WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.040 Matthew chapter 19 and verse 16, a man came up to Jesus and asked, 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:15.140 Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:27.859 There's a story told about the amazing Apollos, who was a circus act and was a strong man. 00:00:27.859 --> 00:00:31.980 He could bend iron bars, he could lift great weights above his head, 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:38.899 but the climax of his act was that he would soak a Union Jack in water 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:44.239 and then he would wring it out and he would challenge people in the audience to come forward 00:00:44.239 --> 00:00:49.179 and see if any of them could wring any more drops out of the Union Jack. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:56.340 Nobody could ever do this until one day the circus was in full swing 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:59.120 and Apollos did his act and issued his challenge 00:00:59.120 --> 00:01:03.960 and this little old man came back from the back of the grandstand, 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:08.219 came down to the front, took the cloth off him and wrung out some drops. 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:12.040 Everybody was astounded. 00:01:13.340 --> 00:01:15.200 The price for this challenge was £100. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:20.579 So at the end of the circus, Apollos met with the little old man, 00:01:21.100 --> 00:01:24.120 said to him, where on earth do you, what gym do you go to? 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:27.000 Where on earth did you train to do that? 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:28.100 He said, oh, it's simple. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:30.480 I was the church treasurer for years. 00:01:33.540 --> 00:01:38.020 Why is it that we find talking about giving so difficult? 00:01:38.019 --> 00:01:43.500 And I suppose it's because we're quite private people. 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:46.140 Quite rightly, the Bible encourages, 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:48.920 don't let your right hand know what your left hand's doing, 00:01:49.060 --> 00:01:50.759 but in our culture at least, 00:01:51.259 --> 00:01:53.939 it's not the dumb thing to wander up to somebody 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:56.199 and ask them what they earn, for instance. 00:01:56.420 --> 00:01:58.959 It's kind of private information. 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:09.359 And giving is difficult because it really tests what we're like on the inside. 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:16.900 There are some people in every congregation, as a matter of fact, 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.680 who the Bible would say has the gift of giving. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:22.579 You can read about them in Romans chapter 12 00:02:22.579 --> 00:02:25.579 when Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit. 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:27.960 They are not all of you, 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:31.160 but all of you do have a responsibility for giving. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.180 Those with a special gift give liberally. 00:02:37.100 --> 00:02:40.820 I have a friend who has earned a lot of money 00:02:40.820 --> 00:02:43.760 as a hedge fund manager. 00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:49.700 And he gives away millions of his pounds of his money every year. 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:53.080 He's the kind of guy you would say ought to be rich 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:55.700 because he gets generosity. 00:02:57.320 --> 00:02:58.840 But let me ask you, friend, 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:01.020 do you get generosity? 00:03:02.380 --> 00:03:05.060 There's such a huge pressure, isn't there, in our culture 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:07.380 that if you earn a big salary, 00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:09.500 you've got to live a lifestyle 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:11.760 that matches that big salary 00:03:11.760 --> 00:03:15.900 because then you'll look cool. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:22.140 And here, in our narrative this morning, 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:27.920 is this man who we know was very wealthy. 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:35.580 He comes to Jesus with a very fundamental existential question. 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:41.280 What must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:46.280 And of course, this was before the cross of Calvary, 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:47.659 before the resurrection, 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:50.060 before Jesus withdrew to heaven 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:52.680 and sent the Holy Spirit upon his people. 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:57.659 So Jesus gives the standard rabbinic answer. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.400 Why do you ask me what is good? 00:04:00.460 --> 00:04:02.979 There is only one who is good. 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:04.620 If you want to enter life, 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:06.300 then obey the commandments. 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:07.580 Which ones? 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:08.540 The man answered. 00:04:10.140 --> 00:04:11.360 I imagine he was hoping 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.719 that Jesus might leave a few out at that point. 00:04:14.900 --> 00:04:15.780 Jesus replied, 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:16.500 Do not murder. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:17.740 Do not commit adultery. 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:18.560 Do not steal. 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:20.100 Do not give false testimony. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:21.800 Honor your father and mother. 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:23.259 Blah, blah, blah. 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:27.000 And the man says, 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:28.840 Well, I've kept all these. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:30.759 What's the problem? 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.060 Jesus nails the problem straight away. 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:38.540 If you want to be perfect, 00:04:39.220 --> 00:04:41.840 go sell your possessions and give to the poor 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:44.639 and you will have treasure in heaven. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.480 Then come follow me. 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:51.259 Verse 22, I think, 00:04:51.460 --> 00:04:54.900 is one of the most amazing verses in the Bible. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:58.500 Because it says that when the young man heard this, 00:04:58.540 --> 00:04:59.720 he went away sad 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:01.519 because he had great wealth. 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:02.939 You would think, would you not, 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:04.019 he would go away mad. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:06.560 And you imagine, 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:09.099 somebody you met for the first time 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:11.560 asks you to recite the commandments. 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:13.459 You've done pretty well on the commandments 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:16.120 and this is the one thing you've got to do. 00:05:16.899 --> 00:05:17.959 Give everything away. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.620 Am I the only person in church 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:24.740 that would be a little mad 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:26.819 if somebody said that to me? 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:29.740 Apparently so. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:37.219 And it kind of quashes the myth 00:05:37.219 --> 00:05:38.980 that everybody who came to Jesus 00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:40.959 went away happy-clappy, doesn't it? 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:42.379 This man went away sad. 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:47.579 So you're sitting there thinking to yourself, 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:50.939 so have I got to go away and sell everything 00:05:50.939 --> 00:05:52.519 and give my money to the poor? 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:55.300 Well, this was specific advice 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:56.920 to this specific man. 00:05:57.699 --> 00:05:59.600 Clearly, this was his problem. 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.660 He had a strain, like most of us do, 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:05.639 of idolatry in his heart. 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:09.060 And his idol was his money 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:10.519 and his possessions. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:11.959 And the only way 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.939 that he could be free from that idolatry 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.899 was to get rid of it. 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:23.100 Groucho Marx said 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:26.100 that when people say 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:28.459 it's not the money, 00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:30.180 it's the spirit of the thing, 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.100 it's the money. 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:37.480 And I think he spoke into a reality there. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:39.139 Let me ask you a question. 00:06:40.899 --> 00:06:43.500 How much time do you think, 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:46.060 do you spend thinking about 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:48.199 what you might spend 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.399 as opposed to what you might give? 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:54.259 Let me ask you that again. 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:56.939 How much time do you spend 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.180 thinking about what you could spend 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:00.420 rather than 00:07:00.420 --> 00:07:02.939 what you could give away? 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:06.439 Occasionally, 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:08.620 our hearts are stimulated, aren't they, 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:09.879 when we see a need 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:11.680 and it kind of connects with us 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.519 and we do something generous. 00:07:13.900 --> 00:07:14.620 That's great. 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:15.759 Please don't stop. 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:19.340 But do you think God 00:07:19.340 --> 00:07:20.840 has some generous days 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:22.860 and then some days off 00:07:22.860 --> 00:07:24.540 when he's a little more mean-spirited? 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.139 I don't see God like that at all. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:31.579 The God who loves you gave, 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:32.819 gave his only Son 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:34.319 that whoever believes in him 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:35.920 should not perish 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.439 but have everlasting life. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:41.180 What must I do 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:43.740 to inherit eternal life? 00:07:43.960 --> 00:07:44.900 Great question. 00:07:46.080 --> 00:07:47.540 And part of the reason why 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:48.939 it's a great question 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:51.620 is that many of us 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:52.960 are nearly good. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.280 We're nearly good. 00:07:57.160 --> 00:07:59.000 There are lots of things about your lives. 00:07:59.080 --> 00:07:59.980 I know some of you. 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:02.160 I know you're basically good people. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:03.960 But you know and I know 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:06.020 there probably is something in your heart 00:08:06.020 --> 00:08:07.340 that is not so good. 00:08:08.320 --> 00:08:09.600 Might be some malice. