WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.919
 Heavenly Father, we love you and we need you.

00:00:03.140 --> 00:00:05.639
 We treasure you and we adore you.

00:00:05.820 --> 00:00:09.439
 This morning, Father, we've come to bring you true and honest worship,

00:00:09.939 --> 00:00:12.740
 to declare that you, God, are the one true God.

00:00:12.820 --> 00:00:14.439
 There's no one that compares with you.

00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:18.740
 You are the one cornerstone upon which we can build and bank our lives.

00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:22.900
 God, this morning, we don't just worship you because you do us good.

00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:27.379
 We worship you because you're true, because you're real, because you're glorious.

00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:29.140
 You're worthy of our worship, God.

00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:33.560
 And we find our fullest and our truest identity when we worship you.

00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:36.140
 God, you're glorious and you're good.

00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:39.000
 You are majestic and you are merciful, God.

00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:41.939
 And for that, we love and we surrender to you.

00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:44.939
 Christ, this morning, come and have your way in our hearts.

00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:48.659
 Come and be first and preeminent in our lives.

00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:54.560
 Father, why don't you come and give us faith and help us to surrender to you freshly this morning, we pray.

00:00:54.560 --> 00:01:00.280
 Father, we want to bring before you those in our midst that are going to be traveling to Turkey this week.

00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:08.200
 Chris and Fiona, Charlotte, Echo and her mom, Florence and Cynthia, Tiffany, Alex, Phoebe and Yidi.

00:01:08.780 --> 00:01:12.680
 And God, we do pray that you will firstly protect them and keep them safe, God.

00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:15.579
 We pray for the logistics of their travels, God.

00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:17.659
 That they won't miss flights, miss buses.

00:01:18.980 --> 00:01:21.379
 That, God, all the logistics will work out.

00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:22.379
 There will be no accidents.

00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:25.479
 Everyone will be kept healthy and safe, Lord.

00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:27.159
 Look after them, we pray, God.

00:01:27.979 --> 00:01:34.799
 Father, more than that, we pray that as they study your word and as they visit the historical sites of the New Testament,

00:01:34.939 --> 00:01:36.599
 God, we pray that your word will come alive.

00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:38.780
 We pray, God, you'll speak them powerfully.

00:01:38.919 --> 00:01:40.659
 We pray for each one going on the trip.

00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:43.179
 That your word, God, will go deep in their hearts.

00:01:43.179 --> 00:01:47.719
 And the wonder of who you are, God, will be made freshly known to them, Lord.

00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:52.840
 God, open the eyes of their heart as they travel around Turkey, God, and explore these sites.

00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:55.319
 God, may your word come alive, we pray.

00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.840
 God, be with Chris and Fiona as they lead this team.

00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:01.959
 And will you meet each person, we pray, Father.

00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:06.799
 Lord, this morning we also want to pray for sons and daughters, for Julie and the team there.

00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:09.199
 And thank you for the amazing work that they do.

00:02:09.460 --> 00:02:10.560
 Thank you for their courage.

00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:12.759
 Thank you for their perseverance, God.

00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:14.360
 Thank you for their steadfastness.

00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:18.360
 Lord, we do pray that you will continue to lead them and guide them, God.

00:02:18.420 --> 00:02:20.880
 And fill them with your Holy Spirit and strengthen them.

00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:26.720
 And, God, when they feel overwhelmed, when they feel exhausted, God, won't you lift their sights to you, God.

00:02:26.760 --> 00:02:29.280
 And remind them that you are with them, Lord.

00:02:29.760 --> 00:02:31.660
 We pray for each one of these ladies, God.

00:02:31.700 --> 00:02:35.460
 Those that have gone back to Uganda and those that are here in Hong Kong.

00:02:35.660 --> 00:02:37.200
 God, won't you draw near, Lord.

00:02:37.760 --> 00:02:41.100
 We pray again that your word will come alive, that you'll be speaking to them.

00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:44.419
 Oh, Jesus, come and have your way, we pray, Lord.

00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.620
 Won't you come and set these ladies free, Father God, from the exploitation, God.

00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:55.400
 Thank you for the people, sons and daughters, that are loving them and being so good, Lord God.

00:02:56.039 --> 00:03:00.539
 We do pray for you to continue to resource them, strengthen them.

00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:04.039
 Pray for Julie and her colleagues, God.

00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:08.799
 Pour your love into their hearts as they love these ladies, we pray, Father.

00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:08.920
 Father.

00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:15.060
 And then, Father, finally, we pray for this morning at Emmanuel Church, where Chris is preaching.

00:03:15.640 --> 00:03:17.240
 Father, won't you bless him abundantly?

00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:20.340
 Won't you bless Evangel as he pastors and leads that church?

00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:22.380
 Give him wisdom and insight.

00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:24.520
 And, God, we pray that he'll know your presence.

00:03:24.640 --> 00:03:25.740
 He'll know your spirit, Lord.

00:03:26.100 --> 00:03:31.480
 We pray, God, that more than just a pastor and a leader, that your word will speak to him personally, God.

00:03:31.480 --> 00:03:32.480
 That you will be his cornerstone.

00:03:33.160 --> 00:03:36.980
 And that he'll minister out of a place of sweet intimacy with you, God.

00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:40.679
 God, we pray for those that are members and not yet encountered you.

00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:44.500
 We pray that you'll cause them to have a life-changing encounter with the living God.

00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:47.179
 Pray the gospel will get deep into that church, Lord.

00:03:47.239 --> 00:03:52.319
 And we pray that each person will come to see and understand and believe and receive the gospel.

00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:54.280
 And that'll change their whole lives.

00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:58.780
 We pray for their witness in that area, God, to be clear and powerful.

00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:01.679
 Pray for their relationships to be shaped by the gospel.

00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:05.179
 Father, we pray all these things in your wonderful and your mighty name.

00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:07.260
 Amen. Amen.

00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:08.099
 Wonderful.

00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:10.840
 Guys, for those of you going to Turkey, have a wonderful trip.

00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.060
 And we look forward to hearing about it afterwards.

00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:16.079
 Gary, will you come and bring God's word to us this morning?

00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:21.280
 The scripture reading comes from Matthew, chapter 6.

00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:24.579
 Please follow along in your bulletins or on the screen.

00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:45.139
 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.

00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:50.439
 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.279
 The eye is the lamp of the body.

00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:57.500
 So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

00:04:57.860 --> 00:05:02.060
 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

00:05:02.919 --> 00:05:07.459
 If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness.

00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:10.759
 No one can serve two masters.

00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:19.199
 For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:23.180
 You cannot serve God and money.

00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:29.779
 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,

00:05:30.179 --> 00:05:32.560
 nor about your body, what you will put on.

00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:38.180
 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:40.319
 Look at the birds in the air.

00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:46.639
 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:49.939
 Are you not more value than they?

00:05:50.579 --> 00:05:56.899
 And which of you, being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life?

00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:59.660
 And why are you anxious about clothing?

00:05:59.660 --> 00:06:03.439
 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.

00:06:04.020 --> 00:06:05.800
 They neither toil nor spin.

00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:11.920
 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

00:06:12.580 --> 00:06:19.160
 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

00:06:19.780 --> 00:06:22.460
 will he not much more clothe you?

00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:25.060
 O you of little faith,

00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:28.160
 Therefore do not be anxious, saying,

00:06:28.379 --> 00:06:29.360
 What shall we eat?

00:06:29.579 --> 00:06:30.860
 Or what shall we drink?

00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:32.240
 Or what shall we wear?

00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:35.540
 For the Gentiles seek all of these things,

00:06:35.780 --> 00:06:39.420
 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:44.360
 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.720
 and all these things will be added to you.

00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:50.760
 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow,

00:06:51.260 --> 00:06:54.100
 for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

00:06:54.700 --> 00:06:57.420
 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

00:06:57.940 --> 00:07:00.980
 This is the word of God and his promises to us.

00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.220
 Gary, is this on?

00:07:05.760 --> 00:07:06.320
 Okay.

00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:11.579
 So just to let you know where we are at with our preaching,

00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.500
 in December last year we started preaching through Matthew's Gospel,

00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:18.620
 and we did Advent, and then we got to John the Baptist,

00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:20.699
 and then we got to the Sermon on the Mount,

00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:23.259
 and we've been working through the Sermon on the Mount,

00:07:23.719 --> 00:07:27.039
 and at various points when Jesus picks up on a theme,

00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.620
 which is really pertinent to us,

00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:30.159
 we've just paused on that theme.

