WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.000 I would like you to turn in your Bibles this morning to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:24.000 ! By way of solicitation, that means begging, I am going to be preaching at Madison Christian's Chapel. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:34.920 What day is that? Sometime this coming week. A week from tomorrow. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:38.780 Okay, I can ask you ahead of time, because it's on my heart. 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:45.140 I know at this time the passage that, Lord willing, I will be preaching. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:53.760 And if there is anything you know about Tim Knoyer, it is that he is a beggar when it comes to prayer. 00:00:54.659 --> 00:01:02.179 And I look forward to the privilege and the blessing of being able to open the Word of God with those students. 00:01:03.120 --> 00:01:09.560 And I am going to be studying and preaching from Ephesians chapter 3. 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:21.100 The passage in which the Apostle prays that those dear beloved people in the church of Ephesus would understand how much Christ loves him. 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:24.400 And that is going to be the passage that I preach. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:26.760 And I am dependent upon your prayer. 00:01:27.300 --> 00:01:36.760 And I am dependent upon the enabling of the Spirit of God as I open that passage to young men and women that need that encouragement in their lives. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:43.820 Having said that, I want you to join me now in prayer as we ask for God's help as we open the Scriptures. 00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:53.359 Our Father God, this morning it is our joy to gather together and to gather in your presence to sing your praises. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:01.359 As we sing to make a connection between the words of the songs that we have sung to you. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:05.659 And the clear instructions that Scripture give us. 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:22.659 I'm so thankful that as I sing with your people that I am prompted once and again of different passages of Scripture that weave together to remind me of the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:25.000 And the blessing I have of salvation. 00:02:25.359 --> 00:02:28.800 And the need I have of growing in my affection for Him. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:43.560 And so this morning as I open this book, I am thankful that this is not my task alone, but it is one that you have called your people to partner with me in prayer. 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:47.800 Asking for the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:48.880 --> 00:02:52.540 Both in governing the things that I say. 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:56.980 And in the hearts upon which these words fall. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:04.180 Lord, I confess this morning that we deal with a very difficult topic. 00:03:05.880 --> 00:03:18.040 One that while we may give lip service to, there will be a great deal of fleshly interference with holy conviction. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:21.020 I speak for my own soul. 00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:26.840 As well as for those who are part of this dear fellowship. 00:03:28.380 --> 00:03:30.060 Children of the living God. 00:03:31.480 --> 00:03:33.719 Joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:35.260 --> 00:03:37.260 Fellow companions in the gospel. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:44.180 And so we confess we need your help that we might be more than forgetful hearers. 00:03:44.980 --> 00:03:46.320 But doers of the law. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:48.900 We ask this in your precious name. 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:50.859 And for your glory. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:51.919 Amen. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:57.699 Well, last week I began the sermon with a very unusual announcement. 00:03:57.859 --> 00:03:58.819 How many of you remember that? 00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:08.840 Pastor Saul, do you remember that seminar that we were at where Alistair Begg said, 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:12.319 Never underestimate your people's ability to forget the important things you've said. 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:13.299 Well, here it is again. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:21.540 I announced last week at the opening of the service that our fellowship finds ourselves in a rather unusual situation. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:26.240 For which we are very thankful to God. 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:28.060 And God alone. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:37.540 Our fellowship is in a situation where the generosity of you as God's people have put us in a situation together as a fellowship. 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:43.900 That we're going to think in the weeks and months to come of how we are good stewards of a surplus that God has given us. 00:04:46.400 --> 00:04:47.200 That's a blessing. 00:04:48.260 --> 00:04:51.240 So I say that at the beginning because in teaching about stewardship, 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:59.960 my intention is not to kind of wheedle and cajole and kind of plead with you down on one knee or offer you kind of an idea that, 00:05:00.280 --> 00:05:05.079 Hey, listen, if you give ten bucks to God, he's going to give you a hundred and manipulate the situation 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:09.540 because I'm apoplectic this morning of what's going to happen with our giving. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:16.379 The truth of the matter is, is I don't know what's going to happen with our giving other than the prompting of the Spirit of God and you as God's people. 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:19.199 It really is between you and God. 00:05:20.420 --> 00:05:25.540 However, it is my responsibility as a preacher of righteousness to hold up the glory of Christ 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:33.740 and draw your attention to understand that really behind Christian giving is our view of God. 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:40.480 And that was what we looked at last week in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:51.000 Now, if you were listening in the prayer, you remember that I made reference to the fact that this morning we are going to touch 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.920 on what is a very challenging subject for believers. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:57.720 Did you hear me pray that? 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:01.020 How many of you thought to yourself, I know, I know. 00:06:02.280 --> 00:06:04.700 Or how many of you thought to yourself, I wonder what he's talking about. 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:11.019 Well, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:18.740 and we are going to pick up on the lesson that the Apostle Paul had for the church at Corinth or at Ephesus 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:24.039 in relationship to the matter of covetousness. 00:06:25.219 --> 00:06:29.259 I remember reading a number of years ago something that I have cited on more than one occasion 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:39.879 that in all of his years of pastoral ministry, Charles Spurgeon referenced that he had never ever had anyone come into his office 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:44.740 or share with him personally that he was struggling with the sin of covetousness. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:56.099 And I have to tell you that as a pastor and actually in the process of talking with an individual, potential candidate, 00:06:56.100 --> 00:06:59.939 early stages of working those things through so you can do what? 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:00.840 Pray, pray, pray. 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:02.640 Anyway, early stages. 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:09.040 And in our conversation, dealing with the subject of stewardship 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:12.000 and what we're going to be actually talking about this morning. 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:17.360 And I related that it's a very difficult passage because it touches on something we battle with. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.300 We battle in our culture. 00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:23.860 We, you, me, battle with covetousness. 00:07:26.100 --> 00:07:28.120 Let's try it a different way. 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:29.700 Contentment. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:42.640 And so I want us to allow Paul's lesson in 1 Timothy chapter 6 to touch our hearts and affect us deeply. 00:07:43.939 --> 00:07:46.120 Let me explain kind of a little bit of the background. 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.939 If you look there in chapter 6 verse 2, the last part, it says, 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:52.000 Teach and urge these things. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:59.519 Then in verse 3, if anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:08.459 and teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing, 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:16.920 he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:22.580 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and depraved of truth, 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:25.560 imagining, now we come to a little kicker here, 00:08:25.900 --> 00:08:30.600 imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:40.659 You see, what had happened there in Ephesus is that the church was striving or suffering under individuals who were teaching 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:49.600 that actually growing in godliness had a comparative and connected growing in prosperity. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:53.659 In fact, if you wanted to grow to be wealthy, 00:08:53.940 --> 00:08:58.720 you just needed to kind of play along and do the spiritual things that went with it. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:08.840 Now, these false teachers were the earlier version of the silk suit Rolex watch jet setters that you can watch on TV today. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:15.860 In fact, if you were to stay home sick, I trust that would be the only reason you would do it, 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:21.480 but if you would stay home sick, one of the things you could kind of do is tune in to people like Benny Hinn 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:26.460 or Joel Osteen or Joyce Meyer or just a host of people. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.899 What is his name? Joseph Prince, another one. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:30.840 They're all over there. It's wonderful. 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:36.100 The false teachers of that day 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:40.320 were specialists that's suggesting that 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:44.180 the key to prosperity actually was learning how to be religious. 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:47.639 You look ahead there in verse 5. 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:52.439 It says that these people imagine that godliness is a means. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.519 It's the way. 00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:55.319 It's the way 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:57.459 of gain. 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:01.819 And so when Paul summarizes this matter of false teaching, 00:10:01.959 --> 00:10:02.679 he says it this way. 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:04.039 Godliness is the way. 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:05.559 It's the means of false teaching. 00:10:06.239 --> 00:10:06.759 In other words, 00:10:07.059 --> 00:10:08.799 if you do godly things, 00:10:08.859 --> 00:10:09.779 you will prosper. 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:14.199 Of course, when you think about what the godly things were 00:10:14.199 --> 00:10:17.179 that were being recommended back in Paul's day, 00:10:17.319 --> 00:10:18.860 for all practical purposes, 00:10:19.299 --> 00:10:20.980 they are really no different 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:23.220 or they were no different than they are today. 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:26.259 The suggestion is this, 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:27.059 is that, hey, 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.379 kind of the superficial issues are the name it, claim it, 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:32.120 you know, 00:10:32.539 --> 00:10:36.100 you can talk to God and tell Him what you need 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.500 and if you believe, you will receive. 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:38.860 How many of you have heard those words before? 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:40.600 If you believe, you will receive. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.240 Name it, claim it, and all that kind of stuff. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:44.460 And if you invest in God's work, 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:46.399 and by the way, here's how you spell my name, 00:10:47.419 --> 00:10:49.919 you can be certain that the god of this universe 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:53.580 who kind of operates on this law of the harvest, 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:55.019 have you ever heard the law of the harvest? 