WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.620 Good evening all. Great if you had your Bibles open, Luke 14, or have one of these in front of you. 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:15.380 Service outline, it's got where we're headed, so you can follow that along, or on the St. Paul's app, 00:00:15.700 --> 00:00:21.980 so you can get it all there instead. So as you notice tonight, if you've got one of these, 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:26.240 I've only got two points. Don't think you're getting out early, but we've got two points, 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:34.539 so it should be easier to follow. A couple of weeks ago, James was here, standing up here, 00:00:34.579 --> 00:00:41.899 and he was liberally throwing money around, $10. And so here's mine. Actually, I borrowed it. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:51.619 $10. And I want to ask you, what would you do in order to get $10? What would you do in order to get 00:00:51.619 --> 00:00:58.539 $10? I'll tell you what I did. A number of years ago, I was out with a friend. We were fishing, 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:06.340 and there wasn't a lot happening, which generally happens when I go fishing. And nothing much was 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:12.739 happening, and we're sitting there on the side of this river bank, and we had a bucket of dirt in it 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:18.280 with earthworms. And he pulled one of them out, and he said, I'll give you $10 if you eat this thing. 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:25.460 And I said, well, show me the $10. And so he put the $10 there, and I got my bottle of water, 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:33.000 washed it down. I went straight down. Basically, just like a big, thick piece of spaghetti, 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:40.700 piece of cake, until it got to about here. And unlike a piece of spaghetti, this thing was still 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:46.740 alive. And so I don't know if you've ever had the feeling of something moving inside your chest, 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:52.899 but it's a very disconcerting feeling. And so half a litre of Coke, and boom, solved that problem. 00:01:52.979 --> 00:01:58.479 Not a problem at all. So that's what I did for $10. That was many years ago, I must add. 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:06.079 What would you do for $10? What would you do? In that moment, you're going to do some sort of 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:11.979 cost-benefit analysis in order to grab your $10 and go, yeah, that'd be worth it. It'd be worth 00:02:11.979 --> 00:02:19.739 me doing that for $10. Or what about $10 million? What would you do in order to get $10 million? 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:25.459 Again, cost-benefit analysis. There was a survey around a number of years ago that, in fact, 00:02:25.519 --> 00:02:31.120 asked that question, what would you prepare to do in order to get $10 million? 25% of respondents said 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:39.640 that they would abandon their families. 16% said that they would leave their spouse. 3% said they'd 00:02:39.640 --> 00:02:44.500 put their kids up for adoption. We didn't fill it out, kids. It's all right. 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:54.259 That is another one of those price tag moments. It's one of those moments we face every day, 00:02:54.340 --> 00:03:00.680 the price tag moment where we look at the price and we go, am I prepared to do that? Am I prepared 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:06.920 to pay that in order to get this item? Am I prepared to hand my money over? What am I prepared 00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:16.099 to also do in order to get the money? We do this constant cost-benefit analysis in our heads and 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:23.520 our hearts. And that's what we're doing in this series. If you've joined us today, we're spending 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:27.740 a number of weeks on a topic of wealth with purpose. We're looking at the value of money, 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:36.320 wealth, how in fact we attach so much value to money and wealth and possessions. As I've said a 00:03:36.320 --> 00:03:46.300 couple of weeks ago, our perspective on money, wealth, possessions, how we handle them lies at the 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:54.980 heart of the Christian faith. What we do with them influences eternity. And as I said, I've got two 00:03:54.980 --> 00:04:02.160 things to say. You see it on your outline there. Jesus' astonishing standard that he has for giving 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:13.639 and grace and the astonishing standard. That is how the grace of Jesus makes this astonishing standard 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:20.279 of giving seem reasonable. It's the logic of grace that he brings in. So Luke 14 is our text in front 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:28.019 of us tonight. Jesus is at a dinner party. That's where it opens. He's at the home of a prominent 00:04:28.019 --> 00:04:34.879 Pharisee. He has no friends here amongst these religious elite at this gathering. And what Jesus 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:42.379 sets out to do is he sets out to expose their hearts and how their religion is just a veneer for 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:49.819 them. So this dinner party is a typical dinner party. Notice verse seven. It says, when he, that's 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:56.839 Jesus, Jesus noticed how the guests picked the place of honor at the table. He told them this parable. 00:04:57.899 --> 00:05:04.040 So the way it worked, as it works in most cases, the host would have the place of honor and then 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:11.740 everyone else is seated at the dinner party according to how important they were to the host. 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:21.040 Naturally, everyone is trying to be seated as close to the host as possible. And then Jesus says this 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:26.280 to the host in verse 12, when you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:32.600 or sisters, your relatives or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you back and so you'll be 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:41.720 repaid. The Greco-Roman world of Jesus' time was a very much a class orientated society. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:48.860 It was all about people being connected to people and especially people at the top. 