Father, we ask that the Holy Spirit would fall with might and power and deep conviction upon each and every one of us as we think about your word.
We ask, Father, that you would bring your word home to us to confront and connect with the real me, the real each one of us in the real world,
so that you might do your work of grace in our lives.
And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.
So, first of all, if you have been tuning into this service hoping you were going to hear something about Mother's Day, you won't.
We don't really celebrate Mother's Day at Church of the Messiah.
Obviously, we're very pro-women and we're very pro-moms, but we don't do Mother's Day as part of our church service.
I hope each of you are doing whatever you can to honor moms and women wherever you are this morning.
In fact, actually, probably as you were listening to Daniel read the scripture text, you were probably saying that's the weirdest Mother's Day text I've ever heard of,
all about wailing and sorrow and misery and everything like that.
So, one of the things that we do is preach through books of the Bible.
We're going through the book of James, and that means we're going to look at something which people, many, many Canadians,
and to be honest, many Canadian Christians find this idea sort of such a weird idea that they downplay it or never think about it.
But an easy way for the average Canadian to make fun of, I would call us, biblical Christians,
is in fact to make fun of the doctrine of the second coming of Jesus.
I was just seeing something in the Babylon Bee, a satirical organization the other day,
showing a picture of a man looking very confused and perplexed because he was trying to read the book of Revelation
to figure out when Donald Trump would be president again.
And it's very easy for us to make fun of this doctrine, and it seems weird,
and in many ways it seems very, very off-putting.
But this text, you might not have noticed it, the text that we're going to look at today,
at the very heart of it is this idea of the return of Jesus.
In fact, just to walk towards the problem, given, even though that many Canadians think it's a very weird idea,
like, I don't know, is he going to sort of come down like Iron Man out of the sky,
and somehow the whole world's going to see him, and he's going to change everything?
Like, it just sounds sort of kooky and weird and not very attractive.
But the fact is, it's in fact an essential part of the Christian faith.
It's not just a little tiny bit in one part that a group of kooky Christians focus on.
The teaching of the fact that Jesus will one day return is a very important Christian teaching
all the way through the Bible.
Hence, even in James, it shows up.
So let's just look.
In fact, James is going to be very helpful for some of us.
Well, it's going to be helpful for all of us.
But it's going to be helpful because it brings to the fore some of the off-putting aspects to many of us
about the doctrine or the teaching of the second coming of Jesus.
So if you have your own Bibles, turn to James 4, verse 17.
Very helpful if you read along with me.
The verse will show up at the bottom of the screen,
but there's something about having it in your own Bible and being able to look at it,
maybe making notes to help bring it home to you.
It also helps to keep it before you so that you know I'm not playing fast and loose with the Bible.
I just want to try to help us understand it and to have the Bible come.
And at the end of the day, I think the doctrine is so important and so wise
and just so important for each of us that I'm hoping that after I've talked about it a little while,
after we've looked at the text, that even if you're not a Christian and you don't believe it,
that you would wish it was true, that you would wish it was true.
So let's look.
It begins like this.
So whoever knows, chapter 4, verse 17,
so whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
I didn't cover this last week, and it's sort of a very important part for the next bit,
but let's look at the whole idea about the second coming of Christ, just see what's going on,
and then I'm going to come back and we're going to look through all of these texts.
I'm going to explain why it's important and why we need to take it to heart.
The next bit, come now, verse 1 of chapter 5,
come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.
Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you
and will eat your flesh like fire.
You have laid up treasure in the last days.
And just sort of pause here for a second.
Some of you know a little bit about the Christian faith.
The word for coming here, it's going to occur several times in the text,
is actually the word parousia,
which is actually a technical word in the New Testament for the coming of Jesus.
And so this text very clearly says that the reason in verse 1
that people will be weeping and howling is because Jesus is going to be coming back.
And then, of course, even the reference to the last days.
For Christians, the last days began with the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We all live in the last days, and the last days will end when Jesus returns.
So this is a text talking about the end of all things.
And here we go.
I mean, two types of questions would come with us.
First of all, I think for most people, they'd say,
George, I guess I could believe in the idea of the end of all things,
but shouldn't it be happy?
Like, this sounds like a downer.
Like, not only here, but when we look at verses 4, 5, and 6,
it just sounds depressing.
Like, why should...
Like, George, don't you think the last days, like the end,
shouldn't it be more like a party?
Shouldn't it be happy?
Not something which is described with weeping and howling and misery.
Well, let's continue to look.
Look at verses 4 to 6.