00:07:30.159 --> 00:07:32.180
 And so about two months ago,

00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:34.759
 Jesus spoke about salt and light,

00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:37.500
 and we decided to pause there for a couple of weeks

00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:40.279
 and explore what does it mean to be missionaries into our city,

00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:41.800
 for Christ to send us out.

00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:43.959
 And then we went back to the Sermon on the Mount,

00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:44.599
 and we continued,

00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:47.339
 and then Jesus starts to speak about prayer,

00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:49.579
 and so we decided to pause for a couple of weeks

00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:50.879
 and consider prayer.

00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:54.120
 Why is it imperative that we must be a praying church?

00:07:54.719 --> 00:07:56.519
 Now we go back to the Sermon on the Mount,

00:07:57.039 --> 00:07:58.659
 and today we get to chapter 6,

00:07:58.659 --> 00:08:01.300
 and Jesus, in this very famous passage,

00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:02.579
 talks about money.

00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:05.139
 And seeing that money is such an important part

00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:06.319
 of so many of our lives,

00:08:06.359 --> 00:08:07.579
 and in the city of Hong Kong,

00:08:08.019 --> 00:08:10.159
 we're going to pause here again for a couple of weeks,

00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:13.579
 and just consider how Jesus' upside-down kingdom

00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:17.039
 speaks to this really important area of our lives.

00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:18.659
 And so for the next four or five weeks,

00:08:18.799 --> 00:08:21.060
 we're going to look at what Jesus has to say

00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:22.759
 about our financial lives.

00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:25.159
 And so let's dive straight into this scripture,

00:08:25.339 --> 00:08:26.539
 and work our way through it,

00:08:26.539 --> 00:08:28.180
 and see what Christ says to us this morning.

00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:31.699
 And so look at verse 19 and 20 with me.

00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:32.919
 Jesus says this.

00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:33.259
 He says,

00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:35.819
 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:37.759
 where moth and rust destroy,

00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.399
 where thieves break in and steal.

00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.100
 But lay up for yourselves rather treasures in heaven,

00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.439
 where neither moth nor rust destroy,

00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:46.899
 where thieves do not break in and steal.

00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:49.919
 Now, if you step back a little bit

00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.639
 and remove some of the kind of religious language,

00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:54.740
 what Jesus is saying here

00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:59.080
 is not very intellectual or philosophically deep.

00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:02.259
 It's pretty straightforward and sound financial advice, right?

00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:05.120
 Jesus is saying to them

00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.879
 that you've got these two investment vehicles.

00:09:08.020 --> 00:09:10.740
 One of them is high risk, very high risk,

00:09:10.900 --> 00:09:14.400
 and the returns on investment is pretty average.

00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:16.820
 The other one is very low risk

00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.280
 with great returns on investment, okay?

00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:21.440
 And so he says to us,

00:09:21.540 --> 00:09:23.280
 Which one do you want?

00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:25.060
 Now, just to understand,

00:09:25.059 --> 00:09:27.199
 when Jesus talks about heaven and earth here,

00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.500
 he's not talking about geographical spheres,

00:09:29.599 --> 00:09:32.219
 as if the material world is kind of bad

00:09:32.219 --> 00:09:35.719
 and the invisible city in the sky is somehow good.

00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:37.059
 When he talks about heaven,

00:09:37.119 --> 00:09:38.119
 he's talking about the place

00:09:38.119 --> 00:09:40.239
 where God's rule and reign is,

00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:41.539
 where Christ is king.

00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:42.839
 And he's talking about earth

00:09:42.839 --> 00:09:44.279
 is the place where God is absent.

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.159
 And so Jesus is saying,

00:09:46.239 --> 00:09:49.059
 you've got these two kind of investment vehicles,

00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:49.419
 in a sense.

00:09:49.479 --> 00:09:51.139
 How are you going to invest your life,

00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:52.199
 your one and only life?

00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:53.820
 How are you going to invest your financial life?

00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:55.180
 On the one hand,

00:09:55.540 --> 00:09:56.720
 you've got this one vehicle,

00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.360
 and it comes with high risk.

00:09:58.800 --> 00:10:01.040
 There's every possibility that you could lose it all.

00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:03.980
 And you could lose it through natural things,

00:10:04.140 --> 00:10:07.460
 like floods and freak accidents

00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:09.200
 and misfortune and disease,

00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:12.180
 or maybe even like stock market meltdowns

00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:13.640
 or sentiment, that kind of thing.

00:10:13.900 --> 00:10:17.960
 Or you can lose it through wickedness and evil, greed,

00:10:18.420 --> 00:10:19.759
 someone stealing it from you.

00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:22.720
 But either way, it's very risky.

00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:25.500
 And even if you do survive the risk,

00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:27.620
 the return is pretty short-lived.

00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:29.879
 The maximum return that you're going to get

00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:31.620
 on this investment is your lifetime.

00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.919
 There comes a day when that return

00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:34.919
 is going to be exhausted,

00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.500
 and it comes to the end.

00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:38.220
 Now, of course,

00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:40.939
 the upside of this short-term investment

00:10:40.939 --> 00:10:43.080
 is that the returns are immediate.

00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:44.500
 They are tangible.

00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:46.240
 There's a sense that you can see them

00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.720
 right here and now, right?

00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.360
 You can check on your phone the stock price

00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:53.519
 or your share portfolio or that car.

00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.660
 You can actually feel it.

00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:55.420
 So in a sense,

00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.580
 the upside is that the return is tangible

00:10:57.580 --> 00:10:59.000
 and right in front of you.

00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:01.240
 Contrast that, says Jesus,

00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:03.779
 with this other kind of investment vehicle,

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.379
 if you were.

00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:07.879
 And it's admittedly harder to see.

00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:09.740
 It takes longer to see the fruit of it.

00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:11.700
 It requires more patience, more trust.

00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:14.820
 But it has almost zero risk.

00:11:15.400 --> 00:11:16.220
 And the return,

00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.620
 while it might take longer,

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.440
 is never-ending.

00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:21.420
 You're never, ever going to get

00:11:21.420 --> 00:11:22.360
 to the end of it.

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:24.460
 And so imagine this.

00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:25.420
 Imagine you have,

00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:27.360
 maybe before I go there,

00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.759
 these two investment vehicles,

00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:32.720
 I remember in South Africa a few years ago,

00:11:33.280 --> 00:11:34.560
 I think four or five years ago,

00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:37.060
 we had a president that was corrupt,

00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:38.640
 very corrupt to say the least.

00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:42.000
 And he had orchestrated that all his players

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.679
 were in the key kind of positions of government.

00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:48.639
 And he was organizing all these deals on the side

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.500
 to steal hundreds of millions of dollars.

00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:51.980
 But there was one person

00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:53.259
 that wouldn't do his bidding,

00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:54.699
 and that was the finance minister.

00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:55.740
 And so, you know,

00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:57.779
 he had deals with the airlines

00:11:57.779 --> 00:12:00.019
 and the freight agency

00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:02.340
 and the coal miners and everyone,

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:03.639
 but the finance minister

00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:04.740
 wouldn't do what he wanted.

00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:07.279
 And he was holding up all these deals

00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:08.519
 that this president had cut.

00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.379
 And so one Friday afternoon,

00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:12.439
 the president fires the finance minister

00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:15.039
 and appoints some backbencher

00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.819
 that kind of nobody's heard of.

00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:18.879
 The guy doesn't even have an economics degree.

00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:22.179
 He's just a pawn to do his bidding, right?

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:25.439
 And over that weekend,

00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:28.840
 the stock market just fell into freefall,

00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:31.139
 and people lost up to 30%

00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.879
 of their entire wealth in one weekend.

00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.819
 15 years of savings in one weekend

00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:39.940
 was just evaporated and wiped off

00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:41.200
 people's balance sheets.

00:12:41.900 --> 00:12:43.020
 And that's what Jesus is saying.

00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.600
 You can go there,

00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:46.480
 but there's extremely high risk.

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:47.960
 It's extremely volatile.

00:12:48.780 --> 00:12:51.040
 And so he says you've got these two options.

00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:53.700
 Now, imagine you inherit $100 million.

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.080
 You've got a wealthy uncle,

00:12:55.560 --> 00:12:57.780
 and he leaves $100 million to you,

00:12:57.780 --> 00:12:59.900
 and you go to your financial advisor,

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:00.360
 and you say,

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.180
 what should I do?

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.899
 And your financial advisor says to you,

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:04.460
 she says,

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:06.480
 well, I've got these two options for you.

