WEBVTT

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 Welcome again to Watermark.

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 Do we have a reading?

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 Okay, sorry.

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 Please pay attention.

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 So this morning we're taking a look at the

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 biblical perspective of money. As we continue to prepare our hearts

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 please join me in the reading of this passage found in Matthew 25

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 14-30 and the words are on the screen.

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 Again, it would be like a man going on a journey

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 who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

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 To one he gave five bags of gold

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 to another two bags and to another one bag

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 each according to his ability.

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 Then he went on his journey. The man who had received

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 five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work

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 and gained five bags more. So also the one with two

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 bags with gold gained two more.

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 One bag went off, take a hole.

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 He needed his money.

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 After a long time

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 the master of those servants returned

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 and settled accounts with them.

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 The man who had received five

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 bags of gold brought the other five.

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 Master, he said,

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 you entrusted me with five bags of gold.

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 See, I have gained five more.

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 His master replied,

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 well done, good and faithful servant.

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 You have faithful with few things.

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 I will put you in charge of many things.

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 Come and share your master's happiness.

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 The man who had received one bag of gold came.

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 Master, he said,

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 I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown

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 and the man who had received one bag of gold came.

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 His master replied,

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 well done, good and faithful servant.

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 You have been faithful with a few things.

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 I will put you in charge of many things.

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 Come and share your master's happiness.

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 Then the man who had received one bag of gold came.

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 Master, he said,

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 I knew that you are a hard man,

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 harvesting where you have not sown

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 and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

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 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.

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 See, here's what belongs to you.

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 His master replied,

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 you wicked, lazy servant.

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 So you knew that I have served where I have not sown

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 and gathered where I have not scattered seed.

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 Well then, you should move my money into possible bankers.

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 I tell you,

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 I would receive the bank with interest.

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 So take the bank of gold from him

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 and give it to the one who has tanned bags.

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 Whoever will give more and who have abundance.

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 Whoever does not have even what they have

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 will be taken from them.

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 And throw that worthless servant outside

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 into the darkness

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 where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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 This is the reading of God's word.

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 God bless you.

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 God bless you.

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 Morning.

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 When I said yes to doing money today,

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 I thought money was going to be an easy topic.

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 But as you can tell from my eye bags

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 and my sleepless night last night,

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 it's not.

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 Money is fascinating.

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 It is rather complicated.

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 It's troublesome.

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 But at the same time,

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 it encompasses all facets of life.

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 That's why it's pretty heavy.

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 And so I find that one aspect of money leads to another.

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 And when you think about one topic,

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 another topic pops up.

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 So it's rather complicated.

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 So, you know,

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 I'm the first person to learn from this project.

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 And so I come to you today not as a teacher,

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 not as a critic,

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 but as a student

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 that's excited to share with you

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 some of the things that might have been obvious to you all along,

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 but to me,

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 they've come out to be new.

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 So I'm here as a student, really.

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 Money is the number one topic in the Bible.

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 Jesus devotes more than 50% of his parables

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 talking about money or money-related topics.

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 And the mention of words,

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 money, gold, silver, wealth,

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 they count to about more than 1,000 mentions in the Bible.

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 So this tells us that,

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 first, money must be important

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 because the Bible talks about it.

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 And second,

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 money is repeated all the time.

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 And God, probably in his patience,

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 knows how stubborn we are,

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 just like little children.

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 And so he keeps on repeating this

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 because he knows that we don't get it

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 or we just refuse to learn.

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 I find myself spending more time, obviously,

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 on other books,

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 Financial Times, Wall Street Journal,

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 more than looking at the Bible

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 for instruction on money.

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 And the one thing I've learned is

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 the Bible's got a lot of things to say about money.

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 And if I had spent more time there,

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 I'd probably be a happier person.

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 The topic of money is for everybody.

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 Jesus talked about money with his disciples.

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 They were carpenters.

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 They were fishermen.

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 He talked about the lady that had given her last savings,

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 last cents to the church in the offering.

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 He talked about the rich young ruler.

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 And so he talked about money to all the cross-section of society.

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 And so as we think about money this morning,

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 it's for everybody.

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 It's for our kids.

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 It's for our teens.

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 It's for professionals.

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 It's for people who manage households.

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 So it's for everybody.

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 So this morning, I propose that we cover some ground

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 using two scripture passages,

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 Matthew 6 and Matthew 25,

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 with the following points.

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 First point, point number one,

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 what is the trouble with money?

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 From Matthew 6.

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 Point number two,

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 what does the Bible teach about stewardship?

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 And point number three,

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 how do we bring what the Bible teaches

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 to our everyday reality?

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 Three points.

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 So let's start with point number one.

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 What is the trouble with money?

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 This reminds me of a story of a creative Christian banker

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 who read Matthew 6, 19 to 20.

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 And he said,

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 Lord, I have come up with a new product for you.

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 I found a way to create treasures on earth

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 where moth and vermin cannot destroy

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 and where thieves cannot touch.

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 And Jesus says,

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 well, son, let me hear about it.

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 And the creative banker proudly says,

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 well, Lord, they're called sure to make money deposits

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 or also called principal protected notes.

