WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.700 Good morning. 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:07.400 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the assistant pastor here at Shine Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.480 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you this morning. 00:00:11.380 --> 00:00:14.599 Special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:20.000 We're glad you're here, and we're glad you're here not because you are filling a seat, 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:25.080 but because, as I say every Sunday, we are following after Jesus together as one community, 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:31.399 and we are convinced as we follow after him that there is no one so good that they don't need God's grace, 00:00:31.799 --> 00:00:33.879 and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:34.460 --> 00:00:38.379 And so we're glad that you're here because God has something to say to everyone, 00:00:38.839 --> 00:00:42.060 and everyone needs to hear what God has to say in his word. 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:46.399 And so that's why we spend this time looking at everything that God has to say to us. 00:00:47.379 --> 00:00:53.079 Now, I know that many of you have faced an incredible challenge this past week, 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.899 and that was the incredible challenge of cooking a turkey. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:02.299 Now, if you cook turkeys, you know there's lots of things that can go wrong. 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:07.459 You can undercook them and make some of your guests sick. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.219 You don't want to do that. You don't want a dirty bird. 00:01:11.539 --> 00:01:16.819 Or you can overcook them and give your guests the unpleasant experience of eating dry bird. 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:21.420 And there's lots of different tricks that you can use to try to make sure you're hitting the right spot, 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:22.879 but there's only one real fail-safe. 00:01:23.679 --> 00:01:28.519 There's only one way to know exactly and precisely whether you've cooked your bird enough, 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:29.319 but not too much. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.920 And that is the great modern miracle of the instant reed thermometer, 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:35.519 which you can use. 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:38.200 And, of course, you have to know the right places to put it in the turkey, right? 00:01:38.219 --> 00:01:39.700 You have to have some skill in using this. 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:40.599 But if you know what you're doing, 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:45.640 this is your fail-safe method of making sure you don't mess up your turkey. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:48.939 Now, we are in the book of Philippians. 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.379 And if you've been with us, you know we've been going through it for a while. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:53.640 And we are now at the very end. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:55.819 We're in the last section. 00:01:55.980 --> 00:01:57.599 This is our last sermon on Philippians. 00:01:58.539 --> 00:01:59.739 And we have covered a lot of ground. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:03.280 If you've been with us, you know that we've talked a lot about the gospel. 00:02:03.839 --> 00:02:06.719 We've talked a lot about the partnership that comes with the gospel. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:08.900 And then last week, really two weeks ago, 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:12.039 we talked about the joy that comes from the gospel. 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:16.379 And these are all the things that Paul wants to emphasize. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:19.479 He wants to tell this church in Philippi over and over again. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:22.079 And we've talked about the fact that this is a letter. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:25.859 It's a letter that's written from Paul, who's in prison at the time, 00:02:25.899 --> 00:02:26.859 and it's written to a church. 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:28.759 And this church is very much like our church. 00:02:29.359 --> 00:02:32.139 And we have talked once before about the logistics of this letter. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.840 So when we talked about Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:02:34.959 --> 00:02:38.719 remember Epaphroditus was a man who was in the Philippian church, 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:40.039 and he visited Paul. 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:41.879 And he visited Paul for two reasons. 00:02:42.679 --> 00:02:44.759 One was just to help him, to assist him. 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:46.439 Paul is under house arrest. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:47.799 He can use all the help he can get. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:50.439 It's great for him to have a companion, someone to be with him. 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:53.799 But the other reason he came was to deliver a financial gift. 00:02:55.079 --> 00:02:58.180 These folks in Philippi had learned that Paul was under house arrest. 00:02:58.280 --> 00:02:59.120 They knew his needs. 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:00.439 They were concerned for his needs. 00:03:00.739 --> 00:03:02.840 And so they took up a collection of money, 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:04.659 and presumably some other things, 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:07.039 and sent them to him because they cared about him. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.120 They wanted him to know how much they cared about him, 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.639 and they also wanted him to be provided for. 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:13.879 They wanted him to have everything that he needed. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:17.859 And so as we come to the very end of this book, 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:20.319 we're going to find Paul's thank you note. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:24.519 This is his thank you note to the Philippians for what they've done for him, 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:26.579 what they've given to him, and the ways they've sacrificed. 00:03:26.580 --> 00:03:32.000 And so Paul, as he always does, never just says something or thanks someone, 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:33.800 but he uses it as a chance to teach. 00:03:34.939 --> 00:03:37.740 And so in this very end, Paul is going to teach about money. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:45.640 And what we're going to find out is that money is the instant read thermometer of our spiritual lives. 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:50.939 There's many different ways we can try to understand where we are spiritually. 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:56.539 But it's money that Paul presents here as a great test, 00:03:56.779 --> 00:04:00.379 a great way to know instantly what is true of our hearts. 00:04:01.179 --> 00:04:04.539 This is what we saw in our preparation for worship when we read from the Gospel of Matthew, 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:08.199 that we can have treasure in heaven or treasure on earth. 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:11.560 And so we're going to see three tests here of money. 00:04:11.679 --> 00:04:13.959 First, we're going to see a test of our joy. 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:17.039 Second, a test of our partnership. 00:04:17.339 --> 00:04:19.199 And third, a test of the Gospel. 00:04:20.019 --> 00:04:24.459 A test of our joy, a test of our partnership, and a test of the Gospel. 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:28.480 We're in Philippians chapter 4, and we're starting at verse 10. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:30.000 Remember that this is God's Word. 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:34.079 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:35.839 even the finest gold, 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:38.359 and that it is sweeter than honey, 00:04:38.859 --> 00:04:41.219 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:44.259 And so please read with me now, starting at verse 10. 00:04:45.479 --> 00:04:50.120 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:04:50.859 --> 00:04:54.179 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:04:55.299 --> 00:04:57.319 Not that I am speaking of being in need, 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:00.120 for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:05:00.859 --> 00:05:01.459 Verse 12. 00:05:02.359 --> 00:05:04.899 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. 00:05:04.899 --> 00:05:10.019 In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:12.120 abundance and need. 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:13.500 Verse 13. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.819 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 00:05:18.299 --> 00:05:20.199 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 00:05:21.179 --> 00:05:24.339 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel, 00:05:24.659 --> 00:05:25.899 when I left Macedonia, 00:05:26.539 --> 00:05:30.919 no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.600 Verse 16. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:37.160 Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. 00:05:38.140 --> 00:05:42.040 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.040 I have received full payment and more. 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.759 I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:54.200 A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:55.500 Verse 19. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:06:01.439 And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:05.659 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 00:06:06.039 --> 00:06:06.360 Amen. 