WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.120 About five or six years ago, my wife and I and our children slept comfortably in our bed while intruders broke into our house and robbed us. 00:00:15.860 --> 00:00:17.800 That's completely true. 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:35.960 We had a dog at the time who would bark at every chipmunk but slept through several intruders coming into our house through the garage and wandering around in our house and stealing things and then leaving. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:40.659 He was not the brightest dog in the world. 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:46.320 And, you know, it was a really odd thing in the morning. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:50.939 My daughter Victoria, I think, was the first one up and my wife was the second one up. 00:00:51.179 --> 00:00:56.840 And I remember my wife coming into, and I was still in bed and saying, George, I think we were robbed last night. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:01:01.060 And it's a slow dawning on us as we realized that these things were missing. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:07.319 And it really leaves you, I don't know how many of you have ever been broken into or been robbed. 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:16.899 And it leaves you feeling sort of violated, a little bit unsafe as well, especially when somebody breaks into your house. 00:01:17.919 --> 00:01:27.199 And so it is that for most of us, it is just instantly obvious that stealing and theft is wrong. 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:38.680 In fact, the moral teaching that you shall not steal is one of those universal moral teachings of every religion and every culture. 00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:48.420 And if you just take your Bibles and turn, once again, to see this commandment, because that's the sermon today is on you shall not steal. 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:52.659 Turn to the Deuteronomy version, which is the exact same. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:54.540 It's page 161. 00:01:55.480 --> 00:02:01.420 And I should warn you today that we're going to look, because the commandment is so short, we're going to look at several Bible passages. 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:04.079 So you're going to want to sort of keep your Bibles in your hands. 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:15.000 But Deuteronomy chapter 5, verse 19, says very clearly the eighth word or the eighth commandment, you shall not steal. 00:02:15.859 --> 00:02:22.620 And the prayer book teaches us to say, Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law. 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:31.740 Stealing is dishonestly, a very simple definition, is dishonestly or unjustly taking what belongs to someone else. 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:39.840 Stealing is dishonestly or unjustly taking what properly belongs to someone else. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:47.820 And as I said, it's one of those passages, one of those moral teachings, which is universally recognized, that it's wrong to steal. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:57.320 The problem for us is that almost instantly, because we're sinful creatures, we sort of add a couple of provisos. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:07.900 And we say, we sort of add a to who and a what, that there's certain things that it's sort of don't fall in that category of things that you can't steal, 00:03:08.139 --> 00:03:14.259 or that there's certain people or persons or groups that don't fall in that category of you cannot steal. 00:03:15.019 --> 00:03:22.819 Quite a few years ago, I had a, there was a man that I knew who believed that it was all right to rob restaurants of some of its stuff. 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:29.239 That he sort of had a regular habit that when he went to a restaurant, he'd try to find a way into the kitchen or do something, 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:32.939 and he'd steal a knife or some cups or something or other. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:38.979 He'd just steal it under the idea that these people have lots of money and they won't miss this thing. 00:03:39.299 --> 00:03:45.299 And it's sort of, you know, if you talked about you shall not steal, I'm sure he would have said you should never steal. 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:50.920 But somehow or another, restaurant owners weren't covered by that. 00:03:51.920 --> 00:03:58.760 And some of us, you know, if we could sort of defraud the government, we have to be careful. 00:03:58.920 --> 00:04:01.960 There's several federal auditors who come to this church. 00:04:02.660 --> 00:04:05.180 But, you know, that sort of is a separate category. 00:04:05.380 --> 00:04:07.380 It's all right to take money from the government. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:11.080 Or it's all right to take money from rich people or from insurance companies. 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:15.540 Or in some cultures, they might have the teaching that it's wrong to steal. 00:04:16.280 --> 00:04:19.139 But it's wrong to steal from your own kind. 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:21.240 It's all right to steal from the other tribe. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:26.960 Or it's all right to steal from, you know, your parents or whatever the case might be. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.819 In our age, it's often maybe the what is also. 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.319 It's a matter that some of us will do certain types of downloading, for instance, 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.759 and not view it as a type of stealing. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:40.339 Because that what, that intellectual property, 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:44.819 isn't something that we sort of recognize as being covered by this commandment. 00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:47.540 But this commandment is absolute. 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:51.800 That's one of the things which, in a sense, is so unsettling about the commandment. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.839 It's absolute and without exception. 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:57.600 It's a little bit like I didn't, I haven't yet had a chance to hear. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:01.500 I've heard many people say how wonderful David's sermon was last Sunday. 00:05:02.039 --> 00:05:04.100 And I'm looking forward to listening to it. 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:05.700 I just haven't had the time this week. 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:10.460 And I haven't got to, didn't get to hear him speak on murder either. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:14.820 But, you know, one of the things about thou shalt not commit murder is that there's no exception. 00:05:14.820 --> 00:05:17.820 You can't kill homosexuals because they're homosexuals. 00:05:18.460 --> 00:05:20.800 You can't kill the unborn because they're unborn. 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:25.740 You can't kill black people because they're black or white people because they're white. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.100 You can't take innocent life. 00:05:28.520 --> 00:05:30.820 Like, the commandment is without exception. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:33.300 It's absolute and universal. 