00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:08.039
 One is very high risk

00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:11.080
 and average returns,

00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:11.899
 but it is immediate.

00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:14.779
 The other one is extremely low risk

00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:16.980
 and very long-term returns.

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.580
 Which one should I choose?

00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.279
 Well, you don't need a PhD in finance

00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:23.080
 to know which is the good choice, right?

00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:25.139
 It's pretty straightforward.

00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:27.659
 And that's what Jesus is saying here.

00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:29.039
 All of us are economic beings.

00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:30.399
 We live in an economic world,

00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.399
 and Hong Kong in particular

00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:33.279
 is a highly charged economic city.

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:35.039
 And Jesus is inviting us

00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.339
 to be wise stewards of our lives

00:13:37.339 --> 00:13:39.039
 and also our economic lives,

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.039
 our financial lives.

00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:42.139
 Now, that's all very straightforward,

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.839
 but here's the tricky part.

00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.279
 The tricky thing is,

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.639
 why don't we do that?

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.139
 In other words,

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:51.439
 if you look at it black and white on paper,

00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.620
 one looks far more logical

00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:55.000
 and rational than the other,

00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.600
 and yet most of us,

00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.559
 and myself included,

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.740
 find ourselves being drawn

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.399
 towards this one,

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.339
 the immediate return,

00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:05.240
 even though it's far more risky and volatile.

00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:06.579
 Why is that?

00:14:06.839 --> 00:14:08.279
 That doesn't make rational sense.

00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:09.899
 And the reason is,

00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.439
 because as Jesus will tell us

00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:13.079
 again and again and again,

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.919
 that actually our lives

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:16.259
 are far more controlled,

00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:18.299
 not so much by the rationality

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.579
 of our minds or logic,

00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:21.459
 but actually by the condition of our hearts.

00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:24.120
 Remember Jesus constantly speaking about,

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.759
 what's the condition of your heart?

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.679
 Because the condition of your heart

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.740
 determines your behavior,

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.600
 your decisions,

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.319
 your outflow.

00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.379
 The Bible again and again is saying,

00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.819
 watch how your heart is,

00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:36.879
 because out of the outflow of your heart,

00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:38.019
 everything flows.

00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:39.419
 That's why Proverbs says,

00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:40.559
 above all else,

00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.799
 above everything else,

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.819
 guard your heart,

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:45.120
 because your heart controls your decisions

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:45.879
 and your behavior

00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:47.940
 and the way that you go about your life.

00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.760
 And so look at what Jesus says here

00:14:50.760 --> 00:14:51.520
 in verse 21.

00:14:51.680 --> 00:14:52.020
 He says,

00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.300
 where your treasure is,

00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:55.120
 there your heart will be also.

00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:57.000
 And that's the challenge, right?

00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:59.840
 Put it in black and white in front of us,

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:01.200
 it's easy to make the choice.

00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:03.020
 But in the day-to-day decisions

00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:04.180
 and the trenches of life,

00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:06.240
 we're often guided far more

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.740
 by what our hearts desire,

00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:10.159
 by what our hearts want to believe is true,

00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:13.960
 by what our hearts treasure,

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:16.600
 than by mere logic and rationality.

00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:17.840
 And in many ways,

00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.940
 that's the key word.

00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.580
 The key word is treasure.

00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.820
 What is it that's caught

00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:24.240
 the imaginations of our hearts?

00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:26.220
 What is it that our hearts long after

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.360
 or treasure?

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.680
 Chris was telling me this week,

00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:30.620
 I haven't seen the movie,

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:32.279
 but he just told me the scene

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.120
 and it painted such a vivid picture

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.440
 that I could immediately see

00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:37.340
 what he was talking about.

00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:39.200
 But apparently in the movie The Hobbit,

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.100
 in one of the movies,

00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:43.519
 there's this guy that stumbles across

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.960
 lots of gold and treasure.

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.560
 All the students are laughing.

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.500
 You guys like The Hobbit, evidently.

00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.500
 Anyway, so some guy stumbles across

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.460
 all this treasure

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:55.639
 and he falls in love with this treasure.

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.419
 He must have this treasure.

00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:00.039
 And so he pulls it all up

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:01.559
 and he gets it into a treasure box

00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:03.919
 and he's hoarding his treasure.

00:16:04.599 --> 00:16:06.299
 But the city in which he lives

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.939
 is about to get destroyed.

00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.279
 And so there's a ship that's leaving

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.919
 and he's got to get onto the ship.

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.139
 And he's got his treasure box

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.059
 and he's making his way

00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:18.959
 through the crowds towards the ship.

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.459
 And while he's doing that,

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.959
 they're starting to untie the ropes on the ship

00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:24.819
 and to pull up the gangplank.

00:16:25.439 --> 00:16:26.819
 And so while he's making his way

00:16:26.819 --> 00:16:28.279
 towards the ship,

00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.559
 one or two gold coins fall along the way

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.319
 and he kind of stops

00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:32.899
 and he picks up his gold coin

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.939
 and he carries on

00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.759
 and then another one drops

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.240
 and he stops to pick it up

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.339
 and he puts down the treasure

00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.059
 and he picks up

00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:38.899
 and he's going.

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:40.100
 And as he's going,

00:16:40.439 --> 00:16:41.279
 you know what's happening.

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.639
 The ship is starting to

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.100
 more and more,

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.679
 you know,

00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.659
 get ready to leave.

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.220
 And he can see it happening

00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:49.100
 and everything logical says,

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.919
 just leave the two gold coins.

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.740
 You've got a whole box

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.759
 full of treasure, right?

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:54.039
 Just get on the ship.

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.139
 But there's something alluring

00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.079
 about that treasure.

00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:59.459
 He can't leave even two coins behind.

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.740
 And so eventually the ship sails off

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.519
 and he's standing at the end of the,

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.159
 you know,

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.720
 wherever ships sail from

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.519
 with this treasure box,

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.799
 but it's all in vain

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:14.319
 because the ship has gone without him.

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.779
 And in many ways,

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:17.339
 that's what it's like.

00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:19.619
 Money has this way of,

00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:21.659
 this allure that draws us in

00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:23.039
 that helps us

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:25.199
 or stops us making rational decisions

00:17:25.199 --> 00:17:27.439
 because our hearts get enamored

00:17:27.439 --> 00:17:28.259
 with the treasure

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.359
 of what it promises.

00:17:29.979 --> 00:17:30.539
 In some ways,

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.859
 it's like those of us

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.079
 that struggle with an addiction.

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.599
 If you speak to someone

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.639
 who struggles with an addiction

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.359
 when they sober

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.319
 or they're not in the grips

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:37.899
 of the addiction,

00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:39.439
 the rational logics

00:17:39.439 --> 00:17:40.439
 make complete sense.

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.459
 They'll agree with you.

00:17:41.479 --> 00:17:41.959
 Yeah, you're right.

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.899
 This thing is dangerous.

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.619
 It's killing me.

00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:45.000
 It's destroying my relationships.

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.099
 But in the midst of that addiction,

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.099
 it's not rationality and logic

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:50.839
 there's some other power

00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.599
 that's at work

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.079
 pulling them towards

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.319
 that hold in their life.

00:17:55.699 --> 00:17:57.240
 And that's what Jesus is saying here.

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.259
 He's showing us

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.519
 that there's two different ways

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.619
 to approach our money.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.439
 But then he's saying

00:18:01.439 --> 00:18:02.599
 that what determines

00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:04.219
 whether we are financially wise

00:18:04.219 --> 00:18:05.399
 or financially foolish

00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:07.480
 is actually not based

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.799
 on our level of education

00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.159
 or our expertise.

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.399
 It's not how good you are at budgeting

00:18:12.399 --> 00:18:14.059
 or how good you are at investing.

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.579
 Actually, what determines

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:17.059
 whether we are financially wise

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.279
 or financially foolish

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:20.000
 is the condition of our hearts.

00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.940
 The condition of our hearts.

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.420
 And so the question is

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.240
 how do you know

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.259
 where your heart is?

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.399
 How do you know

00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:27.500
 what your heart treasures?

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.559
 Well, I guess one way to know

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:30.359
 is to ask ourselves

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:32.339
 what have we spent money on recently?

00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:34.099
 What's taken a large share

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:35.359
 of our financial decisions?

00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:37.480
 But another way Jesus tells us

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.759
 to know where our hearts are

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:40.460
 is to look at our eyes.

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.879
 To look at our eyes.

00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:43.000
 Now, what do I mean by that?