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:09.039 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. 00:06:09.579 --> 00:06:11.399 The brothers who are with me greet you. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.180 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. 00:06:16.039 --> 00:06:19.240 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:23.939 Lord, please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:28.879 Dear Father in heaven, 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:32.460 we thank you that you do strengthen us 00:06:32.460 --> 00:06:36.340 and that you do provide everything that we need in Christ Jesus. 00:06:36.900 --> 00:06:39.019 And so we ask that you would do that for us this morning. 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:42.620 That you would help us as we listen to your word. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:46.300 You'd help me as I try to speak your words. 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:50.120 That all of us would hear from you and be changed by you. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:53.199 We ask this in the name of your son. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:54.319 Amen. 00:06:58.020 --> 00:06:59.819 If you remember from two weeks ago, 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:05.920 we talked about joy and the fact that it is the strike anywhere match of the Christian. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:09.860 And so it's something that we should be able to have regardless of our circumstances. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.300 Happiness is tied to our circumstances. 00:07:12.580 --> 00:07:15.759 Joy is tied to what is not our circumstances. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.199 Things that cannot change. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:21.060 It's tied to everything that we have in God through Christ. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.620 And so Paul starts out with this again. 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:25.620 Remember in verse 4 he had said, 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:26.959 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.300 And now in verse 10 he says, 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:31.399 I rejoice in the Lord not always this time but greatly 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:34.199 that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.439 You were indeed concerned for me but you had no opportunity. 00:07:38.539 --> 00:07:41.079 And so Paul brings up this topic of joy again. 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:46.680 And his joy it seems at first comes because the Philippians have sent him this gift. 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:50.659 But there's a problem because if his joy comes from the sending of the gift, 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:53.459 it means it must be tied to his circumstances in some way. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:08:00.399 And so Paul eager to make sure that the Philippians know that his joy is not rooted in money 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:04.699 gives an immediate qualification here in verses 11 through 13. 00:08:06.239 --> 00:08:07.379 Yes, I rejoice. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.399 But it's not because of the money. 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.519 I rejoice because you were concerned for me. 00:08:14.599 --> 00:08:16.899 And then in verse 14 because they share his trouble. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:20.079 And the reason he doesn't take joy in the money 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.859 is because he has learned a secret. 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:27.860 He's learned this secret in verse 11 of being able to handle multiple circumstances. 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:31.060 That there's this skill when it comes to having money. 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:34.580 That a skill that applies not just to not having enough 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:36.259 but having more than enough. 00:08:37.180 --> 00:08:41.720 That being rich is in some ways just as challenging as being poor. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:46.460 Because we can either trust God or we can trust money. 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:50.580 If we trust God, we'll manage and control our money. 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:54.800 If we trust money, our money will manage and control us. 00:08:56.120 --> 00:09:00.340 If we trust money, our money will manage and control us. 00:09:01.020 --> 00:09:04.900 If we trust God, we will manage and control our money. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:09.420 And so in the midst of this gift, Paul wants them to know 00:09:09.420 --> 00:09:14.060 that regardless of their circumstances, money is not the source of their joy. 00:09:16.160 --> 00:09:17.080 There's a skill. 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:19.420 There's a skill for the rich and for the poor. 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:21.379 Paul has experienced both, we find out. 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:23.179 He's been brought low and he's abounded. 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:26.139 He's had plenty and he's been hungry. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:32.779 But in all of those circumstances, he hasn't let his joy rest on what his financial state is. 00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:36.860 He's learned this secret and he knows that it's a challenge for everyone. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:39.339 This is an instant read thermometer, 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:42.019 not just for people who have a lot of money, 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:43.659 but people who don't have enough. 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:50.879 It's a challenge for everyone to not find joy in the resources that we have, 00:09:50.939 --> 00:09:54.399 but the joy in what God has given us that we cannot lose. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:10:02.340 I have a friend who immediately after he graduated from college became a ski instructor 00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:05.559 here at Keystone in Summit County here in Colorado. 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:13.559 So this was his first job out of college and his paycheck week to week was dependent on 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:17.159 who signed up for lessons, you know, whether it was a private lesson, 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:20.039 which he would make more money on, whether it was a group lesson. 00:10:20.979 --> 00:10:23.719 He had to figure out living expenses in this ski town. 00:10:24.819 --> 00:10:28.819 And so he had a lot of variables from week to week financially about how things would go for him. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:30.900 And one day he had a big break. 00:10:31.400 --> 00:10:33.860 So there was a group of executives. 00:10:34.160 --> 00:10:37.379 There was a CEO and all his executive team, his vice presidents, 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:40.960 who came to Keystone and they decided this was going to be their business retreat. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:42.879 They were going to spend all this time together. 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.660 This would be a time for them to bond and plan. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:48.640 And they were going to spend the entire morning all taking private ski lessons. 00:10:49.280 --> 00:10:54.060 And they would then meet back up in the afternoon to debrief, have time together. 00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:55.980 They were going to actually have time with their ski instructors 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:58.400 and do the business that they had before them. 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.820 Now my friend, his name was Camper. 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:03.420 Camper was assigned vice president of a company. 00:11:03.540 --> 00:11:06.100 This was at the time a billion dollar company. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:09.340 And he had a bad feeling right away. 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:12.680 This vice president was an older man. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:13.580 He was not in great shape. 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:15.020 He had never skied before. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.100 And so Camper thought to himself, 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:20.500 here's this powerful man who has everything. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:24.200 And I'm going to ask him to put really slick things on his feet 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:25.720 and then ask him to get on a slick surface. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:31.100 And so they got out and started the lesson. 00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:34.000 And this man became instantly frustrated. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:36.019 He became angry. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:39.440 And about 20 minutes into the lesson, 00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:43.220 he just rips his skis off and he throws them down on the ground. 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:45.240 Just says, I am finished. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:49.080 His wife is standing there, by the way, just completely embarrassed. 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:53.920 And so he walks away, but he walks up to my friend first 00:11:53.920 --> 00:11:56.900 and he takes a $100 bill and he shoves it into his hand. 00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.560 He said, here, this is for you. 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:01.600 My friend said, I can't accept this. 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:03.360 You didn't enjoy it. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:06.800 You only spent 20 minutes of your three-hour lesson. 