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:10.900 Might be some meanness. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:12.700 Might be some lust. 00:08:12.820 --> 00:08:13.520 Might be whatever. 00:08:15.260 --> 00:08:16.420 We're nearly good. 00:08:17.260 --> 00:08:18.960 And this man was nearly good 00:08:18.960 --> 00:08:20.260 but there was one thing 00:08:20.260 --> 00:08:21.920 that got between him and God, 00:08:22.140 --> 00:08:22.740 his idol, 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:24.500 and that was his money and possessions. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:26.040 And Jesus said to him, 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:27.700 go, give it all away. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:29.220 And the man goes home 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:30.800 sad. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.659 Well, before I stood up 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:35.360 before you this morning, 00:08:35.419 --> 00:08:36.240 I prayed that nobody 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:37.299 would go home mad. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:40.719 Although that has happened to me. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:41.519 I was once preaching 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.100 on giving at a church in Chesham 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:45.179 and in the middle, 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.120 about ten minutes into my message, 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:48.500 this guy stands up. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:50.279 He had noisy shoes on. 00:08:50.339 --> 00:08:51.559 He clunks out of the church 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:52.120 down the middle, 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:54.179 slammed the door so hard. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.500 I swear to God, 00:08:55.699 --> 00:08:57.120 I saw a crack appear 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:58.659 in the corner of the building 00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:00.819 and a month later 00:09:00.819 --> 00:09:01.919 the building was condemned. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:02.419 I said, seriously. 00:09:06.099 --> 00:09:08.759 And the vicar came to me 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:09.599 at the end of the service 00:09:09.599 --> 00:09:10.719 and said, what shall I do? 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.839 I hadn't got a clue 00:09:13.839 --> 00:09:14.639 what to say to him 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:15.439 as a matter of fact, 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:17.779 but being a minister, 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.079 I couldn't keep my mouth shut. 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:20.360 I thought I've got to say something, 00:09:20.479 --> 00:09:20.719 you know. 00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:21.919 So I said, oh, 00:09:21.939 --> 00:09:23.099 don't worry about it. 00:09:23.199 --> 00:09:23.399 You know, 00:09:23.479 --> 00:09:24.719 sometimes the Holy Spirit 00:09:24.719 --> 00:09:26.259 provokes people to anger. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:29.419 Vicar phoned me on Tuesday 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:29.939 he said, 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:31.279 that man. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:32.539 I said, what? 00:09:33.079 --> 00:09:34.079 He said, he came around 00:09:34.079 --> 00:09:34.819 to see me. 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:36.259 I said, what? 00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:37.199 Did he hit you? 00:09:37.959 --> 00:09:39.219 He said, no, no, no. 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:40.039 He wrote 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.719 a check for ten percent 00:09:42.719 --> 00:09:43.439 of his income 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.880 and handed it to me. 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:53.160 I went to a women's meeting 00:09:53.160 --> 00:09:54.080 in the same church 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:55.220 about two days later 00:09:55.220 --> 00:09:55.820 to speak. 00:09:56.220 --> 00:09:56.980 Women's meeting, 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:57.620 please note, 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:59.120 this guy's on the front row. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:09:59.980 He's like a groupie. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:06.259 Listen to me, 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:08.180 I am certainly not intending 00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:09.279 to make you mad. 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:12.259 What I'm intending to do 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:13.720 is to inspire you 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:15.279 to fresh generosity. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.460 We're nearly good, 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:17.860 but there probably is something 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:18.860 that you're hanging on to. 00:10:18.920 --> 00:10:19.960 May not be your money 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:20.840 in your case. 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.360 That means you need to let go. 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:29.840 Do we all have to give 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:30.779 as Christians? 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.080 The broad answer to that 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:32.899 is yes. 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:34.720 Why? 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.820 Because it displays to God 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:42.139 that we get his generosity. 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:47.019 The sin of idolatry 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:49.580 lingers on strongly 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:50.980 in our culture. 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.920 And as I've said to you before, 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:57.019 the problem with idolatry today is, 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:58.419 back in the old days 00:10:58.419 --> 00:11:00.759 when the Bible talked about idolatry, 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:01.879 it was like people 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.500 who had statues and images 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.279 of steel and metal 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:06.039 in their homes 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:06.779 that they worship. 00:11:07.219 --> 00:11:08.519 Today's idolatry 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:10.339 seems much more subtle to me. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:14.059 Because good things 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:15.319 can become an idol 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:17.019 in our lives. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:20.959 Anything 00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:23.620 that gets between you 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.100 and between God 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:26.240 is an idol. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:31.600 Giving 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.159 is a spiritual responsibility. 00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:37.159 You're not going to quibble 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:37.659 with me 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:38.799 that praying 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:40.840 is a spiritual responsibility 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:42.039 even though you really 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:42.879 struggle with it. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:45.279 You're not going to quibble 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:45.639 with me 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:47.060 if you're a Christian believer 00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:48.779 that worshipping 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:49.960 with the people of God 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:51.240 isn't a spiritual. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.180 You're not going to say 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:53.399 that's not right. 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:57.399 But by your actions 00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:59.979 you will demonstrate 00:11:59.979 --> 00:12:01.879 whether you get 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:02.599 that giving 00:12:02.599 --> 00:12:03.699 is as much 00:12:03.699 --> 00:12:05.219 a spiritual responsibility 00:12:05.219 --> 00:12:06.079 as praying 00:12:06.079 --> 00:12:07.039 as worshipping. 00:12:09.479 --> 00:12:10.959 And if you don't get that, 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:11.419 I mean, 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.339 this is the thing 00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:13.259 about generosity 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:15.179 is that apart 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:16.359 from those few people 00:12:16.359 --> 00:12:17.399 who've got the gift 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:17.879 of giving, 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:18.720 generosity 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.200 needs to be taught. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.220 It doesn't come natural 00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:24.320 to many of you. 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:26.139 I know that. 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:26.840 I've been in a pub 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.539 with some of you. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.960 Giving is a spiritual 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.899 responsibility. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:40.700 And our little clip 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.159 before 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:42.840 talked about tithing. 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.759 That was a practice 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.500 that was alive 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.879 and well in the Old Testament 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.559 when people would bring 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.460 10% of their produce 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.659 and hand it over 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.340 to the priest. 00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:56.360 In other words, 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.899 10% of the work 00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:58.519 of their hands 00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.320 went over 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:00.759 to maintain 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:01.720 the priesthood 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.419 and to pay 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:04.100 for the cost 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:04.720 of the cult 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:05.179 around 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:06.980 the tabernacle 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:08.059 in the early days 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.139 and the temple 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:10.519 in latter days. 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:14.899 I would prefer 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.639 myself 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.360 rather than 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.059 talk about 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:17.620 tithing, 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:18.819 which seems to me 00:13:18.819 --> 00:13:19.819 to be an obligation 00:13:19.819 --> 00:13:20.439 of the law 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.399 to talk about 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.559 sacrificial giving. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.600 I think 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.159 we should be prepared 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:28.799 to give 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:30.039 till it hurts us 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:31.120 a little bit. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.419 I think we should 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.039 be thinking 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.980 a lot of the time, 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:35.939 is there anything 00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:36.960 I could give up 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.600 in my life 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.539 so I could give 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:39.539 that money away 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:42.259 either to the 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.360 local church 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.079 or to a 00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:45.360 worthy cause. 00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:48.099 Giving 00:13:48.099 --> 00:13:49.319 is a spiritual 00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:50.799 responsibility too. 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.120 Why is giving 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.120 so important? 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:55.259 Have you ever 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.120 heard this said 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.539 or have you ever 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.620 said it 00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.379 yourself 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:01.179 that it's not 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:01.740 the money, 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.639 it's what you 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.299 do with it? 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.539 That's a very 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.139 common 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:07.219 middle class 00:14:07.219 --> 00:14:07.879 explanation 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.740 for a middle 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.519 class lifestyle. 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:12.399 not the money, 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:13.759 it's what you 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.419 do with it. 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:15.759 Well Jesus 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.120 never taught 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.439 that. 00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:19.379 Jesus taught 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.039 that money 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:20.839 was, do you 00:14:20.839 --> 00:14:21.259 remember that 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.939 funny word 00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:22.319 he used, 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:22.839 mammon? 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.679 And mammon 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:26.679 is a rival 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.120 God. 00:14:28.099 --> 00:14:28.459 Mammon 00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:29.240 can take a 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:29.899 hold of you, 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:30.819 money can take 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:31.659 a hold of you. 00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:34.000 I think 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.679 in our culture 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.439 there are a lot 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:36.079 more people 00:14:36.079 --> 00:14:36.799 who are owned 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.299 by their 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:37.860 possessions 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.820 than own 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:39.580 their possessions 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.500 and their 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:40.860 wealth. 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.139 How much 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.139 time do you 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.980 think spending 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.019 thinking about 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:46.460 what you 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.139 could spend 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:48.580 rather than 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:48.919 what you 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:49.500 could give 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:49.840 away? 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:52.879 Is there 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.899 anything in 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:54.480 your life 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.240 you could give 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.000 up in order 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.700 that you could 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.560 give a little 00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:58.519 more generously? 00:14:59.180 --> 00:14:59.740 And Jesus 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.740 didn't teach 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.379 it's not the 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:01.659 money, 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.500 it's what you 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:02.759 do. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.700 What he taught 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.580 was that if 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:05.980 you get 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.720 your attitude 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.400 to mammon 00:15:07.400 --> 00:15:07.940 wrong, 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.360 it will 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.879 take a 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.440 hold of 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:11.700 you. 00:15:14.900 --> 00:15:15.500 I've heard 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.320 people say 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:16.840 in our 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.220 culture, 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.800 and I know 00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:18.200 what they 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:18.480 mean, 00:15:18.900 --> 00:15:19.900 people will 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:21.180 do anything 00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:22.180 for money. 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.020 I mean, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.060 you can spot 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:27.660 that pretty 00:15:27.660 --> 00:15:27.940 well, 00:15:28.020 --> 00:15:28.460 can't you, 00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:29.040 amongst the 00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:29.900 criminal classes? 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:30.920 What they 00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:31.460 would do 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.100 for money, 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.180 exploit children. 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:36.179 send women 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:36.839 and young 00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:37.359 men into 00:15:37.359 --> 00:15:37.879 the sex 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.479 industry 00:15:38.479 --> 00:15:39.620 for money. 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.299 Money has 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:44.979 got a grip 00:15:44.979 --> 00:15:45.719 on us, 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.579 and Jesus 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:47.799 suggests that 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.439 it's mammon, 00:15:48.739 --> 00:15:49.399 and the only 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.059 way we can 00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:51.000 break the grip 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.719 of money 00:15:51.719 --> 00:15:52.319 upon us 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:52.979 is to give 00:15:52.979 --> 00:15:53.479 it away 00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:54.519 generously. 00:15:56.339 --> 00:15:57.099 That's a 00:15:57.099 --> 00:15:58.299 tough message, 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.419 I get that. 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:03.360 what can I 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:03.839 give, 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:05.719 or what 00:16:05.719 --> 00:16:06.219 shall I 00:16:06.219 --> 00:16:06.779 spend? 00:16:09.939 --> 00:16:10.659 That's what 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.959 we need 00:16:11.959 --> 00:16:12.399 to think 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:12.659 about, 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.379 what can I 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:13.699 give, 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.419 not just 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.159 about what 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:15.519 I could 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:15.860 spend. 00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:16.339 The third 00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:16.879 thing is, 00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:17.899 we do 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.319 need to 00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:18.620 give 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.559 sacrificially. 00:16:20.459 --> 00:16:21.120 I went 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.079 to the 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:22.439 national 00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:22.860 prayer 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.419 breakfast 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:24.679 in the 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.860 House of 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.779 Commons, 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.159 and Bill 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.039 and Melissa 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.779 Gates 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.399 were the 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:30.919 speakers. 00:16:32.819 --> 00:16:33.620 And you 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.199 may or may 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:34.620 not know 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:34.879 this, 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.600 but Bill 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.120 Gates is a 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.659 pretty rich 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.019 guy, 00:16:37.579 --> 00:16:38.199 and he's 00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:39.059 given away 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.480 billions of 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.019 his money. 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:42.980 I mean, 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:43.179 you know, 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.079 we're like sad 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:44.399 for him, 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.620 because he's 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.059 only got a 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:45.720 billion or so 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.179 left. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.459 In 2018, 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:51.899 there were 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.659 only 60 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.600 odd cases 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.319 of polio 00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:55.079 worldwide 00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:55.659 reported. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.299 Why? 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.039 Because Bill 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.539 Gates has 00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.019 given his 00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.799 money into 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.459 that course. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.339 I have no 00:17:01.339 --> 00:17:01.980 idea whether 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.740 this guy's a 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:03.120 Christian, 00:17:03.319 --> 00:17:03.879 but he gets 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.500 generosity. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.859 Somebody said 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.180 to him, 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:08.740 why do you 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.279 do this? 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.079 Bill Gates 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.599 said this, 00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:10.960 he said, 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:11.500 it's the 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.399 work of 00:17:12.399 --> 00:17:12.819 God. 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.500 It's the 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:15.899 work of 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:16.660 God to 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:16.960 give. 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.079 He then 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.500 said, 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.539 a Labour 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.460 MP stood 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:24.960 up and 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.460 said to 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:25.579 him, 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.299 so how 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.599 many 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.259 billionaires 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.559 have you 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.019 persuaded 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.460 to give 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:28.799 it all 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.180 away? 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:31.759 He 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:31.980 said, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.359 he 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:33.599 chatted 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:33.980 with his 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.359 wife for 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:34.720 a second, 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.159 he said, 00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:35.980 we think 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.779 67. 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:38.680 Labour 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.259 MP said, 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:39.440 well, 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:39.940 that's not 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.319 many. 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:43.480 Bill Gates 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:43.779 said, 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:43.960 well, 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.339 it's a 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:44.799 start. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.879 I don't 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.359 know what 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:49.659 giving 00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.619 sacrificially 00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.239 would look 00:17:51.239 --> 00:17:52.139 like for 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.399 you. 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:56.559 And I 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.479 don't know 00:17:57.479 --> 00:17:58.139 about this. 00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.599 Many of 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:01.159 us feel 00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:01.779 these days 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.799 that those 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.379 of us who 00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:04.259 are older 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:04.719 and years 00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:04.979 that we 00:18:04.979 --> 00:18:05.259 got to 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.759 help our 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.419 kids and 00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:06.899 all that. 00:18:07.719 --> 00:18:08.399 I don't 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:08.839 know whether 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.339 I should 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.979 include the 00:18:09.979 --> 00:18:10.379 help I 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:10.719 give to 00:18:10.719 --> 00:18:11.319 my kids, 00:18:11.419 --> 00:18:11.879 which is 00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:12.299 pretty 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:12.899 paltry, 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.259 I would 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:13.459 think. 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.139 I don't 00:18:15.139 --> 00:18:15.439 know whether 00:18:15.439 --> 00:18:15.739 I should 00:18:15.739 --> 00:18:16.299 include that 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.659 in my 00:18:16.659 --> 00:18:17.019 giving. 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:18.819 Let's 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.139 look it 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:19.639 after my 00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:19.980 own, 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:20.220 isn't 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:20.440 it? 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.399 As 00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:26.159 Clive told 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:26.339 you, 00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:26.740 Ante and 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.059 I just 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.539 came back 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:27.740 from 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.419 Guatemala, 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:28.919 I mean, 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.240 you want 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:29.519 to see 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.039 poverty, 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.519 take a 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:32.740 trip. 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.159 You want 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:34.419 to see 00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:35.180 depravity, 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.460 take a 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.019 trip there. 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.500 Kids as 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:39.980 young as 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.559 three and 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.460 four sold 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:41.940 into the 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.799 sex industry. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:48.139 it's 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:48.779 difficult to 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.339 walk by 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.000 that kind 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.480 of thing. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.639 So, 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.079 it's a 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.480 call to 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:53.659 give 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.539 sacrificially. 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.240 You know, 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.559 one of the 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.079 first sermons 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.859 I heard 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:59.720 was from 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.519 a well-known 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.039 guy in 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.019 Bristol at 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.019 Pippin J 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:05.119 Church. 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.379 He was the 00:19:06.379 --> 00:19:06.879 vicar there 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.599 for years and 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.099 led the 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:08.659 church into 00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:09.440 renewal in 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.440 the 1960s. 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:10.839 Malcolm 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.419 Widdicombe 00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:11.819 was his 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.139 name, 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.139 probably 00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.379 more well 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:14.779 known as 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.359 his sister. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.339 Anne 00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:17.500 Widdicombe. 00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.379 And one 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:19.619 of the 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.039 things he 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.539 said was, 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:20.979 I was never 00:19:20.979 --> 00:19:21.659 quite sure 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.179 about this 00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:22.659 ultimately, 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.039 although I 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.719 was massively 00:19:23.719 --> 00:19:24.399 impressed by 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:25.099 his message. 00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:26.000 But he 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.419 turned to 00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:26.699 the book 00:19:26.699 --> 00:19:27.179 of Malachi, 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:27.939 the last 00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:28.959 book of 00:19:28.959 --> 00:19:29.399 the Old 00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:29.659 Testament, 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.619 and Malachi 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.719 has a 00:19:31.719 --> 00:19:32.379 kind of, 00:19:32.479 --> 00:19:33.159 you know, 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.459 meltdown with 00:19:34.459 --> 00:19:35.039 the people of 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.219 God, 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:35.459 saying, 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.159 you've been 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:36.839 keeping back 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.519 your tithes, 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.159 you've been 00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.000 robbing God, 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.839 is the language 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.679 that he used. 00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:41.740 And then 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.159 Malachi speaks 00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:43.699 the word of 00:19:43.699 --> 00:19:44.139 God to them. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.940 God says 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.440 to them, 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.720 test me 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.360 in this. 00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:51.840 In other 00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.120 words, 00:19:52.300 --> 00:19:52.860 you want to 00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.620 find out how 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.440 generous I 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:54.700 am, 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.340 why don't 00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:55.920 you try 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.400 being a 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:56.800 little more 00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:57.420 generous and 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.040 do what the 00:19:58.040 --> 00:19:58.600 law says, 00:19:58.780 --> 00:19:59.560 and give my 00:19:59.560 --> 00:19:59.820 tithe. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.180 He says, 00:20:00.520 --> 00:20:01.480 I will open 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.800 the storehouse 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:03.340 of heaven 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:04.360 upon you, 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:06.400 and pour 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:06.780 out the 00:20:06.780 --> 00:20:07.380 riches of 00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:07.680 heaven. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.100 Some of you 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:11.360 are sitting 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:11.759 there saying, 00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:11.920 well, 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.460 I'll take the 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:12.700 money, 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.120 thanks. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:17.700 Test me 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.220 in this. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.440 I don't 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:19.840 want to make 00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:20.460 you go home 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:20.799 feeling, 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.240 you know, 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:21.920 if you're not 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.640 giving what you 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:22.920 could, 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.440 that you're 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.220 robbing God 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.720 or something 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:24.960 like that. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.259 I don't want 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:25.539 you to feel 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.100 bad about 00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:26.340 this. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.120 I want you 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.920 to try and 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.779 be inspired 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.700 to be more 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.180 generous. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.220 And we 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.640 shouldn't be 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.319 more generous 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.120 so God 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.680 will bless 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:34.920 us, 00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:35.640 but a lot 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.039 of people 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.480 have found 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:36.980 that being 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.720 generous means 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.220 that God 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.079 does bless 00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.340 you. 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.679 I had the 00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:41.079 meanest 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.599 grandmother 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.000 on the 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.359 planet. 00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:44.039 She used 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.439 to give 00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.399 me like 00:20:45.399 --> 00:20:46.879 ten shillings 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.639 for my 00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.159 birthday. 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.579 And one 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.139 day I 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:51.399 was, 00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.659 Anthony and 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.159 I worked 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.919 at the 00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:54.319 kind of 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:54.639 sister 00:20:54.639 --> 00:20:55.199 community 00:20:55.199 --> 00:20:55.799 of Liabi 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.299 together 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:56.899 before we 00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.459 got married. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.359 Our 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.099 earnings there 00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.480 were three 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.119 pounds fifty 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:00.619 a week. 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.579 And we 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.059 used to get 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.639 paid on a 00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:03.199 fortnightly 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:03.579 basis. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.299 So you 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.619 get a 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.299 five pound 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.099 note and 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:06.359 two, 00:21:06.459 --> 00:21:06.579 do you 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:06.779 remember 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.359 one pound 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:07.819 notes? 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:09.099 All the 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.519 millennials 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.539 look completely 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.379 perplexed at 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:11.899 this point. 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.079 You get 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.839 one five 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.259 pound note, 00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:15.960 two one 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.659 pound notes, 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.700 and one 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.720 day I 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.079 had been 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:19.839 paid and 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.839 I was 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.119 going to 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:21.679 go downtown 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.419 after the 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:22.720 service, 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.439 so I got 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:24.299 a fiver in 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:24.980 my pocket 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.200 and the 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.939 collection plate 00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.559 came round. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.579 You know, 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.059 and it was a 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.299 plate, 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:30.839 it wasn't a 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.220 bag where 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:31.539 you can put 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:31.879 your hand 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.179 in and 00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:33.200 flick the 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.740 side like 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.159 you put a 00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:34.480 load of 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.079 money in it 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:35.480 or anything 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.159 like that. 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.039 So I'm 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.399 oh what 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:37.639 do I 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:37.879 do, 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.139 what do 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:38.259 I 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.399 do? 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:38.720 So I 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.099 put the 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.740 fiver in, 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:41.240 looked heaven 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.779 would pray 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.740 that the 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.559 storehouse of 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:43.940 heaven would 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.700 open up on 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:44.899 me. 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.099 Right? 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:49.180 I was so 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.859 fed up, 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.519 like I 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:50.859 can't, 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.359 this is, 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.599 what was I, 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.019 you know, 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.339 why, 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.299 I go to 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.159 the board 00:21:56.159 --> 00:21:56.480 where they 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:56.839 used to 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.259 pin your 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.839 post when 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.220 it came 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:58.899 through and 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.240 there's a 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.680 letter from 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.240 my granny. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.720 And I 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.539 opened it, 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.039 there's a 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.460 ten pound 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.119 note in it. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.180 I mean, 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:08.899 you know 00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.180 what, 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:09.960 she, 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.480 I mean, 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:11.720 I don't 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.000 know what 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.299 she was 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.720 thinking, 00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:13.879 you know, 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.599 maybe she 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.539 was under 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.000 the weather 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.559 or something, 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.579 I don't 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:18.879 know, 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.619 but listen 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:19.940 to me, 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.960 God wants 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.539 to bless 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:21.879 you, 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.759 he's not 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:22.960 going to 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.359 make that 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.279 conditional 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.079 on what 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.680 you do, 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.839 but actually 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.680 if you show 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.159 God that 00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:28.539 you want to 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.240 bless him, 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.839 that's a 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.399 cool thing, 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:31.659 isn't it? 