By the way, this theme of unhappiness is going to continue here,
but we'll see that it continues to sort of bring out the importance
or talk about the return of Jesus.
Verse 4.
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields,
which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you.
And the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and in self-indulgence.
You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
You have condemned and murdered the righteous person.
He does not resist you.
In this particular case, it's once again this idea that we can see that Jesus is aware
of all of these things.
In fact, even the imagery of the Lord of hosts is often...
It's throughout the entire Bible, but it's often very much connected with the idea
of the return of Jesus, that once again, because of the return of Jesus,
there's going to be these consequences for these particular rich people.
And then in verses 7 to 11,
Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.
Here we see this word parousia in the original language,
very clearly connected to the coming of Jesus.
I'll read it again.
Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,
so that you may not be judged.
Behold, the judge is standing at the door.
Again, this idea of the soon return of Jesus.
As an example of suffering and patience,
brothers and sisters, take the prophets,
who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Behold, we consider those blessed, who remain steadfast.
You have heard of the steadfastness of Job,
and you have seen the purpose of the Lord,
how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
And just pause.
If you're watching this, just sort of out of curiosity,
Job is a whole book in the Old Testament.
I'm not going to sort of go into that in particular.
But once again, you see this.
In fact, for many of you, it looks part of the reason.
So part of the reason we don't like the idea,
the average Canadian doesn't like the idea of the second coming of Jesus,
is first of all, it sounds a bit ridiculous, a bit kooky.
Secondly, it sounds like it's going to be time of misery,
not something which is going to be good.
And the third thing is that to many people,
it makes it sound as if you don't confront the problems of the world.
Like, look how it goes.
It goes from this profound problem of self-indulgence,
of oppression, and of judicial, societal-approved murder,
and then it tells Christians to be patient,
because Jesus is coming back as if you shouldn't do anything about it.
So in many ways, James is perfect.
There are three big problems with it,
the kookiness, the sadness, and the fact that it's not happy,
and the fact that it seems to lead to indifference,
which all seem to be right here in the text.
And then just one final part.
We are going to go back and I'm going to look at it.
I just wanted to bring it out, right?
So we see what's going on here.
But just a final verse.
And just before I read this verse,
because I got my blog in late this week,
you didn't get the blog yesterday.
You'll either get it sometime today or you'll get it tomorrow morning.
But I'm not going to talk at all about this next verse.
I wrote my blog about it.
So if you aren't on our church mailing list,
send us an email, get on our email list,
and you'll get the weekly blog.
And another thing called Growing in Grace,
which I write every week,
includes sort of some teaching on prayer,
some help with good attitudes that will help you in your life,
a memory verse for you to memorize.
So you'll get that if you sign up to the email,
or get on the email list.
And you'll hear about other things like the announcements and stuff.
But I'm not going to talk about this at all in the sermon.
I talk about it in the blog.
But I'll read it.
But above all, my brothers and sisters,
do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath,
but let your yes be yes and your no be no,
so that you may not fall under condemnation.
So what on earth is going on?
It seems to talk as if one day Jesus will return
and the whole world will know that Jesus has returned.
And doesn't that sound a bit kooky, George?
And it doesn't actually sound very appealing.
And you said that you actually think that
if you think about it a little bit more,
you're going to wish it was true,
even if you can't yet believe that it's true.
So what's going on?
And the reason this is such good news,
love wins.
Love wins.
You look at the world right now,
it definitely does not look as if love is winning.
In fact, if you look at most of history,
it doesn't look as if love wins.
In fact, maybe for many of you in your own life,
it definitely does not feel as if love is winning in your life.
In fact, it feels as if everything is winning except love.
But the thing which is so important about this text
is that love wins.
In fact, not only does love win,
love wins, life wins, goodness wins,
justice wins, love wins.
And in fact, if you think about it for a second,
if love wins but life doesn't win,
then how can you even say that love wins?
If love wins but justice doesn't win,
how can you say that love has won?
If justice wins but love doesn't win,
if justice wins but life doesn't win,
how can you say that either life has won?
Like what would it mean to say that life wins
if love and justice and goodness doesn't win?
That actually might be more like hell,
like a terrible version of this earth
where at least there's occasionally some goodness
and occasionally some justice
and occasionally some love along with life.
But this text is telling us in a very, very powerful way.
That's part of the importance of the doctrine
of the return of Jesus is that love wins.
And it's not just that love wins,
but love wins, life wins, goodness wins, justice wins,
and they win in such a way that each are at peace
and make each other whole.
They're whole in themselves,
and together they're even more whole.
