WEBVTT

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 We continue our summer study of Proverbs today.

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 Please follow along in your bulletin as we share these verses.

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 In Proverbs 10.4, we find this.

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 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

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 In Proverbs 6.9.11,

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 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

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 When will you get up from your sleep?

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 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

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 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

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 And in Proverbs 12.11, it is written,

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 Those who work their land will have abundant food,

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 but those who chase fantasies have no sense.

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 This is the reading of God's Word.

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 Good morning, Watermark.

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 You all hear me?

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 Okay.

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 As you may have noticed, we have a couple of friends with us this morning.

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 So if you have not met anyone from the English Language Institute,

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 then make sure you'll meet someone afterwards for coffee or just hear their stories.

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 We're hosting this program the second time with Watermark.

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 And the students will be teaching in local middle schools.

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 And it's just really exciting to have you guys here and just see the energy of people coming all across the world

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 and serving here in Hong Kong.

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 So a big thank you for you guys raising support and following God's calling.

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 And just hope that you guys will also see what God is doing and the glimpse of Asia.

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 And hopefully many will return to serve full-time and long-term.

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 So you can give him a hand and just thank him for coming and serving with us.

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 Here at Watermark, we just started a new sermon series.

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 We're on a journey on the book of Proverbs and exploring a little bit more on that book.

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 And our message last week, I mentioned that most of our teaching,

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 we want actually to happen in community groups.

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 So I want to emphasize that again, that don't just come on Sundays,

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 but really try to get involved in community and join a community group

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 to really go deeper in what we are doing here.

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 But I also learned something last week, that most of the community groups are on summer break.

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 So there are two things that I want to highlight again.

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 So first of all, even though the community groups are on a summer break,

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 we still encourage you guys to get plugged in.

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 So contact us or talk to us afterwards in the foyer if you are not a part of a community group yet.

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 And then maybe you have a chance to meet a community group leader over dinner

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 and just get to know someone before the groups kick off again.

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 The second thing is, there's a study guide outside in the foyer,

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 a study guide to the sermon series.

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 So if you want, just pick one up.

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 And you may be able to just read through it on your own

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 or just think a little bit about the verses of today on there,

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 but also some questions to think about.

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 And so maybe you actually want to sit down with your family

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 and discuss some things as a family together as well

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 or just meet a friend over lunch or coffee.

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 So let me give you a quick recap of last week

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 because a lot of people haven't been here last week.

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 So we're talking about Proverbs.

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 And one of the things we talked about is the wisdom that is found in Proverbs.

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 Proverbs.

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 But we did qualify that the wisdom found in Proverbs is not a formula,

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 not like a one-to-one thing to apply to life,

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 but we do need to understand the context,

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 the people that we want to apply these Proverbs to,

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 the circumstances.

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 And then also we looked into the danger of applying Proverbs,

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 that when we take a proverb out of context,

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 that it may just throw us off.

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 And instead of actually consulting God through his scripture,

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 we are starting to just apply human wisdom to life situations however we want.

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 And so the third thing that we establish is in order to avoid that danger,

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 we need to have a kingdom perspective.

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 We need to have a good picture of what the kingdom of God is like

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 and what Christ is like in order to really interpret the scripture correctly.

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 Let me look a little bit more into what it means to have a kingdom perspective.

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 Like what do I mean by that term?

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 The Christian message is basically the message of God's reign,

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 of God's story unfolding of God's kingdom.

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 All of history is that story that unfolds.

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 In the beginning, God created a complete kingdom.

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 Everything in that kingdom was good.

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 The relationships were right.

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 The relationships among people were right.

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 The relationships with God were right.

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 But if you look around what is happening in this world right now,

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 it's pretty obvious that that's not the case anymore.

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 A lot of things in this world are broken.

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 And we see relationships broken.

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 But we also see that our culture and our societies are dysfunctional.

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 We see that our physical bodies and our emotions are damaged.

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 So we see that this complete kingdom that was good,

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 something has happened that is broken.

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 But the brokenness that we're experiencing right now

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 is not the end of the story as well.

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 As we continue to look at the story of history that God has taken us on,

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 God didn't leave it there.

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 But 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ stepped into the world.

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 God became man, stepped into human history to redeem a broken world.

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 So as Jesus steps in, he gives us a glimpse, a picture of that kingdom

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 that one day will be restored, a future perspective that we can hold on to

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 to actually see where God is guiding us.

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 So here we see the starting point of interpreting Proverbs

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 from that kingdom perspective, that kingdom that is restored,

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 that is not broken anymore.

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 And the clearest part of that vision is Jesus' death and resurrection.

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 On the cross, we see the forgiveness and the grace of Christ, of God,

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 about our shortcomings.

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 And in his resurrection, we see hope.

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 We see hope about the kingdom that one day will be restored.

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 So the story of his kingdom is about that whole journey of the kingdom

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 that once was and is now broken, and it will be restored and be made whole.

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 And in Christ's death and resurrection, we see that story unfolding.

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 So in our sermon series, we are on a journey to see,

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 so what do the Proverbs tell us about that story?

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 How do the Proverbs point us in a vision of that kingdom

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 that is to come to interpret the Proverbs correctly?

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 And today, we are picking a specific topic

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 that the Proverbs talk a lot about, and that is the topic of wealth.

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 Now, what does the Proverbs teach us on wealth?

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 Like, we are in a city that deals with wealth a lot.

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 So, I am thinking about coming to Hong Kong for the first time

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 and stepping off the plane.

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 Many of you have done that about a week and a half ago,

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 or probably just like Saturday or Sunday when you arrived.

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 You get off the plane, and especially when it is night,

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 it is pretty stunning to get off the plane,

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 and you see the skyline for the first time.

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 Or you see the energy of the city.

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 You guys have been out in Lantau, if you are here with the ELIC,

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 but when you step into the city, there is this energy about Hong Kong

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 that just really captures you, and you see the diversity of Hong Kong.

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 Two weeks ago, my wife and I, we came back from a vacation in Germany,

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 and when we stepped back off the plane,

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 and we drove down by taxi, we saw the skyline,

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 that excitement came back.

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 The excitement that I had seven years ago

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 when I first stepped off the plane, when I first moved to Hong Kong.

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 Not that Europe isn't great,

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 but there is something about Hong Kong that captivates me.

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 The city is buzzing around the clock.

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 A few days ago, I actually went down to the waterfront,

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 and I was just sitting there,

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 and I was thinking and praying about the sermon,

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 and just what's happening in life,

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 and I was seeing the offices lit,

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 and it was 11 p.m. at night, like all across,

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 there were offices, and people were working there,

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 and I was starting to wonder about the lives of the people

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 that are in these offices at that moment.

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 A lot of people here are working really long hours,

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 especially after coming back from Germany.

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 That really struck me.

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 I mean, Germans are known for being hard workers,

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 but to be honest, we like to relax at least as much.

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 We actually have a term in German, which is called Gemütlichkeit.

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 You know, like all German words are very, very long.

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 Gemütlichkeit basically means to do nothing.

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 It actually, it's kind of like being in a state of relaxation.

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 We sit in the sun when we have a day of Gemütlichkeit,

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 and we may be doing a little bit of barbecuing,

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 and a little bit of cake eating,

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 and a little bit of talking,

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 but mostly we do nothing.

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 We have two friends of ours here from the church

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 that just moved to Germany two months ago,

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 Angelo and Phoenix,

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 and if you have been in Watermark for a while,

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 you probably have seen him around serving a lot.

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 So they moved back,

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 and Phoenix is from Hong Kong,

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 but Angelo is from Germany.

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 And we met up with them while we were back in Germany.

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 It was very interesting,

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 like when I saw them again,

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 and I was thinking,

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 how is Phoenix adjusting to German Gemütlichkeit?

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 Like tell a Hong Kong person to do nothing for a whole day

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 and just sit in the sun.

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 I think the person goes crazy.

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 So I just wondered how Phoenix was doing with all that.

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 Germany must be a culture shock for a Hong Kong person

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 and seeing the pace of life in this city.

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 The Proverbs that we read,

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 they praise hard work,

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 and they criticize laziness.

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 As a German, I may have to look at that

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 and then try to justify,

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 oh, you know, it's just, you know,

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 we want to rest so that we can work more efficiently afterwards,

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 but the reality is,

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 I couldn't say that with clear conscience.

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 The Proverbs, so as you look at them,

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 you see that they talk about how hard work leads to wealth,

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 that wealth is a positive attribute,

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 wealth is good,

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 and poverty will strike the lazy.

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 And that we should not just dream all day,

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 but actually get things done

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 and do work.

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 So just listen to that first proverb in your bulletin,

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 lazy hands make for poverty,

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 but diligent hands bring wealth.

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 With that said,

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 let me tell you that I'm concerned

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 when I think about what this proverb does in our context,

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 when we take it as a formula

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 and apply it to Hong Kong life.

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 Looking at the current situation in Europe

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 and some European countries,

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 I think maybe we have to quote them

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 to some of our countries over there,

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 but we are in Hong Kong

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 and we want to look at

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 what the proverb means for us here

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 in the context that we live in.

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 When I watch people live their lives,

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 I can see the extremes unfolding.

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 I can see that it may not be laziness

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 that we struggle here with,

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 but the value we put in work and wealth.

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 The values that are meant to be good,

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 but actually they turn somehow

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 into something negative.

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 When I see people working long hours

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 and how it starts to affect their families,

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 how everything begins to revolve

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 around gathering material possession.