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.519
 Well, look at verse 22 with me.

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.000
 Jesus says,

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:48.400
 The eye is the lamp of the body.

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:50.480
 So if your eye is healthy,

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.200
 your whole body will be full of light.

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:54.519
 If your eye is bad or unhealthy,

00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:56.259
 your whole body will be full of darkness.

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.000
 If then the light within you is darkness,

00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:01.039
 how great is your darkness?

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.379
 Now, what's Jesus talking about?

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:05.720
 This eye lamp kind of business.

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.759
 What's he going on about?

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.240
 Well, Jesus is saying

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.960
 that the eyes of our hearts

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.200
 are like windows

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.279
 that let the light in

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.799
 and shape the condition

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.240
 of our hearts and our souls.

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.360
 So maybe picture this.

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:20.120
 Picture an olden day lamp, right?

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.220
 You've got this,

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.480
 you light a candle,

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.819
 you put it in this old lamp

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.500
 and then you've got the glass around it

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:27.100
 that stops the wind from blowing it out.

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:29.039
 And you're walking through the streets.

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:31.279
 And the condition of that glass,

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.039
 that lamp,

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.259
 is going to shape

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:35.519
 how powerful or strong that light is.

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:37.740
 If the glass is clean and clear,

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:39.279
 the light is going to shine

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:41.299
 and you're going to see the room where you are

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.460
 or as you walk the streets,

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.960
 you're going to know which way to go.

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.259
 The light is going to stop you

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.480
 falling into a ditch

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.480
 or losing your way

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.680
 or getting lost.

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:51.000
 But if the glass is covered

00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.839
 or it's muddy

00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.660
 or it's dirty

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.660
 or it's not clear

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.960
 or it's discolored,

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.759
 the light can't get out

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:58.079
 and you're going to hold that lamp

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.680
 in front of you

00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:00.279
 but you might stumble and fall

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.440
 or lose your way.

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:03.139
 And Jesus is saying,

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.480
 in many ways,

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.019
 so does with the eyes of our hearts.

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.720
 If the things we treasure,

00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:08.960
 if the things that have captured

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.819
 our imagination,

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.559
 if the things that the eyes of our hearts

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:13.240
 look to with longing

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.920
 and with inordinate desire,

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.579
 those things that we look at

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:17.860
 and say,

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.160
 that will make me safe,

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.920
 that will keep me secure,

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.519
 that will make me happy

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.180
 or fulfilled,

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:25.039
 those things actually shape

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.420
 how much almost light

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:28.140
 our souls get to experience.

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.480
 They get to shape our hearts.

00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:30.880
 And so how do we know

00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.460
 whether our hearts

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.620
 are going to be healthy or not?

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.000
 Well, what's captured the eyes

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.059
 of our hearts' imagination?

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.799
 What are the things we look to

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.779
 for longing

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:40.119
 or with desire?

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.579
 What's captured our imaginations?

00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.639
 And Jesus says,

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.539
 if the light,

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:46.079
 if your eyes are healthy

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.259
 and the word healthy there,

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.159
 it's actually got to play in words.

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.960
 In some contexts,

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.740
 it means generous.

00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.339
 In other words,

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.879
 if the eyes of your heart

00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:54.139
 are outward looking,

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.559
 not inward looking,

00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.379
 not hoarding,

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.940
 not how much can I have,

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.200
 if the eyes of your heart

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.000
 are generous,

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.399
 actually that's going to make

00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:02.399
 your heart light.

00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:02.899
 It's going to,

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.119
 the light of God

00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.079
 is going to shine in your soul.

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.639
 But the word healthy there

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:08.419
 can also mean single-minded,

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.559
 complete,

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:11.039
 as opposed to divided

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.019
 or double-minded.

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.299
 And so Jesus is saying,

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.399
 if the eyes of your heart

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.339
 are not focused

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.659
 on two different goals,

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.859
 but they're single-minded

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.460
 in their devotion,

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.379
 there's one thing

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.279
 that has captured them

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.439
 above all else,

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.419
 actually you're going

00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.500
 to be a wise person.

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.619
 It's like your heart

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.059
 is going to have

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:26.279
 the light shining on them.

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:26.819
 You're going to know

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.659
 which way to walk.

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.139
 You're going to make

00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:29.119
 wise decisions,

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.439
 as opposed to being

00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:31.319
 double-minded,

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.339
 trying to focus on

00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:34.059
 serving God in one sense,

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.819
 but then there's

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.899
 this other pull on you,

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.639
 which is also you're

00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:37.579
 trying to serve that God

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.419
 at the same time.

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.379
 Jesus says,

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.440
 if the eye is healthy,

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.679
 if it's single-minded,

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.279
 it'll be like the light

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.899
 inside of you

00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:44.919
 is shining brightly.

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.220
 And so look at

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.159
 what Jesus says

00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:47.960
 in verse 24.

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.000
 He says,

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.159
 going on about this,

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.500
 he says,

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.159
 therefore,

00:21:51.399 --> 00:21:52.299
 no one can serve

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.899
 two masters.

00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:54.579
 Either he'll hate the one

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.460
 and love the other,

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.000
 or he'll be devoted

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.659
 to this one

00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:58.700
 and despise that one.

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.639
 You cannot serve

00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:01.240
 both God and money.

00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:02.640
 And Jesus is saying

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.579
 that in the end,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.299
 if we're double-minded,

00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.339
 one of them

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.319
 is going to have to win.

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.319
 One of them

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.920
 is going to have to

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.240
 give way to the other one.

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.680
 Now the question is,

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.620
 which one is going to win?

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.599
 And the answer is,

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.980
 which one our heart treasures?

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:18.640
 Which one our heart treasures?

00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.240
 Friends,

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.319
 maybe I can ask us

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.980
 this question,

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.880
 or I think Jesus

00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.059
 would ask us this question.

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.740
 What is our heart

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.220
 treasuring?

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.039
 What's captured

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.660
 the imagination

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.600
 of our hearts?

00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.240
 What do our hearts

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.299
 look at and think,

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.160
 if I only had that thing,

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.700
 it would make me safe,

00:22:36.360 --> 00:22:36.819
 secure,

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.079
 fulfilled,

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.380
 happy.

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.700
 It would give me meaning

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.900
 and purpose in life.

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.059
 And so,

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.440
 look at what Jesus says here.

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:44.860
 He says,

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.380
 the thing that we look at

00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:46.980
 with longing

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.200
 or inordinate desire,

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.180
 it's not just your treasure,

00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:51.120
 it actually becomes

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.779
 your master.

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.519
 And what he means by that

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.740
 is it starts to call

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.819
 the shots in your life.

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.019
 It actually starts

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.759
 to dictate

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.879
 which way you go.

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.839
 It starts to shape

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.439
 your decisions.

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.379
 In a way,

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.419
 we think we're making

00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:03.019
 the decisions,

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.139
 but there's this master

00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.379
 that's pulling the strings

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.839
 that's actually shaping

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.460
 the decisions

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:09.079
 that we make in our life.

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.339
 How wise we are

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.319
 or how foolish we are,

00:23:11.399 --> 00:23:12.539
 what voice we listen to,

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.159
 and ultimately,

00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.059
 the way that we actually

00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.899
 spend our lives.

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:17.740
 And that's why,

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.079
 friends,

00:23:18.179 --> 00:23:19.460
 Jesus is so radical

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.399
 when it comes to money.

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.200
 You know,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.779
 Jesus makes some radical claims

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.740
 when he talks about money.

00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.179
 He says,

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.439
 in Luke chapter 12,

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.480
 I think Oscar's speaking

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.279
 on this next week,

00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.000
 he says,

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.820
 watch out,

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.600
 be on your guard.

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:33.080
 Watch out for what money

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:33.820
 will do to you.

00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.500
 Be on your guard

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.880
 against all kinds of greed.

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.019
 Now it's amazing,

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.240
 Jesus never says that

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.539
 about other kind of sins.

00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.200
 He never says,

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.460
 you know,

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.799
 watch out in case

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.580
 you find yourself

00:23:42.580 --> 00:23:43.259
 in adultery.

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.460
 Why?

00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.360
 He doesn't have to,

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:45.600
 right?

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.799
 If you find yourself

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.259
 in adultery,

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.340
 you generally know

00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:49.620
 that you're in adultery.

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.460
 Nobody wakes up

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.740
 and says,

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.120
 hang on,

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.900
 I think this is adultery.

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:53.960
 Not sure,

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.779
 but I think so.

