WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.799 Again, welcome to everyone of you in your houses. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:13.519 It is a pleasure to be here and to share the Word of God, to preach the Word of God, 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:21.440 knowing that this is the last sermon of our series about living under the sun. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:28.400 And the theme for today is about money and wealth. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.160 And let me say something. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.679 This is not a never. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:36.359 It's going to be a prosperity gospel sermon. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:38.320 That's not biblical. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:46.640 So today I would like to talk about emptiness or satisfaction, a biblical understanding 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:48.399 of riches. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:51.879 So emptiness or satisfaction. 00:00:51.880 --> 00:01:01.480 Again, this is the last sermon of this beautiful and special book of Ecclesiastes. 00:01:01.480 --> 00:01:08.439 We know that has been, honestly, for me, it's sometimes it's a difficult book to deal with, 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:16.400 with someone who can draw a good picture and sometimes it's a sad picture of the reality 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:20.359 in a fallen world. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:30.560 And that's the reality of sin in our society and not just in this society, but in our hearts. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:39.079 So let me first say that we should never forget that we were created to love God and love 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.079 our neighbor. 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:50.280 Therefore, we were created to have fellowship, to have a sweet communion with God and our 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:52.960 neighbor. 00:01:52.960 --> 00:02:03.920 We were created to enjoy creation because first we were created to enjoy God. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:10.840 So it's important that you have in your minds the last sermon that John Watson preached 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:13.599 about pleasure. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:19.479 But however, one of the many things that prevent us from enjoying or calling to love God and 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:26.879 love our neighbor, it is the attitude that we have towards something very special, something 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:31.799 very particular, and that is money and possessions. 00:02:31.799 --> 00:02:40.759 As you know, I am from Tilly from Latin America and there are so many political issues back 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:41.959 there. 00:02:41.959 --> 00:02:47.560 So no matter if we live in a socialist or a capitalist nation, it seems that the attitude 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:53.599 towards money and possessions brings more sadness than enjoyment. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:59.159 We don't like to talk about that even in church because of so many issues. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:05.640 It's hard to talk about money, but I have to do it this night. 00:03:05.640 --> 00:03:09.840 And let me be clear from this very moment. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:13.800 The problem is not money itself. 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:23.439 What is my attitude, my reaction, and my heart towards money and possessions? 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:30.040 So knowing that this is the last sermon of this series about life under the sun, and 00:03:30.040 --> 00:03:42.360 therefore knowing that life is vapor, how are we going to deal with our money and possessions? 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:48.240 What are we going to do with our money and possessions? 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:57.000 But the question behind that question is, what are we going to do with our hearts from 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.360 this moment? 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:05.960 The picture that we find here in Ecclesiastes is a realistic painting about the relationship 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:11.680 of two kinds of people towards money and wealth. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:18.720 Two different approaches and lifestyles towards the quantity of money that we have in our 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:21.040 bank account. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:30.960 Two reactions towards possessions, two kinds of people, an empty person on the one hand, 00:04:30.960 --> 00:04:36.759 and on the other hand, a satisfied person. 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:43.240 So the biblical section that we read before teaches about this, and I will explain this 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:47.000 in the following three points or heads. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:54.279 The first one is a grievous evil, emptiness with everything we have. 00:04:54.279 --> 00:05:00.879 The second point is a sweet rest satisfaction with everything we have. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:10.319 And finally, the third point is practical applications of a satisfied life. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:18.560 So the first point is a grievous evil, emptiness with everything we have. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.600 Why did I choose this title for this first point? 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:30.519 Because two times is mentioned the description of a grievous evil, and it's used two times 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:38.560 actually in verse 13 and 16 to describe the life of a person who has everything, but in 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:42.519 reality has nothing. 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:49.279 The section in Ecclesiastes that deals with money and possessions begin in verse 10 with 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:50.839 someone who loves. 00:05:50.839 --> 00:06:03.799 If we go to verse 10, you can check that there's a person who actually loves, but what does 00:06:03.799 --> 00:06:07.399 it mean to love? 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:09.439 And this is important. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:17.799 Love is an affection, steam, and a desire for something. 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:22.600 And to seek to have fellowship with that object. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:29.520 And in fact, that person lives for what he loves. 00:06:29.520 --> 00:06:32.740 We think about what we love. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:35.620 We dream about what we love. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:38.600 We move about what we love. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:41.160 We work about what we love. 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:43.879 We breathe about what we love. 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:58.399 The object we love awakens all our affections to desire more and more what we love. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:02.159 Let's go back to verse 10. 