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 Over the last six, seven years

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 that I've been working with college students,

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 just had a reoccurring conversation.

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 Many talked about the pressure

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 and the competition they are facing

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 and how they deal with that pressure.

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 I've seen others that were broken,

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 students and high school kids

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 that are broken

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 in just that feeling of loneliness

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 and a lack of self-esteem,

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 thinking that the only value they get

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 if they perform right

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 and if they do everything right,

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 that society and maybe sometimes

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 even their families expect from them.

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 So I see that

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 and that constant fear

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 of falling short of expectations

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 and having to perform.

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 I have had conversations about suicide,

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 that it's actually even better

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 to not even be here and be gone

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 than living up to the expectation

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 that it's less of a shame

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 if they be gone

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 than failing in that.

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 I mean, this is not just an extreme scenario.

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 This is a constant conversation

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 I have on the campus.

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 So when I read the Proverbs

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 and I hear about hard work,

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 I see the positive value in it

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 and how in the scripture

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 we see that value praised.

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 But immediately I see that tension,

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 the danger that we apply this proverb

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 as a formula.

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 Seeing the context in Hong Kong,

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 I think we could justify anything.

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 Our society, everyone else works hard.

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 And even the Bible tells you

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 that you need to work hard

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 and gain wealth.

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 So what is God saying

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 about how we should apply that proverb?

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 We want to go on the journey today,

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 but before we do that,

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 we just want to be able to rest

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 and breathe

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 and gain that kingdom perspective again.

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 We want to take a few minutes

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 to just continue worship

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 and for you to allow

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 to see where are you with that.

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 What are the stories in your life?

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 What are the stories

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 in the lives of your families?

00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:56.620
 Do you live a healthy rhythm?

00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.799
 What extreme do you fall on

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:01.080
 in that proverb?

00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:05.059
 In Proverbs 3, 9 to 10,

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.039
 we find this.

00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:09.039
 Honour the Lord with your wealth,

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.319
 with the firstfruits

00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:11.339
 of all your crops.

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.240
 Then your barns will be filled

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.019
 to overflowing

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.919
 and your vats will brim over

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.959
 with the new wine.

00:14:18.339 --> 00:14:19.959
 In Proverbs 11, 28,

00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:23.219
 those who trust in riches will fall,

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.919
 but the righteous will thrive

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.120
 like a green leaf.

00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:29.259
 Proverbs 15, 16,

00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:31.319
 better a little with the fear of the Lord

00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:33.659
 than great wealth with turmoil.

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:36.620
 Proverbs 15, 17,

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:39.419
 better a small serving of vegetables

00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.500
 with love

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:42.860
 than a fattened calf with hatred.

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.939
 In Proverbs 16, 19,

00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:46.899
 it is written,

00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:50.240
 better to be lowly in spirit

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.699
 along with the oppressed

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:53.199
 than to share plunder

00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:54.480
 with the proud.

00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:58.639
 And in Proverbs 19, 22,

00:14:58.919 --> 00:14:59.500
 it says,

00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:02.860
 What a person desires

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:04.399
 is unfailing love.

00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.379
 Better to be poor

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.480
 than a liar.

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.539
 This is the reading

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.419
 of God's word.

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.419
 Last week,

00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.419
 we talked about a metaphor

00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.779
 for the kingdom of God.

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.820
 It is like a rug

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.899
 and you see the pictures up here.

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.480
 It's like a rug.

00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:21.519
 On one side,

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.100
 you see the back side

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.019
 and it's broken

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:25.700
 and the colors are not very clear

00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:27.120
 and you see the knots

00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.480
 and the threads dangling down.

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:30.060
 Maybe the rug is not completed

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.379
 and you don't even know

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:33.080
 what the picture will one day be.

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:35.200
 And so we look at the world

00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.519
 and from our perspective

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.740
 and we can't see the kingdom.

00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:40.259
 And for us,

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.360
 the suffering around us

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.139
 doesn't make sense

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.159
 and different things

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.019
 that happen around us,

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:44.840
 they don't make sense

00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.060
 in light of where we are right now

00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:48.180
 and what we are able to see

00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:48.560
 of the kingdom.

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.340
 But for God,

00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:50.899
 here's the other perspective.

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:54.080
 God sees the beauty

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.220
 of his redeemed creation.

00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:58.139
 He sees the beautiful picture

00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.360
 of how he made everything

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.299
 and how he intended things to be

00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:03.620
 and what he is moving things towards.

00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.639
 So we need a glimpse

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.340
 of the kingdom,

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.419
 of that picture,

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.100
 of the perspective

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.100
 that God has

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:12.319
 in order to make sense

00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.120
 of this broken world

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.860
 all around us.

00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.860
 And when it comes to wealth,

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:18.220
 this is one of the big topics

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.799
 in the city.

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.819
 And we can so easily

00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:22.120
 lose perspective.

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.039
 we can so easily

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:25.679
 lose God's perspective

00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.980
 on that issue.

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.879
 And Jesus consistently

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.600
 talks about material possession

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.919
 more than pretty much

00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:31.740
 anything else

00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:33.460
 because he knows

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.000
 that it's something

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.700
 we struggle with.

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.299
 It so easily

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.779
 can turn into our idol,

00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.620
 into our God,

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.240
 and we can so easily

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.620
 lose that perspective.

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.659
 The world instills us,

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.159
 in us,

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.879
 that value

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.480
 of how important wealth is

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.299
 and how it's important

00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:49.059
 to gather stuff.

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.439
 Even religion

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:52.219
 is so often used

00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:52.939
 in that same way.

00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.259
 Like in the city

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.559
 you may have temples

00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:56.779
 and fortune tellers

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.779
 and so at the beginning

00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.240
 of the year

00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.179
 people may go there

00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.179
 and make sure that

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:01.639
 maybe I'll pay a few dollars

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.179
 and make sure that

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.379
 I know what I need to do

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:04.359
 so that my business

00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.119
 will be successful,

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.460
 that I will be prosperous

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.059
 this year.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.299
 But it's even

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.279
 a danger

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.920
 to look at the church

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.519
 in that way.

00:17:14.300 --> 00:17:14.860
 There's something

00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:16.080
 we call the prosperity gospel

00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:17.300
 that the message

00:17:17.300 --> 00:17:18.900
 is that God

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:20.039
 just wants us

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.120
 to be wealthy

00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:21.640
 and healthy.

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.440
 And we see that scripture

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.500
 in 3, 9 to 10

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.100
 that so easily

00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:26.039
 can be looked at that.

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.039
 Honor the Lord

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:27.640
 with your wealth,

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.300
 with the first fruits

00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:28.960
 of all your crops

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.300
 and then we may only focus on

00:17:30.300 --> 00:17:31.039
 that your barns

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.539
 will be filled

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.259
 with overflowing

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.120
 and your vets

00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:33.820
 will brim over

00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.560
 with new wine.

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.480
 It's like this magic formula.

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.100
 If I'm just,

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.380
 you know,

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.200
 honoring with like

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.300
 a little bit of my money

00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:41.900
 then I'll be

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:42.300
 a millionaire

00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:42.800
 in a heartbeat.

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.960
 It's like the slot machine.

00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:45.060
 I put one coin in

00:17:45.060 --> 00:17:46.100
 and I just need

00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:46.740
 to know the formula

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.780
 and then all the coins

00:17:47.780 --> 00:17:48.360
 will come down

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:51.380
 and we look at a proverb

00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:52.680
 and we want to interpret

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.300
 it in that way

00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:54.300
 because that's kind of

00:17:54.300 --> 00:17:55.140
 like what the world

00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:55.759
 tells us

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.680
 how we should look

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.200
 at the world.

00:17:58.340 --> 00:17:59.180
 So we want to go

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.700
 on that journey

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.220
 on like looking

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.060
 at a few proverbs

00:18:01.060 --> 00:18:02.420
 that give us

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.820
 a bit more whole,

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.420
 a more wider perspective

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.400
 on wealth.

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.060
 So we have established

00:18:07.060 --> 00:18:07.980
 wealth is good,

00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.600
 hard work is good,

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.819
 but there are

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.500
 certain values,

00:18:12.639 --> 00:18:13.199
 certain perspectives

00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:13.899
 of the kingdom

00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:16.000
 that stand in relationship.

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:18.319
 It's not a separate

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.779
 attribute that we can

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.480
 take wealth

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:21.919
 and separate

00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:22.899
 from everything else.

00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:23.699
 So we will be going

00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:25.079
 through five proverbs

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:27.399
 that will show us

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.699
 about that a little bit.

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:29.539
 I want to give you

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.059
 one example

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.359
 that grows out

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.740
 of our team experience

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.199
 here with our

00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:34.000
 Watermax staff.

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.900
 There's a good friend

00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:36.259
 of ours,

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.779
 Lincoln Liu,

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.660
 that does personality

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:40.039
 assessment exams

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.460
 with us.

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.019
 And so he did that

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.819
 with the whole staff

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.559
 and one thing we found

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.660
 out of like 20 people,

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:44.779
 there are like 16,

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.000
 70 people that are blue.

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.079
 Now what does blue mean?

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.019
 So what it means

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.500
 to be blue

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.400
 is that we are

00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.420
 visionaries

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.160
 and dreamers

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.359
 and future oriented people.

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.900
 Now that in itself

00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.880
 is not surprising.

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:58.180
 We are a church plant.

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.339
 So a new church

00:18:59.339 --> 00:18:59.980
 that only has been here

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.660
 for a year and a half.