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 For those who are not familiar with these,

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 these things lost everything

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 in the financial crisis of 2008.

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 Do we sometimes become creative

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 in interpreting what the Bible teaches

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 so that we shirk from following it?

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 I think oftentimes,

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 we don't want to feel guilty

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 about what the Bible teaches

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 or we feel that the Bible is rather radical

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 with what it teaches,

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 just like the story of the rich young ruler

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 that we try to either shirk

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 and not read the Bible,

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 gloss over,

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 or maybe have our creative twist

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 about looking at these verses.

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 You see, money can blur our eyes

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 from appreciating and applying

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 what the Bible teaches.

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 One might ask

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 if we believe in Jesus' words

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 in Matthew 6, 19 and 20

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 and we'll say yes.

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 Then the follow-up question arises.

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 Well, then if you believe this,

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 why do you accumulate so much stuff

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 that you don't need?

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 Both money and possessions.

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 And if you wanted to be honest,

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 you would have said,

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 well, I do this because I worry

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 that if I run out of this stuff,

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 Jesus might not be able

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 to give me the cash I needed

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 or maybe he might give me that cash,

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 but it's not enough

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 or equal to where I wanted to live my life,

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 my standard of living.

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 So we chase money

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 in violation of these verses,

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 19 and 20.

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 And here we see

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 how we get tripped,

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 how we get tripped up by money

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 in becoming a true follower

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 of the teachings of Christ.

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 So you see,

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 we call ourselves followers of Christ.

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 That's a really cool buzzword.

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 But if someone looks at

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 how we deal with money

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 and they're going to put that

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 beside the teachings of the Bible,

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 they're going to say,

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 well, you know what?

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 One and one don't add to two.

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 You don't look like a follower in Christ.

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 So this is where we get tripped up

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 when it comes to

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 being obedient to the Bible.

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 There is a powerful relationship

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 between a person's spiritual condition

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 and his attitude and actions

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 regarding money.

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 Someone once gave me the illustration

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 that if you had given me

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 your checkbook,

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 then I can tell you

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 the state of your spiritual life.

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 I guess, you know,

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 you can work that

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 for our credit cards as well.

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 Credit card statements.

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 Jesus tells us in Matthew 6, 24

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 that we cannot serve two masters.

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 Either you will hate the one

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 or love the other.

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 And he says that we cannot serve

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 both God and money.

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 While this is plain and simple,

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 this seems like a problem for us.

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 And money has a power to confuse us

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 regarding what is really important.

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 There is one great example

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 of how money can cause poor judgment.

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 And this is seen in the story

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 of the rich young ruler,

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 Matthew 19, 16 to 26.

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 You will recall in this story

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 that the rich young man comes to

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 the teacher and says,

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 Teacher, what must I do

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 to gain eternal life?

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 And the teacher tells the young ruler,

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 Well, you must do

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 the following commandments

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 and in addition to that,

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 sell all of your possessions

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 and give it to the poor.

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 Well, the rich young ruler decided

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 that he couldn't do this deal.

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 So, he chose money over eternal life.

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 Folks, do we choose money

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 over eternal life?

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 And of these two masters

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 that's mentioned in Matthew,

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 which of these two masters

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 do we actually serve

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 and follow every day?

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 Well, we may all sit here

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 and say, of course,

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 what's the rich young ruler,

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 what's this rich young man

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 thinking about?

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 I mean, like, he can't be me.

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 He's totally deluded.

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 And the problem with that

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 is we live in a culture

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 where the influences of materialism

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 slowly creep in

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 and affect our better judgment.

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 So, what this does

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 is before we know it,

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 we're making decisions

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 that we wouldn't have been making

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 if we had a clear mind.

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 What are those things

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 we need to watch out for?

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 For example,

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 has profession become our identity?

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 Does looking good

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 replace being good

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 or doing good?

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 How would we feel

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 if we lost all of our savings tomorrow?

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 Will we grieve

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 for more than five minutes?

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 Money tricks us to think

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 that we have security and control

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 even if in reality we don't.

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 Money has the power

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 to keep us from asking

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 these hard questions

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 about our lifestyle,

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 about our work,

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 and about our relationships.

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 In Matthew 6.21,

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 Jesus tells us

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 that where our heart,

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 our treasure is,

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 where our treasure is,

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 there our heart is also.

00:11:55.719 --> 00:11:57.379
 That's from Matthew 6.21.

00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:59.820
 Our attitude on money

00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:02.200
 is a litmus test

00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:04.019
 of our true character.

00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.519
 Our attitude on money

00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.480
 is a litmus test

00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:07.919
 of our true character.

00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:10.279
 This is an index.

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.019
 Money can be an index

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:13.139
 of our spiritual life.

00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.679
 This is one of the easiest places

00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:17.080
 where a believer can stumble,

00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:18.559
 and in particular,

00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:20.679
 how we behave in the workplace.

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.440
 People will watch

00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:24.720
 and can easily see

00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.019
 how we work with money

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:26.679
 in the workplace,

00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:28.639
 and how it impacts

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.500
 the way we live,

00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:30.639
 how we make business

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.659
 and family decisions,

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.199
 and the way we think.

