WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.600 Thanks Stuart. Folks, great to see you this morning. If you have a Bible, then please keep it open. 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:11.339 If you don't have a Bible, then please use your phone or grab one in the pews round about. You're going to need that passage open in front of you. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:19.039 If nothing else, so that you can test what I'm saying, hopefully, is what the text is saying, which is the most important thing. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:24.320 Always the clue to preaching is let the text do the talking. So please have that passage open in front of you. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:31.460 And because many of us are probably, I'd imagine, certainly if your home is in Scotland, you're just back from holiday. 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:44.079 Let me give you a quote from Radio 2 DJ Ramesh Ranganathan, explaining in a slightly comical form what a holiday always does to him. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:50.880 And see if this resonates. He says this, that's exactly what a holiday is. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:01:05.040 If you're going to have an existential crisis about why exactly it is we feel the need to get on the property ladder, have children, burden ourselves with debt, and work ourselves to the bone until we're 65 or dead. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:11.520 All because we need to maintain an illusion of purpose. You might as well have it somewhere sunny. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:14.040 You know, I love the honesty in that. 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:19.960 That's why I love comedians so often, is they say the things that people are thinking but just don't want to say. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.200 Friends, I wonder if you've ever had one of those moments where life has thrown you a time out. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.240 And you stop and you think to yourself, hang on a minute. 00:01:31.660 --> 00:01:32.719 What's it all for? 00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:41.120 That space, that what is it all for space, that's exactly where Jesus wants to take our hand and take us today. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:43.260 As we come to this passage. 00:01:43.380 --> 00:01:44.560 Here's what we're going to see. 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:50.460 Is that Jesus is going to get us to think about the things that we give ourselves to. 00:01:51.800 --> 00:01:58.000 And the way that we view and use, not exclusively but probably primarily here, our money and possessions. 00:01:58.860 --> 00:02:04.420 And he's going to get us to think about the things that we do and the things that we invest in. 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:07.360 And the things that we give ourselves to and the things that we hope for. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:11.580 And then he's going to show us a much better way. 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:15.000 But here's what we need to appreciate. 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:19.699 Remember, we thought about this as we've journeyed through this series in Matthew. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:24.039 Maybe particularly in the Sermon on the Mount a little bit between chapters 5 and 7. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:28.120 This is all about the beating heart of kingdom people. 00:02:28.579 --> 00:02:30.219 I've kind of been saying that every time we meet. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:33.360 This is the beating heart of kingdom people. 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:39.700 So this is not how do we perform in order to get God as our father. 00:02:40.820 --> 00:02:48.480 This is how we live now that we've been welcomed into the relationship where we have God as our father. 00:02:48.860 --> 00:02:49.020 Right? 00:02:49.100 --> 00:02:52.380 So this is how kingdom people live. 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:55.440 And it's so important that we see that. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:59.620 We thought last week about the kind of last few sections in chapter 6. 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:03.000 How if it were a heat map, the word father is coming up a lot there. 00:03:03.640 --> 00:03:08.879 In other words, Jesus is saying this is the motivation for everything that you do. 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:12.780 And it's worth pausing and reflecting on that wonderful privilege. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:18.040 You know, came to 7 o'clock last night and watching TV with older two girls. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.099 And we're flicking through the channels and we see the voice. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.560 Never watched the voice before. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:28.879 Before we're getting into it together and somebody's standing there and singing their heart out. 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:30.039 And we're with the judges. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:31.659 Turn, turn, turn. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:32.439 Do you know what I mean? 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:33.759 They've got to hit the button. 00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:34.439 They've got to turn. 00:03:35.379 --> 00:03:36.360 They've got to show I'm in. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:38.420 I like the sound of what you've got. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.240 And it struck me how often we can think about Christianity like that. 00:03:44.140 --> 00:03:45.580 Like we have to perform. 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:48.460 That we have to, in the context, we have to fast. 00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:49.319 We have to pray. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:50.219 We have to give. 00:03:50.219 --> 00:03:57.419 We have to do all these things in order that God would turn and be favorable to us and look upon us with love. 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:01.000 And friends, let me just underscore this point that that is not the gospel. 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:05.800 If anything, the gospel says it's the other way around. 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:10.699 Because we were dead in our transgressions and sins. 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:14.099 We wanted nothing to do with God. 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:17.279 We loved our, as it were, we loved our sin. 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:19.459 We loved the desires of the flesh. 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:21.000 We had no interest in God. 00:04:21.339 --> 00:04:28.239 But the gospel is saying that God sent his son in order to save us from our rebellion and sin. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.359 He died on the cross so that we could be forgiven. 00:04:31.919 --> 00:04:34.639 And as he ascends to heaven, he sends the spirit. 