate's not for people who have not yet come to know Christ. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.500 So because I'm going to be talking about money today, 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:43.780 I want you to, this is my opportunity to sort of say, 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.019 please don't put any money in the plate. 00:04:46.019 --> 00:04:50.539 What does it mean to follow Jesus in a world with money? 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:55.019 Today, if my sermon had a title, it would be called Jesus, Money, and Me. 00:04:55.740 --> 00:04:58.439 What does it mean to follow Jesus in a world with money? 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:03.039 What does it mean to trust him as savior in a world with money? 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:06.840 Is following Jesus just a form of spirituality? 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:09.260 And I'm not using that in a complimentary sense, 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:16.020 because much of what passes for spirituality nowadays is having a warm, happy place inside. 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:20.079 And I guess we all need little warm, happy places inside. 00:05:20.359 --> 00:05:23.459 Was it Happy Gilmore, that hockey player with anger problems? 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:26.039 He had to try to look at that happy place inside. 00:05:26.599 --> 00:05:32.560 I really love highbrow intellectual films, Adam Sandler and Happy Gilmore. 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:35.979 You know, he had to look for that happy place inside so he wouldn't be angry. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.019 But is following Jesus just a form of spirituality, 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:45.379 divorced from the real world of bank balances, bills, and possessions? 00:05:45.379 --> 00:05:50.839 You know, one of the things, the rude things that people say about contemporary music 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:54.480 is that a lot of contemporary Christian music is a lot of contemporary Christian music 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:59.519 is just a variation on Jesus is my girlfriend type of music. 00:06:00.159 --> 00:06:06.920 And one of the rude things which people say about those who like traditional music 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:10.620 is that it's just really, you know, a President's Choice has, you know, 00:06:10.659 --> 00:06:12.800 memories of Chile and memories of this. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:14.620 It's just memories of a happy childhood. 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:19.159 And so they come here because they like, you know, the old prayer book and hymns 00:06:19.159 --> 00:06:22.480 and all its memories of a happy childhood, you know, in England or wherever. 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:28.459 And, you know, it's possible for Christianity just to be a form of spirituality. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:32.620 It's just a way of developing our interior happy place. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.060 So is following Jesus just a form of spirituality? 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:44.439 Does being a Christ follower mean I need different attitudes, habits, perspectives, 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:50.220 different saving patterns and spending patterns? 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:53.120 Is that what it means to follow Jesus, to be a Christ follower? 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:58.259 Well, the passage that David read, the epistle, 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:03.980 is one of the many, many passages in the Bible that talks about money and us and Jesus. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.180 So please turn to it now because that's what we're going to look at. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:11.939 2 Corinthians 8, verses 1 to 9. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:17.719 It's on page 1004 if you're using the Pew Bibles. 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:22.079 Page 1004 if you're using the Pew Bibles. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:28.279 And it's 2 Corinthians 8, verses 1 to 9. 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:33.139 And I want to sort of, I'm going to go through the passage quite quickly, 00:07:33.659 --> 00:07:38.959 but first I want to sort of look at two sort of Himalaya points 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:43.299 or defining points in that passage. 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:48.000 These two points that if we have to, we sort of have to master these two points 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.219 for other things to make sense. 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:56.400 And by the way, yeah, there's two things here we have to sort of master 00:07:56.400 --> 00:07:58.440 before these things make any sense. 00:07:58.880 --> 00:08:05.240 And the first thing is in verse 5, which teaches us that first we give ourselves to Jesus. 00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:09.800 Trust Him as your Savior and follow Him as your Lord. 00:08:10.400 --> 00:08:12.440 That Christianity is not about money. 00:08:13.380 --> 00:08:14.780 Listen to verse 5. 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:16.060 And this they did. 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:20.780 He's talking about a church which is persecuted and poor. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:23.540 There's a double whammy if you ever had one. 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:29.780 And yet they were spectacularly generous financially. 00:08:30.280 --> 00:08:31.899 And here's what he says in verse 5. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:32.679 And this they did. 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:39.659 Not as we had hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:45.019 Notice that the thing that really just so delighted him was not so much that their generosity was great, 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:49.199 although it was spectacular, but even with their financial generosity, he says, 00:08:49.419 --> 00:08:52.519 first they gave themselves to the Lord. 00:08:53.019 --> 00:09:02.100 And that's the fundamental spiritual principle is that, you know, you tip the waiter, okay? 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:04.680 But you love your wife and children. 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:10.960 If you tip your wife and children and love the waiter or waitress, you're in deep trouble. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:16.779 And a wife and children, I'm speaking as a man, you women obviously would say husband, 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:21.000 those of you who are married would say, you know, husbands and children if you're blessed with children. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:32.700 You know, Louise would much rather have me love her and show that in all sorts of ways than for me just to give her a $20 bill. 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:36.120 She'd rather have me say, Louise, I love you. 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:37.899 You're irreplaceable. 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:42.039 I'm just so glad and so thankful that I am married to you. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:48.759 That's, you know, that beats a $20 bill every day of the week or a $5 bill or a $2, you know, $2 coin. 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:56.740 And it's, you know, if that's what even an imperfect husband like myself has learned through my thick skull, 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:59.480 imagine what it is for God. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:02.419 God ultimately does not care about your money. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.559 He doesn't need your money. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.759 He doesn't need my money. 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:05.860 He doesn't need any money. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:11.019 I mean, he's the owner of the entire created order and he can create whatever he wants. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.100 He's completely and utterly self-sufficient. 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:17.000 God never relates to you or me out of a position of need. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:21.840 God relates to you and me out of love. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:23.779 He only loves us. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.580 He is completely and utterly self-sufficient. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.519 Everything that he does towards us is love. 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:33.379 That's so, folks, it's a different sermon, but it's fantastic good news. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:34.700 You know why this is such good news? 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:41.899 Because, you know, many of us have had friends maybe in childhood and, you know, the friend loves us, 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:48.039 the friend loves us, the friend loves us, and then somebody new comes to school and all of a sudden that friend likes that other person more. 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:54.259 And rather than being best friends, we become like the second or third or fourth or fifth friend because their needs are being met somewhere else. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:11:01.220 We never have to worry that tomorrow we're going to wake up and God's finally had his needs met and he's moved on to somebody else. 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:05.639 Because God relates to you and me only out of love. 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:18.379 And if we haven't given ourselves to Jesus, we could put $10,000, $100,000 in the plate, but if our heart is not his, he only weeps. 00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:20.899 He only weeps. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:29.740 And we could not put a single penny in that plate and we give our lives to Jesus and God throws a party in heaven 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:36.079 and the angels are all up there dancing and shouting and singing, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, 00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:38.419 because we have given our lives to Christ. 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:42.899 The order is first we give ourselves to Jesus. 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:50.919 And then, as Jesus moves and works in our lives, we learn what it means to give ourselves to people, 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:55.899 especially give ourselves to gospel people, people who have given their lives to Christ, 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.620 but giving ourselves to people. 00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:00.039 And then we learn how to give of our money. 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:02.860 But the order is first to give to Jesus. 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:07.220 And that is why Paul here, when he says in verse 5, he says, 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.899 but gave themselves to the Lord. 00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:12.740 They gave themselves to the Lord. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:14.120 And he's so pleased about it. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.220 It has a double sense. 00:12:15.819 --> 00:12:19.319 Because, of course, first they had to give themselves to the Lord to be his children. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:27.059 And then, you know, just as Louise would be very upset if 25 years ago I said I loved her 00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:28.980 and then I've never said I love her yet again. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:35.779 Part of what it means to grow in a marriage is that I have to learn to surrender myself 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:41.439 and give myself and deepen my love to Louise time and time and time and time again. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:43.959 It's to be not something which is a once-for-all thing. 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:50.919 The once-for-allness is entering into marriage and then a healthy marriage is falling in love again. 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:52.759 Falling in love again. 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:53.959 Falling in love again. 00:12:53.959 --> 00:12:56.659 And learning to love and learning to love and deepening in love. 00:12:56.659 --> 00:13:01.919 And so it is that Paul is saying they gave themselves to the Lord. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:02.659 That's so fantastic. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:07.120 Not only the first time to become his, but they're doing it again. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.159 They're giving themselves to the Lord. 00:13:09.459 --> 00:13:12.000 They're being renewed and they're being deepened. 00:13:13.699 --> 00:13:17.339 You know, my biggest fear about talking about money with you folks 00:13:17.339 --> 00:13:20.100 isn't that I might upset some Christians. 00:13:21.459 --> 00:13:23.259 I mean, obviously I'm a bit upset by that. 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:26.539 But because, you know, I'm a Canadian, I like everybody to like me. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:28.879 I want everybody to like me and think I'm a good guy. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.299 That's part of the Canadian character, our insecurity as a nation. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:35.720 And I share in that because I am Canadian. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.240 Hopefully following Christ, but I am Canadian. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:43.960 My biggest fear about talking about money is not that I might offend some Christians, 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:49.759 but that a spiritual seeker has come here this morning. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:55.159 And one of the things they believe about Christians is that Christians are only concerned about money. 00:13:55.460 --> 00:14:00.279 And my great worry whenever I preach on money is that I might keep a seeker from Christ. 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:06.379 When I first started as a priest to talk about money, I was worried about offending people. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.819 Now I'm not as worried about that anymore. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:14.600 But I deeply worry that maybe one of you have brought a seeker here this morning. 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:19.580 And one of their prejudices is that all Christians just want our money. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:22.779 And I worry that I talk about this and it will keep a person from Christ. 00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:25.460 And Lord, I just hope that is not the case. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:29.540 That's why I said as long as you come to this church, if you have not given yourself to Christ, 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:31.340 never put any money in the plate. 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:32.480 We don't want your money. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.240 We want to serve you. 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.340 We want to love you. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.519 We want to give to you. 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:39.200 We want to be a generous people, not a grasping people. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:43.720 And so please, if you are a guest, give yourself to Christ. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.420 That is what makes God happy. 00:14:46.040 --> 00:14:48.520 That is what causes the parties to be thrown in heaven. 00:14:49.640 --> 00:14:54.379 Now the second big Himalaya thing in this text for us to understand is verse 9. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:15:01.140 Those of you who are prayer book Anglicans and you come to an Anglican church on Christmas 00:15:01.140 --> 00:15:05.540 know that the offertory sentence for Christmastide is this verse. 00:15:06.400 --> 00:15:08.259 And it goes like this, verse 9. 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.939 It's one of my favorite verses in the Bible. 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:15.519 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:22.539 He became poor, that you, through His poverty, might become rich. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:24.559 Isn't that a spectacular verse? 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:26.340 Like there's a verse to memorize, folks. 00:15:26.439 --> 00:15:29.679 If you haven't memorized it, there's a verse to memorize. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:33.319 Becoming more like Jesus means becoming more generous. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.620 That's what that text is telling us. 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:39.820 We can never be more generous than Jesus. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:44.879 I mean, Jesus gave up the glory. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:51.039 He gave up, you know, He ended up even on the cross suffering separation from God when 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.019 He bore our sins and the punishment of our sins. 00:15:54.019 --> 00:16:03.740 He says, my God, my God, why have thou, why have you forsaken me as your sins and mine and your sin and mine rests on His very person? 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:07.439 And He pays the price and experiences what that means. 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.819 His sacrifice. 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:11.620 He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.759 By His sacrifice, we are healed. 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:17.700 It's through His death and resurrection that we can become the adopted children of God. 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:25.080 And God, the Son of God, sets aside His glory, His prerogatives, His splendor, all of those things which are due to Him. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:31.600 He sets all of these things aside, takes upon Himself our human nature, walks amongst us and teaches amongst us, 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:37.180 and then ends up dying as a condemned man, a shameful death on a cross. 00:16:37.180 --> 00:16:41.580 And He does it all because He doesn't need anything but loves you and me. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:45.639 And so we can never be more generous than Jesus. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:50.860 And Christ followers want to become more like Jesus. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:55.100 That's what a Christ follower wants, to become more like Jesus. 00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:57.700 And we can never be more generous than Jesus. 00:16:57.700 --> 00:17:04.400 And that's one of the reasons why if you look through later on, as you listen later on in verse 1, in verse 6, in verse 7, 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:08.400 it keeps talking about the great, in verse 9, grace in Christ, grace in Christ. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:14.420 It's why it's a spiritual issue how our hearts are in terms of generosity with our financial resources. 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:21.920 As our hearts grow cold to Christ, our hands clutch more of the money. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:29.039 As our hearts grow cold towards Christ, our hands clutch more of the money. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:33.000 We see the money as mine, not his. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:39.320 You know, some of us, to unblock the coldness that we suffer even now with Christ, 00:17:40.320 --> 00:17:46.720 it's not necessary that you maybe have to spend time fasting or spend time praying 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.740 or ask somebody to have the Holy Spirit fall afresh upon you. 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:53.539 It might very well be that you have to deal with your bank balance. 00:17:55.100 --> 00:17:57.460 That I might have to deal with my bank balance. 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:02.140 That what's keeping me from Christ is a clutching heart. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:06.860 And that maybe God is calling me to give until I'm free. 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:14.439 Because to become more grasping of our money is not to become more like Jesus. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:20.779 Becoming more like Jesus means becoming more generous financially. 00:18:21.979 --> 00:18:26.099 And I can tell you that in my own life, the times that Jesus is farthest from me, 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:30.299 it is definitely the case that the money is something that I want to clutch onto far more. 00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:35.979 And I feel far, far, far more fearful about trying to release the money which is truly his. 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:40.699 Let's look at verse 1. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:47.099 Just read the text through fairly quickly, just drawing out other things here about generosity. 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:56.019 Moreover, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, 00:18:56.419 --> 00:19:02.619 that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:06.839 abounded in the riches of their liberality. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:10.219 Which means generosity, liberality. 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:15.739 It's an old sense of just being really, it's an old-fashioned word that just means open-handed. 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:22.380 Just going around, in a sense, with our hands constantly open, rather than having clutched hands. 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.779 Just sort of pause here. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:27.539 One of the things which is so spectacular about the church in Macedonia, 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:32.319 and that, by the way, if you're Bible scholars, it's the church in Philippi, 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:35.299 it's the church in Berea, and it's the church in Thessalonica, 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:40.099 as the three sort of predominant churches, and then the smaller churches as well. 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:44.439 And as you know, Philippi and Thessalonica both have letters written to them. 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:47.179 In fact, one of the things about the church in Philippi, 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:50.959 which is where Christianity first entered Europe, 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:55.959 and the first European Christian was in Philippi, 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:59.319 and the church in Philippi, if you read the book of Philippians, 00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:01.480 many people, it's their favorite letter in the Bible, 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:05.099 because it's just such a, Paul is just so pleased with this congregation. 00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:07.319 He just so loves this congregation. 00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:09.740 It's like virtually no rebuke in that letter. 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:12.180 His heart just goes out to the Philippians, 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:15.359 because the Philippians' hearts have gone out to Christ and out to him, 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.539 and the church is poor and persecuted. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:25.079 The church is poor and persecuted, the double whammy. 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:30.640 And you see, it reminds us that generosity is an attitude and a habit 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:32.099 deeper than our resources. 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:35.519 One of the mistakes I've made in my life is thinking 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:38.019 that when I finally have more money, I will be generous. 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.359 And you know what? 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.480 I can tell you this. 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:43.119 We never have enough money to be generous. 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.920 You know, I think there was a few years ago, 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:49.839 they did a survey, and at virtually every income level, 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:54.799 people said that if they could just have another $5,000 to $7,000 in their income, 00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.500 they'd be happy. 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:59.700 It didn't matter if they were at $20,000 a year, $50,000 a year, $100,000 a year. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.480 Like, they all just thought, 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:04.759 if I could just get that little bit of extra money, I'll be a lot more happy. 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:09.799 Generosity is an attitude and habit deeper than our resources. 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:12.559 We do not wait to be generous, 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:15.140 because if we wait to have enough money to be generous, 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:18.559 we will never think that we have enough money to be generous. 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:23.079 And so here we see that the Philippians, the Thessalonians, the Bereans, 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:25.160 and the other people in Macedonia, 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:28.440 even though they were poor and even though they were persecuted, 00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:31.200 they were financially generous. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.320 Verse 3, 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:35.980 For I bear witness that according to their ability, 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:38.360 yes, and beyond their ability, 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:40.080 they were freely willing. 00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:43.040 This tells us a couple of really important things as well. 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:45.920 Remember what I said, that they were poor and persecuted. 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:48.519 Talk about a double whammy. 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.720 I don't know if you've ever, 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:53.980 some of you have maybe heard me talk about ministers, 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.299 and when I'm talking about other ministers, 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.819 I'm talking about myself as well. 00:21:57.259 --> 00:22:00.759 I think ministers, all ministers have one of two, 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:03.319 have a right-handedness. 