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:36.699 And it's the same with the commandment, you shall not steal. 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:40.060 It's absolute and without exception. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:47.920 And our fallen human wills and our fallen human minds want to keep on trying to exclude certain people 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:53.819 or certain types of things or property from that so that we can still say that we believe this commandment 00:05:53.819 --> 00:06:00.240 and so we can become unconscious to the fact that we're creating these exceptions. 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:06.180 But the thrust of this commandment is that there are no exceptions. 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:11.819 It applies to all whose and all what's without exception. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:13.680 You shall not steal. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:18.000 It covers bank robbery, breaking and entering. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.420 Just as an aside. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:25.259 The very first time I went to visit somebody in jail, this is in my former parish. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:29.420 And this is the Pembroke County Jail. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:31.300 And I went in to visit the person. 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:38.459 And you can just imagine the surprise of another parishioner, a second parishioner who was also in jail, 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:41.459 that had been keeping his being in jail secret. 00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:43.779 He was in jail for breaking and entering. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:50.099 And the look of surprise on his face when I walked through the door with my collar, 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:55.000 that he was in a sense caught a second time, was priceless. 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:57.199 I wish I'd had a camera to capture it. 00:06:57.479 --> 00:07:02.859 But bank robbery, theft, there's such a thing as intellectual property. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:09.279 So things like downloading in particular ways or plagiarism are examples of theft. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:15.000 For companies or corporations, there can be unjust wages. 00:07:15.859 --> 00:07:19.459 I have a friend who is a small contractor. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:24.719 And, you know, there will be people who will get work done and then they'll just refuse to pay. 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:30.279 Or if they do pay, they know that if they pay, let's say the contract was for $5,000 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:33.159 and they'll say, here's $3,000, I'm not going to give you the rest. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:37.959 Knowing that in many cases, people aren't going to go through the bother of trying to go for the rest of money. 00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:38.479 That's theft. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.840 He's stolen $2,000. 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:47.000 The forcing up of prices unjustly is a form of theft. 00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:54.240 The government can steal through unjust or punitive taxes or appropriation of land. 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.080 It can sometimes be guilty of theft. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:01.660 Companies can be guilty of theft by charging exorbitant interest. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.379 Kidnapping is an example of theft. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.439 And I won't keep on going with lots and lots of examples. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:12.319 But we see that the Bible teaches us that you shall not steal. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.600 But what makes stealing wrong? 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:24.260 It's more than the fact that it hurts our feelings or makes us feel insecure or that it might give us nightmares, depending on the type of theft. 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:26.300 What makes stealing wrong? 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:34.580 The Bible as a whole teaches that what makes stealing wrong is what makes personal property right. 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:48.440 Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law. 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:51.900 So what is it about property that is good? 00:08:51.900 --> 00:08:55.460 What is right about private property? 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.860 Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 24. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:03.019 We're ultimately going to go back to Genesis. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:07.940 But sort of as a shortcut to it, we're going to look at Psalm 24, verse 1. 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:11.840 In your Pew Bibles, it's page 478. 00:09:12.680 --> 00:09:14.300 Page 478. 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:21.539 And this psalm, the first verse, brilliantly summarizes a constant biblical theme. 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:24.279 And here we see that the Bible teaches this. 00:09:24.699 --> 00:09:32.240 The earth is the Lord's in all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. 00:09:32.859 --> 00:09:33.979 Just listen to that again. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:41.779 The earth is the Lord's in all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:51.840 The Bible teaches that God is the creator of all things, the sustainer of all things, and the true end of all things. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:55.639 And that he, in fact, is the only true owner. 00:09:56.379 --> 00:10:02.940 In fact, every time we use the word private property, really, we should do this little funny thing here with our fingers 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:07.100 to try to indicate that there's quotation marks around it, that there's a bit of an exception 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:13.100 or a way that we have to understand sort of a limit around what private property actually is. 00:10:13.420 --> 00:10:18.180 Because biblically speaking, there's only one true owner, and that's God. 00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:20.540 And God owns everything. 00:10:21.260 --> 00:10:22.860 He's the true owner of this church. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:24.100 He's the true owner of me. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:25.760 He's the true owner of my children. 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:27.420 He's the true owner of my wife. 00:10:27.820 --> 00:10:30.800 He's the true owner of whatever my mind can think that is good. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.419 He is ultimately the only owner. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:38.559 God is the creator, the sustainer of all things, and the end of all things. 00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:43.519 And God, as the true owner, is sovereign over all things. 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:49.839 So biblically, whenever we say private property, as I said, we should put it in quotation marks. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:11:01.780 Because God is the true owner, but as a gift, he entrusts to us, mindful of the quotes, private property. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:05.100 Private property is God's idea. 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:17.920 And God has, as a sacred trust, bestowed upon us minds, the ability to work, imaginations, ability to reason, creativity. 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:24.200 And it is part of his good plan and purpose for us that not only has he given us the ability to work, 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.980 but he has given us things that we can call ours. 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:32.440 Always understanding that as soon as we say ours, we should put these little quotation marks above our head 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:38.340 to understand that he's the true owner, but I am the steward of my mind. 00:11:38.580 --> 00:11:40.420 I am the steward of my will. 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:42.399 I am the steward of my emotions. 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:45.180 I am the steward of my children. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.680 I am the steward of my house. 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:55.879 And whatever wealth I happen to have, not very much, but whatever I have, I am the steward of that. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:12:01.500 But God is the true owner, and he has made us stewards. 00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:12.700 Property, in a sense, and the ability to work is a sacred trust, a gift given to us, and we are ultimately accountable to him. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:17.899 Now, I just have to give a few analogies around this, because it's a bit of an odd idea for many of us 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:21.200 to think that God is ultimately the owner of my mind. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:23.820 But that's what Psalm 24, verse 1 teaches us. 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:29.840 It's what the Bible teaches us from Genesis chapter 1 to the end of the book of Revelation, 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:34.420 that God is the creator of all things, and he is ultimately the only true owner. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.060 It's not like renting. 00:12:37.540 --> 00:12:40.020 The problem with renting is renting sort of passive. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:51.159 It's as if God has given us, you know, an area of responsibility, and he desires us to prosper in it. 00:12:51.819 --> 00:12:53.259 It's a little bit like this. 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:59.279 Chris and Dana Scherf, in our congregation, they coordinate our ministry to children. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:07.279 And ultimately, they are to serve these children, ultimately knowing that they serve God. 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:13.299 And secondarily, they're to serve these children knowing that under God they serve the parents, 00:13:13.939 --> 00:13:22.000 and that in particular, ultimately, that they, in a sense, are under the authority of me and the other staff and wardens of the church, 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:26.940 that they have to, in a sense, be accountable, not only to the parents, ultimately to God, 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:33.580 but also to me in terms of how they care for children, how they recruit volunteers, 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:39.600 how they teach the children, how they love the children, how they encourage and equip the children. 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:45.179 And so it's not just a matter of, you know, well, you know, they sort of look, 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:50.059 I have to be here at 10, and, you know, gosh, I can just sort of, you know, sit downstairs, 00:13:50.359 --> 00:13:54.199 chewing gum, smoking cigarettes, tapping my fingers, 00:13:54.719 --> 00:14:00.479 hoping for this service to get over as quick as possible so that I can be finished my task and off I go. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:04.819 If that's how they are acting, they are not being proper stewards. 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:12.539 Because as stewards, they are to use their mind and their heart and their will and their imagination. 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:17.879 They are to pray for the children and pray for the parents and pray for us as a church 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:23.579 and call us to pray and get us excited about this and understand our proper place 00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:28.279 and understand that they're not just looking after, you know, a few little tiny human beings 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.059 that haven't reached three foot tall or four foot tall yet, 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:36.299 but they are there to help make confident, joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:41.959 And they should be excited and we should be excited if the number of children that God entrusted this church 00:14:41.959 --> 00:14:43.620 goes up and up and up and up. 00:14:44.099 --> 00:14:47.799 And not only, friends, the same with Nadia and the people involved in music ministry. 00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:51.500 You know, she, in a sense, is a steward of her talents. 00:14:52.079 --> 00:14:57.219 And she, in a sense, ultimately is accountable to her and Ben and all the other people. 00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:59.459 They're ultimately accountable to Almighty God. 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:05.780 And secondarily, they're accountable to me in this particular case and to the congregation. 00:15:06.400 --> 00:15:10.980 And Nadia and Ben are to pray for the congregation that we learn how to sing, 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:16.460 that we sing with our spirits, that we sing, you know, lustily to the Lord. 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:21.040 You know, David is going to be beginning, heading up this ministry. 00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:23.220 I keep wanting to call it HOT. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:25.740 Hall of Tyrannus, that's right, H-O-T. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:28.240 He's doing something HOT on campus. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:33.259 And, you know, once again, he's not just doing this to fill in time. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.960 He's a steward of this ministry. 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:40.820 We, as a congregation, are paying money to release him to do this ministry. 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:46.159 And he is to pray for this and dream about this and organize around this. 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.100 And he's to do it to the glory of God. 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:55.360 He's to seek, you know, dozens and scores and hundreds of students who will come and hear the word of God 00:15:55.360 --> 00:16:00.899 and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and become confident, joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:03.120 You see, this is what it means to be a steward. 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:07.300 Dave isn't going off as some lone ranger. 