WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:09.040 If you would open up your Bibles to page 627 of your pew Bibles, it's Proverbs chapter 3, if you've brought your own. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:14.280 Last week I started preaching two sermons on generosity. 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:18.660 And let me just read this for you. This is Proverbs chapter 3. 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:24.600 I'm going to focus on 9, and I'm actually going to focus on one word in verse 9. 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:37.200 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. 00:00:38.120 --> 00:00:48.060 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:55.160 May God bless the hearing and application of His word. 00:00:57.219 --> 00:01:02.660 Let's say this week you get an unexpected phone call from an estate attorney. 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:11.240 Your recently deceased neighbor, she was in her 80s, and you and your family had essentially adopted her. 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:14.900 You were showing her kindness. You were helping her out in so many different ways. 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:17.820 Well, it turns out she wrote you into her will. 00:01:19.160 --> 00:01:21.620 You didn't plan that. You weren't pining for that. 00:01:22.080 --> 00:01:23.080 You didn't even know she had any money. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:25.800 You were just seeking to love your neighbor. 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:33.300 This lawyer says, I'm just calling to let you know that you're going to be receiving $10,000 00:01:33.300 --> 00:01:38.840 from Gladys' estate by the end of this month. 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:42.000 So for us, it'd be like this coming week. We'd get $10,000 in the mail. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.799 Let me ask you a question. 00:01:46.579 --> 00:01:47.319 What do you do? 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:51.280 How does God want you to respond to that? 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:56.280 What should be your attitude, your posture towards that $10,000? 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:59.620 And then what should be your actions, your practice? 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:00.760 What do you do with that? 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:04.039 I hope you're at least asking this. 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:07.599 As God's steward of all that He has given you, 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:09.580 you're asking God, what would you have me do with this? 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:10.139 What would you do with this? 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.259 Let's move from a kind of one-time windfall 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:19.520 to now your monthly income. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:25.879 Most of us in this room are receiving some kind of monthly income. 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:31.060 Maybe you are receiving $20,000 a month, 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:34.060 $10,000 a month. 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:38.699 Maybe you're receiving $5,000 or $3,000 a month. 00:02:38.699 --> 00:02:38.699 00:02:38.699 --> 00:02:39.699 Maybe you're receiving $5,000 or $3,000 a month. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:46.960 What should be your posture toward that monthly income? 00:02:48.099 --> 00:02:51.379 And what should be the practices of good stewardship 00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:57.860 in stewarding that money in a way that pleases the Lord? 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:03.340 Now, if you weren't here last week, 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:08.320 I preached on Proverbs 3, 9 and 10, 00:03:08.860 --> 00:03:12.920 and I was trying to make a case that the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:03:12.920 --> 00:03:17.260 radically, radically changes our hearts towards money. 00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:21.800 Instead of seeing money for our own glory, 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:26.380 now we have been rescued and money is a means to God's glory. 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:31.480 So we're going to steward it to God's glory 00:03:31.480 --> 00:03:34.120 because we're God's stewards trusting in God's promises. 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:36.240 This is what the gospel does. 00:03:36.420 --> 00:03:38.280 It de-golemizes us. 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:38.860 Remember that? 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:40.680 My precious. 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:45.360 The love of money is like the ring of power in our hands. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:46.880 It's not a ring. 00:03:46.980 --> 00:03:48.240 It's usually on our smartphones 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:49.460 where we're looking at our bank accounts. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:50.219 Oh, my precious. 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:54.540 The gospel rescues us from that. 00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:57.420 This morning, I want to move from 00:03:57.420 --> 00:03:59.960 the why we give last week 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:01.400 to the how we give. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.439 And it's that word firstfruits 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:06.660 that is such a help. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:11.240 When you read that in 3.9, 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:12.479 firstfruits, 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:13.900 with the firstfruits, 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:14.740 we're to honor the Lord 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:16.779 with the firstfruits of all your produce. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.899 The original recipients would have been thinking 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:22.180 like the firstfruits of their barley harvest, 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:23.300 of their wheat harvest. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:24.579 There's multiple harvests 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:25.959 during the growing year in Israel. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:27.719 Or if you had a flock, 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:29.920 it would be the firstfruits of your flock. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.720 And it's okay to think in terms of sequence, 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:36.800 like this is the first we give back to God 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:37.980 of what He's given to us. 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:41.280 But this word is not just sequential 00:04:41.280 --> 00:04:42.680 in its firstfruits. 00:04:43.280 --> 00:04:44.780 This word is qualitative. 00:04:46.140 --> 00:04:49.040 We give our best to the Lord. 00:04:50.340 --> 00:04:52.640 When we honor the Lord with our wealth, 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:56.300 we give Him the best we have. 00:04:58.420 --> 00:04:59.120 And so this morning, 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:00.960 what I want to help you to think through is, 00:05:01.640 --> 00:05:02.640 you're going to hear me say that, 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.139 give your best to the Lord. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:05.899 In light of what Christ has done for us, 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:07.759 let's give our best to Him. 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:11.419 And so, I want to help you think through 00:05:11.419 --> 00:05:14.120 how to give your best to the Lord 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:15.319 attitudinally, 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.620 and how to give your best to the Lord 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:19.620 by way of action. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:22.759 How to give your best to the Lord 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.139 by way of posture of heart, 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:27.319 and how to give your best to the Lord 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:28.459 by way of practice. 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:32.799 There is much grace here. 00:05:32.919 --> 00:05:35.239 Now, let's just state the obvious. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:39.399 There in this room are people 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:41.959 with a wide range of incomes. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:45.019 Not all of us have the same income, 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:46.219 and that's okay. 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:49.560 We're not making any claim 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:51.839 that all of us should have the same income. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:54.159 But here's what's going to unite us, 00:05:54.219 --> 00:05:55.419 brothers and sisters, as a church. 00:05:57.299 --> 00:05:59.599 It's when we are united 00:05:59.599 --> 00:06:03.119 in giving our best to the Lord 00:06:03.119 --> 00:06:04.839 with whatever He's given to us. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:07.099 When we are doing that together, 00:06:08.099 --> 00:06:11.599 it unites us in a God-pleasing posture. 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:16.399 And so let's give our best to the Lord. 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:17.679 Whatever He's given of us, 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.000 let's give our best back. 00:06:19.840 --> 00:06:21.300 And let's start off with this 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:24.439 kind of sense of attitude, of posture. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:28.040 By attitude and posture, 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:29.340 what I'm talking about 00:06:29.340 --> 00:06:30.699 essentially is your motivation. 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:32.280 What is the motivation 00:06:32.280 --> 00:06:33.960 behind your stewardship in general 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:35.860 and your giving in particular? 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:40.040 And in order to drill down into that, 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:41.800 we're going to move away 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:43.100 from Proverbs chapter 3, 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:43.939 and I want to bring you 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:45.519 to a passage in 2 Corinthians. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:49.120 It's in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. 00:06:49.219 --> 00:06:50.620 If you're looking at your pew Bible, 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:54.699 it starts on page 1149. 00:06:56.379 --> 00:06:57.579 And so I just want to give you 00:06:57.579 --> 00:06:59.319 some background of what's going on 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.819 in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. 00:07:01.979 --> 00:07:03.759 At this time in the first century, 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:06.819 there was a devastating famine 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:09.120 that had broken out in Jerusalem 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.939 and the surrounding areas of Jerusalem. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:12.419 And it was wreaking havoc 00:07:12.419 --> 00:07:13.620 in the Jerusalem church. 00:07:13.620 --> 00:07:15.300 So the Jerusalem church 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:17.019 were primary Jewish Christians, 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:18.720 and they were now suffering 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.579 because of this famine. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:23.840 And so the Apostle Paul does something. 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:29.759 It's one of the first Christian relief efforts, 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:32.360 a Christian relief fund. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:33.819 Do you know what the Apostle Paul does? 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:36.939 He reaches out to primarily Gentile churches 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:39.000 around the Mediterranean basin, 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:40.860 churches in Macedonia, 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:42.600 and the churches in Galatia, 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:44.040 and the church of Corinth. 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:45.740 And he says, 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:46.379 okay gang, 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:48.480 what can you do 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.579 to help your brothers and sisters 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:52.759 in the Jerusalem church? 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:55.439 And so what he's doing 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:56.519 in 8 and 9 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:57.839 is he's circling back 00:07:57.839 --> 00:07:58.339 to a commitment 00:07:58.339 --> 00:07:59.259 they had already made, 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:02.480 and he's motivating them to give. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.879 And so for us, 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:05.640 it's very helpful 00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:09.040 because we're going to apply this 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.420 not to a one-time gift 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:11.240 to people in need. 