WEBVTT

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 Good evening to all of you. Welcome, especially if you're new or visiting.

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 We are in the middle of a series looking at the concept of stewardship, broadly speaking.

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 The idea that God owns everything that is, and that whatever in our lives has been entrusted to us,

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 we are to use in ways that reflect his heart, his values, rather than our own agenda.

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 So we've looked at this and how it applies in a variety of ways.

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 We've talked about stewardship of the environment.

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 We've talked about stewarding our own bodies.

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 We've talked about stewarding our time.

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 And it has gotten personal.

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 What's been interesting is that week to week, different people have, you know,

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 we've been striking nerves, but different topics strike different nerves and different people.

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 I think everybody's had their feathers ruffled a bit over the last few weeks.

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 I hazard a guess to say that tonight maybe more feathers than usual might be ruffled.

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 Wells Fargo did a survey of the most challenging, most uncomfortable topics to discuss.

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 And they really wanted to know what's the most troubling issue out there.

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 And on the top list of most disturbing topics to discuss,

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 you had the usual suspects of death and politics and religion.

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 But by far the most troubling issue is the issue of money, personal finance.

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 That makes everybody uncomfortable.

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 And for that reason, a lot of churches don't ever talk about money.

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 We're more uncomfortable than most at talking about money.

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 And even in the history of Advent, we've been here 10 years,

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 we've only addressed money a handful of times.

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 But the reason that we need to talk about it, actually there are two reasons.

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 The first reason is that we're doing a series on stewardship,

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 and it would be negligent not to at least spend one evening

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 talking about the concept of money and stewarding our wealth.

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 But there's an even more important reason.

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 And that is that we're a church who says that one of our three core values

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 is spiritual formation.

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 And you really cannot talk about spiritual formation

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 without addressing our relationship with our stuff.

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 Because spiritual formation is all about the relationship we have

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 with God and with one another.

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 And so our stuff figures largely into those two relationships.

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 So we're going to be talking about that tonight,

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 the stewardship of our wealth.

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 And we're going to be looking at 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9.

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 Now these are, together, they comprise the most extensive,

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 in-depth teaching anywhere in Scripture

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 on the concept of financial stewardship.

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 So this is what we're going to be looking at.

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 And the passage really shows us that faithful stewardship,

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 which is, as we said, using our money in ways that reflect God's heart,

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 can be boiled down to one concept,

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 the concept of generosity.

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 Faithful stewardship means generosity.

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 And so that's what these chapters are all about, generosity.

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 And what we're going to see is that true generosity is three things.

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 It's evidence of spiritual health and vitality.

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 It's an exercise of faith.

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 And it's an overflow of joy.

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 It's evidence of spiritual health.

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 It's an exercise of faith.

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 And then it's an overflow.

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 It flows out of an abundance of joy in the Lord.

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 Let's pray and then we'll dive in.

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 Our Father, we just prayed this prayer

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 that we would read and mark and learn

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 and inwardly digest your word.

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 All of it.

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 Lord, we want all of it.

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 Leave nothing out.

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 And so we pray that by the power of your spirit,

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 as we open your word together,

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 that we would be able to be nourished by it.

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 That you would speak to us in nourishing ways

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 that satisfy our hearts,

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 that grow us more into the image of your son.

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 And it's in his name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So true generosity,

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 financial stewardship,

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 that looks like generosity,

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 when it's lived out,

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 is evidence of spiritual health.

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 Now when we talk about spiritual health,

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 what are we really talking about?

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 We're talking about the state of your heart.

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 And if I were to ask you right now,

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 what is the state of your heart?

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 You would probably have a hard time

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 really accurately answering that question.

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 And certainly if I were to say,

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 hey, what's the state of her heart?

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 Or his heart?

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 You would have an even more difficult time.

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 If you think that's an easy question to answer,

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 you've got issues.

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 Nobody can answer that question about other people,

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 much less themselves.

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 Because why?

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 Unlike Jesus, we can't see the heart.

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 We don't know the truth about people's hearts.

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 Not even our own.

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 And so what we have to do,

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 in order to gauge our own spiritual health,

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 is to rely on indirect measures.

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 We need barometers

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 barometers

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 that are reliable indicators

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 of the state of our heart,

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 the state of people's hearts.

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 And Jesus teaches that

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 one of the best barometers

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 of the heart out there

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 is the way we spend our money.

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 And that's what he's talking about

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 in Matthew 6.

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 He says,

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 For where your treasure is,

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 there your heart will be also.

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 What he's saying is,

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 if you want to know the state

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 of somebody's heart,

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 look at how they spend their money.

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 You are how you spend.

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 That'll tell you something.

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 It's reliable as a measure.

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 And this is what 2 Corinthians 8 and 9

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 are really about.

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 If you were tuned in during the reading,

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 the context,

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 at the particular time that Paul's writing,

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 he's writing about famine relief.

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 There's a famine in Judea.

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 The people there,

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 largely Jews,

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 are poor.

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 They're starving.

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 And so Paul is writing to the Corinthians

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 so that they will give money

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 to help relieve the suffering in Judea.

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 But one of the things

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 that we need to understand contextually

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 is that at this point,

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 Paul's talking about famine relief,

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 but at other places,

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 Paul talks about Christian giving

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 and takes up collections

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 for other things.

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 So in Galatians,

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 he talks about the importance

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 of Christians giving

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 to support the church

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 and church leaders.

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 In other places,

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 like Philippians,

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 he references giving

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 to support the work of missionaries

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 and church planting.

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 In places like this,

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 he talks about the importance

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 of Christians giving

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 to relieve suffering

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 and to care for the poor.

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 So these are all categories

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 that Paul talks about

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 as categories of Christian giving.

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 Here he's talking about famine relief,

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 but what I want you to notice

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 is that if you read these chapters,

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 chapters 8 and 9,

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 he doesn't really get into

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 or spend much time on

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 the suffering in Judea.

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 In fact, his concern

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 is almost entirely for the Corinthians.

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 And the state of their heart.

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 So as he begins to get into it,

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 you begin to see

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 that the real issue

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 that he's focusing on

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 is the fact that the Corinthians

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 had been giving regularly

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 in the past.

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 If you see in verse 10,

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 it says that they had desired

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 to give a year ago.

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 But then for some reason,

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 they had stopped giving.

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 So these are people

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 who had been regularly giving

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 and then they stop.

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 And Paul flags that.

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 Paul's a pastor.

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 He notices that

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 and he says,

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 you know,

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 that may be an indication

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 that something is not right,

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 that there's a deeper

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 spiritual issue.

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 So he investigates.

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 And what he realizes

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 is that the Corinthian church

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 has become very much

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 like the surrounding

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 Corinthian culture.

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 Corinth was a port city,

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 very wealthy,

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 very cosmopolitan,

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 and as a result,

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 highly materialistic.

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 And the Corinthians

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 had essentially become

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 like the culture.

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 And a way of summarizing it

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 is they were promiscuous

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 with their bodies,

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 but they were very stingy

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 with their money.

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 Right?

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 And so Paul sees this

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 and he recognizes

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 this is evidence

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 of a lack of spiritual health

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 and vitality.

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 Because spiritually healthy Christians

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 are the exact opposite of that.

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 In other words,

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 spiritually healthy Christians

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 tend to be stingy

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 with their bodies,

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 but they're promiscuous

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 with their money.

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 And Paul says,

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 that's not what I'm seeing.

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 So I think there's an issue here.

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 And so this is why

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 Paul says what he does

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 about giving.

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 He doesn't just come in

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 and say,

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 there's a famine in Judea,

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 here's all the statistics,

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 here's all the suffering,

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 and for every dollar you give,

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 here's the impact

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 that you're going to have.

