WEBVTT

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 So we've been going through this series, as you know, in looking at faith and work.

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 And we're in number five of six.

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 So next week is the finale.

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 But if you were to draw in a pie chart, okay, some of you who deal with pie charts can do this easier than others,

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 your life, and what took up not just the most of your time, but also your mental energy, your emotional energy, your physical energy,

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 how big a slice of that pie would be your work?

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 And remember, we've said work is anything that is not leisure.

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 How big a slice of that pie would be your work?

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 Because if you're like me, and if you're actually like what the majority of Hong Kong people seem to be like,

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 given that the number of working hours that we have in Hong Kong is the longest in the world,

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 and given that all of the recent debates about lowering the working hours,

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 have you been seeing some of the debates about trying to lower the working hours because people are so stressed,

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 and there's so much anxiety, and it's impacting so many families,

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 and all of this stuff that's going on,

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 then as a church we need to be thinking about,

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 and as individuals we need to be thinking about,

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 what is it that actually drives us to work the way we work?

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 Because even secular people are calling,

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 I read an article which said,

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 work is the new idolatry.

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 This was not a Christian article.

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 Work is idolatry.

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 And it's fascinating because we all kind of,

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 when I talk to people,

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 everybody knows they're working like too much.

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 Everybody knows there's a problem in Hong Kong, right?

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 But we don't seem to be able to do anything about it

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 because we keep continuing on the same treadmill.

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 We keep doing what we have always been doing, right?

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 And today, we're going to kind of look a little bit at what truly drives us to work.

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 We're going to be looking at the idols and how we make work too much.

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 We make it, it's a good thing, but we make it a God thing.

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 We make it so much bigger than what it should be in the way that God has set it up.

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 So by way of a little bit of a recap from where we've gone so far,

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 it's Iraq, somewhere before 2000 BC.

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 And men and women are fighting for survival in a restless, tough land.

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 Their mission had been to take over territory throughout the world,

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 working hard to fill it with beauty, with culture, with technology,

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 with communities which reflected the honor and the glory and the beauty

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 of their commander, God.

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 They were to worship him with their work

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 and to serve others through their work.

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 Remember, we've looked at that.

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 Work was good, but in an act of complete insanity,

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 they rebelled against their commander.

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 They went out by themselves into the world

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 without any assurance of his presence,

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 without his know-how, without his protection,

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 and they moved eastwards.

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 And they deliberately sought to avoid his detection.

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 Deliberately sought to avoid him.

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 And as a result of their rebellion, work had become tough.

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 Thorns and thistles had come up.

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 Remember, we talked about that a couple of weeks ago.

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 And what Bernard began to talk about last week was,

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 work was no longer kind of just black and white.

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 There was a grayness to it.

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 And in this gray of life,

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 God eventually raised up a group of people called the Israelites

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 who were called to be distinctive.

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 They were called to kind of go back to the original plan.

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 But instead, what had happened,

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 the land that they had been put in,

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 they were thrown out of.

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 They became exiles in another land called Babylon.

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 And it wasn't kind of obvious

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 how they were supposed to kind of act as God's people.

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 And so they had to navigate the challenges

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 and the difficulties that they faced every day

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 with reliance on their commander, God.

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 Now, we're going to go back in the story today.

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 We're going to go back about 1,500, 2,000 years

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 to that same place in Iraq where Babylon was.

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 We're going to go back before it became Babylon.

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 And we're going to go back to a time

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 where this group of original people,

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 they grouped together,

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 and they settled down on a plane

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 and they started the first startup.

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 Okay?

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 They invented a new technology.

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 It's kind of,

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 this was going to revolutionize the construction industry.

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 It was called the brick.

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 Okay?

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 They might even have called it the i-brick

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 or something in those days.

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 But they created the heat-fired brick

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 which set them light years ahead

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 of all the surrounding countries.

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 Stone was just so last millennium.

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 They were the brick guys.

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 And with this new technology,

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 there came new ambitions,

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 new opportunities,

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 new ventures.

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 And so they came up with a great business plan.

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 Let's build a city

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 with walls which is so strong

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 they can withstand invaders

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 and a tower so tall

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 that tourists will come and marvel at it

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 and marvel at their ingenuity

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 and how great

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 that even the gods of the heavens

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 would look at them and say,

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 wow,

00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:13.060
 these humans,

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 you know,

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 they're pretty cool.

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 And the interesting thing

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 in this story today

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 that we're looking at

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 is, well,

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 God certainly sits up

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 and takes notice of them.

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 And he notices a couple of things.

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 If you look in the verse,

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 it says,

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 verse 5,

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 and the Lord came down

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 to see the city

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 and the tower.

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 And then afterwards,

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 he then disperses them

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 throughout the land.

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 Two things that he does.

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 First thing,

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 he notices how puny

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 their little tower is

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 because it doesn't even reach up

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 to his window.

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 You know,

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 he's got to take a kind of heavenly lift

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 and he's got to come

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 all the way down

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 to go and see

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 this great thing

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 that they've built.

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 The second thing

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 that he notices

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 is that the plans

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 of their hearts

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 are such that

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 in their rebellion,

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 their desire

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 to just keep

00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:08.460
 making themselves great,

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 keep making themselves

00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:10.280
 look good

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 all the time

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 will only escalate

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 if he allows them

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 to continue

00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.040
 to work together.

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 So,

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 in verse 6,

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 he basically says,

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 okay,

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 these guys,

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 this is only the beginning

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 of what they're going to do.

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 Listen,

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 if this is their business plan now,

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 just imagine

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 if they get successful

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 at this one.

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 where they're going

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 to go next.

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 And so God,

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 when he sees their ambitions,

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 he shatters their dreams.

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 He confuses their language.

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 It's worse than going

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 to the tourist information

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 in a foreign country

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 where no one speaks English.

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 And no one can communicate

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 with each other.

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 And humans' attempt

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 at trying to make themselves

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 as great as they can

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 ends with God

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 spreading them

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 throughout the entire world,

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 just as he'd actually

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 asked them to do

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 right at the beginning.

