WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:09.300 Hello, my name's Nate. I worship at Christchurch and I'm also a trainee vicar at Trinity College in Bristol. 00:00:09.740 --> 00:00:16.859 As part of our teaching series on generosity, I'm going to be talking about life and money. 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:21.080 It's a topic that the Bible has a surprising amount to say about. 00:00:21.539 --> 00:00:27.219 This is a really important topic, both to us and to God too. 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:36.979 But for those of us who might be listening today, you know, in light of all things COVID, money might be a big thing on your mind at the moment. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:42.579 You know, for some of us, it might be a really easy thing to talk about, something comfortable. 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:48.179 But for others, it may be a really difficult, quite terrifying thing. 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:56.079 And you might be thinking, you know, when on earth am I going to get the next paycheck or how am I going to pay for the next meal for my family? 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:00.079 And if that is the case, please don't stay silent. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:05.140 Get in contact with someone at Christchurch. The church is here to help. 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:16.780 And let me begin by speaking words of encouragement to say that God knows your situation and knows your circumstances and they are important to him. 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:21.420 You are important to him. Your needs are important to him. 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:35.019 So be assured that today, you know, I hope my words are encouraging and they are reassuring and life-giving as our God is life-giving. 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:44.040 In our passage, we heard the Apostle Paul in his letter to his dear friend Timothy and the church. 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:53.580 He's writing out of great concern for people. His concerns are truth, life and love. 00:01:54.600 --> 00:01:58.160 He is determined to see the church flourish. 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:05.280 And so he gives specific warnings and teachings surrounding and regarding life. 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:11.520 The Christian message, the gospel, it's all about life. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:17.820 Jesus came, died and rose again that we might have life. 00:02:18.420 --> 00:02:21.980 Life for and from heaven. 00:02:22.820 --> 00:02:27.340 And life is for living. Life is for living. 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:36.980 Our Bible reading today concludes with the call to take hold of life that is truly life. 00:02:36.979 --> 00:02:40.039 You know, forget YOLO, you only live once. 00:02:40.239 --> 00:02:42.239 It's just not true. 00:02:43.739 --> 00:02:49.019 You think you're alive and then Jesus comes along and you're given new life. 00:02:49.519 --> 00:02:52.620 And this new life changes everything. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:57.259 This new life is about what we do now. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:00.319 And it's about what happens in heaven. 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.560 They are intimately connected. 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:10.020 Heavenly life, eternal life, life that is truly life. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:13.400 It doesn't begin when you die. 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:17.599 It begins at belief in Jesus. 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:22.319 And this new life, it changes everything. 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:24.740 Who you are, what you do. 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:28.740 It's a profound and complex thing to grasp. 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:31.700 But it's an eternal perspective. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:36.540 What we do now echoes in eternity. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:39.080 I think that's from a film or something. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:39.600 I don't know. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:41.040 But it's true. 00:03:41.540 --> 00:03:48.360 Every action we take for Jesus in this life is an investment in heaven. 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:52.640 And this is partly what Paul is talking about here. 00:03:53.100 --> 00:03:58.540 This new, eternal, heavenly life is something we receive. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:01.720 And it's also something we're aiming for. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:07.040 So, God gives us this gift of new life and says, 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:07.600 Go! 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:09.060 Embrace it. 00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:11.220 Be transformed by it. 00:04:11.320 --> 00:04:14.060 Become who you've been made to be. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:18.439 Experience my love and my generosity. 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:26.259 Take hold of life that is truly life that has been given through Jesus. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:29.579 And Paul terms this living godliness. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:34.480 But what does this new life have to do with money? 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:41.100 Well, as I mentioned at the beginning, money matters both to us and to God. 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:48.280 There can be no separation between the new life Jesus gives us and our money. 00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:56.420 The new life becomes our world in which everything about us is contained. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:03.200 This new life in Jesus defines who we are and what we do. 00:05:04.200 --> 00:05:09.800 New life was lived and demonstrated by Jesus. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:18.139 So we can learn how this new life can be lived by looking at him and imitating him. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:23.340 So let me encourage you to go and read the gospel and be inspired, 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:27.280 you know, by Jesus' concern for the poor and the needy 00:05:27.280 --> 00:05:31.920 and his heart for money being used to worship God. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:37.300 I don't know if you've taken a COVID test at home recently, 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:43.420 but this passage is a really good spiritual health test at home. 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:50.700 You know, does my attitude and handling of my money reflect godliness? 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:57.899 Does how I use my money, more than that, does how I think about my money, 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:03.800 point to that new life in Jesus? 