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:58.019 It is common, common, common teaching. 00:10:58.379 --> 00:10:58.860 In other words, 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:00.440 you plant this kind of seed, 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:01.740 which is cash in my pocket, 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.240 and then God's going to open up the doors of heaven 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:06.300 and He's just going to flood you with money 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:08.200 in proportion to your faith. 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.000 Interestingly, 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:10.860 and by the way, 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:12.399 we always want to make comparison with Scripture, 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:12.840 don't we? 00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:13.519 Don't we? 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.560 Everybody said yes? 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.659 You know, I'm thinking to myself, 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:21.039 did anybody hear Jesus say 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.860 when the widow dropped in two mites, 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:23.600 cha-ching, 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:25.460 it's coming back to her in big time? 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.320 How many of you remember that story, 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:28.399 the widow and the mite, right? 00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:29.860 Or let's go another one. 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:30.680 I mean, Zacchaeus, 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.879 remember he climbed out of the tree, 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:32.759 and he says, 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:33.000 you know, 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:34.120 those people that I've cheated, 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:35.580 I'm paying them back fourfold, 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.419 and all that I have, 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:39.080 I'm giving to the poor. 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:40.379 And Jesus says, 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:40.879 whoa, 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.500 wait till you see your tax return. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.159 Is that what happened? 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:46.679 No. 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:49.719 It took some of you a while 00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:52.059 to figure out that Zacchaeus was a, 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.939 I know, I know, 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.779 I was just a little off page with that humor, 00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.759 but let it go. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.359 I try not to tell jokes 00:11:58.359 --> 00:11:59.399 for very obvious reasons. 00:12:00.339 --> 00:12:00.719 Okay, 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:04.460 so we're looking at 1 Timothy chapter 6, 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:07.300 and I'm going to push it together for you 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:09.320 so if you lose your way or I get lost, 00:12:09.540 --> 00:12:11.420 you know where we're supposed to be at the end. 00:12:12.580 --> 00:12:13.340 For one, 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.440 we're going to see Paul address the issue 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:16.980 that contentment is critical. 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.820 I want you to fix that in your mind. 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:19.920 Contentment is critical. 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.240 Secondly, 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.560 money can be dangerous. 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:24.660 And third, 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:27.139 a two-fold defense. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.700 Well, 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:29.460 I want you to look now, 00:12:29.540 --> 00:12:30.000 if you will, 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.779 at how Paul opens up this lesson, 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.539 there in verse 5, 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:37.500 he deals with the fact that godliness, 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:39.419 the idea of the false teachers 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:41.159 that godliness is a means of gain. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:41.679 Now then, 00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.320 in verse 6, 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:42.700 he says, 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:45.279 now there is great gain in godliness 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:46.340 with what? 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:47.779 Contentment. 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:49.259 In other words, 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:51.799 godliness with contentment 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:53.100 is great gain. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.019 And he immediately, 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:57.059 he's already dealt with the issue 00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:59.360 of this is the way the false teachers talk 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.220 and think, 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:02.000 but let me correct that for you. 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:03.460 And the immediate thing he says is, 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.940 you need to understand this, 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.980 godliness with contentment 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.440 is where the gain is. 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:11.779 Put your finger there, 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:12.220 if you will, 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.000 on verse 6, 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:14.480 and just mark the fact 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:16.279 that great gain in godliness 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.740 is connected to this issue 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.419 of contentment. 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:20.740 And so I want you to understand this, 00:13:20.839 --> 00:13:22.039 that spiritual growth, 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.519 I want everybody to hear this, 00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:26.000 spiritual growth and contentment 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.879 go together. 00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:27.879 In fact, 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:30.959 the two cannot be separated. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:32.579 Now, 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:33.979 we should be interested 00:13:33.979 --> 00:13:35.479 in how we are doing spiritually. 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.299 Would you agree with that? 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:39.099 Are there consequences 00:13:39.099 --> 00:13:41.079 to not doing well spiritually? 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.180 And the answer is, 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.600 for everyone. 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:45.040 For everyone. 00:13:46.040 --> 00:13:46.280 Now, 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:47.700 you may not recognize it, 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.700 but when you are struggling spiritually, 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:51.820 you're not the only one 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.960 who is affected by it. 00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:54.400 Everybody else in the sphere 00:13:54.400 --> 00:13:55.600 of connection with you 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.300 begins to suffer as well. 00:13:57.540 --> 00:13:59.020 When you are not content, 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:01.100 when you are not joyful in Christ, 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.900 when you are not a humble 00:14:02.900 --> 00:14:04.020 and a contrite spirit, 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.420 your wife is one 00:14:05.420 --> 00:14:06.820 who says to you little things like, 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:08.320 how come you are so, 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:10.180 fill in the blank, 00:14:10.179 --> 00:14:12.939 or your children find out 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:13.579 that they, 00:14:13.979 --> 00:14:15.399 when you walk in the house 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.819 after you've been away for work, 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:17.959 they kind of scamper 00:14:17.959 --> 00:14:18.739 for the periphery 00:14:18.739 --> 00:14:19.779 because they know 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.359 that, 00:14:20.459 --> 00:14:20.779 you know, 00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:22.159 there's something going on 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.659 in your heart. 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.799 They don't know the details, 00:14:24.179 --> 00:14:25.659 but they know to avoid you. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.239 How many of you are parents 00:14:28.239 --> 00:14:29.259 and have said to your children 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.759 because you saw things playing out, 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:32.919 my dad would say things like this, 00:14:32.979 --> 00:14:34.339 you're cruising for a bruising. 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.659 What he was trying to, 00:14:37.719 --> 00:14:39.359 and I wouldn't say exactly 00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:40.159 the same thing 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.439 to my, 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.639 I think probably I did. 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:42.539 You know, 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:42.839 kind of, 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.819 it worked for me. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.159 I thought I'd try it on my kids, 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.639 but it's like, 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:47.360 I could tell when my kids 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.439 were going downhill. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.839 Anybody else's parents 00:14:49.839 --> 00:14:50.459 know that? 00:14:51.839 --> 00:14:53.519 So when you're not doing well 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.199 spiritually, 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.579 you begin giving off signals. 00:14:59.159 --> 00:14:59.559 Well, 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.439 spiritual growth 00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.199 and contentment 00:15:02.199 --> 00:15:02.779 go together. 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:03.199 Yeah, 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:03.779 we like that. 00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:04.339 That's kind of that 00:15:04.339 --> 00:15:05.379 superficial little statement, 00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:06.559 but let me step it up 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.059 a little bit 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:08.539 and have you think with me. 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.879 What are signs 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.839 that you're not content? 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.719 Just sit here. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.259 Reach over and nudge your wife 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:18.299 and say something like, 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.319 if you see me on 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:21.519 Pinterest, 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:28.279 I got that one, 00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:28.620 didn't I? 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.319 Say to your wife, 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.539 you can say this safely 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.840 in the car while you're driving. 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:36.039 I wouldn't try it later on, 00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:36.519 but just say, 00:15:36.579 --> 00:15:36.779 honey, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.659 if you see me on Pinterest, 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:40.000 you know I'm having a trouble 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.699 with contentment. 