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 Okay?

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 That's the story.

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 Babel is half built.

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 God is still God.

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 Humans look

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 little puny.

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 Now,

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 what does this story

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 that is told

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 over many,

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 many years

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 tell us

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 about work?

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 I think it asks us

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 two questions.

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 It says,

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 what are you doing

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 your work for?

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 What are you doing

00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:30.259
 your work for?

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 And second is,

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 what will give you

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 perspective

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 on how to work?

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 Okay?

00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:37.279
 What are you doing

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 your work for

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 and what will give you

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 perspective

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 on how to work?

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 So,

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 what are you doing

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 your work for?

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 They say to themselves,

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 come,

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 let us build ourselves

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 a city

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 and a tower

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 with its top

00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:50.879
 in the heavens.

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 And let us make

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 a name for ourselves

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 lest we be scattered

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 throughout the world.

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 You see,

00:08:58.099 --> 00:08:58.679
 on the outside,

00:08:58.939 --> 00:08:59.939
 the people at Babel,

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 they,

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 and what we'll call

00:09:02.219 --> 00:09:03.139
 them the babes,

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 okay?

00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.399
 Just for simplicity,

00:09:06.959 --> 00:09:07.240
 okay?

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 Because,

00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:07.860
 you know,

00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:08.519
 the bablers,

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 and I know there's

00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:10.919
 a Babel babble thing,

00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:11.679
 but it's Babel,

00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.779
 so we'll just stick

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 with that.

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 They,

00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:16.860
 on the outside,

00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:17.659
 they were simply

00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:18.459
 building a city

00:09:18.459 --> 00:09:18.959
 and a tower.

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 That's okay,

00:09:21.939 --> 00:09:22.219
 right?

00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:23.519
 God's not kind of

00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:24.500
 against towers.

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 He's not against cities,

00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:27.379
 okay?

00:09:27.699 --> 00:09:28.340
 And they're just

00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:29.000
 doing a job.

00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.259
 They're doing a good job.

00:09:31.319 --> 00:09:32.259
 They're actually doing

00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:33.039
 what God kind of

00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:33.919
 tells them to do,

00:09:34.059 --> 00:09:34.960
 build culture,

00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:35.639
 create,

00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.000
 do all these things.

00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:37.659
 So,

00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:38.799
 why does God

00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:39.620
 have a problem?

00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:40.980
 The problem doesn't

00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:41.740
 seem to be either

00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:42.179
 that the fact

00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:42.860
 that they're ambitious

00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:43.740
 because you remember

00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:44.439
 in the story

00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:45.299
 we looked at

00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:46.379
 a couple of weeks ago

00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:47.240
 about Joseph,

00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:48.819
 Joseph was ambitious.

00:09:49.579 --> 00:09:49.720
 So,

00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:50.600
 ambition isn't

00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:51.480
 the problem here.

00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:52.539
 The problem

00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:55.000
 is something else.

00:09:55.939 --> 00:09:56.980
 God has a problem

00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.000
 because what was

00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:58.899
 underneath

00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:00.179
 driving

00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:01.639
 their work

00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.120
 was something

00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.860
 other

00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:04.860
 than the worship

00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.360
 of God

00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:05.959
 and the glory

00:10:05.959 --> 00:10:06.559
 of his name.

00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:07.819
 You see,

00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:08.299
 there's a couple

00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:08.620
 of things

00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:09.439
 which drove them.

00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:11.240
 They were driven

00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.419
 by fear

00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:14.000
 and pride.

00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:15.599
 Fear

00:10:15.599 --> 00:10:16.339
 and pride.

00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:17.220
 And those

00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.300
 two drivers

00:10:18.300 --> 00:10:19.680
 were driving

00:10:19.680 --> 00:10:20.879
 them to work

00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:22.139
 and they were

00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:22.899
 driving them

00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:23.920
 to build

00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:24.639
 a tower

00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.540
 for themselves

00:10:25.540 --> 00:10:25.960
 which,

00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:26.860
 if you look

00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:27.860
 later in the language

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.399
 of the Bible,

00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:29.139
 is called

00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:30.280
 idolatry.

00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.220
 When you set

00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:32.160
 something else

00:10:32.160 --> 00:10:33.379
 up to make

00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:34.519
 yourself glorious

00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:35.720
 instead of God.

00:10:37.800 --> 00:10:38.240
 You see,

00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.019
 what were they

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:39.500
 fearing?

00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:39.740
 Well,

00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:41.000
 they feared

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:43.660
 attack.

00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:43.980
 They were

00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:44.519
 vulnerable

00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:46.199
 because,

00:10:46.319 --> 00:10:46.519
 you know,

00:10:46.579 --> 00:10:47.240
 in those days,

00:10:47.339 --> 00:10:48.039
 cities were

00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:48.759
 protection.

00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.000
 They were

00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.559
 people around.

00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:51.279
 They feared

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:52.000
 insecurity.

00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.139
 They feared

00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:54.179
 insignificance

00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:55.000
 because if you

00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.459
 scatter them

00:10:56.459 --> 00:10:57.039
 around the world,

00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:57.299
 they're just

00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:57.600
 going to be

00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:57.939
 small.

00:10:58.059 --> 00:10:58.199
 They're going

00:10:58.199 --> 00:10:58.659
 to be weak.

00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:58.919
 They're going

00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.519
 to be vulnerable.

00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:00.980
 And why

00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:01.219
 were they

00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:01.600
 like that?

00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:01.980
 Because they

00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:02.579
 come out

00:11:02.579 --> 00:11:02.819
 of their

00:11:02.819 --> 00:11:03.259
 relationship

00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:03.839
 with God

00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:05.039
 and because

00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.559
 they were

00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:05.899
 no longer

00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:06.459
 finding their

00:11:06.459 --> 00:11:07.339
 security in God.