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:58.660
 But money has another power over us.

00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.579
 Greed has a way

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.759
 of getting into our hearts

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.720
 and blinding us

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.420
 to the reality.

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.539
 And so Jesus says,

00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.220
 watch out,

00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:06.220
 be careful.

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.360
 Jesus is radical

00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.900
 when he talks about it.

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.100
 And the reason is

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:11.160
 because money is a way

00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:12.299
 of blinding us,

00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:12.920
 of helping us

00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.759
 not even see

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.720
 what a grip it's got

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.519
 on our lives.

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.740
 You know,

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.379
 a few years ago,

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.220
 The Economist

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.359
 ran a poll.

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.940
 And in this poll,

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.139
 they asked the question,

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:25.720
 what is the most grievous sin

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.900
 that our culture

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:28.000
 is guilty of?

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.579
 Of the seven deadly sins,

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.660
 what is the most deadly

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.200
 of the seven deadly sins?

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.799
 And all the respondents

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.440
 came back,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.599
 and the number one

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.680
 most deadly sin

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.700
 was greed.

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.240
 In the Western world,

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.039
 Western culture,

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.160
 everyone said greed

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.639
 is the thing

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:44.440
 that we are most susceptible to.

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.379
 And there was another

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.580
 poll at the same time

00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.740
 pretty much agreeing,

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.960
 saying the same thing,

00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:50.140
 that the biggest problem

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:50.720
 in our culture

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.560
 is materialism and greed.

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:53.740
 Well,

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.280
 a few months later,

00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.780
 the BBC in England

00:24:56.780 --> 00:24:57.840
 ran a poll

00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:59.080
 on the seven deadly sins.

00:24:59.520 --> 00:25:00.320
 And one of the questions

00:25:00.320 --> 00:25:00.980
 they asked is,

00:25:01.300 --> 00:25:02.200
 which of these sins

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.600
 are you least guilty of?

00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.040
 And you can imagine

00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:06.200
 how it goes.

00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.400
 The one sin

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.580
 that everybody agreed

00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:09.880
 they are least guilty of

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.580
 is greed.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.000
 In other words,

00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.180
 it's the biggest problem

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.480
 that everybody out there

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.440
 is struggling with.

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.160
 They need to sort out greed,

00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.200
 but I'm fine.

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.319
 I'm fine.

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.640
 You see,

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.240
 money is a way

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.339
 of blinding us.

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.660
 It gets inside

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.519
 of our hearts,

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.779
 but it also blinds us

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.259
 to the reality of that.

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:28.400
 Friends,

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.180
 that's the danger.

00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.440
 What your heart treasures

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.380
 will own you.

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.660
 It will master you.

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.779
 It will promise you

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.200
 the world.

00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.319
 It will end up

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.420
 making demands of you.

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.519
 And in the end,

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:37.960
 it will become

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.960
 a slave driver

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.240
 that you can never satisfy.

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.940
 And that's why

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.480
 a Christian,

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.680
 someone who comes to know

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.859
 and understand the gospel,

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.200
 someone who's applied

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.140
 the gospel to their lives

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.519
 is constantly preaching

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.640
 the gospel to themselves.

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.380
 Saying,

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.279
 oh my soul,

00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.120
 do not hope

00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:53.400
 in the materialism around me.

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.700
 Trust in God.

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.019
 Trust in God.

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.779
 There's an amazing prayer

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.599
 that a man from

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.940
 a couple of hundred years ago

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.279
 wrote,

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.019
 and I've been praying

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.519
 this prayer

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.400
 over my own heart

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.319
 the last few months,

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.259
 and this is how it goes.

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:04.980
 He says this,

00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:30.180
 Now,

00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:31.519
 in the final section

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.660
 of our passage today,

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.160
 Jesus speaks

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.560
 to the most alluring

00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:37.180
 and the most appealing thing

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.640
 about that money promises.

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.779
 It's the thing

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.660
 which most often

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.600
 captures the eyes

00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:42.200
 of our hearts

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:42.820
 and the reason

00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.300
 why money

00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:44.400
 has such a powerful

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.180
 pull on us.

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.340
 And to be honest,

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.580
 I feel this pull

00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:48.300
 all the time.

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.519
 And so let's look

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.380
 at what Jesus says

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:51.420
 in verse 25.

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.540
 He says this,

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.759
 Therefore I tell you,

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.860
 do not be anxious

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.920
 about your life,

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.220
 what you will eat,

00:26:57.300 --> 00:26:58.080
 what you will drink,

00:26:58.320 --> 00:26:59.240
 or about your body,

00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.440
 what clothes you will put on.

00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:02.100
 Isn't life more than food

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.579
 and the body

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.459
 is more than clothing?

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.299
 Look at the birds of the air.

00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.099
 They don't sow

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.699
 or reap

00:27:06.699 --> 00:27:08.839
 or trade on the stock market.

00:27:08.959 --> 00:27:09.539
 They don't gather

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.179
 into barns

00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:10.959
 and yet your father,

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.779
 he feeds them.

00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.639
 Are you not more valuable

00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.279
 than they are?

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.359
 For which of you

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.980
 being anxious

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.500
 can add a single hour

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.480
 to his life?

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.299
 Verse 31,

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.480
 Therefore I tell you,

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.439
 don't be anxious.

00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.519
 Don't wonder,

00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:23.519
 what shall we eat?

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.659
 How shall we drink?

00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.059
 What clothes shall we wear?

00:27:26.459 --> 00:27:27.859
 For even the Gentiles

00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:29.000
 seek after these things

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.039
 and your father knows

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.839
 that you need them.

00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:32.480
 Seek first his kingdom

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.799
 and his righteousness

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.759
 and all these things,

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.839
 he'll take care of you.

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:36.639
 Therefore,

00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:38.059
 do not be anxious

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.959
 about tomorrow.

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.099
 Now,

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.519
 in this final section,

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.379
 Jesus speaks

00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.579
 to the most alluring

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.799
 and appealing thing

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.299
 about money.

00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:45.980
 It's the thing

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.220
 that money promises us

00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.339
 and that is that

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:49.519
 the more money we have,

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.379
 the more safe

00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.099
 and secure

00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:52.379
 our lives will be.

00:27:53.179 --> 00:27:54.899
 But it's a promise

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:56.379
 that money promises

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.259
 to keep us safe

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.279
 from our fears

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:58.799
 and secure

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.539
 from our worries

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.460
 and our anxieties.

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:01.779
 And yet,

00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:03.559
 is that really the case?

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.379
 Can it really deliver

00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:06.119
 what it promises?

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:08.700
 I remember about 12 years ago,

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.639
 I was living,

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.500
 no,

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.899
 even more,

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.660
 15 years ago,

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.700
 I was living in Johannesburg

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.960
 and a bunch of us

00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.599
 were driving

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.579
 from Johannesburg,

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.059
 South Africa,

00:28:16.139 --> 00:28:16.899
 up to Malawi.

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.660
 And you have to drive

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.460
 through Zimbabwe,

00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.379
 through Mozambique,

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.119
 into Malawi.

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.099
 It's a two-day trip

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.119
 and we were doing

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.980
 an outreach there.

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:25.219
 And so we get to Zimbabwe

00:28:25.219 --> 00:28:26.240
 and at the border

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.119
 we change money

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:29.379
 and it's about 25 Zimbabwean dollars

00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:31.719
 to one South African rand.

00:28:32.219 --> 00:28:33.559
 And we travel through

00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:35.439
 and get into Mozambique,

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.099
 into Malawi.

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.719
 We spend 10 days in Malawi

00:28:37.719 --> 00:28:39.119
 and then we drive back down.

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.779
 And on the way back,

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.919
 we get to the border

00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:45.219
 and it's now 100 Zimbabwe dollars

00:28:45.219 --> 00:28:46.480
 to the South African rand.

00:28:46.959 --> 00:28:47.839
 In 10 days,

00:28:48.219 --> 00:28:49.959
 from 25 dollars to the rand

00:28:49.959 --> 00:28:50.519
 to 100.

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:53.900
 Lost 75% of its value.

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.319
 A few years later,

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:57.200
 Zimbabwe went through hyperinflation

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.299
 and at its highest,

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.279
 listen to this,

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.859
 Zimbabwe's inflation

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:05.039
 was 180 billion percent per annum.

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.379
 180 billion percent.

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.759
 Every day,

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.740
 your money was becoming

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.599
 more and more worthless.

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.759
 Entire life savings

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.839
 was becoming worthless

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.859
 by the hour.

