WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:07.580 Good morning. That was really good. The past several weeks we've been looking 00:00:07.580 --> 00:00:10.880 through the book of Deuteronomy and we've been seeing that in the book of 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:17.000 Deuteronomy God is speaking to his people through Moses and God's word is 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:23.359 being used to shape a people for, God's using it to shape a people for himself 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:29.900 and he's using it to create a people who will love him and love others. 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:35.920 And we've talked about the fact that when God speaks, it changes his people. 00:00:36.380 --> 00:00:41.039 And when God speaks, it is big and it is important. And so I want us, before we look 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:47.140 at God's word today, to just take a second, each of us individually, to pray and ask God to speak 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:53.420 to us today, that we would hear his voice as we look at his word and that he would shape us 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:56.320 into the people that he wants us to be during this time. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:09.960 Father, we pray for this time together today. We pray that you would work in our hearts, 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:13.700 that you would work in our lives, that you would shape us into the people that you want 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:19.340 us to be. That as we are in this room today, that we would hear your voice and that we would 00:01:19.340 --> 00:01:22.680 be transformed because of it. And in Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:33.140 Amen. So I have something I need to confess to you. I have a problem with money. You know, 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:38.700 we live in this wealthiest city on earth. We have more Rolls Royces per capita than anywhere 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:44.580 on earth. And you know what? That doesn't really bother me that much. I don't usually fall asleep 00:01:44.580 --> 00:01:50.219 at night dreaming about owning a Rolls Royce. I recognize that's probably not a reality I'm ever 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:55.599 going to have. So it doesn't really bother me. But here's the thing that does bother me when it 00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:02.400 comes to money. I spend a whole bunch of time hanging out with people who have a little bit 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:12.180 more money than me. Not billions of dollars more than me, but a little bit more. And because of this, 00:02:12.180 --> 00:02:19.000 these people are able to take fancier vacations than me, stay at nicer hotels while they're away. 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:24.240 They're able to have nicer furniture and decorations in their apartment than I have. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:30.060 And when we go out for meals, they can eat at a little bit nicer restaurants. 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:35.540 You know, I can still take vacations. I still have furniture and decorations in my apartment. I can 00:02:35.540 --> 00:02:41.360 still eat out. But I spend a lot of time with people who can do this a little bit better than I can. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:47.460 And when I look at them and I compare myself to them, it's easy for me to honestly believe in my 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:55.140 heart that I am poor. And that's my problem with money. I spend loads of time comparing myself to 00:02:55.140 --> 00:03:02.240 people who have a little bit more than me, and it makes me feel like I am poor. However, the objective 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.020 facts tell me that that is far from true. 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:15.540 795 million people on the planet right now do not get enough nourishment to live a healthy, active lifestyle. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:24.300 2.5 billion people on the planet don't have access to adequate sanitation. 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:30.300 Which means that literally, if you live on the streets in Hong Kong, like on the streets homeless, 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:36.439 the fact that you have access to public bathrooms, public showers, and public water fountains 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:41.060 means that you're better off than one in three people on Earth when it comes to sanitation. 00:03:42.220 --> 00:03:47.320 We live in an incredibly blessed, incredibly prosperous society. 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:53.500 And by every objective standard, everyone in this room, including me, is incredibly wealthy. 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:59.079 I did a little research this week. There's a website called Global Rich List, and it tells you, 00:03:59.139 --> 00:04:04.439 you type in how much you make, and it will tell you how wealthy you are compared to the average 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:05.319 person on the planet. 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:07.879 And I learned something very interesting. 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:12.939 Everyone here is incredibly wealthy. 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:17.839 If you didn't know this, Hong Kong sort of has two pay scales. 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:21.519 They have the pay scale for domestic helpers and the pay scale for everyone else. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:24.839 The pay scale for domestic helpers is way lower. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:30.139 But if you're here today and making minimum wage as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:35.680 according to this website, Global Rich List, you're still in the top 20% of richest people 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:36.659 on Earth by income. 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:44.000 If you're making $12,000 Hong Kong a month, which from what I understand is fairly normal 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:52.079 for a fresh graduate from university, you're in the top 2.5% of richest people on Earth 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.639 by income, according to this website. 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:58.219 And to get to the top 1%, do you know how much you need to earn? 00:04:58.220 --> 00:05:00.720 Anyone got a guess? 00:05:04.200 --> 00:05:05.120 No guesses? 00:05:08.520 --> 00:05:09.160 What? 00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:11.400 $50,000? 00:05:13.520 --> 00:05:19.600 The correct answer, according to this website, to make it to the top 1% of all earners on Earth, 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:24.520 you need to make $16,500 Hong Kong a month. 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:31.379 We are an incredibly wealthy and blessed society and people. 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:37.120 Even the poorest person in this room, by an objective standard compared to the rest of the world, 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:38.839 is incredibly rich. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.019 I am incredibly rich. 00:05:41.459 --> 00:05:45.639 And I have this problem, like I said, where I feel like I am not. 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:52.000 And I know that for me, I spend far more time comparing myself with a handful of people who have 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:59.159 a little bit more than me than I do giving thanks for the fact that I have more than I even need. 00:06:00.159 --> 00:06:04.319 If you haven't figured it out today, or figured it out yet, we're talking about money today. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:12.740 And we're looking at, again, like I said, the book of Deuteronomy and Moses' instruction to the Israelites about money. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:18.379 And what we're going to see is that money is a good gift from God, 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:24.680 but it can become a curse if we let it get in the way of us trusting God. 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:27.579 We're going to have three things we're going to look at. 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:29.960 First, the curse that was a blessing. 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:34.639 Second, the blessing that could be a curse. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:39.780 And third, our solution, remember the Savior who sets us free. 00:06:39.779 --> 00:06:45.479 So we have the curse that was a blessing, the blessing that could be a curse, 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:48.819 and remember the Savior who sets us free. 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:52.519 First off, the curse that was a blessing. 00:06:53.859 --> 00:06:57.159 As the Israelites are receiving the book of Deuteronomy, 00:06:57.479 --> 00:07:01.639 they're coming out of 40 years wandering in the wilderness, in the desert. 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:09.259 This time in the wilderness was given to them as a punishment. 00:07:10.359 --> 00:07:13.279 Originally, God set them free from slavery in Egypt, 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.099 and basically was going to take them straight to the Promised Land 00:07:16.099 --> 00:07:18.599 with a quick detour to Mount Sinai to give them the law. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.500 But the Israelites, when they saw the people of the land, 00:07:22.559 --> 00:07:23.779 were terrified and said, 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.379 we can't go in there, we can't fight them, we can't do this. 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:28.799 We're not going to go. 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:32.600 And God said, well, the whole point is that you can't do it. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:33.639 You're not supposed to do it. 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:34.699 I'm supposed to do it. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:36.120 You're supposed to go anyways. 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:37.699 And they said, no, we're not going to do it. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:38.220 We're out. 00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:43.360 And God said, okay, you get 40 years in the wilderness as a punishment 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.360 for your disobedience and lack of faith. 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:52.500 And during this time, God, Moses uses the word humbled the Israelites. 