00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:07.559
 They were

00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:07.860
 no longer

00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:08.339
 finding their

00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:09.100
 worth and

00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:09.779
 their significance

00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.439
 and their

00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:11.519
 security in God

00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:12.059
 and they were

00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:12.720
 like a street

00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:13.060
 kid,

00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:14.080
 scavenging,

00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.060
 looking through

00:11:15.060 --> 00:11:16.180
 the rubbish

00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:17.040
 heap for

00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:17.820
 anywhere,

00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:18.980
 anywhere to

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:19.620
 find their

00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:20.000
 sense of

00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.700
 identity and

00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.279
 their worth.

00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:21.899
 And where

00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:22.200
 were they

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:22.740
 beginning to

00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.879
 look for it?

00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:24.820
 Their significance

00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:25.580
 and their value,

00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:26.220
 they began to

00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:26.860
 look at it in

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:27.519
 their work.

00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:30.800
 Because when

00:11:30.800 --> 00:11:31.519
 you have no

00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:32.759
 assurance that

00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.680
 anybody else is

00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:34.360
 going to provide

00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.080
 for you,

00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:36.660
 then you've

00:11:36.660 --> 00:11:37.420
 got to find

00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:38.420
 your significance

00:11:38.420 --> 00:11:39.720
 somewhere else.

00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:43.820
 for the

00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:44.279
 babes,

00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.680
 as for most

00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:46.440
 of us in

00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:47.040
 Hong Kong,

00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.639
 the rubbish

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.220
 heap that we

00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.639
 often look to

00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.279
 find those

00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:53.040
 things that we

00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:53.879
 crave for

00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.360
 is work.

00:11:56.540 --> 00:11:57.320
 And that's

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:57.860
 when the Bible

00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:58.460
 says work

00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.060
 becomes an

00:11:59.060 --> 00:11:59.300
 idol.

00:11:59.639 --> 00:11:59.899
 You see,

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.500
 an idol is

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.000
 a God

00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:02.759
 substitute,

00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:03.860
 something you

00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:04.680
 look to to

00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.860
 provide what

00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.060
 only God can

00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:08.000
 truly provide.

00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.279
 it's when you

00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:09.779
 make a good

00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:10.179
 thing,

00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:10.980
 like we said,

00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.860
 into a God

00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.259
 thing.

00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.659
 And I think

00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.299
 if I'm honest,

00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.100
 and I think

00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:17.720
 probably if most

00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.179
 of us are

00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:18.539
 honest,

00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.919
 the reason we

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.559
 often turn our

00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.820
 work in Hong Kong

00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:23.500
 into an idol is

00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:24.059
 because we also

00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:25.279
 fear, right?

00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:26.580
 We fear

00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:28.059
 insignificance.

00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.840
 We fear

00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.340
 failure.

00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.100
 We fear

00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:31.399
 financial insecurity.

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:32.960
 We fear what

00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:33.460
 other people are

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:33.919
 going to say

00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:34.299
 about us.

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.220
 I read an

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:36.139
 interesting piece

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:36.620
 in the New York

00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.000
 Times.

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.740
 Donald Trump.

00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.139
 The piece was

00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:43.639
 about Donald

00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:43.919
 Trump,

00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:45.279
 and it said,

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:47.799
 I think the

00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.179
 headline was

00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:48.840
 something like,

00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.000
 What Drives

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.840
 Donald Trump?

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.500
 And it said

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.179
 in the article,

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.080
 Ultimately,

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.919
 Mr. Trump

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.860
 fears more

00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.419
 than anything

00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:58.360
 else being

00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:58.899
 ignored,

00:12:59.320 --> 00:12:59.740
 overlooked,

00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:00.639
 or irrelevant.

00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.120
 Now,

00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:03.600
 for all the

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.259
 different views

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:05.320
 on him,

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.539
 isn't that also

00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:07.360
 true of most

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:07.879
 of us?

00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:09.620
 Isn't that

00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.180
 true of most

00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:10.480
 of us?

00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:11.980
 If you walk

00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.340
 along the

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:12.759
 corridor,

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.259
 don't we

00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:13.860
 fear like

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.419
 someone turning

00:13:14.419 --> 00:13:14.740
 the other

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.220
 way and

00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.019
 ignoring us?

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:17.320
 Don't we

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.279
 fear never

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.080
 doing anything

00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:19.879
 that counts

00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.800
 in our lives?

00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:21.759
 Don't we

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.500
 fear that

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.600
 somehow we

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.120
 will be

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.740
 irrelevant,

00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:27.419
 insignificant?

00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:27.599
 significant?

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.479
 I opened up

00:13:32.479 --> 00:13:33.079
 a kid's book

00:13:33.079 --> 00:13:33.399
 the other

00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:33.719
 day,

00:13:33.979 --> 00:13:35.240
 and I

00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:35.740
 read through

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:35.939
 it,

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:36.259
 and I

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.519
 flicked

00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:36.819
 through,

00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:37.639
 and I

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:37.959
 got to

00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:38.479
 the end,

00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:39.360
 and then I

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.439
 looked at the

00:13:40.439 --> 00:13:40.959
 kind of blurb

00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:41.319
 about the

00:13:41.319 --> 00:13:41.639
 author,

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:42.899
 and you know

00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.079
 what?

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.019
 Suddenly,

00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:44.759
 it shocked me.

00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:45.299
 The author

00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:46.799
 was 10 years

00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:47.099
 old,

00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.419
 and then it

00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:50.279
 had like a

00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:50.860
 page and a

00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.740
 half of

00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.599
 their resume,

00:13:53.079 --> 00:13:53.799
 of all the

00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.399
 things that they'd

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:54.740
 achieved,

00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:55.639
 all the accolades

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.019
 that they'd

00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.779
 got in their

00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.580
 10 years,

00:13:57.919 --> 00:13:58.639
 and their

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.279
 resume was

00:13:59.279 --> 00:13:59.860
 longer than

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.439
 mine by

00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:01.519
 about five

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.120
 times,

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.340
 and as I

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:03.819
 read it,

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.539
 I suddenly

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:04.899
 thought,

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.720
 what have I

00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.199
 done in my

00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:06.639
 life?