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:41.939 And the spirit opens our hearts and eyes so that we understand who Jesus is. 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:46.719 And so this God is not just about saving us from hell. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:53.680 This God is about transforming our desires so that we no longer want the stuff that we used to chase. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:55.779 But what do we want instead? 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:58.000 We want him. 00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:00.779 He is our greatest treasure. 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:04.019 And that is the gospel. 00:05:05.619 --> 00:05:11.639 No wonder William Tyndale, when he translated the Bible from Latin into English, 00:05:11.779 --> 00:05:19.899 he called the gospel news that makes a man's heart glad and makes him sing, dance and leap for joy. 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:23.239 And they killed him for it. 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.740 That is the gospel. 00:05:25.900 --> 00:05:29.900 That is what our faith is built upon. 00:05:30.900 --> 00:05:37.620 And so when Jesus chucks out that term father, that is not cheap sentimentalism. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:47.399 That is the blood-bought privilege of every single person who has put their faith and trust in what Jesus has done for them through his death and resurrection. 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:58.879 And so Jesus says, your father, knowing God as your father, is right at the heart of kingdom-minded people who have been turned from sin, 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:04.220 saved by Christ, and loving our father in the power of the spirit. 00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:07.980 Now, we've entered a new section in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:09.300 Let me show you how this works. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:12.580 Jesus changes the angle as we hit this section. 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:13.020 Okay? 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:19.020 See, if you scan your eye over the rest of chapter 6 and the first bit of chapter 7, 00:06:19.580 --> 00:06:22.940 you will see that repeated phrase that's in yellow on the screen. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:24.220 Do not. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:25.240 Do you see it? 00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:27.260 So track with me. 00:06:27.380 --> 00:06:27.640 Do not. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:28.580 This is our passage today. 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:31.320 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:35.319 Verse 25, do not worry. 00:06:36.599 --> 00:06:39.759 Verse 1 of chapter 7, do not judge. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:46.379 And in verse 6 of chapter 7, do not throw your pearls before swine. 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:49.120 Now, we're going to get to each of these over the next few weeks. 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:53.139 But what's interesting is that Jesus talks in the negative. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:54.980 Yeah? 00:06:55.539 --> 00:06:56.480 Talks in the negative. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.000 And we've got to ask ourselves, why? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.779 Here's my best shot. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:06.000 Friends, if you've ever played Mario Kart. 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:13.319 And you know this game where you're whizzing around the track and all of a sudden you hit the banana skin. 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:17.660 And the banana skin sends you off course. 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:18.920 Yeah? 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:20.640 And you kind of have to get yourselves back to the center. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:21.640 Sends you off course. 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:25.160 I genuinely cannot look at a banana now without thinking about it. 00:07:26.840 --> 00:07:29.240 But when you think about that, that's what Jesus is doing here. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.980 This is what he's doing with these do nots. 00:07:32.080 --> 00:07:39.939 He knows that these are things that disciples will encounter in their lives that might well cause them to trip up. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:46.000 And stumble and fall and be totally thrown off track. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.819 And so here's the first banana, if you like. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:52.899 It is money and possessions. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.759 Remember, Jesus is after our wholehearted devotion. 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:00.259 We have a God who is jealous. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:02.459 That means he is not jealous of things. 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:03.339 That's what we do. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:06.639 Our God is jealous for us, for his people. 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:07.779 He wants all of us. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:10.939 Jesus is about wholehearted devotion. 00:08:11.059 --> 00:08:12.739 And that's why he talks about these things. 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:17.679 So come with me to this passage and see that as well as being the perfect saviour, 00:08:17.859 --> 00:08:22.339 it also turns out that Jesus is also a brilliant financial advisor. 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:24.500 Do you have it there? 00:08:25.299 --> 00:08:28.539 And as it were, he invites us into his office in this passage. 00:08:28.739 --> 00:08:29.859 And he says, take a seat. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:33.240 And let me ask you three questions to search your heart. 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:37.899 Now, number one is way longer than two and three, in case you're panicking. 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:39.860 But it really is because it flows. 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.759 The other two flow from number one. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:42.519 But here's number one. 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:44.180 This is verses 19 to 21. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.500 Jesus would ask us firstly, what are you banking on? 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:52.940 And Jesus compares two types of treasure. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:56.960 And as it turns out, when you read it here, I love this. 00:08:57.220 --> 00:08:59.500 Jesus is hugely security conscious. 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:06.340 I don't know about you, but I opt for the Fort Knox approach to security in our house. 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:10.800 Alarm, cameras, patio door lock. 00:09:11.380 --> 00:09:11.900 You like me? 00:09:12.940 --> 00:09:14.760 But Jesus would say, it doesn't matter. 