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:09.899 Nadia is not going off as some lone ranger. 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:13.019 Chris and Dana Scherf are not going off as some lone ranger. 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.039 They are under authority. 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:18.299 They have been given a sacred trust, an area of responsibility. 00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:25.939 And God is calling them to give 110% to build God's kingdom. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:34.159 To build and to grow, always understanding that it's not about them, that it's all about God and what brings him glory. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.120 And so it is with us. 00:16:36.839 --> 00:16:38.679 God is the only owner. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:48.399 But he, in his providence and his mercy, has bestowed upon us this great good of owning property and having the ability to work. 00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:52.959 And this property is given to us as a gift, as a sacred trust. 00:16:52.959 --> 00:17:03.439 We are accountable to him, and we are ultimately stewards of the property that has been given to us and the ability that we have to work. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:08.680 God has ordered that we are to work and to own. 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:11.759 He desired us to have property. 00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:16.140 Just as an aside, you're right beside a university. 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:19.279 I can make these little academic asides. 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.620 I'm going to get in trouble, maybe. 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:28.340 It's joked that the only Marxists and communists left in North America teach at universities. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:33.500 I don't know if that's completely true, but you don't see very many of them anywhere else in the world. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:41.200 And this passage, this commandment teaches that communism and Marxism is severely wrong. 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:48.720 It is intrinsically wrong because it teaches that private property is wrong. 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:54.220 In fact, fundamentally denies the tired teaching of scripture. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:18:06.559 So communism and Marxism is in fact deeply and intrinsically wrong and is in fact spiritually dangerous for us. 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:09.200 The Bible doesn't teach capitalism. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:16.960 The Bible teaches the good of property, but there's different social systems that can develop, 00:18:17.360 --> 00:18:21.220 which are all basically in keeping with the Christian message. 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:28.980 But every social system and every system that tries to order property and order our common life together 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:32.059 all has the possibility for misuse. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:39.360 And the misuse comes when we forget that property, private property, should always be in quotation marks. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:43.360 And that God, in fact, is the fundamental owner of all things. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:53.479 So capitalism, or feudalism for that matter, is not inherently wrong, but communism and Marxism is inherently wrong. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.740 I don't know if I've been controversial with that, but I think that's what the Bible teaches. 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:05.279 And you can talk to people like Robert Hanuk, who actually had to live under communism for a long time, 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:14.200 and he can tell you that it's not only wrong biblically, but in fact creates great harm in reality. 00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:17.259 So what is the good of property? 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:22.120 We're going to look at that in a moment, but just remember, the Bible teaches you shall not steal. 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:27.079 And the Bible teaches that the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:32.240 And we are to say, Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:37.939 The Bible teaches that not only that you shall not steal, it teaches that the earth is the Lord's. 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:41.779 It also teaches us that we are to be fruitful and multiply. 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:44.759 We are to be fruitful and multiply. 00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:49.899 Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 1, right at the beginning of your Bibles. 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:55.580 And in fact, turn to page 1 of your Bibles. 00:19:56.540 --> 00:20:02.500 And this is the end of the creation account. 00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:05.820 And we're going to begin reading it in verse 26. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.780 This is the sixth day of creation. 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:11.120 And here's what the Bible teaches. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:41.099 Then God said, 00:20:41.119 --> 00:21:11.119 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:27.719 Private property, with the quotes, is a good intended by God with particular purposes. 00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:30.119 Now just a bit of a pause here. 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:34.059 We're not used to, in our culture, thinking of things being a good. 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:42.279 We're used to thinking of, in a sense, our culture right now is trying to teach us that things, 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:47.480 in fact, it's having a bit of a struggle with it because obviously ecological movements and all have a bit of a, 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:49.859 there's a bit of a tension in our culture. 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:53.399 But a certain element of our culture ultimately sees the world as plastic, 00:21:54.000 --> 00:22:01.839 as being there for us to shape and to do with according to whatever purposes we as human beings choose to have. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:08.259 But the Bible teaches us that the world is created by God, sustained by God, 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:12.339 and that there are, in fact, purposes in creation. 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:14.919 There are goods in creation. 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:18.339 So, for instance, I think last week, 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:22.939 David talked about sexuality having a purpose. 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:30.400 It is, there is a particular good to sexuality, and there is a good way, a proper way, a God-given way, 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:35.019 that our sexuality is to be expressed, and that is in the holy matrimony, 00:22:35.120 --> 00:22:38.220 the marriage of a man and a woman under God. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:42.019 That that is, in a sense, that there is a good to marriage, 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:45.440 that marriage is for the care and procreation of children. 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:48.440 It's to symbolize the unity between Christ and his church. 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:55.160 It is, you know, there's these particular goods or purposes for marriage, 00:22:55.340 --> 00:23:00.860 which are, in a sense, independent of what we want or what we desire. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:07.259 A good that comes from God means that there are divine purposes there, 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:11.539 which we are to discover and enter into, 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:16.320 rather than things which we can merely impose upon something. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:21.700 It's maybe a little bit abstract for some of you. 00:23:22.080 --> 00:23:25.920 Bill Hybels is famous for saying, a very, very biblical statement, 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.840 the local church is the hope of the world. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.680 The church is God's invention. 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:33.960 It's not the invention of a whole pile of bishops, 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:37.720 or a whole pile of deacons, or a whole pile of rich people, 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:41.660 or white people, or black people, or blue people, or polka-dotted people. 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.799 The church is invented by God, 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:48.039 and because it's invented by God, it is a good thing, 00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:49.440 or it's supposed to be good, 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:51.980 and it has divine purposes. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:56.059 And we are called constantly to try to seek to understand 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:58.779 what those purposes are that come from God 00:23:58.779 --> 00:24:01.599 so that we may abide in those purposes, 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:05.159 fulfill those purposes, grow and flourish within those purposes. 00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:11.619 And God has given us this positive good of private property. 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:15.939 The good is that we can engage in productive labor 00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:18.079 and enjoy the fruits of our labor. 00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:22.000 The good is that it protects the weak from the strong. 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:26.039 Rich people can't steal from poor people because they're poor. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:29.439 White people can't steal from black, or black from white, 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.919 just because of their color. 00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:34.399 The poorest person in this country, 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:36.759 if we had proper property rights, 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:38.619 would be protected from government, 00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:41.739 or from the richest person because it's their property. 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:46.099 And no government and no rich person 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:48.939 can take it with them without being guilty of stealing. 00:24:49.719 --> 00:24:53.799 So there is the good of allowing and encouraging productive labor 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.939 to enjoy the fruits of our labor, 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:58.000 to protect the weak from the strong, 00:24:58.099 --> 00:25:00.479 and provide security for us as persons, 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:02.000 for our well-being. 00:25:02.459 --> 00:25:04.559 Property is for the building of families 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:06.859 and for the building of proper community. 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:12.579 It is to be a means by which we can exercise generosity and charity. 00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:18.299 Charity for those who are poor or in any type of distress, 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:22.539 and generosity towards the spread of the gospel message 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:25.960 and the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:28.619 And not only is it for all these things, 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.740 it's for fun. 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:34.299 God likes matter. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:37.059 That's why he made so much of it. 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:41.579 And God made matter so we could enjoy it. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:45.059 Like fun is God's creation, not the devil's. 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:48.279 Pleasure is God's creation, not the devil. 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:52.960 And he made, he allowed us to have property 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.819 and to live in this material world 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.799 and call some of this material world 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.119 that which is ours under him 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:01.059 so we could enjoy it, 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:03.379 so we could have fun. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.879 You know, Christianity is not just a whole 00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:10.079 fast after fast after fast after fast. 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:13.000 There's times to fast, but there's times to feast. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.500 Now, 00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:21.599 these are the goods of merit, of property. 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:23.740 It means that if we're not, in a sense, 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.259 fulfilling these things, 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:27.579 we're doing, in a sense, we're also stealing. 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:31.220 If we're lazy and not engaged in productive labor, 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.480 if, you know, 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:35.519 if we aren't using our money in a way 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:37.680 which is generous and which is charitable 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:39.779 towards the poor and others, 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.519 it means that we're not, in a sense, 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:43.319 using our money as we should be. 00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:45.819 Because we have to understand that we are stewards, 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.879 it means that, in a sense, 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.960 God looks at our bank records 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.980 and our credit card records 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:54.000 and, in a sense, 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.319 we'll be judged for this. 