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.379
 Am I just

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.279
 insignificant,

00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:12.919
 what I've

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.460
 achieved?

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.539
 She's 10

00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.220
 years old,

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.039
 but don't we

00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:17.600
 just get like

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:17.860
 that?

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.460
 We fear

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:20.460
 our lives

00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:21.039
 don't count,

00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.200
 but the flip

00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.120
 side of fear,

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.899
 and it works

00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.240
 together,

00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:25.860
 there is also

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.519
 pride.

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:27.759
 You see,

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.440
 pride is when

00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:30.840
 you have nothing

00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.620
 bigger than

00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.639
 yourself to

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:32.980
 elevate.

00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:34.960
 You're the

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.360
 one you

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:35.740
 elevate,

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.779
 because like

00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:37.379
 the babes,

00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:37.940
 you have to

00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:38.879
 make a name

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.580
 for yourself.

00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.460
 They had to

00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:41.720
 get,

00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.440
 because of that

00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:42.919
 insignificance,

00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:43.460
 they had to

00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.200
 get recognition

00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.940
 for themselves.

00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:46.200
 They had to

00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:47.060
 justify who

00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.519
 they were.

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:48.600
 They wanted

00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.659
 success so

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.399
 everyone around

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.259
 them could look

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:51.759
 at them and

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.080
 say,

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.759
 you're cool,

00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:54.980
 you're good,

00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.899
 you're great,

00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:56.539
 I want to be

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.139
 like you.

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.120
 And to get

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:00.820
 the things that

00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:01.600
 they craved

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.039
 for,

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.019
 they turned

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.639
 to work

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.480
 to get it.

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.360
 And those

00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:06.899
 things,

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.639
 there's approval,

00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:08.159
 success,

00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:09.240
 those are the

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.300
 idols underneath

00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:11.240
 our work that

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.879
 often drive so

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.500
 much of what we

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:13.720
 do.

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.120
 I don't know,

00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:15.920
 have you ever

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.519
 come out of a

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:16.840
 meeting,

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.180
 or even a

00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:18.840
 situation in

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.360
 your work,

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.320
 where everything

00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:20.960
 just went

00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.759
 perfectly?

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:22.779
 You know,

00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:23.379
 it just,

00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:23.879
 I mean,

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.200
 it was a

00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.759
 breeze.

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.319
 You came out

00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:26.840
 and you just

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.519
 knocked it out

00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:27.939
 of the park.

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.139
 I mean,

00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:29.100
 it was amazing.

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:30.360
 Like,

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.860
 in my work,

00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:32.919
 I had a

00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.319
 situation,

00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:33.919
 a marriage

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.460
 counseling

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.539
 situation.

00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:37.340
 I went to

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:37.720
 meet this

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:38.200
 couple,

00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:38.519
 they're having

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.059
 all kinds of

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.379
 problems,

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:39.700
 and I was

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:39.819
 like,

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.059
 God,

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:40.419
 I just

00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:40.679
 don't know

00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:40.919
 what to

00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.259
 do.

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:41.700
 It's like,

00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.439
 give me

00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:42.860
 words,

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.159
 give me

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.480
 wisdom.

00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:43.759
 I was

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.039
 worried about

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.379
 what I was

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:45.600
 going to

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:45.840
 say.

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.279
 I go into

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:46.960
 the situation

00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.120
 and suddenly

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.939
 everything just

00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:49.399
 flowed.

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.539
 Everything clicked

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:50.819
 together.

00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.339
 By the end

00:15:51.339 --> 00:15:51.539
 of it,

00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:51.819
 they were

00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:52.199
 just kind

00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.099
 of reconciled

00:15:53.099 --> 00:15:53.480
 together.

00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.679
 Everyone was

00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:54.860
 like,

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:55.039
 yeah,

00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:55.299
 we're going

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:55.659
 to work

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.139
 on a marriage.

00:15:56.219 --> 00:15:56.360
 It was

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:56.779
 wonderful.

00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:57.240
 They texted

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.620
 me later,

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.120
 saying thank

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.240
 you.

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.480
 That was

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.159
 so amazing.

00:15:59.639 --> 00:15:59.899
 And you

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.120
 know what

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.419
 was going

00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.659
 on in

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.039
 my mind?

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.279
 This kind

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:02.899
 of little

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.000
 live stream

00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.740
 kind of goes

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.159
 through your

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:05.399
 mind.

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:05.699
 It goes

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.279
 something like

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.620
 this.

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:07.879
 Hmm,

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:08.459
 I'm pretty

00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:08.759
 good at

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.079
 this.

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:11.539
 I know

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:11.740
 how to

00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.219
 do this.

00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:12.599
 Yeah.

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.579
 I just

00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:16.120
 wish somebody

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.559
 else would

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.179
 kind of see

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:18.379
 just how well

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:18.679
 I'd done

00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:18.819
 that.

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.100
 Maybe they

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.400
 could kind

00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:19.720
 of soak

00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.060
 up a little

00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:20.379
 bit of the

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.040
 wisdom that

00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:21.760
 I can impart.

00:16:23.660 --> 00:16:25.700
 And if it

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:26.480
 happens again

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.080
 and again,

00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:27.960
 whatever in your

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.940
 industry it works

00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:29.180
 like,

00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:29.800
 if you're

00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:30.540
 successful and

00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:31.020
 you do it a

00:16:31.020 --> 00:16:31.700
 few times and

00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.379
 it keeps being

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.040
 successful,

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.720
 you begin to

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.520
 start thinking,

00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:36.460
 hmm,

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.400
 I deserve some

00:16:37.400 --> 00:16:37.700
 credit.

00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:38.820
 I know how

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.480
 to do this.

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.620
 I actually

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.580
 don't really

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.740
 need God

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:44.140
 in this because

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.419
 I'm pretty

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.000
 well able

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.439
 to do

00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:48.240
 his job

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:48.939
 for him.

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:49.860
 Right?