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.940 I'm not being prejudiced against left-handed people, 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:08.180 but you know, that's the analogy, a right-handedness. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:12.319 And ministers are either prone to be workaholics or lazy. 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.319 That's our right-handedness. 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:19.620 They were either prone to work too much or work not enough. 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:22.880 And one of the things I've observed in my own life 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.720 and in the life of other ministers over the years 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:28.360 is that workaholics beat themselves up that they're too lazy. 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:32.580 And lazy people don't beat themselves up 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:35.180 but complain to their friends that they're working way too hard. 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:39.660 And that one of the hard things about us is, 00:22:40.020 --> 00:22:41.620 you know, what Walker Percy said, 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:43.560 that one of the mysteries about being a human being 00:22:43.560 --> 00:22:46.100 is that after you meet somebody for about five minutes, 00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:49.380 you can perfectly summarize the major aspects of their life 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.440 and whether you like them or not. 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:53.000 And yet, as Walker Percy said at the time, 00:22:53.060 --> 00:22:54.660 I've lived with myself for 60 years 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:56.500 and I still can't figure myself out. 00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:59.340 And why is it that we can sort of sort somebody else out 00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:01.180 in five minutes and can't sort ourselves out? 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.780 I've been with myself for 50 years. 00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:04.960 I still can't recognize myself properly. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.360 Often can't recognize my voice if I hear it played back. 00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:10.800 And don't see the things about my life 00:23:10.800 --> 00:23:12.800 that are just maybe so obvious to anyone of you 00:23:12.800 --> 00:23:14.960 that you could just tell me very, very quickly. 00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:18.040 Sometimes people do meanly, 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:19.960 but you don't have to do that today. 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:23.079 And so one of the things about this is that 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:27.680 I think that often people who are very, very generous, 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:30.240 they say, gosh, I wish I could be more generous. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:33.659 I just wish I could be more generous, you know? 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:38.899 And those of us who really aren't very good at being generous 00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:41.420 just sort of think, gosh, I'm awfully generous. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.599 You know, it's just one of those things, 00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:45.059 one of the reasons we need constantly 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.579 the medicine of the Word of God 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:48.819 and we need the renewing power of the Holy Spirit 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:50.419 and we need godly friends 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:55.339 and we need to ask God to God in a gentle but powerful way 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:58.119 to make ourselves, see ourselves as we really are 00:23:58.119 --> 00:24:00.259 so that we can repent and amend our lives 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.699 according to God's holy word 00:24:01.699 --> 00:24:04.799 is that we need to see ourselves as we really are 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.039 because it's so easy for us to delude ourselves. 00:24:07.699 --> 00:24:10.759 But here we see that Paul is astounded 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:15.140 because these Macedonians have given according to their ability 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:16.720 and beyond their ability. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.980 You know, I mean, if you're a student 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:22.559 and you're just scraping by, 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:25.019 your ability to be financially generous 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.259 is going to be very, very limited. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:30.019 You know, if we have a six-figure income 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:31.779 or a seven-figure income, 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:33.680 our ability to be generous is far greater. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:37.360 And that's why on one level Paul here 00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:39.440 is recognizing that the means do have, 00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:41.279 I mean, there's obviously a bit of a context. 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:44.740 You know, if you're only making $15,000 a year, 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:47.100 you can't write a $50,000 check. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:49.460 It's just completely and utterly impossible. 00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:52.640 But the thing which astounds Paul 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:55.560 is that not only are they generous within their means, 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:57.320 but they even go beyond their means, 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:01.420 which means that they are trusting in the providence of God. 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:04.820 They are trusting in the providence of God. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.980 You see, at the heart of a generous person's heart 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.580 is that generous people, 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:13.240 those of you here who are very generous, 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:15.820 you know that you're generous at the front end, 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.420 not the back end. 00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:21.180 That we're generous with the beginning of our money, 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.259 not the end of our money. 