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:59.160 How are we on the generosity scale? 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.559 How are we on the productive labor scale? 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.700 How are we? 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:07.019 How have we been in our lives? 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.839 So the Bible teaches, 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.039 you shall not steal. 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:12.640 The Bible teaches that the earth is the Lord's 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:14.860 and the fullness thereof. 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:17.679 The Bible teaches that we are to be fruitful and multiply. 00:27:18.439 --> 00:27:20.079 And finally, just very briefly, 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:23.079 there's a question which might never have dawned 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.759 on most of us. 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.099 In fact, 00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.859 I was thinking about this a lot this week. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.939 There's many people in Canada who might say, 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:30.240 you know what, 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.159 that's one commandment that I've never broken. 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:32.819 I don't know, 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.219 maybe, you know, 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:35.699 50%, 80%, 90% of Canadians said, 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.659 I've never stolen. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.419 And one of the reasons that so many Canadians 00:27:40.419 --> 00:27:41.879 would say that they've never stolen 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:43.920 is they've never asked an obvious question. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:46.220 Can a human being rob God? 00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:50.160 Can a human being rob God? 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.940 Can a man or a woman rob God? 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:53.120 Believe it or not, 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.520 the Bible asks that question. 00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:57.000 Some of you might never realize 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.940 that the Bible, in fact, 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.080 asks that very question. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:01.320 If you turn to Malachi chapter 3, 00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:03.040 verses 8 to 10, 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:05.900 we'll see how the Bible answers that question. 00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:09.700 And Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament. 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:12.360 And if you're using your pew Bibles, 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.840 it's on page 828. 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:18.440 Page 828. 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:22.100 Actually, we'll begin at verse 6. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:25.100 Malachi chapter 3, verse 6. 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:27.900 For I am the Lord, I do not change. 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.600 Therefore you are not consumed, 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.660 O sons of Jacob. 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.779 Yet from the days of your fathers 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:34.640 you have gone away from my ordinances 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.059 and have not kept them. 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:38.779 Return to me and I will return to you, 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.879 says the Lord of hosts. 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:40.839 But you said, 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.779 In what way shall we return? 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:45.139 Will a man rob God? 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.619 Yet you have robbed me. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.779 But you say, 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.759 In what way have we robbed you? 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.920 In tithes and offerings. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.940 You are cursed with a curse, 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:56.039 for you have robbed me, 00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.500 even this whole nation. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:00.680 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.619 that there may be food in my house. 00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:04.500 And prove me now in this, 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:06.059 says the Lord of hosts. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.859 If I will not open for you 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.960 the windows of heaven 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:11.079 and pour out for you such blessing 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:12.980 that there will be not room enough 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.839 to receive it. 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:16.700 Isn't that a stark passage? 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.299 You know, 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:23.720 all are called to give God 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.779 his proper due. 00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:28.579 Whether you are a Christian 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.460 or not a Christian, 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:31.419 because God is the creator of all things 00:29:31.419 --> 00:29:32.659 and the sustainer of all things, 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.919 all human beings are called 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.120 to give God his due. 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:37.160 We understand, 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.279 as Christians, 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.880 that we have become 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:41.080 alienated from God 00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:43.120 and estranged from God. 00:29:43.580 --> 00:29:45.180 That we have turned our back 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:46.100 on God. 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:48.060 And we Christians 00:29:48.060 --> 00:29:49.660 are ones who have understood 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:51.320 and heard the message 00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.740 that God has sent 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.720 his only son 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.500 to be the one 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:56.620 to heal this estrangement 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.600 and this breaking. 