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:43.800 Or you could say 00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:46.120 to your wife, 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.480 if you see me obsessing 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.680 about the Cabela's catalog, 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:53.160 then you know I'm struggling 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.420 with contentment. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.600 Or if I'm on Amazon, 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.120 more than I'm in the Word, 00:15:58.560 --> 00:15:59.240 do you follow that? 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.080 It's amazing. 00:16:02.140 --> 00:16:02.480 I mean, 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.660 since when 00:16:03.660 --> 00:16:05.000 did the internet 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.360 become the chief end of man 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.220 in relationship 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.560 to pursuing 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:12.860 the matter of self-gratification 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.720 and contentment? 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.820 You know you're in trouble 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:20.740 when you are desperately waiting 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.060 for a kidney foundation 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:22.800 to show up 00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:24.159 to make room 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:24.919 for the other things 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:26.159 that you've bought or ordered 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.759 that you're not sure 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.519 where you're going to put. 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.220 And don't think 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.519 that the hoarder's show 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:34.060 is only limited to TV. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:37.919 So, 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.259 when you spend more time 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.399 on Craigslist 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:42.940 and Amazon 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.700 and Facebook 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:45.700 posting all about things 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:47.340 than you do 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:48.399 in the Word of God, 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.940 there is a, 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:50.419 what? 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.580 A spiritual problem. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.440 I was struck last week 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:57.980 when I was studying this verse 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.519 and kind of doing 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.060 a little bit of 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.039 personal 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:03.080 indictment 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:06.519 that in our culture, 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.220 in America, 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.240 and let's be a little 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:09.839 more practical, 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.559 in Maranatha, 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.279 we are 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.639 righteously 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.819 troubled 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.519 when someone 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.400 tells a dirty joke. 00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:17.400 I mean, 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:17.920 isn't that right? 00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:19.759 Everybody listen to me. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.720 If you post, 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.359 and I happen to be 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.160 your Facebook friend 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.019 and you post something 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.960 that is off color, 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:24.940 one of the things 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.980 you can expect from me 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.619 as your shepherd 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.619 is I'm probably going to, 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.639 I'm going to send you, 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.220 this is my soft touch. 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.319 Did you get hacked? 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:33.460 I mean, 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.500 I'm making an assumption 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:36.039 that you wouldn't post 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.500 such kind of junk. 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.619 You follow that? 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.339 Okay. 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.839 And if I don't get 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:44.839 a response 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.879 pretty quickly about, 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.460 oh yes, 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.279 I got hacked 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.299 and I am so sorry 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.899 and I've changed my password 00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.500 and I'm cleaning 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.460 all this stuff up, 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.519 then you're going to get 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.619 a more personal call 00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.299 from me saying, 00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:55.139 by the way, 00:17:55.159 --> 00:17:55.839 we probably need 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:56.700 to talk a little bit. 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:57.839 I mean, 00:17:57.899 --> 00:17:58.039 hey, 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.839 we're indignant 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.720 about junk. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:03.160 we're indignant 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:03.880 about pornography. 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.600 Your wife comes down 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.740 and finds that you are 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.460 sitting there 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.559 at 2.30 in the morning 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.380 looking at something 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.019 that is absolutely 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.900 God forsaken 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:15.160 and she has a right 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.880 to be lit up. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.240 We're indignant 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.160 about immorality, 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.980 but you know what? 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.420 Nobody thinks 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.299 the first thing 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.039 about the person 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.440 who spends hours 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.359 on end 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:32.579 kind of trolling 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:34.000 through the internet 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.200 trying to figure out 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.619 what they'd like 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.639 to have. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.440 And seldom 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:45.599 do we actually 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.480 say to ourselves, 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.220 I've spent 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.980 too much time there 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.480 and I need 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.240 to trim it out 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.259 because it's not 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:54.980 good for my soul. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:19:00.240 Well, 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.299 what follows 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.379 in verse 7 and 8 00:19:02.379 --> 00:19:04.299 is a reminder 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.980 that we are 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.019 just traveling through. 00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:09.059 This world 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:10.180 is not the believer's home. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.379 Let me have a look 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:11.879 with you here. 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.180 It says, 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.980 for we brought nothing 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.579 into the world 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.500 and we cannot 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.240 take anything 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.980 out of the world 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.079 for if we have 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.960 food and clothing 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:19.659 with these 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:21.240 we will be content. 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:29.000 I think some of us 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.619 are in the bigger 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.559 barns mode. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.220 Do you know 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.519 what I mean 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.339 by the bigger barns? 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.019 Remember the story 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.700 of the rich man 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.299 that just had to 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:35.920 keep on building 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.619 bigger barns 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.159 because he just 00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:37.740 kept on having 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.420 more stuff? 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:41.960 I mean, 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:43.480 when you decide 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:45.480 that renting 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:47.279 a storage space 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.539 in perpetuity 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.299 is a reasonable 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.159 means of caring 00:19:50.159 --> 00:19:51.319 for your stuff, 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.019 there's a problem. 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:55.579 when your kids 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.720 are saying to themselves 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.859 when dad and mom 00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.400 are gone, 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.400 I'm going to go 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:00.279 get a roll off 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.379 and that's the end of it, 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.039 guess what they're 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.599 telling you? 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.559 If it didn't fit 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.259 in that little 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.720 three by six plot 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.920 that they will spend 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.660 from now 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.980 until the day 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.799 of resurrection 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:13.720 and they're thinking 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.960 when mom and dad 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.379 are gone, 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.160 I know what's 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.700 happening with the stuff. 