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:55.519 If you look at verses 2 and 3 of today's passage, 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:56.439 he says, 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:25.519 So this humbling process involved everyone over the age of 20 dying 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:28.079 before they went into the Promised Land. 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:32.220 But it also involved God letting the Israelites hunger. 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:35.860 Not just like, oh, I missed a meal, 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.899 but like they were crying out like, 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:40.039 God, did you bring us here so that you could kill us 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.539 because we are so hungry we think we're going to die. 00:08:44.539 --> 00:08:47.399 And this time was tough for the Israelites, 00:08:48.199 --> 00:08:49.759 but it was good for them. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:51.840 Why was it good? 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:56.840 Because God brought them to a place where they learned to depend on him 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:01.480 because they saw that there was nothing they could do to provide for themselves. 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:06.840 It says that God fed them with this manna that fell down from the sky every day. 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:10.000 In verse 4, he talks about how their clothing did not wear out, 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:11.420 their feet did not swell. 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:15.060 God provided miraculously for his people during this time 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:18.460 in ways that they could never have provided for themselves. 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:20.700 They're sort of like babies. 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:21.980 You know, you have a newborn baby. 00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:24.560 A lot of my friends are reaching the point where they're starting to have babies. 00:09:24.900 --> 00:09:29.000 And as a baby, you're completely reliant on your parents for everything. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.160 And you know, if you have a little like one-year-old or two-year-old baby 00:09:33.160 --> 00:09:34.900 and it walks up to their parents and says, 00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:37.680 wow, mom and dad, look how great a life I've provided for myself. 00:09:38.680 --> 00:09:40.800 As a parent, you're either going to laugh or cry. 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:42.840 Laugh because it's so ridiculous, 00:09:43.040 --> 00:09:45.960 this idea that my baby would think that it can provide for itself. 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:52.379 Or cry because my baby completely does not understand or appreciate everything that I do 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:55.060 to provide a life for him or her. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:10:00.300 In the same way, Israel was in a place where there was nothing they could do to say, 00:10:00.420 --> 00:10:03.160 look how great of a life we have provided for ourselves. 00:10:03.160 --> 00:10:07.420 Because they were utterly, completely dependent on God and they knew it. 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:11.099 The day-to-day life that they lived, 00:10:11.819 --> 00:10:16.319 they could see their utter reliance on God all the time. 00:10:19.579 --> 00:10:22.740 Despite what some people in our culture would want us to believe, 00:10:22.839 --> 00:10:27.360 there are things in life more important than us having lots of money. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:31.980 And one of the things the Bible says is more important than having money 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:34.899 is having this reliance and trust on God. 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:40.840 And God used this time in the wilderness to teach the Israelites to rely on him. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:48.320 You know, a couple thousand or maybe 1400 or so years after this, 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:49.700 Jesus came. 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:52.279 He spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness. 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:55.060 And at the end of those 40 days, Satan tempted him. 00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:57.359 He said, turn these stones into bread. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:58.079 I know you're hungry. 00:10:58.219 --> 00:10:58.739 You can do it. 00:10:58.759 --> 00:10:59.579 You have this power. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:06.159 And Jesus actually did what the Israelites should have done 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.219 during their time in the wilderness. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:10.199 He learned to rely on God. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:14.179 And he actually used this passage as his response to Satan. 00:11:14.339 --> 00:11:16.519 He said, man shall not live by bread alone, 00:11:16.599 --> 00:11:20.779 but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 00:11:21.239 --> 00:11:24.779 He refused to use his power to provide for himself. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:26.579 He trusted in God. 00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:30.500 He fought the temptation to just make it happen for himself. 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:34.720 And you know what happens at the end of that story with Jesus in the wilderness? 00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:38.959 It says the angels came and ministered to him. 00:11:39.179 --> 00:11:43.279 God provided for him because he was obedient to God. 00:11:43.579 --> 00:11:47.480 And in the same way, God's trying to teach the Israelites through the time in the wilderness 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:49.480 that he provides for them. 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:51.179 God is our provider. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:56.319 And so even though this time in the wilderness was given to the Israelites as a curse, 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:59.579 as a punishment for their disobedience and lack of faith, 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:06.359 it turned into a blessing because God used it to show them that he provides, 00:12:06.479 --> 00:12:10.059 that he is the good father that they need. 00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:14.679 But the story doesn't end with them in the wilderness. 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:19.879 No, the story moves on because God's plan is not for his people to stay in the wilderness forever. 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:21.699 He has something more for them, 00:12:21.859 --> 00:12:25.619 which brings us to the blessing that could be a curse. 00:12:27.199 --> 00:12:31.739 See, God has this amazing blessing prepared for his people. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.000 If you look in the passage starting in verse 7, it says, 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.919 The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:42.320 a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs flowing out in the valleys and the hills. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:47.940 And he goes on for four verses just describing the goodness of this land. 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:53.120 And if you look at it, the words that he uses to describe it, he says it's a good land. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.700 God wants you to live in the good land. 00:12:56.700 --> 00:13:02.740 It's a land of brooks of water, which is a good contrast to the desert they've been living in for the past 40 years. 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:08.400 It's a land of wheat and barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, olive trees and honey. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:10.140 There is so much food here. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:15.540 You're not going to have to rely on bread to fall out of the sky every day 00:13:15.540 --> 00:13:18.860 because the land grows its own food. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:23.520 And not only that, but you're going to eat without scarcity. 00:13:23.520 --> 00:13:26.080 You're going to be able to eat not just enough to survive, 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:29.259 but you're going to be able to eat until you're full in this land. 00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:30.879 Isn't that going to be amazing? 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:37.480 He says you're going to be able to dig metals out of the hills so that you can work with it. 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.160 You're going to eat and be full. 00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:43.560 You're going to bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. 00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:46.440 Moses says this land is going to be good. 00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:48.280 God is going to provide it for you. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:51.600 And there's something very important that we should learn from this, 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:54.980 and that is that money and material blessings are not bad. 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:58.440 They're good gifts from God for his people. 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:08.220 God, in this passage, wants his people to experience the abundance that he is giving them in this new land. 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:17.580 He's actually brought them through this difficult process so that he can bless them in this new land. 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:22.940 As a good father, he delights in giving good gifts to his children. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:30.800 And like we said already, if you're here today, by any objective worldly standard, we are wealthy people. 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:37.480 Like I said, I don't feel like this is true for me a lot of the time, but it is true. 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:39.120 We are a wealthy people. 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.720 God has blessed us. 00:14:40.780 --> 00:14:45.740 He's given us food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over our heads, adequate sanitation. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:51.500 Yeah, some of us might be more wealthy than others, but we are all wealthy people. 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:54.799 And our wealth is a gift from God. 00:14:56.100 --> 00:15:00.500 And we don't need to feel guilty about the fact that we're wealthy, 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:05.399 unless maybe if we've earned that wealth through illegal or immoral means. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:09.519 But God delights in blessing his people. 00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:16.600 Having stuff, having money is not a bad thing in and of itself. 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:25.779 However, having wealth and abundance brings danger. 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:31.139 And that's what Moses is warning the people of in this passage. 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:35.620 He finishes describing the amazing good land that God's going to give to his people. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:40.419 And then the first words in verse 11 are, take care. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:46.480 God is giving you this wonderful, abundant, great new land. 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.139 Be careful. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:54.799 Because this new land is going to bring temptations with it to rely on yourself 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:58.919 that you have never had in the wilderness. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:05.460 You know, if the time in the wilderness was the time of infancy for the Israelites, 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:10.500 the time in the promised land maybe could be compared to a time of adolescence. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:13.840 In my home, my parents provided for us. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:17.180 They would make us do chores because we're part of the family. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:20.100 And as part of the family, we had to contribute to the family. 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:25.740 And when I got to be a teenager, I felt like, you know, I'm doing chores. 00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:29.200 I'm contributing to my family's prosperity. 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:34.820 I deserve to be compensated for what I'm doing for my family. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:41.000 And so I told my parents, you know, my friends all get allowances for the chores that they do. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:43.040 I'm contributing to our family. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.099 I should get an allowance for the chores that I do. 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:51.199 My parents explained to me that I really didn't want that to be the case 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:53.459 because if they did that, they would start charging me rent 00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:55.519 and charge me for the food that they fed me. 00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:59.319 And I said, no, no, no, no. 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:00.439 You don't understand. 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:02.179 I contribute to this family. 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:05.500 I deserve to get paid for the work that I do. 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:10.140 And that led to a big argument. 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:13.180 That's another story for another time that I lost very badly. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:23.299 But it's that attitude that I had is one that Moses said the Israelites could very easily fall into. 00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:27.299 Where even though we're in this place of utter dependence on someone else, 00:17:27.340 --> 00:17:30.940 we believe this lie that we are the ones providing for ourselves 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:38.500 and that we are the ones who are worthy of receiving everything that we have. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:40.740 And that's why, just like me, as an ignorant teenager, 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:45.380 Israel, in this land of prosperity and blessing, 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:50.480 was going to face a temptation to become self-reliant. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:54.420 This land, this blessing that God was giving them, 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.220 was a good gift. 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:58.500 But it brought with us danger. 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:03.140 And for God's people, for us, 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.640 a lot of times, the times when we are successful, 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:10.799 are actually the most dangerous times for us. 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:14.700 Because in the times when everything is going crazy, 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:18.360 we recognize our utter dependence on God. 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:20.699 God, I was reminded of that this morning. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:26.319 We had a handful of kids' teachers downstairs call in sick very last minute. 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:28.959 We were scrambling to try and find teachers. 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:30.319 And I just reached this point where I was like, 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:33.599 there's nothing I can do on my own to fix this situation. 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:35.019 God, please help. 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:35.919 And he did. 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:38.240 He provided all the teachers that we needed for this morning. 00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:41.500 And it was this time of everything's going crazy. 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.879 I need to rely on God. 00:18:43.939 --> 00:18:44.740 And God came through. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.519 But when everything is going right, 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:50.680 I have a tendency to believe that I can do it on my own power, 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.559 by my own strength. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.740 When things are going well, 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:59.000 I believe that I am responsible for them going well. 00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:01.799 When my life feels like it's in order, 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:05.480 I believe that it's in order because I have done the right things. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:08.440 I have made the right decisions to get me to where I am today. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:11.840 And the reality is, 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:15.539 I am utterly dependent on God for everything. 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:22.299 Yeah, I worked hard in school to get through and get a job. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.559 But the reality is, 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:26.940 I had no control over whether I would be born into a family 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:29.160 where I would even have access to school as a little kid. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:33.360 I had no control over whether I'd be born with disabilities 00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:35.540 that would keep me from being able to do a job. 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:41.279 I had no control over whether I'd be born into one of those families 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:46.100 where 795 million people in the world lack adequate nutrition. 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:51.359 All of these things were things that were completely outside my control 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.579 that God provided for me. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:20:02.399 Each of us is completely dependent on God for everything in our lives. 00:20:03.459 --> 00:20:04.439 I mean, you can think of this, 00:20:04.939 --> 00:20:09.079 even we can take an extreme example of someone like LeBron James. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:10.779 Right? 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:12.319 He worked hard. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.799 He has won NBA championships. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.680 He, if you don't know the story, 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:20.039 he grew up in the Cleveland area. 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:22.619 He got drafted by his hometown team, 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.680 went away, played for another team, 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.519 won a couple championships, 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.339 and then came back to play for Cleveland 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.720 and said, 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:30.579 my goal is to win a championship for my city. 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.599 And in his second year, 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.559 back with the Cavaliers in Cleveland, 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.819 they won the championship. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.579 And if you listen to his interview 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:41.180 after winning the championship, 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:43.859 do you know what word you hear over and over and over again? 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.980 I. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.079 I worked hard. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.299 I came back. 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.359 We did this. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.960 Lots of emphasis on him. 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.700 And you know what? 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.919 From an earthly perspective, 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:57.000 yes, he did work hard. 00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:01.460 But think about the numerous things 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:03.240 that had to work together in his life 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.680 that were completely dependent on God 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:08.640 for him to be able to have that opportunity 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.620 in the first place. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.240 If he was born with a deformed leg 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.080 or a deformed arm, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:15.120 he would not have been an NBA championship. 00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:18.120 If he was born five foot six, 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:21.700 none of us would have ever heard his name before. 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:25.380 And even the things that seem to be negatives 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.960 that are these barriers and obstacles 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.240 that he had to overcome 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.019 probably are things that in the end 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:33.200 helped to shape him into who he is today. 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.059 He had a rough childhood. 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:38.799 He probably felt this need to fight and overcome 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:41.120 and prove himself by becoming great at basketball 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.720 that he wouldn't have had 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.980 if he had this comfortable childhood. 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:48.180 All of these factors in his life 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.720 are things outside of his control 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.819 that are completely dependent on God. 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:54.379 And each of us here today, 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.139 however successful we are, 00:21:56.859 --> 00:22:00.079 are completely dependent on God for everything. 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:02.359 For the fact that our heart is still pumping 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:03.700 from one moment to the next, 00:22:03.939 --> 00:22:05.059 we are dependent on God. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:09.539 For the fact that our company is staying afloat, 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.319 we are dependent on God. 00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:14.539 For the fact that our brains are still working 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:18.019 and we can still do our job from a mental capacity, 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.599 we are dependent on God. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.919 And we have little to no control 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.879 over so many of these things. 00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:25.319 And we feel like we do. 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.359 But at the end of the day, 00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:29.679 all of us are dependent on God 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:31.240 for all of these things. 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.419 And the times when we are successful 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:38.919 are times of great temptation 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:41.299 because when everything is working together properly, 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.399 it's easy to believe 00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:45.879 that it's working together properly because of us 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:49.000 and to stop trusting in God. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.719 And that's why this blessing, 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:54.519 this good blessing that God was giving to his people 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:57.719 had a great danger attached to it. 00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.379 Moses is saying, 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.339 God wants to bless you as you go into this land, 00:23:03.919 --> 00:23:05.299 but take care. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.379 Be careful. 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:11.839 Because the blessing can very easily become a curse 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.799 if we let ourselves believe 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:14.939 if we let ourselves believe that we are the ones 00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:16.679 who gave this blessing to ourselves 00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:18.539 and lose sight of the fact 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:22.980 that we are utterly dependent on God for everything. 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.740 So what's the solution? 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:32.019 How do we take care? 00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:34.319 How do we avoid falling into this trap 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.899 of believing that we are self-sufficient 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:38.360 and that we can do it on our own? 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:41.160 The solution is, 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:44.540 remember the Savior who sets us free. 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:49.519 Remember the Savior who sets us free. 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:53.720 Moses tells the Israelites right here, 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:56.720 the simple solution is remember. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:56.799 Remember. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.180 We've mentioned before, 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.059 the words remember and do not forget 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:03.319 occur over and over and over again 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.339 in the book of Deuteronomy. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:06.039 The Israelites are supposed to remember 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.600 what God has done in the past 00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:10.240 so that they will be shaped by that 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.180 moving into the future. 00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:13.319 And the combination of words remember 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.299 and do not forget 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:17.240 actually occur more times in this chapter, 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:17.920 chapter eight, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:20.799 than in any other chapter in the book of Deuteronomy. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:24.380 Moses very clearly wants the Israelites 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:26.260 to remember, remember, 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:29.080 do not forget what God has done for you. 00:24:31.340 --> 00:24:33.080 When I hear this word remember, 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:35.420 I think of the picture 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.640 that immediately comes to mind 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.640 is like second grade spelling tests. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:43.160 You sit there and you spell through the word 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.940 in your mind over and over and over 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.100 until it's stuck there 00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:47.300 so you can remember it 00:24:47.300 --> 00:24:48.620 so that when you get into class 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.960 and the teacher says, 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:52.600 you need to spell math, 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:54.579 you can write down M-A-T-H 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:57.059 because in America we don't put an S on the end 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:58.299 because we do it properly. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:04.859 And you remember how to spell these words, 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:07.359 but it's just a simple fact 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.279 that's in your mind 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.639 that doesn't impact the way that you live at all. 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:13.500 That's not the kind of remembering 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.119 that Moses is talking about here. 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:17.079 He's talking about 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:19.559 a more relational kind of remembering. 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:21.519 It's like if you have an old friend. 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:23.799 You've been through a lot together. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.879 You have a history together. 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.619 Now you live in different cities, 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:29.980 but your friend is coming to your city 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.399 for a couple days. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.119 And you have the opportunity 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.460 to hang out with this friend 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.339 and catch up with them 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:37.240 and you totally blow them off. 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.899 Maybe in your mind 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:43.559 you still remember your friendship. 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:45.440 You can recount the details 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.079 of what's happened between the two of you. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:49.539 But in a very real sense, 00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:51.139 you've forgotten that relationship 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.279 because you've forgotten 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:54.740 the importance that it had in your life 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.919 and the way that it shaped you. 