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:12.620 We're going to apply this 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:15.819 to our monthly stewardship of God, 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:17.100 what he entrusts to us. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:20.860 And so with that said, 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:21.860 what I want you to see 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:23.360 in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:25.759 are three motivations, 00:08:26.340 --> 00:08:27.740 three attitudinal 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:29.720 kind of lining up 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:31.259 to what pleases God. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:32.259 The first one is this. 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:35.939 It's in 2 Corinthians 8, 8 and 9. 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:37.620 It's gospel. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.259 It's a gospel-shaped generosity. 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:45.080 It's attitudinal. 00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:46.659 It's posture of heart. 00:08:46.819 --> 00:08:47.580 It's motivational. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.519 Look what he says. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.240 In verse 8 he says, 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:55.100 I say this not as a command, 00:08:55.659 --> 00:08:57.460 but to prove by earnestness 00:08:57.460 --> 00:08:59.220 of others that your love 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.500 is also genuine. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:03.600 He's talking about this relief effort 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.100 that they've been kind of gathering 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:06.080 for about a year 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:07.320 and they're going to send it. 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:10.019 And he says in verse 9, 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.960 for you know the grace 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:13.539 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:15.240 that though he was rich, 00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:17.039 yet for your sake he became poor 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:18.419 so that you by his poverty 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:19.460 might become rich. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:21.919 This is a gospel motivation 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:22.799 towards generosity. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:25.459 What's being said here 00:09:25.459 --> 00:09:27.219 is that Jesus himself 00:09:27.219 --> 00:09:29.099 became poor 00:09:29.099 --> 00:09:32.319 so that he would enrich us 00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:33.299 with salvation 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:35.779 and that should motivate us 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:36.539 in our giving 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:38.199 to divest ourselves 00:09:38.199 --> 00:09:39.059 of some of our wealth 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:40.899 to help other people 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:42.740 become enriched in Jesus. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:42.940 Jesus. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:47.220 It's a gospel motivation. 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.440 The idea of 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:53.840 he who became rich, 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:54.879 he who was rich 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:55.600 became poor 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.620 is talking about 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:57.259 his incarnation. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.240 This is Philippians chapter 2, 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:02.500 3 through 11 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:04.060 where Jesus who 00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:05.960 before he took on flesh, 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:07.060 before the second person 00:10:07.060 --> 00:10:07.580 of the Trinity 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:08.340 was incarnated, 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:09.740 he was in glory in heaven 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:11.600 and when he took on flesh, 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.919 he took the form of a servant. 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:13.860 He humbled himself. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:15.259 He became poor 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:16.480 and then he lived 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:17.060 a perfect life, 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.080 died on the cross 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:18.899 and through that death 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:19.580 and resurrection, 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:21.539 he brings wealth 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:22.299 to sinners. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.620 He makes us rich 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:27.419 for those who believe. 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.899 Yet for your sake, 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.060 he who was rich 00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:36.159 became poor. 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:38.759 And you know what kind 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:39.399 of riches 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:42.819 it's the riches 00:10:42.819 --> 00:10:44.259 of salvation. 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:46.220 It's the riches 00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:47.100 of God's grace 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:48.199 that are in Christ Jesus. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.799 It's Jesus himself. 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:52.059 Our riches 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:53.659 in Christ. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.720 Jesus is our treasure. 00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:57.740 And so, 00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:59.319 when you think about this, 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.579 that Jesus is our treasure, 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:02.720 can you stack Jesus up 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.840 next to anything 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:05.139 you could possibly think of 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:06.019 on this planet 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:06.759 and say, 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:07.579 how could that 00:11:07.579 --> 00:11:08.419 in any way 00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:09.179 be more valuable 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:09.679 than him? 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.479 This gospel motivation 00:11:15.479 --> 00:11:16.819 gets at something 00:11:16.819 --> 00:11:17.620 in us 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.939 in which 00:11:18.939 --> 00:11:20.359 God is saying to us, 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:22.159 just as your God 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:23.479 became poor 00:11:23.479 --> 00:11:25.099 to make you rich, 00:11:25.099 --> 00:11:26.719 so now you 00:11:26.719 --> 00:11:28.979 handle your wealth 00:11:28.979 --> 00:11:30.659 to make others 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.599 rich in Jesus. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.840 it's powerful motivation. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:34.860 It's powerful motivation. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:37.580 Didn't deserve it. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.960 We didn't deserve 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:41.040 Jesus becoming 00:11:41.040 --> 00:11:42.540 poor to make us rich. 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:44.220 That's why we read 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:45.000 that this is 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.700 the grace 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:48.220 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:48.320 Christ. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.680 So this first 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:53.120 motivation, 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.899 this first dimension 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:55.720 is gospel. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:56.700 The second aspect 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.500 of it is 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.940 generosity. 00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:01.300 We're to be generous. 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:03.740 If you flip over 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.399 to 2 Corinthians 9, 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.180 6, 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:09.399 Paul starts drawing 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:10.600 on a particular 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:11.600 illustration, 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.879 particular way 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.399 of being 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.799 that that congregation 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:17.620 would have been 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.480 very familiar with. 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:19.600 The point is this, 00:12:19.699 --> 00:12:20.139 Paul writes, 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:22.579 whoever sows sparingly 00:12:22.579 --> 00:12:24.340 will also reap sparingly, 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:25.600 and whoever sows 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.419 bountifully, 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.179 generously, 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:28.379 will also reap 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.019 bountifully. 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:30.419 We're not talking 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.120 about sowing 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.240 as in a sowing machine. 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:34.980 What we're talking 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.699 about is 00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:36.840 sowing seed. 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.740 We're talking about 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.399 planting 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.039 and growing 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:43.199 and harvesting. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:46.020 And Paul 00:12:46.020 --> 00:12:47.180 is using 00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:48.040 this 00:12:48.040 --> 00:12:49.120 illustration 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.540 to attend 00:12:50.540 --> 00:12:51.900 to how we give. 00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:54.440 You sow a little, 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.120 you reap a little. 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.820 You give a little, 00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.860 you reap 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.680 a little. 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:02.560 The sowing 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:03.920 is analogous 00:13:03.920 --> 00:13:05.520 to financial giving. 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.020 Giving of your 00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:08.180 financial resources. 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:09.780 And we're not 00:13:09.780 --> 00:13:10.820 to give minimally 00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:11.400 according to what 00:13:11.400 --> 00:13:12.300 Paul is saying here 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.040 is the 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.779 principle is we 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.579 give generously. 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.939 We give abundantly. 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:17.879 Now, if you flip 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:20.199 back to 2 Corinthians 00:13:20.199 --> 00:13:20.759 8, 00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:23.000 Apostle Paul does 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:23.480 something really 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:23.879 interesting. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:26.179 In verses 1 and 2, 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:27.139 he brings up 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:27.959 some other churches. 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:29.199 The churches 00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:29.939 of Macedonia. 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:32.000 And he's kind of like, 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.559 you know what, 00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:34.079 Corinthians, 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.699 let me just tell you 00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:36.419 what the Macedonians 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:36.659 are doing. 