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:11.120 And I'm going to get to ski by myself on the slips for the next three hours. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:12.639 And I'm still going to get paid. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.960 So I can't accept your money. 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:15.720 You take it. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:16.920 You didn't enjoy the lesson. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.320 You go. 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:21.000 So the man looks at him and he said, 00:12:21.640 --> 00:12:26.000 when you have as much money as I do, 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.160 then you can say no. 00:12:29.020 --> 00:12:32.220 And he shoved the $100 bill in his hand and walked away. 00:12:35.140 --> 00:12:36.400 And so on the one hand, 00:12:37.640 --> 00:12:41.660 we have someone who knows how to abound, who has plenty. 00:12:44.800 --> 00:12:46.080 And yet there's security. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:49.280 Their worth, their identity is found in their money. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:53.620 This is someone who, though they have no need, 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:56.620 they don't know what Paul talks about here. 00:12:57.800 --> 00:13:00.800 They don't know how to be content in every situation. 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:06.420 They don't know how to do all things through him who strengthens them. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:11.060 Instead, this is someone whose money was where they tried to find their joy, 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:13.500 their meaning, and their identity. 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:17.539 And so when anything challenged that, a ski lesson that went wrong, 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:21.179 a ski instructor who didn't want to say yes to their tip, 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:23.659 that was what they turned back to, their money. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:29.779 On the other hand, you had someone whose income would fluctuate week to week, 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:32.460 who could really use $100 to buy groceries 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:34.580 as he's trying to figure out his post-college life 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:37.320 being a ski instructor here in Colorado. 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:42.879 And yet this is someone, my friend, who has great faith. 00:13:43.900 --> 00:13:47.900 And so he's not willing to take this $100 because that's not the source of his joy. 00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:52.700 Even as he's trying to figure out how he's going to support himself 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:53.879 and make it week to week, 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.300 that is not what he looks to for his security. 00:13:57.299 --> 00:14:02.120 And so Paul here is speaking both to those who have a lot of money 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:03.719 and those who do not. 00:14:05.359 --> 00:14:08.740 Both the man who shoves the $100 bill into someone else's hands 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.240 and says, you don't get to say no to that, 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:11.979 and the person who takes it. 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:16.759 There's a skill to knowing that our joy 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:18.939 doesn't come from our material circumstances. 00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:20.699 It comes from God. 00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:24.460 And so that's why Paul says he rejoiced in the Lord greatly. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:28.420 He's grateful for this gift that the Philippians give to him, 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:31.300 but it is not the source of his joy. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:35.060 And so both the rich and the poor have the challenge 00:14:35.060 --> 00:14:37.780 of taking confidence in their things rather than God. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:43.120 If you're rich, you have the temptation to be confident in things rather than God 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:48.500 should make you smug and numb and insulated. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:53.860 If you're poor, you have the temptation to take confidence in things rather than God, 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:58.220 making you anxious and fearful and grasping for money. 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:02.159 But Paul here is telling us that there is a different way, 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:05.860 that there is joy that comes in trusting in God and others. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:13.039 And it's not just something that people outside the church need to learn and grow in, 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.580 but us inside the church as well. 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:19.520 So my friend Camper, he went skiing for the next three hours, 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:21.780 but he still had to show up at this lunch. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:26.800 So there was a lunch where the ski instructors and this executive suite 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.480 were going to get together at the bottom of the hill. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:31.980 And so he went, he had his time skiing, felt terrible. 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:35.860 This man had just completely belittled him, dehumanized him. 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:38.560 And so he walks into the lunchroom. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:42.620 And the vice president makes a beeline for him. 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.039 And he said, 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.120 Camper, 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.180 I treated you terribly earlier. 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:53.899 I was frustrated because I couldn't ski, 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:56.300 but I shouldn't have talked to you that way. 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.480 I shouldn't have treated you like that. 00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:58.500 Will you forgive me? 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:00.919 My friend said, 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.159 he said, 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:02.120 yes, I'll forgive you. 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:04.460 And then this man said, 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.399 I believe in Jesus. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.340 And he's been doing a great work in my life. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.100 My friend said, 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.519 yes, I believe in Jesus too. 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.580 And he's doing a great work in my life as well. 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:22.560 And so both the rich and the poor 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:24.560 were able to reconcile there 00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:28.800 and walk away with a joy that they did not have before. 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.379 The man who took confidence in his wealth, 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:36.160 even he was someone who was following after Jesus, 00:16:36.300 --> 00:16:38.860 but he still struggled with what Paul is talking about here. 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:41.580 He struggled with the skill of, 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.660 as we see in verse 12, 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.780 knowing how to abound. 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:46.600 He was still learning how to have a lot of money. 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.659 And my friend, 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:48.980 Camper, 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:51.399 was still learning the skill of how to be brought low. 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:56.360 But both of them together had access to God's grace. 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:59.040 This Christ president was not so bad 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:01.840 that he couldn't have God's grace. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.019 And my friend, 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.360 Camper, 00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.880 wasn't so good that he didn't need it. 00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:07.420 But both of them needed to grow 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:09.079 and were growing 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:11.059 in learning this secret, 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:12.460 the test of joy. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.880 That their joy comes not from their 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:19.279 financial circumstances, 00:17:19.419 --> 00:17:21.279 but from their status in Christ. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.319 And so that's what Paul is telling us in verse 13 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:24.719 when he says, 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.639 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:17:26.679 --> 00:17:29.000 This is a widely abused verse. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.419 There's a, 00:17:31.919 --> 00:17:33.079 Stephen Curry you may know 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:34.719 as the most valuable player 00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:36.399 at several points in the NBA. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.139 And he's famous for having Philippians 4.13 00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:40.759 written on his sneakers. 