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:59.579 This is a type of remembering and forgetting 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:03.699 that actually carries some weight with it 00:26:03.699 --> 00:26:06.720 because it shapes who we are 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.659 and who we become. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.720 Moses is saying, 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:12.460 don't blow off God. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.599 Don't ignore the history 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.480 that you have together. 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.599 remember him 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:19.240 like you would remember 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.920 an old friend 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.579 when they come to visit you in town. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.880 It's a relational remembering. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:27.860 And he says that this is important 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:30.200 for your life, 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:32.519 for your spiritual health. 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.819 So this raises the important question, 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:40.120 what is it that makes us forget? 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.180 If remembering is so important 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.339 and we're supposed to not forget, 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:45.879 what is it that causes us to forget 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.799 in the first place? 00:26:47.939 --> 00:26:48.519 Well, obviously, 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.619 we're talking about money today. 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.839 But money isn't really the answer, 00:26:52.919 --> 00:26:53.439 I don't think. 00:26:54.459 --> 00:26:55.559 No one wants money 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:57.259 simply for the sake of having money. 00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:59.859 We want money for the things 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.759 that it can give us. 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:04.240 Money makes us feel secure. 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.819 Money makes us feel powerful. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:10.000 Money makes us feel self-sufficient. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:13.720 We want these things 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:15.220 and we grasp after money 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.500 because we think that money 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:18.400 can give us these other things 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.240 that we want. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:19.660 And again, 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.779 money in and of itself 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:22.240 is not a bad thing. 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.619 The wealth that all of us have 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.000 is a gift from God. 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:28.539 The prosperity that the Israelites 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.859 were going to have in the new land 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:31.960 was a gift from God. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.799 The problem is 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:37.259 that wealth brings a temptation 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:39.299 to believe that we are self-sufficient 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.519 and don't need God. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.099 And when we give in 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.799 to this temptation, 00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:44.220 we forget God, 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:46.559 we forget what he has done for us, 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:49.079 and we rely on ourselves instead 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:50.420 because we believe 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.759 that we're the ones 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:54.279 who have done this all for ourselves. 00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:57.440 So how do we 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:59.480 keep ourselves from forgetting, 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:02.200 keep ourselves from relying on ourselves? 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:05.019 Moses gives the simple solution, 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.840 remember. 00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.640 Which you're like, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.180 well, duh. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.400 Obviously, 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.680 the solution to not forgetting 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.279 is remembering. 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:15.160 What are we supposed to remember? 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.400 We're supposed to remember 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:19.240 God's salvation. 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.400 Moses, he's here. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:23.080 He's describing the new land 00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:23.720 that they're going into. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.380 He says, 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.700 take care to not forget the Lord. 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.779 And then, 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:30.039 in the middle of verse 14, 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:32.180 he jumps in and narrates 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:34.019 everything that God has done 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:36.159 to rescue them from slavery 00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:37.639 and bring them into this good land. 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.920 He says, 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:40.700 in the middle of verse 14, 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:42.240 he brought you out of the land of Egypt, 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.420 out of the house of slavery. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.839 He led you through 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.399 the great and terrifying wilderness 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:47.940 with its fiery serpents 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.759 and scorpions 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.759 and thirsty ground 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.819 where there was no water 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:52.200 and brought you water 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.500 out of the flinty rock. 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:55.379 He fed you in the wilderness 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.359 with manna 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.619 that your fathers did not know 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:59.099 that he might humble you 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.079 and test you 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.759 to do you good in the end. 00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.919 He goes through 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:05.639 and he narrates for them 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:07.480 everything that God 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.399 has done for them 00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.679 to rescue them, 00:29:09.959 --> 00:29:10.639 to shape them 00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:12.619 into a people for himself. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.679 That is what 00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:15.279 they are supposed to remember. 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.699 If you don't know this, 00:29:17.879 --> 00:29:19.579 the Exodus story from Egypt 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:22.859 is the great salvation story 00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.879 of the Old Testament. 00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:25.500 It's a time when God 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:27.059 took his people who were slaves 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.279 and rescued them 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.480 and made them into 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:31.419 a people for himself. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.539 And Moses points the people 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.339 back to this 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.000 and says, 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.740 if you remember 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.139 what God has done for you 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:38.879 in the past, 00:29:39.639 --> 00:29:40.799 it will help you 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.059 fight the temptation 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:43.200 to rely on yourself 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.960 in the future. 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:46.740 And the same is true 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.659 for us today. 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.200 Except 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:51.000 we have 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.319 an even greater 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.440 salvation story 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:55.019 that we can look back upon. 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:57.059 another story 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.579 of a time 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.019 when God 00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.839 took his people 00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.740 who were slaves 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.299 and rescued them 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.240 to shape them 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.940 into a people 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.619 for himself. 