00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:35.039
 Are we living

00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.120
 as if we are off this world,

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.819
 or are we living

00:12:38.819 --> 00:12:40.480
 like the example of Daniel,

00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:43.620
 where while he was

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.439
 in enemy territory,

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:46.120
 he was doing things

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.639
 in excellence,

00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.980
 but at the same time,

00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.699
 he was keeping himself

00:12:49.699 --> 00:12:52.439
 apart from the culture

00:12:52.439 --> 00:12:53.559
 of that time.

00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:58.019
 If we are obsessed

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.959
 with money and possessions,

00:12:59.239 --> 00:13:00.500
 this shows in our lifestyle,

00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.500
 and this affects

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.219
 our credibility

00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:04.199
 and our effectiveness

00:13:04.199 --> 00:13:05.779
 in bringing the gospel

00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:06.559
 to the workplace.

00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.699
 Let me illustrate this.

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.779
 If we come to work

00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.139
 and we're obsessed

00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:14.500
 about something of ourselves,

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.759
 call that a promotion,

00:13:16.119 --> 00:13:17.579
 maybe our bonus,

00:13:17.819 --> 00:13:18.379
 maybe something,

00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:19.559
 maybe something that just

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:21.659
 wasn't making us happy

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.120
 that day,

00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.059
 do you think that

00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:24.839
 we'll be able

00:13:24.839 --> 00:13:25.839
 to have the capacity

00:13:25.839 --> 00:13:27.819
 to be able to

00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:29.480
 see if other people

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.039
 need us

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:31.679
 or be able to minister

00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.199
 to others?

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.240
 So it's just natural

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.319
 that if we're occupied

00:13:35.319 --> 00:13:36.419
 and obsessed

00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.259
 with things

00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.439
 that are focused

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:38.939
 on ourselves,

00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.059
 then we don't have

00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:40.679
 the capacity

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.219
 to be able

00:13:41.219 --> 00:13:42.259
 to minister to others.

00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.039
 If we want

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.899
 to be credible Christians

00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.519
 in the marketplace,

00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:47.959
 then how we work

00:13:47.959 --> 00:13:48.439
 with money

00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:50.360
 is the one obvious place

00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:50.879
 where we can make

00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.300
 a difference.

00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:53.899
 So let me summarize

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:54.480
 and conclude

00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.220
 this first point.

00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.220
 Jesus is concerned

00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.860
 about us

00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:59.419
 and that's why

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.659
 he mentions money

00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.320
 several times

00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.300
 and he says

00:14:02.300 --> 00:14:03.580
 that money can blind us

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.879
 and trip us.

00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.060
 That's why

00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:09.840
 he speaks plainly

00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.320
 about money

00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:12.240
 and he mentions money

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:12.820
 several times.

00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.740
 But we have to make

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.740
 these messages sink in.

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:16.860
 Money can be

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:18.399
 a powerful stumbling block

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:18.980
 in our faith,

00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:19.620
 in our witness

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:21.360
 and we have to watch

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:21.879
 constantly

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.419
 if and how money

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.220
 is getting to us.

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.840
 Let's move to point two.

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.259
 What does the Bible

00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.139
 teach about money

00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:30.879
 and in particular

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.419
 stewardship

00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:33.240
 in Matthew 25,

00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:34.399
 14 to 30?

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.720
 In this parable,

00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:42.759
 there is a master

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:44.279
 and there are

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:44.860
 three servants.

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.000
 The master goes away

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.059
 for a very long time

00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:49.419
 and entrusts his wealth

00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.340
 to his servants.

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.240
 There are three levels

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.740
 of wealth

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.840
 assigned to each servant,

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:55.200
 each according

00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.519
 to his ability.

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.419
 Three responses

00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:00.299
 or three investing styles.

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:01.919
 There is an accounting

00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:02.580
 of results.

00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:04.379
 For each result,

00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.440
 varying rewards.

00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.840
 To those that did well,

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:09.299
 they share in the master's happiness

00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:11.279
 and will be put in charge

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.019
 of many things.

00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.639
 For the servant

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.500
 that did poorly,

00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:15.759
 our problem servant,

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.460
 the punishment is harsh.

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.460
 He calls,

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.179
 the master calls them

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:20.159
 lazy, worthless,

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.200
 and wicked.

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.220
 And there will be

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:23.340
 weeping and gnashing

00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:23.779
 of teeth.

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.139
 This parable is about

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.139
 the condition of our hearts.

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.840
 I always like this parable

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:32.700
 because as an economic student,

00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.720
 I like the way

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:37.100
 that the Bible's teaching

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.100
 was very consistent

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.759
 with the economic,

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.559
 well, the capitalist ideals

00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:43.179
 of resource maximization.

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:47.659
 But I guess this is one

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.019
 of the things

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:48.500
 that I learned

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.939
 working through this project.

00:15:50.239 --> 00:15:51.019
 So thank you, Tobin.

00:15:51.959 --> 00:15:53.120
 But this is totally

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.059
 missing the point, obviously.

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.399
 We're not looking at it

00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.139
 in the proper light.

00:15:58.359 --> 00:15:59.519
 Let's focus a bit

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.620
 on the third servant.