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:58.600 The people at the top would engage with people a few steps below them in the social run because 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:06.240 they could use those people for personal gain. And all these relationships and allegiances and power 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:13.180 networks were conducted through hospitality. That's what's happening here in Luke 14. 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:21.400 You brought these people into your home and then they owed you a favor. It's the patronage system. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:28.060 Plenty of parts of the world still operate like it today. England was like it a couple of hundred years 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:35.740 years ago. If you wanted to improve your standing in society, your position in life, you wanted to move 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:45.199 up, you needed to get connected to a patron. A patron would give you loans and gifts and open doors for you. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:54.819 A patron, as their network grew, so did their influence in society because they had all these people 00:06:54.819 --> 00:07:01.480 under them who owed them stuff. Adrian, can you get my bottle of water which is behind you there? 00:07:03.779 --> 00:07:13.079 And so in Jesus' time, thanks mate, in Jesus' time, you only invited people into your home 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:18.819 or went to someone else's home if you knew you could get something out of it. It's not just see me, 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:25.360 you know, let's just get together and hang out. It is social climbing. You are there to gain something 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:32.779 from the gathering. That's the context of this gathering that Jesus is in in Luke 14. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:40.579 People are trying to meet other people. You are either attempting to sustain relationships with 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:46.779 significant people or you're trying to gain new people for your network that it would grow and your 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:50.379 influence would grow and it's all commercial transactions. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:08:00.959 This is about personal advancement. This is no simple gathering. It's an extremely important 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:09.279 gathering and lots of money was spent on these gatherings because it always paid dividends. 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:16.159 Business deals are done. Money is transacted. Further advancement in society. 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:25.819 So here's Jesus at one of these gatherings and he has the audacity to say to this host, 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:33.679 the patron, verse 12, when you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:41.199 your brothers or sisters, your relatives or your rich neighbours. In other words, the sort of people 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:48.940 who are currently sitting around the table with you, if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:55.500 repaid, which of course how the system worked. And then Jesus suggests how it should work. 00:08:56.300 --> 00:09:03.160 This is how his disciples should live. But when you give a banquet, you invite the poor, 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:07.559 the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:18.839 Now when Jesus says here, you know, don't invite your friends, don't invite your brothers and sisters, 00:09:19.599 --> 00:09:28.659 your neighbours, your relatives, he's using an idiom. He's not saying you must never, 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:37.639 ever invite a friend or relative into your home ever again. Could you imagine how that would go down? 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:43.240 You know, you've just become a Christian, you just need to email all friends and relatives and say, 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:53.220 listen, it's been nice, but no more. I've just become a Christian and I'm working really hard on praying Luke 14. 00:09:53.220 --> 00:10:13.100 That's not what Jesus is saying here. But he is saying something pretty radical. He is talking about priorities and worldview. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:20.580 You see, this parable is about generosity. It's about pervasive generosity. It's about all of life generosity. 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:31.220 And he's saying that for his disciple, they're giving to charity and ministry, even though money's not mentioned here, 00:10:31.280 --> 00:10:39.300 it's talking about a pervasive lifestyle of generosity. They're giving to charity and ministry should be more 00:10:39.300 --> 00:10:43.400 than what they spend on advancing themselves in society. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:53.000 He's saying that what we should, sorry, he isn't saying that you should never spend money on yourself, 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:57.899 but he is saying that what we give to ministry and charity ought to be more. 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:05.340 The implications of this, of what he's saying here is massive. 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:11.680 He is suggesting at least two things about a life of pervasive generosity. 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:20.820 He's saying firstly that our giving to ministry and charity must be a priority, must be the priority. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:26.740 And secondly, it must be sacrificial. Priority and sacrificial. 00:11:27.680 --> 00:11:31.160 So the first implication is about the priorities of our lives. 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:40.419 And the very next section in Luke 14, what follows this parable, is Jesus making this opening statement. 00:11:41.319 --> 00:11:47.860 If anyone comes to me and does not hate father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, 00:11:48.959 --> 00:11:50.860 such a person cannot be my disciple. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:56.360 Now again, he's using an idiom. He's using the exact sort of idea is what he's done before. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:01.620 He isn't saying literally, become a Christian, you must hate everyone. 00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:07.560 You know, that's the core of understanding that you're a disciple of mine, is you just hate everyone. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:09.399 That's not what he's saying. 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:12.340 What he is saying, he's highlighting priority. 