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.619 Only with us, 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.759 it wasn't slavery, 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:06.839 physical slavery 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.339 in Egypt. 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.720 The Bible tells us 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.660 that each of us, 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.539 as God's creation, 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.779 owed allegiance 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.440 and obedience 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.099 to God 00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:15.279 and each of us 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.500 rebelled. 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.619 Each of us 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:20.139 committed treason 00:30:20.139 --> 00:30:21.460 on a cosmic level 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.700 and as a punishment 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.200 for that, 00:30:23.340 --> 00:30:24.940 we became slaves 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:27.100 to our sin, 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.240 our rebellion. 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:31.380 We deserved death. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:34.000 And that to rescue us 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.140 from our slavery, 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.740 God sent his son, 00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.079 Jesus, 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:39.940 God in human flesh, 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.600 to come to the earth, 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.539 to set us free 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.360 from our slavery 00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:46.140 at great cost to himself, 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.860 at the cost 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:48.000 of his own life. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.920 He bore the consequences 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.880 that we owed 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.580 so that God 00:30:53.580 --> 00:30:54.620 could shape us 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.820 into a people 00:30:55.820 --> 00:30:57.000 for himself. 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.380 We remember 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:02.860 the Savior, 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.560 remember 00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:05.460 this great salvation. 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.120 I love, 00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.779 in 2 Corinthians 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.860 chapter 8, 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.500 verse 9, 00:31:10.060 --> 00:31:10.860 the Apostle Paul 00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:12.080 sort of ties together 00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:14.039 what Jesus has done 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.039 in rescuing us 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.800 from our sin 00:31:15.800 --> 00:31:17.300 and the discussion 00:31:17.300 --> 00:31:17.720 of money 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.440 into one. 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.200 and he says, 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.500 for you know 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.039 the grace 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.299 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.799 that though he was rich, 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.259 yet for your sake 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.320 he became poor 00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:28.279 so that you 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.180 by his poverty 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:31.539 might become rich. 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:32.940 You know, 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.420 when it comes 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.420 to material possessions, 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.820 I so often feel 00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.960 this need to grab on 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.400 to everything 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.019 that I can get 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:39.160 and just hold on to it 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.980 as tightly as I can. 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:44.039 And I hold on to it 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:45.840 with a grasped fist 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:46.700 so that no one 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.759 can get it from me. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:50.079 And what Paul says 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.819 is that Jesus 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.960 was rich. 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.879 Jesus had everything. 00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.839 And Jesus came 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:57.140 and instead of grasping it 00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:58.079 and holding on to it, 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.299 he held his hand out 00:31:59.299 --> 00:31:59.779 and said, 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.059 here, 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.740 it's yours. 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.039 Take it. 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.519 He became poor 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:07.119 so that we might become rich. 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.079 He held his wealth 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.420 with an open hand 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:11.819 so that we could prosper 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:13.799 through his generosity. 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:18.299 And the Bible tells us 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.339 that the proper response 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:19.819 to that, 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.940 to that love 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:22.019 that he has shown us, 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.359 is that now 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.220 instead of us 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.079 grasping on 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.919 to all of the wealth 00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.619 that we can get, 00:32:26.899 --> 00:32:27.919 we grasp on 00:32:27.919 --> 00:32:28.659 to Jesus 00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:30.079 as tightly as we can. 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.359 And the thing 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.139 about grasping on 00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:33.519 to Jesus 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.639 as tightly as you can 00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.700 is that you can't 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.599 grasp on to Jesus 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.680 as tightly as possible 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:39.119 and grasp on to money 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.180 as tightly as possible 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.220 at the same time. 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:43.440 If you're grasping 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.019 on to Jesus 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.279 as tightly as possible, 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:46.480 you're going to hold 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:46.880 your money 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:47.839 with an open hand. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.400 But we can do this 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:54.100 because he showed us 00:32:54.100 --> 00:32:56.000 there's something 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.000 more important 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.600 than having all the money. 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:02.440 That relationship 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.079 with him 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:04.480 is far more valuable 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:07.319 than what's 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:08.019 in our bank account. 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:10.920 he sets us free 00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.700 to be generous 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.700 with what we have. 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:15.119 He sets us free 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:15.940 to love the people 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.579 around us 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:18.460 by letting go 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.379 of his wealth 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.700 so that we can 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.500 become wealthy, 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.980 not so that we can 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:24.119 stockpile that wealth, 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.139 but so that we can 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.619 be generous 00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.379 with our wealth 00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:27.200 in the same way 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.460 that he was generous 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.039 with his. 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.480 So what does this look like 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.379 in real life? 