00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:41.879 In fact, 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.760 I believe the story is 00:17:42.760 --> 00:17:44.680 that Nike refused to take his sneaker deal 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.200 because of it. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.200 So he went to Under Armour 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.720 and then Under Armour went to the bank. 00:17:49.520 --> 00:17:50.660 This passage 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:53.040 is not about shooting basketballs. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.240 Philippians 4.13 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.220 is not about being able to drop threes. 00:17:58.040 --> 00:17:58.640 But instead, 00:17:58.760 --> 00:17:59.320 Paul is saying 00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:00.840 that he can do all things 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:01.960 through God who strengthens him. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.440 In other words, 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.440 he can do everything 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.860 that we've seen in the last two verses. 00:18:05.520 --> 00:18:06.520 He can face 00:18:06.520 --> 00:18:07.900 every circumstance 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.300 because it's God 00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:10.180 that strengthens him. 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.700 He knows how to handle wealth 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.800 and he also knows 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.700 how to handle poverty. 00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.340 And so his joy 00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:18.140 does not come from either one. 00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:19.160 In other words, 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:21.100 I can find joy in all things 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:22.780 through him who strengthens me. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.720 I can bear up 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.820 under any circumstance 00:18:25.820 --> 00:18:27.580 through him who strengthens me. 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.580 That is not the source 00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.800 of my joy. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.080 And so joy comes from, 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.600 as we talked about two weeks ago, 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:37.540 trusting God and others. 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.900 Trusting God and others here 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.920 rather than money. 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:46.340 And so money is the test 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.200 of our joy. 00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.860 It's also the test 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:50.560 of our partnership. 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:52.960 You notice that Paul says here 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:55.759 in verses 10 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.720 and then in 14, 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.100 he finds joy 00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:01.259 in their concern for him. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.780 In verse 14, 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:03.519 it was kind of you 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.400 to share my trouble. 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.880 And you, Philippians, 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.680 verse 15, 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.480 yourselves know that 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.600 in the beginning of the gospel, 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.820 when I left Macedonia, 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.960 no church entered 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.000 into partnership with me 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.519 in giving and receiving 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.440 except you only. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.560 Even in Thessalonica, 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.420 you sent me help 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.120 for my needs 00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:19.000 once and again. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.500 In other words, 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.480 this is a partnership 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.160 kind of church 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.080 and they have shown 00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:24.799 their partnership 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.620 by partnering financially 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.239 with Paul. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.899 We find out in a different letter 00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.559 that Paul wrote 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.039 in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.899 that this church, 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.819 the churches in Macedonia, 00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:35.699 and he's probably talking 00:19:35.699 --> 00:19:36.639 about the Philippian church, 00:19:36.739 --> 00:19:37.619 at least includes 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.319 the Philippian church, 00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.119 it might include others, 00:19:39.239 --> 00:19:40.739 is known for their generosity. 00:19:40.899 --> 00:19:42.139 He uses them as an example 00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:42.939 for other churches. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:43.899 Look at these Philippians 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:44.939 who know how to be generous. 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.819 Be like them. 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:47.899 And so, 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.460 they are practicing 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:51.099 everything that we saw 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.179 in Philippians 2. 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.539 Remember in Philippians 2, 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:56.339 Paul deals with their disunity 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:56.839 by saying, 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.579 look not only 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.819 to the interest of others. 00:19:59.339 --> 00:19:59.720 Excuse me, 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.220 look not only 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.980 to your own interest 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.519 but also to the interest of others. 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:04.079 Do what Jesus did. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.439 And we applied that then 00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:07.539 to the problem of unity, 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.439 but here it applies 00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:09.439 financially as well. 00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:11.179 The church in Philippi 00:20:11.179 --> 00:20:12.059 did not look 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:13.740 only to their own interest 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.279 financially, 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.200 but they were looking out 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.779 for the interest 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.779 of others as well. 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.740 They were looking out 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.259 for the interest of Paul. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.200 And so here they're modeling 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.980 being question people 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.039 rather than answer people. 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.220 The church in Philippi 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:26.940 is asking. 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.519 They're trying to figure out 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.579 what Paul's needs are 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.779 and then seeking to meet them 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.359 and we find out 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.279 they've more than met them 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.180 later in this passage. 00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.440 But then Paul, 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.220 and we'll talk about this 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.359 in a minute in verse 17, 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.180 is not interested 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.259 in the money 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:38.839 they're giving them. 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.319 He's interested 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.379 in their spiritual growth. 00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:42.119 And so Paul and this church 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.079 are a beautiful model 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.680 of each of them 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.360 looking out 00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:44.900 for the needs 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.440 of each other. 