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.539 There's a problem 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:23.000 that needs to be dealt with. 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:26.180 And Paul goes on there 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.859 in verse 9, 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.160 he says, 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.879 in verse 8, 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.119 he says, 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.259 hey, 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:28.859 we need food 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.299 and shelter 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:29.839 or clothing 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:31.139 and with these 00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:32.139 we will be content. 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:32.839 The characteristic 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.799 is we are content 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.579 and godly people. 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:35.079 We're happy 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.000 with what we have. 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.660 I was looking 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.339 for the passages, 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.359 I was sitting down here 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.759 and I didn't find it. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.099 I'm going to count 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.859 on one of our deacons. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.519 I didn't mention 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.500 that we have 10 deacons 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.660 by name here this morning 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.180 and they're probably 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:46.759 going to ding me 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.440 next month so 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.200 I'm going to give 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.740 the deacons 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.220 an opportunity 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.980 to find the Shulamite woman. 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.660 Would you do that? 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:53.040 Go ahead and use your phone 00:20:53.040 --> 00:20:53.640 at this moment 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.160 and just raise your hand 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.080 and wave at me later 00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:57.200 because I love 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.100 the Shulamite woman. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.400 I really do. 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:02.660 When she has an opportunity 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.800 to receive an extra bonus 00:21:04.800 --> 00:21:05.720 or a benefit 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.000 from the prophet, 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:07.860 I think it's Elijah, 00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:09.320 not it's Elisha. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.200 Forget it. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.720 We'll figure it out. 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.820 But she says something 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:14.480 that is incredibly sweet. 00:21:14.600 --> 00:21:15.100 She says, 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:17.559 I dwell among my people. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.539 And what she was saying 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.539 is the relationships 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.039 God has blessed me with 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:26.000 is all I need. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.759 We're traveling through. 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:35.819 We don't need as much 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.740 as we thought we did. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:39.720 And Paul reminds us 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.339 that we ought not 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.180 to get caught up 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:43.200 in this religious idea 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.839 that you can play 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.779 a spiritual game 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.920 and actually prosper 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.720 in the process. 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.779 Can I tell you something? 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.720 And this is kind of 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.839 off the cuff 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.839 so got to be careful 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.180 with it. 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:54.500 But ancient religions 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.900 would take people's 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.259 favorite pastimes 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.079 and sins 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.900 and make them spiritual. 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.440 Do you follow that? 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.779 Case in point, 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:06.440 the Canaanite religions 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:08.440 made actual 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.700 sexual misbehavior 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.399 to be part 00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:13.019 of their religious behavior. 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.240 And by the way, 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:18.599 Greek goddesses 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.160 and gods 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.220 remember that 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.180 the temple 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:24.000 to Diana 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.119 in Ephesus, 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.980 great as Diana, 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.319 et cetera, 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.079 or wherever it was, 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.379 they had a thousand 00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:29.379 temple prostitutes. 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:32.019 It was a religious experience 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.839 to be involved 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.759 with a temple prostitute. 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.339 Now, 00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:36.059 in our culture, 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.000 in America, 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.259 the prosperity gospel 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:42.059 makes it religious 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.639 to be covetous 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:45.180 and kind of wrap it 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.119 with a Bible verse 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.299 of, 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:46.639 hey, 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.899 God wants you 00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:49.819 to be incredibly 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:51.079 filthy rich 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.180 and so all you have 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:54.399 to do is give to me 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.139 and he's going to give 00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:55.480 to you 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.220 and it works out. 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.839 I don't like that stuff 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:00.299 in case you didn't know. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.680 Let's go to the second 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.420 part of the text 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.259 because it's important 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.160 for us to understand 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.240 that discontentment 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.560 is very dangerous. 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.940 First Timothy, 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.500 Paul says this, 00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:13.600 verse 9, 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.720 but those who desire 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.400 to be rich 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:16.580 fall into temptation, 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.980 into a snare, 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.500 into many senseless 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.680 and harmful desires 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.960 that plunge people 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.640 into ruin 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.320 and destruction. 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.139 discontentment. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.579 Discontentment 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.639 is far more dangerous 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.539 than we might think 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.359 and here's Paul 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:31.539 who says something 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.259 pretty pointed. 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.639 He says, 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:33.480 those who desire 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.119 to be rich 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.679 fall into temptation. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.319 Let's pick through 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.379 the thoughts here 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:40.019 because they're important. 00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:43.480 To desire to be rich 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.480 is more than just 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.740 a passing thought. 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.740 The Greek word 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.639 that is used 00:23:48.639 --> 00:23:50.159 is one that refers 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.420 to having a longing 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.259 for something 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.980 and kind of reaching 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.560 out to get it. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.600 An illustration 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.380 of someone 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.700 who is longing 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.400 for something 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.660 and reaching out 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.540 to get it 00:24:02.540 --> 00:24:04.340 would be someone 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.680 who makes a decision 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.180 on a job 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.620 based strictly 00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:10.259 on the income. 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.060 Does that make sense? 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.640 Hey, 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.360 do you know 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.040 why I'm here? 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:17.759 Do you know 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.740 why Tim Knoyer 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.819 is pastor here? 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.859 Because by divine appointment 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.779 I was sent here 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.740 to be your pastor 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.920 and before I came, 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.440 before I said yes, 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.139 I did not know 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:31.559 what you would pay me. 