WEBVTT 00:00:00.300 --> 00:00:06.919 Father, we confess before you that money is a very personal issue to us. 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:11.099 We confess before you that we don't like to tell people what we make. 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:15.099 We don't like to tell people what our financial resources are. 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:21.920 We confess before you, Father, that we maybe hide if we're abusing credit cards. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:24.339 We hide that from people. We don't want people to know. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:33.000 We confess before you, Father, that many of us here are financially stretched and wish that we had more money. 00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:41.420 And we also confess before you, Father, that in our secret hearts, we often don't believe your word. 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:47.659 We don't often, Father, believe that your word is wise in the realm of money. 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:53.820 So, Father, we ask that you help us not to believe lies and not to be confused. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:57.640 And we ask that you would gently but deeply pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. 00:00:58.259 --> 00:01:04.540 Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and humble and quieten us so that we can listen to your word. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:11.260 That your word with grace might come into our lives and bear much fruit to your great glory. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:16.539 And all this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:17.379 --> 00:01:18.260 Please be seated. 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:18.920 I'm brief. 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:30.340 So, with my impeccable timing, I'm going to talk, try to open up what the book of Proverbs says about money in a week where, 00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:32.080 is it John Oliver or Joe Oliver? 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:32.840 Who is it? 00:01:32.880 --> 00:01:33.340 John Oliver? 00:01:33.820 --> 00:01:36.920 John Oliver has done a TV personality. 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:38.140 Do I have that right? 00:01:39.240 --> 00:01:40.080 John Oliver. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:47.060 Okay, we're not going to have a debate. Afterwards, we can all have an arm or just Google it later. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:49.280 Not now, during the sermon, okay? I don't want you all looking at it. 00:01:49.379 --> 00:01:56.519 But whether it's John or Joe, Oliver, he's done a video clip which is trending in Facebook, 00:01:57.140 --> 00:02:02.680 and he mocks televangelists, especially televangelists as they talk about money. 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:11.840 And the fact of the matter is, as we all know, that Christians make very, very, very, very foolish claims about money and God and the Bible. 00:02:12.540 --> 00:02:16.740 And not only do Christians make very foolish claims about it, 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:22.520 for many people who aren't Christians and just sort of look at the whole debacle, 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:28.840 they look at us and they say, you know, it's pretty obvious that the Bible is filled with nonsense, 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:38.759 that it misleads the gullible, that it furthers greed, and there's a lot of hypocrisy. 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:44.800 And so for many people in our culture, the idea that the Bible would have anything wise to say about money, 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:53.219 well, in fact, probably their eyes would go like that, and they'd go like that, and think, oh boy, you know. 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:57.199 In fact, even the idea that maybe you brought a guest here this morning, 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:03.740 maybe, and they're not a follower of Jesus, if you're not a follower of Jesus, 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:10.259 right now you're sort of cringing, thinking, oh, good grief, he's talking about money and wealth. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.780 Why on earth did I invite anybody to church today? 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:15.620 That was a really big mistake. 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:18.240 That's how we often tend to feel. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:22.900 So actually, this is a really good opportunity for me to give my proviso. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:27.879 I don't know if Andrew used to have R-rated things that he'd put up when I was going to talk about topics like this. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:30.140 This is a really good opportunity for me to just say, 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:32.500 is that in a couple of minutes, or more than a couple of minutes, 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:35.480 later on when we have the offering, 00:03:36.040 --> 00:03:38.140 I'd just like to make sure that everybody knows, 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:42.620 if you're not a follower of Jesus, we don't want you to put money in the plate. 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:44.760 You're here as our guest. 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:46.799 We're just so glad you're here. 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:55.000 And, you know, that's sort of for people who call this their church home and for followers of Jesus. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:03:58.759 And we just want to be a blessing and generous to you. 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:02.899 So after the service, coffee, tea, lots of cookies, like just fill yourself up. 00:04:03.299 --> 00:04:06.519 But I'd actually rather that you didn't put money on the plate, 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:08.819 because it's not about money, as you're going to see. 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:10.099 But anyway, so here we are. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:13.500 We're going to talk about these proverbs about money and stuff like that. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:19.800 And basically, many people in our culture think that the Bible says nonsense stuff. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:22.540 And the fact of the matter is, is that when we're honest, 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:27.300 we believe that a lot of things in the Bible don't make any sense and are nonsense. 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:33.360 Ken Hivart, last week when he did the reading, he was a bit funny, 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.159 because he sort of did an editorial comment as he read the proverbs. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:37.439 I don't agree with this. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:38.219 I don't agree with that. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:41.719 And the fact of the matter is, he was just giving voice to what goes on in a lot of our heads. 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:45.879 If you don't believe me, Andrew, could you put up the first proverb that we're going to read? 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:48.939 I think it's Proverbs, there we go, 10, 3 to 4. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:51.839 Could you folks read this proverb with me out loud? 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:58.379 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:03.980 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:05.120 So here's the problem. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:06.680 We all know that's not true, don't we? 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:08.879 I mean, we all know that's not true. 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:12.920 The fact of the matter is, is that in many places in Africa and India, 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:18.040 there's lots of righteous followers of Jesus, 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.939 and they're suffering terrible poverty and famine. 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:25.379 And, you know, one of the things I've noticed about my kids, 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:29.319 when I went through high school and elementary school like 100 million years ago, 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:31.699 before they'd invented group projects. 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:35.459 Believe it or not, there was a time when there weren't group projects at school. 00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:41.759 But what I've noticed about group projects is that almost every group project involves one kid or more, 00:05:41.899 --> 00:05:48.240 who does no work, no work, and gets the same mark as others. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:56.379 In fact, it seems as if there's some kids in university who their special talent is to figure out who the smart kids are to get in their group, 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:59.819 so they can get no work and get the mark of the smart kids. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:02.980 And many of us who've worked in the civil service and other places, 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:11.779 we all know that there's incompetent, lazy people whose expertise is kissing butt and flattering the boss so they get promotions. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:13.019 Right? 00:06:13.019 --> 00:06:17.339 We all know that's true. 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:19.699 So this proverb can't be possibly correct. 00:06:20.719 --> 00:06:23.099 Now, let's look at another one that we all know that's not true. 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:24.659 And I'm going to tell you a funny thing about this. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:25.459 This is a proverb. 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:27.039 I grew up in a Baptist church. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:32.159 And the Baptist church that I grew up in was a church that believed that you should never drink alcohol. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:34.279 And it also was a church that practiced tithing. 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:39.239 But they never showed me this proverb that says that if I tithe, God will give me lots of wine. 00:06:40.359 --> 00:06:47.879 Like, you know, ever since I noticed it this week, I've been meaning to email it to all my Baptist and Pentecostal friends. 00:06:47.979 --> 00:06:48.699 Could you put it up? 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:49.799 It's the next one. 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:50.839 Let's read it with me. 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:56.239 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce. 00:06:56.619 --> 00:07:02.000 Then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.319 Give us your money. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:07.860 You'll be rich and have more wine than you can drink. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.579 That would sell on Rideau Street. 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:11.639 Let me tell you. 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:15.899 There would be so many people coming to church to give their tithe. 00:07:16.019 --> 00:07:16.779 Let's see, my welfare. 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:17.720 Just never mind. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:18.000 Anyway. 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:20.699 So here's the thing is, okay. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.399 Now, we, you know, we're all polite Christians. 00:07:24.660 --> 00:07:27.160 And we know that we're not supposed to say that these things aren't true. 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:31.019 But one of the reasons that people don't like, one of the many reasons people don't like the book of Proverbs 00:07:31.019 --> 00:07:33.419 is it seems to say things that aren't true. 00:07:34.259 --> 00:07:36.959 So I'm going to go through these fairly quickly, hopefully. 00:07:37.479 --> 00:07:38.759 But I want to just share with you. 00:07:38.799 --> 00:07:41.839 And if you don't have time to write them down or you don't want to write them down, that's fine. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:43.560 It'll all go on the webpage later on. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:47.439 I want to share with you a couple of things about how to read and understand Proverbs. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.060 Andrew, if you could put the first one up. 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:53.419 Read a proverb as a proverb and not as a law. 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:58.319 Read a proverb as a proverb and not as a law. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:03.399 Now, lots of Christians violate this all the time. 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:06.040 Without a vision, the people will perish. 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:10.180 If you don't have a good vision for your church or your organization, it's all going to collapse. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:12.100 That's not what that proverb means. 00:08:12.839 --> 00:08:13.719 Good grief. 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:19.800 That's interpreted in a mechanistic way and it's using vision in a way that has nothing to do with it 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.920 as a business tool that's been developed over the last 20 years. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:31.620 And how many health and wealth gospels, maybe some of the different evangelists that John Oliver or Joe Oliver, 00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:35.580 whatever his name is, Mr. Oliver, has mocked this week. 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:39.759 How many of them interpret Proverbs 3, 9, and 10 in some type of mechanistic way? 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:44.460 Give your money to God through me and God will make you rich. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:48.420 I mean, how many people understand that as a mechanistic law? 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:50.139 So here's the thing about this. 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:55.539 All of these, I'm going to give you these little things to how to read Proverbs and it's not special pleading. 00:08:56.699 --> 00:09:01.159 It's just actually looking at the literary genre and the place of the book. 00:09:01.580 --> 00:09:02.519 Because you know what? 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:03.860 What's the book called? 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:06.439 Proverbs, not laws. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.720 That's what it's called. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.500 So read every proverb as a proverb. 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:14.319 Not as a mechanistic law. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.819 Do this and this will automatically happen. 00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:17.360 Second one. 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:18.259 Could you put it up, Andrew? 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:22.559 Do not read one proverb as if it is the only proverb. 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:28.179 So, you know, don't read one proverb as if it's the only proverb. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:34.919 You have to, I mean, Proverbs is, Proverbs is not designed for the Twitterverse that we live in today. 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:39.019 Where you want one little thing and you want it right now and you want it to be really clear 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:42.519 so you can get happy about it or mad about it or laugh about it or share it. 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:48.460 And you want it, no, Proverbs, I mean, somebody this week was talking to me about how, you know, 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:50.779 they found my sermon last week illogical. 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:55.539 And that was a fair comment because, you see, the book of Proverbs is not logical. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:10:03.620 If I was to make Proverbs, I'm losing my mic, if I was to make Proverbs logical, I'd be turning it into something that it isn't. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:10.100 And the book of Proverbs, as you'll see when I put, you know, out of the many, many Proverbs in the book of Proverbs 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:15.899 about money and wealth and work and poverty and all that stuff, I just, I pick some of them. 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:18.000 I pick the ones that I think are the most representative. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.639 I don't try to dodge hard ones. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:23.539 And I just put them in the order of this reading here in terms of how they come in the book. 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:26.099 But when I'm going to talk about them, I don't do them in order. 00:10:26.459 --> 00:10:29.519 And the fact of the matter is, is that you have to balance these different Proverbs. 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:34.120 As you'll see in a moment when we talk about some Proverbs about wealth and stuff like that, 00:10:34.219 --> 00:10:38.719 the book of Proverbs has, the book of Proverbs is very subtle and very wise. 00:10:39.199 --> 00:10:42.179 So don't read one proverb as if it's the only proverb. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.679 Search the scriptures. 00:10:44.579 --> 00:10:47.059 Search the book of Proverbs and look for other Proverbs. 00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:48.459 And then look at how they fit together. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:50.279 This leads me to the third point. 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:56.519 Read each proverb in light of life now and eternity. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:01.659 Read each proverb in light of life now and of eternity. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.539 Many of the things in the book of Proverbs, if there is no God, 00:11:07.439 --> 00:11:09.839 or if the God is sort of the God of deists, 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:12.659 which is he sort of set everything up, he designed the planet, 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:15.799 and then he's off on an extended holiday and he has nothing to do with the earth. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:19.000 Or if it's sort of like a more Hindu or Buddhist God, 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:24.740 which is like sort of God is in everything or doesn't have a plan or purpose or design, 00:11:25.179 --> 00:11:27.779 then a lot of the Proverbs make absolutely no sense. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:32.500 A lot of the Proverbs take a long view of things. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.860 I was going to put it in and I ended up not doing it. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:36.960 You can do it later on. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:45.700 I looked up like how much money would you have made if you had bought the first Apple shares in 1994. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:51.019 Every one of us, if we put a couple of thousand bucks, we would be very well off. 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:56.320 Probably every one of us could be mortgage free if we had done that. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:58.620 And that's only 21 years. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:05.759 And the fact of the matter is that the Bible is not always talking about things. 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:07.440 It's taking a really long view. 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:09.799 It's taking not only life now but eternity. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.320 It's taking the fact that there is a God that does exist 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.600 and that there's going to be a judgment. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:16.560 And it's taking this long view into it. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.960 And so if you just read the Proverbs as if it's talking about what's going to happen this week, 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:24.500 you're not reading the book of Proverbs as it's designed to be read. 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:32.460 If you could put up the fourth point, a proverb will be fulfilled fully, partly, or spiritually. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.120 We're going to talk about this. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.600 You'll see this more as we go through it. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:38.340 But, I mean, here's one of the things. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:42.259 You're going to see that, like, even this thing about the honor of the Lord, Proverbs 3, 9, and 10. 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:44.000 We're going to talk about that a little bit more later on. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.600 I know people who tithe and more. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:51.019 They give 10% of all their income. 00:12:51.019 --> 00:13:00.000 And I think every person I've met who tithes, most of them haven't become rich, by the way, 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:06.439 but every person who tithes will tell you stories of God's remarkable provision. 00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:08.439 Everyone. 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:12.620 Everyone will tell you some story where their barn was empty 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:15.120 and they didn't know what was going to happen and God provided. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.759 Everyone. 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:19.419 So sometimes the Proverbs are fulfilled partly. 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:23.199 Sometimes it might be fulfilled quite dramatically in your life. 00:13:23.839 --> 00:13:25.699 And all of them will be fulfilled eventually. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:30.519 And sometimes they're to be understood within the basic hierarchy of how Proverbs understands things. 00:13:30.579 --> 00:13:32.939 It'll be understood in terms of other types of riches. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:34.779 And that's how we have to. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.259 And the final, the fifth thing about how to read the Proverbs 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:42.720 is that Proverbs assumes that you will seek the living God for wisdom 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:46.240 as to which proverb applies in each situation. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.819 Proverbs assumes that you will seek the living God for wisdom 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:53.659 as to which proverb applies in each situation. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:58.319 See, here's one of the things, is that every culture has Proverbs. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:02.420 It doesn't matter if it's a Buddhist culture, a Hindu culture, a New Age culture, 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:07.100 an atheist culture, a money-making secular culture, a Christian culture. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:09.420 Every culture has Proverbs. 00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:14.120 And the fact of the matter is that Proverbs always have to have some type of context. 00:14:14.280 --> 00:14:15.780 Just take a very, very simple one. 00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:19.520 A very, very simple proverb. 00:14:20.060 --> 00:14:22.140 Too many cooks spoil the broth. 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.060 Okay? 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:26.300 Two heads are better than one. 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:26.899 One moment. 00:14:26.979 --> 00:14:27.879 Those things actually... 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:31.139 So, George, is it all right to ask advice from one person, 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:34.039 but if I ask it from a third or fourth person, it's going to spoil the broth? 00:14:34.599 --> 00:14:34.919 No. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:38.859 I mean, if one of my kids or, you know, a young person came to me 00:14:38.859 --> 00:14:40.120 and they're talking to me about a problem, 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.439 I might say to them, 00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:42.459 you know what the problem is right here? 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.759 Too many cooks spoil the broth. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:47.379 This is a situation where you've got to deal with this all by yourself. 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.839 You've just got to deal with it by yourself. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:52.439 And then maybe they took that in a mechanistic law type of way 00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:54.299 and they're always trying to solve everything by themselves 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.620 and they run into some type of problem 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:57.159 and they come to me and I said, 00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:59.120 you know, your problem is two heads are better than one. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.399 You need to talk and get advice. 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:01.679 They wouldn't say, 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.000 one moment, George, you're contradicting. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:04.519 No. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.560 That's how proverbs work. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:09.179 In every culture. 00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:15.740 And in fact, the book of proverbs is designed to drive you and me to our knees 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:19.879 and say, God, I really need your wisdom as to when this is applying 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.860 and when this is applying. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.980 I'm in this situation. 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.279 I really need your wisdom. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:27.120 And so one of the great things about learning the book of proverbs 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.720 and memorizing proverbs is that maybe as you pray, 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:33.279 God will make you realize that in this particular context, 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:37.360 this is the proverb that's really going to give you wisdom to move forward. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:47.039 So, hopefully that's helped a little tiny bit in terms of whether or not, you know, 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:49.360 because it's really easy to make the Bible look ridiculous. 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:52.220 It's the easiest thing in the world to make the Bible look ridiculous. 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:56.720 Anyone with, you know, probably a grade five education, if they wanted to, 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:58.200 could make it look really, really ridiculous. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.279 It doesn't have to be very clever. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:03.759 But just reading proverbs, just using the normal way to read it, 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:07.779 you realize that these other things, you can see, well, you know, 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:12.059 there are many cases where the righteous, I mean, as you know, 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:17.120 many people will tell you that as they follow Jesus that he's met their needs, 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.620 that he's met their deepest needs. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.559 And many people will tell you that, you know, laziness and stuff like that 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.480 is going to end up costing you in a whole type of ways. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:27.700 And, you know, obviously there's some wisdom in this. 00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:30.779 And honor the Lord, and that's obviously a good thing, 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:32.720 and we'll talk about it more in a second. 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:38.019 But some of you might say, well, George, okay, okay, George, you say this, 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:42.620 but doesn't the Bible tell everyone to be poor and give their money away? 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:45.720 Like, isn't that sort of what the new Pope seems to be talking about a little bit, 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:50.300 like dissing private enterprise and talking about being poor? 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:54.839 And, George, isn't that like sort of, isn't that like the church did all those years 00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:56.459 in the province of Quebec? 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:59.599 And weren't the priests, like, living a pretty comfortable life 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:03.620 and amassing lots of property and telling all those good French Catholics 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:06.819 that they should just be poor and that they should thank God for being poor? 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:08.220 Like, isn't that what the Bible says? 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.019 Not at all. 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:12.879 Let's look at Proverbs 10, 15. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.279 Proverbs 10, 15. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.200 You want to read it with me? 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:19.759 A rich man's wealth is his strong city. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.279 The poverty of the poor is their ruin. 00:17:22.340 --> 00:17:24.140 We're going to go through these Proverbs a bit quicker now. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:26.559 You want to, let's say it again because you got out of the rhythm. 00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:30.180 A rich man's wealth is his strong city. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:32.940 The poverty of the poor is their ruin. 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.580 Here's the thing about this particular parable, 00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:41.600 is that the Bible, the book of Proverbs, does not romanticize the poor. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.500 However, it does not romanticize poverty. 00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:47.139 It doesn't. 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:51.179 And, you know, there's lots of things. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:53.159 Religion often will do it. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.699 Spirituality will do it. 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:56.919 Poets and others will do it. 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:00.099 Editorialists and newspapers can maybe talk 00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:02.519 as if there's something very special and noteworthy 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:04.299 and laudable about poverty. 00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:08.119 But the book of Proverbs never romanticizes poverty. 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.399 Poverty is hard. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.580 It is ruinous. 00:18:12.560 --> 00:18:13.940 It is just hard. 00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:19.660 I mean, God might call some people to give away all to follow him, 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:23.340 but it, you know, that, and that's a special, unique, intimate type of thing, 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:27.120 you know, but it never romanticizes the problems. 00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:31.320 You know, when I was in Africa, I've only been in Africa twice, 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.660 and both are very short things, 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:35.960 and gosh, there is unbelievable poverty in a place like that. 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:40.480 And gosh, compared to them, I have this unbelievable luxury 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:43.660 that even if my credit card, even if my plane ticket was stolen, 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.920 I have this wonderful thing called a credit card, 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.279 and I could have bought a plane ticket, 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:49.700 and I could have been out of there very quick. 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:53.480 And the people who were poor there, they had nowhere to go. 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:57.380 The Bible doesn't romanticize poverty. 00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.620 Well, then some of you might say, 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:06.360 doesn't religion sometimes make it sound as if poverty is all your own fault? 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:10.779 And doesn't, like, George, like, you know, think of India, 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.019 and think of, you know, think of China, 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:16.379 and think of a lot of those, you know, countries, you know, 00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:19.539 and it's all karma, and it's like where you are, 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:21.359 you somehow deserve where you are. 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:24.399 And so isn't that just sort of what religion does all the time? 00:19:24.459 --> 00:19:28.599 It sort of makes it look like if you're poor, it's always your fault? 00:19:28.959 --> 00:19:31.779 And doesn't it sort of dehumanize it? 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:35.700 Because, you know, obviously it's really easy to sort of pour contempt 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:38.139 and not even view people as being fully human 00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:40.779 if it's somehow some type of religious principle 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:43.099 that they're poor and you're better off. 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:46.160 Isn't that what religious people talk about? 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:50.099 It might be what lots of religion and spiritualities and ideologies talk about, 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.440 but it's not what the book of Proverbs talks about at all. 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:53.319 Far from it. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.299 If you could put up the next proverb, 22.2, 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:58.039 could you read this with me? 00:19:58.039 --> 00:20:01.839 The rich and the poor meet together. 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:04.799 The Lord is the maker of them all. 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.099 Isn't that amazing? 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:08.379 Full humanity. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.279 Bill Gates is made by God. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.899 The poorest of the poor in the poorest country in the world, 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:16.639 equally made by God. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:21.399 In fact, Genesis 1 tells us that every human being is made in the image of God. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:24.879 It's not that rich people are more in the image of God than poor people. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:29.620 There is only, we might think, a rich person might think that they're a self-made man or woman. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:32.180 Nobody's a self-made man or woman. 00:20:32.760 --> 00:20:34.640 Every human being has a maker. 00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:37.700 Every human being has a maker. 00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:43.880 The Bible levels it and in a sense humbles the rich 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:46.000 to make them realize that they have a maker 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:49.560 and exalts the poor to full humanity. 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.560 They have a maker. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.159 Let's look at another one that talks about the same thing, 29.13. 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.319 29.13. 00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.619 Can you read this with me, please? 00:20:57.339 --> 00:21:00.559 The poor man and the oppressor meet together. 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:03.839 The Lord gives light to the eyes of both. 00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:06.980 See, once again, it's even really interesting in this particular text. 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.240 It talks about the oppressor. 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.720 Like, what do oppressors do? 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.940 They practice injustice. 00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:12.240 They practice evil. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:14.900 They treat certain types. 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.120 You know, in the Russian Revolution, 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:19.019 people who had certain... 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:21.000 And in the Cambodian Revolution, 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:23.299 you know, the people who had property 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.620 or the people who were educated, 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:27.220 they're completely and utterly dehumanized. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.759 So you can do whatever you want to them. 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.680 You can kill them. 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.120 You can throw them in the gulag. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.240 You can just take away their property. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:35.440 It's very common for oppressors 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.620 to dehumanize and delegitimize people 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.819 that they are over. 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.539 And here the Bible says, 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:44.819 even the oppressors and even the oppressed, 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:48.319 God gives light to their eyes equally. 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.859 And it's an analogy. 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:52.259 Light to the eyes is an analogy for life. 00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.159 God... 00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:58.819 There is a radical, radical affirmation 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.399 of the humanity of the poor 00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:03.339 in the book of Proverbs 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:06.619 without at all romanticizing the poor. 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:10.199 So, well, some of you might say, 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:13.379 okay, George, but... 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.979 Okay, but, you know, 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.379 okay, George, you know that last... 00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:17.219 The new pope and all. 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.779 Wouldn't some of his advice 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.879 just lead to poverty? 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.599 And like, you know, 00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:24.179 I'm a little bit confused, actually, George, 00:22:24.219 --> 00:22:25.859 because, you know, on one hand, 00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:28.500 you seem to have some people 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:30.239 who are religious and Christian 00:22:30.239 --> 00:22:32.299 and they use the Bible to make it sound 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.500 and they give you advice 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.559 that's just going to make you poor. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.700 And yet, you know, George, 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.259 there's other people 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.200 who seem to use the Bible 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.139 to say as if it's going to make you all rich. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.919 And I'm... 00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.759 You know, what... 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:43.059 What's going on? 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.440 Let's look at another proverb. 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:47.179 Proverbs 24, 3 to 4. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.139 Proverbs 24, 3 to 4. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.679 Can you read this one with me, please? 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:53.659 By wisdom, a house is built, 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.819 and by understanding, it is established. 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.759 By knowledge, the rooms are filled 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.579 with all precious and pleasant riches. 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.019 Notice that. 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.019 See, one of the things 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.019 that the book of Proverbs 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.700 is very realistic about 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:10.359 is that if you end up listening 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:11.059 to the Proverbs 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.500 and putting them into practice, 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.940 it's quite possible 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:15.139 you will become better off 00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:15.920 than you were before. 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.740 Like, it's... 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.879 There's many, many Proverbs, 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.639 but the Proverbs which call you 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:23.619 to avoid laziness 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:26.279 and to embrace working 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.879 in a diligent, thoughtful, 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:29.680 reasoned, wise, 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:32.960 you know, consistent, hard manner, 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:35.100 I mean, generally speaking, 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.819 when that happens, 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.759 you're far more likely 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.700 to end up with more financial resources 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.840 if you do those things 00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:41.600 than if you're lazy. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.660 The warnings about drunkenness, 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.279 once again, 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.779 if you're avoiding drunkenness 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.340 and all of the tragedies 00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.539 that come along with drunkenness, 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.559 you're far more likely 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.500 to be better off 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:52.160 than if you, you know, 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.340 ignore these Proverbs. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.160 You know, the Pro... 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.680 So the book of Proverbs 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:58.620 is very conscious of the fact 00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:01.540 that if you follow it, 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:02.900 one of the consequences 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:06.460 might be that you are better off. 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.740 And it doesn't say 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.560 that's a bad thing. 00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.540 It doesn't say good grief. 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:11.140 You know, if you're a young man 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.519 or you're a young woman 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.640 and you've worked really hard 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:15.180 and you got your degrees 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.860 and, you know, 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.560 you've gotten a job 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:18.540 in the federal service, 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.400 civil service, 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.860 or you've gotten a position, 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.660 you know, 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.759 in some other company 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.359 or you've started 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.039 your own company 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.779 and you work hard 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.579 and you make some money 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:27.339 and it's not a world... 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.879 The book of Proverbs, 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.420 the Bible, 00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:31.039 is not world-denying. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.700 It doesn't say, 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.059 well, okay, 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.940 now you have all this money 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.619 but we want you 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.619 to really feel miserable 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.359 all the time 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:37.819 and never feel happy. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:40.420 Like, pleasure comes from God. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.579 He created us 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:44.440 to experience pleasure 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:46.299 and to experience joy. 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.339 And so the book of Proverbs 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:50.259 is frankly realistic 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.980 about the fact 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.400 that for some people, 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.599 following this 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:56.200 will make you better off. 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.339 But at the same time, 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.539 it's also realistic 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.879 about the nature of wealth. 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.920 If you could put up 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.119 the next proverb, please. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:04.619 Proverbs 23, verses 4 and 5. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.940 And you want to read this 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.059 with me as well, please. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:10.420 Do not toil to acquire wealth. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:13.039 Be discerning enough to desist. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.460 When your eyes light on it, 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.500 it is gone. 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:19.059 For suddenly it sprouts wings, 00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:21.619 flying like an eagle toward heaven. 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:23.519 You see, actually, 00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.259 even that pre... 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.579 So you see how I mean 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.579 that earlier thing about 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.639 don't read one proverb 00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:28.799 as if it's the only proverb. 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.500 Like, put them together. 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.839 Like, the fact of the matter 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:34.119 is that regularly 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.839 one of the things 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.919 that happens to us 00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:37.199 is that even though 00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:37.839 maybe we've been 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.639 very hardworking 00:25:38.639 --> 00:25:39.139 and we've been 00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.739 very diligent, 00:25:39.939 --> 00:25:40.839 some mistake made 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.879 by stockbrokers 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.559 or a CEO 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.779 can do something 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:45.479 and we go down the toilet 00:25:45.479 --> 00:25:46.379 with everybody else 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:47.079 and it's not... 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.740 It's just... 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.519 We go down the toilet 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.539 like everybody else. 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:53.879 And the fact of the matter 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.519 is that wealth 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.799 is very impermanent, 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.159 isn't it? 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.099 I mean, I was talking 00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.099 to somebody just the other day 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:01.099 who worked for Nortel 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.099 in the glory days. 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:06.119 And I remember, 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:06.859 you know, 00:26:06.939 --> 00:26:08.679 in the late 1990s 00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:10.019 and people were investing 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.599 in Nortel, 00:26:10.699 --> 00:26:11.699 investing in high tech. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.000 It would be 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:13.279 a constant conversation. 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.119 People would almost 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.259 go online every day 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.879 to see how much 00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:17.220 their stocks were going up 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.200 and how richer 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.819 they were going. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:21.000 And I think in 2000, 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:21.619 2001, 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.519 the highest share 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.379 for Nortel 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:25.019 was $120 a share 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.539 and within a very short 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.339 time after that 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:27.859 it was down to 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.440 it's garbage. 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.339 In 2008, 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.420 there was a... 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.359 I guess we'll call it now 00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:35.700 a market readjustment. 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:38.539 And share values 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:40.220 declined 30 to 40%. 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:42.359 If you had 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:44.039 half a million dollars 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.420 in there, 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.279 that means within 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.200 a very, very short 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.080 period of time, 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:47.720 you, 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.800 by doing nothing, 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:51.800 you lost, 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.940 you maybe lost 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.160 $200,000. 