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.960 But we're also 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:51.440 seeing a key truth here 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.380 which is that finances 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.700 are part of our partnership. 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:56.380 Paul thanks them 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.019 for their partnership 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.779 at various times 00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.180 in the letter, 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.160 sometimes for their partnership 00:20:59.160 --> 00:20:59.960 just in suffering 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.820 and being with him, 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:01.960 their partnership 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.400 in working side by side. 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.960 But here their partnership 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.400 is explicitly financial. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.600 They are giving him 00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:10.940 what's most precious to them. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.680 They're giving him 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.120 some of their financial resources. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.899 They're giving him gifts. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.699 And so if we are, 00:21:17.739 --> 00:21:18.439 as we talked about 00:21:18.439 --> 00:21:19.459 in our very first 00:21:19.459 --> 00:21:21.139 sermon on Philippians, 00:21:21.239 --> 00:21:22.299 if we are seeking 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.399 after the treasure 00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:24.179 together, 00:21:24.739 --> 00:21:26.719 then we're also willing 00:21:26.719 --> 00:21:27.779 to give some of our treasure. 00:21:29.739 --> 00:21:30.699 If we're seeking 00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:32.039 after the treasure together, 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.299 the great treasure 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:33.819 of the gospel, 00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.579 then we're also going 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:34.939 to be willing 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:36.359 to give our treasure 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.779 to others along the way. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:41.059 I had a friend 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:43.680 who in his senior year 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.139 of college, 00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.139 there's lots of college 00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:45.599 stories here, 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.379 year after college, 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:46.980 year of senior year 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.359 of college, 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:50.180 he went to a conference 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.720 with a bunch of other 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.240 college students 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.319 and he listened 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.099 to a speaker 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.680 and this speaker 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:56.000 was at the time 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:58.559 near the top 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:00.200 of one of the largest 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:01.500 consulting firms 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.279 in the nation, 00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.000 if not the world. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.500 And this man 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.259 was a Christian believer 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.319 and so he was giving 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.220 a talk about 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.559 finding joy 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.839 in God 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.460 rather than money. 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.839 And he was very open 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.420 during this talk 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.099 at various points. 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.420 He said, 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:15.579 you know, 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.460 if you want afterwards 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.099 you can come up 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.099 and you can ask me anything. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.119 My friend listening 00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:20.640 to this talk 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.279 was very cynical. 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:21.640 He thought, 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.619 this man has nothing 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.299 to tell me 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.759 about finding joy 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.160 in God 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.819 rather than money. 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.259 He works for a major 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.099 consulting firm. 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.220 He has all the money 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.980 he could ever need. 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.359 What do I have to learn 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:31.819 from this man? 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.960 He has nothing to say to me. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.720 And so my friend 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.819 was very bold 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.700 and he went up 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.339 after the talk. 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:37.640 He said, 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:37.779 well, 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.259 this man said 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.039 we can ask him anything 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.559 so I'm going to 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.400 take him up on the offer. 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.940 And so he started out 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.920 with a very light 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.680 and easy question. 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.640 He said, 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.440 you said we could 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:47.079 ask you anything 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:47.940 so I just want to know 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.440 how much money 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.059 do you make a year? 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.299 This man said, 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:52.599 yes. 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.140 I did say you could 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.980 ask me anything 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:56.420 so I'll tell you. 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.859 It varies year to year 00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.440 based on how 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.579 our firm performs 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.259 but I make 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.819 usually it's high 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.380 six figures, 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.220 low seven figures. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.059 So this man was averaging 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.940 about a million dollars 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.220 a year. 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:08.180 So my friend said, 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.500 okay, 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.259 I'm going to ask you 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.859 another question. 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.660 How much of that 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.359 do you give away? 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.059 The man said, 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:14.339 well, 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.779 I'm going to start 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.839 with how much 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.380 my wife and I 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:17.960 live off of. 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.779 We have a house, 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.599 we've paid it off. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.359 We have two cars, 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.119 we've paid it off. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.000 We've put our kids 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.559 through college. 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:25.980 You know, 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.480 we're near the end 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:26.960 of our career. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.700 So we live off 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.920 about $30,000 to $40,000 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.480 a year. 