00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:16.840 You can do everything that you like. 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:21.560 But you need to see how precarious it all is. 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:23.300 Right? 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:28.780 And see the images that he uses in this text, which are not only timeless, but they're absolutely genius. 00:09:29.060 --> 00:09:29.680 Come and look at that. 00:09:29.780 --> 00:09:30.759 Come and look at it here. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:41.139 If your treasure is the things that are here, Jesus says that is open to moths and vermin. 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:47.600 I remember once when Alex and I, we went to Malawi for five months before we started at Brunsfield. 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:53.319 I remember hanging up my suits from my law days, stored them at her mum and dad's house, 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:57.600 coming back five months later, trying on the suit because we were going for a wedding, 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.740 and thinking to myself, it's quite breezy down there. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:01.379 Yeah? 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:06.600 And I look down and I've got a hole in the place, the one place where you don't want a hole. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:07.200 Right? 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:13.200 I don't know if you knew this, but I found out recently that moths' clothing of choice is cashmere. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:14.560 Did you know that? 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:15.860 They don't go for the cheap stuff. 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:17.360 They go for the expensive stuff. 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:21.820 It's almost as if God has made them that way to teach us this lesson. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:25.840 But do you see moths and mice? 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:27.300 What is the thing? 00:10:27.400 --> 00:10:30.960 If you think a bit more about this image, there's a little bit more here for us. 00:10:31.420 --> 00:10:33.360 Moths and mice, what is it about them? 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:35.800 I take it as that they are quite subtle. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:37.420 Right? 00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:39.720 You don't see a moth straight off. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:41.680 It takes you a while to be able to see it. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:42.400 Same with a mouse. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.080 Have you ever tried to catch a mouse? 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.300 It's subtle. 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:46.200 It's unseen. 00:10:47.180 --> 00:10:54.200 And couple that with what Jesus says here when he throws in that phrase, thieves. 00:10:54.540 --> 00:10:56.780 So what is it about thieves? 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:59.620 Is that they are unexpected. 00:10:59.939 --> 00:11:00.500 Isn't it? 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.459 So I mean you wouldn't be a very good burglar if you told the people you were coming. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:08.399 If you slipped a note through the letterbox the day before. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:12.319 Just saying is there any chance you could not be in tomorrow evening at 9.13. 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:14.600 It's not how thieves work. 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:17.519 But see when you bring these images together. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:23.199 What is Jesus saying about storing up for ourselves treasures on earth? 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:27.439 Bank accounts, investments, partnership, mortgages, health. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:28.819 All of this stuff. 00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:32.960 You've got to see just how precarious it all is. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:38.120 And there are unseen threats that will come your way in life. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:43.440 And there are undetectable things that are going to come your way in life. 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:45.500 Curveballs are going to come your way in life. 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:49.660 And I think the thing to see is that so much of those things are out with our control. 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:54.639 Has that not been our world in the last year? 00:11:54.639 --> 00:12:02.720 How the starting of a war on the other side of the world can send a stock market into panic. 00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:05.480 And all of a sudden your investment that you thought was a sure thing. 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:08.639 All of a sudden it loses half its value overnight. 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:17.620 Or that doctor's appointment where that diagnosis was revealed to you. 00:12:17.699 --> 00:12:20.399 Or to someone you love that you just didn't see coming. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:26.399 And all of a sudden that means that you have to down tools or reduce your hours. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.159 Or all of a sudden you are now a full-time carer. 00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:31.019 All of these things, friends. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:31.919 Unseen. 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.319 Unexpected. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.860 And Jesus is saying if our treasure is here. 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:41.779 Then do you see how precarious it all is. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:44.519 But on the flip side. 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:47.439 And he just uses the same metaphors to draw the comparison. 00:12:47.439 --> 00:12:49.500 See if your treasure is in heaven. 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:50.879 Right? 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:54.879 If that's what you're truly longing for. 00:12:55.079 --> 00:12:58.659 Then you've got to know how secure your investment is. 00:12:59.579 --> 00:13:03.980 And do you notice how there is no small print there when Jesus uses that phrase? 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:09.039 It's often the case, isn't it, with anything financial in our world. 00:13:09.199 --> 00:13:11.500 Companies load the terms and conditions. 00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:14.539 With phrases in the small print like. 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:17.039 Interest levels may go up and down. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.480 Subject to market volatility. 00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:22.559 Past performance is no guarantee of future results. 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:24.099 It's amazing what you can find on Google. 