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.299
 You see,

00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:53.799
 once you

00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:54.199
 become

00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:55.159
 successful,

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.519
 your identity

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.779
 becomes resting

00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.759
 in that and

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.259
 you kind of

00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.740
 don't need

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.080
 God

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.000
 because you

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.439
 think you're

00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:04.079
 okay by

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:04.599
 yourself.

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:05.900
 Maybe I

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.200
 should write

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.720
 a book and

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.220
 tell everybody

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.680
 else how

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.079
 great they

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.480
 should do it,

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:08.980
 do it my

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.319
 way.

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:12.799
 But whenever

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.859
 your success

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.099
 becomes the

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:15.899
 place where

00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:16.799
 your worth

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.079
 is based,

00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.720
 that becomes

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.159
 pride.

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.179
 It's inflated

00:17:22.179 --> 00:17:22.659
 by pride.

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.419
 C.S. Lewis has

00:17:23.419 --> 00:17:24.059
 this great quote,

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:24.439
 he says,

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.720
 pride is

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.279
 essentially

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.980
 competitive.

00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:28.679
 Pride gets no

00:17:28.679 --> 00:17:29.500
 pleasure out of

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.259
 having something,

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.339
 only out of

00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.559
 having more of

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.399
 it than the

00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:34.059
 next man.

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.139
 We say people

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.839
 are proud of

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.599
 being rich or

00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.339
 clever or good

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:37.859
 looking, but

00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:38.299
 they're not.

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.240
 They are

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.700
 proud of

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.379
 being richer,

00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.839
 cleverer or

00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.619
 better looking

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.299
 than others.

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:44.779
 Right?

00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:45.819
 Because when

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.639
 you're successful

00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:47.059
 then what

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.519
 happens, you

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.220
 just compare

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:48.740
 to everybody

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.319
 else.

00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:50.859
 And you

00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:51.539
 either think

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:51.859
 that you're

00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:52.579
 better or

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:52.980
 you think

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.399
 that you

00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.240
 are always

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.919
 behind and

00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.279
 you've always

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.799
 got to catch

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.059
 up.

00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:56.799
 You know,

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.220
 go to a

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.919
 school reunion

00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:59.180
 or meet

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.480
 with an

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.460
 old colleague

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.639
 and you

00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.079
 will see

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.500
 how this

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:02.700
 works.

00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.039
 Just you

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.779
 notice your

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.740
 reaction when

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.319
 you find out

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:05.659
 that somebody

00:18:05.659 --> 00:18:06.099
 else is doing

00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:06.500
 better than

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:06.680
 you.

00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:07.460
 Right?

00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:08.400
 They got a

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:08.900
 bigger bonus.

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.440
 Their grades

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:10.920
 were better.

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.200
 They climbed up

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.539
 the ladder

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.120
 quicker than

00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:13.500
 you.

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.579
 They are

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.039
 getting more

00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.920
 recognition in

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.420
 their field

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.059
 than you.

00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:18.759
 How do you

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.160
 respond?

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.039
 Oh, praise

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:21.420
 God.

00:18:21.600 --> 00:18:22.539
 I'm so grateful

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.160
 that you got

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:23.640
 that extra

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.279
 bonus and I

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.579
 didn't.

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:29.559
 you see,

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:32.779
 when we

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:34.000
 think we

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.559
 are less,

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.480
 it raises

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.220
 those fears

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:36.759
 in us that

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:36.939
 we're

00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:37.519
 insignificant,

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.480
 but it

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.740
 also causes

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.779
 us to

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.659
 start focusing

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.339
 on ourselves

00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:43.659
 and think,

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.259
 how can I

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.939
 make myself

00:18:44.939 --> 00:18:45.319
 great?

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.599
 How can I

00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.279
 make myself

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.639
 better?

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.359
 You know,

00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:49.799
 and in my

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.460
 pride,

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.559
 either success

00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.139
 goes to my

00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:56.720
 head or

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:58.399
 success goes

00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.159
 to my heart,

00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:00.019
 it either

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.179
 puffs me up

00:19:01.179 --> 00:19:01.519
 like a

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.299
 balloon or

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.000
 it deflates

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.980
 me to the

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.579
 point I'm a

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.339
 popped balloon.

00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:06.940
 And that's

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.559
 what it's like.

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.819
 The babes

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.319
 wanted their

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.899
 tower to be

00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.240
 taller,

00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.220
 their city to

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.779
 be stronger,

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.460
 to have a

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:12.839
 name,

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.579
 which means a

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.379
 name greater

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:14.960
 than every

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.259
 other.

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.419
 But pride

00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:16.940
 leads to

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.919
 idolatry and

00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.619
 it's grown in

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.299
 the garden of

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.960
 comparison.

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.519
 And we do

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:21.860
 it all the

00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.180
 time.

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.539
 So what I'd

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:25.840
 like you to

00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:26.539
 do is,

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.160
 I have a

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.660
 slide at the

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.180
 back that I'd

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.579
 like to

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:31.860
 show.

00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.900
 When work

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.120
 becomes the

00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:37.600
 place where

00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:37.940
 you're looking

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.240
 for your

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.680
 identity,

00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:39.960
 through success,

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.880
 through approval,

00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:41.559
 for all these

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.240
 other things,

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:46.160
 other things

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.680
 begin to

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.019
 suffer.

00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.620
 What I'd like

00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:49.039
 you to do is

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.579
 just take a

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.119
 minute to

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:50.519
 have a look.

00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:50.859
 There are

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:52.480
 ten signs if

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.500
 your work has

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.319
 become an

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:54.539
 idol.

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.200
 I'd like you

00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:56.799
 just to look

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.519
 through these.

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.079
 I'll move this

00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.599
 out of the way.

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.579
 And spend a

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.299
 minute thinking

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:05.059
 about, does any

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:06.379
 of this apply

00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:07.139
 to me?

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.799
 And after a few

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.319
 seconds, they'll

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.420
 move on to the

00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:12.019
 next one.