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.140 And there's probably 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.180 people here in this room 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.980 that can tell you 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.880 how much they lost. 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.140 Probably wasn't easy 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.940 as well. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.880 Riches, in fact, 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.880 are impermanent. 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.100 They really are. 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.100 And so, 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.759 you see, 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.640 when you put these 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.660 different proverbs together, 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.759 you also sort of notice 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.200 that it's saying here 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.299 in this particular proverb, 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.120 the problem 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:17.720 is toiling to acquire wealth. 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:21.160 The problem is toiling 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:23.600 to acquire wealth per se. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:24.840 You see, 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.160 it's really trying to say 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.960 that, you know, 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.220 it's a very, very different thing 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.059 if you really want 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.240 to master sociology, 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.860 you want to master statistics, 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.980 or you want to master 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.319 playing the viola, 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.519 or you want to master 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.819 being able to help people 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.620 manage money 00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:39.319 in a different way, 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:39.900 or you really want 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.840 to be able to master 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.880 classical literature, 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.560 or you really want 00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:43.460 to be able to master 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:45.900 writing oil-style country music, 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.780 or whatever it is, 00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:48.040 and you really work hard 00:27:48.040 --> 00:27:48.300 at this, 00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:48.940 and at the same time, 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.540 you want to provide 00:27:49.540 --> 00:27:50.019 for yourself, 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.700 and you want to provide 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.500 for your loved ones, 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:52.740 and you maybe want to provide 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.800 for children and grandchildren, 00:27:54.060 --> 00:27:54.980 and you work really hard 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.420 at these things, 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.320 and sometimes one of the 00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:57.600 byproducts that come from that 00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.440 is that you start 00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.420 to make lots of money. 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:02.080 But the heart of the work 00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:02.780 with your knowledge 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:03.259 and your wisdom 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.780 and understanding 00:28:03.780 --> 00:28:05.240 isn't just to try to say, 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.200 what am I going to do 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.019 to make lots and lots 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.540 and lots of money? 00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.380 It doesn't matter what it is. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.600 Should I rob a bank? 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.840 Should I start a bank? 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:12.480 Should I work for a bank? 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:15.160 Like, it's trying 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:17.100 to pursue that 00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.320 as opposed to pursuing 00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:20.160 those other types of goods, 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:22.020 and that's part, 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:25.460 that's a big human trap. 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:28.980 And so you see 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.920 that the Bible 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.780 is very, very frank 00:28:31.780 --> 00:28:32.520 and realistic 00:28:32.520 --> 00:28:34.200 and very, very wise. 00:28:34.820 --> 00:28:35.540 In fact, Andrew, 00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:37.440 if you could put up 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.440 my first point, 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:40.160 you know, my real point, 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.700 so if you remember 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.259 the Proverbs, 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.200 that's the best thing, 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.320 but I want to try 00:28:43.320 --> 00:28:43.799 to summarize 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.940 some of the teaching 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.759 of the book of Proverbs 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.120 in this very simple point. 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:49.039 Wealth is a great good, 00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:50.480 but a terrible God. 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.779 That's tattooable, okay? 00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.100 You know? 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.100 I'm not encouraging tattoos, okay? 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:03.359 But it sure beats 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.000 some meaningless 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.099 little Chinese thing 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.759 that you can't even 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.719 remember afterwards, 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.000 you know, 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.279 what it's supposed to mean, 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:08.559 you know? 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.819 Wealth is a great good, 00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:12.039 but a terrible God. 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:15.639 If you get your identity 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.719 from wealth, 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.039 if you serve wealth, 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:19.240 if you hope in wealth, 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.539 it's a terrible God. 00:29:21.959 --> 00:29:22.500 But gosh, 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.339 it's a great good. 00:29:23.939 --> 00:29:24.859 It can be a great good. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.459 We're going to talk more 00:29:25.459 --> 00:29:26.039 about in a second 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.719 about how it can be 00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:27.259 a great good. 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.599 I mean, you know, 00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:29.659 when I was in Nairobi, 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.540 I wasn't complaining 00:29:30.540 --> 00:29:31.120 about the fact 00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.240 that I had this magic. 00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:32.980 I mean, I've lived 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.840 paycheck to paycheck 00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:34.680 my whole life. 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:35.840 But, you know, 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.660 there's no question 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.680 that in a country like Kenya, 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.620 I would have been 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.420 very wealthy. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.700 But I've always lived 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.640 paycheck to paycheck. 00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.740 Still do. 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.100 You know, 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:45.019 someday maybe 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.940 that will stop. 00:29:46.040 --> 00:29:46.160 I mean, 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.160 hopefully eventually 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.840 I'll retire, 00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:49.200 so I won't be able 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.380 to live paycheck to paycheck. 00:29:51.040 --> 00:29:51.620 But, you know, 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.840 it's a great benefit 00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:54.200 that God, 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.180 for whatever reason, 00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:56.400 I have this credit card 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.160 I could have got out of there 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.779 at any time 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.720 if there's something happening 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.600 and as a Canadian, 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.980 if there was some other problem, 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.120 the government would even 00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:03.160 come in and try to help. 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.640 It's a good, 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.299 it's a good. 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.839 And we should be thankful for it. 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.039 We should be grateful for it. 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.180 We should rejoice in it. 00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:11.360 We should enjoy it. 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.420 But it's a terrible God. 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.880 It's a terrible God. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.220 In fact, 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:19.200 here's another proverb 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:21.160 which really wonderfully expresses it. 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.720 If you could put it up, 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.319 it's Proverbs 18.11. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:25.019 Proverbs 18.11. 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.279 Say it with me. 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:28.559 A rich man's wealth 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:30.099 is his strong city 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.920 and like a high wall 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:33.579 in his imagination. 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:36.279 In his imagination. 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:39.779 It's, 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:44.399 obviously there's benefits 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.379 to money 00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:46.440 that aren't imaginary, 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.599 but when you make it a God, 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.639 it's imaginary. 00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:53.200 It's imaginary. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.200 There you go. 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:56.400 So some of, 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:56.960 so George, 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.440 okay, 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.960 some of you are saying, 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.160 George, 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.380 okay, 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.539 this is actually pretty interesting. 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.400 So are you telling me 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.600 that I should become more religious 00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:03.240 or more spiritual 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.360 or something like that? 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.559 Like, 00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:05.759 is that the way to go forward? 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:07.100 If I'm sort of more religious 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:07.840 with my money, 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.740 I'll be better off? 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.519 Or if I'm more spiritual 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.000 with my money, 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.660 I'm better off? 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.559 In fact, 00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.480 actually the Bible 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:14.240 never tells you 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.180 to become more religious 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:15.920 or spiritual, 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.819 at least not in the way 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.259 that the world 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.220 understands spiritual. 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.140 In fact, 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:20.940 out of all of the literature 00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.519 and all of the ideologies, 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.660 there is no book 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.740 that critiques religion 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.720 more than the Bible. 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:28.220 There's no book 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.980 that could critique 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.519 spiritual, 00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:30.120 not religious 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:31.120 more than the Bible. 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.700 Could put up 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.380 the next proverb, 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.880 Proverbs 17.1. 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.759 Proverbs 17.1. 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:38.539 Want to say it with me, 00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:38.820 please? 00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:41.460 Better is a dry morsel 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.360 with quiet 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:43.740 than a house full 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.480 of feasting 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.259 with strife. 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.460 So here's the thing. 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.059 It's part of this, 00:31:47.100 --> 00:31:48.039 this background knowledge 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.680 being able to read 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.559 the book of Proverbs. 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:52.740 In the ancient world 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:54.039 and in the world 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.179 of the book of Proverbs, 00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:56.339 feasting was connected 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.579 with, 00:31:56.679 --> 00:31:57.379 first you'd have 00:31:57.379 --> 00:31:58.220 a sacrifice 00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:00.220 and then you'd feast. 00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:03.099 And the book of, 00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:04.419 so what it's really saying 00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:04.579 is, 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:04.960 you know what, 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:07.779 you can be so well off 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.659 that you can afford 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:09.759 to go to all these 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.679 religious ceremonies 00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:11.619 and you can be 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.799 sacrificing things 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.700 like crazy 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:15.099 and then feasting 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.720 like crazy, 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.159 but you know, 00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.779 often it's just, 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.559 there's still a lot 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.240 of strife. 