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:39.639 And then he goes on 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.339 in verse 3 00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:41.079 and he says, 00:13:41.439 --> 00:13:41.939 for they, 00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:43.419 the Macedonian churches, 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:45.059 gave according to 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.579 their means, 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.379 as I can testify, 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:47.699 and beyond their means 00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.620 of their own accord. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.719 In other words, 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:50.699 they had started 00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:51.839 to give sacrificially. 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.879 Going beyond their means. 00:13:55.219 --> 00:13:56.559 These Macedonians 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.159 who had nothing 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:57.959 were finding ways 00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:58.480 to give 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.500 because they 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:02.399 had a gospel 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.740 motivation going on. 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.240 And they want to be 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.000 part of this 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.879 relief effort. 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:08.840 They want to be part 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:09.779 of what God was doing. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:11.519 And so, 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.580 what we see here 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.440 is not only just 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.320 a sowing, 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.680 not of a little, 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.080 but a sowing 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.139 of abundance 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.759 and even moving 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.379 into sacrificial 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.220 giving. 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:29.060 It's kind of like this. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:30.940 Let's say we're 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:31.639 living in first, 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.860 let's say we're 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.639 living in Corinth, 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.460 but it's Corinth 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:35.340 21st century. 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:37.060 And if your family 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:38.300 is kind of a, 00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.820 you stop at Starbucks 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.259 a lot. 00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.060 And there's not 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:42.279 necessarily wrong 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:42.620 with that, 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.139 but let's say 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.259 you hear about 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.940 this need 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:46.100 in the Jerusalem church 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.440 and you gather 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:47.860 your family, 00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:48.580 you're a dad, 00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:49.160 you're leading your home 00:14:49.160 --> 00:14:49.379 and you're like, 00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:49.740 here's what we're 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.240 going to do, gang. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.139 We're going to go 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.879 without Starbucks 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.580 all year long 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:52.940 and we're going to 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:53.639 take the stuff 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.220 that we'd spend 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:54.699 for Starbucks, 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.059 we're going to 00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:55.659 pile it up 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:56.259 and we're going 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:56.960 to send it 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:57.399 to the church 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:57.879 in Jerusalem 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.879 because we can 00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.759 go without Starbucks 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.679 so that they can 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:01.059 eat. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.559 It's that kind 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.259 of mentality, 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.580 others oriented. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.120 What is really 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.480 interesting is when 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.080 you start asking 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.500 the question, 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.059 well, what is 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:15.080 the abundant 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.019 harvest that's being 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:16.679 talked about here? 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:18.960 If we're to sow 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.799 abundantly, 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:21.039 we're going to 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.720 reap abundantly, 00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.340 what is the 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.159 abundant reaping 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.919 that we're talking 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.299 about? 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.899 And you start 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:26.699 to see it 00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:27.600 at the end 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.500 of chapter 9, 00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:30.059 starting in verse 11, 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:30.679 I'm going to 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:31.459 highlight some 00:15:31.459 --> 00:15:32.120 words for you. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.379 You will be rich 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.100 in every way, 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.019 to be generous 00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:36.799 in every way, 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.919 which through us 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.819 will produce 00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:40.839 thanksgiving 00:15:40.839 --> 00:15:42.559 to God. 00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:45.059 Verse 12, 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.759 for the ministry 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.319 of this service 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.220 is not only supplying 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.000 the needs of the saints, 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:49.000 but is overflowing 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.059 and many thanksgivings 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:51.600 to God. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:53.799 By their approval 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.440 of this service, 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:56.500 they will glorify God 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.620 because of your 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.659 submission that comes 00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.440 from your confession 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.440 of the gospel of Christ. 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.759 Gospel-driven 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.960 generosity 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.159 and the generosity 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.960 of your contribution 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.820 for them 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.580 and for all others 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.360 while they long 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:07.820 for you 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.519 and pray for you. 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.220 It's uniting 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:09.860 these Christians 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.679 because of the 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.379 surpassing grace 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.360 of God upon you. 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.620 Their generosity 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.399 is an outworking 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.159 of God grace 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:15.740 in them. 00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:16.539 And then Paul says, 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.819 thanks be to God 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:19.219 for his inexpressible gift. 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.819 The harvest 00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:22.899 is thanksgiving 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:24.399 among God's people 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.740 all over the place. 00:16:27.219 --> 00:16:28.199 God gets the glory. 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.299 God gets the praise. 00:16:29.459 --> 00:16:30.299 He knits his churches 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:30.899 together. 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.919 And everybody's saying, 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:35.639 yes and amen, 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.439 isn't this good? 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:41.759 It's the second 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:44.379 kind of attitudinal feature 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.839 in this passage. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.000 We saw gospel. 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.639 Now we've seen generosity. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:49.800 The last thing 00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:50.519 I want you to see 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.259 is the joy 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:54.399 in 9-7. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.340 Each one must give 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.960 as he's decided 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.820 in his heart. 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:00.740 We all have 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.340 different incomes. 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:01.860 We're all in 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.660 different situations. 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.460 But we each must decide 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.100 before the Lord 00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:05.860 what we give. 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:08.019 Not reluctantly 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:10.600 or under compulsion 00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:13.660 for God loves 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.279 a cheerful giver. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.480 Would you look at 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.379 the person next to you 00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:17.740 and just say, 00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.079 God loves 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.680 a cheerful giver? 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.039 God loves 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.859 a cheerful giver. 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.339 And the way 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.180 that Paul is talking 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.480 about cheerful giving 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.139 in the actual verse, 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.519 he qualifies it 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.660 with some nots. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.880 He says, 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.840 cheerful giving 00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:43.340 is not reluctantly. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.460 Could you imagine 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.340 someone writing a check 00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:47.259 to Christ the King Church 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:49.680 and they're kind of like, 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.180 oh, fine. 