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.620 And so my friend 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.100 then asked him, 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.380 okay, 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.900 well, 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.420 how much do you 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.819 give away? 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.079 He said, 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:39.539 we give away 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.120 the rest of it. 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.039 My friend, 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.660 thinking that he 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.700 was going to 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:47.579 show this man 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.079 for the scam 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.660 that he was 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.500 and reveal that he 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.900 had nothing to share 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.819 about money, 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.059 actually walked away 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.640 not just humbled 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.299 but encouraged 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:55.759 and he thought 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.399 as he walked away, 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:58.299 I wish that there 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.480 was a way of knowing 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.299 that there are more 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.139 people like that 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.700 in the world. 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.419 And then as he 00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:06.279 watched this man 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.919 for the rest of the 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.180 weekend, 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.639 he said, 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.419 I could tell that 00:24:08.419 --> 00:24:09.119 this was a man 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:09.839 who was filled 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.419 with joy 00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:14.539 because he 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:16.159 trusted God 00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:16.819 rather than money 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.659 and so he managed 00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:18.599 and controlled his money 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.940 rather than letting it 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:21.139 manage and control 00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.619 him. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.680 Now, 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.559 most of us don't make 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.639 high six figures 00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.440 to low seven figures 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:26.759 a year, 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.099 but the point is this, 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:30.639 this man knew 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.359 the secret 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.019 of looking not only 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.919 to his own interests 00:24:33.919 --> 00:24:35.079 but also to the interests 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.859 of others. 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.859 He wasn't going to the 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.899 poor house over his giving 00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.879 but he also wasn't 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.819 taking his money 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.839 and using it to find 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.460 his security 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.139 and his worth. 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:45.159 He wasn't storing 00:24:45.159 --> 00:24:45.960 all of it away 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.839 as a way 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.980 of investing everything 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.679 in case something 00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:51.159 went wrong. 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.960 I'm sure this man 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.500 had saved 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.740 for retirement. 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.460 I'm sure he had 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.960 what he needed 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.560 set aside 00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:58.519 but this was a 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.580 partnership kind of man. 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:01.259 This was a man 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.960 who looked not only 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.779 to his own interests 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.300 but also 00:25:03.300 --> 00:25:04.320 to the interests 00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:05.080 of others 00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.800 and so that's what 00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:07.640 Paul is telling us 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.240 here as well 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.660 that our money 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.580 is not just 00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.840 the test, 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.759 not just the instant 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.640 read thermometer 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.300 on our joy 00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:16.000 but it's also 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.779 the test 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.400 of our partnership. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:19.640 If we are truly 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:21.000 going after 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.600 the partnership 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:22.960 with one another, 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.180 going after the treasure 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:24.980 then we will share 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.280 our treasure as well. 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.460 And so money 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:34.000 is our test 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.660 of our joy, 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.540 a test of our partnership 00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:36.480 but it's also a test 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.600 of the gospel. 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.259 Paul tells us 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.019 in verse 17 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:42.240 that he doesn't 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.019 seek the gift 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.519 primarily. 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:44.820 It is useful 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.340 for him. 00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:46.080 They have met 00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:46.880 needs of his 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:47.700 but that's not 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.600 his primary interest 00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.440 in their giving to him. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:50.800 Instead, 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.920 he seeks what he calls 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.500 the fruit 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.300 that increases 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:53.940 to your credit. 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.160 This again 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.400 is what we talked 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.500 about in chapter 1 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.320 of Philippians 00:25:58.320 --> 00:25:58.860 that they would 00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:00.460 increase and grow 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.140 that their faith 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.720 and their love 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.100 would abound 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:02.900 more and more. 00:26:03.780 --> 00:26:04.480 And then he tells us 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.360 that he has received 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.120 full payment 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.880 that this 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.980 has been a fragrant 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.860 offering to God 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.620 that this giving 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.440 is a sign 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.400 that the gospel 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.960 has been at work 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.580 in their lives. 