00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:01.779
 So we've attracted people

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.779
 that didn't just want

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.640
 to keep the status quo

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:05.020
 but we wanted to venture out

00:19:05.020 --> 00:19:05.920
 and do something new

00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.520
 and change the community

00:19:07.520 --> 00:19:08.220
 around us.

00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:09.800
 And so a lot of visionaries

00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.440
 got together and said,

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.320
 yeah, we want to dream

00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:11.960
 something new.

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.640
 Now the value

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.300
 of dreaming something new

00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:16.660
 and being future oriented,

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.180
 I think it's a great value.

00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:20.420
 But what if we would not have

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.960
 Millen and Sylvie?

00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:23.600
 They are not like

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.380
 so highly blue.

00:19:25.820 --> 00:19:26.980
 They are more the doers.

00:19:28.060 --> 00:19:28.620
 They are the ones

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.920
 that will say,

00:19:30.060 --> 00:19:30.440
 hey, you know,

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.259
 it's great that you're dreaming

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.900
 but we need to get

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.420
 something done.

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.300
 We can talk about

00:19:34.300 --> 00:19:35.640
 planting a church for years

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.300
 but we need to figure out

00:19:37.300 --> 00:19:38.039
 how to do tech

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.880
 and how to set it up

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.640
 and how to invite people

00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.580
 and what we do

00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:41.340
 once they get there

00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:42.039
 and what discipleship

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.680
 program do we do

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.800
 and all these questions

00:19:43.800 --> 00:19:44.440
 that the dreamers

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.120
 never get to.

00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:46.500
 So what you see,

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:47.920
 the value of dreaming

00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:48.960
 is good

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.180
 but if it doesn't allow

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:51.960
 for anything else,

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.320
 suddenly you take away

00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:53.880
 from the richness

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.539
 of the value.

00:19:55.800 --> 00:19:56.759
 So here we see that

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.740
 wealth in itself

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.039
 is described as something good

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.259
 but what can happen

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.259
 for wealth

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.180
 to be taken out

00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:02.759
 of perspective

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.440
 and losing

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.659
 what it was meant

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.059
 to be,

00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.519
 a blessing.

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.920
 So the first proverb

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.599
 that I want to go into

00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.200
 from the bulletin

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.059
 is Proverbs 1517.

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.180
 Better a small serving

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.639
 of vegetables

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.220
 with love

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.859
 than a fattened calf

00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.899
 with hatred.

00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:20.700
 A few weeks ago

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:22.339
 I met for a discipleship meeting

00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:23.659
 with one of the mainland students

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.440
 that I met

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.339
 about three years ago.

00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.879
 He became a Christian here

00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.100
 while studying in Hong Kong

00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.900
 and after his graduation

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.860
 his dad helped him

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.900
 to get a job

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.780
 in the finance sector.

00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:35.140
 Now that he has been

00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:35.920
 in that sector

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.920
 working for a while

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.980
 he starts to realize

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.840
 I am not really

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.500
 the kind of person

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.360
 that should necessarily

00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.380
 do this kind of job

00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:43.340
 and it's not really

00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.360
 what I expected to do

00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:45.100
 and so he shared that

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.740
 with his father

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.460
 and his father

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.520
 got furious.

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.900
 He basically threatened him

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:52.280
 if you quit this job

00:20:52.280 --> 00:20:53.920
 you never call me again

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.660
 you don't even my son anymore.

00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:58.300
 Now to see the dimensions

00:20:58.300 --> 00:20:59.440
 of what was happening there

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.340
 the father used his relationships

00:21:01.340 --> 00:21:03.220
 to get him into that job

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:05.040
 but he also made very clear

00:21:05.040 --> 00:21:06.980
 that I'm investing in you

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.120
 I've invested in your education

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:09.000
 I'm investing into you

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.780
 having this job

00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:11.180
 and I'm expecting a return

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.880
 of my investment

00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:13.540
 and if you're trying

00:21:13.540 --> 00:21:14.780
 to step out of this

00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:16.680
 then I don't want to talk

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.300
 to you anymore

00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:19.180
 you're losing your value to me.

00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:22.180
 What I see there is

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:24.120
 that the proverb highlights

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.160
 that we have been reading

00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:26.040
 that in kingdom

00:21:26.040 --> 00:21:26.900
 in the God's kingdom

00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:28.180
 the value of relationship

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.340
 matters a lot

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:33.180
 and it is valued more

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.759
 than just having wealth.

00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.580
 Rather live a little

00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:39.080
 but in loving relationships

00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:40.200
 that's pretty much

00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.620
 what the proverb says.

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.040
 I've seen that many times

00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:44.240
 in how relationships

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.880
 are endangered

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.680
 and break apart

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.860
 because of money issues.

00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:49.519
 Just think about inheritance.

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:52.040
 How many people here today

00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:53.580
 have either in their own family

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.619
 or in the friendship circle

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:56.179
 seen relationships

00:21:56.179 --> 00:21:58.259
 being challenged

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.220
 or breaking apart

00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.399
 people never talking to you

00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:01.879
 because of an inheritance.

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.720
 It's money people

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.659
 didn't even work for

00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:06.799
 but the jealousy creeps in

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.139
 that you want to have that

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:09.159
 and the money

00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.539
 will destroy relationships.

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:14.059
 So are relationships

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.339
 in our lives

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:18.159
 in danger because of money issues?

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:21.040
 has there ever been

00:22:21.040 --> 00:22:21.660
 a relationship

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:23.660
 that has fallen

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.940
 out of your life

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.860
 because of money involved

00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:27.960
 and wealth?

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.740
 So we see the value

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:33.420
 of relationships

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.540
 standing in that tension

00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:37.060
 with the value of wealth.

00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:39.160
 Now let's look at

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:40.140
 the second proverb

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.600
 that challenges

00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:43.120
 that absolute value of wealth.

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.240
 It's 1619.

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.440
 There it says,

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.440
 better to be lowly

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:46.880
 and spared

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:48.120
 along with the oppressed

00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:49.320
 than to share plunder

00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.640
 with the proud.

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.140
 It's not a secret

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:54.120
 that money

00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:55.120
 is a huge status symbol

00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.640
 in the city.

00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:57.620
 Author Henry Nouwen

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.279
 writes that

00:22:58.279 --> 00:23:00.539
 the world tells us

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.279
 that our identity

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.140
 is found in

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:03.240
 what we do

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.840
 and what we have

00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.460
 and what people

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.920
 think about us.

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.400
 So your identity

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.400
 is found in

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.700
 the things you do

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:13.360
 the things you have

00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:14.160
 and what people

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.000
 say about you.

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.519
 Now,

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.860
 we can transfer that

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.400
 to Hong Kong

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.059
 and it's pretty obvious

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.160
 that we find value

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.039
 in where we live

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.160
 and which part of town

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.779
 we live in

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.059
 what kind of flat

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.380
 we have.

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.140
 The titles on our name card

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:29.039
 and the clothes we're wearing

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.320
 or the club we go to.

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.980
 And we may say

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.259
 it doesn't really matter to me.

00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:33.920
 Like it doesn't really

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.660
 add so much value

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:36.019
 but I think we are walking

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.980
 sometimes on a very fine line

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.900
 that pride,

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.820
 the idol of pride

00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:40.720
 can creep in

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:42.840
 and take over our lives

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:44.240
 and we don't even notice it.

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.120
 As a church,

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.559
 we are located

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.640
 next to the Bel Airs.

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:50.240
 It's a place of prestige.

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.600
 Just the setup

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.580
 of our congregation.

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.259
 Being an international church,

00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.700
 it's already obvious

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.539
 that we are

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.519
 a part of the

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.180
 higher classes

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.960
 of society

00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.200
 and many of us

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.400
 have a pretty impressive

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.320
 name card probably.

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:05.439
 so we look at that

00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:05.839
 and we see

00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.839
 we are challenged

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.519
 with that wealth

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:11.539
 that we may have.

00:24:11.939 --> 00:24:12.919
 Does it challenge us

00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:14.019
 in our kingdom attitude?

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:17.359
 And I think that

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.599
 it's such a danger

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:21.519
 to just become prideful

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.000
 in that.

00:24:22.899 --> 00:24:24.159
 I have a couple of questions

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.019
 that we could ask

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.119
 ourselves

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:26.619
 and see like

00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.500
 does it apply to me?

00:24:27.659 --> 00:24:28.720
 And one would be

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.559
 think of the story

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.899
 of the rich young ruler.

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:33.019
 And he is asked

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.480
 to leave everything behind

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.380
 so if someone would come to you

00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.940
 and get rid of all your wealth

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.400
 tomorrow,

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.560
 do you feel that

00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.280
 your identity

00:24:40.280 --> 00:24:41.759
 would get lost in that?

00:24:43.060 --> 00:24:44.200
 Or have you had nothing

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.019
 on your name card

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.920
 and every time you would

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.519
 pass your name card

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.400
 you would just have your name

00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:49.680
 and like a nun

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.420
 like in title

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.180
 or something like that?

00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.700
 Would you be embarrassed?

00:24:54.040 --> 00:24:54.759
 How would you feel

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.440
 about passing

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.519
 that name card around

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.720
 in your job situation?

00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.319
 Like would you struggle

00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.799
 with kind of like

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.319
 feeling worthless

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.420
 and having nothing to offer?

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.440
 Or just think about

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:06.000
 who are the people

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.220
 that you spent time with

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.440
 last week

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.120
 and last month?