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.220 In fact, 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:19.880 the matter is, 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.880 is that rather than 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.660 all these religious 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.380 ceremonies 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:24.079 that don't necessarily 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.759 do anything at all 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.299 about strife, 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.440 you're probably better off 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.480 with just a dry morsel 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.099 of bread sitting 00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.700 by yourself 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.359 in the quiet. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:29.660 Like, 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:31.839 religion doesn't help you. 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.700 Spiritual, 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:33.440 not religious, 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.859 doesn't help you. 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:36.960 You know, 00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:37.880 I've been involved 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:38.299 in that. 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.480 You know, 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.480 I'm part of the 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.519 Anglican Church of Canada 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.120 for a long time. 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.960 I'm not picking on them, 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.720 but I made a comment 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.359 about Baptists, 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:43.859 so I have to say 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.920 something about Anglicans. 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.620 And let me tell you, 00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:46.899 you know, 00:32:46.959 --> 00:32:47.879 behind sometimes 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:49.039 all of this great, 00:32:49.179 --> 00:32:50.119 wonderful ceremony 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.259 that Anglicans can do 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.579 really, 00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.299 really well, 00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.179 and you know, 00:32:53.219 --> 00:32:54.399 we all walk down 00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.539 all in robes, 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.000 and all, 00:32:56.479 --> 00:32:56.759 you know, 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.579 we know the right way 00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.319 to stand. 00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.539 But you know what? 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.079 In the pews, 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.519 people are saying, 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:02.879 look at that, 00:33:02.919 --> 00:33:03.659 he's always like this, 00:33:03.699 --> 00:33:04.419 it should be like this, 00:33:04.459 --> 00:33:05.099 it should be like this. 00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:05.319 You know, 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.059 he's doing his hands 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.000 like this for the celebration, 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:07.819 it should be like this, 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.579 it should be like this, 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.199 or he's doing this, 00:33:09.239 --> 00:33:09.959 or he's doing that, 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.839 or it's so finicky, 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:12.399 and all it's doing 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:14.299 is there's just so much 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.740 bitching and complaining 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:17.019 and one-upmanship 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.899 going on behind the scene 00:33:18.899 --> 00:33:19.919 in all of this 00:33:19.919 --> 00:33:21.359 fantastic ceremony. 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.459 But it used to sometimes 00:33:23.459 --> 00:33:24.559 be a huge bother 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:26.240 to sit with the clergy 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.459 in one of these ceremonies 00:33:27.459 --> 00:33:28.399 because they're all 00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:30.039 gossiping and commenting 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:30.720 and talking 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:32.220 while the ceremony's going on. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.059 I hope I didn't 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.599 make some of you 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.139 lose your, 00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:37.199 I'm not saying, 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.980 there's nothing bad 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.480 with things, 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:38.759 okay? 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.700 But what the text 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.339 is saying is 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.799 religious ceremonies 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.799 and sacrifices 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:45.140 isn't going to solve 00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:45.900 the problem. 00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:48.200 That's what it's saying. 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.000 It's not going to solve 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.579 the problem. 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:51.120 It's not pointing 00:33:51.120 --> 00:33:52.140 to this. 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.259 So, 00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.319 in fact, 00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:55.839 actually, 00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.700 one of the things 00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:59.200 that might surprise people 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.099 is that the Bible 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:02.720 actually says something 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.480 that probably 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.279 many people 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:04.720 on the street, 00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.799 if you're after the service, 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.880 go up and just down, 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.660 go to the pride 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.940 parade later on 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.559 and ask people 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.380 or go on Rito Street 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.039 and ask people 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.300 and you ask them, 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:13.059 do you think 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:15.200 that if you have to, 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:15.900 if there is a God 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.519 that does exist 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.200 and you have to appear 00:34:17.200 --> 00:34:18.220 before the judgment throne, 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.559 do you think that God 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.820 cares about how much 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.559 was in your bank 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.400 before you died? 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.360 And probably everybody 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:23.639 who said, 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:23.980 no, 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.680 no God worthy 00:34:25.680 --> 00:34:26.460 of being God 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.099 is going to care 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:28.480 about what's in the bank 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.079 account before you died. 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.480 That's in the Bible. 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:34.720 Look at the next proverb, 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.300 Proverb 11.4. 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:38.680 Proverbs 11.4. 00:34:39.060 --> 00:34:39.860 Say it with me. 00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:42.420 Riches do not profit 00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.780 in the day of wrath, 00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.240 but righteousness 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:46.860 delivers from death. 00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:49.760 You know, 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.380 God doesn't say, 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.620 okay, 00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:50.960 yeah, 00:34:51.060 --> 00:34:51.240 yeah, 00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:51.480 yeah, 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:51.680 yeah, 00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:51.900 okay, 00:34:52.060 --> 00:34:52.360 yeah, 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.519 yeah, 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:52.539 yeah, 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.260 I know you oppressed 00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:54.019 your workers 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.340 and I know you went bankrupt 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:56.120 in such a way 00:34:56.120 --> 00:34:56.920 that you could sort of 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:58.820 screw all of your suppliers 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.860 and your employers 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:01.140 and employees 00:35:01.140 --> 00:35:02.480 and actually be able 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.160 to walk away 00:35:03.160 --> 00:35:04.519 with a really tidy amount 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.619 of money in your pocket 00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:05.900 and, 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.500 you know, 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.119 wow, 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:08.000 am I ever impressed 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:09.119 by your dollars. 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.500 So you're going to have 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:10.900 a good place. 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.079 No, 00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.599 it's not how, 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:11.840 no, 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.179 everybody, 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:12.840 it's not only is that 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.840 a common view, 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.119 actually it's probably 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.480 a view that ultimately 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:16.960 comes, 00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:18.099 it's an echo of an echo 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.539 of an echo 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.179 of the Bible 00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.860 and it's also just 00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.500 an echo 00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.820 and a sense of how 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.619 if there is a God 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.119 who does exist, 00:35:24.199 --> 00:35:25.179 how he must be just. 00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:27.759 But this particular proverb 00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:28.239 has, 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.320 there's a riddle 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:29.940 within it. 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:33.059 Riches do not profit 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:33.800 in the day of wrath 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.460 but righteousness 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.720 delivers from death. 00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:37.260 We think we understand it 00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:38.079 but it actually, 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.860 it poses a question 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.360 but who is righteous? 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:45.780 I'm spiritual, 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.460 not religious 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:48.320 and I do all these things 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.240 but I'm a good person. 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.280 I know how to do 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:52.780 these fancy Anglican 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:54.340 or Roman Catholic ceremonies 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:56.480 and I'm a good person. 00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:58.840 I give money to the church, 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.840 I'm a good person. 00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:01.059 When I go through 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:01.720 Loblaws 00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.460 and I, 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.500 they say, 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:03.920 do you want to give 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:04.480 two dollars 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:06.740 on your bill 00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:08.300 for cancer or whatever 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:08.760 and you say, 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.019 yeah, yeah, 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.400 go ahead. 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:09.619 No, 00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.000 yeah, 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.400 why not? 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:11.860 I'm a good person. 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.400 You think 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.860 the book of Proverbs 00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:16.720 was written for us 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:17.579 to think that we were 00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:18.380 good persons. 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.400 There's a riddle here. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.300 It's one of those things 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.860 that we can say, 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.440 yes, 00:36:24.740 --> 00:36:25.920 God's not going to give 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.519 Bill Gates 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.599 a better place in heaven 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:28.500 or the Queen of England 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.400 just because they're rich. 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:29.920 Yes, 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:34.559 it's not just written 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.139 for other people, 00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:35.840 this is written for you. 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.460 Are you righteous? 00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.039 Am I righteous? 00:36:37.180 --> 00:36:37.320 No, 00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:37.720 I'm not. 00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:40.099 And there's another bit 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:41.539 of a riddle here 00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.380 in the text as well 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.300 and to understand this 00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:43.940 you have to understand 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.500 something about 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.980 how the overarching 00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:47.200 story of the Bible. 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:49.039 So, 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:50.240 I have to look at it 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.099 from your point of view. 00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:51.720 So, 00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:52.740 the overarching story 00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.340 of the Bible 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.340 and we'll imagine 00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:55.260 it starts over here 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.200 is that God creates 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:56.680 everything. 