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.060 Yeah, okay. 00:17:52.800 --> 00:17:53.560 I'll write this, 00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.100 I guess. 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:54.660 Take it. 00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.640 You're kind of reluctant. 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.540 Paul's like, 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:01.940 keep it. 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:04.620 God loves 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:05.420 a cheerful giver. 00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:07.140 A voluntary giver. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.779 Not under compulsion. 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.860 You don't feel like 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.220 you're having 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.180 your arm twisted. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.400 But this is flowing 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.279 out of God's work 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.700 of grace. 00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:18.360 This is flowing 00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.240 out of what Christ 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.019 has done for you 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.400 and you're like, 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.140 you just, 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.620 give me opportunities. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.120 Have you heard 00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:25.640 of those stories 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:26.220 about churches 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.080 that pass the plate 00:18:27.080 --> 00:18:28.000 and the head 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.539 of the stewardship 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.279 committee looks 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:29.720 at the plate 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.680 and that's not enough 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.460 and they pass 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.060 the plate again? 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.840 It's called compulsion. 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.980 It's a little manipulative. 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:39.940 Let's just see 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.980 what God's word says 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.700 and let's respond 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.279 in faith. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:47.060 A cheerful heart 00:18:47.060 --> 00:18:50.000 is a heart 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:52.100 shaped by gospel grace. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.320 It's a heart 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:56.100 that is generous 00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:57.160 in wanting God 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.980 to be exalted 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.920 and praised. 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:01.539 it's a heart 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.660 that is finding 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.720 joy 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.039 in what God 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.700 is doing 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.519 and is happy 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.680 to share 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.259 their wealth. 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.019 It's this 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.820 kind of idea 00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:13.680 where you're like, 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:16.279 whatever I'm contributing, 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.380 if that's going 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:19.580 to more 00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.580 and more people 00:19:20.580 --> 00:19:22.240 treasuring Jesus 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.259 above all else, 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.480 it's going 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.500 to more and more people 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.600 that Jesus 00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.779 is the treasured 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.300 center, 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.299 the controlling 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.519 center of their lives. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:30.960 Oh, 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:31.599 go 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.980 with joy. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.240 So, 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.279 these are what 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.159 goes into 00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:38.279 forming 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:40.039 a mature Christian 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.480 attitude 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.220 when it comes 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.319 to stewardship 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.000 in general 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.399 and then giving 00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:45.619 in particular. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:45.899 So, 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.419 let me ask you, 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.079 let's do an audit. 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:50.419 How does your heart 00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:50.899 line up? 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:54.780 how is the gospel 00:19:54.780 --> 00:19:57.160 shaping, 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.100 motivating 00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:59.280 your stewardship 00:19:59.280 --> 00:19:59.880 and your giving? 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:04.360 How is this, 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:04.780 is there, 00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:06.000 is there this sense 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.600 of abundant, 00:20:07.780 --> 00:20:08.660 I want to be giving 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.780 more abundantly, 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.740 not sparingly, 00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.740 but abundantly 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.880 so that there would be 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:14.019 this harvest of praise 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.600 to God. 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.939 is that functional 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.459 in you? 00:20:18.719 --> 00:20:19.799 Is there joy 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.179 in your heart 00:20:21.179 --> 00:20:22.980 as you give? 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.599 Now, 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.079 if you're saying, 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:25.240 well, 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.480 no, 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:27.740 I'm not really, 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.059 do you know 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.339 what you do? 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.139 You run 00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:33.939 to chapter 8, 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.639 verse 9, 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.380 and you give thought 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:39.420 to the second person 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.140 of the Trinity 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:42.020 becoming poor 00:20:42.020 --> 00:20:43.800 in order to make you 00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:45.020 rich with Him. 00:20:46.800 --> 00:20:47.900 That gospel 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.100 tending to your heart 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:50.840 will bring about 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:52.460 a God-pleasing change. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.280 So, 00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.480 this is getting at, 00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:56.960 hey, 00:20:57.020 --> 00:20:58.100 let's give our best 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.080 to the Lord 00:20:59.080 --> 00:20:59.920 and it starts 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.580 with attitude. 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:02.020 It starts with heart posture. 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.020 So, 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.600 for the balance 00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:04.080 of our time, 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.620 what I'd like to do 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.279 is, 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.239 what does it mean 00:21:07.239 --> 00:21:08.839 to give our best 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.439 to the Lord 00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:10.919 by way of actions 00:21:10.919 --> 00:21:12.219 and by way of practice? 00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:14.819 So, 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.179 let's say 00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:15.759 that you bring 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.019 this gospel-shaped heart 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:19.799 to your $20,000 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:21.799 a month income 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.819 or $10,000 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.719 or $5,000 00:21:23.719 --> 00:21:24.639 or $3,000 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:28.079 and your posture 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.559 has been transformed 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:31.000 towards this money. 00:21:31.239 --> 00:21:31.659 You're like, 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:32.779 Psalm 24, 00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:33.139 1, 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.179 all of this 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:34.860 is the Lord 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.539 so I'm going 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.240 to give back 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.019 some of it 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.160 to the Lord 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.880 with joy. 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.120 Now what? 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:43.759 What does that look like? 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:47.619 I wish someone 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:49.079 would have told me 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.220 what I'm about to tell you 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:52.379 when I was 23 years old. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.460 This isn't rocket science. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.039 What I'm about to share with you 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.500 is common grace, 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.160 but I think it will help you. 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.379 Here are three categories 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.740 to think about 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.900 all of your income 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:08.460 of what God entrusts you. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.539 Here are three ways 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.220 to think about it. 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.900 Three words, 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:11.660 give, 00:22:13.100 --> 00:22:13.720 save, 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.319 spend. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.940 And as a starting point, 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.700 you want to be thinking 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.640 very practically 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:22.180 to be giving 10% 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.640 of what God has given you, 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.160 to be saving 10% 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.480 of what God gives you, 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:28.600 and to be spending 80% 00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:30.120 of what God gives you. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.779 Just as a starting point. 00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:35.539 And so it just gives you 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.420 something to aim at. 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.720 And so what I'd like to do now 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.759 for the rest of our time 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.360 is just kind of unpack 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:40.940 these things. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.680 I'm going to spend 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.620 the bulk of my time 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:44.080 in the giving category, 00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:45.140 move to saving, 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.560 and then if I've got some time, 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.519 I'll talk about spending. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.820 Give your best 00:22:53.820 --> 00:22:54.519 to the Lord 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:56.140 of your monthly income. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.100 9-7, 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.640 each one must give 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.600 as he decided 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.500 in his art. 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:04.619 Each one of us 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:06.259 is to be stewarding 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:08.539 that which God entrusts to us. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.000 We're to give 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.599 a portion of that 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.240 back to the Lord. 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.000 First fruits, 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.799 the best. 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.900 The first, 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.019 the best. 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.259 So the principle 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.339 I want you to hear right now 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:22.180 is when you give, 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.519 don't give leftovers 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:26.299 at the end of the month. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.180 Give the best 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.660 at the beginning of the month. 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.080 start there, 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:33.360 and if you come up short, 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.160 you're going to deal 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.519 with that in your spending, 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.980 not your giving. 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.019 Decide how much. 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:42.960 And the, 00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:44.080 under the Old Covenant, 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.180 Old Covenant saints 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.019 were commanded 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.000 to give 10% 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:49.060 of their monthly produce, 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.779 of their monthly income. 00:23:52.040 --> 00:23:52.620 And when we get 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.360 to the New Testament, 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.860 the New Testament 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:56.300 is rather silent 00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:57.240 on the tithe. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.759 And so, 00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.059 you really can't make 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.599 this airtight argument 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.359 either way 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.019 for the tithe 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.680 in the New Testament 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:05.000 because it's pretty quiet on it. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.700 But I'm with Randy Alcorn. 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.819 Randy Alcorn 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.519 wrote this book, 00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.420 The Treasure Principle. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.059 I think we've got 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.180 four copies still 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.740 at the Connect Desk 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.039 out there 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.940 if you want this. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.400 It's outstanding. 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:18.519 What Randy Alcorn does 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:20.359 is he makes this case 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:21.759 of using the tithe 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.380 to help you give. 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:25.380 Think of the tithe 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:27.940 as training wheels 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:31.400 on your giving bike. 00:24:32.260 --> 00:24:33.300 Just getting started. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.540 And it helps you 00:24:35.540 --> 00:24:37.220 in terms of aiming 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.100 at something 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:39.880 to be giving back 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:41.260 to what God is giving you. 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.660 Giving your best 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:44.300 back to the Lord. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.840 And you know what? 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.700 You're going to find this. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.259 Because 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:53.380 riding your bike 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:54.080 with training wheels 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.700 is kind of fun. 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.620 Riding your bike 00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.519 without training wheels 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.200 is even better. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:24:59.900 And so, 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.180 see those training wheels 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:03.120 as to get you going. 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.640 But you don't have to stay 00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:07.160 riding your bike 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.039 with training wheels on 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.680 if you're able. 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.400 He makes this case, 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.220 Randy Alcorn, 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.640 when it comes to the tithe. 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.319 The old covenant saints, 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.580 well, 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.139 they were commanded 00:25:19.139 --> 00:25:20.039 to give 10%. 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:22.379 How much more 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:24.759 should new covenant saints 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:27.279 who know the grace 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.759 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.319 give more? 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.879 There's this study 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.539 that was done. 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.579 I came across it 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.159 this past week 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.619 getting ready. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:39.960 It's called 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.599 The Giving Gap. 00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:44.159 Changes in Evangelical Generosity. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.579 It's really interesting. 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.519 I just read 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.500 the executive summary, 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.799 which is 12 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.879 kind of summary statements. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.019 And 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.419 this is what 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:57.480 the eighth summary statement is. 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.699 Generosity is the proportion 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:01.899 of household income 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.679 given away. 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:02.980 Now, 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:04.279 this is all evangelicals 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.000 in the American church 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.119 over 2024. 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:10.480 Think of it as a percentage 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.179 of your annual income. 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:16.320 The average donor gives 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:20.560 Do you know how, 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.700 do you know what the percentage is? 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:25.160 The average donor gives 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:27.820 blank of household income 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:29.640 to the church annually. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.480 It's 2.8%. 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:34.220 And that's down 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:35.380 from 3.2% 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.000 in 2021. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.820 It's interesting. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:39.679 It's like, 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:39.879 okay, 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.799 giving's good. 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.319 We're giving something. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.439 But if you're going to 00:26:44.439 --> 00:26:45.579 talk about this 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.379 in terms of 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:47.679 giving sparingly 00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:48.899 versus giving abundantly, 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.740 where would that fall? 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.559 And where would that fall 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.960 in terms of prioritizing 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.359 your giving, 00:26:54.439 --> 00:26:55.159 giving your best 00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:55.859 to the Lord? 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.839 It's a helpful 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.119 assessment 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.740 of where the American church 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.119 is, 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:04.039 the wealthiest church 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.679 in the world. 00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.539 It's a helpful 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.899 So maybe right now 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:09.460 you're saying, 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.460 10%? 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:13.059 We can never do that. 00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:16.839 How about this? 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.980 How about 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.279 asking the question, 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.139 what can 00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:22.179 you do? 00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.379 Are you giving 00:27:24.379 --> 00:27:26.119 to begin with? 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.500 And 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.879 what's your next step 00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.399 in your giving? 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.740 Can you start 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.240 looking at 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.059 what you spend 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.480 and say, 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.119 you know what, 00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:35.419 that's a want. 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.839 We don't need that. 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:38.879 Let's reassign 00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.619 that to 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.959 that which is 00:27:40.959 --> 00:27:42.119 even more pleasing 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:42.759 to the Lord. 00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:46.039 Are you giving at all? 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.619 What's your next step? 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.599 And see the 10% 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.579 as training wheels 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.099 to be 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:52.699 getting going 00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:53.439 in your giving. 