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:20.680 He's saying that compared to your love for me, it will look like all other loves are just so, 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:26.739 well, it will kind of look like that we hate in comparison because your love for me will be so high. 00:12:29.839 --> 00:12:36.839 So he's saying here to this host, a life of generosity is a necessity. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.399 It's a necessity. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:47.319 What is optional, what is negotiable is the money that we spend on ourselves. 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:54.660 And most of us are going to be challenged by that. 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:58.960 Most of us sitting here in this room are going to be challenged by that. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:07.000 And most of us are going to need to switch that, reverse it, change our priorities. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:14.700 And that includes those who have got to what I've said in the last couple of weeks about tithing, 10% Old Testament. 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:19.080 You've got there and you've been sitting comfortably there for years. 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.480 You haven't shifted from that point. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:25.899 You see, all of us have financial goals or lifestyle goals. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.580 There are certain ways you want to live. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.899 There are holidays you want to take. 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.919 There are clothes you want to buy. 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:33.240 There are things you want to do, places we want to live. 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:46.299 If we have enough money to do all of that, and we have some money left over for charity and ministry, well then we will give. 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:48.060 The charity and ministry, we've got stuff left over. 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:51.240 That is how most people work in the church. 00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:58.460 And I say that because the average Christian gives less than 2% of their income away. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:08.960 Ministry and charity is the option, but spending money on ourselves is the priority or it becomes a necessity for us. 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:10.440 And Jesus says, switch them. 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:14.379 Forget about your friends and your relatives and your rich neighbors. 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.100 Switch them. 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:20.900 Once upon a time, there was a cattle farmer. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:28.679 This cattle farmer was delighted to discover that a cow that he didn't expect to have a calf was in fact going to have a calf. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.779 And says, this is fantastic. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:35.139 This calf will be born and I'll raise the calf and I'm going to be able to sell it off for a tidy profit. 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:39.620 And to his delight, this cow in fact had twins. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:42.600 Two calves, double the money. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.879 Very excited. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:54.460 And so he goes to his wife, declares to her that when the sale is complete, I'm going to give the proceeds of one of these calves to the work of the ministry of our local church and to some charity. 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:59.360 And his wife is like, well, that's just so spiritual, so impressive. 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:04.000 You're going to give a whole cow away, a calf away and just generous and a righteous act. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:15.019 And a few weeks later, he comes into the homestead and he's really downcast, really downcast because he's just come back from the paddock and discovered that one of the calves has in fact died. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.600 And his wife says to him, what's the matter? 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:22.720 And he's, oh, I'm just so disappointed. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:25.139 He said, the Lord's calf has just died. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.259 You see, the point is in our life is it's always the Lord's calf. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:39.799 In other words, there are certain clothes we want to buy, certain holidays we want to have, certain places we want to live. 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:41.799 And that is the priority. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:49.460 And if there's enough left over for ministry and charity, then we will. 00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:55.379 But if we're in any form of a pinch at all, then ministry and charity gets cut back. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.860 Jesus says, switch them. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:01.379 Old Testament language of the first fruits. 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:11.019 You give money in the Old Testament, you gave money first to the ministry, the tabernacle, the Levites and to the poor. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.500 And you lived on what's left over. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:16.620 You didn't live and then give what's left over. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:28.379 So this, of course, means that not only does our giving have a priority, but it also needs to be sacrificial. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:34.919 This passage here goes along with all the rest of the passage of the Bible on giving. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.759 I've said it twice so far in the last couple of weeks. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.279 Standard for giving was very clear. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:42.299 10% tithing in the Old Testament. 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:46.379 10% went to the Levites, the poor, the ministry, the tabernacle. 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:48.559 That is basically ministry and charity. 00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:53.039 And there's one place in the New Testament where Jesus says that you should tithe. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:59.259 It's in Luke 11 verses 42 and 43, where he's talking to the Pharisees about their tithing. 