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:01.799
 Let's put ourselves

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:03.639
 in the shoes

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.319
 of the third servant.

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.479
 What do you think

00:16:06.479 --> 00:16:07.120
 was running through

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.779
 the servant's mind?

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:10.559
 Well, number one,

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.659
 he says,

00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.319
 the master is leaving

00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:15.399
 for a very long time.

00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:18.199
 There may be a chance

00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:19.480
 the master may not come back.

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.620
 Oh, wait a minute.

00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:23.240
 He's giving away

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:23.980
 bags of gold.

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.319
 Five, three,

00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.419
 and one to myself.

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.259
 If the master

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.100
 may not come back,

00:16:31.959 --> 00:16:33.339
 then probably this bag

00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:34.240
 of gold might be mine.

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.019
 That's interesting.

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.379
 But wait a minute.

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.959
 The other servants

00:16:40.959 --> 00:16:42.059
 got five and three,

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.120
 and I got one.

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.659
 I am livid about this.

00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:46.360
 I'm mad.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.480
 This is injustice.

00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:51.399
 So what do I do with this?

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.919
 Well, the other servants,

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.079
 they can do whatever

00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:55.259
 they do with the bags of money.

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.299
 They can party.

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.980
 They can do stewardship.

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.139
 But I,

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.959
 I will bury this

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.679
 in the ground

00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:06.139
 because this is my treasure.

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.299
 If the master

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.019
 doesn't come back,

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.940
 this is my only hope

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.619
 of being a free man.

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.480
 This is my only hope

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.659
 of being a rich person.

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.539
 So let me bury this

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.059
 in the ground.

00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.480
 You know what?

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.519
 The master does return.

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:23.460
 And he reviews the results

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.579
 of his servant's work.

00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.700
 Our problem servant

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.500
 made how much?

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.440
 Zero.

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.920
 Probably even negative

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.480
 if we consider inflation

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.160
 during that time.

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.420
 So why do you think

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.180
 he behaved this way?

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.759
 He said he was fearful

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.500
 of his master.

00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:41.240
 But perhaps this was

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.079
 just an excuse

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:44.160
 that he tells the master

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.720
 so the master

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.559
 wouldn't get mad at him.

00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:47.500
 But in reality,

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:49.519
 his greed was so overwhelming

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.099
 that it paralyzed him

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:52.179
 and as a result,

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:52.919
 he failed to do

00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:53.539
 the right thing.

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.740
 This man's problem

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.139
 was that he was thinking

00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.179
 of his bag of gold

00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.919
 as his security.

00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.200
 And he wasn't using

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.639
 the wealth

00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.200
 that the master

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.819
 had given him

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.500
 for the purposes

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:05.019
 that they were intended for.

00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:08.019
 This result resulted

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.319
 in wasted resources

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:11.039
 and as a result,

00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:11.980
 he was punished heavily

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.480
 for that.

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:14.120
 This is a tragedy.

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.620
 In preparation

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.440
 for his return,

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.539
 God wants us

00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.360
 to fix our hearts.

00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.660
 For where your heart,

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.380
 your treasure is,

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.380
 there your heart is also.

00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.960
 So we ask ourselves,

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.839
 what is the condition

00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.680
 of our hearts today?

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.400
 Are we prepared

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.779
 for judgment

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.480
 when the master

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.140
 comes back?

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.759
 Or have we been

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:38.120
 burying our bag of gold

00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:40.000
 in that hole

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.559
 on the ground

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:42.180
 to feed our selfishness?

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:45.299
 Let's talk about ownership.

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.180
 Who owns

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.940
 these bags of gold?

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.940
 If we step

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.700
 into this parable,

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.099
 we are the servants

00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:53.380
 and God is our master.

00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.180
 God is our master

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.039
 who owns everything.

00:18:58.620 --> 00:18:59.099
 King David

00:18:59.099 --> 00:18:59.920
 best models

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.640
 this perspective

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.220
 of ownership

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.860
 in Psalm 24.1,

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:03.860
 which is in your bulletin.

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:06.200
 The earth is the Lord's

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.279
 and everything in it.

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.680
 One of my favorite prayers

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.319
 to remind me

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.039
 of this perspective

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:14.159
 is David's prayer

00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:16.639
 on 1 Chronicles 29,

00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:17.599
 10-16

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.099
 when he was dedicating

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:20.099
 his temple to the Lord.

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.819
 Let me read

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.879
 some of those passages.

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.619
 He says,

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.879
 yours, O Lord,

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.579
 is the greatness

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:28.019
 and the power

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.299
 and the glory

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.299
 and the majesty

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.079
 and the splendor

00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.299
 for everything

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.439
 in heaven and earth

00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:33.879
 is yours.

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.559
 Yours, Lord,

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.059
 is a kingdom.

00:19:36.719 --> 00:19:37.399
 You are exalted

00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:38.259
 as head over all.

00:19:39.239 --> 00:19:39.939
 Wealth and honor

00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.719
 come from you.

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.019
 You are the ruler

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.000
 of all things.