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.080 We ourselves 00:29:59.080 --> 00:30:00.039 cannot break this 00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.900 by ourselves. 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:02.039 That we need God 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:03.200 himself to intervene 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.000 and so God 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.720 has intervened 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.319 by sending his son, 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.259 Jesus Christ, 00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:09.139 to die on the cross, 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.379 to pay for our sins, 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.799 to pay for the punishment 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.879 of our sins, 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.399 to heal 00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:15.940 and restore 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.720 that which we have 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.599 willfully broken 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:20.559 and that we are 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.779 to come to God 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.059 in faith 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.980 through the person 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.899 of Jesus Christ, 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:25.720 trusting him 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.399 as our savior 00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:27.519 and desiring 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.220 to follow him 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.720 as Lord. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:30.440 And when we come 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.059 to God 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:32.400 through Jesus Christ, 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.500 trusting Jesus 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.400 as our savior, 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.920 being filled 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.940 with the Holy Spirit 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.480 as a gift 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.259 of his grace 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:38.920 and learning 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.980 to follow Jesus 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.660 as Lord, 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.299 what we start 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:42.900 to do, 00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.299 what God starts 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.240 to do within us 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:47.259 is heal us 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.339 in our relationship 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.100 to creation 00:30:49.100 --> 00:30:50.440 and all of the 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.480 original purposes 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.860 built into creation 00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:54.640 that God had desired 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.720 that we would abide in. 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:58.360 that these 00:30:58.360 --> 00:31:00.620 and so that we are called 00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:02.559 to learn once again 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:04.960 how to give God 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.380 his proper due 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.779 with our tithes 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.440 and offerings. 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:10.079 I want to emphasize 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.039 that the process 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.460 is first to come 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.200 to Christ 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.660 and then to give. 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.500 In fact, 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.299 in a few minutes 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.980 we're going to be 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.299 passing the offering plate 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:20.600 and I want to remind 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:23.100 you the offering plate 00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:23.940 is for Christians. 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.120 Christians, 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.820 if you have not yet 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.940 given your life to Christ 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.759 and you are with us 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.200 this morning, 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.500 we are so glad you came 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.440 and there's going 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.080 to be coffee, 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.360 have as many cups 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:32.880 of coffee 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.019 as we can possibly 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.740 put in you. 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:36.200 You are our guest 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.759 and we don't want you 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.779 to put a penny 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.759 on the plate 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.220 because the plate 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:42.440 is for Christians. 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:43.900 It is for those 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.320 who have given 00:31:44.320 --> 00:31:45.340 their lives to Christ. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.400 We can't, 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.740 in a sense, 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.700 buy God off 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.600 with a few pennies 00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.140 in the plate 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.059 or a few dollars 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:51.299 or a few thousand dollars 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.500 or even a few million dollars, 00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:53.700 even billion dollars. 