00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:03.379 And Jesus doesn't say to them, oh, no, that's Old Testament principle. 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:05.200 You need a New Testament. 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:06.339 It's kind of open slather. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.940 He doesn't do that. 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:12.039 He actually encourages them in their tithing. 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:15.920 And so, in other words, Jesus isn't against the idea of a tithe, 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:23.000 but it doesn't actually get mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament except Luke 11. 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:28.840 Instead, we've got statements like 2 Corinthians 8, 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:34.920 where Paul is encouraging the Corinthian Christians to give money to the poor in Jerusalem. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:39.980 And he reminds them there of the Macedonian Christians of what they had already given. 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.100 And he says this in verse 3. 00:17:42.800 --> 00:17:49.620 I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:55.459 Even beyond their ability. 00:17:57.619 --> 00:18:01.839 When we say, well, look, I'd really like to give more, but I just can't afford to. 00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:07.939 What we mean is we can't afford to give without sacrificing. 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.119 That's what we mean. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:15.759 And that's the point Jesus is making. 00:18:16.719 --> 00:18:18.879 Your giving must be sacrificial. 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:25.000 The Old Testament tithe is a good starting point. 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.679 It's the baseline. 00:18:26.979 --> 00:18:30.419 It's the measuring tape by which we measure our heart 00:18:30.419 --> 00:18:33.399 and whether we're even remotely aligned to God's purposes. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:40.800 But we know when we are really giving is when it hurts. 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:47.000 Sacrifice means there are things that we can't do because we're giving. 00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:50.060 Places we can't go because we're giving. 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:53.960 Places we can't live because we're giving. 00:18:53.960 --> 00:19:03.000 That is the New Testament, gospel-fueled, spirit-empowered standard. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:14.200 And I gather by the fact that there's so much quietness in the room right now 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.680 that you're thinking, well, that's just shocking. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.880 That is impossible. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.200 That is just so unreasonable. 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:26.920 And it is pretty shocking. 00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:29.960 It makes me think about my priorities. 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.180 I wrestle with this. 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:35.500 And I've been doing wrestling with this over the last number of weeks 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:37.759 and continue to wrestle with this. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:40.059 And I've got to tell you, I'm not standing up here saying, 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.039 I've got this all sorted. 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:42.500 So how come you've not got it all sorted? 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.539 I'm not doing that. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:49.259 We all need to stand under this text and look at it. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:53.960 You see, when the great John Newton, the Anglican minister of amazing grace fame, 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:57.079 looked at this passage, he found it very troubling. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.259 He said, he wrote this, 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:15.779 No matter how he read it, no matter which way he cut it, 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:33.759 his conclusion was, he should have been giving away a lot more than he already was. 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.680 Sound unreasonable? 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:41.019 Not if we understand the gospel of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:44.400 His grace to us helps us to see this in a very new light. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.440 And that's my second point. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:54.340 There are three ways that Jesus uses the gospel to help us to see this kind of use of money 00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:56.860 is in fact entirely reasonable. 00:20:56.859 --> 00:21:02.359 In these verses, he's got three speeches in here. 00:21:02.919 --> 00:21:06.759 He speaks to all of the guests in verses 8 to 11. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:11.099 In the middle, he speaks to the host in verses 12 to 14. 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:16.039 And finally, he speaks to one smug guest in the parable of the great banquet from 15 onwards. 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:28.220 In every one of these speeches, he shows us how the gospel helps us see why it is very reasonable 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:33.200 to be sacrificial in our giving and to make it a priority. 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.000 First of all, he speaks to everyone. 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:37.579 Verses 7 to 11, we'll pick it up in verse 8. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.920 When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor. 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:47.080 For a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:52.600 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.660 Hey, give this person your seat. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:59.800 Then humiliated, you will take the least important place. 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:02.360 But when you are invited, take the lowest place. 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:05.860 So when the host comes, you'll say, Hey friend, move on up to a better place. 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:09.060 Then you'll be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:15.299 This is really simple advice, practical advice. 