00:19:43.719 --> 00:19:44.479
 In your hands

00:19:44.479 --> 00:19:45.679
 are strength

00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:46.219
 and power

00:19:46.219 --> 00:19:47.000
 to exalt

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.859
 and give strength

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.199
 to all.

00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.919
 Now, our God,

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.699
 we give you thanks

00:19:50.699 --> 00:19:51.919
 and praise your glorious name.

00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:54.480
 But who am I

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.039
 and who are my people

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.820
 that we should

00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:57.800
 be able to give

00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:59.060
 as generously as this?

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:01.019
 Everything comes from you

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:02.580
 and we have given you

00:20:02.580 --> 00:20:03.500
 only what comes

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.140
 from your hand.

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.680
 We are foreigners

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.360
 and strangers

00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:07.180
 in your sight.

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.600
 As we are all ancestors,

00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.920
 our days on earth

00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.640
 are like a shadow

00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.380
 without hope.

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.680
 Lord our God,

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.900
 all this abundance

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.019
 that we have provided

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.740
 for building you

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.120
 a temple

00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.920
 for your holy name

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.779
 comes from your hand

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.660
 and all of this

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.380
 belongs to you.

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:23.100
 Isn't that a great way

00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:23.800
 of restoring

00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:25.260
 our perspective

00:20:25.260 --> 00:20:26.020
 on things?

00:20:26.540 --> 00:20:27.300
 When I feel

00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:29.040
 that I'm a bit

00:20:29.040 --> 00:20:30.320
 confused about things,

00:20:30.780 --> 00:20:31.640
 I oftentimes

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.440
 come back

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.040
 to this prayer

00:20:33.040 --> 00:20:35.220
 and it helps

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:38.640
 me in maintaining

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.300
 that perspective.

00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.600
 So do you know

00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.720
 what David was doing here?

00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:45.000
 He was worshiping God.

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:47.020
 What David was saying here

00:20:47.020 --> 00:20:48.380
 was that even if

00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:49.340
 what we have

00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:49.820
 is a result

00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.600
 of our hard work,

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.939
 this hard work

00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:52.699
 is really a gift

00:20:52.699 --> 00:20:53.079
 of God.

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.919
 God is our provider

00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:56.240
 and the only natural

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.799
 response

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.799
 is to give him back

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:59.919
 the work of our hands

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:01.159
 as an act of worship

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.219
 as David did.

00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.579
 If we remember

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.919
 that God owns everything,

00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.119
 we are unattached

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.639
 to the things

00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.199
 of this world.

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.859
 We feel liberated

00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:10.980
 and unencumbered.

00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:12.719
 Tim Keller

00:21:12.719 --> 00:21:13.199
 in Redeemer

00:21:13.199 --> 00:21:14.859
 says that if we

00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:15.819
 have this perspective,

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.519
 then we become

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.779
 more promiscuous

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.039
 about the spending

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.539
 of our money.

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.519
 I thought that was

00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.220
 a little bit strange

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.079
 of a term

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.960
 but as you think

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.399
 about it,

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.339
 if you have

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:29.299
 this perspective

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.899
 about ownership,

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.680
 it will be easier

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.379
 for you to let go

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:31.759
 of money

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.319
 and as a result,

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.299
 you're able

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.839
 to open up

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.279
 the chances

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.299
 of blessing

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:37.819
 other people

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.319
 with this money.

00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:41.500
 Many of us

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.179
 seem to spend

00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.220
 our lifetime

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.480
 striving for things

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.419
 to own

00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.759
 and once we get them,

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.379
 we are determined

00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:48.639
 to protect what we have

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.819
 and accumulate more.

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.720
 And so our minds

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.319
 are constantly

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:54.519
 preoccupied with worry

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.799
 and as Matthew 6.32 says,

00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.019
 like pagans,

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:58.619
 we are running

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.460
 after these things.

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.879
 God commands us

00:22:01.879 --> 00:22:04.599
 in Matthew 6.25-34

00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.839
 not to worry

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.839
 but to trust

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.439
 in his provision.

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.539
 If we worry

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.279
 and are constantly

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.980
 preoccupied

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.859
 with chasing

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.679
 after all this,

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.819
 then we miss out

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.619
 on God's blessings.

00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.960
 What are we worrying

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.619
 about right now?

00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:19.119
 Are we acting

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.939
 like pagans

00:22:19.939 --> 00:22:21.419
 running after

00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:21.980
 these things?

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.779
 Moving on,

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.519
 what do we learn

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.200
 about stewardship

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.960
 in this parable?

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.599
 We are told

00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.019
 that servants

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.639
 one and two

00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:33.460
 made 100%

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.899
 return on their wealth

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:36.299
 left with them

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.039
 by the master.

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.099
 we are not told

00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.819
 where the bags

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.700
 of gold are invested.

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.619
 But if we go

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.799
 a bit further along,

00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:46.200
 Matthew 25,

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.180
 past this parable

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.460
 and we get into

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.700
 verses 34-40

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.359
 for those of you

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:51.940
 with the Bibles,

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:54.099
 you will see

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:55.000
 that Jesus talks

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.720
 about caring

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.319
 for the hungry,

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.399
 the needy,

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.019
 the thirsty,

00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:58.579
 the stranger,

00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.059
 the sick.