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.079
 When in the

00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.920
 last two weeks

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.559
 has this ever

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.279
 been true of

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.500
 me?

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:27.059
 I'm

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.420
 during

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.420
 10.

00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.220
 Who

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:30.980
 else

00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:32.099
 that céu

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.119
 are

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.680
 going to

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.039
 Hakim?

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:36.480
 Have

00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.019
 didn't

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.559
 that thing

00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:39.720
 have

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.379
 ever

00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:41.579
 become

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:42.700
 firm赤

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.779
 you log

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.079
 in two

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.899
 areas

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.819
 are

00:20:46.819 --> 00:21:16.799
 Thank you.

00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:20.819
 Thank you.

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:20.899
 Anyone?

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.679
 Anyone's relevant?

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:26.799
 I think I tick half of the boxes myself.

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:38.240
 You see, I don't think there's a person in this room, and we could have had, there could have been a hundred more on there.

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:41.379
 Okay, I just didn't want to go all day.

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:41.440
 Okay.

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.200
 But work is good.

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:58.220
 But so often when we take it away from being what it's meant to be, which is an opportunity to serve and worship God, we make it God itself.

00:21:58.220 --> 00:22:03.339
 And we make it this God through which we try and find all these other things.

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:07.779
 And then it actually ends up crushing us.

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:17.440
 You see, what happens in the Babel story is God comes down, and their ambitions, he wipes their ambitions out.

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:30.620
 And I don't know if you've had that in your life, when sometimes you've had a dream, an ambition, something you were chasing after, and God has just kind of, it just seems to be shattered.

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:47.699
 If God would have scattered your work right now, if your career was to go up in the air, if your reputation was to go in tatters and you go in in the morning to work and no one wanted to talk to you,

00:22:47.700 --> 00:23:02.779
 if your workplace was to go up in the air, would you simply go and seek to build another tower, to build another job, to get what you really crave?

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:14.140
 Or do you have something more significant, more strong, more foundational, which will last you whether your dreams are fulfilled or not?

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:21.759
 Will you turn to find God?

00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:23.560
 That's the question.

00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:26.020
 Because here's the thing.

00:23:26.540 --> 00:23:31.480
 Sometimes God will kill your dreams because he's got an ambition that is greater for you.

00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.720
 Do you know what?

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:44.020
 When the people of Babylon, of Babel, the Babes, when they, the tower was scattered, well, initially, the whole of their tower was just about themselves.

00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.020
 Right?

00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:49.140
 The whole of their world was shrunk down to like a little world of them.

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.280
 Even though it looked great, it was all about them.

00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:56.240
 But God had a plan to make their lives global.

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.240
 That's why he scatters them.

00:23:58.520 --> 00:24:02.420
 Because he wants to make a bigger impact than just about me.

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:11.160
 And when I'm released and freed from work being about me, then I can be free to make work more significant about him and about others.

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:15.560
 And the impact is far greater in God's eyes.

00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:19.519
 That's what do we do work for?

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:22.400
 For him or for ourselves?

00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:24.500
 For getting something out of it.

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:29.119
 Secondly, how do I get work in a right balance, in right perspective?

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:36.819
 Now, there's a verse in Jeremiah which says,

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:40.019
 Do not seek for great things for yourself.

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.099
 Don't seek them.

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:42.619
 Okay?

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.980
 End of sermon.

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:47.379
 Just stop making work an idol.

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:50.039
 Get some work-life balance.

00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:50.639
 Okay?

00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:52.720
 Have a bit of God and you'll be fine.

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.159
 Okay?

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:53.899
 Okay?

00:24:53.900 --> 00:25:04.460
 Is that enough for you to go out tomorrow and suddenly I'm going to work for God?

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:08.259
 Well, you may think, okay, yes.

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:11.540
 But that's not the gospel.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.420
 That's not the gospel.

00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:16.460
 I was in court yesterday.

00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:18.759
 Fiona got admitted as a solicitor, as a lawyer.

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:28.559
 And it was really fascinating because the judge was telling the junior lawyers who were about to be admitted,

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.900
 he was telling them,

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:34.559
 Stop working such long hours and get some work-life balance.

00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:35.599
 Okay?

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:37.359
 The judge was telling them this.

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:37.980
 Okay?

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:42.980
 You know, that's quite, I mean, you don't hear that a lot.

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.900
 I thought, wow, that's quite refreshing.

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:51.019
 But the problem is, try it.

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:59.480
 If you think work-life balance is going to be your goal, right?

00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.259
 Work-life balance is your goal.

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:06.840
 You're going to get so frustrated because different elements of your life are always going to be in competition with each other.

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:11.460
 And what will happen is, because there's always this tension in life.

00:26:11.780 --> 00:26:13.540
 Life isn't this kind of perfect balance.

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:19.339
 You know, once you think you've found it, then suddenly your kids get sick.

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:24.359
 Or your colleagues are off sick and you've got to then pick up all the work that they had to do.

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:28.659
 Or a new project comes in and you're just up to your eyes again.

00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:30.579
 There's this kind of constant rollercoaster.

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:32.119
 New demands, new circumstances.

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:35.960
 Work-life balance, if it's your goal, you're always going to end up getting frustrated.

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:45.100
 The Bible's solution isn't to kind of try and find this mystical balance that exists somewhere.

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:49.259
 The Bible tells you to Sabbath.

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:53.579
 And Sabbath means a number of things.

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:57.860
 God works on six days and then he rests.

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:58.720
 Okay?

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.799
 We know that.

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:01.839
 He ceases from his creative work.

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:10.940
 But God actually is working all the time, you know, otherwise the world would collapse.

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.559
 He sustains everything, through everything.

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.319
 We're not God.

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.420
 That's why we Sabbath.

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:18.539
 God doesn't actually need to have a rest.

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:21.220
 God doesn't need to have a rest.

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:26.559
 He rests to show us our utter need for him and for rest.

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:33.980
 Now, for some of us here, that's going to mean you actually have to turn off your phone.

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:37.440
 You actually have to be physically present with your families.