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 That's not his approach.

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 Right?

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 Paul comes in and he says,

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 in verse 8,

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 chapter 8,

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 I say this not as a command,

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 but to prove

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 by the earnestness of others

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 that your love

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 is also genuine.

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 He's saying,

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 you know,

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 I saw you come to faith.

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 I know it was real.

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 I know that you're a believer.

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 I know that love is there.

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 If I command you to do this,

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 it's going to take away

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 your opportunity

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 to do it out of love.

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 That's what it's really about.

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 And then down in chapter 9,

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 verse 7,

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 each one must give

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 as he has decided

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 in his heart,

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 not reluctantly

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 or under compulsion.

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 He's saying the same thing.

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 It's not about your money.

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 It's about your motivation.

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 It's almost entirely

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 about your motivation.

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 So see,

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 in one sense,

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 there's material poverty

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 in Judea,

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 but he's as or more concerned

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 about the spiritual poverty

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 right here in Corinth.

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 He's going for the heart.

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 So how does this apply to us?

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 Well,

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 people all the time

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 ask questions.

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 I've asked these questions

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 over the years myself.

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 There are a lot of questions

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 around how we think

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 about giving.

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 People say,

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 so how much should I give?

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 When I think about giving,

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 how much should I give?

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 And people say,

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 you know,

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 well,

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 what about tithing?

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 Are Christians supposed to tithe?

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 Is that like an Old Testament thing?

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 Are we still supposed to tithe?

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 In other words,

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 give 10% of our income.

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 People say,

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 okay,

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 well,

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 if I'm going to tithe,

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 then do I do that

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 on pre-tax or post-tax dollars?

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 And how does that work?

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 And many of us

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 have wondered these questions.

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 Notice,

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 as I said,

00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:32.519
 2 Corinthians 8 and 9,

00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.659
 most extensive teaching

00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:34.379
 anywhere in the Bible

00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:35.399
 on financial stewardship.

00:10:35.579 --> 00:10:36.699
 Notice what is not mentioned

00:10:36.699 --> 00:10:37.319
 anywhere.

00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:38.959
 Tithing.

00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.720
 Paul never mentions it once.

00:10:40.939 --> 00:10:41.819
 Isn't that odd?

00:10:42.579 --> 00:10:42.799
 You know,

00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:43.600
 one of the only times

00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.480
 tithing comes up

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.019
 in the New Testament

00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:46.179
 is when Jesus

00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:47.240
 is talking about tithing.

00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.480
 But it's very interesting.

00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:52.320
 Luke 11,

00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:53.680
 listen to what Jesus says.

00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.360
 He says,

00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.899
 Woe to you Pharisees,

00:10:56.299 --> 00:10:57.320
 for you tithe mint

00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.100
 and rue

00:10:58.100 --> 00:10:59.539
 and every herb

00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:01.220
 and neglect justice

00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:02.220
 in the love of God.

00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:04.039
 These you ought to have done

00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:05.759
 without neglecting the other.

00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:08.100
 So what's he saying?

00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:08.840
 You know,

00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:09.379
 on the one hand,

00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:09.659
 yes,

00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:11.240
 there was an Old Testament command,

00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:13.899
 give 10% of what you produce.

00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:17.539
 And so the Pharisees

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.240
 were doing that.

00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:20.440
 But they had taken that

00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:21.879
 and gone way beyond

00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:23.240
 that simple command.

00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:24.940
 And they were tithing

00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:25.460
 on everything.

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.019
 They were tithing

00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:26.680
 on their vegetables

00:11:26.680 --> 00:11:27.379
 and on their produce.

00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:28.759
 And they were a little sprig

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:30.060
 of parsley for the Lord.

00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:31.139
 And every little thing,

00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.820
 they were giving 10% away.

00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:33.940
 They were scrupulous

00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:34.659
 and meticulous

00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:35.480
 and exacting

00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.440
 to every cent.

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.440
 So they were living up

00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:39.539
 to the letter of the law.

00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:41.199
 And Jesus says,

00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:41.459
 you know,

00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:42.699
 you should have been doing that

00:11:42.699 --> 00:11:44.199
 but in doing that only

00:11:44.199 --> 00:11:45.219
 you've missed the whole point.

00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.139
 The whole point is

00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:47.559
 the love of other people,

00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:48.120
 justice,

00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.559
 and the love of God.

00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.579
 You're not doing this

00:11:51.579 --> 00:11:52.179
 with your heart.

00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:52.759
 You're not giving

00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:53.919
 from your heart.

00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:54.980
 In other words,

00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:56.059
 it's not really about

00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:58.120
 God.

00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.019
 It's not really about

00:11:59.019 --> 00:11:59.599
 other people.

00:11:59.699 --> 00:12:00.539
 It's really about

00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.599
 you.

00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:04.719
 And so this is

00:12:04.719 --> 00:12:05.839
 this indictment.

00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:08.439
 And he's saying

00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:08.779
 you're missing

00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:09.360
 the whole point.

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:09.960
 And then he goes on

00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.100
 in verse 44

00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:11.860
 to say,

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:12.879
 woe to you

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.560
 for you are like

00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.580
 unmarked graves.

00:12:15.800 --> 00:12:16.720
 That's harsh

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.759
 because he's saying

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.240
 you look alive.

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.360
 You look spiritually

00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.800
 healthy and vitalized

00:12:21.800 --> 00:12:22.580
 because you're tithing

00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:23.019
 in all these

00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:24.080
 hyper-specific

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:24.980
 meticulous ways.

00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.159
 But the reality is

00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.399
 you're spiritually dead.

00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.340
 You're unmarked graves.

00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:32.399
 And you know,

00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:33.399
 the message is clear

00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:33.940
 for us.

00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.460
 The moment we ask,

00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:36.460
 and I've asked this

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.159
 many times,

00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:38.860
 the moment we ask,

00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:39.899
 so how much

00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:40.959
 should I be giving?

00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.219
 We're missing

00:12:43.219 --> 00:12:43.860
 the whole point.

00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:44.939
 We're missing

00:12:44.939 --> 00:12:45.559
 the whole point.

00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.159
 And,

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.699
 you know,

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.579
 this applies

00:12:49.579 --> 00:12:50.959
 in lots of other ways.

00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.139
 You know,

00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:51.539
 when people say,

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:51.679
 well,

00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:52.799
 how far should I go

00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:53.740
 physically with people

00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.319
 that I'm dating?

00:12:54.459 --> 00:12:54.559
 Or,

00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:55.139
 you know,

00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:57.079
 how often should I pray?

00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.079
 You say we should be praying,

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.319
 but how often should I

00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:00.339
 really be doing that?

00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:00.600
 Right?

00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:01.819
 The minute we begin

00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:03.060
 to go down that road,

00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:03.940
 we're missing

00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:04.680
 the whole point,

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:05.420
 which is all about

00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:06.340
 love and fidelity

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.780
 to God

00:13:07.780 --> 00:13:08.520
 and to other people.

00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:09.000
 Right?

00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.300
 So imagine,

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:11.220
 if you're married,

00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:11.800
 imagine saying,

00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:12.140
 well,

00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.200
 how much attention

00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.560
 do I have to give you?

00:13:15.160 --> 00:13:15.420
 You know,

00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.160
 to your spouse.

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:16.660
 You know?