00:27:55.439 --> 00:27:56.220 And remember, 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.000 Jesus became 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.079 poor 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.720 to make us 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.240 rich 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.139 so that 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:01.539 we 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.379 could 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:03.059 sow 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:04.000 abundantly 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.900 so that 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.599 more and more 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:05.980 people 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.700 would reap 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:08.200 a praise 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.599 harvest 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.380 to the Lord. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.839 Finding their 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.579 treasure in 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:11.900 Jesus. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.559 I was going to 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:14.920 talk about 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.380 frequency. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.380 I'm going to 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:16.799 skip that. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.000 Here are two 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.319 thoughts. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.259 I was given 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.740 this book 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.839 by a brother 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.420 from the church 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:24.900 to read. 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:25.900 It's called 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.640 True Riches. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.240 It's by 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.160 John Cortinez 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.660 and Gregory 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.019 Baumer. 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:29.799 It's a really 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.279 helpful book. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.000 I'd recommend it. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.420 I don't agree 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.840 with everything 00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.380 in it. 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:34.500 But you know 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.800 what was 00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.140 challenging 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.620 about this 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:35.820 book? 00:28:37.080 --> 00:28:37.740 Here's what's 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.080 challenging 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:38.560 about this 00:28:38.560 --> 00:28:38.820 book. 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.519 They raised 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.140 the question 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:41.660 of what do 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.060 you base 00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.700 your lifestyle 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.180 on? 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.380 Do you base 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:45.920 your lifestyle 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.680 on your 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.160 income 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.660 or do you 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.140 base your 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:49.500 lifestyle 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.140 on your 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.519 giving? 00:28:51.820 --> 00:28:52.360 It was a 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.279 very challenging 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:53.940 and provocative 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.560 question. 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.980 So it started 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.340 us re-evaluating 00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:59.140 hey what do 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:00.019 we need 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.980 what do we 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.279 need to 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.900 live on 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.379 so that we 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:02.740 can free 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.059 up more 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.420 money to 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:03.740 give? 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.279 Because we 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:05.799 delight in 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.079 Jesus. 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.139 Another thought 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.619 is this. 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.400 It's about 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:14.139 progress. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.299 It's about 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:16.900 growth. 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.839 Giving is an 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:20.000 act of grace. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.539 2 Corinthians 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:21.940 8. 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:23.119 It's something 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.859 that God 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:24.740 is at work 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.279 in us 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.639 and we 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:26.460 respond to 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.980 and step 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.400 into 00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:28.099 and experience 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.859 more and more 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.599 of his joy 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:31.059 so what's 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.339 your next 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:31.639 step? 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.039 What's 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.319 your next 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:32.579 step 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.019 individually? 00:29:33.199 --> 00:29:33.359 What's 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.639 your next 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.059 step as 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.539 a family? 00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:36.579 How can 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.240 you excel 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.939 still more 00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:39.240 in this 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.699 act of 00:29:39.699 --> 00:29:40.079 grace? 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.299 So 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.500 giving. 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.459 Give. 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:44.959 Give your 00:29:44.959 --> 00:29:45.379 best to 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:45.759 the Lord. 00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:47.500 Second 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.279 category is 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:48.659 save. 00:29:51.419 --> 00:29:51.939 Saving 00:29:51.939 --> 00:29:52.500 is putting 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.079 away money 00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:56.659 and if 00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.119 you're aiming 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.240 at 10% 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.140 aiming at 00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.240 it. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.559 Just like 00:29:59.559 --> 00:29:59.779 giving, 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:00.259 you're aiming 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.539 at it, 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.000 you're moving 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.519 towards it. 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.660 That's 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.039 good. 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.339 It's just 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:05.940 important to 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.240 start. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:06.759 Can I give 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.359 you a principle 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:07.779 from the 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.259 Proverbs 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.559 about saving? 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.880 This is 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:11.539 really helpful. 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.059 This is 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:14.019 Proverbs 13, 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:15.539 11 and 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:15.880 it says 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:16.259 this, 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:16.839 wealth 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.480 gained 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.240 hastily 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.660 will 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.299 dwindle 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.880 but whoever 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.720 gathers 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.519 little by 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.160 little will 00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:23.980 increase it. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.559 Little by 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:25.799 little. 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:27.440 saving 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:27.960 little by 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.220 little. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.779 So maybe 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.279 it's long 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.059 term saving 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.740 little by 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.000 little. 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.119 You're 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:33.500 saving, 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:33.919 you're putting 00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.279 money away 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.559 for your 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.220 retirement or 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.539 you're building 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.039 up towards 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.059 a new car 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.799 to you that 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.519 you need to 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:39.879 purchase. 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.039 It's little by 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.500 little you're 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:41.960 putting away. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.940 Or it's more 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.359 of a short 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:44.419 term 12 month 00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:44.919 savings. 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.700 You're saying 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.759 okay you know 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.680 what we've got a 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.339 summer vacation 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.339 coming up and 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:49.859 so we're just 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.960 going to put a 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.319 little money 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:51.879 away little 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:53.519 bit by little 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.119 bit kind of 00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.559 throughout the 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.039 year to be 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.659 ready for that 00:30:55.659 --> 00:30:55.960 when it 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.039 comes or we 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.579 have a property 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.779 tax come and 00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.399 due in December 00:30:59.399 --> 00:30:59.879 and we're going 00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.420 to put away 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:00.759 a little bit 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.180 little bit 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.700 little bit 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.599 and be ready 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.079 to pay that 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.119 property tax. 