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:43.220
 You actually need to take time to stop and to rest and to Sabbath throughout your week.

00:27:44.919 --> 00:27:50.960
 I'm guilty of not sometimes, of trying to work through everything and not stopping because

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:52.179
 I've just got to get this done.

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.679
 I've just got to get these things.

00:27:53.680 --> 00:28:02.000
 One of the first steps for you may be to break an idol, maybe just to actually put some boundaries

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.140
 to stop and say, I need to Sabbath.

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.880
 But that's only a first step.

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:08.360
 Hebrews 4 says this.

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:15.200
 There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:20.720
 also rested from his works as God did from his.

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:30.559
 If you want to have work in right perspective, the New Testament says, Sabbath and rest doesn't

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:33.140
 simply mean taking time off work.

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:40.319
 It means taking time off the throne of your life and letting God be the throne of your life

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:47.940
 because it says, whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:51.720
 from his. That means, what are we working under our work?

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:53.120
 What are we actually working for?

00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.940
 We're working for approval.

00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.620
 We're working for success.

00:28:56.980 --> 00:29:00.420
 We're working to get greatness for ourselves.

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:09.039
 But you're not going to replace an idol of work by simply stopping working.

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:14.519
 Because what you'll probably do is you'll probably make an idol out of leisure or out of your Pokemon

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.060
 Go or something like that.

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:26.259
 Jesus says, come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.460
 What's he saying?

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:31.759
 Fear always pushes you to faith in something.

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:35.379
 Jesus says, let it push you to me.

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:40.680
 When you feel afraid of being insignificant, let it push you to me.

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:45.400
 Pride always inflates you by being comparing with someone else.

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.259
 Someone else.

00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:54.240
 But why don't you let the comparison look upward to someone greater than yourself, which is Jesus?

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.400
 Jesus.

00:29:56.180 --> 00:30:00.120
 I remember when I was a kid.

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.599
 We went to this Christian camp.

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:06.700
 And they had this song, which was from Hebrews 11, verse 6.

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:09.960
 And it said, without faith, it's impossible to please God.

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:15.140
 And they just sang it again and again until I was just kind of completely nuts.

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.980
 But they missed out the rest of the verse.

00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:20.000
 Okay?

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.700
 They missed out the rest of the verse.

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.940
 The rest of the verse says this.

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:40.539
 It says, without faith, it's impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.059
 Did you get that?

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:47.900
 You must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:49.759
 That's the basis of faith.

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.340
 That's the basis of faith.

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:51.400
 Interesting.

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:59.019
 What faith starts with, it doesn't start, it's not some kind of mystical power that you've kind of got to work up in yourself.

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:08.059
 Faith that overcomes the fears which drive us is about fixing your eyes on Jesus who says, come to me.

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:17.039
 And it says, come every day to me in your work situations and trust me with whatever is going on with you daily.

00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:27.480
 In fact, your work situations, whatever is causing you to fear right now is an opportunity for you to fix your eyes and turn to him.

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.379
 Did you get that?

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:36.360
 You know, he rewards those who seek him.

00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:40.520
 You know, why do we not turn to God?

00:31:40.760 --> 00:31:46.620
 Because we actually don't think that he really is going to give us good things.

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:50.400
 We think that in my work he's going to give me what I really want.

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:53.220
 That's why we turn to idols.

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:58.400
 I don't know if you've read, do you know Jimmy Kimmel?

00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:01.480
 He's got a show in the States.

00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:06.420
 And I watched this show where, it was a Christmas show.

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:12.500
 And basically the title was, my parents gave me a bad Christmas gift.

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.320
 Anyone seen that one?

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:26.539
 So what he'd done on the show, he basically told all his audience who are parents, go and give the worst gift you can to your kids and film their reaction.

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:29.019
 Okay, it's kind of a loving, nice thing to do.

00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:34.200
 So what he does, so these parents study kind of Christmas stocking.

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.159
 They get the stocking out.

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:36.539
 Kids are excited.

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:39.319
 They open it up and it's like a raw potato.

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:44.659
 Like another one opens it up and it's a raw, it's like a half-eaten sandwich.

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:49.839
 And they're like, but I thought you loved me.

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:56.519
 That, I think, is exactly how we view God in our lives.

00:32:58.359 --> 00:33:03.839
 The reason I go to all of my idols is because I think God's just going to give me a half-eaten sandwich.

00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:10.259
 I think he's just going to give me a raw potato for things, so I better come and get it myself.

00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:12.980
 Because I'm not going to get anything good from him.

00:33:16.459 --> 00:33:23.679
 Jesus, in Romans 8 it says, if Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, if he gave his own life for us,

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:28.459
 isn't he, if he's given the biggest, greatest thing that he could possibly give,

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:32.480
 don't you think he's actually going to, he's not going to be like stingy thinking, ooh.

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:38.899
 I'm not going to help you in your work situation because, you know, you've been a bit bad recently.

00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:40.919
 He's not like that.

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:45.179
 If he knew you at your worst and he died for you right there,

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:49.099
 do you not think he's going to give you something so much better than a raw potato?

00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:57.859
 And in your work situations, day by day by day, it's a constant call.

00:33:58.119 --> 00:34:01.779
 Am I going to fear and then run to my idol, run to my work,

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:07.039
 increasingly work and work and work to just find the success, find the significance,

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:09.519
 find the approval, find the things that I want?

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:19.400
 Or will I use that as an invitation to turn to my father who will provide everything good that I need,

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:25.500
 who says, I exist and I will reward you with good things?

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:29.420
 Friday, this week has been a crazy week for me.

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:33.340
 Friday, I'm just doing the sermon, just typing it up.

00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:35.500
 My computer completely dies.

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.059
 Like, dead.

00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:42.100
 Although, dead in the kind of way where it kind of, it looks at you long enough and says,

00:34:42.180 --> 00:34:46.840
 I might work, but don't hold your chances on it, you know.

00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.900
 That kind of way.

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:50.480
 So I borrow another laptop.