00:13:16.900 --> 00:13:17.060
 Or,

00:13:17.180 --> 00:13:18.420
 I know you're upset,

00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:19.180
 but what's the,

00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:19.940
 what's the,

00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:21.400
 how much empathy

00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:22.520
 do I need to give you

00:13:22.520 --> 00:13:23.460
 before I,

00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:23.860
 you know,

00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.000
 because I'm busy

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:25.660
 and I'm tired

00:13:25.660 --> 00:13:27.460
 and what's the minimum standard?

00:13:28.280 --> 00:13:28.520
 You know,

00:13:28.520 --> 00:13:29.600
 that would be awful

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.200
 and hopefully,

00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.240
 you know,

00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.659
 hopefully nobody does that.

00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:35.040
 But it's the exact same thing.

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.560
 It's the language

00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:37.500
 of spiritual death.

00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:38.600
 I mean,

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.340
 that's what it is.

00:13:39.800 --> 00:13:40.600
 That's how spiritually

00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:41.480
 dead people talk.

00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:44.100
 And the most amazing thing

00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.800
 is this contrast

00:13:45.800 --> 00:13:47.240
 between that mentality

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.440
 and the Macedonians

00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.420
 that Paul talks about

00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:50.220
 at the beginning

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.000
 of chapter 8.

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.580
 The most amazing thing

00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:54.019
 about the Macedonian Christians,

00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.060
 these are Christians

00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:56.220
 who are incredibly generous,

00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:58.639
 is not that they were willing

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.379
 to give money

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.240
 even when they were

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.320
 in their own crisis,

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:01.879
 which by the way,

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.320
 they were.

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.519
 But that's not,

00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:04.980
 that's not the most amazing thing.

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.019
 And the most amazing thing

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:06.980
 is not that they were giving

00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.220
 way beyond their means,

00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.860
 which is also pretty amazing.

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.460
 The most amazing thing,

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.279
 and the reason that Paul

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.600
 brings up the Macedonians

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.360
 as an example

00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.419
 is because of what he says

00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:17.059
 in verse 4.

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:17.939
 He says,

00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.879
 they gave of their own accord,

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.779
 begging us earnestly

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.720
 for the favor

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.899
 of taking part

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.860
 in the relief

00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:25.919
 of the saints.

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:26.919
 So what's he saying?

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.340
 He's saying,

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.000
 you know what,

00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.879
 we saw this crisis

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.360
 in Judea,

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.080
 people suffering,

00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:30.639
 and we thought,

00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.460
 who can we ask

00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.019
 to give money

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:32.860
 to try to relieve this?

00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:33.460
 And we looked

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.299
 at the Macedonians

00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:34.779
 and we thought,

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:34.980
 you know,

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:35.679
 they're going through

00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.759
 a lot right now

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:38.120
 and they don't have any money

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:38.759
 and so we're not even

00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.519
 going to ask them.

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.000
 And then the Macedonians

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.639
 come to Paul

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:41.980
 and they say,

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:43.279
 why didn't you ask us?

00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.539
 We would love to give.

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.580
 We would love to give.

00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.240
 How much,

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.419
 how much will you take?

00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.740
 Will you take more from us?

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.159
 And Paul says,

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.480
 we weren't expecting this.

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:55.639
 It just happened.

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.960
 And the word that Paul uses

00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:59.059
 again and again and again

00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.159
 in this passage

00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.199
 is the word readiness,

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.919
 which can also be translated

00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:03.480
 eagerness.

00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:05.500
 So spiritually healthy Christians

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.939
 are eager to give.

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.259
 When somebody comes to them

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:08.620
 with a need,

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.039
 they say,

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.100
 this is an opportunity.

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.080
 So the language

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.059
 of spiritual health,

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.259
 of spiritual vitality,

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.340
 is not,

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.559
 how much should I give?

00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:18.879
 It's,

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.120
 how can I give more?

00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:22.039
 Are there other needs

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:22.860
 that are out there

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.720
 that I might be able to help

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.620
 or alleviate

00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.899
 through my giving?

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.740
 So true generosity

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:30.480
 is evidence of a spiritual health,

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.980
 a spiritual vitality.

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:34.019
 It's the state of your heart

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:36.820
 being reflected in generosity.

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.360
 And then if we go a step further,

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:42.340
 it's also an exercise of faith.

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.039
 It exercises your faith.

00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:46.159
 So what do I mean by that?

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:47.319
 Well,

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:50.139
 faith is exactly like a muscle.

00:15:51.339 --> 00:15:52.939
 And it needs exercise.

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:56.219
 And many of you are like me.

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.620
 You used to get a lot of exercise.

00:15:58.219 --> 00:15:59.219
 And now maybe you don't get

00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:00.179
 quite as much exercise.

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:00.980
 And what happens?

00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:01.500
 Right?

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.639
 When your muscles

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.919
 are regularly challenged

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.959
 and maxed out

00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:06.779
 and pushed beyond

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.480
 what they can do,

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.179
 they grow

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:09.079
 and they get stronger.

00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:09.459
 Right?

00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:11.500
 If you neglect them

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.559
 and don't use them,

00:16:12.699 --> 00:16:13.500
 they atrophy.

00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.379
 They get weaker.

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.179
 And you get weaker

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:15.819
 as a result.

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.579
 Faith is exactly the same way.

00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:20.480
 If you live the kind of life

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.159
 that is constantly

00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:22.360
 challenging your faith,

00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:23.159
 it will grow.

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.259
 But if you live the kind of life

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.799
 that shelters your faith,

00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:27.799
 that protects it,

00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.980
 so it never has to be used,

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.579
 it will atrophy.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.500
 And so giving regularly

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.879
 and giving sacrificially

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.199
 is one of the best exercises

00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:39.179
 for faith that there is.

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.220
 And in chapter 8,

00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:41.980
 Paul is saying

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.620
 that sometimes we are

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.779
 the ones meeting needs

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.319
 and sometimes

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:45.959
 we are the ones

00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:46.799
 in need,

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.039
 but every day

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.899
 we need to be trusting God,

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:51.259
 exercising our faith,

00:16:51.939 --> 00:16:53.559
 that God will provide

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.980
 exactly what we need

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:55.959
 when we need it.

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:57.459
 That's the exercise of faith.

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.639
 And then he quotes

00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.120
 Exodus 16, 18,

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.500
 whoever gathered much

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.959
 had nothing left over,

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.359
 and whoever gathered little

00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.819
 had no lack.

00:17:05.899 --> 00:17:07.660
 Now that's a specific reference

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:09.700
 back to Exodus

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:11.379
 when the Israelites

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.540
 are in the wilderness

00:17:12.540 --> 00:17:13.960
 and there's not enough food

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.640
 for them to eat

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.300
 and they're crying out to God

00:17:16.300 --> 00:17:16.880
 because they think

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.920
 they're going to starve to death

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.900
 and God miraculously provides food

00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.780
 in the form of manna.

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:24.040
 Now manna is some kind of strange

00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:24.840
 flower-like,

00:17:25.020 --> 00:17:25.960
 bread-like substance

00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.140
 and there's a lot of arguments

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.800
 and debates

00:17:27.800 --> 00:17:29.140
 over what exactly it was.

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.420
 That's not really our focus here.

00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:33.060
 But the point is

00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:34.260
 is that the people were commanded

00:17:34.260 --> 00:17:36.140
 go out and gather,

00:17:36.260 --> 00:17:36.940
 which they had to go out

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.440
 and gather it,

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:39.240
 gather only what your family needs

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.940
 for the day.

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:41.839
 And then something

00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:43.099
 quite miraculous would happen.

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.799
 Some people,

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.839
 because of injuries

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:46.140
 or limitations or whatever,

00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:48.039
 wouldn't be able to gather enough.

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.380
 They just wouldn't be able to do it.