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.420
 Was there anyone

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:13.539
 that you spent time with

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.480
 really getting to know

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.019
 a person

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.360
 that had nothing

00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:16.900
 to offer

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.779
 to you?

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.420
 Humility grows out

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.100
 of that awareness

00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:24.039
 that everything

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.940
 comes from God.

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:27.080
 If we admit

00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:28.920
 all the things we have

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:30.080
 we are the stewards.

00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:32.500
 We are not the owners.

00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.299
 We realize

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.580
 it is God

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.460
 who is the maker

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.000
 of everything.

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.059
 And I think this

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:39.480
 puts back into perspective

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:42.160
 the wealth

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.779
 and

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.279
 may

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.539
 challenge us

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.200
 in our pride.

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:46.799
 The third proverb

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.320
 in the list

00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:49.000
 contrasts

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.960
 an honest character

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:52.180
 with wealth.

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.480
 On a wider scope

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.860
 our character

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.360
 in general

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:58.000
 that for the kingdom

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.819
 character matters

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.279
 more

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.220
 than the wealth

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.819
 we accumulate.

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.900
 The proverbs reads

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:04.059
 in 1922

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:05.740
 what a person desires

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.920
 is unfailing love

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:08.480
 better to be poor

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.360
 than to be a liar.

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.900
 After working

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:15.200
 in a German private bank

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.940
 I entered

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.839
 an elite business school

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.299
 in Germany.

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.839
 I had just become

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.220
 a Christian

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:21.500
 and so I entered

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.000
 that school

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.420
 and there were

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.460
 about 300 students.

00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.039
 the reputation

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.799
 of that school

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.600
 was to kind of

00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.460
 be the outstanding

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.059
 school

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.279
 to shape

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.880
 the future

00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:30.460
 business leaders

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.059
 of Germany.

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.340
 Almost every one

00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:34.200
 of my classmates

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:36.120
 came from a high class

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.460
 either

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.840
 business or

00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.759
 company owners

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.059
 high politicians

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:43.519
 and

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:45.340
 thinking back

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:45.779
 at the time

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.200
 I have to say

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.680
 it was probably

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.360
 one of the worst

00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:47.880
 environments

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.440
 for my character

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:49.779
 formation

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.220
 that I've ever

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.980
 been in my life.

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:53.019
 I could tell you

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.599
 a lot of stories

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.360
 about why

00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:54.900
 that's true

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.360
 but there's one

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.180
 story that

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.079
 kind of struck me

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:58.620
 and stuck with me

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.339
 over the years.

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.180
 One of the students

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.200
 was the son

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.740
 of one of the

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.200
 European national

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.160
 coaches for football.

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.819
 He spoke barely

00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.360
 any English

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:07.920
 or German.

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.099
 It was pretty obvious

00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.420
 that he would

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.079
 probably not pass

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.740
 any exams

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.240
 and that he was

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:14.360
 accepted to the school

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.460
 was kind of strange

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:17.140
 but when exams

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.940
 periods come

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.420
 his dad would

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.220
 come flying in

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.860
 he would meet

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:21.180
 with the dean

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.740
 of the school

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.660
 and his son

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.039
 would pass

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.740
 another semester.

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.059
 I guess I

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.940
 shouldn't be surprised

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.579
 that's what

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.640
 wealth can do

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:31.120
 but when I

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:32.200
 thought about

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.900
 that and

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.680
 I was in that

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.180
 school and I

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.759
 saw these things

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.360
 happening around me

00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:36.240
 I asked myself

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.640
 just having become

00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.200
 a Christian

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.980
 what does it do

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.680
 to my character?

00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.940
 I just couldn't

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.200
 stay.