That's what the Bible is teaching.
And only in the Gospels you get this taught about
in a very, very coherent way
that this is actually not just like a story of the tooth fairy.
It's not like the Easter bunny.
It's not like Santa Claus,
that this is real.
This is true.
This is something that you can stake your life on,
that you can base your life on,
that you can begin to look at the world
in light of the fact that this is true.
And why do we say that?
It's because of Jesus.
Only the Christian faith has a doctrine of God
that actually can make sense of love,
that from all eternity the Father has loved the Son
and the Son has loved the Father.
The Holy Spirit is both loving the Father
and loving the Son,
and is in fact almost the love itself
between himself, between the Father and the Son.
Every other God,
whether it's just that everything is God,
which has to include hatred,
it has to include evil,
and how can that be love?
And if God is everything,
that has to include the opposite of love.
And if there's only a singular God,
like the God of Islam,
then if there is any love in God,
then it meant he has need love.
And we all know if we meet somebody
who just seems to be really needy,
have this huge need love,
we stay away from them most of the time
because we don't want to get sucked
into this unending,
you know,
this unending need for love.
And that's what happens
if you only have a solitary God.
And yet,
what the Christian Bible teaches
and what Jesus has revealed
with absolute clarity
is that from all eternity
the Father has loved the Son,
the Son has loved the Father,
the Holy Spirit loves the Father
and the Son,
the Holy Spirit is love,
he is love.
And out of love,
Jesus sets aside God,
the Son of God,
sets aside his glory and prerogatives,
he takes on human flesh,
and out of love,
he lives amongst us
a fully human life,
out of love,
he dies on the cross for us,
out of love,
he takes upon himself
all of the shame,
all of the accusations
that can be against you,
in a sense,
all of the things
that make you anxious,
all of the things
that make you feel needy,
all of the things
that you are guilty about,
he takes them upon himself,
the demands that other people
make upon you
that you cannot pay,
he pays that demand,
he takes upon himself
that punishment,
he takes all there is to taste
out of death for you,
knowing that you cannot
taste all there is
to taste of death,
you cannot taste
God's judgment for yourself,
it will unmake you,
and so out of love for you,
and out of love for me,
he dies on the cross,
and out of love for you,
he exchanges his destiny
for your doom,
so that you are clothed
with his perfect ability
to love the Father,
and to love the Holy Spirit,
and to be loved,
and that becomes yours
in him when you put your faith
and trust in him,
and this same Jesus
who died
and tasted all there is
to taste of death,
who experiences God's judgment,
is the same one
who rises from the dead
and defeats death,
and he is the same one
who will return,
so when he returns,
who returns?
Love returns,
life returns,
goodness returns,
justice returns,
and they return to win,
the end of the story
is that love wins,
the end of the story,
life wins,
the end of the story,
justice wins,
goodness wins,
truth wins,
Jesus is the way,
the truth,
and the life,
and that who is returns,
and that is
the end of the story.
Now, some of you might say,
George,
it's very hard to look
at the world
and think that all of this
could come to an end.
In fact,
those of you
who might not know much,
our office is
in the Gay Village,
it's in Centre Town
of Ottawa,
and I was here
in the office yesterday
working on my sermon,
trying to get it
sort of finished,
and several times
I went out for a bit
of a walk
along Bank Street,
sometimes I get
sort of stuck,
and a walk really helps.
And I, you know,
I'm walking along,
and I realize
I'm going to be
talking about this,
and I realize,
you know,
it's hard,
it's just so easy
to see how people
have a hard time
believing in the
second coming of Jesus,
because it's hard
to walk down Bank Street,
and we're not far
from the Parliament
buildings,
and it's hard
to walk down
this street
and think that
this could all
come to an end.
In fact,
the matter is,
is that we do
think about it
coming to an end,
but when we think
about it coming
to an end
in our culture,
it's always the death
and evil winds.
I mean,
you go on Netflix,
you go on Amazon Prime,
you go on Apple TV,
probably go on Crave,
or all of those ones,
and you will effortlessly
find shows about
the end of the world.
You will effortlessly
see worlds,
movies or TV series
about asteroids
hitting the earth
or some ecological crisis
or,
I don't know,
some virus invented
in a lab somewhere
that gets unleashed
in the world
and ends up
killing everybody.
And in all of those cases,
there's evil
and there's death,
but it's very interesting,
even in the bleakest
of these movies,
none of them end
with just
the final parting scene
of everything dead.