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.599 I don't think 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:33.940 it's wrong 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.920 for a pastor to ask 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:36.000 but just Tim Knoyer 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.059 struggles 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.299 and I have to work at 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.920 being content 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.940 and so one of the ways 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.819 in which I protected 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:42.700 my little perverse brain 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:45.000 was I said, 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:46.000 I will not talk 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.819 about salary 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:49.259 until after I've said 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.159 I do. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.399 Incidentally, 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.799 my wife married me 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.339 without talking 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.019 about salary. 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.539 My daughter 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.940 married Todd 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.859 without talking 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.619 about salary 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:03.659 and my daughter-in-law 00:25:03.659 --> 00:25:04.720 married my son 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.399 without talking 00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:06.119 about salary. 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.500 So here I am. 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:08.200 Why I'm here? 00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.220 It's because Jesus 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.740 sent me 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.920 to try to do my best 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.359 to love you 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.960 and teach you. 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.039 Yeah. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.720 So, 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.980 how do I know 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.220 that I'm striving? 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.000 It's when money 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.720 is the big issue. 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:20.620 Well, 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.160 why would I take 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.579 this job? 00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.180 Because it pays 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.840 $100,000 00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:23.519 and this one 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.259 only pays $70,000 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.980 and I can't believe 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.740 God would want me 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.819 to short myself 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.539 $30,000. 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.700 I'm just using numbers. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:29.920 You know, 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.400 somebody go home 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:30.559 and say, 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.660 I'd settle for $70,000. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.019 Okay, 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.579 forget it. 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:36.759 We know we're in trouble 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.599 when our desire 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.199 for things 00:25:38.199 --> 00:25:39.460 lead us to plan 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.859 and willingly count 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.779 the things 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.759 that we will value 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:45.500 and gain 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:47.559 over the cost 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.139 and risk 00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:50.500 and harm 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.720 that comes 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:53.159 with the position 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:53.980 we may accept. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.519 Can I say that slowly 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.419 so you understand that? 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.259 Okay, 00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:00.279 if I get this job, 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.920 I can have 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.259 a bigger home 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:05.299 and more grass 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.819 to mow 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:07.639 and then I get 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.480 to buy a mower 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.240 that actually 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.660 has me anchored 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.259 to the seat 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.180 for seven hours. 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:12.639 I mean, 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.579 what's the logic 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.160 of that? 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:14.779 Amen. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.519 Right. 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.000 Now, 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.200 does God want 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.559 some of you 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.559 to mow lots of grass? 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.279 I am not here 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.899 to tell you 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:23.720 one way or the other 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.639 but I got to tell you 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.500 you're struggling 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.819 when your ambition 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.920 is all reflective 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.440 about, 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.779 say it with me, 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.680 things. 00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.539 Let me illustrate. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.279 When you got caught up 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.920 in thinking about 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.019 a toy or a phone 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.339 or a house 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.000 or a car 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:45.460 and those things 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.799 lead to a loss 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.660 of your testimony 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:49.700 or your ministry 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.480 or your free time 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.019 or your joy, 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.359 there's something 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:55.859 that's wrong. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.879 I shared with you before 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.740 and I'll share it again. 00:27:00.520 --> 00:27:01.720 I've had a lifelong battle 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.620 with covetousness. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.420 Everybody, 00:27:03.780 --> 00:27:04.540 did you hear me say that? 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.600 It's been one of those things 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.280 that Tim Kenoyer 00:27:07.280 --> 00:27:08.340 has had to work on 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:09.580 all his life. 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.500 I have to work at it. 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:17.440 God helped me enough 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.540 in dealing with it 00:27:19.540 --> 00:27:21.100 on a number 00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.820 of different occasions 00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:22.420 and I'll just tell you 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.940 the last one. 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:25.220 about a year and a half ago, 00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:26.000 Judith and I began 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.640 kind of pondering 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:27.460 about one of these days 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.039 eventually, 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.600 eventually, 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.440 eventually we're going 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:29.820 to retire. 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.059 I felt like I should tell you 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.360 I'm not planning to retire. 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:32.900 When we're praying 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.559 about an associate 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.039 coming in, 00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.519 it's not because 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.360 I'm leaving tomorrow, 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:35.900 I hope. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.900 But I remember 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.539 beginning to think 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.900 about my retirement state 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.100 and I was thinking, 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.519 you know what, 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.440 I'd really like 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.200 to have 10 acres 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.019 where I could raise 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.500 chickens and raise cows 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.980 and I could live out 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.480 in the country 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.160 and I wouldn't have 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.600 to put up 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.320 with all the people 00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:49.779 around you 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.100 and blah, 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.220 blah, blah. 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:52.259 I could be out there 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.900 by myself 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.519 and I didn't have 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.980 to deal with, 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.200 and I began 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.000 to thinking about myself, 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.700 so what happens 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.480 when you have chickens? 00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:57.740 Well, 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.279 then you chase 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.460 those dumb things around. 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.640 And what happens 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.680 if you have 10 acres? 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.720 God help me, 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.360 I don't like 00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:07.319 to mow that much. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.640 And so I began 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.420 thinking about 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:12.380 if I had all these things, 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.279 cows and chickens, 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.180 and I did run away 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.880 as goats too, 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.620 that's part of being 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.019 in India, 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.579 and the goats 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.759 are right up there 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.400 next to, 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.759 you know, 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.960 the apostles 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.480 and I thought, 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.180 I would like 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.140 to have goats. 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.319 They really are, 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.120 stop. 