00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:01.559
 and he says,

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.179
 whatever you did

00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:03.419
 for one of the least

00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.000
 of these brothers

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.399
 of mine,

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.039
 you did for me.

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.399
 I find that the sequencing

00:23:07.399 --> 00:23:08.819
 of these topics

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:10.000
 in Matthew 25

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.480
 is rather telling.

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.279
 Jesus talks about

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.839
 the stewardship

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.200
 of bags of gold.

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.819
 Then he talks about

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.440
 taking care

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.200
 of our brethren

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.019
 a few minutes later.

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.740
 He is setting up

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.359
 our thinking

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.559
 on what to do

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:22.980
 with money

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.559
 and a direct application

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.119
 to ministry.

00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.879
 So one thing

00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.799
 we learn about stewardship

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.519
 is its outward focus

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.559
 away from ourselves.

00:23:31.739 --> 00:23:32.799
 Yet God applauds us

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.459
 for that extra

00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:35.119
 five bags of gold

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.599
 we produce.

00:23:35.939 --> 00:23:37.039
 But he doesn't stop there.

00:23:37.419 --> 00:23:38.679
 He tells us to use that

00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:40.199
 in ministering

00:23:40.199 --> 00:23:41.019
 other people.

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.459
 Do we ever wonder

00:23:45.459 --> 00:23:46.459
 why God blesses us?

00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.819
 God wants us

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.459
 to be faithful

00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:51.219
 with what he gives us.

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.239
 And if we please him

00:23:53.239 --> 00:23:55.079
 with what we do

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.740
 with the little

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.639
 that he gives us

00:23:56.639 --> 00:23:58.599
 then he will put us

00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.079
 in charge

00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.319
 of more things.

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:03.059
 So what do we take away

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.740
 from this parable?

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.259
 First,

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.299
 the trouble

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.379
 with money

00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.379
 stems from the condition

00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:09.019
 of our hearts.

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.439
 We are taught

00:24:10.439 --> 00:24:10.939
 to guard

00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:11.899
 our hearts

00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.359
 from greed.

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.899
 Second,

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.000
 if we remind ourselves

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.519
 constantly

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.879
 that God owns,

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:17.960
 controls,

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.679
 and provides

00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:19.240
 for everything,

00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:21.039
 we allow ourselves

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.759
 to live lives

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.359
 that are free

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:22.879
 from worry

00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:23.799
 and gives us

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.159
 a chance

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.699
 to witness

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.660
 and enjoy

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.440
 the many blessings

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.440
 that God wants

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:27.940
 to give us.

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.740
 And lastly,

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.700
 stewardship

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.420
 is all about

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.360
 the outward focus

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:33.160
 away from ourselves.

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.660
 Moving on

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.740
 to point three now.

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.500
 What are the things

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.140
 that we can do

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.920
 to guard our hearts

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.819
 from the entrapment

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.180
 of money?

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.160
 There's a lot of things

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:45.980
 that can be said here

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:48.360
 and can be one sermon

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:48.960
 by itself.

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.740
 So let me focus

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.100
 on just two practical things

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:53.480
 that we can do.

00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.319
 First,

00:24:56.219 --> 00:24:57.139
 and I find this

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.980
 personally useful,

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.379
 are small acts

00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.079
 of self-denial.

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.619
 And I want to be careful

00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.519
 about what I say here.

00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.779
 I'm not talking

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.179
 about doing sacrifices

00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:06.819
 and good works

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:08.179
 so that we can be saved

00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:09.579
 or because it is

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.399
 required by God.

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.299
 No.

00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:14.339
 From Psalm 51,

00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:15.959
 God says,

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.680
 do not delight

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.460
 in sacrifice

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.579
 or take pleasure

00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.640
 in burnt offerings.

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:20.980
 He wants,

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:22.100
 God wants our heart,

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.579
 our broken

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.380
 and contrite heart.

00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:27.420
 The challenge

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.819
 we have

00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.480
 in our marketplace

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.180
 today

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.299
 is the constant

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.380
 bombardment

00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:31.940
 of lies

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.200
 about money

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.819
 and success,

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:34.759
 about beauty,

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.480
 self-worth,

00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.000
 the big house,

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.700
 the accomplishment,

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.140
 which we all know

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.680
 are contrary

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.680
 to what we see

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.140
 in the Bible

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.220
 and contrary

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.680
 to the core

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.180
 of the gospel

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.180
 that we've signed up for.

00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.700
 Because I'm constantly

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.840
 struggling with this issue

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.440
 of heart and money,

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.000
 I will go on

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.440
 what you call

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:54.180
 these materialism fasts

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.840
 every now and then.

00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.500
 Materialism fasts.

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.120
 For example,

00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.299
 I would probably

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.440
 do a Starbucks fast

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.360
 for a couple of weeks.

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.600
 That's why

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.460
 when Charles gave me

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.019
 a Starbucks today,

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.319
 I said,

00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:06.860
 no, thank you.