It always ends
with a spaceship
and a couple
who are out,
who are going
with the hope
of some type
of future,
of a small number
of people
in Greenland
that survived
the asteroid hitting
so that there's
the beginning
of some type
of a rebuilding
of the earth
because there's
something about us
human beings
that it is essential
for us.
We cannot live
without hope
and that many
of us,
many of you,
we live in seasons
of despair,
we live in seasons
of hopelessness,
but we hope
against hope,
we hope against
appearances,
we long that there
be a return
to us of some
type of hope,
a hope that we
will be loved,
a hope that we
will be accepted,
a hope that there
can be a reunification
of our family
or of a righting
of wrongs
or of whatever
it is,
but we need hope.
And so even Hollywood
and all of its
bleakest and even
our best story writers
and poets and all
of their bleakest,
there has to be
some type of hope
at the end
because in our bones
we do not believe,
we don't,
you know,
science tells us
death is the end.
That's the scientific
truth.
Scientifically,
it will all end
in death.
But in our hearts
we know there must
be hope.
You see,
that's why I say
to you,
some of you might
say,
George,
I don't know
about the death
and resurrection
of Jesus
and I don't know
about his return
but I sure hope
that's true.
Because it would
sure be good
if in fact
our longing
for hope
and a longing
for truth
and goodness
and love
and life
and justice
and mercy
finally winning
that that's
actually true.
And that's in fact
what the gospel
proclaims
and that's in fact
the context
within which
the book of James
is talking about this.
in fact
if you think
about this
that what
the Bible
is saying
is because
Jesus lived
in history
and he didn't
just live
in history
and then die
in history
and rise
from dead
in history
but he died
in the context
of what our
Jewish friends
call the Tanakh
or the Torah
and we Christians
call the Old Testament
a series of 39 books
of unparalleled
wisdom
and insight
and beauty
an unparalleled
repository
and teaching
about justice
and how to treat people
and the dignity
of human beings
and the foundation
of human rights
all of that
is in this story
and it is in the context
of this story
that Jesus lives
that he dies
that he rises
and he will come again
and it is a deep story
not just in historical truth
but in the context
of deep and profound meaning
and a meaning
potentially
for you
so in light of that
let's look again
at what James
is saying to us
about how to live
wisely
how to live
the good life
the beautiful life
let's look again
let's go back
to verse 417
we'll go through
this very quickly
but let's look again
at chapter 4
verse 17
so whoever knows
the right thing to do
and fails to do it
for him
or for her
it is sin
so
just think about it
for a second
if it is the case
that love wins
if it in fact
is the case
that love wins
that the good life
the beautiful life
has to be more
than just
following rules
and not
breaking rules
you see
for so many things
for so many religions
so many spiritualities
it's all about
following certain rules
and keeping certain
types of rituals
but if we understand
that in fact
love wins
that we were made
for love
that the end
of our life
can be in fact
finally being
immersed
in love
and dwelling
in love
in an everlasting way
then we know
that this side
of the grave
the beautiful life
the good life
the loving life
is always going
to be more
than just
not breaking rules
because you see
that's exactly
how it is
it's not just
a matter of the fact
that the mom
goes out
throughout the day
and says
it's been a good day
I love my kids
I only slapped them
three times
or I didn't slap
them once
no
a good mom
a loving mom
she anticipates
their needs
she hugs them
and she helps them
they bake cookies
together
they do arts
and crafts
together
they go for walks
they look at nature
they do all of those
types of things
because love
is more than
just making sure
you don't break
certain rules
don't slap my kid
or something like that
when they haven't
done anything wrong
or don't slap my kid
period
or whatever
it's not just
I didn't break
any rules
it's no
love is more
and so that's why
this text is so important
it says that we can be
guilty of sins
of omission
and that these sins
of omission matter
in fact I would say
that three of the
big types of sins
that we are guilty of
of omission
is a failure
to be generous
a failure to forgive
and a failure
to love
a failure
to be generous
a failure
to forgive
and a failure
to love
and that in fact
points us right
to the very next text
it doesn't sort of
go so much about
the failure to love
in the next text
that's going to come up
in the one after that
but there's the failure
of generosity
let's look again
at chapter 5
verses 1 to 3
come now
you rich
weep and howl
for the miseries
that are coming upon you
the parousia
the coming of Jesus
that in this particular case
these particular rich people
the coming of Jesus
is going to lead
to them weeping
I'm going to talk about that
in a moment
it's going to lead to them