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:27.059 But I remember 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.900 thinking to myself, 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:29.720 so when I spend 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.900 my time with goats 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:31.400 and cows 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.000 and chickens 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.840 and grass, 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.720 there will be 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.039 no time for people. 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.600 And Tim Knoyer 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:40.220 began thinking, 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.900 actually it wasn't 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.620 me who was thinking, 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.299 I was thinking, 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.400 and the Holy Spirit 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.279 came in and he used 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.340 that little silver hammer 00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:45.860 and tapped me 00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.180 on the head, 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.319 he said, 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.019 pow. 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:49.319 He said, 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.799 you know what, 00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:51.240 I did not invest 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.139 all this energy 00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:52.859 in dragging you 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.700 out of the swamp 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.379 to let you be 00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.920 a self-centered boor 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.099 in the last couple 00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:58.139 years you live. 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.139 And I said, 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.539 yes, 00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.400 you're right. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.460 I don't know 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.339 how my story ends, 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.000 but it's not going 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.819 to be on a farm. 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:13.259 Now, 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:13.939 there's nothing wrong 00:29:13.939 --> 00:29:14.480 with farmers. 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.339 I want to be a farmer 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.079 when I go to heaven, 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.419 you know, 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:18.159 but I'm telling you, 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.059 God made me 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:19.819 to serve people. 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.139 He saved me 00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:21.819 to serve people 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.700 and I want to do it. 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.179 Discontentment 00:29:27.179 --> 00:29:28.299 is dangerous. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.679 Well, 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.599 let's kind of 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.439 play forward here 00:29:31.439 --> 00:29:32.119 and understand 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.679 that Paul is talking 00:29:33.679 --> 00:29:34.259 about the fact 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.179 that discontentment 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:36.200 really is harmful 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.539 to us 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.599 because covetousness 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.000 is really a trap. 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.419 Hey, 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.819 when you want 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.959 to catch mice 00:29:43.959 --> 00:29:44.519 or, 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.559 help me here, 00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:46.500 I know that you 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.139 have experience, 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.439 when you want 00:29:48.439 --> 00:29:49.319 to catch mice 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.699 or even rats, 00:29:50.939 --> 00:29:51.639 what do you bait 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.359 the trap with? 00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:55.119 Well, 00:29:55.159 --> 00:29:55.559 some of us 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.099 do cheese, 00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:56.859 but the rest of us 00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:58.879 do peanut butter. 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.019 And not only 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.699 do you smear 00:30:01.699 --> 00:30:02.319 peanut butter 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.459 liberally on top, 00:30:03.719 --> 00:30:04.740 but when you're 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.740 devious, 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.960 you smooth it 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.660 on the bottom 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.220 as well 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.420 so that when they, 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.279 and some of these 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.120 little critters 00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:13.000 are pretty sharp, 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.519 they can get 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.059 the peanut butter 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.640 on the top, 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.420 but when they've 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:15.819 got to kind of 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.240 reach over 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.400 like that, 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:17.980 it's like, 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:18.620 pow, 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.039 you know, 00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:19.839 and they're dead. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.240 And you come out 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:23.779 in the morning 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.880 and their rigor 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:25.920 morse is set in 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.559 and you can think, 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.039 yes! 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.660 And you scamper 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.259 back in and you 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.799 tell your wife, 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.900 I caught five 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.380 today. 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:34.440 Okay, 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:34.900 see, 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.160 God, 00:30:38.300 --> 00:30:39.920 God warns us. 00:30:41.520 --> 00:30:42.380 This business 00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:43.400 of being discontent 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.340 just means that 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.300 Satan is putting 00:30:45.300 --> 00:30:45.940 peanut butter 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.680 on things 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.660 to nail you. 00:30:50.760 --> 00:30:51.200 Hey, 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.720 how many of you 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:51.960 remember 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.500 longer burger 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:52.880 baskets? 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:56.080 My wife came home 00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:56.620 the other day, 00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.220 she'd found 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.260 something that, 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.040 and you know, 00:30:59.100 --> 00:30:59.740 to me it's like, 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:00.680 I don't care, 00:31:01.020 --> 00:31:01.700 but she came home, 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.660 God, 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.200 you know, 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.840 I understand that, 00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.779 and she came home 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.039 and said, 00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:05.340 honey, 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:05.940 I found this, 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.819 it was like $3, 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.259 it used to sell 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.160 for $120. 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.039 Do you understand 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.360 that? 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.600 How many of you 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:13.799 understand, 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.220 cabbage patch dolls, 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:17.860 precious moments. 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.100 Am I doing okay? 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.580 How many of you 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.039 can relate 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.640 to some of these 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:22.980 things? 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.000 I mean, 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.779 you began to think 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.539 about building an 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:25.880 addition, 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.240 not because you 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.000 had more kids, 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.620 but because you 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:29.740 had more junk. 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:34.039 Well, 00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:34.440 you see, 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.700 covetousness is 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.920 actually irrational 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:37.620 and harmful. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.140 The person who 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:41.740 is caught in 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.940 their discontentment 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:46.620 makes the irrational 00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:47.680 and harmful decisions. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.299 That's what the Bible 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:48.940 says right here 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.460 in this verse. 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.380 Tell you, 00:31:51.840 --> 00:31:52.960 is it rational 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.380 to become a hoarder? 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:57.420 The answer is no. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.420 Can you all say that? 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:01.060 Hoarding is a no, 00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:02.200 it's not smart. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.380 Okay? 00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:05.500 But the truth of the 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.000 matter is, 00:32:06.060 --> 00:32:06.800 as compared to the 00:32:06.800 --> 00:32:07.580 rest of the world, 00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:09.900 probably 97% of us, 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.420 and that's just an 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.120 arbitrary number, 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:13.080 but about 95% of us 00:32:13.080 --> 00:32:13.700 are hoarders. 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.980 We got more than we 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.320 need. 00:32:20.060 --> 00:32:21.440 Covetousness drowns 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.940 people in ruin. 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.860 I just play on this 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.440 word and then move 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.660 on. 00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:26.720 The word drowned 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:27.620 there is not the 00:32:27.620 --> 00:32:28.299 word that just talks 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.900 about you just 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.840 suddenly gone. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.600 Any of you that 00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.539 remember old 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.140 westerns, 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:34.680 black and white 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.039 movies, 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.279 remember that there 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.000 was something that 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.500 was very, 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.259 very visceral. 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.799 It just kind of ate 00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.519 you up to watch 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.920 somebody drown in 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.740 sand. 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.360 Remember? 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:46.220 Quick sand. 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:48.120 And you know, 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.259 Kimo Sabe was the 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:49.980 one who had to be 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.680 warned about these 00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.339 kind of things because 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:51.940 he was scampering 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.180 around and step out 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.980 on that and it was 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.940 down for the count. 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.940 I mean, and how do 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:57.059 you die in quicksand? 00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:57.640 Do you know how it 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:57.960 is? 00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.860 Slowly wiggle your way 00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:01.200 down into oblivion until 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.740 you are just dead. 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:05.360 And so the word that 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.440 Paul is using is about 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.200 kind of drowning 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.079 slowly. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:12.960 I want you to 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.679 understand that 00:33:13.679 --> 00:33:16.279 actually discontentment 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.419 and covetousness was 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:19.559 the first thing that 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:21.339 caught Adam and Eve. 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.419 Do you follow that? 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.740 I mean, nothing but a 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.779 little piece of fruit. 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:32.039 I wouldn't fall for 00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:32.359 that. 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.819 Go into your computer 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:37.720 settings if you can. 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.720 It's beyond my skill 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:38.940 set. 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.759 And just find out how 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.660 much time you've spent 00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:43.200 on Amazon, Pinterest, 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:45.740 and various catalogs 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.640 about things that you 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.640 have no need for. 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:50.220 Well, let's go to the 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.559 prescription. 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.400 Verse 11 through 19, 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.700 broad flow of the 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.079 prescription. 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.039 I want you to 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:56.799 understand and break it 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:57.740 down into two simple 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.079 statements. 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:59.059 One is run from 00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.980 covetousness. 00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:03.279 1 Timothy chapter 6, 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:04.180 verse 11, put your 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.740 finger on it. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.799 It says, but you, but 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.900 as for you, O man of 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:09.639 God, flee these things. 00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:16.500 For the most part, 00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:19.420 evangelical Christians 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:24.000 today do fairly well at 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.579 protecting themselves from 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:29.860 the moral challenges of 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.360 our culture. 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:34.599 men will avert their eyes 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:35.519 in Walmart. 00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:40.099 Men will probably not go 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:43.800 to Zumbese Bay to protect 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.860 themselves from the 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.300 challenge. 00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:48.360 We're generally fairly 00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:52.099 careful in the area of 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.840 moral purity. 00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:56.760 And it's interesting that 00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:58.360 Paul uses this same 00:34:58.360 --> 00:35:04.500 concept, flee, in dealing 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:06.160 with our natural battle 00:35:06.160 --> 00:35:07.880 with covetousness as he 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.480 does in dealing with our 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:11.160 natural battle with 00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:12.360 impurity. 00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:15.960 And my plea with you is that 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.140 we ought to exercise the 00:35:17.140 --> 00:35:22.440 same discerning desire to 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:24.220 protect ourselves by 00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:28.320 fleeing the battle of 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:29.620 discontentment and 00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:31.460 covetousness by getting 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:33.579 away from the source that 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.539 is going to cause you 00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.059 problems. 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:36.920 In the old days, we used 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.980 to get catalogs. 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.460 And one of the things that 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.659 Tim Knoyer would do is I 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:43.279 would throw away a fair 00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:44.599 number of the catalogs that 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:46.279 I knew if I kept them 00:35:46.279 --> 00:35:47.920 around the house in my 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:49.539 reading room, I would end 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.400 up thinking that the 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.480 things they proposed were 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.619 actually very reasonable 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:53.179 expenses. 00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:55.420 Do you follow what I'm 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.579 saying? 00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:57.159 I just, when they came in, 00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.639 it would go. 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.579 And I have to remind 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.860 myself with the internet, 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.819 you can go anywhere. 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.699 You don't have to get a 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.319 catalog now. 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:07.940 Guess what? 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:10.000 If you can fantasize it, 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.199 you can Google it and you 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.880 can find it. 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.980 And then you can go on the 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:13.900 website and discover. 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:16.299 By the time you read up the 00:36:16.299 --> 00:36:17.659 reviews on these products, 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.659 you think to yourself, I'm 00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.679 not sure I can live without 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.039 this. 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:24.480 So my suggestion to you is, 00:36:24.779 --> 00:36:25.159 hold it. 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.940 Only if you take the word of 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:28.139 God seriously, you ought to 00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.319 decide, well, maybe what I 00:36:29.319 --> 00:36:30.279 ought to do is kind of put 00:36:30.279 --> 00:36:31.559 myself on a fast. 00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:38.079 flee from covetousness. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.900 Now, here's a little 00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.599 practical thing. 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.559 As you're driving home, you 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.619 can say to your wife or you 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:43.940 can say to your husband, and 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.860 by the way, do it out of 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.920 your shot at the kids because 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.699 they have a tendency of 00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:47.639 remembering these things and 00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:48.159 bringing them up. 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:48.880 You know, it's just like, 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:52.480 how am I doing at 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.159 covetousness? 00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:56.920 Do you see any struggle in my 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:58.299 life with discontentment? 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.440 You know, do you follow what 00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.799 I'm saying? 00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:03.100 And if she's truly honest 00:37:03.100 --> 00:37:04.160 with you, she'll tell you what 00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:04.620 she thinks. 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:06.480 Or she may say, well, I don't 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:08.360 want to tell him because if I 00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:09.600 tell him, then guess what he's 00:37:09.600 --> 00:37:10.160 going to do? 00:37:11.200 --> 00:37:12.400 Anybody doing the math here? 00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:16.200 I don't mind him being convicted 00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:17.700 privately, but I really don't 00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:19.019 want this bleeding over into my 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:19.480 life. 00:37:20.600 --> 00:37:21.860 So as we're driving home, we 00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:22.820 thought, well, that was a little 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:24.080 edgy, pastor's sermon. 00:37:24.660 --> 00:37:25.740 You know, but next week will be 00:37:25.740 --> 00:37:26.940 in John, and that's a lot 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.360 safer. 00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:28.619 Okay? 00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:31.880 Well, flee from covetousness, 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.539 run towards godliness. 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:35.880 We find that again in verse 11. 