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.220 God doesn't want us 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.100 to pay him off. 00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.460 He wants us to come 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.920 to his son, 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.720 Jesus Christ 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.600 and it is through him 00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:01.759 that we are reconciled 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:03.960 and so when the plate 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.480 is passed, 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.059 this Sunday 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:05.759 and any Sunday, 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.640 if you have not yet 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.640 given your life to Christ, 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.759 we welcome you here. 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:11.039 Please be among us. 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.220 Please never put 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:13.160 a penny in the plate 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:15.779 but for those of us 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.600 who are Christians, 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.799 we are to heed 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:21.019 deeply this word. 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.960 Can a man rob God? 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.799 Can a woman rob God? 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.680 And we rob God 00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:30.460 by not giving to him 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.779 of our tithes 00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.140 and giving to him 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:33.980 of our offerings. 00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:36.440 Lord, have mercy upon us 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.600 and incline our hearts 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.500 to keep this law. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.840 Let's bow our heads 00:32:39.840 --> 00:32:40.259 in prayer. 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:50.200 Father, we give you 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:51.019 thanks and praise 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.579 for the gift 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.180 of your son, 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:53.000 Jesus Christ. 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.359 We give you thanks 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:54.839 and praise 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.500 for his death 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.379 upon the cross, 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.779 for his bearing 00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.680 in his body 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.559 and in his person, 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.579 all that separates 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.339 us from you. 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:02.980 We thank you 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.220 that he dealt 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.059 with our sins 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.920 and the punishment 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:06.879 that our sins 00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:07.480 deserved 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.559 in his death 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.400 upon the cross 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.740 and in his mighty 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.319 resurrection. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.140 We give you thanks 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:13.660 and praise, 00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.079 Father, 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:16.480 that you desire 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.299 that we come 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.839 to your son, 00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:18.620 Jesus Christ, 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.620 to put our trust 00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:20.579 and faith in him. 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.400 And we thank you, 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:22.740 Father, 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:26.299 that as we put 00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.319 our trust in him, 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.680 that you send 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.620 your Holy Spirit 00:33:30.619 --> 00:33:32.279 to make us 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.539 reborn 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:35.179 in soul and spirit, 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.439 that you and your son 00:33:36.439 --> 00:33:37.399 and the Holy Spirit 00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:38.399 himself actually 00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:39.279 make your home 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.919 within us 00:33:39.919 --> 00:33:41.579 and start to fit us 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.039 for heaven. 00:33:42.739 --> 00:33:43.179 Father, 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:44.000 thank you for the 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.139 great gift of your son. 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.599 Thank you, 00:33:46.699 --> 00:33:46.879 Father, 00:33:46.959 --> 00:33:47.879 for creating us 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:48.539 and for the gift 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.239 of property. 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.639 We ask, 00:33:50.959 --> 00:33:51.039 Father, 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:52.579 that under the lordship 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.779 of your son, 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.619 Jesus Christ, 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.339 that we would be 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:55.719 guided 00:33:55.719 --> 00:33:57.319 to fruitful 00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:58.659 labor, 00:33:58.660 --> 00:34:01.040 to a generous use 00:34:01.040 --> 00:34:02.420 of the resources 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:02.980 that you have 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.880 bestowed upon us, 00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:05.060 generous to the poor, 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.680 generous to the spread 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.360 of the gospel, 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.460 generous to our neighbors. 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:10.900 Father, 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.980 may your Holy Spirit 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.800 work this work 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.320 of healing 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.200 in our hearts 00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:15.360 and in our lives. 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.639 This we ask 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.800 in the name of Jesus, 00:34:18.180 --> 00:34:18.820 your son 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.680 and our savior. 00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:21.039 Amen.