howling
for the miseries
that come upon you
verse 2
your riches have rotted
and your garments
are moth eaten
your gold and silver
have corroded
and their corrosion
will be evidence
against you
and will eat your flesh
like fire
you have laid up
treasure
in the last days
in other words
while the last days
are coming
you've been just
hoarding your treasures
what's being talked about
here is the sin
of omission
they've failed
to be generous
the text isn't saying
you see here's the importance
of understanding
the doctrine
of the second coming
if you read
the entire Bible
what does it say
about being in God's presence
in God's presence
there is a fullness
of joy
in God's presence
is an end
of our longings
and yearnings
there will be
a pleasure
that if we were
to experience
it right now
even the tiniest
reflection
or the shadow
of a reflection
if we were to
experience that
in its full heavenly
just that tint
of it
we'd explode
our heads
would explode
our bodies
would explode
in the new heaven
and the new earth
we will have
resurrection bodies
that are actually
fit to experience
a fullness of joy
a fullness of pleasure
so the Bible
isn't against
soft pillows
the Bible
isn't saying
that you should
have no luxury
in your life
because if it was
it would mean
that what Jesus
is coming to bring
makes absolutely
no sense
it would be contradictory
but what we see here
is a complete
and utter failure
of generosity
a complete
and utter failure
of generosity
you know
here's the thing
for us Canadians
I can tell you
this right now
there is always
good reasons
to not be generous
in fact
it would be
very very simple
you go to a coffee shop
I mean when we can
finally sit in them
or you go to a coffee shop
you stand outside
whether it's outside
of Bridgehead
Tim Hortons
or Starbucks
all of them
within a close walk
of here
and you get
talking to people
and you're saying
I was thinking
I'd given $100 away
every single one
of them
effortlessly
like that
can give you
10 reasons
why you shouldn't
be generous
and you could
probably generate
20 reasons yourself
why you shouldn't
be generous
there's always
good reasons
not to be generous
and the second thing
is there's never
enough money
to be generous
I mean you might
have a hard time
believing that
I mean how many
billions did the
gates have to have
before they could
be generous
I mean you know
and you have to
wonder
did they wonder
a little bit
about oh
can I really
be generous
I'd sure like
to hit that
70 billion mark
you know
but the fact
of the matter
is is that
for most of us
there's always
something else
that we could buy
that would really
make our lives
a little bit
more comfortable
or for those
of us who are
a bit more
careful about
the future
we could always
put a little
bit extra
in our TFSA
or a little
bit more
in our RRSP
or a little
bit more
in some type
of a really
healthy environment
and we can
always say
that when we
just hit this
level
then I'll be
generous
when I just
hit this
level
then I'll be
generous
when I just
hit this
level
then I'll be
generous
when I
and it just
it goes on
and on
surveys
regularly show
that no matter
what income
level you are
you think
that if you
could just have
five to ten
thousand dollars
more a year
life would be
just actually
begin to be
comfortable
and you can
think that at
forty at sixty
eighty a hundred
two hundred
thousand dollars
you still think
that you see
the fact the
matter is for
us as Canadians
this text here
is talking about
you and me
I mean here's
another thing
about us as
Canadians and
generosity
none of us
think we're
rich
but I can
I don't bet
but I'd bet
you a hundred
dollars
that for some
of us
if we were
just to all
of a sudden
show everybody
connected to
our congregation
what we make
after we've
said that we're
not rich
a big part
of us would
go oh yeah
that's so rich
you are so
rich
and we might
you know some
of us at the
lower end of the
spectrum are
going yeah yeah
yeah yeah
you think you're
not rich
whoa you are
rich like this
text is talking
about you
but the fact
of the matter
is I've been
to Africa
haven't been all
over the world
but I've been
to Africa
I've been
Angola
I've been
in Kenya
and let me
tell you
there is a
large section
of people
in Kenya
and Angola
that for
almost every
single one
of us
if they could
see the
houses we
have
the benefits
we have
the streets
that we live
in the cars
that we drive
the money
that we spend
the food
we can buy
they're going
to say
yeah yeah
you don't
think you're
rich
you're so
rich
and yet
there's always
a good reason
ever to be
generous
and there's
always
this feels
as if
there's never
enough money
to be
generous
and yet
we listen
to this
text
you see
love wins
Jesus will
return
and what
matters
well at the
end of the
day
the end
of the day
listen
none of us
can be
generous
enough
none of us
can out
give God
like none
of us can
I can't
and the fact
of the matter
is
I'll share
with you
this really
really fantastic
Bible text
for you know
the grace
of our Lord
if you want
to get it
later on
and memorize
it it's not
going to be