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:19.859 You see this working right across society. 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:22.759 For instance, I don't know, I've never been there. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.619 I've never experienced it. 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:26.919 I don't know anyone who's ever walked into a wedding reception and go, 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.379 Wow, that table up there. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.399 I'll see everything from there. 00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:32.519 I'll go and sit there. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:36.679 You know the one in the middle where they've got special food and I'll go and sit there. 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:39.680 I don't know anyone who's just gone and ponked themselves in the middle of, 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:42.019 They just know that you're not invited there. 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:45.039 Unless, of course, you're the bride or the groom. 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:48.299 It's really practical advice. 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:54.420 Don't be the kind of person who has to be the center of attention because people won't like you. 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:57.019 It was said of President Eisenhower. 00:22:57.100 --> 00:22:58.440 In fact, his daughter said of him, 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:02.740 He wanted to be the corpse at every funeral and the bride at every wedding. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:10.019 Don't be the kind of person who has to be the center of attention because people won't like you. 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:16.099 The irony is that if you're a self-promoter, you won't get promoted because people will resent you. 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:20.519 It's better if others speak well of you than if you speak well of yourself. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:26.740 But Jesus is not just being pragmatic because in verse 11, 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:34.599 He takes this principle and makes it the core of spiritual reality. 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.920 It's not just good advice. 00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:39.000 This is at the core of spiritual reality. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.019 It says, 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:47.160 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:49.900 Notice the word all. 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:55.420 This is, in other words, true for everyone. 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:59.039 This is the core of spiritual reality. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:05.079 If anyone goes to God and think that they deserve acceptance with God, 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:08.099 you will receive rejection 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:13.319 because it shows that you don't actually know what's in your own heart. 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:19.279 If you go to God knowing you deserve rejection and asking for forgiveness, 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:25.419 then you will find acceptance because you know what's in your own heart. 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.099 That's the gospel. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:31.319 That is the basic and great news of the Christian faith. 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:34.439 If with God we take the lowest seat, 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:36.799 He will exalt us. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:43.399 God taking us from the lowest place and giving us the place of honor and acceptance and value, 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:47.559 what it does for you is it fills you up on the inside. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:56.480 It fills your sense of worth and identity up because you are down there in the pit and He has grabbed you. 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.720 You know you're unworthy. 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.940 You know you're a sinner. 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.679 You know you've rejected Him. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:05.559 And He's taken you from there and He's given you the place of honor forever. 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:09.359 When you feel worthless, He says you are worthy. 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:15.839 You see, your whole sense of identity and worth shifts. 00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:23.779 Other people's assessment of your worth is nowhere near as important as God's approval. 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:30.019 And what happens is when God exalts us in the gospel, 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:33.159 then money becomes money. 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.019 That's what it is. 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:36.299 It's just mere currency. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.799 It is no longer your source of security. 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:43.160 It's no longer your source of hope, 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.660 your source of identity. 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:47.259 It's no longer your self-esteem. 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.759 It's no longer your source of value, 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:54.500 which is how it works in the Western world. 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:59.000 When God is in the center of our lives, 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:04.359 we don't have to be constantly scrambling to be at the top 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.740 and in the place of honor, 00:26:06.139 --> 00:26:07.559 trying to get more security, 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.559 more prosperity, 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.500 more money, 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.339 more status, 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:12.599 like the guests at this dinner party. 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:17.939 Jesus' disciples have been exalted by God. 00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:19.139 And therefore, 00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:20.759 they're not scrambling. 