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:09.079
 And with the money

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.819
 I don't spend,

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.720
 I would probably

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.559
 give that to,

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.819
 you know,

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.640
 a beggar outside

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.259
 IFC mall

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.700
 or

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.819
 you know,

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.400
 it might be

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.019
 just a colleague

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:19.279
 who is particularly

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.160
 depressed that morning

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.580
 and I just

00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:22.160
 give the colleague

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.840
 a coffee.

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.600
 And I find that

00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:25.680
 exercises like this

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.460
 can be refreshing

00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.580
 spiritually

00:26:27.580 --> 00:26:29.100
 because I wean myself

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.920
 from the selfish

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:30.700
 gratification

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:32.059
 and transfer that

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.039
 to helping someone else.

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.920
 I find that

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.600
 if my heart

00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.340
 gets trained

00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:37.039
 and retrained

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.559
 this way

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.819
 in small ways,

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.680
 it makes it easier

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.400
 for me to be

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.380
 obedient to God

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.039
 in bigger ways.

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:45.420
 I'm inspired

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:45.980
 by a story

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.539
 of a friend

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.119
 of a family.

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.220
 It's a story

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.859
 of a family

00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:52.139
 who decided

00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:53.539
 to downgrade

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.359
 their flat.

00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:55.500
 So from a bigger

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:55.879
 flat,

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.139
 they went down

00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:58.059
 to a smaller flat

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.139
 and the savings

00:26:59.139 --> 00:26:59.619
 of a couple

00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.480
 of thousand dollars,

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.720
 they used that

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.420
 to send

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:04.099
 kids in the Philippines,

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:04.700
 slum kids

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.379
 in the Philippines

00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.000
 to school.

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.019
 So what they've

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.420
 done here

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.880
 is they've

00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.720
 given up

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:11.599
 this all too

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.400
 precious extra

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.400
 space in Hong Kong

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.920
 so that they can

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.859
 keep these kids

00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.740
 off the streets

00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.339
 and feed them.

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.000
 And I find

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.599
 that picture

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.440
 very inspiring

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:22.019
 of how we

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.759
 can be

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:24.519
 weaning

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.000
 ourselves

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.579
 from

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.819
 just the

00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:28.259
 constant

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.220
 self-gratification

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.380
 that money

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.720
 brings.

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.920
 The other thing

00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.380
 I want to talk

00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:34.180
 about is regular

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.720
 accountability

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.620
 on this topic.

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:36.940
 Again,

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.700
 because of the

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:39.180
 powerful pull

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.819
 of money

00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.860
 and temptation

00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:42.960
 on materialism,

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.200
 it is important

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:44.900
 to practice

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.839
 just regular

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.000
 realignment

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.720
 or training

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:49.220
 the same way

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.799
 that we prepare

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.839
 ourselves for battle.

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.360
 I mean,

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.799
 after all,

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.759
 we are in a battle

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.360
 place here

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.120
 and the enemy,

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.819
 just like one might

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.339
 read in the

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.039
 screw tape letters,

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.559
 would use

00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:01.240
 our temptations

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.980
 regarding money

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:04.019
 to wean us away

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.680
 or take us away

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.380
 from our focus

00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:05.860
 in Christ.

00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:08.220
 So our enemy

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.640
 is strong

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.100
 and we need

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.600
 to be daily

00:28:09.600 --> 00:28:10.440
 trained in battle

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.100
 to resist

00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:11.680
 the temptation

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.160
 of falling

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.240
 into the wrong

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.640
 attitudes.

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.620
 So I think

00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.019
 that working

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.759
 with an

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.140
 accountability

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.920
 partner or

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.400
 partners in

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:18.799
 this area

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.320
 could be very

00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:19.860
 helpful in

00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.340
 retraining

00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:21.180
 or refocusing

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.600
 ourselves.

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.700
 So let me

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.240
 close with

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.400
 a summary of

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.799
 points that

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.240
 we've covered

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.539
 today.

00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.860
 First point,

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.560
 God tells us

00:28:30.560 --> 00:28:31.320
 that the issue

00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:31.799
 of money is

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.259
 important

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.519
 in that it

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:33.879
 is one of

00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:34.359
 the surest

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:34.879
 places to

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.339
 stumble a

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:35.599
 believer.

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:36.779
 We are

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.319
 encouraged

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:38.799
 to be made

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.400
 aware that

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.039
 this is a

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.379
 problem

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:43.319
 and that

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.799
 we should be

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.140
 made aware

00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:45.420
 of this

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:45.799
 every day.

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.180
 We want to

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.879
 ask ourselves

00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.519
 the basic

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.039
 question of

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.420
 where our

00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:49.879
 heart is

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:51.539
 and other

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.240
 questions like

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.619
 what is driving

00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.119
 us in our

00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.480
 jobs,

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.519
 where is our

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:55.920
 security,

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.539
 is it in our

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.259
 savings or

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.759
 elsewhere.

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.319
 the second

00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.000
 point is

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.079
 that the

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.500
 trouble of

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.160
 money stems

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.099
 from the

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:03.640
 condition of

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.140
 our hearts.

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.559
 We are

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:05.940
 taught to

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.900
 guard our

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.400
 hearts from

00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:07.660
 greed.