00:07:02.159 --> 00:07:07.560 What does this person love? 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:11.560 The person loves money. 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:17.519 When you think about this, knowing the definition that we gave to what is to love, but in this 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:20.360 case the person loves money. 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:21.959 Think about this. 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:29.379 That person desires money, loves money, but the results are disastrous. 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:35.959 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:45.599 Few things will not be satisfied with his heart and his desire for more and more money. 00:07:45.599 --> 00:07:51.799 And when we are not satisfied, we want to have more and more. 00:07:51.799 --> 00:08:00.039 And when we live for loving money, and maybe you get more money, no amount of money will 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:08.360 be enough to quench your desire for having more money or possessions. 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:14.439 More money will never bring satisfaction to your hearts because we were not created for 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:16.200 money. 00:08:16.200 --> 00:08:18.879 That's the reason. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:23.520 Our thirsty hearts yearns for living water. 00:08:23.520 --> 00:08:29.759 But when we love money, when we live, when we think about money, we try to satisfy our 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.679 thirst with a glass of sand. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:37.039 This is vanity. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.279 And the same is true of wealth and possessions. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:47.879 To have more and more and to live for possessions will bring more emptiness to our souls. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.879 This is vanity. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:52.360 This is meaningless. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:59.879 But on the other hand, sweet is the sleep of the laborer, whatever he eats little or 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:08.800 much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:19.399 If sunlight was used to desperately live for money, our nights will be an nightmare. 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:28.879 If we use the oxygen just to get and to live for money, our beds will, we're gonna, we're 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.079 gonna be a bad place to rest. 00:09:33.079 --> 00:09:37.799 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.279 of the rich will not let him sleep. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.759 Such a horrible stress. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:50.799 The meaning of a full stomach here, it is not intended to describe a night after eating 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.519 a good highland burger or fish and chips. 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:57.360 No, this is not the case. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.399 A full stomach means wealth. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.360 A person who has everything. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:08.960 That person cannot sleep well because he really loved his possessions. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:11.559 That's the reason. 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:19.959 That person cannot sleep well because he's sleeping for her or his possessions. 00:10:19.959 --> 00:10:25.319 He or she lives to please his money. 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:33.479 That person cannot have a sleep because, and this is important, because he is worshiping 00:10:33.479 --> 00:10:40.039 something that can never will satisfy the soul. 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:46.480 That person is wasting his energy in pleasing his idol. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:52.679 That's the reason that he cannot have a well rest or sleep. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:11:00.319 He cannot close his eyes because his heart is totally connected with his idols. 00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:09.719 But in the very bottom and sadly, he cannot sleep well because in fact, he's a stomach 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:17.279 but mainly his heart, heart empty. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:22.279 So the question is for today, what do you love most? 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:26.759 How are you sleeping? 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:30.920 Do you have a real rest? 00:11:30.920 --> 00:11:38.800 And I am not asking to parents here who had a two years' tolerer at midnight. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:45.519 I am asking about your heart, about your mind. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:50.679 Where's your heart in this very moment when we think about money? 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:56.759 I know that we have bills to pay and we need to provide for our families. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:59.759 But I'm not asking about your money. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.879 I am asking you about your heart. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.799 Where's your heart? 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:08.959 How do you love most? 00:12:08.959 --> 00:12:11.000 But this is not the end. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:17.959 As you will see, richest possessions or money can be used for a good purpose. 00:12:17.959 --> 00:12:27.279 But in someone who loves richness, who loves and worship money, this is actually very dangerous. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:34.879 People accumulate riches, possessions or money to feel safe, to protect their families. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:37.279 I hope so. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:47.759 However, someone who worships money indeed will bring destruction to his life and family. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:52.839 Verse 13 and 14 of Ecclesiastes chapter 5. 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:57.840 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:03.160 Riches were kept by their owner to his hurt. 00:13:03.160 --> 00:13:06.240 And those riches were lost in a bad venture. 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:12.200 And he is a father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:20.360 Yeah, we can observe horrible things around us, especially during these times. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:25.279 And there is something that is a grievous evil. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:32.639 Who dares to keep something or treasure something so that the treacherous thing can damage or 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:35.759 even kill him? 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.759 Nobody. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:43.240 But what if I tell you that this is exactly what is happening in every single person who 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:46.840 loves money and possessions? 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:53.440 Riches were kept by their owner to his hurt. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:56.879 This point is very important. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:02.840 Do you know where does appear the word keep in the book of Ecclesiastes? 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:08.320 You remember the word keep something? 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:12.680 Yes, at the end of the book. 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:14.639 To keep the commandments. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:19.879 That's the same word that it is used here of someone who keep money. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:23.000 We are called to keep the commandments. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:26.799 That is to treasure the whole law. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.720 Meditating upon and delighting us in it in the law of God. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:35.919 In summary, to grow in our love to God and our neighbor. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:41.159 We are bound to keep the law because it comes from our Creator and Redeemer. 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:45.679 We are talking in a context of the covenant of grace. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.559 It is the law of freedom actually. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:52.360 When we think about law, please don't think in something like negative, like something 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.360 bad. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.360 Oh, the law. 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.360 No. 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:58.799 Thanks for the law because the root of the law is love. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:00.519 It's love God. 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:02.120 So we have to desire. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.279 We need to meditate upon the law. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:10.039 But how can we keep the law if we don't know the law? 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:15.519 Or if we keep a legalistic understanding of the law? 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:24.000 Parents, we have an important task here to teach the law in grace. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.559 The Ten Commandments. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:30.240 Do we know the Ten Commandments? 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.279 Have you think about that? 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:37.079 About the Ten Commandments? 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:42.400 But here, the person is not keeping the law. 00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:47.320 The person is keeping or treasuring his riches. 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:57.200 He is considering his possession as something worthy to keep most than anything else. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:03.520 But in the end, these riches are going to hurt his life. 00:16:03.520 --> 00:16:05.960 This is vanity again. 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:10.879 The thing that you love brings you an injury. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:15.680 And you keep holding that as a special treasure. 00:16:15.680 --> 00:16:17.040 This is vanity. 00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:26.000 The thing that you keep money, riches, possessions is killing us. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:32.680 And whatever you keep safe, or you lose them in a bad venture or occupation, you are not 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:41.639 only destroying yourself, but also your own family. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:48.239 To think that money is the best thing, the best heritage that you can give to your children, 00:16:48.239 --> 00:16:54.479 that we can give to our children, it is to give them nothing. 00:16:54.479 --> 00:17:01.039 Our heritage is the Lord. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:07.960 This death injury is developed with the following characteristics. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:16.399 While he eats on this earth, as we read in Ecclesiastic Five, this person eats in darkness 00:17:16.399 --> 00:17:22.440 in much vexation, like worried or frustrated. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:29.839 That's the way of life, just living so frustrating, frustrated or worried, in sickness, or actually 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:32.559 in anger or wrath. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:38.240 This person is just sort of upset because he doesn't have enough money, because he doesn't 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.039 have enough possessions. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:48.639 So he lives in that way, he lives in that way with anger, with wrath, wrath, worried, 00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:50.679 frustrated. 00:17:50.679 --> 00:17:57.559 So this could be a description of a very stressed life who is not living according to his chief 00:17:57.559 --> 00:18:05.919 and, and again, we have to remember our first or chief and. 00:18:05.919 --> 00:18:12.279 I think this is a time to think deeply about your life. 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:19.079 Life is a vapor. 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:27.079 Yesterday we were sharing a time with the Spanish-speaking community from Cornstone. 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:30.919 You know that there's a Spanish-speaking community here in Edinburgh, and we have a 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:33.839 Bible study, a Reformed Bible study. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:40.839 And one of the women just, he was just sharing that a guy from a folk like 20 something, 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:47.119 24 years old, he just passed away like a couple of days ago. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.759 Life is vapor. 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:54.199 The sister of my gran is right now in Chile. 00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:55.720 She's almost dying. 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:58.480 She's in her deathbed. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:05.120 Life is vapor. 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:11.440 Knowing this. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:20.400 Knowing that your life is ascending as the vapor of a cold morning here in Scotland. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:28.040 And you know that this vapor is disappearing while ascends to be before the throne of God. 00:19:28.040 --> 00:19:29.200 That's your life. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.680 That's my life. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:38.600 I really love that example that John Watson gave us at the beginning of the series. 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:43.400 That vapor in a cold morning here in Edinburgh. 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:46.880 Three seconds and then disappears. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.280 That's your life. 00:19:48.280 --> 00:19:49.680 That's my life. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:54.680 And it is ascending to the throne of God. 00:19:54.680 --> 00:20:05.560 Therefore, in the meantime, when your life ascends to encounter, face to face with God, 00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:12.759 what will be your attitude towards your possessions? 