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.579
 Other people would go out

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.000
 and they would have

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.019
 their whole team ready

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.700
 and they would gather

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:54.819
 and hoard tons of this stuff

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.859
 because that's human nature.

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.839
 God makes it miraculously

00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.779
 appear on the ground

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:01.740
 and you go

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.539
 and you pick it up

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.180
 and all of a sudden

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.140
 you deserve it.

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.740
 You're entitled to it.

00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:07.620
 And that's what happened in Israel.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.779
 You know, I saw that play out

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:10.139
 with my boys the other day.

00:18:10.479 --> 00:18:12.439
 Just, just, just a Saturday,

00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:12.979
 yesterday,

00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.779
 I had all three kids

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.339
 read the playground

00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:15.879
 and I'm,

00:18:16.239 --> 00:18:17.159
 I walk around the corner

00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:18.879
 and I see all these pennies

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:19.939
 and all these coins

00:18:19.939 --> 00:18:21.479
 that have just some,

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.319
 you know, fallen out

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:22.879
 and I look around

00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:23.399
 and there's nobody,

00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.239
 nobody at the playground

00:18:24.239 --> 00:18:24.959
 so all these coins

00:18:24.959 --> 00:18:25.659
 are just laying on the ground.

00:18:25.959 --> 00:18:26.279
 So I say,

00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:27.279
 Riley, come over here.

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.699
 Look, look at all this.

00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:29.939
 And Riley just immediately

00:18:29.939 --> 00:18:30.899
 starts gathering up

00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:31.539
 all these coins

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.119
 as fast as he can.

00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:32.539
 He goes, Dad,

00:18:32.719 --> 00:18:33.959
 I'm going to be rich.

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.419
 And I was like,

00:18:34.459 --> 00:18:35.479
 well, you know,

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.079
 it's a start.

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.819
 And he's, you know,

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.740
 gathering it all up

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.619
 and has this thing.

00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.720
 And then Matty turns

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.019
 and he says,

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:40.720
 what are you doing?

00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.579
 And Maddox,

00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.139
 my other son,

00:18:42.179 --> 00:18:43.099
 starts running toward us

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.500
 and I say,

00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.519
 Riley, you should share

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.139
 some of that with Maddox.

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:46.879
 And Riley goes,

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.480
 no.

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.480
 He's like,

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.119
 it's mine.

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.099
 You know?

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.019
 I mean,

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.500
 he didn't even know

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.659
 it existed two minutes ago.

00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:56.819
 That's human nature.

00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:58.240
 That's human nature.

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:58.759
 And that's what,

00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.699
 exactly what happened

00:18:59.699 --> 00:19:00.279
 with the manna.

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.299
 But what happened?

00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:03.079
 The people who didn't think

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.779
 they had enough

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.799
 actually found that

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.519
 at the end of the day

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.059
 they had enough.

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.859
 It miraculously increased.

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.220
 Vice versa,

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.899
 the people who gathered

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.980
 way too much

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.579
 and hoarded it,

00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.379
 they woke up in the morning

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.079
 and it was rotten

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.259
 and infested with worms

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.899
 and inedible.

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.639
 And this is the principle

00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:22.779
 of wealth

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.619
 that we see

00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:24.639
 sort of embodied

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.720
 in manna.

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.440
 God is training

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.180
 his people

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.420
 to exercise

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.299
 their faith

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.039
 to be able

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.840
 to handle

00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:32.580
 wealth.

00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.240
 To be able

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.980
 to handle it.

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.320
 And the connection

00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:37.019
 between manna

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.460
 and wealth

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.600
 is made explicit

00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.920
 in Deuteronomy 8.

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.440
 It says,

00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:41.740
 take care lest you

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.120
 forget the Lord your God

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.799
 in verse 1

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.840
 and then go all the way

00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:45.700
 down to verse 16

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.720
 who fed you

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.259
 in the wilderness

00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.160
 with manna

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:49.100
 that your fathers

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:49.860
 did not know

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.799
 that he might

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.560
 humble you

00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:52.340
 and test you

00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:53.500
 meaning train you

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:55.480
 work out your heart

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.840
 to do you good

00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.659
 in the end.

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.859
 This is for your benefit.

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.799
 I'm training you

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.379
 to be able to handle

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:01.740
 wealth.

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.099
 Why?

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.619
 Because his promise

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.899
 was to give them

00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.559
 a land,

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.839
 a homeland

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:08.459
 and to bless them

00:20:08.459 --> 00:20:09.159
 with abundance

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.240
 of wealth

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.819
 and provisions.

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.720
 Food and tons

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.939
 of land to graze on

00:20:13.939 --> 00:20:14.699
 and everything

00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:15.899
 they could ever want.

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:16.980
 But he says,

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.819
 before I give this to you

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.519
 I need to be able

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.559
 to know that your heart

00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.240
 can handle it.

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.399
 So I'm training you

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:21.879
 now.

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.939
 Preparing you for that.

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.659
 And he says,

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.980
 beware lest you say

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.480
 in your heart

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.200
 my power

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.799
 and the might

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.380
 of my hand

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.039
 have gotten me

00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.579
 this wealth.

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.099
 You know,

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.740
 just think of Riley.

00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:32.680
 Mine.

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.880
 I got this.

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.900
 It was the sweat

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.480
 of my brow.

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:37.039
 I gathered them up.

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:37.759
 Right?

00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.559
 That's what we say

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.240
 about our job.

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.160
 I work hard

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.779
 for this money.

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.240
 All the things

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.039
 I do for money.

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:43.640
 To put food

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.140
 on the table.

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:44.720
 Right?

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.660
 Beware lest you say

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:48.039
 my power

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.400
 and the might

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:48.860
 of my hand

00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:49.360
 have gotten me

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:49.740
 this wealth.

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.839
 You shall remember

00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:51.779
 the Lord your God

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.660
 for it is he

00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.519
 who gives you

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.759
 power to get wealth.

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.400
 It is he

00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.039
 who gives you

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:56.779
 the family.

00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.220
 It is he

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.680
 who gives you

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.339
 the genetics.

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.139
 It is he

00:20:59.139 --> 00:20:59.639
 who gives you

00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.279
 the education.

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.000
 It is he

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.420
 who gives you

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:01.980
 the privilege.

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:02.759
 It is he

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.180
 who gives you

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.839
 the relationships

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.500
 and the connections.

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.119
 It is he

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.500
 who gives you

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.159
 the opportunity.

00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:08.859
 Beware lest you say

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:10.519
 you did this yourself.

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.700
 And so we're meant

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.920
 to see all of wealth

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:14.879
 as a form of manna

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:16.119
 meant for the good

00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:16.819
 of everyone.

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.159
 Not just me.

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.639
 And so this is

00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.159
 the principle

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.920
 that Paul's talking about.

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.680
 I'm training you

00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:22.940
 to be able

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.519
 to handle wealth

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.299
 because what I want

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:24.639
 to see,

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.300
 the way I want

00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:25.920
 you to steward

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:27.680
 this is with

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.160
 an eye toward

00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:28.600
 the whole.

00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:30.560
 Is everybody

00:21:30.560 --> 00:21:32.340
 sufficiently provided

00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:32.680
 for?

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.300
 That's the point.

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.560
 He says unless

00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:36.180
 your heart can

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.880
 handle wealth

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.380
 you're going to

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.759
 have people

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.360
 hoarding it.

00:21:38.800 --> 00:21:38.960
 You're going to

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.420
 have other people

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:39.880
 going without.

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:42.840
 This is not

00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:43.300
 something that

00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:44.160
 could be enforced.

00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:44.680
 This is not

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.200
 talking about a

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.380
 form of socialism

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.020
 or communism.