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:28.539 In other words, there's no way that we can 100% exclude the risk. 00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:36.039 But Jesus says, not like that when your treasure is in heaven. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:44.319 He's telling us that when we invest what we have in kingdom things. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:48.040 Out of love for God. 00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:53.940 Then that investment is totally safe. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:58.180 Now we're used to that idea, aren't we, in our culture of long-term financial planning. 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:02.640 I mean how many of us here will have had kids or grandkids. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:10.819 And we'll have set up when they were born a savings account or a trust fund or something for our children. 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:14.919 But the thing is, they won't be able to touch that fund for 20, 40, 60 years. 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:18.539 And I take it that's really good thinking. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:25.819 But do you see in this passage how Jesus is calling us as his people to be even more long-term in our thinking than that? 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.620 Invest yourself, says Jesus. 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:29.779 Invest. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:33.259 And again, this is primarily about money, but it's bigger than money. 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:38.299 The things that you give yourselves to invest with heaven in mind. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.179 You know, a good friend of mine, Archie, many of you will know him. 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.879 He used to work here 18 months ago. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:50.899 Before, he went down to Peebles to be part of a church there, be the pastor of a church there. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:57.139 And I remember when Archie was training here, kind of halfway through his training program, there was a financial gap. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:59.179 And we made it known to the church. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:03.059 And some really generous people stood up and said, we'll plug that financial gap. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:06.559 And Archie was able to continue his training and finish here. 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:08.679 And then he goes down to Peebles. 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:14.799 And he was texting me this week about guys on his rugby team who are coming along and taking an interest in what's going on. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:19.460 And he's got Rico Tice coming to do an evangelism training morning at church. 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:21.799 And he's telling me about this fruit that they're seeing in Peebles. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:24.139 And yes, it's hard, but they're beginning to see fruit. 00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:37.199 And I suddenly thought to myself, can you imagine when we get to heaven and imagine meeting somebody from Peebles who became a Christian during Archie's time there. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:43.460 And they come along and they look out the person who gave towards his training when he was here. 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:46.900 Look out that person and just say, listen, you have got no idea. 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:52.580 You've no idea what your praying did and your giving did and the fact that you cared did. 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:57.100 You, because of your investment, you were part of me coming to faith. 00:15:57.100 --> 00:16:01.200 And I think that's what Jesus has in mind here, friends. 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:08.740 We might not see the fruit of our investment until we get to glory, but it is never wasted. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.540 Because our investments, it's true, isn't it? 00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:14.899 What we give ourselves to are telling a silent story. 00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:18.620 They are telling a story about what we love. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.759 And what we value. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:23.480 And what we think is going to work. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:28.620 And it's not about having money per se. 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:29.300 Right? 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:34.759 It's the love of money which Jesus calls people out on. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:39.019 Because you can have lots of money and not love it. 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:39.960 Right? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:45.680 I know so many people all over the world, actually, particularly in the UK, who learn tons of money. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:48.420 But just give it away to Christian gospel things. 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:48.700 Right? 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.180 It's not having money. 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.320 It's the love of money. 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:55.760 And it's also true that you can have little money and love it. 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.280 Chase it. 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.200 Dream about it. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:58.900 Want it. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.840 And Jesus would say, what do you have? 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:05.279 What have I given to you? 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.059 Right? 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.720 And some of us will be able to do this on a big scale. 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:11.700 Right? 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:15.580 God has entrusted us with lots of money and possessions. 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:18.600 And what a wonderful thing to be able to have that. 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.400 To be able to use for his glory. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:20.480 Right? 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:23.140 But let me just say that this doesn't need to be dramatic. 00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:30.259 There are so many little ways that we can invest in his kingdom through our money and time. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.860 So many little ways. 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:37.900 And I hope that there's an encouragement for some of us here who are maybe weary in this. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.540 Yeah? 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:44.019 Just tired thinking, is it all worth it? 