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.539 Test me in 00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:32.839 this, 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:33.639 says the 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:33.940 Lord. 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:35.819 So listen, 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.619 just let me 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:38.079 close by 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.200 dealing with 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.420 some very 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:42.000 good and 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.500 common 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.399 questions that 00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:44.180 people have 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.039 at the end 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.579 of a message 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:46.279 like this. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.180 First of 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.839 one, 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.639 do I have 00:22:49.639 --> 00:22:49.960 to give 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.460 all my 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:50.960 money to 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.579 the church? 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.859 Clive says 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.240 yes. 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.200 No, 00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.420 no, 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:58.659 no, 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.079 I'm joking. 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:00.379 Look, 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.159 broadly the 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:01.659 answer is 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:01.960 no, 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.580 except they 00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:04.240 do remember 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.740 that the 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.620 tithe was 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.420 given for 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.019 the maintenance 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.720 of the 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.360 clergy of 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:08.840 the time 00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:09.500 and the 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.759 cult, 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.340 the costs 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:10.680 of the 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.279 tabernacle, 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.120 the costs 00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.460 of the 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:12.800 temple. 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:14.940 So I 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.160 think you 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.400 have to 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:15.940 bear that 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.240 in mind 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.820 and then 00:23:16.820 --> 00:23:17.320 on top 00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:17.640 of that 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.120 of course 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.100 what Jews 00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:19.660 would do 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.540 was give 00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:21.420 free will 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.000 offerings. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.620 You know 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:23.940 somebody 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.620 stands up 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:24.840 here, 00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.220 says the 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.660 team going 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.340 to Uganda, 00:23:26.560 --> 00:23:27.040 we need 00:23:27.040 --> 00:23:27.420 to take 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.900 this stuff 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.340 out with 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:28.540 us, 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:28.920 here's the 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.480 rough cost 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.779 of it, 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:30.740 can anybody 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.440 you know, 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:31.920 and then 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.259 what happens 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.320 is we 00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:34.820 get this 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.100 out. 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.059 Right, 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.480 I love 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:39.880 this thing, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.720 I don't 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:40.980 know if you 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.340 can see 00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:41.740 this down 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.100 the back, 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.519 but when, 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:44.200 this is a 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.960 machine that 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.360 you can give 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:45.920 directly, 00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:46.440 I've got to be 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:46.960 careful what I 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.759 press here as a 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.100 matter of 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:48.299 fact. 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.700 You can give 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.360 directly with 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:52.840 this and then 00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.220 Clive, 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:53.440 right, 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:53.740 I love 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.019 this, 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.080 when the 00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.080 collection comes 00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:56.580 up he gets 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:57.140 hold of this 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:57.779 and sticks it 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:57.960 in the 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.539 basket and 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:58.940 holds it 00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.279 up. 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.740 We're into 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.660 modern religion 00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.099 here. 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.539 We would get 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:05.920 that out, 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.420 free will 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:06.859 offering, 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.220 we give 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.819 some extra 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.279 to help 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.799 somebody who's 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.099 doing a 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.799 project in 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.879 Uganda or 00:24:10.879 --> 00:24:11.379 wherever. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.599 And that's 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.240 a good thing, 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.359 and Jews 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.420 would liberally 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.099 do that, 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.920 on top of 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.399 the tithe that 00:24:21.399 --> 00:24:21.920 they gave. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.480 So the 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.860 answer to 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.240 the question 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:24.680 should I 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.180 give it all 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.500 to the 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:25.920 churches, 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.740 no you 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.340 don't have 00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:27.560 to, 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.259 but bear 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.800 in mind 00:24:28.800 --> 00:24:29.900 running this 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.660 church costs 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.279 some money 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.980 and it's 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:34.039 helpful if you 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.700 can contribute 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.200 to that. 00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.100 Second question 00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:36.420 is, 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.420 hang on, 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.539 I pay my 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.080 taxes, 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:39.900 isn't that 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.380 enough? 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.740 No. 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.460 No. 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.100 At the 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.560 time of 00:24:47.560 --> 00:24:47.920 Jesus, 00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.600 believe me, 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.300 you would 00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.060 rather pay 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.900 tax and 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:54.600 2020 to 00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:55.160 the revenue 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.580 in the 00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.240 UK than 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.920 pay taxes 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.320 to the 00:24:57.320 --> 00:24:57.880 occupying 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.780 Roman forces. 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.920 Not only 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.180 that, 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.540 but we 00:25:01.540 --> 00:25:01.960 know that 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.620 guys like 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.500 Zacchaeus 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.620 would not 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.700 only exact 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.100 what the 00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:06.880 Romans wanted, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.320 but then 00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:07.700 would add 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.540 10% for 00:25:08.540 --> 00:25:08.860 his own 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:09.519 back pocket. 