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.600 Life is so short. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:24.759 What are we doing with what we have? 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:30.399 And please, we need to understand that I'm not just referring to money or the quantity 00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:35.079 of money that you and I, we have in our bank account. 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:40.039 No, we have different riches or possessions. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:43.839 Family is a good possession. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.679 So rich. 00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:47.679 I don't know. 00:20:47.679 --> 00:20:54.279 Maybe you're seeking or you have like your soul reaching decrease from a university or 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.559 having books or whatever. 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.399 I don't know. 00:20:57.399 --> 00:21:01.199 The question is, how are you living with your possessions? 00:21:01.199 --> 00:21:03.519 How are you sleeping again? 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:05.720 Where is your heart? 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:08.079 What do you have in your heart? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.599 Inger? 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:12.919 Are you worried? 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:15.320 Or do you have joy? 00:21:15.320 --> 00:21:23.840 Maybe as verse two from chapter six says, you have wealth, possessions, and honor, but you 00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:32.080 don't have the power or the faculty to enjoy what God has given you. 00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:42.519 That is so sad to have things or to have your family in front of you and not to enjoy a 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:44.759 fellowship with them. 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:51.559 Again, knowing that our life is vapor. 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:56.119 This sermon, honestly, this is for me because when I read this, when I was preparing the 00:21:56.119 --> 00:22:06.599 sermon and the description of this man like living so worry frustrated with anger or wrath. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:13.799 Honestly, Lord have mercy upon us. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:17.799 How are we living? 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:23.279 And we call Christians. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:25.399 It's time to live for God's glory. 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:34.079 So let me go quickly to a second point, a sweet rest, satisfaction with everything we have. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:42.079 So in this Ecclesiastes descriptions of riches, we encounter a key and important switch from 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:50.119 the previous description of life as someone empty now to someone who has a life full of 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.599 joy. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:59.359 These two kinds of people have riches, both it, but there's a significant difference between 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:04.559 them and it is only just one word. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:14.240 This is the difference between the first description and this one, just one word, satisfaction. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:18.719 Verse 18 begins with a word that captures our attention. 00:23:18.719 --> 00:23:22.240 Behold. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:27.279 After all that sad description, we have this word, behold. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:31.799 The preacher here is saying, hey, pay attention to this. 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:33.680 Observe this. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:38.160 Life must not be as we previously described. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:44.720 There's something better, something that according to the preacher is good and fitting. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:50.000 And what is this? 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.319 Everyone. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:54.480 Verse 19 and 20. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:58.759 And also to whom God has given wealth and possession. 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:00.360 And this is important. 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:08.319 Empower to enjoy them and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:17.079 This is a gift of God, for he will not much remember the days of his life because God 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:24.559 keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:28.000 Two different people. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:34.799 In short, this verse as it describes the blessing, the joy of the lightning in the riches and 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.799 possessions that we have. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:44.519 And as I said, I don't want to refer only to what we have in our bank account or material 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:45.519 possessions. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:52.279 I'm not talking just about that, but every kind of wealth, such as family or a simple 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:57.480 dinner shared in fellowship with family and friends. 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.920 That is so rich. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:07.079 In the diversity of riches we have, even the spiritual riches, God calls us to enjoy 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:09.680 this. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:19.080 God calls man to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil because this is a gift from God. 00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:22.200 This is a gift from pure grace. 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:27.360 Yes, see, life is hard. 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:34.000 But amid all kind of difficulties and sorrows, the Lord is calling you to enjoy even the 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:41.279 little we riches that you have. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:49.960 Even the oxygens that we breathe right now, that we are breathing right now. 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:53.039 Because this is by grace alone. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:56.039 Yes, life is hard. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:26:03.960 But a person who enjoys what God has given him, and this is Ecclesiastes, will not much 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:07.200 remember the days of his life. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:13.519 Pay attention to this, because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:16.759 Can you appreciate this? 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:24.720 The one who describes life as vanity in the whole book of Ecclesiastes, now he's telling 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:33.920 us that the Lord is calling us to enjoy what we have. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:40.400 That we have to, but we must recognize that this is impossible for people. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:44.400 Therefore, we need a miracle. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:53.680 In order to enjoy the gifts of creation, we need to enjoy first the gift of the Creator. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:27:01.920 In order to enjoy the riches of creation, we have to enjoy the riches of the Creator. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:07.560 So let me ask you this, what is the gift of the Creator? 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:13.080 What are the riches of the Creator? 00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:20.800 The gift and the riches of God are God himself. 00:27:20.800 --> 00:27:28.720 The one who possesses the whole universe has given his life, he gave his life for you and 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.160 me. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:41.920 The one who is more beautiful than the whole gold of this planet and who is the rich one, 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:50.160 took a human nature and died for us in order to give us the power or the faculty to enjoy 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:52.759 God. 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:58.960 So yes, we are talking and dealing with money and possessions, but that's not the message 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:01.120 of today. 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:15.279 The message is that God is calling you to enjoy him, to recognize that he is our possession, 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:20.600 that he is our heritage. 00:28:20.600 --> 00:28:23.079 That's the message for today. 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:30.199 So knowing that this is the gospel and the gospel transform our lives, I want to finish 00:28:30.199 --> 00:28:39.039 the sermon with the third point and that is practical applications for a satisfied life. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:46.799 We are finishing this series and now how shall we live then? 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:54.839 How are we going to live knowing all that you already know about Ecclesiastes? 00:28:54.839 --> 00:29:01.599 Are we going to live this building saying, yeah, yeah, it was really good to see some 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:05.399 friends and folks, San Colombas. 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:16.759 How are we going to live as a wise person or as a full person? 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:23.119 Money and possession can be a great curse or a great blessing. 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:27.519 Everything depends on your relationship towards money and possessions. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:36.079 If wealth, money is your idol, surely this will destroy your life and not just your life 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:42.839 but your family, your ministry. 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:51.399 But if Jesus is a savior and Lord and Lord of your life, then your possessions can be 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:59.000 a great blessing, not just for you but also for your neighbor. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:06.199 Paul identifies the love of money as the root of all kinds of evils. 00:30:06.199 --> 00:30:10.759 In fact, this is very dangerous for the church. 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:17.799 It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:22.119 with many pangs. 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:24.079 Horrible picture. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:30.799 To live without faith while we live as the description of the first point. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:37.720 That is having money but in reality having nothing and just wanting to have more money 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:45.480 but at the same time we don't have the power to enjoy God's gift. 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:55.400 And we cannot enjoy the fruit of the labor because we don't have faith. 00:30:55.400 --> 00:31:03.519 But God is calling you to enjoy your lot, your money and your possessions. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:08.480 And how can we do that? 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:14.039 But as for you, O man of God, flee this things. 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:19.759 But as for you, O woman of God, flee this things. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:27.319 Let's go and let's grow up in godliness, in faith, love, gentleness. 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:35.759 Let the good fight of faith take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:43.159 We enjoy early possessions when we live taking hold of the eternal life. 00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:49.679 In practical terms, when we know that our possessions as every gift that we have are 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:58.240 not mainly for us but for the glory of God and the edification of the church, of His 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:03.519 church, this is generosity. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:09.480 And this is what we need in our days to be generous. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:12.820 That is to enjoy our possessions. 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:22.519 As presidents, our kings will not change your life, only God Himself. 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:27.200 That's the reason of why we need the gospel. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:32.240 To really enjoy God, to glorify His name. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:39.879 Before the Reformation, and let me tell you this. 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:47.880 Before the Reformation, the half of Scotland's riches were sent to Rome to the Vatican. 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:53.400 But after the Reformation, everything changes. 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:56.120 Everything's already changed. 00:32:56.120 --> 00:33:02.980 Now the money was used to build the schools, churches, to pay the salary of university 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:07.480 professors and ministers. 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:12.000 After the disruption, do you know the history of the disruption? 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.000 1843? 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:19.960 Please raise your hands in the room, not here. 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:24.000 That's our heritage, by the way. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:30.480 After the disruption, many free church ministers lost everything. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.480 Everything. 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:36.400 No salary, no mansions, nothing. 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:43.680 Just a wife and children there on the streets. 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:50.000 Because they renounced everything for the one who gave his life for his church. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:56.519 But there was a minister who helped other ministers to have a living wage. 00:33:56.519 --> 00:34:02.720 There was a minister who understood the necessity. 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:07.640 And who understood the needs of the ministers. 