00:36:57.220 --> 00:36:57.860 He is the maker 00:36:57.860 --> 00:36:58.540 of all things, 00:36:58.640 --> 00:36:59.220 the sustainer 00:36:59.220 --> 00:36:59.680 of all things 00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.060 and he makes 00:37:00.060 --> 00:37:00.980 all things good. 00:37:01.620 --> 00:37:02.900 That's Genesis chapter 1 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:03.220 and 2. 00:37:04.060 --> 00:37:05.740 And then in Genesis chapter 3 00:37:05.740 --> 00:37:07.060 as time moves on 00:37:07.060 --> 00:37:08.020 there comes this point 00:37:08.020 --> 00:37:08.540 in time 00:37:08.540 --> 00:37:10.780 where our spiritual ancestors 00:37:10.780 --> 00:37:12.860 Adam and Eve 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:15.800 they choose to reject God 00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:16.700 and to be like God 00:37:16.700 --> 00:37:17.280 themselves. 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:19.860 And they, 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:23.500 that ends up 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.940 in a sense 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:25.059 bending or twisting 00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.059 human nature. 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.220 And it's very, 00:37:28.360 --> 00:37:28.820 very interesting. 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.680 Genesis 3 00:37:29.680 --> 00:37:30.599 isn't finished 00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:32.440 before God 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:33.660 not only sees 00:37:33.660 --> 00:37:34.519 that this has happened 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:35.280 that human beings 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.400 have wrecked themselves 00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:38.200 by trying to be like God. 00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:39.440 And they can try 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.180 to be like God 00:37:40.180 --> 00:37:41.220 by being a hero 00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:41.740 of drink, 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:42.460 by being a hero 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.240 of making money, 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:45.159 by being a military hero, 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:46.420 by being a religious hero, 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.659 by being a spiritual hero. 00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:48.659 But there's this 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:49.940 fundamental self-centeredness, 00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:50.619 this bentness 00:37:50.619 --> 00:37:51.340 to human beings 00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.480 that can bend and twist. 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:54.179 Even goods like wealth 00:37:54.179 --> 00:37:55.340 can be bent and twist 00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.220 and turned into idols 00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:57.159 and we can't be 00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:57.740 our own gods. 00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:58.280 We end up making 00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.480 other gods of wealth 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.039 or power 00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.699 or prestige 00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.380 or tribe 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:01.940 or nation 00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:02.599 or war 00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:03.880 or ideology 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:05.019 or philosophers 00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.820 or individuals 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:07.179 or a particular person 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:07.820 or a family 00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.820 and we can all twist them 00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.900 and turn them into gods 00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:11.679 and all in every case 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:12.480 we're still rejecting 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.059 the real God 00:38:13.059 --> 00:38:14.259 and the ink 00:38:14.259 --> 00:38:15.419 is hardly dry 00:38:15.419 --> 00:38:16.460 and out of God's perception 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.179 and humans' perception 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:17.839 it's hardly dry 00:38:17.839 --> 00:38:18.199 in that 00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:19.719 that God immediately 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:21.519 starts making promises. 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:21.759 promises. 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.880 He immediately 00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:27.460 start making promises 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:29.360 because 00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:31.139 and not only promises 00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:31.940 but promises 00:38:31.940 --> 00:38:33.800 and other riddles 00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:34.460 for people 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:35.820 to come to the point 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:37.259 where they say 00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:39.820 only God can fix this. 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:43.079 Only God can fix this. 00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:45.059 And so you have creation, 00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.880 you have fall, 00:38:47.259 --> 00:38:47.880 and then you have 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.460 this period of promise 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:50.920 and riddles 00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:52.400 and preparation 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:53.940 and all of it 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.679 is designed 00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:56.240 for us to come to the point 00:38:56.240 --> 00:38:56.699 and say 00:38:56.699 --> 00:38:57.519 only God. 00:38:58.699 --> 00:38:59.539 And then you have 00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:00.260 the cross 00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:02.360 which is God 00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:03.619 keeping his promise. 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:06.220 That God 00:39:06.220 --> 00:39:07.119 will do something 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:08.880 that only he can do 00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:10.480 to fix 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:12.639 who we are, 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:14.900 begin that process 00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:15.800 in terms of being able 00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.619 to experience it 00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:17.480 on this side of the grave 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.619 but ultimately 00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.679 it's all God 00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:20.380 and we know that 00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:20.920 in its fullness 00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:22.000 when Jesus comes 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:23.280 or when we die 00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:24.340 and meet him face to face. 00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:25.880 And the time period 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.719 that we live now 00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:28.740 is after the cross 00:39:28.740 --> 00:39:30.900 in what's often 00:39:30.900 --> 00:39:31.400 I call it 00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.519 the already not yet 00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:34.460 the fruits of the spirit 00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:35.840 and the first fruits 00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:36.320 of the spirit 00:39:36.320 --> 00:39:37.159 but not the fullness 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:38.699 and there's still this time 00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:39.400 not the screen 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:40.340 sorry 00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:42.480 which is when Jesus comes 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.480 and it's on one hand 00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:43.780 the end 00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:44.340 and the other hand 00:39:44.340 --> 00:39:44.960 it's the beginning. 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:47.980 But when we're standing now 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.139 on this side of the cross 00:39:49.139 --> 00:39:50.059 and when we're reading 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:50.940 the scripture text 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.800 we read everything 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:52.519 in the Old Testament 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.400 we have to realize 00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.579 that it's here 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:56.019 on this side 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:57.780 and it's setting riddles 00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:58.559 for us 00:39:58.559 --> 00:40:00.820 and connected to promises 00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:01.659 and it's designed 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.800 to have us come to the point 00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:03.300 where we say 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:04.179 only God 00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.420 only God 00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:08.500 and God 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.380 does 00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:10.840 this wonderful thing 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:12.260 and so when we read 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.059 this thing again here 00:40:13.059 --> 00:40:14.059 riches do not profit 00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.820 in the day of wrath 00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:15.880 that's God's judgment 00:40:15.880 --> 00:40:17.119 but righteousness delivers 00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:17.699 from death 00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:18.759 we have to 00:40:18.759 --> 00:40:19.699 everywhere in the Bible 00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:20.460 that you see the word 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:20.980 righteousness 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:22.119 you have to understand 00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:23.699 that it's more than 00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:24.320 just another way 00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:25.599 to understand what's good 00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:28.639 that it's a relational term 00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:31.019 a place term 00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:33.440 and I'll give you 00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:33.860 an illustration 00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:34.420 of what it is 00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:34.960 let's say I don't know 00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:35.739 who the richest person 00:40:35.739 --> 00:40:36.460 is in the congregation 00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.759 let's just call him Bob 00:40:37.759 --> 00:40:40.159 and Bob and Sally 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:41.639 they end up having 00:40:41.639 --> 00:40:42.639 this gathering 00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:43.759 and they go to a restaurant 00:40:43.759 --> 00:40:44.400 and they call together 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:45.119 a lot of people 00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:47.019 and you know 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.920 they've invited people 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:48.500 their neighbors 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:49.000 and stuff 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.759 to this restaurant 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:51.219 and then Sally 00:40:51.219 --> 00:40:52.980 whispers to Bob 00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:53.679 and says 00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:54.279 you know Bob 00:40:54.279 --> 00:40:55.719 you know look 00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:56.619 who's over there 00:40:56.619 --> 00:40:57.259 you know there's 00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:58.440 you know Prudence 00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:59.019 is over there 00:40:59.019 --> 00:41:00.299 and Phil is over there 00:41:00.299 --> 00:41:00.879 and you know what 00:41:00.879 --> 00:41:03.139 they probably didn't realize 00:41:03.139 --> 00:41:04.000 this was going to be 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:05.199 such a steep restaurant 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:08.219 and they're not going to be 00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:08.759 they're going to be 00:41:08.759 --> 00:41:09.579 looking at that menu 00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:10.199 they're just going to have 00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:10.960 an appetizer 00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:11.820 because they won't be able 00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.220 to eat here 00:41:12.220 --> 00:41:12.960 they can't afford it 00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:13.679 they might not even be able 00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:14.639 to afford the appetizer 00:41:14.639 --> 00:41:16.780 and so Sally says 00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.940 to her husband Bob 00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:19.940 make it right 00:41:19.940 --> 00:41:22.900 make it righteous 00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:25.199 fix it 00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:28.820 and she's hoping then 00:41:28.820 --> 00:41:29.960 that Bob would 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:31.619 come up alongside somebody 00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:33.119 or maybe come up 00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:33.840 beside the waiter 00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:35.840 and say 00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:37.320 for these people here 00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.480 the bill doesn't go to them 00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:39.440 the bill comes to me 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:43.659 they can't pay 00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:45.440 I'm going to pay 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:47.019 I'm going to make it right 00:41:47.019 --> 00:41:48.679 I'm going to make it righteous 00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:51.880 and maybe he goes up 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:52.460 to some of them 00:41:52.460 --> 00:41:53.059 and says 00:41:53.059 --> 00:41:54.159 you know I can't tell you who 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.980 but it's all being dealt with 00:41:55.980 --> 00:41:56.760 and the person 00:41:56.760 --> 00:41:57.820 somebody's going to deal with this 00:41:57.820 --> 00:41:58.679 and they want you 00:41:58.679 --> 00:42:00.679 just to really have a good meal 00:42:00.679 --> 00:42:01.820 and it's going to be right 00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:02.840 they're going to make it right 00:42:02.840 --> 00:42:04.260 it's going to be righteous 00:42:04.260 --> 00:42:08.400 and Andrew 00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:08.920 could you put up 00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:09.720 our second point 00:42:09.720 --> 00:42:11.280 and I'm not smart enough 00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:12.280 to think of a second point 00:42:12.280 --> 00:42:13.620 so I picked a Bible passage 00:42:13.620 --> 00:42:16.140 it's a Bible passage 00:42:16.140 --> 00:42:16.900 that just about 00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:17.680 every Christian 00:42:17.680 --> 00:42:18.480 should memorize 00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:19.980 for you know 00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.740 the grace of our 00:42:20.740 --> 00:42:21.820 Lord Jesus Christ 00:42:21.820 --> 00:42:23.460 that though he was rich 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.700 yet for your sake 00:42:24.700 --> 00:42:25.640 he became poor 00:42:25.640 --> 00:42:26.820 so that you 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:27.920 by his poverty 00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:29.880 might become rich 00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:32.539 it's not a wonderful way 00:42:32.539 --> 00:42:33.340 to understand 00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:34.119 what Jesus does 00:42:34.119 --> 00:42:35.079 for instance on the cross 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:36.500 see on the cross 00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:38.380 the father says 00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:39.019 to the son 00:42:39.019 --> 00:42:40.420 you see George 00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:41.660 and you see Don 00:42:41.660 --> 00:42:42.820 and you see Joe 