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:12.919 How a person treats and handles their money reveals a lot about a person's heart, 00:06:13.019 --> 00:06:18.199 you know, in the same way that my Amazon order lists reflect my heart. 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.060 But be encouraged. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:24.519 God's Holy Spirit is in us. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:28.680 So we should be expecting to see growth in godliness. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:38.000 We are experiencing new life in God when our attitudes and handling of money are being transformed. 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.680 And this isn't something we do alone either. 00:06:42.159 --> 00:06:45.120 New life is about community, amongst other things. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:52.519 So if you need help making good decisions about your money, speak to someone, please. 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:55.000 You know, the church again is here to help. 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:00.759 Now, I'm sure you've heard it before, that famously misquoted phrase, 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:04.139 money is the root of all evil. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.420 Well, this passage is where it's from. 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:07.259 There it is. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:10.259 1 Timothy 6, verse 10. 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:12.159 But hold on. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:14.719 What it actually says is, 00:07:15.039 --> 00:07:21.819 for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 00:07:22.339 --> 00:07:25.560 And this is something altogether different. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:29.459 Money is not in itself evil, 00:07:29.459 --> 00:07:40.199 but it can be the vessel through which, you know, great hurt comes if we mishandle it or if we love it too much. 00:07:40.739 --> 00:07:46.000 And this passage shows us the dangers of when our love is misplaced 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:52.279 and when we do not allow that new life to dictate our money handling. 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:59.319 You know, verse 9 shows that it's when the thought of money consumes us, 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:02.299 when we begin to love it more than we should, 00:08:02.899 --> 00:08:06.239 that we are at serious risk. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:15.699 Our love for money becomes a problem when it overtakes our love for God and for others. 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:19.159 And this is revealed in our living. 00:08:20.159 --> 00:08:21.459 You know, greed and corruption, 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:25.500 they're big dirty words associated with money. 00:08:25.599 --> 00:08:28.099 And we don't like applying them to ourselves, 00:08:28.099 --> 00:08:31.699 but you don't have to be a dictator to suffer from them. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:35.319 You know, they creep into our lives surprisingly easily. 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:38.840 But what about things like self-sufficiency? 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:44.620 When we say that our need for money is greater than our need for God. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:47.899 Money won't give us life. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:49.919 Only God can do that. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:52.799 And this is really serious. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:57.500 And Paul is really clear in his warning here in this passage. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:02.720 God wants to safeguard us to have life. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.220 So, brothers and sisters, protect yourselves. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:12.019 Be wary of the sins surrounding money. 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:14.340 And here's how. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:20.440 Embrace this new life that you've been given in Jesus. 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:26.379 Let this new life dictate your hope, your joy, your deeds. 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:31.960 Be faithful with your money as God is faithful in life. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:38.560 And be generous with your money as God has been generous with life. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:46.039 God has proven himself throughout eternity to be faithful and generous to people. 00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:50.779 We're merely reflecting the character of God in our actions. 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:57.500 That's what protects us from the evils associated with money. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:10:05.100 In the same way that God is mindful of our needs and loves to meet them. 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:09.000 So, too, should we be mindful of the needs of those around us. 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:13.000 Of our community, family and of our church. 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:22.600 Let this new life that Jesus gives drive us forward into generosity that glorifies his name. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:24.399 You know, wow. 00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:28.019 Imagine how blessed it would be to say to someone, 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:33.480 God has been good to me, so I want to be good to you. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:40.180 This is living the new life we've been given in Jesus. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:46.320 The beautiful thing is, this is way bigger than the here and now. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:50.360 For new life continues when we're dead and gone. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.800 Our legacy is here and now. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:57.199 But it's also in heaven. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:11:02.120 Our new life is here and now. 00:11:02.719 --> 00:11:05.039 But it's also in heaven. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:15.579 The treasures we invest in others here and now are treasures we invest in heaven. 00:11:16.579 --> 00:11:17.959 So start today. 00:11:19.079 --> 00:11:20.939 You know, enjoy it tomorrow. 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.779 Protect yourselves. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:25.319 From money. 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:25.359 From money. 00:11:25.359 --> 00:11:25.419 From money. 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:30.740 And take hold of the life that is truly life. 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.219 Life in Jesus.