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:47.000 I mean, emotionally investing yourself in that friendship. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:50.560 Giving your time to care for somebody. 00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:52.820 Giving to the church. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:55.000 Giving up your time to go to growth group. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.660 And you're thinking, is it worth it? 00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:01.579 I wonder if that's exactly where the disciples are at. 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:06.039 Because remember in the immediate context, Jesus has just talked about giving, praying, and fasting. 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:09.880 And all of those things he wants us to do in secret. 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:14.900 One of the disciples are asking, is this worth it? 00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:18.080 Underscore the fact that Jesus is saying here. 00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:23.420 That when we invest in his kingdom, friends, one day our Father will reward us. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:32.759 Jesus wants us to be certain of the fact that when we make kingdom decisions like that, with what we have. 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.400 Friends, we have sent it on ahead. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:39.060 And it's totally secure. 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:44.539 And all of that takes us to the second question that Jesus would ask us. 00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:46.519 And these other two are really shorter. 00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:48.400 So, in case you're panicking. 00:18:48.560 --> 00:18:50.100 It's just verse 22 and 23. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.720 It would just be, what are you letting in? 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:58.019 Because he moves from talking about two types of treasure to talking about two types of I. 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:11.600 If you've ever watched one of those home makeover shows on TV, you'll know how the experts always tell us that letting in as much natural light as possible to your home can totally transform your space. 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:13.140 You know that kind of stuff? 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:22.720 You know the house right opposite us on the other side of the street for weeks has had scaffolding up because they're ripping off the roof and putting in two massive skylights there. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.160 We kind of get this kind of thing. 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:30.559 And that's what Jesus has in mind here when he talks about the I being the lamp of the body. 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:35.299 It's an idiom that we might not get, but that's exactly what he's talking about. 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.819 What are you letting in? 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:39.140 What are you letting in? 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.440 Right? 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:44.340 And we talk on our phones, don't we, about doom scrolling. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:48.120 All of a sudden you look at your watch and think, goodness, there's 40 minutes gone. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.299 Where on earth is that gone? 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.779 Question, when you doom scroll, do you feel better or worse? 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.120 Right? 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:55.440 The clue's kind of in the name. 00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:57.400 We don't call it joy scrolling, do we? 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:03.300 We're used to this idea of what we let in influencing how we behave. 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:06.380 We're kidding ourselves if we think it doesn't. 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:10.180 What are we putting into our bodies? 00:20:10.280 --> 00:20:12.240 What are we putting in front of our eyes? 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:18.180 And Jesus is saying, see this investing in kingdom, think kingdom mindset. 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:38.560 If you put that in front of your eyes, if you fill your eyes with the beauties of God and the glories of the kingdom, if you put that in front of your eyes, and if you convince yourself by the Spirit that we're thinking long term with what we have, you put that in front of your eyes, it's going to totally transform everything else. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:44.720 For good, this treasure in heaven mindset, embrace it. 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.539 And what will it do? 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:48.519 It will turn you outwards. 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:56.599 And it's why some of your Bibles there, if you've got an NIV, I'm not sure it'll be the ESV, but you might have a footnote there that says generous. 00:20:59.139 --> 00:21:09.059 In other words, like a submarine coming to the surface, your periscope will be up looking for ways that you can bless people and serve God with what he's given you. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.460 Right? 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.759 You'll be outward. 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:23.160 But see, if you close that skylight and make treasure on earth your aim, then it will turn you inward. 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:26.519 And again, do you see the footnote there, if you've got one? 00:21:27.860 --> 00:21:28.340 Stingy. 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:33.240 Just want more and more. 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:36.720 And be self-serving with what we have. 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:41.140 You know that famous quote from John Rockefeller, America's first ever billionaire, 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:45.100 once asked, how much money does it take to make a man happy? 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:48.560 To which he replied, just one more dollar. 00:21:51.320 --> 00:21:53.180 One more bedroom on the house. 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:54.920 One more promotion at the job. 00:21:55.040 --> 00:21:57.040 One more holiday in the calendar. 00:21:57.600 --> 00:22:02.440 Friends, even when we chase these things, possessions and security, it's like drinking salt water. 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:10.440 It just leaves us thirsty and never, ever being quenched. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:14.820 And we become like Gollum with our stuff, don't we? 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:16.299 It is mine. 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:22.340 And all of that takes us to question three, which is really just Jesus trying to land the haymaker. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:22.960 Right? 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.960 He's going for the final punch. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.160 He moves to getting us off the fence. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.259 To helping us think about decision time. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:35.720 And so the question just comes, who are you living for? 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.600 And Jesus talks about two types of master. 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.620 Two types of treasure. 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.559 Two types of I. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.819 Two types of master. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:49.660 And when you dance with his language here, do you see how categorical he is? 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:52.019 When he says you cannot. 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.440 Do you see it? 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:55.779 You cannot serve both God and money. 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:57.740 You cannot have two masters. 00:22:58.320 --> 00:23:01.299 Jesus is talking here about an impossibility. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:09.500 But listen, maybe you're here and you hear that and you think, do you know what? 00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:11.080 See that whole serve two masters thing? 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:13.100 And I guess this is the gig economy, isn't it? 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:16.440 Listen, I've got two part-time jobs. 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:17.900 Right? 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.539 I've got my main job. 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:21.200 I've got a wee side hustle on the go. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:25.880 You know, Jesus, honestly, the first thing I've got on my CV is that I'm really good at multitasking. 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:35.960 But we need to appreciate that Jesus' listeners know fine well in this first century that a slave cannot have two masters. 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:37.820 Right? 00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:41.460 Just a whole economy based on that whole premise. 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:44.140 Slave cannot have two masters. 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:48.860 And Jesus is saying, at the end of the day, who's going to call the shots? 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:52.680 And I've got, my dad's got a wee parsinterrier. 00:23:52.800 --> 00:23:55.080 I'm not my dad, but they've got a little parsinterrier. 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:58.060 My dad takes it walking so often, takes it up the moors. 00:23:58.780 --> 00:24:04.180 I've gone for walks with him and heard him just shout from miles away and the dog just comes galloping towards him. 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.320 You ever done that with your dog? 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.859 But here's the scenario. 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.279 Imagine you're in a park. 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:12.379 And you take your dog for a walk. 00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:16.399 And all of a sudden, there's another person at the other side of the park who somehow knows your dog's name. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:19.359 And the two of you, the dog's in the middle. 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:22.559 And the two of you are shouting at the dog, come here, come here. 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.980 Heel boy, heel boy, come here, come here. 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:27.059 Question, who's the dog going to run to? 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.480 It's going to run to its owner, isn't it? 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:35.599 And that's the kind of thing that Jesus has in mind here. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:41.860 At some point, God and money are both going to shout at you for your devotion. 00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:47.220 At some point in your life, friends, that will happen if it's not already happened. 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:48.180 And do you know what? 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:53.000 You're going to have to work out which voice you're going to go to because you cannot go to both. 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:55.660 That's what Jesus is saying here. 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.700 Who are you going to run to? 00:24:57.700 --> 00:25:01.620 Dear friends, can I just say so many of us, because this is the start of a new term. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:07.140 I beg of you to get your head around what Jesus is saying of you here. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:12.420 Because some of you are at particular points in your careers, points in your life. 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:16.440 See, if you decide now who is your owner, who's going to call the shots, 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:19.559 it will save yourself so much heartache down the line. 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:25.720 Before the decision is thrown in front of you and what to borrow on your mortgage. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:31.180 And you think to yourself, see if we gave less to the church, we could get another bedroom. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.920 We could go into right move and go from three bed to four beds. 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.700 We could do that if we cut on our savings. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.460 Cut on what we give to the church. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.220 We could get our kids into that school catchment area and they could do really, really well. 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.940 Before that's thrown in front of you. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:49.740 Before the promotion is dangled like a carrot in front of you. 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.839 That will see your earnings skyrocket. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:55.559 But it will mean a move to another part of the world. 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:59.319 And you think to yourself, listen, we'll deal with the church thing when we get there. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:07.660 Friends, Jesus loves us enough to say, decide if you're going to serve God or you're going to serve money. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:12.500 When they both call, who are you going to run to? 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:20.039 And he leaves it on that note as if to say, decide today who you are going to serve. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:27.039 And if you know your Bible story, you know that question, decide today, is not new with Jesus. 