00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:16.260 Not only does it show 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.819 that they're finding 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.259 their joy 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.900 in the right place, 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.640 not only does it show 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.440 that they're partnering 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.319 fully, 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.059 but it shows 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.039 that they understand 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.519 the gospel 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.579 at a fundamental level. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.339 These are people 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.359 who have understood 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.000 the fact 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.559 that God provides 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:30.920 for them. 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.180 They know 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.980 what Paul tells us 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.180 in verses 13 and 19. 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.559 They know 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.059 that they can do 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.640 all things 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.000 through God 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.279 who strengthens them. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.539 And then they know 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.279 in verse 19 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.619 that God will supply 00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.599 every need of theirs 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.599 according to his riches 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.059 and glory 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:43.819 in Christ Jesus. 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.720 And so because 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.339 these people 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:47.559 have had trust 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.099 in God, 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:50.119 that has resulted 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:50.659 in them. 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.039 The fruit 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.200 of their trust 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.460 in him 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.099 is that they've given. 00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.139 And so the point 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:57.679 is not 00:26:57.679 --> 00:26:58.419 that we need 00:26:58.419 --> 00:26:59.339 to give more 00:26:59.339 --> 00:26:59.859 to God 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.279 or others 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.200 to prove something 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.679 to him 00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.819 or earn something 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.339 from him. 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.200 Instead, 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:06.799 the point is 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.279 the more 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.119 that we understand 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.759 that we have 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.939 nothing to prove 00:27:09.939 --> 00:27:10.359 to God 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.460 and nothing 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.139 that we can earn 00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:12.700 from him, 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:14.039 the more 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.799 we will find 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.220 ourselves 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.920 naturally 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.360 being generous 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:17.900 to others. 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.980 That as Paul 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:21.360 looks at the lives 00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:21.779 of the people 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.319 in Philippi, 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.519 he sees this giving 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.200 as fruit 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.019 of God's work 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.799 in their lives. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.580 And so it reveals 00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:30.240 what is already true, 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.100 that they understand 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:32.519 the gospel, 00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.380 they understand 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:35.019 what God is doing 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.600 and what he's done 00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:35.980 for them, 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.200 and so it frees them up 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:39.380 because they trust God 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:40.039 rather than money, 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.600 because they manage 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.480 and control their money 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.180 rather than letting 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.940 their money manage 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.740 and control them, 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.819 the very natural, 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.140 intuitive, 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.160 logical next step 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.860 is simply that they 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.460 would be generous 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.039 with the people 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.039 around them. 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.920 Many of you 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.019 have probably already 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.620 gone out 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.519 and bought Christmas trees, 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.920 and those of you 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.099 who haven't 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.339 will probably do so soon. 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.880 And the one thing 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.620 I find fascinating 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.680 about Christmas trees 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.559 is that they always 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.500 look so symmetrical. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:11.180 I'm not sure 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.720 how they do that 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.559 on Christmas tree farms, 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.480 but if you go out 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.000 in nature, 00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:15.180 if you're out 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.599 in the wilderness, 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.779 you will be 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:18.319 very challenged 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.579 to find a symmetrical tree. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.140 If you haven't 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.900 thought about that before, 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.920 the next time you're out 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.960 somewhere that's not 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.220 in a well-manicured 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.619 neighborhood 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:28.180 or a Christmas tree farm, 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.779 just go out 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.299 in the wilderness 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:29.960 and look at a tree 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.660 and see if you can find 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.400 one that's exactly 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.519 the same on either side. 00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.819 And if you do, 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:35.200 just go onto a different side 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.799 and you'll realize 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.240 you were wrong. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:39.740 Now there's a lot 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.799 of reasons that trees 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.740 grow differently 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.599 on different sides, 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.720 but one of the primary 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.960 reasons is the way 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.839 that the sun works. 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.480 So the sun is brightest 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.799 when it's in the southern sky. 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.400 We know that. 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.099 That's why people like 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:52.720 to get out early 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.220 in the morning 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.279 before it's too hot. 