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:39.200 It says, flee, and then verse 00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:40.960 11, the latter part, pursue 00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:43.820 godliness, righteousness, faith, 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.559 love, steadfastness, and 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.039 gentleness. 00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:48.019 These are things that you have a 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:50.380 conscious responsibility to go 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:50.900 after. 00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.380 How do you do that? 00:37:57.900 --> 00:37:59.179 Your devotional life is one 00:37:59.179 --> 00:37:59.420 thing. 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.119 Your devotional life is really an 00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:03.139 indication of what you're 00:38:03.139 --> 00:38:04.260 nurturing because of what you 00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:04.619 value. 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:07.039 When I have people that tell me, 00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:08.500 well, I just can't find the time 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.880 to do devotions, I always ask 00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:11.780 myself privately, so do they 00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:12.500 brush their teeth? 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:15.460 I've actually asked that question 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.920 on occasion. 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:17.039 I've had some people say, well, 00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:18.099 not every day, and it's like, 00:38:18.220 --> 00:38:18.480 ah! 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:22.500 You know, it's like, I can't deal 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:22.840 with that. 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:26.460 But I've learned not to ask that 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:26.820 question. 00:38:27.740 --> 00:38:28.620 I think it. 00:38:30.620 --> 00:38:31.579 But here's the deal. 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:34.140 If you can't find the time to be 00:38:34.140 --> 00:38:37.140 with God, no wonder you're awash in 00:38:37.140 --> 00:38:38.340 the battle with covetousness. 00:38:40.160 --> 00:38:42.220 Well, let's kind of work our way 00:38:42.220 --> 00:38:42.640 through now. 00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:44.800 We come back just for a minute or 00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:46.940 two with the last part of Paul's 00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.220 advice. 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:48.519 Remember, he says, pursue godly 00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:48.860 things. 00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:50.759 And so now what he does in verse 00:38:50.759 --> 00:38:53.860 17 to 19 is he gives us kind of a 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:56.380 little illustration of what to do 00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:57.159 since we're rich. 00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:58.099 How many of you feel rich? 00:38:58.239 --> 00:38:59.519 I mean, really, honestly rich? 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:02.440 Remember a couple years ago when 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:04.139 there was all that hoopla about the 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.579 1%? 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:06.239 Do you remember the 1%? 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:09.360 The 1% are the people in America 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:11.579 who make, I think as I was doing 00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.840 research, about $500,000. 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:16.659 $500,000 puts you in the 1%. 00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:20.079 And the attitude of some is that, 00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:22.279 you know, since the 1% owes a whole 00:39:22.279 --> 00:39:24.019 lot more to the rest of us. 00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:25.940 Well, everybody, here's good news. 00:39:26.859 --> 00:39:28.500 In comparison to the rest of the 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:31.559 world, anybody here who only gets a 00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:33.420 single Social Security check is 00:39:33.420 --> 00:39:36.059 actually in the world 1%. 00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:38.199 How many of you understood what I 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:38.639 just said? 00:39:39.279 --> 00:39:40.500 It was kind of a story problem, 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.839 kind of strung together, and I know 00:39:41.839 --> 00:39:43.059 that I went off page a little bit, 00:39:43.119 --> 00:39:43.779 but here's the deal. 00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:46.880 Annual salary in the world, 00:39:47.560 --> 00:39:50.120 average, is $1,200. 00:39:52.700 --> 00:39:54.420 And I Googled it. 00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:56.460 I checked it out from a very reliable, 00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:58.080 whatever you read on the computer or 00:39:58.080 --> 00:39:59.560 on the Internet, it's entirely true, 00:39:59.620 --> 00:39:59.820 right? 00:39:59.860 --> 00:40:00.580 You know that story. 00:40:00.720 --> 00:40:03.180 But what I Googled was, okay, so 00:40:03.180 --> 00:40:05.720 what's the average Social Security 00:40:05.720 --> 00:40:06.080 payment? 00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:08.440 It said about $1,200 per person per 00:40:08.440 --> 00:40:08.780 month. 00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:12.140 Now, the person on Social Security 00:40:12.140 --> 00:40:14.540 with no other benefits coming in 00:40:14.540 --> 00:40:19.200 makes 12 times what the average person 00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:20.080 makes in the world. 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:22.080 Are we the rich people? 00:40:22.160 --> 00:40:25.120 And the answer is, you bet. 00:40:26.260 --> 00:40:26.880 You bet. 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:33.300 And so to those who are rich, Paul says 00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:35.080 this, we are not to be haughty or 00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:36.239 trust in what we have. 00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:41.199 When you think to yourself, 00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:45.699 I'm good, is there a number to that 00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:48.019 or a relationship to that? 00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:52.380 We are not to be haughty or trust in 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.960 what we have. 00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:55.539 Secondly, we are to be rich in good 00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:56.539 works and generous. 00:40:59.719 --> 00:41:04.239 Generosity is one of the things that 00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:07.439 protects the soul from the natural 00:41:07.439 --> 00:41:11.439 pull of the gravitational weight 00:41:11.439 --> 00:41:13.439 of covetousness. 00:41:15.259 --> 00:41:17.539 And so there is a sense in which, 00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:19.259 going back to what we found there in 00:41:19.259 --> 00:41:24.159 2 Corinthians, our giving and our 00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:26.000 attitude towards things should just 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:27.539 shout out, thank you, Jesus. 00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:31.779 I am, above all other things, 00:41:31.779 --> 00:41:33.579 thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:35.059 Do you know why? 00:41:36.439 --> 00:41:38.159 Because there was a time in my life 00:41:38.159 --> 00:41:40.139 where I was an absolute slave to sin 00:41:40.139 --> 00:41:41.939 and I stood justly condemned before a 00:41:41.939 --> 00:41:42.479 holy God. 00:41:43.839 --> 00:41:46.319 I had no certainty of my eternal destiny. 00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:49.279 And I had every reason to be afraid that 00:41:49.279 --> 00:41:51.279 when the day of judgment came, that 00:41:51.279 --> 00:41:53.279 Tim Knoyer would stand condemned before 00:41:53.279 --> 00:41:54.559 God for his sin. 00:41:55.919 --> 00:41:57.519 And I remember coming to the place of 00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:59.199 being broken for that sin and crying 00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:00.959 out and saying, Jesus, will you save me? 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:03.480 And so let me tell you this morning, 00:42:03.720 --> 00:42:06.880 as I talk about the subject of generosity 00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:09.780 and giving and dealing with the natural 00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:13.840 tug of covetousness, I want to tell you 00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:15.099 that if you're here and you don't know 00:42:15.099 --> 00:42:17.300 Christ, it's not about your wallet, 00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.240 it's about your heart. 00:42:20.139 --> 00:42:21.980 And if you're here and you do not know 00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:24.199 the Lord Jesus Christ, and as you walk 00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:26.840 out this door, you would step into eternity, 00:42:26.840 --> 00:42:29.460 you would face God who would judge you 00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:30.420 for your sin. 00:42:32.740 --> 00:42:34.420 And there's no need to have that happen. 00:42:35.559 --> 00:42:37.559 Because what Jesus did when he came to 00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:41.519 this earth, he lived our life, he died 00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:44.960 for our sins, and he offers salvation to 00:42:44.960 --> 00:42:45.940 whosoever will. 00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:50.019 And so what you do is you confess, I am a 00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:52.740 sinner who stands justly condemned before a 00:42:52.740 --> 00:42:53.500 holy God. 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:56.480 And I know I'm a sinner, and I need 00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:59.219 salvation, and I want Jesus to be my 00:42:59.219 --> 00:42:59.519 Savior. 00:42:59.679 --> 00:43:00.400 And do you know what he'll do? 00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:01.780 He'll save you. 00:43:02.579 --> 00:43:04.219 He'll forgive you for all of your sins, 00:43:04.460 --> 00:43:05.960 and he's going to make you a different 00:43:05.960 --> 00:43:06.320 person. 00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:07.599 Guess what one of the proofs of that 00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:08.440 difference will be? 00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:10.179 If he gets your heart, he gets your 00:43:10.179 --> 00:43:10.480 wallet. 00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:13.519 Let's close in prayer. 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:20.119 Our Father, we're thankful for the 00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:21.940 clarity with which Scripture brings us 00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:23.760 to the point of saying yes or no to God. 00:43:25.300 --> 00:43:27.400 And the most important thing that we have 00:43:27.400 --> 00:43:32.000 to deal with this morning is do we know 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:33.940 the Lord Jesus Christ personally as our 00:43:33.940 --> 00:43:34.280 Savior? 00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:35.920 And Lord, if there are those here today 00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:38.340 that do not know him, it would be my 00:43:38.340 --> 00:43:40.159 plea, and it has been my prayer. 00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:42.240 And I know others are praying with me 00:43:42.240 --> 00:43:44.940 right now that today would be the day of 00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:48.400 salvation, the hour of conviction. 00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:51.860 I would plead with you that you do not 00:43:51.860 --> 00:43:53.740 let individuals who do not know Christ 00:43:53.740 --> 00:43:58.900 go out of this place without a conscious 00:43:58.900 --> 00:44:00.780 and deliberate decision. 00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:04.760 Yes, I need Christ to save me for my sins, 00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:09.639 or no, I refuse his free and kind and 00:44:09.639 --> 00:44:10.639 generous offer. 00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:15.759 And for believers, Lord, it has been my 00:44:15.759 --> 00:44:18.000 prayer that you would work among us to 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:20.579 help us to grow in our quiet contentment, 00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:26.420 our joyful liberality, and our thankfulness 00:44:26.420 --> 00:44:27.879 of being part of what you're doing around 00:44:27.879 --> 00:44:28.339 the world. 00:44:28.940 --> 00:44:30.799 We ask this in your precious name. 00:44:31.019 --> 00:44:31.259 Amen. 00:44:31.260 --> 00:44:35.200 Let's stand together as John leads us in our 00:44:35.200 --> 00:44:35.980 closing song. 00:44:36.700 --> 00:44:38.160 And as we are singing, if the...