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.060
 It can't be enforced

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:48.740
 top down.

00:21:48.800 --> 00:21:49.180
 It has to be

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.759
 inside out.

00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.440
 Your heart has

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.779
 to work this

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:52.980
 way.

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.799
 That's the purpose

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.420
 of the training.

00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.200
 So what does

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.900
 this mean for us?

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.700
 Well, we could

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.820
 talk a long time

00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:01.200
 about all the

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.880
 ways that this

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:02.940
 applies but I'll

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.580
 just hit one

00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:04.160
 for the sake of

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.480
 time.

00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.279
 This manna

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.259
 and the reference

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.940
 to manna that

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.920
 Paul makes is

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.660
 I think meant

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.460
 to teach us

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.580
 a theology

00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:12.580
 of sufficiency

00:22:12.580 --> 00:22:13.799
 or you might

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.740
 say a theology

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.660
 of enough.

00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.059
 I said at the

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.519
 beginning of this

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.019
 series that it

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.660
 was going to be

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.580
 the title of

00:22:20.580 --> 00:22:21.180
 the series is

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.100
 stewardship as

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:22.880
 counterculture

00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.200
 meaning if we

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.180
 live as stewards

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.620
 in all these

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.200
 various ways

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:28.220
 we will by

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.100
 default become

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.980
 more and more

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.220
 and more

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.940
 countercultural

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.120
 and here's where

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.140
 you see the

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.800
 countercultural

00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:35.380
 practice

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.800
 clearly

00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:38.060
 because we live

00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:38.580
 in a culture

00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.200
 of more

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.680
 and we are

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.580
 bombarded by

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.279
 ads that are

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.019
 convincing us

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.519
 that we need

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.060
 more.

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.620
 More, more, more.

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.140
 We need bigger

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.540
 houses.

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.140
 We need, you know,

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.680
 I mean, and

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.560
 everybody, you know,

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.599
 it's hard to

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.119
 live in D.C.

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:51.919
 But one of the

00:22:51.919 --> 00:22:52.440
 most common

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.279
 complaints not only

00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:53.819
 that I hear but

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:55.019
 that I feel in my

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.960
 own heart is,

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.539
 man, we just need

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.220
 a bigger place.

00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:58.839
 You know, we don't

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.559
 even have a closet

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.200
 anywhere on our

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.659
 first floor.

00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:01.839
 Our vacuum cleaner

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.379
 just sits in our

00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.139
 dining room, you

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:04.000
 know, but then

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.339
 there's somebody

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.759
 else who's like,

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.159
 you have a

00:23:05.159 --> 00:23:05.619
 dining room?

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.099
 And everybody,

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.740
 everybody, everybody

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.319
 says we need

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.279
 more and in fact

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.179
 people don't

00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:11.799
 actually think they

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.419
 need a ton more,

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.019
 they just think we

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.559
 just need a little

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:13.859
 more.

00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:14.919
 I mean, if you

00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.299
 look at the

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.960
 research, it's

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.619
 surprisingly

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:18.019
 consistent that

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.759
 people say,

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:20.299
 you know, when

00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:21.319
 people are asked

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:23.440
 how much more

00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.299
 money do you

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.740
 think would make

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.279
 a meaningful

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.839
 difference in

00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.299
 your life?

00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.619
 Really get you

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.319
 where you need to

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:28.519
 be.

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.299
 Help cover your

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.220
 expenses, have a

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:30.720
 little left over

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.660
 to have fun, put

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.299
 some away in

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.119
 savings, start

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.720
 saving for your

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.480
 kids' college fund,

00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.519
 how much more

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.099
 would you need to

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.720
 really get there?

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.119
 You know what

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.940
 most people say?

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.259
 They don't say

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.839
 that they need

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.440
 double or triple

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.000
 what they make.

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:42.379
 The majority of

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.480
 people say about

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.259
 10% more.

00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.160
 If I just had a

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.839
 little notch up,

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.420
 a little 10%

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.860
 increase.

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.220
 But then guess

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.700
 what happens?

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.000
 If you follow

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.720
 those people, as

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.300
 some researchers

00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:53.000
 have done, and

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.500
 you ask them

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.220
 years later, once

00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.560
 they've gotten

00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.120
 that increase,

00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:56.019
 hey, are you

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.500
 good now?

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.420
 They say, well,

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.060
 you know, actually,

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.060
 if I had about

00:24:00.060 --> 00:24:02.560
 10% more, I'd be

00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:02.800
 great.

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.680
 And why?

00:24:03.800 --> 00:24:04.300
 Because our

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:06.200
 lifestyle increases

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.140
 and keeps pace with

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.560
 our income.

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.380
 And for some of us,

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.820
 the lifestyle outpaces

00:24:09.820 --> 00:24:10.880
 our income.

00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:11.880
 But you get a

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.620
 raise and boom,

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.279
 instantly your

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.580
 lifestyle grows to

00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:14.900
 fill it.

00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:17.280
 So what if we

00:24:17.280 --> 00:24:18.480
 viewed our lives

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.259
 the way God

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.740
 called the

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.500
 Israelites to

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.320
 view theirs,

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.420
 and we viewed

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.940
 our wealth the

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.440
 way they were

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:25.960
 called to view

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.820
 their manna?

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.519
 In other words,

00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:28.240
 what if we sat

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.660
 down and

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.360
 intentionally

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.380
 separated out

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.280
 our true

00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:33.040
 needs from

00:24:33.040 --> 00:24:33.780
 our wants?

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.960
 And really

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.480
 made a clear

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.000
 line there.

00:24:37.580 --> 00:24:38.180
 And what if we

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.460
 decided on an

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.140
 amount that would

00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:41.060
 be enough?

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.740
 I know many

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.200
 families, many

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.720
 households who

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.259
 have done this.

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.599
 Here's what we

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:49.500
 need, and this

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.000
 is enough.

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.419
 This is what we

00:24:51.419 --> 00:24:52.079
 need to live and

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.720
 to provide for our

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:52.980
 kids.

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.500
 What if we

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.799
 cultivated a daily

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.179
 trust in God's

00:24:57.179 --> 00:24:58.119
 provision, lived in

00:24:58.119 --> 00:25:00.639
 such a way that we

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:02.179
 need God to

00:25:02.179 --> 00:25:03.819
 provide, need God to

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.819
 come through?

00:25:05.139 --> 00:25:05.879
 We don't

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.859
 necessarily have a

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.899
 gigantic nest egg

00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:09.059
 hidden away.

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.460
 And here's the

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.799
 really, I think,

00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.379
 the challenging

00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.039
 piece to this.

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.059
 What if the

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:16.179
 goal of salary

00:25:16.179 --> 00:25:17.220
 increases, the

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.319
 goal of wise

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:20.579
 investments, what

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.299
 if the goal of

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.139
 that was actually

00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:23.359
 not to increase

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.319
 our quality of

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.700
 life and

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.039
 lifestyle?

00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:25.579
 What if the

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.720
 goal of that was

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.399
 to be able to

00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.179
 give more away?

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.440
 And what if that

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.419
 was the thing that

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.399
 excited us about

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.399
 getting a big raise?

00:25:33.899 --> 00:25:34.700
 Now I can give

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.259
 more away.

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.720
 Now, I mean, I

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.259
 say this is

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.119
 countercultural because

00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.019
 I think it doesn't

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.660
 come naturally to

00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.200
 any of us.

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:41.980
 Right?

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.180
 But true generosity

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:44.160
 is both evidence of

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.879
 spiritual health and

00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.799
 it's an exercise of

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:45.980
 faith.