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:44.840 and you see Elizabeth 00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:46.059 and you see Brian 00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:47.720 and you see Andrea 00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:51.720 they can't pay for this 00:42:51.720 --> 00:42:53.579 make it right 00:42:53.579 --> 00:42:57.820 and one way to understand 00:42:57.820 --> 00:42:59.460 the mystery of the cross 00:42:59.460 --> 00:43:01.000 is the cross 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:02.500 is God 00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:04.199 making things 00:43:04.199 --> 00:43:04.800 right 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:05.900 through his son 00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:09.400 that in the cross 00:43:09.400 --> 00:43:10.619 a power of God 00:43:10.619 --> 00:43:11.420 for salvation 00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:12.699 is revealed 00:43:12.699 --> 00:43:13.599 to make us 00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:14.260 righteous 00:43:14.260 --> 00:43:16.119 and it emerges 00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:17.000 out of God's 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:17.820 faithfulness 00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:18.699 for human beings 00:43:18.699 --> 00:43:20.960 and all he asks 00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:21.440 of us 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:22.099 is faith 00:43:22.099 --> 00:43:23.920 we can't say 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:26.240 God here's a 50 00:43:26.240 --> 00:43:26.699 to help 00:43:26.699 --> 00:43:28.240 here's $500 00:43:28.240 --> 00:43:29.039 to help 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:30.139 no 00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:31.139 and in fact 00:43:31.139 --> 00:43:32.659 this wonderful text 00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:33.480 this wonderful point 00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:34.219 for you know the grace 00:43:34.219 --> 00:43:35.259 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:43:35.259 --> 00:43:36.559 that though he was rich 00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:37.860 yet for your sake 00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:38.940 he became poor 00:43:38.940 --> 00:43:40.099 so that you 00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:40.980 through his poverty 00:43:40.980 --> 00:43:42.079 might become rich 00:43:42.079 --> 00:43:43.019 like 00:43:43.019 --> 00:43:44.440 part of the wonder 00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:45.159 of the cross 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:46.360 the wonder of salvation 00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:47.619 isn't just 00:43:47.619 --> 00:43:48.860 that in a sense 00:43:48.860 --> 00:43:49.340 you know 00:43:49.340 --> 00:43:50.239 using that analogy 00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:50.579 that 00:43:50.579 --> 00:43:51.739 that Jesus 00:43:51.739 --> 00:43:52.900 picks up my bill 00:43:52.900 --> 00:43:55.460 but that Jesus 00:43:55.460 --> 00:43:56.579 gives his all 00:43:56.579 --> 00:43:57.619 out of generosity 00:43:57.619 --> 00:43:58.360 to us 00:43:58.360 --> 00:43:59.519 and it's as if 00:43:59.519 --> 00:44:00.119 it's as if 00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:00.860 the rich person 00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:01.700 in this congregation 00:44:01.700 --> 00:44:02.680 not only do they 00:44:02.680 --> 00:44:03.900 pay for the meal 00:44:03.900 --> 00:44:05.680 so that the person 00:44:05.680 --> 00:44:06.240 can eat 00:44:06.240 --> 00:44:07.559 but he also 00:44:07.559 --> 00:44:08.680 slips them 00:44:08.680 --> 00:44:12.519 his bank card 00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:13.840 connected to his 00:44:13.840 --> 00:44:15.420 50 million dollar 00:44:15.420 --> 00:44:16.059 bank account 00:44:16.059 --> 00:44:17.480 and says 00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:18.260 this is yours 00:44:18.260 --> 00:44:19.900 that's what Jesus 00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:20.840 does for us 00:44:20.840 --> 00:44:23.020 it's not that he 00:44:23.020 --> 00:44:23.980 just pays the price 00:44:23.980 --> 00:44:24.520 and then we gotta 00:44:24.520 --> 00:44:25.340 earn our own way 00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:26.100 from then on in 00:44:26.100 --> 00:44:27.740 he pays the price 00:44:27.740 --> 00:44:28.280 and gives us 00:44:28.280 --> 00:44:29.020 his bank card 00:44:29.020 --> 00:44:33.060 and the father 00:44:33.060 --> 00:44:34.880 has 00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:35.820 unlimited 00:44:35.820 --> 00:44:36.740 resources 00:44:36.740 --> 00:44:38.280 and that's given 00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:38.720 to us 00:44:38.720 --> 00:44:39.380 by faith 00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:41.460 that's what 00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:42.080 Jesus does 00:44:42.080 --> 00:44:42.400 for us 00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:42.980 on the cross 00:44:42.980 --> 00:44:45.380 that is God 00:44:45.380 --> 00:44:46.219 hoping that we 00:44:46.219 --> 00:44:46.900 read texts 00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:47.980 like Proverbs 11 00:44:47.980 --> 00:44:48.440 4 00:44:48.440 --> 00:44:49.139 and realize 00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:50.079 only God 00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:52.800 and nobody 00:44:52.800 --> 00:44:53.519 imagined 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:55.000 the unbelievable 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:56.039 generosity 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.860 of grace 00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:58.840 that we can 00:44:58.840 --> 00:44:59.420 receive 00:44:59.420 --> 00:45:00.840 for what Jesus 00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:01.400 did for us 00:45:01.400 --> 00:45:02.019 in the cross 00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:07.380 so just a couple 00:45:07.380 --> 00:45:07.800 of things 00:45:07.800 --> 00:45:08.360 to bring this 00:45:08.360 --> 00:45:09.039 to a close 00:45:09.039 --> 00:45:11.139 let's look at 00:45:11.139 --> 00:45:11.820 Proverbs 11 00:45:11.820 --> 00:45:12.300 24 00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:12.840 can you put 00:45:12.840 --> 00:45:13.160 that up 00:45:13.160 --> 00:45:13.740 on the screen 00:45:13.740 --> 00:45:15.100 Andrew 00:45:15.100 --> 00:45:15.620 can you read 00:45:15.620 --> 00:45:16.320 this with me 00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:18.180 one gives 00:45:18.180 --> 00:45:18.740 freely 00:45:18.740 --> 00:45:19.920 yet grows 00:45:19.920 --> 00:45:20.980 all the richer 00:45:20.980 --> 00:45:22.820 another withholds 00:45:22.820 --> 00:45:23.480 what he should 00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:23.920 give 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:24.840 and only 00:45:24.840 --> 00:45:25.860 suffers want 00:45:25.860 --> 00:45:26.820 this doesn't 00:45:26.820 --> 00:45:27.480 make any sense 00:45:27.480 --> 00:45:27.880 in a world 00:45:27.880 --> 00:45:28.340 where there is 00:45:28.340 --> 00:45:28.880 no God 00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:30.340 but it makes 00:45:30.340 --> 00:45:31.080 all the sense 00:45:31.080 --> 00:45:31.660 in the world 00:45:31.660 --> 00:45:33.140 if there is 00:45:33.140 --> 00:45:33.600 a world 00:45:33.600 --> 00:45:34.620 created by God 00:45:34.620 --> 00:45:35.840 sustained by God 00:45:35.840 --> 00:45:36.600 a world 00:45:36.600 --> 00:45:37.039 where God 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:37.740 is sovereign 00:45:37.740 --> 00:45:38.400 where he has 00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:39.000 sent his son 00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:40.039 as to deliver 00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:40.300 us 00:45:40.300 --> 00:45:41.080 to be salvation 00:45:41.080 --> 00:45:41.720 for us 00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:42.980 to pay 00:45:42.980 --> 00:45:43.859 and to enrich 00:45:43.859 --> 00:45:44.239 us 00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:45.139 and will bring 00:45:45.139 --> 00:45:45.579 all things 00:45:45.579 --> 00:45:46.219 to completion 00:45:46.219 --> 00:45:48.459 and as we 00:45:48.459 --> 00:45:49.779 are gripped 00:45:49.779 --> 00:45:50.959 by what Jesus 00:45:50.959 --> 00:45:51.619 does for us 00:45:51.619 --> 00:45:52.419 on the cross 00:45:52.419 --> 00:45:54.099 the unbelievable 00:45:54.099 --> 00:45:56.399 barely believable 00:45:56.399 --> 00:45:57.759 hard to grasp 00:45:57.759 --> 00:45:59.359 never ending 00:45:59.359 --> 00:46:00.799 something that we 00:46:00.799 --> 00:46:01.739 can meditate upon 00:46:01.739 --> 00:46:02.619 as the mystery 00:46:02.619 --> 00:46:03.399 of the cross 00:46:03.399 --> 00:46:04.359 grips us 00:46:04.359 --> 00:46:05.679 it should lead us 00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:06.339 to generosity 00:46:06.340 --> 00:46:08.420 it should lead 00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:08.880 us to be 00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:09.360 generous 00:46:09.360 --> 00:46:10.460 it will lead 00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:10.860 us to be 00:46:10.860 --> 00:46:11.160 generous 00:46:11.160 --> 00:46:11.860 as the cross 00:46:11.860 --> 00:46:12.519 grips us 00:46:12.519 --> 00:46:14.180 just before 00:46:14.180 --> 00:46:14.559 I put up 00:46:14.559 --> 00:46:15.079 these last 00:46:15.079 --> 00:46:15.300 two 00:46:15.300 --> 00:46:15.700 could Andrew 00:46:15.700 --> 00:46:15.980 could you 00:46:15.980 --> 00:46:16.220 put up 00:46:16.220 --> 00:46:16.680 my final 00:46:16.680 --> 00:46:17.079 point 00:46:17.079 --> 00:46:18.539 summarizing 00:46:18.539 --> 00:46:19.320 a wide 00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:19.640 range 00:46:19.640 --> 00:46:20.100 of biblical 00:46:20.100 --> 00:46:20.579 teaching 00:46:20.579 --> 00:46:21.120 this is how 00:46:21.120 --> 00:46:21.559 I put it 00:46:21.559 --> 00:46:22.180 the grammar 00:46:22.180 --> 00:46:22.500 is not 00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:22.920 very good 00:46:22.920 --> 00:46:23.500 I apologize 00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:24.100 I was doing 00:46:24.100 --> 00:46:24.660 it yesterday 00:46:24.660 --> 00:46:25.760 late 00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.300 and you know 00:46:26.300 --> 00:46:26.700 maybe some 00:46:26.700 --> 00:46:27.039 of you can 00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:27.579 send me an email 00:46:27.579 --> 00:46:28.059 later as to 00:46:28.059 --> 00:46:28.380 how to make 00:46:28.380 --> 00:46:28.660 it better 00:46:28.660 --> 00:46:29.059 grammar 00:46:29.059 --> 00:46:29.400 and I 00:46:29.400 --> 00:46:30.280 appreciate it 00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:31.180 but here it 00:46:31.180 --> 00:46:31.320 is 00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:32.000 with gratitude 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:32.780 to the Lord 00:46:32.780 --> 00:46:34.040 wealth is a 00:46:34.040 --> 00:46:34.740 blessing to be 00:46:34.740 --> 00:46:35.180 enjoyed 00:46:35.180 --> 00:46:36.519 and is also 00:46:36.519 --> 00:46:37.100 to be used 00:46:37.100 --> 00:46:38.060 generously to 00:46:38.060 --> 00:46:38.600 bring glory 00:46:38.600 --> 00:46:39.200 to God 00:46:39.200 --> 00:46:40.160 and help 00:46:40.160 --> 00:46:40.940 people in need 00:46:40.940 --> 00:46:43.720 remember earlier 00:46:43.720 --> 00:46:44.300 on I said 00:46:44.300 --> 00:46:44.840 wealth is a 00:46:44.840 --> 00:46:45.240 great good 00:46:45.240 --> 00:46:45.920 but a terrible 00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:46.420 God 00:46:46.420 --> 00:46:48.420 and the Bible 00:46:48.420 --> 00:46:49.080 teaches us 00:46:49.080 --> 00:46:49.440 that with 00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:50.100 gratitude to 00:46:50.100 --> 00:46:50.600 the Lord 00:46:50.600 --> 00:46:52.760 for whatever 00:46:52.760 --> 00:46:53.300 amount of 00:46:53.300 --> 00:46:53.740 wealth you 00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:54.180 have 00:46:54.180 --> 00:46:55.060 wealth is a 00:46:55.060 --> 00:46:55.680 blessing to 00:46:55.680 --> 00:46:56.300 be enjoyed 00:46:56.300 --> 00:46:57.920 and is also 00:46:57.920 --> 00:46:58.420 to be used 00:46:58.420 --> 00:46:59.240 generously to 00:46:59.240 --> 00:46:59.780 bring glory 00:46:59.780 --> 00:47:00.380 to God 00:47:00.380 --> 00:47:00.860 and to 00:47:00.860 --> 00:47:01.380 help people 00:47:01.380 --> 00:47:01.780 in need 00:47:01.780 --> 00:47:03.480 that's 00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:04.120 tattooable 00:47:04.120 --> 00:47:04.500 as well 00:47:04.500 --> 00:47:04.920 folks 00:47:04.920 --> 00:47:06.180 it's a 00:47:06.180 --> 00:47:06.940 long tattoo 00:47:06.940 --> 00:47:07.460 but it's 00:47:07.460 --> 00:47:08.180 tattooable 00:47:08.180 --> 00:47:11.940 with gratitude 00:47:11.940 --> 00:47:12.820 you know 00:47:12.820 --> 00:47:13.540 and it's as if 00:47:13.540 --> 00:47:13.740 this 00:47:13.740 --> 00:47:14.280 and here's the 00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:14.420 thing 00:47:14.420 --> 00:47:14.880 just a couple 00:47:14.880 --> 00:47:15.160 of things 00:47:15.160 --> 00:47:15.480 to take 00:47:15.480 --> 00:47:15.620 this 00:47:15.620 --> 00:47:16.160 the biblical 00:47:16.160 --> 00:47:16.620 tithe 00:47:16.620 --> 00:47:17.180 is a rule 00:47:17.180 --> 00:47:17.660 of thumb 00:47:17.660 --> 00:47:18.200 to guide 00:47:18.200 --> 00:47:18.820 generosity 00:47:18.820 --> 00:47:19.780 that's what 00:47:19.780 --> 00:47:20.200 the biblical 00:47:20.200 --> 00:47:20.800 tithe is 00:47:20.800 --> 00:47:21.380 if you go 00:47:21.380 --> 00:47:21.860 back and read 00:47:21.860 --> 00:47:22.120 the book 00:47:22.120 --> 00:47:22.580 of Proverbs 00:47:22.580 --> 00:47:23.040 at the beginning 00:47:23.040 --> 00:47:23.780 it assumes 00:47:23.780 --> 00:47:24.120 that you're 00:47:24.120 --> 00:47:24.420 reading the 00:47:24.420 --> 00:47:24.980 book of 00:47:24.980 --> 00:47:25.480 the Old 00:47:25.480 --> 00:47:25.840 Testament 00:47:25.840 --> 00:47:26.220 law 00:47:26.220 --> 00:47:26.519 and all 00:47:26.519 --> 00:47:26.800 the other 00:47:26.800 --> 00:47:27.160 things 00:47:27.160 --> 00:47:27.940 and you know 00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:28.180 if you're 00:47:28.180 --> 00:47:28.420 saying well 00:47:28.420 --> 00:47:28.720 George 00:47:28.720 --> 00:47:28.980 what does 00:47:28.980 --> 00:47:29.480 generosity 00:47:29.480 --> 00:47:29.940 look like 00:47:29.940 --> 00:47:30.320 the bible 00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:30.940 consistently 00:47:30.940 --> 00:47:31.340 gives you 00:47:31.340 --> 00:47:31.800 this figure 00:47:31.800 --> 00:47:32.280 start with 00:47:32.280 --> 00:47:32.980 10% 00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:34.579 10% 00:47:34.579 --> 00:47:35.420 try to 00:47:35.420 --> 00:47:35.980 work towards 00:47:35.980 --> 00:47:36.300 that 00:47:36.300 --> 00:47:39.179 and that's 00:47:39.179 --> 00:47:39.599 a good 00:47:39.599 --> 00:47:39.940 sort of 00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:40.260 rule of 00:47:40.260 --> 00:47:40.440 thumb 00:47:40.440 --> 00:47:40.840 for being 00:47:40.840 --> 00:47:41.240 generous 00:47:41.240 --> 00:47:41.760 and you know 00:47:41.760 --> 00:47:41.960 what 00:47:41.960 --> 00:47:42.880 in some ways 00:47:42.880 --> 00:47:43.260 in some of 00:47:43.260 --> 00:47:43.619 those you 00:47:43.619 --> 00:47:44.159 have a few 00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:44.320 money 00:47:44.320 --> 00:47:44.559 you know 00:47:44.559 --> 00:47:45.340 like a very 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.980 wise way to 00:47:45.980 --> 00:47:46.360 live would be 00:47:46.360 --> 00:47:47.079 give 10% 00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:47.400 away 00:47:47.400 --> 00:47:48.079 you know 00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:48.360 give it 00:47:48.360 --> 00:47:48.940 give it 00:47:48.940 --> 00:47:49.539 to the 00:47:49.539 --> 00:47:49.900 church 00:47:49.900 --> 00:47:50.260 and other 00:47:50.260 --> 00:47:51.139 missionaries 00:47:51.139 --> 00:47:51.460 and other 00:47:51.460 --> 00:47:52.380 and relief 00:47:52.380 --> 00:47:52.860 agencies 00:47:52.860 --> 00:47:53.539 to bring glory 00:47:53.539 --> 00:47:54.039 to God 00:47:54.039 --> 00:47:54.480 and to 00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:54.920 help people 00:47:54.920 --> 00:47:55.340 in need 00:47:55.340 --> 00:47:56.800 and save 00:47:56.800 --> 00:47:57.360 some money 00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:57.820 and you know 00:47:57.820 --> 00:47:58.119 if there's 00:47:58.119 --> 00:47:58.500 money left 00:47:58.500 --> 00:47:58.719 over 00:47:58.719 --> 00:47:59.420 guess what 00:47:59.420 --> 00:48:00.259 enjoy it 00:48:00.259 --> 00:48:02.139 enjoy it 00:48:02.139 --> 00:48:04.239 don't have a 00:48:04.239 --> 00:48:04.820 long face 00:48:04.820 --> 00:48:05.300 because you 00:48:05.300 --> 00:48:05.579 have a 00:48:05.579 --> 00:48:06.539 Ford F-150 00:48:06.539 --> 00:48:07.079 truck 00:48:07.079 --> 00:48:09.599 the bible 00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:10.199 doesn't say 00:48:10.199 --> 00:48:11.159 feel guilty 00:48:11.159 --> 00:48:11.699 all the time 00:48:11.699 --> 00:48:12.079 because of your 00:48:12.079 --> 00:48:12.239 money 00:48:12.239 --> 00:48:12.900 enjoy it 00:48:12.900 --> 00:48:13.739 if he's 00:48:13.739 --> 00:48:14.099 blessed you 00:48:14.099 --> 00:48:14.320 with the 00:48:14.320 --> 00:48:14.719 ability to 00:48:14.719 --> 00:48:15.059 sing 00:48:15.059 --> 00:48:15.420 or with 00:48:15.420 --> 00:48:15.940 strength 00:48:15.940 --> 00:48:16.239 or with 00:48:16.239 --> 00:48:16.539 a great 00:48:16.539 --> 00:48:17.079 mind 00:48:17.079 --> 00:48:17.820 or ability 00:48:17.820 --> 00:48:18.539 to dance 00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:19.300 or organize 00:48:19.300 --> 00:48:20.840 and give 00:48:20.840 --> 00:48:21.140 of your 00:48:21.140 --> 00:48:21.440 best 00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:21.980 honor the 00:48:21.980 --> 00:48:22.240 Lord 00:48:22.240 --> 00:48:22.740 with it 00:48:22.740 --> 00:48:23.260 you know 00:48:23.260 --> 00:48:23.560 give 00:48:23.560 --> 00:48:24.360 and honor 00:48:24.360 --> 00:48:24.720 the Lord 00:48:24.720 --> 00:48:25.780 and enjoy 00:48:25.780 --> 00:48:26.080 it 00:48:26.080 --> 00:48:26.539 and all 00:48:26.539 --> 00:48:27.260 with gratitude 00:48:27.260 --> 00:48:28.740 and here's 00:48:28.740 --> 00:48:29.120 a second 00:48:29.120 --> 00:48:29.840 thing 00:48:29.840 --> 00:48:31.800 generosity 00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:32.539 