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.900 That we're generous in a sense 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.420 as soon as the paycheck comes 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.460 or as soon as the dividend check comes in 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:30.200 or as soon as the commission check comes in, 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.320 we're thinking to ourselves, 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:33.640 how can I be generous with this? 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:36.900 And that those of us who struggle with generosity 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:40.100 wait until just the day before 00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:42.220 our next dividend check or paycheck 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:44.580 and see what we have left over to be generous with. 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:48.340 And generosity is a front end thing, 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.779 not a leftover thing. 00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:53.200 And that, folks, 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.120 you see, one of the things 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.420 that we really need to be healed with, 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:58.100 and, you know, 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:00.240 I'm saying we need to be healed of, 00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:01.060 is that, you know, 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:04.220 many of us struggle with deep woundedness 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:06.120 of not trusting that God can meet our needs. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:08.259 We struggle with deep woundedness. 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:11.000 I've always seen everything as being empty 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:13.740 and going to ruin and rack and ruin 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:16.000 and we're prone to despair. 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:20.220 And it's really, really, really hard for some of us. 00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:21.800 You know, maybe we struggle with addictions 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:23.779 and other types of things. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.779 And one of the reasons that, once again, 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:27.279 this is such a spiritual issue 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.720 is that Christ has to come in 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.240 and heal us of our sense 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.519 that our needs will never be met 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:34.919 and heal us of this sense 00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:37.119 that the future is only going to be bad 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.399 and worse and worse and worse 00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:39.480 and therefore I have to somehow 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.039 take control of this myself. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:44.480 and we need the healing work of God in our lives 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:47.039 to trust in his providence, 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:51.500 to understand that everything I have is a gift. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:56.700 And that if God has been able to meet my needs 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.460 to this point, 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:59.819 he can continue to meet my needs into the future. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:02.379 And that there are times in our lives 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:05.119 that we are called to be generous beyond our means, 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:09.639 meaning we're going to have to trust 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:11.080 in the providence of God. 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:14.560 Very briefly, just to continue reading the text, 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.240 verse 4, 00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:17.020 imploring us with much urgency 00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:18.580 that we would receive the gift 00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:20.940 and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:23.800 In other words, they have a hunger and a passion 00:27:23.800 --> 00:27:27.640 to be financially generous in gospel ministry. 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:30.540 And this they did, not as we had hoped, 00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:33.420 but first gave themselves to the Lord 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:35.080 and then to us by the will of God. 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:37.620 So we urge Titus that as he had begun, 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:40.819 so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 00:27:41.419 --> 00:27:43.439 But as you abound in everything, 00:27:43.699 --> 00:27:45.779 in faith, in speech, in knowledge, 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.699 in all diligence, 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:48.479 and in your love for us, 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:52.119 see that you abound in this grace also. 00:27:52.959 --> 00:27:55.899 I mean, choose to excel 00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:58.919 in being generous to gospel ministry. 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:01.519 That's what Paul is saying to me, 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:04.299 that generosity is a choice. 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.720 And Paul is saying to me, 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.920 the scripture is saying to me, 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.420 George, 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:12.019 don't just choose to excel maybe in, 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:12.319 you know, 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:15.879 maybe doing this or this or this or this or this, 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.839 but call out to God 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.720 and say, 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.460 Dear God, 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.839 please so free me up 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.180 and so renew me 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.720 and fill me with your Holy Spirit 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.720 that I might excel in being generous. 