00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.099
 When you've exercised

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.579
 your faith and it's

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.200
 gotten stronger and

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.819
 stronger and stronger,

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.960
 is it conceivable that

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.700
 we might get to that

00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:52.119
 place where we say,

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.799
 you know, I just want

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.180
 to be able to give

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.579
 more away.

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.240
 That's why I want to

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.759
 make more money.

00:25:56.379 --> 00:25:57.619
 Now I know that,

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.319
 stop here for a

00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.900
 second and just say,

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.879
 I know that as I'm

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.700
 saying all this,

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.639
 you're probably feeling

00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:05.160
 like I was feeling as

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.519
 I'm working through

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:08.099
 this a few days ago,

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.779
 which is kind of

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.379
 stressed out.

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:12.139
 You know, if we can

00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.719
 be totally honest,

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.439
 I think most of us

00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:14.319
 are probably high on

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:15.240
 our list of sources of

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.939
 anxiety is money and

00:26:16.939 --> 00:26:17.799
 just making it work.

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.419
 And D.C. is an

00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.539
 incredibly expensive

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:21.319
 place to live and we're

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:21.959
 already trying to

00:26:21.959 --> 00:26:22.719
 struggle and to make it

00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.019
 happen.

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.439
 And so this just feels,

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.079
 you know, you're already

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.819
 stressed and you're like,

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.539
 well, I was already

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.539
 anxious about money and

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.459
 now I feel guilty.

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.259
 On top of the anxiety,

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.719
 I feel now guilt and

00:26:32.719 --> 00:26:34.059
 there's this added layer

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.879
 that's just making it

00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.399
 more stressful.

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:37.040
 And I get that.

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.460
 And I think if we were

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.280
 to end here and say,

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.220
 therefore, go and be

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:42.200
 generous, we would all

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.019
 go out and the first

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.720
 question we'd ask would

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.800
 be, now how much

00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:46.320
 should I give, right?

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.480
 Is it pre-tax or

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:47.920
 post-tax?

00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:48.820
 That's how we would

00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:49.600
 operate, right?

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.160
 And we would go the

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:52.180
 road of the Pharisees.

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.940
 What's the minimum

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.880
 standard so I'll be good

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.820
 with you and I'll be

00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:56.560
 good with the church

00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.220
 and I'll be good with

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.100
 God and I can just,

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.060
 you know, what is it?

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.000
 And so that's the road

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.380
 to death.

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.180
 We can't go down that

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.440
 road.

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.560
 And so this third point

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.059
 is crucial.

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.899
 The third point is

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:09.359
 that true generosity

00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:11.480
 is an overflow of joy.

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.919
 It's an overflow of joy.

00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.039
 Which means, and listen

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.960
 very carefully, it

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.119
 cannot be manufactured.

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:19.440
 It cannot be required

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.899
 by government policy.

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:23.599
 It has to be an overflow.

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.779
 It has to be

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:29.579
 an outpouring of

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.379
 something that's going

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:31.419
 on in our hearts.

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.140
 And this is what makes

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:34.519
 Christian giving unique

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.560
 and distinct from any

00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.420
 other kind of giving.

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.220
 It's not motivated by

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.060
 the approval of others.

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.259
 By the way, in our church,

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.500
 we take great lengths to

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.940
 make sure that, you know,

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:44.580
 other than the treasurer,

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:46.660
 really nobody knows

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.480
 who gives what.

00:27:47.560 --> 00:27:48.740
 I know very little

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.800
 about the specifics

00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:51.279
 of who gives what.

00:27:51.320 --> 00:27:52.440
 Because we want people

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.259
 to know that when they

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.200
 give, it's not about

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.000
 the approval of others.

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.420
 There's not going to be

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.080
 any kind of special

00:27:59.079 --> 00:27:59.679
 recognition, you're not

00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:00.439
 going to get a plaque

00:28:00.439 --> 00:28:02.359
 if you gave X amount.

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.099
 Because it's not about that.

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.599
 Christian giving is not

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.039
 about that.

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.819
 It's not motivated

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.879
 by tax deductions.

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.079
 It's not motivated

00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:11.419
 by returns on investment

00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.879
 or immediate observable

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.079
 impact.

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:14.079
 It's not motivated

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.159
 by any of those things.

00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:17.379
 It's motivated by joy.

00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:19.099
 And Paul really talks

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:20.579
 about two sources of joy

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.619
 that I want to hit

00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.399
 really quick with the

00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.099
 time we have left.

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.419
 He talks about the joy

00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.159
 of the harvest.

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.660
 And he talks about

00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:29.500
 the joy of the love of God.

00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:30.580
 The joy of the harvest

00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:32.360
 and the joy of the love of God.

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.340
 The wellsprings

00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.300
 of Christian generosity.

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:36.480
 The joy of the harvest.

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:39.019
 Paul says in chapter 9,

00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:39.540
 verse 6,

00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:40.660
 the point is this,

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:42.680
 whoever sows sparingly

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:44.500
 will also reap sparingly.

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:46.000
 And whoever sows bountifully

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.660
 will also reap bountifully.

00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:49.160
 Now let me say this,

00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.759
 a lot of people

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.700
 take this verse

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.960
 and they justify

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.640
 what's known

00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.960
 as the prosperity gospel.

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.460
 They say,

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:56.720
 you sow,

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.180
 meaning give a little bit

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.180
 of money to the ministry,

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.500
 you sow,

00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.360
 and then down the road

00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.819
 you sow seeds of faith,

00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.539
 you sow a little bit

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:05.779
 of money,

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.559
 and down the road

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.680
 you will reap a harvest.

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.100
 And,

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.279
 which means more money.

00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:11.420
 So you,

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.039
 and it says,

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:12.779
 well if you give

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.420
 a little bit of money,

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.340
 you're only going to get

00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:14.960
 a little bit back.

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.059
 If you give a lot of money,

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.720
 you're going to get

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.440
 a lot of money back.

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.140
 And that's how

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:19.460
 the prosperity gospel works.

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.559
 And it's false.

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.840
 It's a false teaching.

00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:25.119
 Because it's cherry picking

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:26.419
 a verse out of the context.

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.519
 If you look at the context,

00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.199
 it's saying something

00:29:28.199 --> 00:29:28.919
 very different.

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.879
 If you continue reading,

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.279
 it's not about getting

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.799
 a financial return.

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.679
 Paul talks about

00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.399
 the harvest,

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:37.699
 you know,

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.759
 when we give money

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.359
 financially,

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:41.220
 out of generosity.

00:29:41.459 --> 00:29:42.799
 We do reap a harvest.

00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:44.339
 But it's a harvest

00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:45.000
 of three things.

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.599
 It's a harvest

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.539
 of good works.

00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.319
 Meaning,

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.559
 the more you give,

00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.279
 the more good

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.079
 is going to happen.

00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:52.740
 The more God

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.859
 is going to increase

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.220
 your capacity

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.519
 to do good works.

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:57.679
 You know,

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.240
 in other words,

00:29:58.399 --> 00:29:59.500
 generosity begets

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.159
 generosity.

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.579
 The more generous we are,

00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:02.179
 the more generous

00:30:02.179 --> 00:30:02.980
 we will be.

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.799
 And God will enhance

00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.799
 and expand

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.599
 our ability

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.639
 to be more generous

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.659
 and do more good

00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.039
 in the world.

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.460
 So that's the first thing.

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.259
 We'll reap a harvest

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.859
 of good works.

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.779
 We'll also reap

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.879
 a harvest of righteousness.

00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.819
 And in this context,

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:18.119
 righteousness is

00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:19.159
 God's righteousness.