00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:43.680
 I actually

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.539
 left the school

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.000
 and transferred

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.899
 to a school

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.399
 in the UK

00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:48.399
 because I was

00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:48.940
 concerned about

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.440
 my character

00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.019
 transformation

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.599
 formation

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:51.920
 and

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:56.359
 so I'm

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:56.899
 looking at

00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.920
 the story

00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.039
 and I'm asking

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.440
 myself

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.059
 what is the

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.659
 kind of DNA

00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:01.899
 that the people

00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.399
 around me

00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:02.980
 rub on me

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.019
 the environments

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.079
 that I step

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.500
 into

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:09.119
 when I look

00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:09.539
 at the people

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.079
 that surround

00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.680
 myself

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.539
 the mentors

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.099
 that I allow

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:12.680
 to speak

00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.059
 into my

00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.500
 lives

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.240
 the job

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.700
 environments

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.160
 the family

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.700
 environment

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.740
 what is the

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.299
 kind of DNA

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.759
 that all

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.180
 this rubs

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.599
 on you

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:21.140
 so how

00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:21.799
 in all that

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.119
 can we

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.740
 make sure

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.500
 that somehow

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.960
 the kingdom

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.380
 DNA

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.200
 is rubbed

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:26.460
 on us

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:26.799
 more than

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.539
 anything else

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.700
 how is

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.500
 the kingdom

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.400
 rubbing

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.359
 its DNA

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.220
 how is

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.680
 Christ

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.119
 rubbing

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.500
 his DNA

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.039
 more on

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.380
 us

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:36.240
 than the

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.519
 world

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:38.279
 I'm not

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.660
 saying

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.559
 that you

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:39.920
 should do

00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.299
 what the

00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:40.920
 disciples did

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.559
 2000 years

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:41.879
 ago

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:43.379
 basically

00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:43.759
 what they

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.000
 did

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.859
 in order

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.399
 to secure

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:45.639
 that

00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:45.799
 is

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:45.980
 they

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.200
 left

00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:46.359
 their

00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:46.659
 lives

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:46.859
 they

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.000
 left

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.159
 their

00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.539
 families

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.099
 they

00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.319
 joined

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:48.639
 Jesus

00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:48.899
 and

00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.599
 for 24-7

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:49.980
 for the next

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.480
 three years

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.000
 they would

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.819
 live and breathe

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.279
 and eat

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.519
 and learn

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:52.879
 everything

00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.200
 he had

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.619
 to say

00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:55.799
 now

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:57.500
 some of us

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:57.899
 may have to

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.279
 do something

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.799
 like that

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.659
 but in general

00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:00.000
 that's I

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.460
 don't think

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.079
 the point

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.659
 the point

00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.259
 is to evaluate

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.960
 our lives

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.440
 like one of

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:04.819
 the values

00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.319
 that we have

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.700
 emphasized

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.259
 over and over

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.759
 again in our

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.159
 churches

00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:08.159
 to be a part

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.659
 of a community

00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.019
 group

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.460
 and why

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:09.720
 is that

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.200
 the case

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.740
 because we

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.680
 feel that

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.539
 two hours

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:12.960
 on Sunday

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.420
 morning

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.119
 competing

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.160
 with 50

00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.839
 hours of

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:17.139
 family lives

00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:17.740
 100 hours

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.119
 of work

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.379
 and the

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:18.900
 values

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.500
 that we

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.079
 hear there

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.119
 will it

00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.500
 really be

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:21.839
 the right

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.180
 DNA

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:23.279
 so how

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.579
 can we

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:23.940
 ensure

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.759
 that we

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.099
 have

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.960
 that DNA

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.660
 of Christ

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.379
 alive in

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:27.799
 us most

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.079
 of our

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:28.400
 week

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:30.180
 hopefully

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.420
 in our

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.740
 community

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.039
 groups

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.859
 the conversation

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.539
 will be

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:32.740
 there

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.519
 that encourage

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.400
 ourselves

00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:35.160
 to question

00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.420
 how do we

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:36.960
 live out

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.859
 the life

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.400
 of Christ

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.720
 hopefully

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.019
 these

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.380
 conversations

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.720
 will happen

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:40.960
 in our

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.320
 family

00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:41.920
 in the

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.180
 table

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.940
 around

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.280
 with our

00:29:43.280 --> 00:29:43.720
 kids

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.540
 that we

00:29:44.540 --> 00:29:44.980
 see the

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.300
 DNA

00:29:45.300 --> 00:29:46.140
 being alive

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.440
 in our

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.019
 families

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.440
 but also

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.820
 that we

00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:49.240
 need to

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.220
 be ready

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.580
 to go

00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:50.920
 into our

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.320
 jobs

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.400
 and live

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:52.740
 out

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.640
 the kingdom

00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.060
 values

00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:54.380
 in our

00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:54.840
 jobs

00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:55.860
 when I

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.280
 think back

00:29:56.280 --> 00:29:56.620
 at the

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.040
 time

00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:57.220
 in the

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.440
 business

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:57.720
 school

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.220
 I wonder

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.420
 whether

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:58.800
 today

00:29:58.800 --> 00:29:59.080
 I would

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.360
 make a

00:29:59.360 --> 00:29:59.580
 different

00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.100
 choice

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:02.920
 almost

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:04.019
 11 years

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.280
 ago

00:30:04.280 --> 00:30:04.740
 when I

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.100
 left

00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:06.280
 I don't

00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:06.540
 think I

00:30:06.540 --> 00:30:06.940
 was ready

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.280
 to have

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.579
 my

00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:08.960
 DNA

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.299
 rub

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.539
 on

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:09.759
 that

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.099
 school

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:11.920
 but maybe

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.339
 that's the

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:12.519
 choice

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:12.720
 that I

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.019
 would make

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.399
 today

00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:14.039
 seeing

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.859
 that we

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.440
 are called

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.420
 to step

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:16.720
 into the

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.160
 dark places

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:17.519
 of this

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:17.799
 world

00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.579
 and allowing

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.099
 to Christ

00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.599
 be rubbed

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.079
 on to

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.599
 the world

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:23.480
 but we

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.779
 need to be

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.180
 ready for

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.599
 this so

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.079
 maybe some

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.440
 questions

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:25.680
 that we

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:25.920
 need to

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.160
 ask

00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.579
 ourselves

00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:26.940
 is

00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.559
 what are

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:27.940
 the parts

00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.200
 in your

00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:28.500
 life

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.920
 that rub

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.539
 the kingdom

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:29.859
 DNA

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.440
 on you

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:32.379
 where Christ

00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.059
 grows in

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.200
 you

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.559
 where you

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.000
 decrease

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.680
 but Christ

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.539
 increases

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.799
 what are

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.299
 the aspects

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.159
 of your

00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:38.519
 life

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:38.920
 that draw

00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.539
 you away

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.759
 from the

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.019
 kingdom

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.399
 DNA

00:30:41.399 --> 00:30:45.839
 how does

00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:46.539
 the pursuit

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.299
 of wealth

00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:49.240
 impact your

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.700
 character

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:51.059
 and the

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.619
 DNA that

00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:52.139
 you breathe

00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:52.500
 and live

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:52.839
 by

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:55.500
 the next

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.680
 proverb

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.440
 confronts the

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.619
 value of

00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.000
 wealth on

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.879
 an even

00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.839
 deeper level

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.279
 again let me

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.299
 say wealth

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:03.879
 itself is not

00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.299
 the problem

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.119
 it's a positive

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.539
 attribute

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:06.359
 but the

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:06.879
 proverbs show

00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.200
 us the

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.759
 danger if

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.559
 wealth becomes

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.220
 more important

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.220
 than other

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:10.960
 values or they

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.659
 are taken out

00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:11.879
 of that

00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.480
 relationship

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.299
 with other

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.940
 values so

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.539
 here the

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.039
 fourth proverb

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.480
 1128 says

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.379
 those who trust

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.879
 in their riches

00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:18.639
 will fall but

00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:19.500
 the righteous

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:21.059
 will thrive

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.779
 like a green

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.220
 leaf

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:24.000
 so here

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.519
 righteousness

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.200
 makes us

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.799
 blossom and

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.279
 bloom but

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.919
 putting our

00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.460
 trust in

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.220
 wealth makes

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.960
 us fall

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:31.119
 so what's

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.539
 righteousness

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.059
 righteousness

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:33.180
 is an

00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:33.740
 attribute that

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.279
 implies that

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.960
 a person

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.819
 is living a

00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:38.099
 life that's

00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:38.599
 pleasing to

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:38.960
 God

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:41.539
 so do I

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.420
 live a life

00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:42.899
 pleasing to

00:31:42.899 --> 00:31:43.200
 God

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.279
 I grew up

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.579
 in a pretty

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.660
 secular society

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:47.579
 so when I

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.079
 think about the

00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.599
 question did I

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:49.119
 live a life

00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.619
 pleasing to

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.980
 God I would

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.759
 say oh we

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.200
 are pretty good

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.079
 people like I

00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.379
 don't hurt

00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:55.160
 anyone I do

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.799
 my job I pay

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.500
 my tax I don't

00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.160
 break the law

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.619
 I even give to

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.359
 some charities I

00:31:59.359 --> 00:31:59.700
 help some

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.480
 neighbors must be

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.039
 a life that's

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.799
 pretty pleasing to

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.960
 God but I

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.319
 think what we

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.840
 need to look

00:32:04.840 --> 00:32:05.400
 at again is

00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:05.680
 a kingdom

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.360
 perspective so

00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.799
 what does the

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.440
 scripture say

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:09.819
 when we look

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.420
 at what the

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:10.940
 term righteousness

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.559
 really means

00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:13.340
 so in Romans

00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:14.279
 4 4 to 5

00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:14.720
 this is not a

00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.259
 new bulletin but

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.600
 you can just

00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:16.480
 listen I'm using

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.100
 this one from the

00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:18.120
 message paraphrase

00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:19.200
 and it's really

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.920
 interesting so here

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.380
 righteousness

00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:21.660
 described as the

00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.799
 following if you

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.519
 are a hard

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.960
 worker and you

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.759
 do a good job

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.480
 then you deserve

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:28.240
 your pay we

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.799
 don't you call

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.660
 your wages a

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:31.559
 gift but if you

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.099
 see that the

00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.819
 job is too

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.460
 big for you

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.500
 that it's

00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.179
 something only

00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:35.940
 God can do

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:37.659
 and you trust

00:32:37.659 --> 00:32:38.559
 him to do it

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.740
 you could never

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.259
 do it for

00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.879
 yourself no

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.259
 matter how

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.799
 hard and how

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.139
 long you

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:42.839
 worked well

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.599
 that trusting

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.379
 in him to do

00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.019
 it is what

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.539
 gets you set

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:45.960
 right with

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:47.220
 God by God

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.220
 sheer gift

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.619
 let me read

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.359
 that again so

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.980
 if you are a

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.639
 hard worker and

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.039
 you do a good

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.740
 job and you

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.480
 deserve your pay

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.319
 and that's not

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:56.179
 a gift but if

00:32:56.179 --> 00:32:56.839
 you see that this

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.480
 job that you're

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.639
 doing is too

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.259
 big for you to

00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.000
 do that it's

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.740
 only something

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.519
 that God can

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:03.680
 do and you

00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:04.440
 you have to

00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:05.039
 trust him to

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.819
 do it you

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.359
 could never do

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:06.940
 it yourself no

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.480
 matter how hard

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:07.839
 or long you

00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.680
 worked well that

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.680
 trusting in him

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:11.279
 to do it is

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:11.759
 what gets you

00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.420
 set right with

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:13.400
 God by God

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:16.480
 sheer gift so

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.299
 the job for us

00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.660
 to become

00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.839
 righteous is too

00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.480
 big for us to

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:21.759
 do like no

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.279
 matter how hard

00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:22.900
 we work no

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.339
 matter what

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.099
 whatever we do

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.420
 we cannot get

00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:26.220
 by our strengths

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:28.460
 right with God

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:30.059
 God is perfect

00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:31.259
 and holy who

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:31.819
 could ever say

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.620
 that I have

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.640
 lived my day

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.420
 holy and

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:36.259
 perfect so we

00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:37.000
 fall short of

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.779
 what God created

00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:39.819
 us to be so

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.900
 this job of

00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:41.579
 leading a God

00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.559
 honoring life is

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.519
 too big for us

00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.340
 we wrestle with

00:33:44.340 --> 00:33:44.960
 pride we wrestle

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.700
 with arrogance we

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.380
 wrestle with our

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:47.759
 self-centeredness but

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:49.600
 God's grace has

00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:50.559
 made a way for us

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.840
 for our lives to

00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.200
 be counted

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.960
 righteous by

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:56.160
 faith by faith

00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:56.660
 in the work of

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.259
 the cross and

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.880
 what Christ has

00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:59.660
 done in him

00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.500
 coming to save

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:00.940
 us from a

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:01.400
 broken world

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:01.880
 from our own

00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.920
 brokenness he

00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.780
 sets us right in

00:34:03.780 --> 00:34:04.480
 Jesus Christ not

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:06.020
 by our works but

00:34:06.020 --> 00:34:09.079
 as a gift now we

00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:09.960
 look at that and

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.519
 we realize wealth

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.840
 loses this positive

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:14.119
 attribute when it

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.119
 draws us away from

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.920
 the saving love of

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:17.800
 God when wealth

00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.940
 gives us the

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:20.000
 feeling of I can

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:22.019
 save myself I

00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.660
 can use I can

00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:24.340
 give so much to

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.500
 charity that I

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.019
 can be counted

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.460
 good

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:28.820
 if by our wealth

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.659
 we get that

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.679
 feeling that we

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.460
 can achieve

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.639
 righteousness we

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.659
 lose sight of his

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.119
 truth

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:36.940
 so the question

00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.639
 would be have you

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.420
 acknowledged that

00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:40.639
 need that Christ

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.740
 and his work on the

00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.420
 cross will set you

00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.579
 right and you

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.440
 can't do it by your

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:44.840
 wealth

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.599
 in our final

00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.460
 proverb we see

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.639
 one more element of

00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.539
 how a positive

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:51.159
 attribute the

00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:51.840
 positive attribute of

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:53.519
 wealth can quickly

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:55.179
 fade in proverbs 15

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:56.000
 16 it says better

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.159
 a little with the

00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.819
 fear of the Lord

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.899
 than great wealth

00:34:58.899 --> 00:34:59.859
 with turmoil

00:34:59.859 --> 00:35:02.039
 sometimes when I

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:05.219
 ask or when people

00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:06.480
 ask me about faith

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.679
 and about becoming

00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:09.219
 Christians they say

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:10.139
 you know Christianity

00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:10.719
 is something for

00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.440
 pretty weak people

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.440
 like they go to

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.500
 like struggles and

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:15.159
 problems and maybe

00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:16.179
 they get ill or

00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:16.919
 relationships fall