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:11.280 Ministers without a salary. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:19.039 And that minister who helped other ministers to his friends was the first minister of this 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:25.440 building, Thomas Guthrie. 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:31.880 Where are the men and women of God who will help the church of God with their gifts and 00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:32.880 money? 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:38.960 Again, please, I'm not referring to just money. 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:46.039 You have so many gifts, but those gifts are not for you, but are for the edification 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:50.079 of the one who is next to you right now. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:54.440 That's the reason of why you have gifts. 00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:59.559 Or maybe that's the reason of why you have more money than the person who is next to 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.559 you. 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:04.279 It's not for you to be generous. 00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:10.880 It is to glorify God in being generous. 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:21.599 Do we know the reality of ministers or missionaries of the next ministers? 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:29.559 A reformation of the heart brings a reformation in our attitude to our wealth and possessions. 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:34.920 There's so much to do in order to plant more churches, right? 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:42.799 But how can we use our possessions, our money, our gifts to this? 00:35:42.799 --> 00:35:49.920 To go and make disciples because the Lord is with us. 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:53.039 Because this is not our mission. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.199 This is God's mission. 00:35:55.199 --> 00:36:05.679 And the Lord is calling us right now in this Sunday to meditate and to think about this 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:08.519 and to repent. 00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:16.599 First, to repent of not having or delighting God. 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:23.559 But then the Lord is calling us to repent of our love towards money and not using our 00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:28.400 money or riches or possessions to His glory. 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:33.119 Let me finish this sermon reading the last two verses of Ecclesiastes. 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:37.519 Let me finish this series reading this. 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:43.559 The end of the matter all has been heard. 00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:48.599 Fear God and keep His commandments. 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:51.000 That is love God and love your neighbor. 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.000 How? 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.719 You know how? 00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:57.719 If not, let's pray for that. 00:36:57.719 --> 00:36:59.960 Fear God and keep His commandments. 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:03.599 For this is a whole duty of man. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:05.000 Why? 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:14.760 For God will bring every deed into judgment with every secret thing, whether good or evil. 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:21.480 Church of Christ, the main call for today. 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:32.440 It is to, with all our heart, to glorify God and to enjoy Him. 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:35.240 And to enjoy Him. 00:37:35.240 --> 00:37:38.519 Enjoy His presence. 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:43.800 When was the last time that you enjoy His presence? 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:46.159 And to enjoy Him. 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:50.519 Not just for a couple of minutes, but forever. 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:53.679 Let's pray together. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:38:03.559 Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:15.559 There's so much grace for us today that you call your people, that you're calling me, 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:26.480 that God is calling you, whatever you are here or in your home or I don't know. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:39.639 But God, because you are so gracious that you call us to repent. 00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:43.279 Oh God, life is vapor. 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:46.000 Life is vapor. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:57.200 And we are ascending right now to be before your throne. 00:38:57.200 --> 00:39:05.240 Help us to live for your glory. 00:39:05.240 --> 00:39:13.120 Help us to love you more, to love your ways, to love your law, to love your holy word. 00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:24.519 To love you, just as simple, deeply, profoundly, in a very experiential way, to enjoy your 00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:33.159 presence, in order to enjoy our riches, our possessions, or whatever we have, in order 00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:40.839 to enjoy our family, our children, our wife, our husband, or our friends. 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:52.480 In order to enjoy you in the midst of difficult times when we are dealing with cancer or a 00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:59.320 bad economical situation, when we don't know what to do, when we are so frustrated for 00:39:59.320 --> 00:40:05.559 life or illness or whatever is going on in our hearts. 00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:12.119 Father, we want to enjoy your presence. 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:19.599 Help us to live for you and not to live for our possessions. 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:28.880 Help us to enjoy our possessions when we put them for the service of your kingdom, for 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:36.440 the edification of the church, of your church, not our church. 00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.920 Thank you for your word. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:41.320 It's so precious. 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:49.559 Thank you because you are calling us to enjoy the little things, to enjoy this very moment, 00:40:49.559 --> 00:40:57.800 to enjoy the presence of the person who is next to us right now. 00:40:57.800 --> 00:41:05.560 Help us to consider the little things in our life. 00:41:05.560 --> 00:41:08.480 Help us to live for you. 00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:10.480 Bless this church. 00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:17.800 Help us to apply what we have learned today, or in the morning, or in the previous sermons. 00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:21.120 Help us, oh God. 00:41:21.120 --> 00:41:24.480 Thank you for this day. 00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:31.880 Thank you for the sweet rest that you gave us in Jesus Christ, our Savior. 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:57.840 Amen.