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:30.680 It's the one that Joshua asked God's people. 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:33.059 It's the one that Moses asked God's people. 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:36.799 It's the one that God asked Adam and Eve right at the beginning of the Bible story. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:40.160 Choose this day who you are going to serve. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:48.840 And so Jesus, friends, as we bring this to a close, is getting us, so renewing our minds because he loves us by his spirit. 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:54.779 He wants us to have that first thought of think kingdom. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.880 Think kingdom. 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:08.100 You know, just as we close, for two of my university summers, I worked as a teller at the Clydesdale Bank. 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:14.000 If you're a certain generation, you'll think, I've never heard of Clydesdale Bank. 00:27:14.219 --> 00:27:16.879 Clydesdale Bank was bought by National Australia. 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:19.480 National Australia was bought by Virgin Bank. 00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:21.339 So, Virgin Bank, if you're looking for that. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.439 Worked at the bank for a couple of summers. 00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:26.819 One in Glasgow City Centre, one in Aberdeen City Centre. 00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:29.519 Went from a training the week before I started. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:37.319 And they train you when you're sitting at the front to ask two questions of every single customer that comes your way. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.960 Ready for these? 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.740 Question one. 00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:40.559 How would you like your cash? 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.819 Have you been asked that before? 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.879 And I was always struck me as a strange question. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.480 Always waiting for a cheeky Ouija to come along and say, how would I like my cash real, please? 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.339 But it never happened. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.279 How would you like your cash? 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.099 Question number one. 00:27:53.180 --> 00:28:01.440 Once you got through that, and particularly if you looked at their account and you could see there were some serious numbers, digits in their account for money, 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:03.359 you would hit them with the second question. 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:08.200 And the second question was, would you be interested in speaking to one of our financial advisors? 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:16.580 In other words, what you have, we want you to be investing it here. 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:22.019 And friends, that's exactly what Jesus is calling us to hear. 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:29.019 To invest the things that he has given to us, which, again, playing Monopoly with the kids yesterday. 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:30.940 Let's be honest, we have our fun, we have our fun. 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.819 And at the end of the day, it all goes back in the box. 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:38.980 What you have now, what he has given us now, invest it in his kingdom. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:45.460 It's almost like he's giving us a map, having marked heaven on it for us. 00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:49.879 And he's saying to us, X marks the spot. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:57.079 Where are you investing your money, your possessions, what we have, how are we doing? 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:59.500 Friends, feel the challenge of what Jesus is saying here. 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.379 We need to feel it. 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:03.220 But also feel the comfort. 00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:09.580 And if ever there's an excuse to play this wonderful quote from Jim Elliot, now is the time. 00:29:11.520 --> 00:29:13.540 Jim Elliot, wonderful man of God, missionary. 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:17.980 This line, friends, I think it was one of the most transformative in my life. 00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:25.620 He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. 00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:28.280 Amazing quote, right? 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:35.220 Let me pray. 00:29:35.220 --> 00:30:00.019 Father, we think of the words of the psalmist who would say, who on earth do I have beside you? 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:03.539 And what on heaven would I want apart from you? 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:09.119 And Lord, we pray, Lord, we recognize that this is fundamentally a heart issue. 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:15.680 Lord, we pray that you would so work in our hearts that we love Jesus. 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:23.960 Fascinated by him, captivated by him, our affections for him, Lord, that you would so capture our hearts. 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:37.079 Lord, that the things that you have given us, that we would so used to ask you, where do you fit into our lives? 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:46.079 But thank you that you invite us to see that the way more adventurous and exciting question is to think about what you are doing in the world. 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:50.279 And how by grace you have invited us into what you are doing in the world. 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:56.000 And to use what we have as small as we maybe think it is in that wonderful purpose. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:31:01.519 Father, thank you that you are a God who loves us and is in the business of transforming lives. 00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:07.319 Just, Lord, as this resonates, as the word goes forth, thank you that it will accomplish your purposes. 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:19.740 And so, Lord, I pray that as we finish our time together and as we have tea and coffee together and, Lord, as we interact and speak into each other's lives, Lord, that you would be encouraging us this morning, being at work in our hearts, we pray. 00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:21.939 All for Jesus' glory. 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:22.899 Amen. 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:23.980 Amen. 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.099 Amen. 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.099 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.099