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.099
 If we

00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.779
 remind ourselves

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.559
 constantly that

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.299
 God owns,

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.579
 controls,

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.539
 and provides

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.240
 for everything,

00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.339
 then we

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.359
 allow ourselves

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.240
 to be free

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.079
 from lives

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.539
 of worry

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:20.039
 and gives

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.619
 us a chance

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.500
 to witness

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.019
 to others

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.500
 and enjoy

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:22.839
 the many

00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:23.200
 blessings

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.700
 that God

00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.319
 brings us.

00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:25.879
 And lastly,

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:27.039
 we learn that

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.700
 stewardship is

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.500
 not about

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.339
 ourselves.

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.359
 Stewardship is

00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.079
 all about

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.960
 being outward

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.920
 and being

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.680
 able to

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:37.019
 minister to

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.460
 the communities

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.039
 around us.

00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.579
 And lastly,

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.119
 because of the

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:40.740
 strong pull of

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.399
 materialism,

00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.180
 we need to be

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:44.099
 deliberate about

00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.940
 aligning our

00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.740
 perspectives every

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:45.940
 day.

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.659
 So with that,

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.420
 I'd like to

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.319
 close in prayer.

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.399
 Heavenly Father,

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:58.960
 our provider,

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.720
 everything we

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.519
 have is yours

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.079
 and everything

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.700
 comes from

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:02.879
 you.

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.460
 Thank you for

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.879
 being our

00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.319
 security,

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.500
 our rock,

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.019
 and our

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.339
 rest.

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:08.859
 As we go

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.559
 back into

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.159
 our marketplace,

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:13.039
 give us a

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.599
 willing spirit

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.240
 to be credible

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.440
 followers of

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:15.579
 you.

00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.299
 Like David,

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.159
 we want to

00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:18.700
 worship you

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.700
 with our

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.279
 hearts and

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.579
 with our

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:20.779
 money.

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.399
 I pray for

00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:22.839
 everyone in

00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.240
 this room

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.399
 that you

00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:24.960
 protect us

00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.220
 from the

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.680
 control of

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.100
 money in

00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:26.500
 our lives.

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.799
 I pray this

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.180
 in Jesus'

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:28.680
 holy name.

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.460
 Amen.

00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.779
 If I live

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.460
 with my eyes

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.200
 closed with

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.680
 greed and

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.240
 distrust,

00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.640
 my body is

00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.000
 a dank

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.460
 cellar.

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.880
 I can't

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.519
 worship two

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.080
 gods at

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.440
 once.

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.539
 I can't

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.220
 worship God

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.600
 and money

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.039
 both.

00:30:54.560 --> 00:30:55.180
 Don't hold

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.519
 treasure

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.279
 down here.

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.559
 Don't fuss

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.059
 about what's

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.319
 on the

00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:58.839
 table at

00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.480
 mealtimes.

00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.500
 Don't worry

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.059
 about missing

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.379
 out.

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.680
 I'll find

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.319
 all my

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.240
 everyday human

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.160
 concerns will

00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:05.519
 be met.

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.900
 And who

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.539
 really cares

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:07.900
 if the

00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.279
 clothes in

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.799
 my closet

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.160
 are in

00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.579
 fashion?

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.680
 There's far

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.200
 more to

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:11.740
 my life

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.379
 than food

00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:12.900
 and outer

00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:13.460
 appearances.

00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.680
 Don't get

00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.160
 worked up

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:15.799
 about what

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.460
 may or may

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.960
 not happen

00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.500
 tomorrow.

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:18.980
 The place

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.420
 where my

00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.119
 treasure is

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:20.619
 is the

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.200
 place I

00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.619
 will want

00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:21.960
 to be

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.619
 and end

00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.039
 up being.

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.379
 Stockpile

00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.039
 treasure in

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.940
 heaven where

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.299
 it is

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.680
 safe.

00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:27.879
 If God

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:28.720
 gives such

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.420
 attention to

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:29.899
 the appearance

00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:31.000
 of wildflowers,

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.139
 don't I

00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.779
 think he'll

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.319
 attend to

00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.099
 me, take

00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:34.680
 pride in

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.220
 me and

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:35.579
 do his

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:36.159
 best for

00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:36.440
 me?

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.639
 So relax.

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.420
 I don't

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:39.960
 want to be

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.839
 so preoccupied

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.619
 with getting

00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.960
 that I

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.659
 can't respond

00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.359
 to God's

00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:45.720
 giving.

00:31:46.399 --> 00:31:47.460
 I must

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.000
 steep my

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.420
 life in

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:48.659
 God

00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.200
 reality.

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:49.740
 God

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.119
 initiative.

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:50.759
 God

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.240
 provisions.

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.200
 Give

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.539
 my

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:52.980
 entire

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.440
 attention

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.000
 to what

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.259
 God

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:54.759
 is doing

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.480
 right now.

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.559
 God

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.019
 will help

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.519
 me deal

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.079
 with whatever

00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.720
 hard things

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.299
 come up

00:31:59.299 --> 00:31:59.839
 when the

00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.579
 time comes.

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:00.620
 God

00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:00.740
 will help

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.539
 me deal

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.099
 with whatever

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.779
 hard things

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.420
 come up

00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.700
 when the

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.519
 time comes.