00:35:16.919 --> 00:35:18.759
 apart they lose

00:35:18.759 --> 00:35:19.379
 their jobs and

00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:19.859
 then they need

00:35:19.859 --> 00:35:20.500
 something to hold

00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.940
 on to so then

00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.539
 they hold on to

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:22.880
 God

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:25.980
 now when you

00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:26.659
 are if you are

00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.239
 here today and

00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:27.860
 you think that

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.539
 you think holding

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.579
 on to God often

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.279
 happens when when

00:35:31.279 --> 00:35:33.279
 people in their

00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:33.840
 lives are out of

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.519
 control then I

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.320
 would say you're

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:37.699
 right it's the

00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:38.360
 point when we

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:39.300
 realize that we

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.199
 are actually not

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:42.059
 in control of our

00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:42.779
 lives that we

00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:44.340
 sometimes only then

00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:45.199
 get the realization

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:45.820
 that we are in

00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:46.340
 need of God

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:48.239
 wealth can give

00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:48.920
 you the illusion

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:50.099
 that you can

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:51.000
 control your life

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:54.119
 if you are

00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:54.980
 wealthy and you

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.219
 can you don't

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:56.619
 have to worry

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.280
 about paying your

00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:58.079
 bills next week

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:59.340
 and where to

00:35:59.340 --> 00:35:59.960
 live in Hong Kong

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.619
 rent is so

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.599
 ridiculous but if

00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:01.980
 you don't have to

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.539
 worry about that

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.199
 so much you say

00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:03.800
 okay you know

00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:05.079
 even if I you

00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:05.639
 know lose my

00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.460
 home like I'll

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.199
 rent something else

00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.599
 because I have

00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:09.840
 enough money I

00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.760
 can buy myself a

00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.539
 sense of security

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:13.460
 I can eat whatever

00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:14.599
 I want can go

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.380
 out I don't need

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.219
 worry about that

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:17.980
 wealth allows me

00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.579
 to travel wherever

00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.260
 I want I feel

00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:19.760
 like even I'm

00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:20.719
 in control of you

00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.279
 in all this world

00:36:21.279 --> 00:36:22.000
 and I can go

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.500
 wherever I want

00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:24.859
 and if I get

00:36:24.859 --> 00:36:26.199
 sick I can pay

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:26.639
 for the best

00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:27.299
 medical treatment

00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:29.659
 and suddenly we

00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.759
 realize that all

00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:32.439
 this wealth can

00:36:32.439 --> 00:36:32.980
 give us the

00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:34.159
 illusion that we

00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:35.219
 are in control

00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:35.779
 of life

00:36:35.779 --> 00:36:38.939
 but what if

00:36:38.939 --> 00:36:40.599
 all that falls

00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:41.000
 apart

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:42.759
 what if

00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:43.539
 suddenly a

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.339
 cancer diagnosis

00:36:44.339 --> 00:36:45.419
 comes and it

00:36:45.419 --> 00:36:47.279
 says there's no

00:36:47.279 --> 00:36:47.599
 cure

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:50.000
 what if

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.400
 in all your

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.900
 wealth and

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.360
 in your hard

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:53.039
 work you

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.559
 see that there

00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:54.119
 are no friends

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.440
 left or your

00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:56.039
 marriage falls

00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:58.019
 apart and by

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.679
 your strength and

00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.319
 by your money you

00:36:59.319 --> 00:37:00.159
 can save it

00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:02.679
 what if the world

00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.839
 economy falls

00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:05.339
 apart and it's

00:37:05.339 --> 00:37:05.659
 out of your

00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:06.739
 control like Katie

00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:07.460
 and I have this

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.420
 funny conversation

00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:10.159
 about the piece

00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:10.779
 of land that my

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.739
 family owns back in

00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:12.519
 Germany after the

00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:13.199
 second world war

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.079
 there they had

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:14.859
 to move and

00:37:14.859 --> 00:37:15.839
 flee from where

00:37:15.839 --> 00:37:16.399
 they lived and

00:37:16.399 --> 00:37:17.079
 they settled in

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:17.819
 central Germany

00:37:17.819 --> 00:37:18.679
 and they started

00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:20.219
 a farm up there

00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:21.619
 and rebuilt their

00:37:21.619 --> 00:37:22.980
 lives so now that

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.879
 the European Union

00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:25.480
 is falling apart

00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.319
 I joke with her

00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:26.859
 like what if the

00:37:26.859 --> 00:37:27.559
 whole world economy

00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:28.639
 like just crashes

00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:31.359
 and then I tell her

00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:32.460
 we'll just move to

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.539
 Germany and we

00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.179
 will be potato

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:36.279
 farmers and we

00:37:36.279 --> 00:37:37.399
 will live there

00:37:37.399 --> 00:37:38.000
 happily on our

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:39.399
 little farm and

00:37:39.399 --> 00:37:40.119
 we will tell all

00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:41.379
 our neighbors about

00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:42.440
 how great Jesus

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:44.280
 is and that one

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:44.780
 day there's this

00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:45.700
 world coming that

00:37:45.700 --> 00:37:46.760
 everything will be

00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:48.880
 made new the

00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:49.960
 conversation is 99%

00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:52.160
 joke but I think

00:37:52.160 --> 00:37:53.079
 there's a little bit

00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:54.260
 of a reality check

00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:55.900
 in it the reality

00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:56.480
 check of saying

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.200
 that we don't want

00:37:57.200 --> 00:37:57.760
 to take everything

00:37:57.760 --> 00:38:00.680
 for granted just

00:38:00.680 --> 00:38:01.559
 because we may be

00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.180
 in a place right

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:03.780
 now where you can

00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:04.740
 do what you want

00:38:04.740 --> 00:38:05.860
 and you may have

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.559
 wealth and you have

00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:07.539
 a sense of security

00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:09.019
 that we don't take

00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:09.840
 for granted that

00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:10.860
 sense of security

00:38:10.860 --> 00:38:11.840
 security it

00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.660
 turning into a

00:38:12.660 --> 00:38:13.500
 feeling that I

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.800
 am in control of

00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.420
 my life

00:38:15.420 --> 00:38:18.980
 ultimately what

00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:19.640
 helps us is to

00:38:19.640 --> 00:38:20.300
 have that perspective

00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:21.160
 of that kingdom

00:38:21.160 --> 00:38:22.420
 that this world is

00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.680
 broken and will be

00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:24.920
 broken but it's

00:38:24.920 --> 00:38:25.700
 being restored and

00:38:25.700 --> 00:38:26.420
 one day when Christ

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.480
 comes back we will

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.180
 see it in its full

00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:30.780
 glory it's that

00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.500
 fear of the Lord

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.140
 that this proverb

00:38:32.140 --> 00:38:33.160
 talks about that I

00:38:33.160 --> 00:38:34.180
 think gives us a

00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:34.740
 healthy attitude

00:38:34.740 --> 00:38:35.980
 towards our wealth

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.620
 it gives us the

00:38:36.620 --> 00:38:37.360
 healthy attitude

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:39.420
 toward being in

00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:40.420
 control or not

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.960
 so our wealth

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:42.420
 can give us

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:43.059
 that illusion

00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:44.119
 that we have

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.180
 nothing to fear

00:38:45.180 --> 00:38:48.119
 but if we lose

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.240
 the fear of the

00:38:49.240 --> 00:38:50.680
 Lord and his

00:38:50.680 --> 00:38:51.360
 kingdom to come

00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:51.980
 and his holiness

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:53.740
 then we lose

00:38:53.740 --> 00:38:54.260
 everything

00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:56.780
 maybe tonight

00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:58.539
 on your own

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.099
 in your family

00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.619
 think about it

00:39:00.619 --> 00:39:01.700
 think about what

00:39:01.700 --> 00:39:02.480
 would happen if

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.940
 the holy world

00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:05.159
 economy falls apart

00:39:05.159 --> 00:39:07.159
 what would you do

00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:09.619
 what are the fears

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:10.859
 that grow in you

00:39:10.859 --> 00:39:11.980
 how would you

00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:13.639
 respond to these

00:39:13.639 --> 00:39:14.779
 fears as an

00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:16.139
 individual as a

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:17.519
 family how would we

00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:18.179
 respond as a

00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:19.599
 community to be a

00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.139
 light of the world

00:39:20.139 --> 00:39:21.099
 to the people around

00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:22.579
 us how would you

00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:23.799
 point in the turmoil

00:39:23.799 --> 00:39:25.000
 of your life how

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.899
 would you point

00:39:25.899 --> 00:39:27.139
 people to the

00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:28.319
 kingdom and have

00:39:28.319 --> 00:39:29.319
 peace about it

00:39:29.319 --> 00:39:31.699
 before we go into

00:39:31.699 --> 00:39:32.839
 the final part of the

00:39:32.839 --> 00:39:33.699
 message and just in

00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:34.859
 the conclusion we

00:39:34.859 --> 00:39:35.659
 want to take a few

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.480
 moments just to

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.139
 really have some

00:39:37.139 --> 00:39:39.159
 people pray over

00:39:39.159 --> 00:39:40.219
 these values that we

00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:41.119
 can really see and

00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:41.899
 reflect like what

00:39:41.899 --> 00:39:43.279
 God says and puts

00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:44.739
 on our heart about

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.239
 this

00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:47.460
 let us pray

00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:52.019
 father we just

00:39:52.019 --> 00:39:52.579
 lift you our

00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:53.519
 relationships Lord

00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:55.559
 we know you put

00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:57.239
 so much value in our

00:39:57.239 --> 00:39:58.219
 relationships and

00:39:58.219 --> 00:39:59.699
 they're just so

00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:00.679
 important to us and

00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:01.679
 to you and I pray