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:30.339 So excel in being generous 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.360 that people will say, 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:31.640 you know, 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:31.839 George, 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.759 maybe you should be a little bit less generous, 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.339 you know. 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:36.180 That's what Paul is saying is, 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.640 George, 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:37.640 you know, 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.660 George, 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:40.000 just choose 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:41.380 to call out to God 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:42.259 and ask God 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.079 to help you 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.700 to be more and more generous. 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:47.559 That we need God's order 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:49.019 in our lives financially. 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:51.160 We need God's order in our lives 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.839 in terms of how we view our possessions. 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.740 We need God's order in our lives 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.839 that we might trust him 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:57.339 to continue to provide. 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:59.720 We need God's order in our lives 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:01.359 so that we can provide 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.720 for the needs of our family 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.319 and provide for the needs 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.299 of gospel ministry. 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.059 Choose to excel in giving. 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.599 Let's bow our heads in prayer. 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.119 Father, 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.799 you know that, 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:21.399 you know the state of our finances 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:23.159 and you know that many of us, 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.459 we really are struggling 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:26.579 and many of us have debt problems 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:29.480 and, you know, 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:31.960 many of us maybe have employment issues 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:34.900 and sales commissions issues 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:36.960 and, Father, 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:40.220 you know us, Father. 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:42.200 And still you love us. 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.840 Still you love us. 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:46.019 We give you thanks and praise, Father, 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:47.500 that it's us that you want. 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:49.799 And I ask, first of all, Father, 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.019 that your Holy Spirit 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.399 would fall with fresh power 00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:53.559 upon us this morning, 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.519 fall with fresh power 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.519 this morning upon us, 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.799 that we might fall in love 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.619 with you again, 00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:01.319 that we might surrender 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.440 to your son again 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:04.339 with greater depth. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.740 And, Father, 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.879 for those of us 00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:09.039 who really struggle 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.220 with financial issues, 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.980 we ask for the healing authority, 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.000 your healing authority, 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.700 to come to bear 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.559 in our finances. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:18.079 And for those struggling 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.799 with employment 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.460 or commissions, 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:19.899 Father, 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.299 we ask for your healing authority 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.119 and your providence 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.879 to come to bear 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.940 on those of us 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.379 who struggle 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.200 with these issues. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.740 And, Father, 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.519 for all of us, 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.819 we ask that you would help us 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.059 to choose generosity 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:33.019 and choose trusting in you. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.419 Father, 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.299 may your Holy Spirit 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.379 fall with fresh power 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.019 upon us 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:39.700 that we can become 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:41.519 an ever more generous people. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:43.799 in Jesus' name we pray. 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:44.940 Amen.