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.680 Well, first, 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.639 if you're here today 00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:37.420 and you are not 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:37.920 a Christian, 00:33:38.800 --> 00:33:39.940 the first step 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:41.900 is recognizing 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:43.200 the Savior 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.600 and what he has done 00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:45.140 for you. 00:33:46.340 --> 00:33:47.080 Recognizing that 00:33:47.080 --> 00:33:48.440 although we 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:49.360 are rebels 00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.160 against God, 00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:51.340 that God 00:33:51.340 --> 00:33:52.300 sent his son 00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:53.120 to rescue us 00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.980 to pay the price 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.660 for our rebellion 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:55.420 against him, 00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:56.940 that he became poor 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.980 so that we might 00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.840 become rich. 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.539 And the way 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.840 to receive that gift 00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.940 is through trusting 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.440 in him 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.000 and placing 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.500 our faith in him 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:08.239 to rescue us. 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.400 If you're here today 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.139 and you are 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.679 a Christian, 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.940 it's about 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.760 holding our money 00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:15.659 with an open hand 00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:16.139 because we're 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:17.199 holding on to Christ 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:17.880 as tightly 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.380 as we can. 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.039 Remember, 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.059 everyone in this room 00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.400 is wealthy. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.079 I'm not talking 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.739 to people above 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.699 a certain income level. 00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.920 All of us 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.960 have earthly wealth. 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.400 And I think so often, 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.059 like Chris said, 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:31.960 we in the church 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.639 talk about how 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.320 we should be generous 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.380 and give, 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.780 especially to the church, 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.180 and then don't talk 00:34:37.180 --> 00:34:37.820 about what else 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.340 we should do 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:38.760 with the rest 00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.200 of our money. 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.100 And it's so easy 00:34:40.100 --> 00:34:40.640 to just say, 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:42.380 this is my stuff, 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.440 you don't worry about it 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:45.300 because it's mine 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:45.840 to worry about. 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:49.860 But what this passage 00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.519 teaches us 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:51.340 is that everything 00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:52.280 we have 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:53.519 is a gift from God. 00:34:53.600 --> 00:34:54.440 Like Chris said earlier, 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.300 we are stewards, 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.220 he is the true owner. 00:34:58.620 --> 00:34:59.180 And so yes, 00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.780 generosity, 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.080 giving to the church 00:35:01.080 --> 00:35:01.640 is important 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.500 because it allows us 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:04.059 to do stuff 00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:05.000 to reach out 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.059 to the people around us 00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.960 and to do ministry. 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:07.900 But, 00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:10.199 what about the rest of it 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:11.219 that doesn't go 00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:11.980 in the offering plate? 00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.619 How do we have 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.699 an attitude this week 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.379 that says, 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:19.219 everything I have 00:35:19.219 --> 00:35:20.099 in my bank account 00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:20.900 and in my house 00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:22.379 is a gift from God 00:35:22.379 --> 00:35:24.379 to be used for him? 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.400 You know, 00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:27.159 the Bible does say 00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:28.119 providing for our families 00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:28.699 is something God 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:29.379 wants us to do. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.359 Using your money 00:35:30.359 --> 00:35:31.440 to provide for your family 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.539 is a good thing. 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.659 Using your money 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:34.480 to make your spouse 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.220 feel valued 00:35:35.220 --> 00:35:36.220 is a good thing. 00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.780 But then what else? 00:35:40.860 --> 00:35:41.760 What if we used 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.099 our money 00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:43.360 to invite another family 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.059 over for dinner 00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:45.320 and cook them a meal 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.619 so we could get 00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.079 to know them 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:47.619 and find out 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.360 how we can do 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.000 a better job 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.780 loving the people 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.460 around us? 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:51.280 Whether it's people 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.860 from church 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.780 or people from 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.559 our apartment building 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.400 or from our work. 00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.820 Just using our resources 00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:58.420 to help build relationships 00:35:58.420 --> 00:36:00.519 so that we can know 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.400 how we can love 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.380 the people around us. 00:36:03.200 --> 00:36:04.280 Even for those of us 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:05.079 who don't have 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:06.480 lots of disposable income, 00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.240 cooking a meal 00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.159 for two extra people 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:09.960 is not that expensive. 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.300 And what if we said, 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.119 we're going to use 00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.639 the resources 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.619 that God has given us 00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:16.500 to invest 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:18.059 in building relationships 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.780 this week 00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:21.300 so that we can be light 00:36:21.300 --> 00:36:21.820 and salt 00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.400 for God 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:23.039 and his kingdom? 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:25.960 What if we just 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:27.239 went into conversations 00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:29.619 with eyes and ears 00:36:29.619 --> 00:36:30.920 looking for the needs 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.940 around us 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:33.619 and a heart that says, 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:34.579 I want to use 00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:36.360 what God has blessed me with 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:39.559 to be part of helping people 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.139 with the needs 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.759 that they have. 00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:44.119 I think even that 00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:45.460 small attitude change 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.739 would be a huge step 00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:48.139 towards recognizing 00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:49.440 that what we have 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.579 is a gift from God 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:51.920 not for ourselves. 