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:03.419
 that we will just

00:40:03.420 --> 00:40:05.440
 live with others in

00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:06.320
 ways that honor you

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:08.079
 father and pray that

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.840
 our relationships will

00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:09.700
 not be destroyed by

00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:11.240
 money and that you

00:40:11.240 --> 00:40:11.880
 will help us to keep

00:40:11.880 --> 00:40:12.720
 our priorities right

00:40:12.720 --> 00:40:13.059
 Lord

00:40:13.059 --> 00:40:16.980
 father I pray that you

00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:17.960
 will keep us humble

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:20.360
 help us not to find

00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.760
 our identity in the

00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:23.740
 things that that we

00:40:23.740 --> 00:40:24.900
 build for ourself on

00:40:24.900 --> 00:40:26.599
 this earth that we

00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:28.680
 wouldn't find our

00:40:28.680 --> 00:40:29.780
 pride in our possessions

00:40:29.780 --> 00:40:30.800
 blessings or the

00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:33.000
 kingdom on earth that

00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:33.540
 we've built for

00:40:33.540 --> 00:40:34.440
 ourselves but that we

00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:36.200
 will keep your kingdom

00:40:36.200 --> 00:40:37.500
 in mind for us and

00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:38.240
 that we will live our

00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:40.580
 lives with an eternal

00:40:40.580 --> 00:40:41.780
 mindset Lord that this

00:40:41.780 --> 00:40:42.780
 life is not all that

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:44.740
 there is and pray that

00:40:44.740 --> 00:40:45.760
 we would find our worth

00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:49.280
 in you Lord and in the

00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:50.400
 ways that you view us

00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:51.360
 Lord and how you love

00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:52.960
 us and and take care of

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.980
 us and that that would

00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:56.940
 that would keep us

00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:58.139
 obedient to you Lord

00:40:58.139 --> 00:41:02.360
 Abba father when your

00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.719
 beloved son came down

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:04.900
 and dwelt in our midst

00:41:04.900 --> 00:41:06.380
 he chose a life of

00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:08.519
 humility his wealth was

00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:09.920
 not in material possessions

00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:11.320
 but rather in his

00:41:11.320 --> 00:41:12.760
 complete obedience to you

00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:14.159
 and his love and

00:41:14.159 --> 00:41:15.559
 compassion for people

00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:17.519
 help us to emulate

00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:19.480
 Christ and develop a

00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:21.840
 character like his in a

00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:23.599
 place like Hong Kong free

00:41:23.599 --> 00:41:24.900
 us from the desire for

00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:26.719
 wealth fame and power

00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:28.460
 especially when it's

00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:29.599
 derived from greed

00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:31.360
 deception or taking

00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:32.559
 advantage of others

00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:34.739
 let not the pursuit of

00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:36.159
 wealth damage our

00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:38.239
 character nor take us

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:40.039
 away from our focus on

00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:41.599
 you and your saving

00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:42.139
 grace

00:41:42.139 --> 00:41:47.420
 father we we left our

00:41:47.420 --> 00:41:48.400
 desire to be righteous

00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:50.159
 to you Lord we know

00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:51.900
 that we can do nothing

00:41:51.900 --> 00:41:52.920
 with our own two hands

00:41:52.920 --> 00:41:54.720
 to achieve our salvation

00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:56.720
 so we just rely on our

00:41:56.720 --> 00:41:57.660
 faith in you and pray

00:41:57.660 --> 00:41:58.380
 that you will increase

00:41:58.380 --> 00:42:00.380
 that faith daily just

00:42:00.380 --> 00:42:01.380
 draw us close to you

00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:02.960
 and let our joy be in

00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:04.200
 you and you alone and

00:42:04.200 --> 00:42:05.579
 not in what we do with

00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:06.539
 our own hands Lord

00:42:06.539 --> 00:42:10.000
 father I pray you would

00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:11.380
 help us to continue to

00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:13.480
 see just how holy you are

00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:15.820
 Lord and and in light of

00:42:15.820 --> 00:42:16.760
 your holiness that we

00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:18.139
 could see ourselves and

00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:20.699
 just our sinful nature

00:42:20.699 --> 00:42:21.719
 Lord and I pray that

00:42:21.719 --> 00:42:23.400
 that would lead us to be

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:25.000
 to live lives of

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.900
 thankfulness for your

00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:27.719
 grace that we don't

00:42:27.719 --> 00:42:29.759
 deserve a relationship

00:42:29.759 --> 00:42:30.719
 with you Lord but that

00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:32.239
 you seek us out and you

00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:33.319
 desire that relationship

00:42:33.319 --> 00:42:35.679
 with us and I pray that

00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:37.819
 we would just be mindful

00:42:37.819 --> 00:42:38.759
 of everything that we

00:42:38.759 --> 00:42:39.719
 have and everything that

00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:40.799
 you've given to us that

00:42:40.799 --> 00:42:42.639
 it that it is all from you

00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:43.559
 Lord and that we would

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:46.319
 just we would know in our

00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:47.200
 hearts that we can't

00:42:47.200 --> 00:42:48.400
 out give you just help

00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.460
 us to live lives of

00:42:49.460 --> 00:42:52.080
 compassion for others

00:42:52.080 --> 00:42:53.820
 and just knowing that

00:42:53.820 --> 00:42:56.440
 that no matter what we

00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:57.620
 go through whether we

00:42:57.620 --> 00:42:58.880
 are given things or

00:42:58.880 --> 00:42:59.740
 things are taken away

00:42:59.740 --> 00:43:01.340
 from us Lord that that's

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:02.480
 what's most important is

00:43:02.480 --> 00:43:03.559
 you and living for your

00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:05.920
 glory and just living

00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:06.840
 out the will that you

00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:07.800
 have for us in this

00:43:07.800 --> 00:43:08.240
 life

00:43:08.240 --> 00:43:12.120
 pray all these things in

00:43:12.120 --> 00:43:13.280
 Jesus name amen

00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:17.060
 and now we will have a

00:43:17.060 --> 00:43:19.160
 scripture reading from

00:43:19.160 --> 00:43:21.180
 Proverbs 23 4 through 5

00:43:21.180 --> 00:43:24.380
 do not wear yourself out

00:43:24.380 --> 00:43:26.260
 to get rich do not trust

00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:28.160
 your own cleverness cast but

00:43:28.160 --> 00:43:29.260
 a glance at riches and

00:43:29.260 --> 00:43:30.480
 they are gone for they

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:31.780
 will surely sprout wings and

00:43:31.780 --> 00:43:33.300
 fly off into the sky like an

00:43:33.300 --> 00:43:33.560
 eagle

00:43:33.560 --> 00:43:38.420
 Proverbs 11 4 wealth is

00:43:38.420 --> 00:43:39.680
 worthless in the day of

00:43:39.680 --> 00:43:40.920
 wrath but righteousness

00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:42.180
 delivers from death

00:43:42.179 --> 00:43:46.359
 Proverbs 22 2 rich and

00:43:46.359 --> 00:43:47.859
 poor have this in common

00:43:47.859 --> 00:43:49.659
 the Lord is the maker of

00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:50.279
 them all

00:43:50.279 --> 00:43:54.039
 Proverbs 8 18 through 19

00:43:54.039 --> 00:43:55.919
 with me are riches and

00:43:55.919 --> 00:43:57.460
 honor enduring wealth and

00:43:57.460 --> 00:43:59.179
 prosperity my fruit is

00:43:59.179 --> 00:44:00.919
 better than fine gold what

00:44:00.919 --> 00:44:02.299
 I yield surpasses choice

00:44:02.299 --> 00:44:02.699
 silver

00:44:02.699 --> 00:44:06.000
 Proverbs 30 7 through 9

00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:08.079
 two things I ask of you

00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:10.019
 Lord do not refuse me before

00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:12.179
 I die keep falsehood and

00:44:12.179 --> 00:44:14.219
 lies far from me give me

00:44:14.219 --> 00:44:15.880
 neither poverty nor riches

00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:17.900
 but give me only my daily

00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:20.000
 bread otherwise I may have

00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:22.139
 too much and disown you and

00:44:22.139 --> 00:44:24.719
 say who is this Lord or I may

00:44:24.719 --> 00:44:26.440
 become poor and steal and so

00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:27.960
 dishonor the name of my God

00:44:27.960 --> 00:44:29.739
 this is the reading of God's

00:44:29.739 --> 00:44:30.039
 word

00:44:30.039 --> 00:44:36.420
 so as we conclude our our

00:44:36.420 --> 00:44:37.759
 teaching on wealth in the

00:44:37.759 --> 00:44:40.800
 Proverbs let's just take a just

00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:42.420
 a few minutes to to paint that

00:44:42.420 --> 00:44:44.300
 picture of that kingdom that is

00:44:44.300 --> 00:44:46.400
 to come to know that if we need

00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:47.639
 the right perspective we need to

00:44:47.639 --> 00:44:50.000
 have that that glimpse of the

00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:52.199
 kingdom in Matthew 6 Jesus calls

00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:55.579
 us to seek first his kingdom in

00:44:55.579 --> 00:44:57.259
 Acts 1 after the resurrection

00:44:57.259 --> 00:44:59.239
 Jesus appears to his disciples

00:44:59.239 --> 00:45:00.639
 and he spends 40 days with

00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:02.139
 them and it says that he took

00:45:02.139 --> 00:45:03.539
 the 40 days to instruct them

00:45:03.539 --> 00:45:06.420
 about the kingdom of God and

00:45:06.420 --> 00:45:08.420
 then he leaves his Holy Spirit to

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:10.759
 guide us to ultimately see what