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.119
 Money makes a promise

00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.400
 that will keep you safe

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:18.980
 and secure

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.240
 or provide for your needs.

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.460
 But can it?

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.299
 Can it really deliver?

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.500
 A number of years ago,

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.599
 there was a study published

00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:28.639
 in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.559
 And in the study,

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.559
 they asked people

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.599
 that had inherited

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:34.279
 millions and millions of dollars,

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.660
 how much money

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.639
 do you need

00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:38.440
 to feel safe?

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:40.500
 people that inherited

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.500
 from 10 millions

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.600
 up to hundreds of millions

00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.059
 of dollars.

00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.759
 How much money

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.340
 would you need

00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:45.880
 to feel safe and secure?

00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.259
 And the answer

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.080
 across the board,

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.779
 almost no matter

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.860
 how much they'd inherited,

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:51.500
 was roughly in the region

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:53.160
 of double whatever I inherited.

00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:56.080
 I inherited 100 million,

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.340
 200 million,

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.279
 and I'll feel safe.

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.279
 I'll feel secure.

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.899
 And Abigail Disney,

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.500
 the granddaughter

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.879
 of Roy Disney,

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.740
 who co-founded

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.559
 the Disney company,

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:06.039
 she inherited more money

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.980
 than she'd ever be able

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.500
 to spend.

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.420
 Commenting on this,

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.119
 she says this,

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:11.000
 if how much money you have

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.240
 is your primary measure

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.059
 of success,

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.119
 value,

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.639
 and security in life,

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.160
 then good luck with that

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:19.079
 because you'll never feel

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:21.059
 like you have enough.

00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:22.960
 And that's what Jesus

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.659
 is saying here.

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.659
 He's saying money

00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.679
 makes us fools

00:30:25.679 --> 00:30:26.740
 because it promises

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.480
 us security.

00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:28.819
 It promises us freedom

00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:30.319
 from worry and anxiety,

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.740
 but it actually

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.460
 cannot deliver.

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:34.039
 And just like the deer

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.720
 that walks into

00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.740
 the hunter's trap

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.500
 thinking that all is safe,

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.779
 it catches us.

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:39.940
 And money is a way

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.879
 of luring us in

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.819
 with this never-ending

00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:42.960
 promise of peace,

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:43.980
 but it actually

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.740
 never comes.

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.480
 And the irony is

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.059
 that the more

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.119
 we think about it

00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:49.159
 and the more we plan

00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:49.940
 for it and the more

00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.039
 we worry and the more

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.099
 we strategize,

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:53.460
 actually the more

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.819
 insecure and unsafe

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.460
 we feel.

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.899
 The more we plan

00:30:56.899 --> 00:30:57.339
 about it,

00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.159
 the more we worry

00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:58.579
 about it,

00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.799
 and we feel less secure

00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:01.019
 and more anxious.

00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.799
 And so Jesus tells us

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.619
 that if you want

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.319
 to be free

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.639
 from the worry of money,

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.960
 one of the worst

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.720
 things you can do

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.859
 is strategize

00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.559
 how to hoard

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.279
 and get more.

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.700
 The more you plan

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.920
 to save and invest

00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.899
 and grow your share,

00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.619
 the more you're going

00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.440
 to worry about it.

00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.200
 Actually,

00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.139
 one of the best things

00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:17.619
 you can do

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.700
 if you worry about money

00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.559
 is give it away

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.619
 because suddenly

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.379
 you'll realize

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.399
 just how powerless

00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:24.379
 it is to really satisfy.

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.539
 John Wesley famously

00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.239
 said this,

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.839
 money never stays

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.219
 with me.

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.419
 It would burn me

00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:30.879
 if it did.

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.699
 I throw it out

00:31:31.699 --> 00:31:32.179
 of my hands

00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:33.199
 as quickly as possible

00:31:33.199 --> 00:31:34.619
 lest it should find

00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:35.759
 a way from my pocket

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.199
 into my heart.

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.359
 And friends,

00:31:38.459 --> 00:31:39.219
 Jesus tells us

00:31:39.219 --> 00:31:39.959
 the answer

00:31:39.959 --> 00:31:41.099
 to our financial fears

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.859
 and anxieties

00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.599
 and our concerns

00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.359
 about the future

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:44.599
 is not found

00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:45.799
 in an amount of money.

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.839
 It's found

00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.559
 in a person.

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.079
 It's found

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.720
 in a person.

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.179
 And so look

00:31:51.179 --> 00:31:52.019
 at what Jesus says.

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.659
 He tells us

00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:53.559
 to do two things.

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.740
 First thing,

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.119
 he says,

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.960
 do not worry.

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.639
 Do not worry.

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.000
 And the second thing

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.700
 he tells us to do

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.839
 is to lift our eyes

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.419
 heavenward

00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:03.059
 and to fix our eyes

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.500
 on the one

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:03.960
 who's seated

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.619
 on the throne

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.639
 in heaven.

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:06.740
 He says,

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.599
 cast your eyes,

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.519
 bring your fears,

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.440
 bring your worries,

00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.279
 bring your hopes,

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.119
 bring your needs

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.339
 to your heavenly father.

00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:13.919
 Financial peace

00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:14.419
 is not found

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:14.940
 in an amount.

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.100
 It's found

00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:17.259
 in a person.

00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.559
 And so he tells us

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.160
 to do two things.

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:19.460
 He says,

00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:20.299
 look to the God

00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.000
 who is good

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.200
 and glorious.

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.200
 He says,

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.759
 this God,

00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.640
 your heavenly father

00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.580
 is great.

00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:26.980
 He is sovereign.

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.400
 He is glorious

00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.100
 and majestic.

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:29.680
 There is not

00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:32.000
 a single minute detail

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.600
 of all of life

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.700
 that is beyond

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.740
 his rule

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.559
 and his reign

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.299
 and his realm

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.100
 and his control.

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:38.900
 There is not

00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:39.799
 a single thing

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.779
 that is beyond him.

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:42.059
 There is not our lives,

00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:43.259
 not our children's lives,

00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:44.460
 not our kids' education,

00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:45.360
 how are we going

00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.579
 to pay next month's rent,

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.259
 how are we going

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.720
 to get food

00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.220
 on the table,

00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:48.860
 where are we going

00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:49.460
 to find work?

00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.180
 There is not

00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.440
 a single detail

00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.100
 of life

00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:53.160
 that is beyond

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.860
 the hands

00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.620
 and the grasp

00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:55.319
 and the control

00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:57.059
 of the sovereign God

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.500
 in heaven.

00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:58.779
 He is in control

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.500
 of all of it.

00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:00.960
 And though we may not

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.740
 always understand

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.380
 his ways

00:33:02.380 --> 00:33:03.299
 and though he does

00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.140
 things that we don't

00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:05.819
 always fully appreciate

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:07.100
 and though he does

00:33:07.100 --> 00:33:07.920
 things that we might

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.240
 think aren't the wisest,

00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.920
 he is great

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:12.000
 and he is majestic

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.880
 and he is in control.

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.960
 Look at what Jesus says.

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.420
 Don't you know

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.299
 the birds of the air,

00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.620
 the lilies of the field,

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.700
 they're all his.

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:19.400
 They're all under my control

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:21.120
 and so are your lives

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:21.680
 and mine.

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:22.840
 And friends,

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:24.340
 this may be a scary thought

00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:25.519
 but you know

00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.200
 that you and I,

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.840
 we don't have

00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:28.220
 one single dollar

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.920
 in our accounts

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:31.200
 more or less

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.480
 than what the sovereign God

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.160
 would want us

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.340
 to have right now.

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.400
 You know,

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.000
 sometimes we think

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.120
 like we come to God

00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.640
 and he says,

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:37.940
 yes,

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.960
 I see your situation.

00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.799
 I really wish

00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.500
 I could help out

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.200
 but I'm just fresh

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.700
 out of cash

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.220
 at the moment.

00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.580
 Maybe next month

00:33:43.580 --> 00:33:44.200
 will be better.

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.559
 God,

00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.660
 the sovereign God

00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:48.000
 knows every detail

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.620
 of our lives

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.360
 and there's not

00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.759
 one single dollar

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.860
 more or less

00:33:51.860 --> 00:33:52.960
 that we have

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.740
 than what he wants

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.299
 us to have.

00:33:54.860 --> 00:33:55.400
 He is aware

00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:55.880
 of it all.

00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:57.120
 Friends,

00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:57.840
 if you're a Christian,

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:59.000
 you have a father

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.380
 in heaven

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.140
 and he's sovereign.