can be 00:48:32.539 --> 00:48:32.960 practiced 00:48:32.960 --> 00:48:33.560 at every 00:48:33.560 --> 00:48:33.940 income 00:48:33.940 --> 00:48:34.300 level 00:48:34.300 --> 00:48:36.780 the first 00:48:36.780 --> 00:48:37.160 time I 00:48:37.160 --> 00:48:37.240 was 00:48:37.240 --> 00:48:37.500 I've only 00:48:37.500 --> 00:48:37.720 been in 00:48:37.720 --> 00:48:38.019 Africa 00:48:38.019 --> 00:48:38.320 twice 00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:38.640 the first 00:48:38.640 --> 00:48:38.900 time I 00:48:38.900 --> 00:48:39.180 was in 00:48:39.180 --> 00:48:39.440 Africa 00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:39.760 I met 00:48:39.760 --> 00:48:39.960 this 00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:40.660 Tanzanian 00:48:40.660 --> 00:48:40.980 bishop 00:48:40.980 --> 00:48:41.420 and we 00:48:41.420 --> 00:48:41.660 were out 00:48:41.660 --> 00:48:41.940 walking 00:48:41.940 --> 00:48:42.240 was in 00:48:42.240 --> 00:48:42.580 a rural 00:48:42.580 --> 00:48:42.980 area 00:48:42.980 --> 00:48:44.019 of Kenya 00:48:44.019 --> 00:48:45.740 and he 00:48:45.740 --> 00:48:47.019 knows I'm 00:48:47.019 --> 00:48:47.680 this shy 00:48:47.680 --> 00:48:48.720 terrified 00:48:48.719 --> 00:48:49.480 white 00:48:49.480 --> 00:48:49.899 guy 00:48:49.899 --> 00:48:51.559 and he's 00:48:51.559 --> 00:48:52.119 this wonderful 00:48:52.119 --> 00:48:52.759 godly little 00:48:52.759 --> 00:48:53.079 guy 00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:53.659 and we're 00:48:53.659 --> 00:48:54.599 for a walk 00:48:54.599 --> 00:48:55.039 along this 00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:55.359 sort of 00:48:55.359 --> 00:48:55.980 country road 00:48:55.980 --> 00:48:56.379 and he 00:48:56.379 --> 00:48:56.659 sees the 00:48:56.659 --> 00:48:56.779 house 00:48:56.779 --> 00:48:56.919 and he 00:48:56.919 --> 00:48:57.119 says let's 00:48:57.119 --> 00:48:57.559 go knock 00:48:57.559 --> 00:48:57.739 on the 00:48:57.739 --> 00:48:58.019 door of the 00:48:58.019 --> 00:48:58.299 house and 00:48:58.299 --> 00:48:58.759 visit them 00:48:58.759 --> 00:49:00.379 and he 00:49:00.379 --> 00:49:00.799 could just 00:49:00.799 --> 00:49:01.539 he did it 00:49:01.539 --> 00:49:01.939 on purpose 00:49:01.939 --> 00:49:02.659 he could just 00:49:02.659 --> 00:49:03.099 feel my 00:49:03.099 --> 00:49:04.019 anxiety level 00:49:04.019 --> 00:49:04.659 going way 00:49:04.659 --> 00:49:04.939 up 00:49:04.939 --> 00:49:06.219 and he 00:49:06.219 --> 00:49:06.619 put his 00:49:06.619 --> 00:49:07.299 hand on me 00:49:07.299 --> 00:49:07.480 and he 00:49:07.480 --> 00:49:07.919 said we're 00:49:07.919 --> 00:49:08.339 not in 00:49:08.339 --> 00:49:09.039 North America 00:49:09.039 --> 00:49:09.699 we are in 00:49:09.699 --> 00:49:10.179 Africa 00:49:10.179 --> 00:49:12.519 and in 00:49:12.519 --> 00:49:13.039 Africa 00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:14.239 they practice 00:49:14.239 --> 00:49:15.039 hospitality 00:49:15.039 --> 00:49:16.239 and generosity 00:49:16.239 --> 00:49:17.799 they will 00:49:17.799 --> 00:49:18.539 welcome us 00:49:18.539 --> 00:49:19.139 and they 00:49:19.139 --> 00:49:19.380 did 00:49:19.380 --> 00:49:22.599 and they 00:49:22.599 --> 00:49:23.840 had very 00:49:23.840 --> 00:49:24.400 little money 00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:24.779 you know what 00:49:24.779 --> 00:49:25.500 generosity 00:49:25.500 --> 00:49:26.779 can be for 00:49:26.779 --> 00:49:27.219 somebody with 00:49:27.219 --> 00:49:27.719 very little 00:49:27.719 --> 00:49:28.699 money and 00:49:28.699 --> 00:49:29.400 lots of 00:49:29.400 --> 00:49:30.000 money and 00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:30.980 the big trap 00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:31.579 we get into 00:49:31.579 --> 00:49:32.079 is we think 00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:32.440 that we can 00:49:32.440 --> 00:49:32.920 be generous 00:49:32.920 --> 00:49:33.739 when we've 00:49:33.739 --> 00:49:34.259 achieved 00:49:34.259 --> 00:49:34.840 something 00:49:34.840 --> 00:49:36.340 but generosity 00:49:36.340 --> 00:49:37.139 begins now 00:49:37.139 --> 00:49:37.820 here's a 00:49:37.820 --> 00:49:38.340 final thing 00:49:38.340 --> 00:49:38.800 before we 00:49:38.800 --> 00:49:39.279 just have 00:49:39.279 --> 00:49:39.559 our two 00:49:39.559 --> 00:49:40.300 final proverbs 00:49:40.300 --> 00:49:40.779 to wrap 00:49:40.779 --> 00:49:41.719 up and 00:49:41.719 --> 00:49:42.199 that is 00:49:42.199 --> 00:49:43.679 for some 00:49:43.679 --> 00:49:44.119 of us 00:49:44.119 --> 00:49:45.099 we are 00:49:45.099 --> 00:49:45.659 in huge 00:49:45.659 --> 00:49:46.000 debt 00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:46.880 problems 00:49:46.880 --> 00:49:47.480 right now 00:49:47.480 --> 00:49:48.559 and we 00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:49.319 say gosh 00:49:49.319 --> 00:49:49.719 George 00:49:49.719 --> 00:49:50.299 this has 00:49:50.299 --> 00:49:50.460 been 00:49:50.460 --> 00:49:50.960 challenging 00:49:50.960 --> 00:49:51.359 but if 00:49:51.359 --> 00:49:51.759 you knew 00:49:51.759 --> 00:49:52.420 how bad 00:49:52.420 --> 00:49:52.799 of debt 00:49:52.799 --> 00:49:53.119 that I 00:49:53.119 --> 00:49:53.420 was in 00:49:53.420 --> 00:49:53.940 right now 00:49:53.940 --> 00:49:55.819 here's the 00:49:55.819 --> 00:49:56.099 thing 00:49:56.099 --> 00:49:57.319 you know 00:49:57.319 --> 00:49:57.519 it's a 00:49:57.519 --> 00:49:57.940 very different 00:49:57.940 --> 00:49:58.359 thing to 00:49:58.359 --> 00:49:59.259 take out a 00:49:59.259 --> 00:49:59.799 business loan 00:49:59.799 --> 00:50:00.500 to build a 00:50:00.500 --> 00:50:00.839 business 00:50:00.839 --> 00:50:01.759 but many 00:50:01.759 --> 00:50:02.460 many people 00:50:02.460 --> 00:50:03.099 what we need 00:50:03.099 --> 00:50:03.480 to do is 00:50:03.480 --> 00:50:04.259 flee debt 00:50:04.259 --> 00:50:06.119 flee credit 00:50:06.119 --> 00:50:06.819 card debt 00:50:06.819 --> 00:50:08.659 flee car debt 00:50:08.659 --> 00:50:09.119 we need to 00:50:09.119 --> 00:50:10.000 see debt 00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:10.679 and imagine 00:50:10.679 --> 00:50:11.239 every time we 00:50:11.239 --> 00:50:11.859 see an offer 00:50:11.859 --> 00:50:12.799 to loan us 00:50:12.799 --> 00:50:13.079 money 00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:13.519 we should 00:50:13.519 --> 00:50:13.879 have a 00:50:13.879 --> 00:50:14.259 picture in 00:50:14.259 --> 00:50:14.659 our head 00:50:14.659 --> 00:50:15.459 of a 00:50:15.459 --> 00:50:16.079 gazelle 00:50:16.079 --> 00:50:16.899 by a 00:50:16.899 --> 00:50:17.859 watering hole 00:50:17.859 --> 00:50:18.859 watched by 00:50:18.859 --> 00:50:19.279 a hungry 00:50:19.279 --> 00:50:19.759 lion 00:50:19.759 --> 00:50:22.359 that's 00:50:22.359 --> 00:50:22.959 tattooable 00:50:22.959 --> 00:50:23.500 as well 00:50:23.500 --> 00:50:24.899 this is 00:50:24.899 --> 00:50:25.019 going to 00:50:25.019 --> 00:50:25.259 be the 00:50:25.259 --> 00:50:25.659 tattoo 00:50:25.659 --> 00:50:26.199 sermon 00:50:26.199 --> 00:50:27.039 you know 00:50:27.039 --> 00:50:28.179 before you 00:50:28.179 --> 00:50:28.679 buy that 00:50:28.679 --> 00:50:29.459 expensive 00:50:29.459 --> 00:50:30.099 car 00:50:30.099 --> 00:50:31.199 gazelle 00:50:31.199 --> 00:50:31.939 hungry 00:50:31.939 --> 00:50:32.479 lion 00:50:32.479 --> 00:50:33.439 maybe 00:50:33.439 --> 00:50:33.979 I'll 00:50:33.979 --> 00:50:34.319 buy 00:50:34.319 --> 00:50:35.339 fourth hand 00:50:35.339 --> 00:50:36.679 and not 00:50:36.679 --> 00:50:37.059 go into 00:50:37.059 --> 00:50:37.319 debt 00:50:37.319 --> 00:50:38.899 and if 00:50:38.899 --> 00:50:39.259 you are 00:50:39.259 --> 00:50:39.779 right now 00:50:39.779 --> 00:50:40.099 really 00:50:40.099 --> 00:50:40.519 struggling 00:50:40.519 --> 00:50:41.039 with debt 00:50:41.039 --> 00:50:42.900 seek help 00:50:42.900 --> 00:50:44.440 there's a 00:50:44.440 --> 00:50:44.860 man in our 00:50:44.860 --> 00:50:45.420 congregation 00:50:45.420 --> 00:50:45.960 probably more 00:50:45.960 --> 00:50:46.199 than one 00:50:46.199 --> 00:50:46.480 but there's 00:50:46.480 --> 00:50:46.779 a man in 00:50:46.779 --> 00:50:46.920 our 00:50:46.920 --> 00:50:47.420 congregation 00:50:47.420 --> 00:50:47.800 he'd be 00:50:47.800 --> 00:50:48.119 willing to 00:50:48.119 --> 00:50:48.380 meet with 00:50:48.380 --> 00:50:48.940 you privately 00:50:48.940 --> 00:50:49.800 and confidentially 00:50:49.800 --> 00:50:50.199 to help 00:50:50.199 --> 00:50:50.400 you 00:50:50.400 --> 00:50:51.579 give us a 00:50:51.579 --> 00:50:51.840 call 00:50:51.840 --> 00:50:53.139 but if not 00:50:53.139 --> 00:50:53.380 us 00:50:53.380 --> 00:50:54.199 seek help 00:50:54.199 --> 00:50:54.960 okay 00:50:54.960 --> 00:50:55.759 seek help 00:50:55.759 --> 00:50:57.599 seek help 00:50:57.599 --> 00:50:58.639 just the 00:50:58.639 --> 00:50:59.159 final two 00:50:59.159 --> 00:51:00.420 proverbs 00:51:00.420 --> 00:51:00.820 we want to 00:51:00.820 --> 00:51:01.059 read them 00:51:01.059 --> 00:51:02.019 proverbs 3 00:51:02.019 --> 00:51:02.519 9 and 10 00:51:02.519 --> 00:51:02.900 again 00:51:02.900 --> 00:51:04.900 let's say it 00:51:04.900 --> 00:51:05.279 together 00:51:05.279 --> 00:51:06.360 honor the 00:51:06.360 --> 00:51:06.980 lord with 00:51:06.980 --> 00:51:07.599 your wealth 00:51:07.599 --> 00:51:08.619 and with the 00:51:08.619 --> 00:51:09.340 first fruits 00:51:09.340 --> 00:51:09.960 of all you 00:51:09.960 --> 00:51:10.519 produce 00:51:10.519 --> 00:51:11.780 then your 00:51:11.780 --> 00:51:12.480 barns will 00:51:12.480 --> 00:51:12.980 be filled 00:51:12.980 --> 00:51:13.739 with plenty 00:51:13.739 --> 00:51:14.420 and your 00:51:14.420 --> 00:51:15.079 vats will 00:51:15.079 --> 00:51:15.699 be bursting 00:51:15.699 --> 00:51:16.360 with wine 00:51:16.360 --> 00:51:17.400 and then the 00:51:17.400 --> 00:51:17.980 final one 00:51:17.980 --> 00:51:18.599 and this is the 00:51:18.599 --> 00:51:19.599 only prayer in 00:51:19.599 --> 00:51:19.980 the book of 00:51:19.980 --> 00:51:20.440 proverbs 00:51:20.440 --> 00:51:22.239 only prayer in 00:51:22.239 --> 00:51:22.599 the book of 00:51:22.599 --> 00:51:23.019 proverbs 00:51:23.019 --> 00:51:24.259 and in your 00:51:24.259 --> 00:51:24.880 growing in 00:51:24.880 --> 00:51:25.280 grace 00:51:25.280 --> 00:51:26.579 you'll see that 00:51:26.579 --> 00:51:27.599 I've turned it 00:51:27.599 --> 00:51:28.159 into a prayer 00:51:28.159 --> 00:51:28.639 that you can 00:51:28.639 --> 00:51:28.920 pray 00:51:28.920 --> 00:51:30.380 and let's say 00:51:30.380 --> 00:51:30.940 it together 00:51:30.940 --> 00:51:31.820 some of us 00:51:31.820 --> 00:51:32.280 can say this 00:51:32.280 --> 00:51:32.739 some of it 00:51:32.739 --> 00:51:33.099 might be one of 00:51:33.099 --> 00:51:33.380 those things 00:51:33.380 --> 00:51:33.639 you want to 00:51:33.639 --> 00:51:34.079 go home later 00:51:34.079 --> 00:51:34.360 on and 00:51:34.360 --> 00:51:35.019 memorize it 00:51:35.019 --> 00:51:36.000 and make it 00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:36.380 part of your 00:51:36.380 --> 00:51:37.079 prayer life 00:51:37.079 --> 00:51:37.659 it's a 00:51:37.659 --> 00:51:38.579 profound 00:51:38.579 --> 00:51:39.159 prayer 00:51:39.159 --> 00:51:40.019 let's say 00:51:40.019 --> 00:51:40.460 it together 00:51:40.460 --> 00:51:41.899 two things 00:51:41.899 --> 00:51:42.779 I ask of 00:51:42.779 --> 00:51:43.079 you 00:51:43.079 --> 00:51:44.359 deny them 00:51:44.359 --> 00:51:45.079 not to me 00:51:45.079 --> 00:51:45.819 before I 00:51:45.819 --> 00:51:46.259 die 00:51:46.259 --> 00:51:47.799 remove far 00:51:47.799 --> 00:51:48.319 from me 00:51:48.319 --> 00:51:49.079 falsehood 00:51:49.079 --> 00:51:49.799 and lying 00:51:49.799 --> 00:51:50.879 give me 00:51:50.879 --> 00:51:51.980 neither poverty 00:51:51.980 --> 00:51:52.920 nor riches 00:51:52.920 --> 00:51:54.279 feed me 00:51:54.279 --> 00:51:55.039 with the food 00:51:55.039 --> 00:51:55.960 that is needful 00:51:55.960 --> 00:51:56.659 for me 00:51:56.659 --> 00:51:57.940 lest I be 00:51:57.940 --> 00:51:58.719 full and 00:51:58.719 --> 00:51:59.500 deny you 00:51:59.500 --> 00:52:00.339 and say 00:52:00.339 --> 00:52:01.379 who is the 00:52:01.379 --> 00:52:01.739 lord 00:52:01.739 --> 00:52:03.119 or lest I 00:52:03.119 --> 00:52:03.759 be poor 00:52:03.759 --> 00:52:04.559 and steal 00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:05.839 and profane 00:52:05.839 --> 00:52:06.399 the name 00:52:06.399 --> 00:52:06.859 of my 00:52:06.860 --> 00:52:07.320 god 00:52:07.320 --> 00:52:08.480 that's a 00:52:08.480 --> 00:52:08.840 prayer for 00:52:08.840 --> 00:52:09.140 the rest 00:52:09.140 --> 00:52:09.340 of your 00:52:09.340 --> 00:52:09.700 life 00:52:09.700 --> 00:52:10.680 let's 00:52:10.680 --> 00:52:11.079 stand 00:52:11.079 --> 00:52:12.140 and pray 00:52:12.140 --> 00:52:19.940 father 00:52:19.940 --> 00:52:20.660 first of 00:52:20.660 --> 00:52:20.900 all you 00:52:20.900 --> 00:52:21.380 know that 00:52:21.380 --> 00:52:22.360 many of 00:52:22.360 --> 00:52:22.480 us 00:52:22.480 --> 00:52:22.920 probably the 00:52:22.920 --> 00:52:23.240 majority 00:52:23.240 --> 00:52:23.599 of us 00:52:23.599 --> 00:52:24.019 are living 00:52:24.019 --> 00:52:24.700 paycheck 00:52:24.700 --> 00:52:25.320 to paycheck 00:52:25.320 --> 00:52:26.620 and so 00:52:26.620 --> 00:52:27.019 father we 00:52:27.019 --> 00:52:27.500 thank you 00:52:27.500 --> 00:52:27.840 for your 00:52:27.840 --> 00:52:28.300 provision 00:52:28.300 --> 00:52:28.980 for us 00:52:28.980 --> 00:52:29.820 we thank 00:52:29.820 --> 00:52:30.140 you for 00:52:30.140 --> 00:52:30.300 your 00:52:30.300 --> 00:52:30.920 faithfulness 00:52:30.920 --> 00:52:31.260 to us 00:52:31.260 --> 00:52:31.720 we thank 00:52:31.720 --> 00:52:32.120 you father 00:52:32.120 --> 00:52:32.440 that we 00:52:32.440 --> 00:52:32.680 can be 00:52:32.680 --> 00:52:32.860 in a 00:52:32.860 --> 00:52:33.099 country 00:52:33.099 --> 00:52:33.360 like 00:52:33.360 --> 00:52:33.760 canada 00:52:33.760 --> 00:52:34.019 which 00:52:34.019 --> 00:52:34.400 is so 00:52:34.400 --> 00:52:34.980 prosperous 00:52:34.980 --> 00:52:36.099 and has 00:52:36.099 --> 00:52:36.460 such a 00:52:36.460 --> 00:52:36.780 strong 00:52:36.780 --> 00:52:37.500 safety net 00:52:37.500 --> 00:52:37.880 and father 00:52:37.880 --> 00:52:38.340 we thank 00:52:38.340 --> 00:52:38.579 you for 00:52:38.579 --> 00:52:38.679 it 00:52:38.679 --> 00:52:39.199 we confess 00:52:39.199 --> 00:52:39.679 before you 00:52:39.679 --> 00:52:39.880 that we 00:52:39.880 --> 00:52:40.260 take it 00:52:40.260 --> 00:52:40.800 for granted 00:52:40.800 --> 00:52:41.639 and we 00:52:41.639 --> 00:52:42.179 ask father 00:52:42.179 --> 00:52:42.480 that you 00:52:42.480 --> 00:52:42.860 grant us 00:52:42.860 --> 00:52:43.380 gratitude 00:52:43.380 --> 00:52:44.159 and father 00:52:44.159 --> 00:52:44.480 you know 00:52:44.480 --> 00:52:44.940 those of 00:52:44.940 --> 00:52:45.280 us here 00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:45.559 today 00:52:45.559 --> 00:52:45.880 who are 00:52:45.880 --> 00:52:46.219 really 00:52:46.219 --> 00:52:46.780 struggling 00:52:46.780 --> 00:52:47.559 financially 00:52:47.559 --> 00:52:48.820 who are 00:52:48.820 --> 00:52:49.019 maybe 00:52:49.019 --> 00:52:49.559 laboring 00:52:49.559 --> 00:52:49.880 under 00:52:49.880 --> 00:52:50.480 credit card 00:52:50.480 --> 00:52:50.760 debt 00:52:50.760 --> 00:52:51.159 or some 00:52:51.159 --> 00:52:51.679 unwise 00:52:51.679 --> 00:52:52.559 car purchases 00:52:52.559 --> 00:52:53.059 or other 00:52:53.059 --> 00:52:53.579 things 00:52:53.579 --> 00:52:54.400 as 00:52:54.400 --> 00:52:55.019 compulsive 00:52:55.019 --> 00:52:55.360 you know 00:52:55.360 --> 00:52:56.000 father you 00:52:56.000 --> 00:52:56.380 just know 00:52:56.380 --> 00:52:56.619 there's 00:52:56.619 --> 00:52:57.059 some people 00:52:57.059 --> 00:52:57.179 here 00:52:57.179 --> 00:52:57.599 we ask 00:52:57.599 --> 00:52:58.559 that you 00:52:58.559 --> 00:52:59.139 would be 00:52:59.139 --> 00:52:59.699 the savior 00:52:59.699 --> 00:53:00.179 and lord 00:53:00.179 --> 00:53:00.480 of the 00:53:00.480 --> 00:53:00.980 finances 00:53:00.980 --> 00:53:01.420 of that 00:53:01.420 --> 00:53:01.860 person 00:53:01.860 --> 00:53:02.179 that you 00:53:02.179 --> 00:53:02.519 would help 00:53:02.519 --> 00:53:02.840 them to 00:53:02.840 --> 00:53:03.500 find wise 00:53:03.500 --> 00:53:04.039 advice 00:53:04.039 --> 00:53:06.059 wise advice 00:53:06.059 --> 00:53:06.760 from counselors 00:53:06.760 --> 00:53:07.300 who aren't 00:53:07.300 --> 00:53:07.900 seeking to 00:53:07.900 --> 00:53:08.579 enrich themselves 00:53:08.579 --> 00:53:09.340 but really 00:53:09.340 --> 00:53:09.960 seeking the 00:53:09.960 --> 00:53:10.340 good of the 00:53:10.340 --> 00:53:10.860 person in 00:53:10.860 --> 00:53:11.159 trouble 00:53:11.159 --> 00:53:12.599 and father 00:53:12.599 --> 00:53:13.159 for all 00:53:13.159 --> 00:53:13.559 of us 00:53:13.559 --> 00:53:14.360 make us 00:53:14.360 --> 00:53:15.280 disciples of 00:53:15.280 --> 00:53:15.639 Jesus 00:53:15.639 --> 00:53:16.340 gripped by 00:53:16.340 --> 00:53:17.079 the gospel 00:53:17.079 --> 00:53:18.219 gripped by 00:53:18.219 --> 00:53:18.940 the gospel 00:53:18.940 --> 00:53:19.980 so that we 00:53:19.980 --> 00:53:20.579 will live 00:53:20.579 --> 00:53:22.019 generous lives 00:53:22.019 --> 00:53:22.760 that bring 00:53:22.760 --> 00:53:23.340 you glory 00:53:23.340 --> 00:53:24.460 father 00:53:24.460 --> 00:53:25.380 thank you 00:53:25.380 --> 00:53:26.039 that your 00:53:26.039 --> 00:53:27.000 son has 00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:27.500 made us 00:53:27.500 --> 00:53:28.000 rich 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:30.199 riches 00:53:30.199 --> 00:53:30.679 that will 00:53:30.679 --> 00:53:31.900 go into 00:53:31.900 --> 00:53:32.420 eternity 00:53:32.420 --> 00:53:32.980 with you 00:53:32.980 --> 00:53:33.980 and so 00:53:33.980 --> 00:53:34.360 father 00:53:34.360 --> 00:53:34.900 help us 00:53:34.900 --> 00:53:35.159 to be 00:53:35.159 --> 00:53:35.500 gripped 00:53:35.500 --> 00:53:35.860 with the 00:53:35.860 --> 00:53:36.280 gospel 00:53:36.280 --> 00:53:36.780 so that 00:53:36.780 --> 00:53:37.019 we are 00:53:37.019 --> 00:53:37.539 grounded 00:53:37.539 --> 00:53:37.840 in the 00:53:37.840 --> 00:53:38.179 gospel 00:53:38.179 --> 00:53:38.579 and find 00:53:38.579 --> 00:53:38.699 our 00:53:38.699 --> 00:53:39.179 identity 00:53:39.179 --> 00:53:39.519 in the 00:53:39.519 --> 00:53:39.940 gospel 00:53:39.940 --> 00:53:40.460 and relate 00:53:40.460 --> 00:53:40.940 to money 00:53:40.940 --> 00:53:41.780 from the 00:53:41.780 --> 00:53:42.440 perspective 00:53:42.440 --> 00:53:43.240 of the 00:53:43.240 --> 00:53:43.599 gospel 00:53:43.599 --> 00:53:44.019 father 00:53:44.019 --> 00:53:44.679 please do 00:53:44.679 --> 00:53:45.019 that in 00:53:45.019 --> 00:53:45.539 our lives 00:53:45.539 --> 00:53:46.240 and all 00:53:46.240 --> 00:53:46.599 this we 00:53:46.599 --> 00:53:47.000 ask in 00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:47.240 the name 00:53:47.240 --> 00:53:47.740 of Jesus 00:53:47.740 --> 00:53:48.539 your son 00:53:48.539 --> 00:53:48.940 and our 00:53:48.940 --> 00:53:49.260 savior 00:53:49.260 --> 00:53:50.280 amen