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.259 Now, 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:26.799 this doesn't mean that Christians can't be successful. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.359 They can certainly be successful. 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:31.879 It just should not be the passion of your life. 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:42.360 The Christian's inner wealth should make it easy for them to divest themselves of their external wealth. 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:47.799 That is the logic of grace and how it leads to a life of generosity. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:52.179 The second speech is in verses 12 to 14, 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:54.699 and it is directed at the host of the party. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:56.899 We've already looked at this one briefly, 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:00.099 but what we haven't looked at is the end of it. 00:27:00.699 --> 00:27:03.159 Have a look at the last sentence of verse 14. 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:14.480 One of the thoughts that Christians have had, 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:20.019 and I've heard it articulated, 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:23.400 expressed so many times, 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:27.040 is that to be a disciple of Jesus, 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.920 you miss out on life. 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.540 You miss out on life. 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:35.980 Basically, what you do is you endure a miserable life now 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.740 in the hope that you can get heaven, 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:40.000 and it'll be much better back then, in those days. 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:45.720 And many people, in fact, reject Christianity 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:48.220 because, in fact, they don't want to miss out on life. 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.940 Miss out on trips and experiences and lifestyles 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.599 because of this call to generosity. 00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:53.920 And Jesus says, 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:56.000 Oh, you don't understand what life's about. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:56.720 He says, 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:58.079 No, no, no, that's not the worst at all. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.579 And he says, 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.279 No, that's not. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:01.740 You don't miss out because of the resurrection. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:07.139 There is no missing out on life as a Christian. 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:11.859 You just need to see your life in a much grander picture. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.819 Because of Jesus' resurrection, 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.819 the eternal future for Christians 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:21.019 is perfect bodies, 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.619 perfect relationships, 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.920 in perfect paradise. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:28.140 The Maldives have got nothing on heaven. 00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:32.960 The kingdom of God is a feast. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:35.420 It is an eternal party. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.080 Nothing is held back. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.400 Nothing is missing. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:44.500 We'll eat and drink and laugh and love and talk and sing and hug forever, 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:46.740 and we will never grow tired of it. 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:49.160 There will never be any end of it. 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:55.380 All the jubilees and carnivals and banquets and fiestas and laughter 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:59.400 and festivities of a thousand years of human history 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:06.259 won't even come close to the wonder and the glory and the joy of the celebration 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:11.120 which the God of this universe lays out for his disciples forever. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:17.399 Are you afraid you're going to miss out on something? 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:24.459 Some acts of life because you were giving so much time and money away to gospel ministry and charity? 00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:25.979 Jesus says here, 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.739 take the long view. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.939 You don't miss out on anything. 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:32.979 You actually just build eternal reward is what you do. 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:38.919 The resurrection declares you don't miss out on a single thing in life. 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:46.279 So how is it that we can give so much away and for it to be considered reasonable? 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:51.820 First of all, the gospel gives you a new eternal internal wealth. 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:59.220 And secondly, because it guarantees you a future external wealth forever. 00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:04.120 And lastly, we come to the smug guest. 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:05.380 Verse 15. 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:13.000 Here we see the sacrifice that was required so that we might in fact have this new internal 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:15.800 and eternal external wealth. 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:20.380 Someone at the table says to Jesus in verse 15, 00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:24.460 blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God. 00:30:25.020 --> 00:30:27.800 And this is one of the social climbing, 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:31.160 scrambling guests who's pretty confident that, 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.580 you know, I'm well connected. 00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:34.900 And so, you know, I'll be there. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.800 God will reward me because I'm such a good guy. 