00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:20.279
 It's God's

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:22.299
 desire and ability

00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:23.379
 to put right

00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.179
 the world.

00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:24.960
 Righteousness.

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.039
 To put things right.

00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.599
 To fix human relationships.

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.659
 To fix all that is

00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.439
 broken in the world.

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.159
 And so,

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.099
 in other words,

00:30:31.159 --> 00:30:31.500
 it's saying,

00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.879
 when Christians give,

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.119
 our giving becomes

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.379
 a part of the healing

00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.639
 and the restoration

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.359
 of the world.

00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:38.099
 There's a harvest

00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.240
 of rightness,

00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:39.919
 righteousness.

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.639
 God putting things right.

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.720
 And then thirdly,

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.359
 it's a harvest

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.119
 of thanksgiving.

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.239
 Thanksgiving.

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.239
 Very appropriate,

00:30:46.459 --> 00:30:47.659
 given the upcoming holiday.

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.539
 It's a harvest

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.179
 of thanksgiving.

00:30:50.219 --> 00:30:51.079
 And I think this is

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.579
 really beautiful.

00:30:51.739 --> 00:30:52.059
 Paul says,

00:30:52.239 --> 00:30:53.239
 here's why you should give

00:30:53.239 --> 00:30:53.979
 and here's why it should

00:30:53.979 --> 00:30:54.739
 fill you with joy.

00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.419
 The more you give,

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.379
 the more there are

00:30:58.379 --> 00:30:59.299
 people out there

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:01.139
 who will see your gift

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.579
 as a provision

00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:03.219
 of the Lord.

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.919
 And they're not just

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.859
 going to thank you.

00:31:06.219 --> 00:31:06.979
 They might not even know

00:31:06.979 --> 00:31:07.719
 it came from you.

00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:09.039
 They're going to thank God.

00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.919
 And he says,

00:31:10.979 --> 00:31:11.719
 the more you give

00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:12.959
 and the more that impacts

00:31:12.959 --> 00:31:13.639
 other people's lives,

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.939
 the more people there are

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.799
 giving thanks

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.539
 and praising God.

00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:16.880
 And he's saying,

00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.960
 that's the whole point,

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.539
 is having everybody

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.259
 praising God

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.140
 and recognizing Him

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.759
 as the provider.

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.480
 He says,

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.200
 when we look at that,

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.820
 the harvest of,

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.320
 the increase of good works,

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.299
 the increase of the rightness

00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:28.940
 in the world,

00:31:30.080 --> 00:31:30.940
 more and more people

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.799
 giving thanks

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.340
 and praise to God,

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:32.580
 he says,

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.900
 that is a source of joy.

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.759
 That makes you want

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.380
 to give more.

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.960
 And then the other,

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:40.200
 the other source of joy

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.680
 and the real source of joy

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:43.000
 in the Christian life

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:44.380
 is the joy of God's love.

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.400
 So our last question,

00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.740
 what is the real secret

00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.920
 of Macedonian generosity?

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.140
 Paul says,

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.759
 in the beginning of chapter 8,

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:54.259
 they gave beyond their means,

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.819
 they begged us

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.640
 to be able to give more,

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.279
 and this,

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.460
 not as we expected,

00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.019
 but they gave themselves

00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.980
 first to the Lord

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.099
 and then by the will of God

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.660
 to us.

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.960
 So the reason

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.420
 that they gave so freely

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.119
 of their money

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.140
 is because they had already

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:09.140
 given themselves

00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.140
 to the Lord.

00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:10.840
 He asked,

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.000
 well,

00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:12.240
 why would they do that?

00:32:12.340 --> 00:32:12.540
 Well,

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.060
 grace.

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.660
 The answer is grace.

00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:16.840
 Verse 9,

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:18.280
 for you know that the grace

00:32:18.280 --> 00:32:19.600
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.120
 that though he was rich,

00:32:22.300 --> 00:32:23.080
 yet for your sake

00:32:23.080 --> 00:32:24.100
 he became poor,

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:26.320
 so that you by his poverty

00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:27.920
 might become rich.

00:32:28.340 --> 00:32:29.080
 So he's saying,

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:31.320
 Jesus is the true rich man.

00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.460
 He has everything.

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.480
 All of everything

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.200
 belongs to him.

00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.360
 All power and glory.

00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:37.700
 And then Jesus looks at us.

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.700
 And you know,

00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.960
 by the world's standards,

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.120
 we may look wealthy.

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:41.620
 You know,

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.420
 maybe you have

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:44.500
 a house that you own.

00:32:44.600 --> 00:32:45.299
 Maybe you have

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:47.340
 money in the bank,

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:47.620
 right?

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.539
 Maybe you have

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.580
 a car or two.

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.220
 Maybe you have

00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.019
 all of these things

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.680
 and you look like

00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.460
 you're doing pretty well.

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:53.880
 And he says,

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.440
 but in reality,

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.600
 when Jesus looks at you,

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.720
 he sees the truth.

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.279
 That spiritually speaking,

00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.680
 we are destitute,

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.420
 we are homeless,

00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:03.700
 and we are starving to death.

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.559
 And Jesus looks at our poverty

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.899
 and he looks at his wealth.

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.759
 And then he looks at our poverty

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:12.099
 and he's compelled by his love

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:16.220
 to give up all of that wealth

00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:18.379
 to become himself poor,

00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.519
 destitute,

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.299
 homeless,

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.179
 starving,

00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:22.139
 and ultimately

00:33:22.139 --> 00:33:24.559
 to suffer and to die

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.759
 to guarantee

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:28.179
 that those who come to him

00:33:28.179 --> 00:33:30.859
 will never have to suffer that again.

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.879
 That they will inherit

00:33:32.879 --> 00:33:34.299
 an eternal wealth.

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:36.159
 And so, you know,

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:39.180
 I know a lot of religions

00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:40.279
 out there

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:43.240
 say God cares about the poor.

00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.279
 You should care for the poor

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.460
 because God cares for the poor.

00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:46.399
 That's common.

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:46.980
 You know,

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.500
 the most kind of,

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.319
 you know,

00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:51.319
 stridently atheist

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.559
 secular humanists

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.019
 will say

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:54.220
 we should care for the poor.

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:57.480
 But only Christianity,

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.240
 as far as I know,

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:59.799
 says that God became poor.

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:03.440
 And that kind of love

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:05.359
 is what changes

00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:06.440
 stingy hearts

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.579
 into generous hearts.

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:09.059
 It can't be done

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.719
 any other way.

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.659
 It's only when that love

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.619
 strikes you

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.880
 and only when you see yourself

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.759
 as being poor

00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:14.920
 and then seeing what Jesus

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.759
 did for you

00:34:15.759 --> 00:34:16.739
 that you will then

00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.960
 begin to become

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.800
 generous yourself.

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.599
 It melts your heart.

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.480
 So Christian generosity

00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.159
 is not about

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:24.539
 giving your stuff away.

00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:26.079
 It's about giving yourself away

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:28.039
 to the one who gives himself

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.900
 away for us.

00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:30.680
 That's the wellspring of joy

00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:31.500
 in the Christian life.

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.960
 So we're out of time.

00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:35.539
 I just want to,

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.700
 I want to take all this

00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:37.380
 and pull it together

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.380
 and give you a couple of things

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:39.460
 to think about

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:41.019
 as we transition

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:42.079
 and ultimately go

00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.780
 into our lives

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.920
 tonight and tomorrow.

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.059
 As we're thinking about

00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.880
 stewardship in general

00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.440
 every week,

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.079
 I've encouraged you

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.539
 to go home,

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:48.960
 to pray,

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.519
 to think,

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.760
 think about your life,

00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.780
 decisions that you're making

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:53.200
 and imagine

00:34:53.200 --> 00:34:54.180
 what this would look like

00:34:54.180 --> 00:34:55.619
 if it began to actually

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.720
 shape how you make decisions.