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:54.079 and at the end of the day, 00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:54.800 whether or not 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.880 we use our resources 00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.920 to love others 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:58.500 is a reflection 00:36:58.500 --> 00:37:00.659 of whether we truly believe 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.420 these resources 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.320 are from God 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:03.980 or whether we believe 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:05.139 they're from ourselves. 00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.780 If we believe 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.559 that they're from God, 00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:08.860 we can be generous 00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:09.240 with them 00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:10.159 because just as he has 00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:10.820 provided for us 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.280 in the past, 00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:11.960 he will continue 00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.559 to provide in the future. 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.380 If we believe 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.360 that our resources 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:17.800 are completely from us 00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:19.099 and our self-sufficient 00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:19.840 hard work, 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.840 we're going to 00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.659 stockpile them 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:23.259 because we never know 00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.559 when our luck's 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.099 going to run out 00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:25.719 and when we're going 00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:26.319 to need them 00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:27.000 in the future. 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:31.440 So the curse 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.579 can be a blessing. 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.879 Poverty can be a blessing 00:37:34.879 --> 00:37:36.179 if it draws us to God. 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:37.960 The blessing 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.319 can be a curse. 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:41.199 Prosperity and riches, 00:37:41.379 --> 00:37:42.179 although a good gift 00:37:42.179 --> 00:37:42.679 from God, 00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:44.079 can be dangerous 00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:45.279 if they draw us 00:37:45.279 --> 00:37:46.460 away from him. 00:37:48.219 --> 00:37:49.179 At the end of the day, 00:37:49.179 --> 00:37:50.099 the question isn't 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.059 about how much money 00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:52.159 we have in our bank account 00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:53.079 but about who 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:54.099 we are relying on. 00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:56.359 Are we relying 00:37:56.359 --> 00:37:57.079 on ourselves 00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:59.000 to provide for ourselves 00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.960 and take care 00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.460 of ourselves? 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:02.659 Or are we relying 00:38:02.659 --> 00:38:03.399 on the Savior 00:38:03.399 --> 00:38:05.460 who gave up 00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.299 his riches 00:38:06.299 --> 00:38:07.719 and became poor 00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:08.440 so that we might 00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:09.139 become rich 00:38:09.139 --> 00:38:11.500 and calls us 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.219 to do the same 00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:12.719 for the others 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.399 around us? 00:38:15.399 --> 00:38:16.179 We're going to close 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:17.199 in prayer in just a minute, 00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:18.419 but before we do that, 00:38:18.879 --> 00:38:19.839 I want us to just take 00:38:19.839 --> 00:38:20.980 one minute to reflect 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:22.960 and think, 00:38:23.099 --> 00:38:24.399 this coming week, 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:27.059 what's one 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:28.199 tangible way 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:30.699 that you can use 00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:31.679 the resources 00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:32.480 that you have 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:34.119 to demonstrate 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:35.539 a reliance on God 00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:36.879 rather than on yourself? 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:40.019 In this coming week, 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:41.519 what's one tangible way 00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:42.319 that you can use 00:38:42.319 --> 00:38:43.439 the resources you have 00:38:43.439 --> 00:38:44.460 to demonstrate 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.639 a reliance on God 00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:47.139 rather than reliance 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:47.900 on yourself? 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:01.400 God, I confess 00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:02.099 that so often 00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:03.000 when it comes to money, 00:39:03.139 --> 00:39:04.619 I feel the need 00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:05.900 to hoard and stockpile 00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.379 personally 00:39:06.379 --> 00:39:07.400 because I don't rely 00:39:07.400 --> 00:39:07.839 on you. 00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:09.819 I confess 00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:10.920 that I feel poor 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:11.579 even though you have 00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.960 blessed me with so much 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:16.019 and that I don't 00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:17.019 give you the thanks 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.679 that you deserve 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:18.760 for the blessings 00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:19.780 that you have given me. 00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:23.340 God, I pray 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.360 that we as a people 00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:25.019 would be 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:27.360 people who remember you, 00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:30.559 people who remember 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.380 the things that you 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.039 have done for us 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:33.320 and remember the importance 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:34.240 of our relationship 00:39:34.240 --> 00:39:34.840 with you, 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:37.960 that as we remember 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:39.000 that it would make us 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.619 generous, 00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:42.699 that as we remember 00:39:42.699 --> 00:39:43.559 that it would help 00:39:43.559 --> 00:39:44.920 shape us into a people 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:45.920 who love you 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:47.460 and love others, 00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:51.420 that you would help us 00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.179 to be a community 00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:52.839 of people 00:39:52.839 --> 00:39:54.119 who shows the world 00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:54.599 around you 00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:55.519 through our actions 00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.960 the amazing love 00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:58.039 that you have for us 00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:58.759 and that lives 00:39:58.759 --> 00:39:59.679 would be transformed 00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.719 because of our 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.759 generosity. 00:40:03.839 --> 00:40:04.639 I pray that you would 00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:05.219 protect us 00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:06.400 from relying on ourselves 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:08.019 and help us 00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:08.860 to have a constant 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:09.900 reliance on you 00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:12.260 to provide for us 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.360 and care for us. 00:40:13.500 --> 00:40:13.900 We thank you 00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:14.380 that you're good. 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:14.840 We thank you 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:15.579 that you love us. 00:40:16.139 --> 00:40:16.780 In Jesus' name, 00:40:17.180 --> 00:40:17.400 amen.