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:05.899 Christmas 00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:07.639 we're trying to 00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.619 save now put a 00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.180 little way a 00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:09.680 little way for 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.519 Christmas 2020 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.000 25. 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.819 And so you're 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:14.299 just putting 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.119 money away 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.819 tucking away 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.700 a little little 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.779 by little for 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.879 different things 00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.519 coming down the 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:19.839 line. 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.359 But when it 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.980 comes to saving 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.720 I want to give 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.399 you a category 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.140 that I think 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:25.280 you should 00:31:25.280 --> 00:31:25.759 consider. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.300 It's called 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:26.880 an emergency 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.320 fund. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.900 And what an 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.759 emergency fund 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.460 is is something 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:30.980 you save 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.440 towards. 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:32.620 It's usually 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.200 about $1,000 to 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:33.720 $2,000. 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.560 And how to 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:36.200 think about it 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.700 is like a 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:39.120 red case with 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.180 glass that 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.620 says break in 00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.220 case of 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:42.640 emergency. 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.060 And so this 00:31:45.060 --> 00:31:45.940 money for your 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.940 emergency fund 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.860 would be something 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:49.180 like you have a 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.080 medical expense that 00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.380 you weren't 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.080 planning for. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:53.799 you break into 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.279 your emergency 00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:54.619 fund. 00:31:55.439 --> 00:31:56.279 Or you have a 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.119 house expense 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:59.139 something goes 00:31:59.139 --> 00:31:59.859 big time on your 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.299 house and you 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.960 weren't ready for 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.179 it. 00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:02.699 Emergency fund. 00:32:04.899 --> 00:32:05.960 Something else 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.659 happens. 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.539 Car expense. 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:10.839 Or maybe you 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.339 have a brother 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:12.659 and sister that 00:32:12.659 --> 00:32:14.539 is facing a 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.159 crisis. 00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.839 Break into the 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.460 emergency fund. 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.319 What then you 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.039 do is you 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.319 rebuild the 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.079 emergency fund 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.720 after you use 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:21.859 it. 00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.460 And what that 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.619 will do is 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:26.659 it will protect 00:32:26.659 --> 00:32:27.539 your cash flow. 00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:30.240 It will help 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.059 you if you're 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:31.740 living paycheck 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.379 by paycheck 00:32:32.379 --> 00:32:33.399 and maybe you're 00:32:33.399 --> 00:32:34.119 in a cycle of 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:35.740 debt to help 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.319 you get out of 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.919 a cycle of 00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.099 debt. 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.819 When it 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.220 comes to 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:41.539 saving, 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.220 I just need 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.679 you to hear 00:32:44.679 --> 00:32:45.079 this. 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:47.279 We don't 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.039 trust in our 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.379 savings. 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:48.560 savings. 00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.620 We trust in 00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.460 God's promises. 00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.560 But we're 00:32:53.560 --> 00:32:55.240 wise in doing 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.840 our savings. 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.280 The third 00:32:58.280 --> 00:32:59.660 category of 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:01.540 kind of like 00:33:01.540 --> 00:33:02.420 giving our 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:03.040 best to the 00:33:03.040 --> 00:33:04.800 Lord is by 00:33:04.800 --> 00:33:05.220 way of our 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:05.580 spending. 00:33:08.280 --> 00:33:08.880 You know, 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.400 I gave you 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.520 the percentages. 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.620 Give 10%, 00:33:11.620 --> 00:33:12.580 save 10%, 00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:14.100 spend 80%. 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:14.299 You know, 00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:15.079 you don't 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.659 have to 00:33:15.659 --> 00:33:17.159 spend 80% 00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:19.019 if you 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:19.519 don't want 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:19.759 to, 00:33:20.219 --> 00:33:20.619 if you don't 00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.039 have to. 00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:21.519 You don't 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.799 have to do 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.119 that. 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.079 What has 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.480 been really 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.139 helpful for me 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:26.719 over the years 00:33:26.719 --> 00:33:27.059 has been 00:33:27.059 --> 00:33:27.519 thinking in 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.240 two categories, 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.899 what are my 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:30.480 needs and 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:30.959 what are my 00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:31.399 wants? 00:33:32.219 --> 00:33:32.799 Can I just 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.819 define for you 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.779 what a need 00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.139 is? 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.779 A need 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.859 is something 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.319 that is 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:40.899 necessary for 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.299 you to 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.740 live. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.480 It's food. 00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:47.079 It's clothing. 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.519 It's shelter. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:51.899 It's, you 00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.279 can make a 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.579 case for 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.240 transportation. 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.659 I think you 00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:55.119 can make a 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:55.700 case for a 00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:58.039 phone to be 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.639 functional in 00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:59.159 our culture. 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.399 And so, 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.220 when you start 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.859 realizing what 00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:03.359 your needs 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:04.399 truly are and 00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:04.879 then what are 00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:05.799 your wants, 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.480 what is 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.199 unnecessary, 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.639 but good. 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:11.820 Helpful. 00:34:12.240 --> 00:34:13.660 It gives 00:34:13.660 --> 00:34:14.539 you a sense 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.440 of priority. 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:16.680 And so, 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:16.940 if you're 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.420 putting together 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:17.960 a budget, 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.940 which is 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.700 simply a tool 00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.260 to help you 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:20.960 steward God's 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.560 funds, 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.400 the first 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.760 things that 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.000 you're going 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.340 to want to 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.260 spend on 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.300 are your 00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.039 needs. 00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:28.120 And then, 00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:28.960 and then the 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.800 discretionary 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:31.039 spending are 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:31.920 your wants. 00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:33.400 Very helpful 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.039 categories. 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.160 Now, 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.480 if you want 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.860 a helpful 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.500 exercise, 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.700 download your 00:34:37.700 --> 00:34:38.820 monthly bank 00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:39.840 statement and 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.519 look at all 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.059 of what you 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.659 have purchased 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.199 as you have 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:42.900 made and 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:43.820 right next to 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.960 each one in 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.960 N or a W. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.659 This is a need, 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:47.460 this is a want. 00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:48.960 It'll be 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.360 interesting to 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.659 see what you 00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:50.099 find out. 00:34:54.300 --> 00:34:55.079 Jenny and I, 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:57.139 neither of us 00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:59.420 are money 00:34:59.420 --> 00:34:59.900 managers. 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:01.860 Neither of us 00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:02.780 are administrative 00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:03.500 powerhouses. 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.599 services. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.179 And the tool 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:07.900 that has helped 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:10.199 us grow us, 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.659 serve us in 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:12.760 our financial 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.619 stewardship is 00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:15.239 called a cash 00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:16.980 envelope system. 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.460 It's old school. 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:20.079 And what it is, 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.619 is we have this 00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:21.280 little accordion 00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:22.159 file with 12 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:22.559 slots. 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.599 And at the 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:23.940 beginning of 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.440 every month, 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.860 I go to the 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:26.440 bank and I get 00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:27.219 cash out and I 00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:27.860 put it in each 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.780 slot for groceries 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:31.500 and for 00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:33.060 upcoming auto 00:35:33.060 --> 00:35:33.920 maintenance and 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.860 for clothes and 00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:36.060 for haircuts and 00:35:36.060 --> 00:35:36.720 for other things 00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:37.200 like that. 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.260 And for us, 00:35:38.540 --> 00:35:39.500 this is just 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.240 where we live. 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:41.880 It helps us 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.340 because we 00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:44.160 always see what 00:35:44.160 --> 00:35:44.800 we have in a 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.240 category. 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.100 And when we're 00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:47.640 out of it, 00:35:47.700 --> 00:35:48.320 we're out of it. 00:35:49.640 --> 00:35:50.500 And it has 00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:51.840 served us as 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.740 we want to 00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:54.120 give our best 00:35:54.120 --> 00:35:54.880 to the Lord. 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.519 And if that's 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.260 where you are, 00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:58.240 I would highly 00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.019 recommend it. 00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.840 It is a really 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.619 helpful tool. 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.559 And it can 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.860 function as an 00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:04.639 emergency fund at 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.460 the same time. 00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:09.059 Now, I know I 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.500 haven't talked 00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.039 about debt. 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.199 I know I 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.820 haven't gone into 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.340 talking about 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:12.800 budgets. 00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:14.000 Let me point you 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.759 to some resources 00:36:14.759 --> 00:36:15.500 that can help you 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.500 without some 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.119 websites, 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.360 Crown Financial, 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:20.039 Dave Ramsey. 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:20.860 People are 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.719 different sides of 00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.219 the fence with 00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:22.900 Dave Ramsey, 00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.579 but he offers 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:24.280 this course called 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.000 Financial Peace 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.559 University. 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:26.420 It will help 00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:26.639 you. 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:27.380 Compass, 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:28.539 Compass 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.119 Finances 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.820 God's Way. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.639 It's a good 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:31.360 organization to 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:31.519 help. 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:31.960 You can go to 00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.460 any of those 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.480 websites to 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.800 get help here. 00:36:35.759 --> 00:36:36.360 There's this 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.199 book, 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:38.059 a recommended 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:39.059 treasure principle. 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:39.840 There's true 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.199 riches. 00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.500 But if you want 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.059 to talk to a 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.599 human being, 00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:45.719 and you're 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:45.820 like, 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.380 we need help, 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.800 would you come 00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.219 find me? 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.239 We can direct 00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:49.679 you to someone 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.099 in our church 00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.539 who can really 00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.820 help you with 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.380 these kinds of 00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:52.659 things. 00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:52.799 things. 00:36:55.239 --> 00:36:56.219 So when we 00:36:56.219 --> 00:36:56.659 talk about 00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.159 giving your 00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:58.159 best to the 00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:58.420 Lord, 00:36:59.099 --> 00:36:59.879 three categories. 00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:01.279 Give, 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.179 save, 00:37:04.359 --> 00:37:04.799 spend. 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.779 What's your 00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:07.299 next step? 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:09.759 To give your 00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.519 best to the 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:12.420 Lord in your 00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:12.940 actions. 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.139 Giving your 00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.659 best to the 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:18.239 Lord is both 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:19.219 dealing with 00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:20.500 posture and 00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.159 practice, 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:23.299 kindness. 00:37:23.299 --> 00:37:24.059 And every one 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.500 of us in the 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:24.980 room has room 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.319 to grow. 00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:28.799 We all have 00:37:28.799 --> 00:37:29.980 different income 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.839 levels in this 00:37:30.839 --> 00:37:33.000 room, but what 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:33.980 will unite us in 00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:35.119 our generosity as 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.879 we move forward 00:37:35.879 --> 00:37:37.199 is if each of us 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:39.000 is growing in 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:40.500 giving our best 00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:41.500 to the Lord. 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:42.719 We can do that 00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:43.099 together. 00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:46.599 So, 00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:49.759 if you receive a 00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:50.779 10,000 check in 00:37:50.780 --> 00:37:51.340 the mail this 00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:54.000 week from the 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:54.620 settlement of an 00:37:54.620 --> 00:37:58.260 estate, what 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:58.580 would be 00:37:58.580 --> 00:37:59.140 governing your 00:37:59.140 --> 00:37:59.780 heart and your 00:37:59.780 --> 00:38:00.160 actions? 00:38:01.680 --> 00:38:02.700 I'd hope it be 00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.440 at least this 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:03.900 question. 00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:06.620 God is your 00:38:06.620 --> 00:38:07.100 steward. 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.640 How can I 00:38:09.640 --> 00:38:10.980 honor you best 00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:12.600 in stewarding 00:38:12.600 --> 00:38:13.100 this money? 00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:14.840 Let's pray 00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:15.180 together. 00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:18.319 God in heaven, 00:38:18.359 --> 00:38:18.919 we do thank you 00:38:18.919 --> 00:38:19.739 so much for the 00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:20.500 money you've 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:21.480 entrusted to us. 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:24.299 We want to be 00:38:24.299 --> 00:38:24.960 delivered from the 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.539 love of money 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:26.619 day by day, and 00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:27.399 the gospel does 00:38:27.399 --> 00:38:28.079 just that. 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:30.159 It moves our 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:31.539 heart off of 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.819 money and moves 00:38:32.819 --> 00:38:34.199 our heart onto 00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:34.960 the treasure of 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.379 our soul, 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:35.759 Jesus. 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:37.799 Would you grow 00:38:37.799 --> 00:38:38.419 us in our 00:38:38.419 --> 00:38:39.299 attitudes and our 00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:40.059 actions, our 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:40.859 postures and our 00:38:40.859 --> 00:38:43.579 practice so that we 00:38:43.579 --> 00:38:44.679 would excel still 00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:45.500 more in this act 00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:45.900 of grace. 00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:46.500 It's in your name 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:46.940 we pray. 00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:48.059 Amen.