on your
screen
it's
2nd
Corinthians
8-9
2nd
Corinthians
8-9
for you
know
the grace
of our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
that though
he was
rich
yet for
your
sake
he
became
poor
so that
you
by his
poverty
might
become
rich
isn't that
a wonderful
text
help you
understand
the gospel
you know
it's partially
picturing that
if every
time you
break a
moral rule
against another
person
or break
a rule
do something
that damages
the creation
or do
something
that's against
God
in a sense
if you
could put
a monetary
value
to that
at some
point in
time
you
which is
by the way
a very
Canadian
thing
to think
about
you know
if there's
been injustice
in the past
let's give
money to it
right
we can all
relate to that
can't we
and so
if you
just think
about that
if every
time you've
done that
okay
I should
have cut
in
maybe
$100
will make
the person
feel not
mad at
me anymore
if I can
just
send it
to their
account
and I
butt in
line
I was rude
to the
barista
or inattentive
to my
wife
you know
ka-ching
and before
we know it
to our
horror
we might
think
I don't
know
if you
added up
all the
stuff
I had
to owe
and never
paid
I know
it's a
couple
hundred
thousand
dollars
or something
like that
you know
no big
deal
I'll get
to it
someday
but God
said
no no
those
ka-chings
buddy
you're
you know
you're
at the
ten billion
mark
right now
in terms
of your
debts
and so
what in a
sense
you see
in the
gospel
is this
idea
that Jesus
who is
completely
not really
rich
he becomes
poor
listen to it
again
for you know
the grace
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ
that though
he was
rich
yet for
your
sake
he became
poor
so that
you by
his
poverty
might become
rich
because you
see that's
the heart
of the
gospel
is that
not only
in a
sense
does
Jesus
pay off
all those
ka-chings
but then
he gives
you his
amex
card
he pays
off the
debt
and he
gives you
his
riches
and he
does it
why
because
you
only owe
ten
billion
dollars
rather than
the really
bad
person
down
the
street
who
owns
fourteen
billion
no
he does
it
because he
loves
you
he does
it
because he
loves
you
and he
knows you
can't pay
it back
that you
can never
pay it
don't even
talk about
paying it
forward
you can't
pay it
back
it's a
type of
arrogance
to think we
can live
our lives
paying forward
when we
can't even
pay it
back
Jesus
pays it
back
you see
as the
gospel grips
you
now here
just a bit
of a
time out
I'm
going to
talk for
those of
you who
are just
trying to
out by
Christianity
you know
whatever
time out
here
just a
note to
Christians
I mean
on one
level
every single
human being
is made
to be
generous
you know
we were
made to
be fruitful
and that
means to
be fruitful
that there's
lots to
give
and giving
is the
highest form
of living
that's
very very
true
but I'm
going to
talk now
specifically
for those
of us
who are
Christians
if you
aren't a
Christian
I want to
tell you
this right
now
I don't
want you
to ever
give us
a penny
at the end
of the
service
I'll say
it right
if you're
having a
hard time
with COVID-19
if there's
some way
we can
help you
let us
know
we will
do what
we can
to try
to help
you
but we'd
rather
you never
gave us
any money
why
because
Jesus
doesn't
care
about
your
money
he died
for
you
not
for
your
money
we just
want to
lift him
high
but for
Christians
there is
this very
very profound
call to
be generous
and that's
the sin
of omission
the Bible
isn't saying
you should
be miserable
in fact
a very good
Christian rule
of thumb
here I'm
talking to
Christians
is save
10%
because you
need to
prepare for
your retirement
for other
things so
your debt
doesn't
overwhelm you
and money
doesn't
overwhelm you
save 10%
give 10%
away
with the
other 80%
have fun
be moral
but have fun
if you like
a Harley
buy a Harley
you know
you like
fancy
sunglasses
buy the
fancy
sunglasses
save 10%
give 10%
and give
10%
means give
to the
local
church
where
Jesus
is
lifted
high
where
compassionate
work
for the
poor
can also
potentially
be done
where the
gospel
can be
spread
around
the
earth
give
to the
poor
but move
towards
tithing
is a rule
of thumb
because if
we say
how much
is generous
you know
that I'm
bringing
home
$10,000
a month
and I
give
25 cents
to the
bum
and
$2
to
Chio
when they
ask me
at
Costco
no
we need
a rule
of thumb
in the
Bible
the
tithe
is a
rule
of thumb
move
towards
tithing
move
towards
generosity
why
Jesus
we are
being
prepared
to spend
eternity
where we
will be
constantly
generous
and
constantly
overwhelmed
with the
generosity
of God
generosity
wins
some of
you might
say
George
why is
there
all
this
weeping
and all
that
doesn't
that seem
to go
against
what you
said
no
it doesn't
go against
it at
all
in fact
actually
here's
the big
problem
that most
most Canadians
don't realize
they have a
problem
when they
think about
these
things
you see
most Canadians
believe
I think
that it would
be really
good if
love won
that in fact
love is
very important
we'd all
easily sing
all you need
is love
love
all you
need
is love
it's a
very very
powerful
thing that
Canadians
intuitively
understand