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:41.900 And Jesus responds to this person by telling the, 00:30:42.060 --> 00:30:43.120 this parable, 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:45.100 parable, the great banquet. 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:50.680 He wants him to see how the kingdom of God and salvation actually works. 00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:54.300 He's telling a story about a man who throws a big banquet. 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:58.839 It's a, it quite literally, the language is, it's a mega feast. 00:31:00.919 --> 00:31:03.299 And I don't think KFC was in mind at that point. 00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:04.339 It's a mega feast. 00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:09.299 And the man who, who throws this mega feast is in fact represents God. 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:12.680 And the way it works is invitations have gone out. 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.599 RSVPs have been received. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.940 Everyone's expected to come. 00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.480 And when the time comes, 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.619 when the feast is ready to happen, 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:23.739 it turns out that no one wants to come. 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.179 Those who have said they would, 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.559 they decide not to come. 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.579 They're all too busy. 00:31:29.459 --> 00:31:31.659 They're too busy doing deals and getting married. 00:31:31.739 --> 00:31:32.779 They have other priorities. 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:35.319 They have other priorities. 00:31:37.439 --> 00:31:38.559 Why don't they come? 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:41.299 They've got other things to do. 00:31:43.379 --> 00:31:45.519 They are the self-righteous, the religious, 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:47.159 the successful, the content. 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:48.600 They are. 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:51.320 In fact, Jesus is having a bit of a dig here 00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:53.920 and his historical people are too busy and distracted 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:56.700 with life for God himself. 00:31:58.580 --> 00:31:59.920 The master of the feast 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:04.540 then gifts the feast 00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:08.380 to those who would not normally qualify to be in the room. 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:12.160 The ones who would not normally get invited to be in the room. 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.820 So it's crucial for us to understand here 00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:16.640 that this is a feast. 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.920 This is not a potluck dinner. 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.780 A potluck dinner 00:32:19.780 --> 00:32:22.180 is where you bring a casserole 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:24.600 with 50 other casseroles 00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:27.860 and that is you contribute something to the table. 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:30.120 Here's my contribution to the feast. 00:32:31.300 --> 00:32:33.720 A feast is prepared for you. 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:35.480 It is provided for you 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:37.480 and you enjoy it. 00:32:38.520 --> 00:32:41.440 And the kingdom of God is provided free of effort. 00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:42.680 We simply receive it. 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:45.600 And that's why the master says to this servant, 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:48.160 you go out there into the country lanes, 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:49.320 you go out there in the hedges 00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:51.400 and you compel them to come in. 00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:54.000 You compel them to come in. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:56.539 Because out there in the country lanes 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:58.060 and the hedges are the poor, 00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:59.019 the crippled, the blind. 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:01.560 They're the outcasts in society. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.860 They're the ones who would not, 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:07.000 would even expect to get an invitation. 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:10.599 And the servant has to go out there 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:13.420 and he has to convince them to come to the table 00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:16.079 because they're not going to believe 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:18.279 that this feast is on offer for them 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:20.000 free of charge. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:23.039 They're not going to believe 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:27.440 that eternal life is a gift at all. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.980 We earn everything. 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.960 We pay for everything. 00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:35.360 There's no such thing as a free lunch. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:37.740 And to think that we can have eternity 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:41.420 in the presence of God forever in perfection 00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:44.220 as a gift is like incomprehensible. 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:49.539 Jesus wants us to see that this is you and me 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.480 in the country lanes. 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:54.740 And we don't really grasp the gospel of grace. 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:57.880 We have to drive it in and drive it in 00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:59.019 and drive it in. 