00:34:56.720 --> 00:34:57.720
 And I want to encourage you

00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.220
 to do this

00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:59.039
 as you think about

00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.559
 your finances.

00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:02.179
 And if you are,

00:35:02.419 --> 00:35:02.599
 you know,

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.179
 if you have a,

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:03.859
 you know,

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.699
 somebody with whom

00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.599
 you share finances,

00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:07.339
 then the two of you

00:35:07.339 --> 00:35:07.980
 should sit down

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.159
 and have these conversations.

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:10.839
 I just,

00:35:10.899 --> 00:35:11.359
 I want to give you

00:35:11.359 --> 00:35:12.079
 a couple of things

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:13.199
 as you think about

00:35:13.199 --> 00:35:14.199
 having those conversations

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:16.359
 to hopefully help you.

00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.679
 Number one,

00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:21.980
 generosity requires

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.219
 thoughtful,

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.980
 prayerful planning.

00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:26.240
 It's not just about

00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:27.119
 getting caught up

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.500
 in a moment

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.179
 writing a check.

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.500
 We don't even

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.199
 write checks anymore.

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.099
 But it's not about

00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:31.860
 getting caught up

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.219
 in the moment.

00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:34.539
 It's about planning.

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.840
 It's about preparation.

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.559
 It's about thoughtful

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.599
 intentionality.

00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.420
 If you've never

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.719
 thought about this before,

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.719
 now's a great time

00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.119
 to start.

00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:46.880
 Most people haven't.

00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:47.719
 No.

00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:48.460
 So now's the time

00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:48.679
 to start.

00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:49.699
 Especially if you're

00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.119
 a parent

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.939
 or if you're thinking

00:35:50.939 --> 00:35:51.599
 about having kids

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.259
 down the road,

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:54.819
 many people,

00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:55.839
 most people

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:57.779
 who give regularly

00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:58.480
 as adults

00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.139
 when they're asked

00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:00.679
 what influenced you

00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.179
 to do that,

00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:02.859
 most of those people

00:36:02.859 --> 00:36:03.699
 will say that their

00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:04.279
 parents did.

00:36:04.859 --> 00:36:05.359
 That that's where

00:36:05.359 --> 00:36:05.939
 they learned it.

00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:07.359
 And not just parents

00:36:07.359 --> 00:36:08.079
 putting a dollar

00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.980
 in their kid's hand

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.699
 to put in the plate

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.399
 as it comes around,

00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:12.019
 but parents actually

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.099
 encouraging their kids

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:14.000
 to take some

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.759
 of their own money

00:36:14.759 --> 00:36:17.179
 and put it in the plate

00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:19.439
 or give it to the

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.500
 person who needs it.

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.900
 It's a way of

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.860
 habituating this

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:23.760
 from an early age.

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.599
 So that's the first thing.

00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:26.900
 It requires intentionality,

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.420
 prayerful thoughtfulness.

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:29.320
 I mean, Paul says

00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:29.860
 you should give

00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:30.519
 what you've already

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:31.500
 determined in your heart

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:31.880
 to give.

00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:32.559
 That implies

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:34.079
 an intentionality there.

00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:35.340
 The second thing

00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:35.960
 I'll say is this.

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.360
 Generosity is not about

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:38.360
 how much money you have.

00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.880
 There's really no correlation.

00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:43.099
 It's about your heart.

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.400
 It's about the motivation.

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.820
 It's about the joy.

00:36:47.200 --> 00:36:48.000
 Statistically speaking,

00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:49.099
 if you look at

00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:50.119
 at least in our country,

00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:54.500
 if you look at

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.019
 all the people

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.659
 who regularly give

00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:56.199
 to their churches,

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.659
 the majority of those people

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:58.639
 have a combined

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.579
 household income

00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.940
 of less than $50,000.

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.460
 So it's not the wealthy

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.960
 who are regularly giving.

00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:07.139
 It's people who make

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.860
 under $50,000

00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:09.159
 who are regularly giving.

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.400
 And by the way,

00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:11.039
 I said I don't know

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:12.039
 any statistics

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:13.440
 about specifics

00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:14.119
 in our church.

00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:14.559
 I don't know

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.699
 who gives how much.

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:17.239
 but our treasurer

00:37:17.239 --> 00:37:18.059
 has told me

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:19.319
 that even in our church

00:37:19.319 --> 00:37:20.119
 that bears out.

00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:20.719
 That if you look

00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:21.939
 at our top 10 givers

00:37:21.939 --> 00:37:23.379
 across Brooklyn

00:37:23.379 --> 00:37:23.919
 and Columbia Heights,

00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:25.739
 apparently that top 10

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:26.799
 includes a number

00:37:26.799 --> 00:37:27.899
 of people who are young,

00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:28.960
 who are just getting

00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:29.619
 started in life,

00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:30.279
 who maybe have

00:37:30.279 --> 00:37:31.019
 their first job.

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.599
 So there's this sense

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.179
 I think that a lot

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:34.619
 of us have

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.859
 that when I get older,

00:37:36.299 --> 00:37:37.599
 when I'm adulting

00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.379
 full time,

00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:41.139
 maybe when I'm married,

00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:41.619
 when I'm a little

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.259
 more secure,

00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:43.920
 then I'll start.

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.160
 But statistically,

00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.900
 people who start

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.540
 in their 20s

00:37:47.540 --> 00:37:48.320
 are much more likely

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:48.780
 to do this

00:37:48.780 --> 00:37:49.360
 through their lives.

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:50.340
 People who wait

00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:51.080
 until their 30s

00:37:51.080 --> 00:37:51.960
 or their 40s,

00:37:52.200 --> 00:37:53.220
 the likelihood drops

00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:53.640
 way down

00:37:53.640 --> 00:37:54.360
 that you'll ever do it.

00:37:55.520 --> 00:37:56.240
 So statistically,

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.240
 the earlier you start,

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:57.740
 the more likely

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:58.540
 you are to continue.

00:38:00.040 --> 00:38:01.080
 So it's not about money.

00:38:01.200 --> 00:38:01.620
 It's about

00:38:01.620 --> 00:38:04.220
 the state of your heart,

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.100
 priorities.

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.980
 So true generosity

00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:09.020
 as we think about this,

00:38:09.020 --> 00:38:09.900
 true generosity

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:10.680
 isn't about

00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:15.859
 all of the ways

00:38:15.859 --> 00:38:16.359
 that it can be

00:38:16.359 --> 00:38:17.359
 mishandled in the church,

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:17.919
 all the ways

00:38:17.919 --> 00:38:18.319
 that it can be

00:38:18.319 --> 00:38:19.159
 mishandled in the world.

00:38:19.279 --> 00:38:20.000
 True generosity

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.899
 is something that

00:38:20.899 --> 00:38:21.799
 cannot be regulated

00:38:21.799 --> 00:38:22.619
 or enforced.

00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:24.159
 It's evidence

00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:25.139
 of spiritual health

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:25.859
 and vitality.

00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:27.440
 It's an exercise

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.139
 of faith.

00:38:28.779 --> 00:38:29.339
 And then lastly,

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:30.659
 it's this overflow

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:31.960
 of this wellspring

00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.460
 of joy

00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:34.279
 that comes from

00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:35.519
 belonging to the one

00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.739
 who gave himself up

00:38:36.739 --> 00:38:37.679
 for you.

00:38:38.199 --> 00:38:38.779
 Let's pray.