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:01.680
 Look upon that

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.480
 and be comforted

00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:03.360
 by his greatness.

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.580
 But then not only that,

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.420
 look to God

00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.440
 because he's good.

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:09.159
 He's not only great,

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.039
 he's good.

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.039
 Jesus says,

00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:12.039
 if God takes care

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.659
 of the birds

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.259
 and the flowers,

00:34:13.359 --> 00:34:13.839
 don't you think

00:34:13.839 --> 00:34:14.859
 he'll take care of you?

00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:16.619
 If he cares for the animals

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:18.279
 who don't bear his image,

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.519
 who don't have the spirit

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.819
 of Jesus living inside of him,

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.059
 who aren't the pinnacle

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.759
 of his creation,

00:34:23.299 --> 00:34:23.759
 do you not think

00:34:23.759 --> 00:34:24.639
 he'll take good care

00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.859
 of us as well?

00:34:26.379 --> 00:34:26.679
 And friends,

00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.159
 as we said,

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:27.859
 we may go through

00:34:27.859 --> 00:34:28.579
 tough times,

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.719
 we may go through

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.339
 difficulties,

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.619
 there'll be times

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.359
 when things happen

00:34:32.359 --> 00:34:33.219
 that we wouldn't want

00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:33.579
 to happen

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.599
 or choose to happen,

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.799
 but none of us

00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.619
 at the end of our lives

00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.440
 will be able to stand

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.119
 before God

00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.460
 and say,

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.260
 you were not good.

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.900
 Every one of us

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.619
 will stand before

00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:43.260
 the throne of heaven

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:43.519
 and say,

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.059
 oh God,

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:44.940
 you were so good,

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:47.260
 so extravagantly good.

00:34:47.720 --> 00:34:48.300
 And later on,

00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.579
 Jesus says in chapter 7,

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:49.760
 yeah,

00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.119
 he says,

00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.340
 which one of you,

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.920
 if your son asks for bread

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.099
 or give him stone,

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.260
 which one of you,

00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:56.260
 if your daughter asks

00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:57.220
 for dumplings,

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.179
 is going to give them

00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:58.920
 a scorpion?

00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:00.200
 Please mom,

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:00.800
 can I have some

00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:01.579
 shi long bao

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:03.639
 and here's a scorpion instead?

00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:04.400
 No,

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.220
 of course not.

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.500
 If you,

00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:07.079
 a parent,

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:07.819
 know how to take

00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:08.880
 good care of your kids,

00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:10.079
 if you love them

00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.259
 and you go out of your way

00:35:11.259 --> 00:35:12.019
 to look after them

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.880
 and you think about

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.500
 what they need

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:14.579
 and what's going to serve them,

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.639
 don't you think

00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.559
 your Father in heaven

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.340
 will do the same?

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.559
 In Romans,

00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.119
 Paul writes,

00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:19.460
 he says,

00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:21.079
 if God did not spare

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.639
 his son,

00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:22.340
 if,

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:22.519
 friends,

00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.900
 when we were enemies

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.420
 of God

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.340
 and we were lost

00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:26.960
 and we couldn't find

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.940
 our way towards God

00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:29.360
 and we were dead

00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.000
 in our sins

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.880
 and we had no way

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.860
 of saving ourselves,

00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.340
 if we were dead

00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:33.679
 in our sins

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.699
 and God didn't spare

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:35.179
 his son,

00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:36.259
 not because he had to,

00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.500
 not because he owed us,

00:35:37.839 --> 00:35:38.699
 but just out of his

00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:39.940
 extravagant love

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.199
 said,

00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:40.879
 here,

00:35:41.359 --> 00:35:42.359
 I send you my son

00:35:42.359 --> 00:35:43.679
 to die on the cross.

00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:45.199
 If God did not spare

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:45.779
 his son,

00:35:46.359 --> 00:35:47.019
 how will he not

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.859
 also with him

00:35:47.859 --> 00:35:48.859
 graciously give us

00:35:48.859 --> 00:35:50.039
 everything we need?

00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.419
 Friends,

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.460
 while we don't understand

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.440
 why everything goes

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.099
 the way it does,

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.259
 we may not understand

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:57.179
 why God allows

00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:57.799
 and orchestrates

00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:58.519
 certain things,

00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.839
 surely the cross

00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:00.579
 proves that God

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.719
 is not out to punish us.

00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:02.980
 Surely the cross

00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.759
 proves that God

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.780
 is looking out

00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.340
 for our good.

00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.480
 He loves us

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.420
 extravagantly

00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.380
 and therefore

00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:09.340
 we can trust him.

00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:10.680
 Tim Keller

00:36:10.680 --> 00:36:11.780
 says this,

00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.200
 he says,

00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.840
 if you come to see

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.780
 and know Christ,

00:36:15.620 --> 00:36:16.720
 you don't have to worry

00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:17.360
 about money.

00:36:18.020 --> 00:36:19.000
 The cross proves

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.800
 God's care for you

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.760
 and gives you security.

00:36:21.560 --> 00:36:22.420
 Now you don't need

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.880
 to have to envy

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.840
 anyone else's money.

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.160
 Jesus' love

00:36:26.160 --> 00:36:26.920
 and salvation

00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:28.320
 confers on you

00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:29.500
 a remarkable status,

00:36:29.700 --> 00:36:30.420
 one that money

00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:31.460
 cannot give you.

00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:33.000
 Money cannot save you

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.599
 from tragedy

00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.679
 or give you control

00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.699
 in a chaotic world.

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:37.300
 Only God can do that.

00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.960
 What breaks the power

00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.960
 of money over us

00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.579
 is not just

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.739
 a redoubled effort

00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:43.099
 to follow the example

00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.639
 of Jesus

00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.960
 or to try and be

00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.679
 more generous.

00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:46.480
 Rather,

00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:47.320
 it's a deepening

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:48.239
 of our understanding

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.059
 of the wonder

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:50.119
 of Christ's salvation,

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:51.639
 what you have in him,

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.900
 what he's done for you

00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.880
 and then living out

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.440
 the changes

00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:55.400
 that that gospel

00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:56.840
 makes in your hearts.

00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:57.739
 And friends,

00:36:57.800 --> 00:36:58.559
 the great irony

00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.579
 and the great tragedy,

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.760
 as we said earlier,

00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.980
 is that when we look

00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.820
 to money and wealth

00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:03.500
 as our treasure,

00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:04.900
 while we look to it

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:06.139
 for safety and security,

00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:07.579
 the more we look to it

00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:08.559
 to give us peace,

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.740
 actually the more worried

00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:10.740
 and anxious we become,

00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.480
 the less safe

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.460
 and secure we feel.

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:13.480
 But friends,

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:14.199
 if the gospel

00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:15.400
 gets deep in our hearts,

00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.619
 if the penny drops

00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:17.280
 from our head

00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:18.019
 to our hearts,

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.760
 when you realize

00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:19.900
 that God is good

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.539
 and gracious

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:21.420
 and he's glorious

00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:22.599
 and he's in control,

00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:23.420
 you know what will happen?

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.800
 This is the irony.

00:37:25.639 --> 00:37:26.440
 You won't be able

00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.260
 to give your money

00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.199
 away fast enough.

00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.360
 You won't be able

00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.579
 to find enough causes

00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.179
 and people

00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:31.880
 to give it away.

00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.460
 When the penny drops

00:37:33.460 --> 00:37:33.980
 from our heads

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.539
 to our hearts,

00:37:34.659 --> 00:37:35.299
 money will become

00:37:35.299 --> 00:37:35.980
 so fleeting,

00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:36.980
 it'll be such a joy

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.659
 to give it away,

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.619
 we won't even have

00:37:38.619 --> 00:37:39.279
 enough people

00:37:39.279 --> 00:37:40.079
 and organizations

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.840
 and charities

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:42.079
 to give it to.

00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:43.039
 Friends,

00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:43.639
 don't you see

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.719
 the one who,

00:37:44.799 --> 00:37:45.799
 though he had everything

00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:47.139
 and owned everything,

00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:48.699
 he didn't stay in heaven.

00:37:48.840 --> 00:37:49.440
 He gave up

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.539
 all of that for us.

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.900
 He left the comforts

00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:52.299
 of heaven

00:37:52.299 --> 00:37:53.920
 to give us himself,

00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:55.099
 to give us

00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:56.219
 what we desperately needed,

00:37:56.579 --> 00:37:57.219
 to give us,

00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:57.619
 you and I,

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:58.559
 the one security

00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.860
 that really does work,

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.519
 that we really

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.699
 can bank our lives on,

00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.539
 that we really

00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.320
 can trust,

00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:05.000
 not just in this life,

00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.059
 but in the life

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:06.559
 to come.