00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.920 That didn't 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.780 negate for 00:25:12.780 --> 00:25:13.280 the Jews 00:25:13.280 --> 00:25:13.900 their need 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.340 to pay 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:15.080 their tithe 00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:16.320 or to 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:16.600 give 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:18.019 sacrificially. 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.940 Third thing 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.140 is, 00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:20.740 should I 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.160 give from 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.740 my net 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.660 salary or 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.160 from my 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.540 gross 00:25:23.540 --> 00:25:24.040 salary? 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.200 Answer, 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.540 I would 00:25:27.540 --> 00:25:28.060 start with 00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:28.500 your net 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.140 salary and 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.740 maybe build 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.100 up to 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:31.580 your gross 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.019 salary. 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:34.040 I went to 00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:34.360 a very 00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:35.200 strict church 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.740 when I was 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.660 first converted 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:38.279 to Christianity. 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.400 I mean, 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:39.759 there wasn't 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.480 much we were 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.040 allowed to 00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:41.220 do, 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.740 but we were 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.220 allowed to 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.440 give. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.340 And the 00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:44.800 guy there 00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:45.860 taught tithing 00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.400 as a kind 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.160 of obligation 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.720 of the law. 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.460 I don't agree 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.000 with that, 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.140 but it 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.759 started me 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.200 on a good 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.819 footing from 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.240 the very 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.180 earliest days 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.799 of my 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.720 Christian life. 00:25:57.340 --> 00:25:58.039 It had 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.900 gone before 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.700 I even 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.559 thought about 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.059 what I 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.600 could spend 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:02.460 my salary 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.799 on. 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.279 What if 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.220 I'm already 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.120 in debt? 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.299 I want to 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.220 say a 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.180 sensitive word 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.680 to you. 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.500 Because 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:14.960 honestly, 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:15.960 you really 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.680 should work 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.100 at paying 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.480 off the 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:19.360 debt before 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:19.900 you start 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.519 thinking about 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.100 giving a lot 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:21.460 of money 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.240 away and 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.960 getting yourself 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.579 worse in 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:23.880 debt. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.920 And I 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.539 am sure 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.220 that if 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.860 you are in 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.259 debt and 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.539 you're 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.019 desperate, 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.900 then there 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.539 are people 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.000 here who 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.380 you could 00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.259 confidentially 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.840 talk to 00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.360 and be 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:36.740 able to 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.440 help you 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:39.600 and find 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.039 your way 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.500 out of 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.039 that debt 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.519 in a way 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:41.900 that you 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.539 can manage 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.160 and then 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:43.840 you can 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.400 start to 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.000 be generous 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.720 to others. 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:48.279 And the 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.100 fifth question, 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.220 oh my 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.720 goodness, 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.120 we used 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.559 to be in 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.960 this kind 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.400 of middle 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.480 class parish, 00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.140 I should 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.220 say that 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.819 was after 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.200 I'd been 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.759 in Slough, 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:01.180 in this 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.819 middle class 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.440 parish and 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:02.980 I preached 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.500 a message, 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.480 I used to 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.620 preach every 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.420 January to 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.940 all our 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.900 congregations 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.940 the message 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.660 about giving. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.319 And I 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.000 preached it 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.559 and the 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.039 next thing 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.339 is I 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:17.640 get a 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.059 phone call 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.420 from a 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.880 man who 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.279 I don't 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.579 know. 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.619 He said, 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.200 you know 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:21.759 my wife, 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.200 he said her 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.359 name. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:22.619 I said, 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:22.900 oh yeah, 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.200 I do 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.640 know her, 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:23.900 yeah. 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.119 He said, 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.019 she's just 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.599 signed over 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.640 10% of my 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.259 salary to 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.920 your church. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:34.240 I'm like, 00:27:34.300 --> 00:27:34.759 what? 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:35.840 He said, 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:37.300 she doesn't 00:27:37.300 --> 00:27:37.759 work, 00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:38.400 she just 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.160 signed 10% 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:39.660 of my 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.779 salary over 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.220 to your 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.720 church. 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:42.640 I'm like, 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.039 thank you 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.620 very much. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:48.960 Look, 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.220 let me say, 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:51.000 if you are 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.720 a spouse 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.600 and you 00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.240 are not 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:54.000 an earner, 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.500 before you 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.080 start giving 00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.700 away your 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.800 earning spouse's 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.779 money, I 00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.279 should have a 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.259 conversation with 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.859 him or her. 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.859 Is that fair 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:03.259 enough? 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.559 Oh yeah. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.159 Oh yeah. 