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:02.099 The logic of God's grace 00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:05.579 hasn't filled us up with internal wealth 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:09.800 and we aren't living with eternal wealth in mind. 00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:13.559 We need to drive in the truth 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:17.860 that we get a seat at this unbelievable banquet 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:21.019 because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:26.000 because he's done the switch. 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:33.360 Jesus is the one person who loved God with everything 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:35.659 totally and completely. 00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:38.039 And at the end of his life 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:40.179 what he should have heard 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:42.840 was God say to him 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:46.119 well done my good and faithful servant 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:48.819 enter now into the joy 00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:51.099 of the feast. 00:34:52.359 --> 00:34:53.819 That's what he should have heard. 00:34:55.319 --> 00:34:56.960 Instead we hear Jesus 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:59.079 saying from the cross 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.159 my God, my God 00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:01.519 why have you forsaken me? 00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:03.679 Why? 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.859 Because he did the switch. 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:11.780 He was thrown out 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:13.920 as we deserve 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.760 so that we could be brought in 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.940 to the feast. 00:35:17.620 --> 00:35:19.300 He heard depart from me 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:20.240 so that we can hear 00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:21.240 well done 00:35:21.240 --> 00:35:23.200 good and faithful servant 00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:24.960 enter into the joy of your master. 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:29.260 You see it's not our humility 00:35:29.260 --> 00:35:30.480 that earns the banquet. 00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:33.140 It's what Jesus has done for us. 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.300 He was cast out 00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:36.840 so that we can be brought in. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.980 He sacrificed everything 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:40.960 so that we could have life 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:43.120 and that is the logic 00:35:43.120 --> 00:35:43.960 and the motivation 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:45.800 for us to sacrifice everything 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:47.500 so that others would have life. 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:51.000 Sacrifice your wealth to ministry 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:53.240 so that people will spiritually live forever 00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:54.780 and charity 00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:56.780 so that people will physically live now. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:59.820 The more we see 00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:01.960 that we live 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:04.900 by Jesus' sacrifice 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:07.119 the more we see 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:09.079 that he has made the switch 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:11.760 so will we make the switch 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:14.160 and this level of 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.700 sacrificial 00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:17.820 prioritizing giving 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:19.740 will seem reasonable. 00:36:21.660 --> 00:36:23.119 Though he was poor 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:25.200 sorry, though he was rich 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:26.559 he became poor. 00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:28.160 Though he was an insider 00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:29.260 he was thrown out. 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:31.380 Though he was at the highest place of honor 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:32.360 seat at the table 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:34.019 he took the lowest place. 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:36.380 All so that we could be brought in 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:38.300 and put at the place of honor 00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:39.300 for all of eternity. 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:42.480 Because of the gospel 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.659 of the Lord Jesus 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:46.079 because of the gospel 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:47.179 of the Lord Jesus 00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:51.739 when we do that price tag moment 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:53.300 and we go 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:54.259 is it worth it? 00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:55.559 What's it worth? 00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:59.259 When we do that with him 00:36:59.259 --> 00:37:02.139 when we do the cost benefit analysis 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.819 of what it means to follow him 00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:06.519 sacrificial giving 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:09.319 is just plain reasonable. 00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:21.600 who's a small 00:37:21.600 --> 00:37:25.200 to figure out까지 money 00:37:25.200 --> 00:37:27.600 and if you heal the gospel 00:37:27.600 --> 00:37:28.080 of the Lord Jesus 00:37:28.080 --> 00:37:29.100 you capital 00:37:29.100 --> 00:37:29.320 before he brings 00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:31.740 it close to the Lord Jesus 00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.720 and the Lord Jesus 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.140 for another time 00:37:33.140 --> 00:37:33.840 and we don't matter 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.600 as to the gospel 00:37:34.600 --> 00:37:35.900 as to the Lord Jesus 00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.200 and the Lord Jesus 00:37:36.200 --> 00:37:37.000 and the Lord Jesus