00:38:07.279 --> 00:38:07.739
 Friends,

00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:09.139
 let's bank our life

00:38:09.139 --> 00:38:09.699
 on him.

00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.619
 In the words

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.659
 of that great

00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.599
 ancient hymn,

00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:15.099
 it goes like this,

00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:16.759
 riches I heed not,

00:38:17.299 --> 00:38:18.839
 nor man's empty praise.

00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:20.139
 Thou,

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.159
 my inheritance,

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:23.079
 now and always,

00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:24.799
 thou and thou only,

00:38:25.299 --> 00:38:26.559
 the first in my heart,

00:38:27.299 --> 00:38:28.259
 high king of heaven,

00:38:28.819 --> 00:38:29.559
 my treasure,

00:38:30.219 --> 00:38:30.739
 thou art.

00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:32.339
 Let's pray together.

00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:35.360
 I want to invite you

00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:36.360
 to stand with me

00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:37.699
 as we pray,

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.920
 and I want us to,

00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:39.639
 I want to lead us

00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:41.219
 in a different kind

00:38:41.219 --> 00:38:41.599
 of prayer.

00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:43.960
 You can,

00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:44.900
 yeah,

00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.339
 let's,

00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:46.480
 you know,

00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:48.420
 over this last few weeks

00:38:48.420 --> 00:38:49.019
 as we've been

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.119
 talking about prayer,

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:50.839
 when we looked at

00:38:50.839 --> 00:38:51.679
 Nehemiah's prayer,

00:38:51.799 --> 00:38:52.639
 Nehemiah chapter one,

00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:53.659
 and Daniel's prayer

00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:54.739
 in Daniel chapter nine,

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.400
 both of them

00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:57.519
 come to God

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:57.900
 in prayer,

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.539
 and they both

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.860
 confess their sin

00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:01.380
 on behalf

00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:02.159
 of the people.

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.500
 It's an amazing line,

00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:03.980
 they don't say,

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.219
 God,

00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:04.679
 I've sinned,

00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.000
 they say,

00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:05.219
 God,

00:39:05.319 --> 00:39:06.279
 we've sinned against you,

00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:07.219
 and there's great power

00:39:07.219 --> 00:39:08.339
 in this kind of corporate

00:39:08.339 --> 00:39:09.739
 acknowledgement and owning.

00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:11.519
 I want to ask you,

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:12.199
 I know this is a brave

00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:12.619
 thing to do,

00:39:12.699 --> 00:39:13.619
 but I want to ask us

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:15.800
 if we can come before God

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.559
 and pray a prayer

00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:17.159
 of confession,

00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:19.099
 and admit that God,

00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:20.519
 so often we've looked

00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:22.860
 to financial resources

00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.420
 and wealth

00:39:23.420 --> 00:39:24.759
 to do what only you can do.

00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:26.460
 We've often trusted

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:27.380
 in that above you,

00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:29.119
 and there's a prayer

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.759
 on the screen

00:39:29.759 --> 00:39:30.980
 that I want to encourage us

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.199
 to,

00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.280
 maybe I can read it for us,

00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:33.759
 and if you want,

00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:34.679
 you can read it as well,

00:39:34.739 --> 00:39:35.599
 you can read it out loud,

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.639
 or you can read it quietly,

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:38.519
 but I want to encourage us

00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:39.860
 to pray this prayer.

00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:40.519
 You don't have to,

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.480
 and there's no condemnation,

00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:42.920
 this isn't to make you

00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:43.579
 feel guilty,

00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:45.579
 but I've found in my life

00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:47.079
 as I've had to deal

00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:47.619
 with God

00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:48.139
 and repent

00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:49.139
 and confess this week,

00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:49.940
 there's been an incredibly

00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:51.019
 liberating feeling.

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:53.179
 God's liberated me

00:39:53.179 --> 00:39:54.119
 in such an amazing way.

00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:55.039
 I felt the freedom,

00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:56.900
 and so I want to encourage us

00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:57.960
 to do likewise,

00:39:58.179 --> 00:40:01.099
 and so as we do this,

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:01.840
 let's ask God

00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:02.719
 to break the hold

00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:03.920
 that money has over us,

00:40:04.300 --> 00:40:05.320
 to find our hope

00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:06.019
 and our security

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:06.800
 and our peace

00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:07.159
 and our peace in Him.

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.780
 And so as I pray this,

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:09.739
 won't you join me

00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:10.699
 and let's pray together.

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.719
 Heavenly Father,

00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:16.059
 thank you that you are

00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:16.500
 a great

00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.940
 and glorious Father,

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:19.519
 and yet you are

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.800
 also exceedingly good.

00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:23.119
 Thank you that you are

00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:23.800
 magnificent

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:24.739
 and majestic,

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.199
 and yet also

00:40:26.199 --> 00:40:27.539
 merciful and kind.

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:29.039
 Father,

00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:29.759
 we confess

00:40:29.759 --> 00:40:31.059
 that we have so often

00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:31.940
 looked to money

00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:32.739
 and wealth

00:40:32.739 --> 00:40:33.980
 to do what only

00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:35.039
 you can truly do,

00:40:35.259 --> 00:40:37.119
 to take care of our needs,

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:39.099
 to provide for our families,

00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:41.440
 to satisfy our longings,

00:40:41.480 --> 00:40:42.420
 and to give our hearts

00:40:42.420 --> 00:40:43.259
 true rest.

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:44.619
 Father,

00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.259
 we confess

00:40:45.259 --> 00:40:46.239
 that in our hearts

00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:47.320
 we have treasured

00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:48.380
 financial resources

00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:49.139
 before you.

00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:50.519
 Forgive us,

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:50.840
 Father.

00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:52.099
 Forgive us,

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:52.579
 we pray.

00:40:53.279 --> 00:40:54.000
 Thank you

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:55.360
 for your amazing grace,

00:40:55.940 --> 00:40:56.960
 your welcoming arms,

00:40:57.539 --> 00:40:58.800
 help us to love you

00:40:58.800 --> 00:40:59.480
 supremely,

00:40:59.759 --> 00:41:00.900
 to trust you

00:41:00.900 --> 00:41:01.480
 absolutely,

00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:03.019
 and to find our

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:03.920
 deepest delight

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:05.480
 and our highest joy

00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:05.900
 in you.

00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.519
 In your son's good

00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:08.460
 and gracious name

00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:09.000
 we pray.

00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:10.139
 Amen.

00:41:10.739 --> 00:41:11.019
 Amen.

00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:11.420
 Father,

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.940
 we really do ask that,

00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.179
 God,

00:41:13.239 --> 00:41:14.159
 we pray that

00:41:14.159 --> 00:41:15.800
 by your power

00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:16.800
 you will break

00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.239
 the hold

00:41:17.239 --> 00:41:17.900
 that money has

00:41:17.900 --> 00:41:18.440
 over us,

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:18.679
 God.

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:19.639
 We pray,

00:41:19.759 --> 00:41:19.900
 God,

00:41:19.920 --> 00:41:20.659
 that you'll set us

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:20.980
 free,

00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.259
 God,

00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:22.500
 from worry and anxiety.

00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:23.579
 We pray,

00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:23.800
 Lord,

00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:24.679
 that as we take

00:41:24.679 --> 00:41:25.380
 our comfort

00:41:25.380 --> 00:41:26.019
 and security

00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:26.500
 in you,

00:41:26.619 --> 00:41:26.880
 Jesus,

00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:28.519
 that the allure

00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:29.220
 and the appeal

00:41:29.220 --> 00:41:30.200
 of financial wealth

00:41:30.200 --> 00:41:31.460
 will lose its grip

00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:31.900
 on us.

00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:33.180
 God,

00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:33.760
 set us free,

00:41:33.820 --> 00:41:34.200
 we pray,

00:41:34.320 --> 00:41:34.579
 God.

00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:35.640
 God,

00:41:35.660 --> 00:41:36.460
 we want to trust you

00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:36.920
 and love you

00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:37.500
 supremely.

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:38.940
 Come and have your way

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:39.579
 in our hearts,

00:41:39.680 --> 00:41:40.140
 we pray.

00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:41.720
 In your wonderful

00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:42.780
 and powerful name,

00:41:43.680 --> 00:41:43.840
 Amen.