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:54.740
 And I'm finishing off the sermon.

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:57.820
 And then I find that it won't print.

00:34:57.820 --> 00:35:04.539
 And the drivers to my computer are incompatible with this new computer.

00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:05.860
 So it wouldn't work.

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.980
 It was later at night.

00:35:07.600 --> 00:35:11.280
 And the office community center, the printers are not working there.

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:13.760
 It was too late to print for anywhere else.

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:16.480
 And I'm beginning to think, oh, no, what's going on?

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:18.000
 I can't believe it.

00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:20.880
 What's going to happen?

00:35:22.080 --> 00:35:24.920
 Am I just going to get up there and look like a prized plum?

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:28.460
 You know, what are people going to think?

00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:30.340
 Am I ever going to get this done?

00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:31.480
 How is it going to happen?

00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.420
 I don't know where.

00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:33.260
 I don't know what.

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.159
 I don't know what's going on.

00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:35.480
 I can't believe it.

00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:40.880
 Why did the community center not have the printer working yet?

00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.659
 Is that faith?

00:35:47.659 --> 00:36:00.239
 Now, what I discovered was after I kind of wallowed in this for a little while,

00:36:00.319 --> 00:36:01.460
 I then caught myself.

00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:11.960
 I caught myself and thought, what if God exists?

00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:16.460
 What if God is actually God, right?

00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:17.980
 He says he's God.

00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:20.440
 What if he's in this very moment, God?

00:36:21.420 --> 00:36:22.940
 That means he's in control of it.

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:26.900
 That means he's also the father who says he'll provide everything I need.

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:30.920
 That means he's the one who's sovereignly going to work through every single situation

00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.639
 for his glory.

00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:32.980
 What if he exists?

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:37.519
 And what if he also will reward those who seek him?

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:44.759
 What if he's the one who provides good things, not bad things?

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:48.679
 What if I can trust him in this situation?

00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:52.019
 Do you know how it changed my perspective?

00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:58.159
 Suddenly, it was like, okay, I can live with this.

00:36:58.519 --> 00:37:02.000
 And then I got the idea, my dad has an iPad.

00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:07.380
 So I have this morning an iPad that I'm doing, not my notes.

00:37:08.659 --> 00:37:10.400
 You see, God provides.

00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:14.820
 In amazing ways.

00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:19.940
 But think about it for you this week.

00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:23.860
 What are you fearing this week?

00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:29.300
 What has got you wrapped up so much in your work?

00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:32.980
 What is running around your mind at night?

00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:34.500
 What keeps you up at night?

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:43.179
 Have you ever considered this is an opportunity for you to run to God who says, come to me.

00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:44.659
 Come to me.

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:50.260
 Start fixing your gaze on him and to trust him.

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:53.739
 To not make yourself so pride-filled that I've got to...

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:58.639
 Because you see, what I'm doing in those moments, I'm thinking, okay, here's the 15 ways I've got to fix the situation.

00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:01.119
 Because it all depends on me.

00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:02.340
 That's pride.

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:10.260
 What if my reflex was to say, God, I need you, but I know you're good.

00:38:10.600 --> 00:38:11.840
 And I know you'll provide.

00:38:12.100 --> 00:38:13.019
 I trust you.

00:38:13.240 --> 00:38:15.680
 And however this works out, you're the one.

00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:18.820
 You're the one who runs through all of this.

00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:26.579
 To be great in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, you've got to be small.

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:31.940
 Small, that means it's not about me, it's about him.

00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:46.840
 And when it's about him, you know, the God who was the CEO of everything stepped down to the lowest pay scale and served you on the cross.

00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:51.260
 So that you might experience the rewards of his grace.

00:38:51.260 --> 00:38:54.240
 And the blessing of that relationship with him.

00:38:54.239 --> 00:39:02.599
 So whether you're in a low position, he went lower for you.

00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:07.659
 So this week, will you trust him?

00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:09.819
 You don't need work-life balance.

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:11.500
 You need God balance.

00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:20.059
 And that will then help you to actually navigate the priorities, the circumstances that you face every day.

00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:23.000
 To have a clarity in your mind to trust him.

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:24.099
 Let me pray.

00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:41.099
 Father, so much of life is lived building my own tower.

00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:50.199
 So much of life is lived making my own dreams.

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:53.619
 Thinking that I can be successful.

00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:55.639
 That I can make a name for myself.

00:39:55.639 --> 00:40:02.920
 But so often that just leads to pride.

00:40:04.359 --> 00:40:07.159
 But also to a fear.

00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:12.599
 Because when my identity is in myself.

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:16.139
 And in my accomplishments.

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:18.319
 And in what other people think.

00:40:18.859 --> 00:40:20.139
 And what other people say.

00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.599
 And in my work.

00:40:23.219 --> 00:40:28.359
 Then so much more rides on it than should be riding on it.

00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:31.660
 I pray for each one of us.

00:40:32.660 --> 00:40:38.380
 Those of us who we know that we're just putting so much of our life into our work.

00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:40.220
 It's not just our bodies.

00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:41.059
 It's our minds.

00:40:41.180 --> 00:40:41.960
 It's our souls.

00:40:42.120 --> 00:40:44.820
 It's our very identity that is wrapped up.

00:40:45.660 --> 00:40:47.539
 And I pray that you would show us.

00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:52.059
 You've already given us an identity.

00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:54.740
 So that when we work.

00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:57.280
 We don't have to work up an identity.

00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:59.980
 We have significance in you.

00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:03.220
 So help us then to just work well.

00:41:04.120 --> 00:41:07.180
 Work with a desire.

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:10.519
 To just serve you and honor you this week.

00:41:11.400 --> 00:41:12.760
 I know it's tricky.

00:41:13.200 --> 00:41:14.360
 I know it's challenging.

00:41:15.600 --> 00:41:16.800
 Please help us.

00:41:17.700 --> 00:41:20.340
 To see you day by day by day.

00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:22.000
 In Jesus name.

00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:22.940
 Amen.