but here's
the problem
that Canadians
don't understand
there's no
love without
freedom
there is no
love without
freedom
I mean
imagine
that one
of you
you have
your best
friend
and they
meet the
guy of
their dreams
but then a
week before
your best
friend is to
marry the
guy of her
dreams
you happen
to overhear a
conversation
and you
realize that
the only
reason the
guy is
marrying the
woman is
that there's
this rich
guy just
playing games
with the
guy's head
and he's
going to
give this
guy 10
million
to marry
the woman
he's not
loving her
because he
loves her
out of
freedom
he's in
fact just
using her
he's in
love with
money
and he's
just doing
this not
because he
loves the
woman but
just and
wouldn't you
instantly tell
your friend
I mean you'd
be heartbroken
you'd be both
furious
depending on
your temperament
you might want
to pound
the guy
and you'd
be crushed
and heartbroken
about revealing
it to your
best friend
but your
best friend
wouldn't marry
the person
unless they
did it in a
cynical way
to marry
them make
sure they
got the
money and
then divorce
them and
get half
of it or
something like
that but
you'd see that
the love
dies right
and so what
this is just
saying is it's
going back to
what we've talked
about in other
types of things
you know for us
human beings
I have to watch
my time we're
just going to
talk about the
injustice very
very briefly and
then one other
final thing but
see what it
is you know
there's I don't
know if it's
true or not but
there's an old
story about one
of the ways to
capture a monkey
was that you
you get a jar
a bottle and
you put a nut
in it and
the monkey can
get his hand
into the jar
to grab the
nut but the
monkey can't
get the hand
keep the
keep the nut
in its hand
and get his
hand out of the
jar and that's
how you can
capture a monkey
and that's the
fact of the matter
that's the profound
problem that we
Canadians have
we say listen
I'd love to
have love wins
but I can't
give up I
can't give up
I need to
have this money
I need to
have this
position I
need to have
this type of
sexual expression
or experience
I need to
have these
views on
politics I
need to have
these views on
race I need
to have this
type of a
feedback I
need to be
able to have
this wife or
control my
kids or do
this or that I
need them to
respect me and
I can't I
can't give
that up and
every single
person we can
weep and howl
because the fact
of the matter
is is that we
have our hands
on that nut
and the nut
might be money
the nut might
be our looks
it might be
power it might
be our time
it might be
control it
might it might
be autonomy
it might be
our own
definition of
ourselves but
we have our
hand on that
nut and we
will not let
that nut go
because at the
end of the day
we start to
believe that that
nut is more
important than
love winning
and let me
tell you this
friends I am
not saying that
I figured out
the secret to
let go of the
nut I don't
want you to
misunderstand me
I am just
like you I
could not give
up the nut
all you can do
is hear about
Jesus and say
Lord have mercy
upon me I
I want love
to win I
can't let go
of the nut I
can't let go
of the money
of the power
of the prestige
of being
Canadian of
of being anti
racist or being
racist or whatever
it is or just
whatever it is that
we cannot give
up Lord have
mercy on me and
that's the heart
of the gospel is
that Jesus takes
you with your
hands stuck in
these jars and
he takes you and
he wraps his arm
around you and
he says I will
take you unworthy
as you are and
the message of
the gospel is as
if we're gripped
by the gospel
that Jesus begins
to gently let us
let go of the
money or the
power of the
prestige
see that's why
it's so important
to be generous
just a couple of
minutes we just
need to figure out
because this last
part is really
important and it
leads to the
important end of
it let's just
finish off we're
not going to
finish all of it
but let's look at
verses four to
six where you can
see the nut here
as well but
chapter five verse
four behold the
wages of the
laborers who
mowed your fields
which you kept
back by fraud
are crying out
against you and
the cries of the
harvesters have
reached the ears
of the Lord of
hosts you have
lived on the
earth in luxury
and in self
indulgence you have
fattened your
hearts in the day
of slaughter you
have condemned and
murdered the
righteous person who
does not resist
you be patient
therefore brothers
and sisters until
the coming of the
Lord see how the
farmer waits for the
precious fruit of the
earth being patient
about it until it
receives the early
and the later
rains you also be
patient establish your
hearts for the
coming of the Lord
is at hand and
we'll just sort of
pause in our reading
here just a couple
of things to bring
it up to a to a
closing you see the
first thing is here
is just as I was
talking about when
money and power and
prestige start to rule
you and it doesn't
matter if you're
really really really
super rich if you're
you're sort of way
up I can't even point
high enough or if
you're here you're
here you're here
you're but you have