00:45:10.759 --> 00:45:12.319
 the kingdom of God is like and

00:45:12.319 --> 00:45:14.000
 to see him drawing us towards

00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:17.880
 that kingdom a vision for the

00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:19.900
 kingdom is like that compass that

00:45:19.900 --> 00:45:21.619
 it can draw us away from just

00:45:21.619 --> 00:45:23.440
 relying on human wisdom and it

00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:26.920
 actually gives us a glimpse a part

00:45:26.920 --> 00:45:28.860
 of the revelation of of Christ

00:45:28.860 --> 00:45:31.559
 it's like that image of the rug

00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:33.960
 that that we looked at God sees

00:45:33.960 --> 00:45:35.599
 the the beautiful side of that

00:45:35.599 --> 00:45:39.220
 kingdom he sees what what the

00:45:39.220 --> 00:45:40.519
 vision is like for where our

00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:44.220
 lives are is already moving but we

00:45:44.220 --> 00:45:45.539
 are stuck in the other side and

00:45:45.539 --> 00:45:46.720
 it's kind of like he's like shaking

00:45:46.720 --> 00:45:48.700
 us and trying to wake us up from a

00:45:48.700 --> 00:45:50.059
 life that can't see the beauty

00:45:50.059 --> 00:45:51.200
 that's still to come

00:45:51.199 --> 00:45:56.039
 when I think about like what what

00:45:56.039 --> 00:45:57.859
 God's thoughts are as he shakes us

00:45:57.859 --> 00:45:59.819
 out of our lives it's like how can

00:45:59.819 --> 00:46:01.980
 you let money destroy a

00:46:01.980 --> 00:46:05.639
 relationship how can you compromise

00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:07.639
 your integrity just to accumulate

00:46:07.639 --> 00:46:09.699
 more stuff how can you let your

00:46:09.699 --> 00:46:12.039
 character be destroyed how can you

00:46:12.039 --> 00:46:14.739
 be caught up in in that lie that

00:46:14.739 --> 00:46:17.299
 your wealth can give you control of

00:46:17.300 --> 00:46:19.740
 anything that matters in my kingdom

00:46:19.740 --> 00:46:22.920
 Proverbs 23 45 says do not weigh

00:46:22.920 --> 00:46:24.380
 yourself out to get rich do not

00:46:24.380 --> 00:46:26.560
 trust your own cleverness cast but a

00:46:26.560 --> 00:46:28.840
 glance at riches and they are gone

00:46:28.840 --> 00:46:31.680
 but for there was surely sprout wings

00:46:31.680 --> 00:46:34.240
 and fly off to the sky like an eagle

00:46:34.240 --> 00:46:37.300
 so we establish that wealth is good

00:46:37.300 --> 00:46:39.800
 hard work is good but in light of

00:46:39.800 --> 00:46:42.880
 God's eternal kingdom it loses its

00:46:42.880 --> 00:46:47.720
 value we may live for 80 or maybe if

00:46:47.720 --> 00:46:49.559
 you're lucky or unlucky 100 years

00:46:49.559 --> 00:46:54.119
 in light of eternity it's like

00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:57.880
 glancing on it and it's gone God's

00:46:58.420 --> 00:47:00.680
 kingdom will last for eternity and if

00:47:00.680 --> 00:47:02.320
 you truly understood that I think it

00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:04.700
 would change our outlook on life it

00:47:04.700 --> 00:47:09.599
 would change what we do will we wear

00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:13.000
 ourselves out to gain riches or are we

00:47:13.000 --> 00:47:16.039
 even considering what it means to gain

00:47:16.039 --> 00:47:18.239
 the riches that last for eternity when

00:47:18.239 --> 00:47:21.019
 my dad died two years before his

00:47:21.019 --> 00:47:24.759
 retirement I was 18 I worked through a

00:47:24.759 --> 00:47:30.519
 lot of emotions about anger just

00:47:30.519 --> 00:47:36.079
 missing out I regretted that he spent

00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:40.219
 countless hours building houses I know

00:47:40.219 --> 00:47:42.079
 that he wanted to provide for us but I

00:47:42.719 --> 00:47:45.799
 felt that stuff is worthless to me now

00:47:45.799 --> 00:47:49.319
 so ask yourself when you look back at

00:47:49.319 --> 00:47:53.059
 your life the time that you spend the

00:47:53.059 --> 00:47:55.500
 stuff you accumulate how foolish will

00:47:55.500 --> 00:47:59.759
 you think your life looks what do all

00:47:59.759 --> 00:48:01.799
 the things matter for eternity that you

00:48:01.799 --> 00:48:05.139
 accumulate Proverbs 11 4 says wealth is

00:48:05.139 --> 00:48:06.719
 worthless in the day of wrath but

00:48:06.719 --> 00:48:10.940
 righteousness delivers from death all

00:48:10.940 --> 00:48:13.879
 our wealth will not save us when this

00:48:13.879 --> 00:48:15.779
 world comes to an end in my business

00:48:15.779 --> 00:48:18.980
 studies I learned that scarcity is the

00:48:18.980 --> 00:48:20.960
 fundamental economic problem the

00:48:20.960 --> 00:48:23.299
 problem of having humans with unlimited

00:48:23.299 --> 00:48:26.179
 wants but a world with limited resources

00:48:26.179 --> 00:48:30.279
 but consider that vision of that kingdom

00:48:30.279 --> 00:48:34.299
 of God where the creator of everything

00:48:34.300 --> 00:48:36.860
 rules in the gospel of John it says that

00:48:36.860 --> 00:48:38.320
 there was a not that there's nothing

00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:41.539
 that was made without Jesus he was

00:48:41.539 --> 00:48:44.980
 breathing everything into existence when

00:48:44.980 --> 00:48:47.500
 we look at the kingdom that is to come and

00:48:47.500 --> 00:48:48.980
 we think about being in the presence of the

00:48:48.980 --> 00:48:52.019
 one who created everything the foundations

00:48:52.019 --> 00:48:54.100
 of our economic thinking our economic

00:48:54.100 --> 00:48:59.300
 system they just cease to exist what needs

00:48:59.300 --> 00:49:02.539
 to drive us is not the stuff we accumulate

00:49:02.539 --> 00:49:07.420
 but what we do with it to look to walk in

00:49:07.420 --> 00:49:09.420
 righteousness and our attitude towards it

00:49:09.420 --> 00:49:15.260
 what saves us from from death is our trust in

00:49:15.260 --> 00:49:18.140
 Christ the one who conquered death and who

00:49:18.140 --> 00:49:20.560
 shows us that there is a kingdom to come in

00:49:20.560 --> 00:49:23.300
 which time and resources are unlimited but they

00:49:23.940 --> 00:49:27.300
 are eternal let me just close and and maybe

00:49:27.300 --> 00:49:30.220
 maybe you want to use it as a prayer as well

00:49:30.220 --> 00:49:32.320
 with proverbs 37 to 9

00:49:32.320 --> 00:49:38.420
 two things I ask of you Lord do not refuse me

00:49:38.420 --> 00:49:42.780
 before I die keep falsehood and lies far from me

00:49:42.780 --> 00:49:47.100
 give me neither poverty nor riches but give me

00:49:47.100 --> 00:49:49.360
 only my daily bread otherwise otherwise I may

00:49:49.360 --> 00:49:52.140
 say I may have too much and disown you and say

00:49:52.140 --> 00:49:56.220
 who is the Lord or may become poor and steal and

00:49:56.219 --> 00:50:01.819
 so dishonor the name of my God God we pray that

00:50:01.819 --> 00:50:06.719
 just today is as we look at your word that you

00:50:06.719 --> 00:50:08.779
 will give us the right perspective that you

00:50:08.779 --> 00:50:11.399
 will help us see your your kingdom more clearly

00:50:11.399 --> 00:50:16.319
 we thank you that you are God that wants to

00:50:16.319 --> 00:50:19.279
 bless us richly and that you say that hard

00:50:19.280 --> 00:50:26.100
 work and and wealth are good in your sight while we

00:50:26.100 --> 00:50:30.360
 pray that we would not make it our God and turn it

00:50:30.360 --> 00:50:33.620
 into an idol that takes away from who you are that we

00:50:33.620 --> 00:50:36.380
 would not find a false sense of security and control in

00:50:36.380 --> 00:50:39.780
 the things we own but that we would use it to bless

00:50:39.780 --> 00:50:43.220
 people around us that we would see it as a blessing of

00:50:43.220 --> 00:50:46.340
 you knowing that we are just stewards of what you own

00:50:46.340 --> 00:50:52.559
 father and first of all we pray that we would realize that

00:50:52.559 --> 00:50:57.780
 it's not by our hard work that we will gain the most important

00:50:57.780 --> 00:51:01.200
 thing that is the righteousness in your in your sight

00:51:01.200 --> 00:51:06.660
 we would see that we need to rely on you and see your sacrifice on

00:51:06.660 --> 00:51:10.780
 the cross and what you have done on the cross to save us from our

00:51:10.780 --> 00:51:15.079
 brokenness and we would come alive to you and look at your

00:51:15.079 --> 00:51:19.559
 kingdom and let your kingdom inspire us and in everything we do and

00:51:19.559 --> 00:51:23.019
 say and how we live and we pray this in Christ's name

00:51:23.019 --> 00:51:25.019
 you