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.639 So, what 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.440 must I do 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.159 to inherit 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:10.299 eternal life? 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.399 This has 00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.039 nothing to 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.740 do with 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.099 what you 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.480 give. 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.779 This is 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.980 entirely about 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:20.399 what God 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:20.839 has given 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.419 to you. 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.379 His Son 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:25.000 on a 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.440 cross, 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.279 so that 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.539 you'll 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.220 sins can 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.500 be 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:28.960 forgiven. 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.019 The 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.500 nearly 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.539 not good 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.039 bit of 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.259 you 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.659 can be 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.099 forgiven. 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.159 And you 00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:38.500 can be 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.159 set free. 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.319 And as 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.839 the Bible 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.460 teaches, 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.420 you can 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:45.000 receive the 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.619 gift, 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.859 please note, 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.000 the gift 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:49.359 of eternal 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.960 life. 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.279 Some of you 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.579 are sitting 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.059 there saying, 00:28:53.159 --> 00:28:53.559 well is it 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.059 like life 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.399 forever, 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.000 like life 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.359 now? 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.119 No. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.680 It's a 00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.319 completely 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.099 different 00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:01.339 order of 00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:01.980 existence. 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:02.980 The Bible 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.859 says you're 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.420 even going to 00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.140 get a new 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.500 body. 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.059 I know that 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:06.680 will be a 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.119 source of 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.579 relief to 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.039 many of 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.240 you. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.400 Getting 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.079 into heaven 00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:15.019 in the 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.460 light of 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.000 the cross 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.519 is not 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.059 about what 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.660 you give. 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:20.060 it's 00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:20.720 about what 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.600 God has 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.660 given to 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.320 you and 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:24.120 for you. 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.300 And that 00:29:26.300 --> 00:29:26.980 is why 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:28.360 it's 00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:29.160 important to 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.860 show him 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:31.100 that we 00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.920 have generous 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.640 hearts. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.460 I'm going 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:35.860 to end 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.160 with a 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.400 little 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.160 couplet 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:38.360 that Mr. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.080 Bubbers of 00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:39.540 the Church 00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:40.259 Pastoral Aid 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.320 Society taught 00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:42.300 me many 00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:43.000 years ago. 00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:43.420 It goes 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.120 like this. 00:29:45.560 --> 00:29:45.880 What? 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.400 Giving 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.600 again I 00:29:47.600 --> 00:29:48.300 asked in 00:29:48.300 --> 00:29:48.820 dismay. 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.880 Must I 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.600 keep giving 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.680 and giving 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.519 all way? 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.060 Oh no, 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:56.680 said the 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.440 angel whose 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.420 gaze pierced 00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:58.980 me through. 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:01.220 Just stop 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.860 when the 00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:02.340 Saviour 00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:03.640 stops giving 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.180 to you. 00:30:05.340 --> 00:30:06.000 Let us 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.300 pray. 00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:09.840 Lord, 00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:11.100 thank you 00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.380 very much 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.080 that you 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:13.720 are such 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.620 an amazingly 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.400 generous 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:15.900 God. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:18.120 Lord, 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.380 our hearts 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:21.360 skip a 00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:21.620 beat 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:23.360 when we 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:23.840 think that 00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:24.180 you would 00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.740 send your 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.259 son to 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.880 deal with 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:26.540 those parts 00:30:26.540 --> 00:30:26.920 of our 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.600 lives that 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.040 we don't 00:30:28.040 --> 00:30:28.560 like and 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.280 we're ashamed 00:30:29.280 --> 00:30:29.600 of. 00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:31.519 To put it 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.000 bluntly, 00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:32.680 our sin. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.100 And Lord, 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.060 I pray that 00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:37.780 this morning 00:30:37.780 --> 00:30:39.780 that amazing 00:30:39.780 --> 00:30:40.420 act of 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.960 history, 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.820 God so 00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:43.300 loved the 00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:44.019 world that 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.460 he gave 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:44.940 his only 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.340 son, 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.539 that whoever 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.240 believes in 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.700 him should 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.360 not perish 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.079 but have 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:50.100 everlasting 00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:50.759 life. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.039 Lord, 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:53.740 I pray that 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.799 your generosity 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:56.460 might at the 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.279 beginning of 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.920 this new 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.279 year kindle 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:00.000 some fresh 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.860 generosity 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:02.299 within us. 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.819 Lord, 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.519 help us to 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.180 know the 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.140 joy of 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.600 giving 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:10.219 as opposed 00:31:10.219 --> 00:31:10.759 to a 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.719 mean-spirited 00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:12.259 heart. 00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:14.519 Lord, 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.039 that this 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.679 world might 00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.839 become a 00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:17.519 bigger and 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.359 better place 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.219 for all 00:31:19.219 --> 00:31:19.579 human 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.240 flourishing. 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:22.959 And we 00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:23.599 pray these 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.159 things in 00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:25.059 Jesus' name 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.659 and the 00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.139 people who 00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:26.919 agreed said 00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.379 together. 00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:27.519 Amen. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:36.099 Amen.