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.700 And if the sun is brightest 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.799 in the southern sky, 00:28:58.660 --> 00:29:00.019 then it only makes sense 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.759 that the branches 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.279 of the tree 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.339 that are on the southern side 00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:03.740 are going to be 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.620 longer and fuller. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:09.440 Because the tree 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:11.339 knows what's right. 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:13.039 It knows that the sun 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.859 is the source 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.559 of its life. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.180 And so it knows 00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:16.640 that the more 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.400 it points itself 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.980 towards that, 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.539 the more it's going 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.299 to be able to grow. 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.259 And the more it grows, 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.140 the more it points 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:23.279 itself towards that. 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:26.799 And so what Paul 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.819 is telling us here, 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.640 and he tells us 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.559 that this is the fruit, 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.859 is that the more 00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:34.680 that we know 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.620 that God 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.860 is the source 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.840 of our life, 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:40.580 the more we know 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.220 the truth 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.320 of verse 19, 00:29:43.320 --> 00:29:44.700 the more we will 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.400 find ourselves 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.500 growing towards him. 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.320 And the more 00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:50.680 that we find ourselves 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.940 growing towards him, 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.920 the natural result, 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.060 the natural growth, 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.259 the natural fruit 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:58.220 will result 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.120 in our generosity 00:29:59.120 --> 00:29:59.700 to others. 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:02.640 And so Paul 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.279 is not 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.840 preaching a 00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.860 prosperity gospel 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.220 here. 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.680 He's not saying 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.720 the more you give, 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.539 the more you'll get. 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.039 In fact, 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.539 he's telling us 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.240 that he's experienced 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.019 poverty before. 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.420 But instead, 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.080 he's telling us 00:30:15.080 --> 00:30:15.680 the more 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.080 that we understand 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.620 God 00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.640 and his provision 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.319 for us, 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.720 the more that we know 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.660 that not a hair 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:24.220 can fall from our heads 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.000 without him knowing, 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.039 the more we will 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.700 look to him 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.180 and the less 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.440 we will look to money. 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:36.779 And so Paul 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.240 ends 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.660 where he began 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.220 in this letter. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.099 Remember, 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.339 he began by telling them 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:44.119 he wished them 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.680 to have grace 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.240 and peace. 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.319 Grace, 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:48.900 the forgiveness 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:50.160 that comes from God 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:52.440 because Jesus died 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.519 even though he didn't sin 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.299 so that we could live 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.579 even though we do. 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.139 And then he ends 00:30:59.139 --> 00:30:59.819 in the same way 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.599 in verse 23, 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.599 the grace of the Lord 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.319 Jesus Christ 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.720 be with your spirit. 00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:06.660 And so God 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.700 has looked out for you 00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:09.180 not only in the past, 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:11.299 not only in the grace 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.960 that he gives you 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.099 by what Jesus did 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.720 when he died 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.319 on the cross, 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.759 but that means 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.980 he's also looking out 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.859 for you in the present. 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:22.079 And so you can hope 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.319 and trust in him 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:25.159 as we wait now 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:25.819 for the future. 00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:29.359 We can trust him 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.399 with our lives 00:31:30.399 --> 00:31:31.480 because he looks out 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.460 for us, 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:35.019 not just in the past, 00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:36.359 not just in the future, 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.419 but in the present. 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:39.200 And so we can grow 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.720 more and more 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.379 as we look to him 00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.639 as our source of life. 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.039 Please pray with me. 00:31:48.439 --> 00:31:49.500 Dear Father in heaven, 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:51.339 we thank you 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:53.180 that not a hair 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.059 can fall from our heads 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.720 without you knowing, 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.759 that you are 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.980 the source of our life, 00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.339 that you provide 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.259 everything that we need. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.880 We ask that you 00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:03.059 remind us of it again, 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.119 that you'd pour out 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:04.940 your spirit on us, 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.799 that you'd grow us, 00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.740 that we would grow 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.420 more and more 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.160 towards you 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:10.119 and also grow more 00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:10.779 in our generosity 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.440 towards others. 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:13.339 We ask all these things 00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:14.160 in the name of your son. 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:15.140 Amen.