any as money and
power all those
things start to
control you there's
all sorts of ways
you'll cheat on your
taxes you know you
do little end runs
around this you do
something to argue
down the price of the
person who's you know
shoveled your snow
you look for different
ways to make a bit
more money to cut
people out of it and
this can just grow on
steroids as you get
richer and richer and
richer and the Bible can
condemn all injustice
and oppression and
fraud it condemns it
God opposes the proud
and one other thing is a
whole other sermon the
types of oppression in
here that is being
talked about that cannot
go on without social
political and cultural
and religious enabling
it cannot happen without
social cultural political
religious or spiritual
enabling and it's all
evil
so why is it then that
the Bible just seems to
go from that to just
saying being patient well
friends here's the thing
one of the great prayers
and those of those of you
who are watching it those
of us who have had
anything to do with a a
know that there's a very
very powerful Christian
prayer that many people
in AA have prayed and
this text perfectly shows
the wisdom of it and the
prayer goes something like
this Lord grant me the
courage to change what can
and should be changed the
patience to be steadfast under
those hard things that
cannot be changed and the
wisdom to know the
difference I'll say it
again Lord grant me the
courage the courage to
change what can and should
be changed the patience to
be steadfast under those
hard things that cannot be
changed and the wisdom to
know the difference see
that's actually the the
text is modeling this you
speak out against the evil
and the injustice you do
what you can about that but
there are some things you
can't change you just need
to endure I mean those of
us who've been in AA you
know there's these stresses
there's these anxieties maybe
there's the relationship
that you desire that you
could restore but it's now
too broken beyond it and
part of the wisdom of this
prayer is there's some
things you can only be
patient about maybe you can
just pray that there will
be peace to restore that
relationship or that there
will be a day when that
person will forgive you and
all you can do is pray and
be patient it's all you can
do but there are things you
can do and there are those
things you can do you got to
do them and gosh you need
Jesus's wisdom to know the
difference there's so many
things we can change that we
don't there's so many things
we're patient under that we
should seek to change we get
really confused about this
brothers and sisters we need
each other you need to have
mentors and small groups and
worshiping communities where
you can share your heart with
one another and share your
triumphs and share your
anxieties and pray into each
other and support each other and
as we pray this prayer lord
help us to understand those
things that should be changed
and can be changed help us to
be part of that change those
things that we just need to
live under and bear under with
patience lord grip us so greatly
with the truth of the gospel and
the truth that Jesus will return
that love wins that injustice
does not win death does not win
hatred does not win grant us
patience knowing that is the end
of the story and the end of my
story is not because I am so
perfect but because of what
Jesus has done for me that
Jesus says welcome friend welcome
brother welcome sister welcome
child and grant us the wisdom to
know the difference friends I'm
just going to end that sort of
I'll say that prayer and if you
haven't given your life to Jesus
there's no time better now than
just to say Jesus you know all
those things all those nuts in my
hand that so entrap me have mercy
upon me be my savior and my lord
never let me go and help me to
never turn back from having you as
my savior and lord let's pray
father we ask that the holy spirit
would fall with might and power and
deep conviction upon us father
first of all we ask that you would
grip us again with the gospel with
this wonderful truth that Jesus what
he did for us on the cross what he
offers to us in his grace and mercy
father fill us again with a great
sure and certain hope that Jesus
will return that there will be a new
heaven and a new earth that love
wins life wins goodness wins mercy
wins justice wins and father help us
to live our lives in light of the fact
that that is the true end of the
story and that through Jesus we can be
your child by adoption and grace and
live in that future and father in
light of that you know those nuts that
we have our hands on whether it's
around money or power or identity or
sexuality or whatever it is father
you know those things we ask that this
the gospel would so grip us and the
truth of his return would so grip us
that you begin to gently help us to
let our hands go of those things and
live lives of generosity of
forgiveness of compassion of mercy of
standing against injustice of offering
grace and all these things we ask in the
name of Jesus your son and our savior
amen