WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:07.759 Good morning, church. The scripture reading this morning comes from Luke chapter 12, beginning at verse 13. 00:00:08.419 --> 00:00:12.300 Please follow along on the screen or in your bulletin. 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:23.440 Someone in the crowd said to him, teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:30.359 But he said to him, man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you? 00:00:31.840 --> 00:00:45.340 And he said to them, take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 00:00:45.340 --> 00:00:52.300 And he told them a parable saying, the land of a rich man produced plentifully. 00:00:52.900 --> 00:00:55.820 And he thought to himself, what shall I do? 00:00:56.180 --> 00:00:59.160 For I have nowhere to store my crops. 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:02.359 And he said, I will do this. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:05.740 I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:09.400 And there I will store all my grain and my goods. 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:16.800 And I will say to my soul, soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years. 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:20.560 Relax, eat, drink, be merry. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:28.939 But God said to him, fool, this night your soul is required of you. 00:01:29.460 --> 00:01:33.260 And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:40.780 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. 00:01:42.600 --> 00:01:54.719 And he said to his disciples, therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 00:01:55.780 --> 00:01:59.939 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 00:01:59.939 --> 00:02:04.920 Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap. 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:11.639 They have neither storehouses nor barn, and yet God feeds them. 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:16.120 Of how much more value are you than the birds? 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:22.819 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:31.959 If then you are not able to do a smaller thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 00:02:33.699 --> 00:02:36.379 Consider the lilies, how they grow. 00:02:37.239 --> 00:02:39.459 They neither toil nor spin. 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:47.479 Yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:02:47.479 --> 00:03:01.439 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you? 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.120 Oh, you of little faith. 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:29.159 Fear not, little flock. 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:34.840 For it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.599 Sell your possessions and give to the needy. 00:03:40.519 --> 00:03:48.379 Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:53.539 where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 00:03:53.539 --> 00:04:00.599 For where your treasure is, there your heart be also. 00:04:01.299 --> 00:04:01.780 Amen. 00:04:05.539 --> 00:04:07.099 Thank you, Angeline. 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:09.560 Just bring this up. 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:14.340 Great welcome again, everybody. 00:04:16.039 --> 00:04:16.800 Excuse me. 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:20.279 My name is Chris, if you don't know me. 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:25.899 And it's not quite as tall as Kevin. 00:04:27.599 --> 00:04:29.459 And it's just really exciting. 00:04:29.679 --> 00:04:34.439 We're coming to the end of our series, looking at why Christianity this morning. 00:04:35.299 --> 00:04:39.839 And we're going to look at how relevant faith is to life. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:48.179 But before we do that, I just want to pray for us that we wouldn't just kind of go through the motions in hearing someone talk for a little while, 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:50.899 but actually God would speak to us and our hearts would be open to him. 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:54.479 So just bow your heads with me now and let's pray. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:05:02.759 Father, I thank you that you're not a God who is absent. 00:05:03.840 --> 00:05:05.300 You're not a God who is silent. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.400 You're not a God who is distant. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:12.319 But you're a God who comes close to us right today, wants to speak to us today, 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:17.259 and wants to give us life and hope and a joy in you today. 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:23.199 And I pray, Lord, as I speak and as your word comes, Lord, I pray that it wouldn't just be words. 00:05:23.339 --> 00:05:26.920 I pray that your spirit would come in your power and open our hearts. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:28.399 You'd challenge us. 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:29.480 You'd encourage us. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:30.560 You'd change us. 00:05:32.039 --> 00:05:33.579 And that we would see you. 00:05:34.599 --> 00:05:36.339 And we would never be the same again. 00:05:37.039 --> 00:05:38.019 In Jesus' name. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:39.180 Amen. 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:44.699 Okay. 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:44.779 Okay. 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:45.259 Okay. 00:05:46.159 --> 00:05:51.039 If you can't hear me, just kind of throw something in my general direction. 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:55.339 So I was in Wong Tai Sin Temple. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.879 And I was being shown around by this 17-year-old kid. 00:06:00.239 --> 00:06:04.759 And he showed me around all the different gods and everything that was going on in the temple. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:10.399 And at the end of the tour, me and my friend, my friend asked this guy, 00:06:10.559 --> 00:06:13.139 Oh, okay, that's really interesting, everything you shared with us. 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:15.599 Tell me, do you have any faith or any belief? 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:20.479 And he said to us something that I think many people in Hong Kong said. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:23.740 He said, I don't have time to think about that kind of thing. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:25.199 I'm just too busy. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.659 He's 17 years old. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:39.580 But you see, for many people, life is divided between kind of a sacred and secular world. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:44.320 A practical world where, you know, the real stuff of life happens. 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:48.400 You know, you need jobs and relationships and the things you really care about. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:54.879 And then there's kind of spiritual stuff, which is maybe, is interesting if you have the time. 00:06:55.239 --> 00:06:59.060 But it's not really practically connected to the real stuff of life. 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:06.120 And so what we realize with this is actually many people say, 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.959 I'll put off thinking about faith and things until maybe I've got a bit more free time 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:12.339 and I've got a little bit of interest. 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:19.759 But the problem with that is life isn't divided into neat compartments. 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:26.060 You see, your work, your relationships, in fact, everything you do 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:32.579 is driven and shaped through a lens of a story you believe, 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:35.019 of something of where you find your value, 00:07:35.299 --> 00:07:38.120 of where you find your sense of freedom, 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:42.120 of the story of where you find satisfaction and rest in life. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:46.339 Everything you do is shaped through a lens. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:50.639 And that story, that lens you believe, 00:07:51.119 --> 00:07:54.539 can either enslave you or it can free you. 00:07:54.899 --> 00:07:59.219 It can either give you something meaningful and purposeful to live for 00:07:59.219 --> 00:08:02.639 or it can crush you or lead you to crushing other people. 00:08:03.359 --> 00:08:07.479 And so what I want to talk about today is just three things 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:13.040 that I think Christianity and the gospel gives us as believers 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.040 and why it's relevant in life. 00:08:15.140 --> 00:08:18.800 So we're going to talk about how it gives value for people who are status-seeking. 00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:22.780 We're going to talk about how it gives freedom for those of us who are enslaved. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:28.140 And we're going to talk about how it brings rest for the restless. 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:29.120 Okay? 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.780 So let's go with the first one. 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:35.440 Value that the Christianity gives us, the gospel gives us. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:40.440 You know, historically, people have found their identity in a couple of different ways. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:45.960 One way is by looking outward into what other people around you think about you. 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.720 So in traditional Chinese society, 00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:52.500 your identity and your values found in fulfilling your duties towards your family 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:55.700 and towards the greater nation even. 00:08:56.940 --> 00:09:01.259 And in the context of that kind of story of where your identity is found 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:05.320 and in the context of this story that we heard read, 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.700 there's a traditional structure for even inheritance 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:12.500 where the older brother is somebody. 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:17.340 He's the one, because he's the older brother, he gets the inheritance. 00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:26.200 And in traditional culture, what happens is you keep your position by controlling other people. 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:33.180 And so you see in this story, the sense of the person, the brother who is crying out, 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:39.220 he says, hey, like, intervene, Jesus, in this issue that I have with my brother. 00:09:40.160 --> 00:09:43.240 And why is he even talking to Jesus? 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:48.740 Because he feels the way that social expectations are restricting him. 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:53.779 To have value, you do what your family or what your peers value. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:58.519 Be a lawyer, be a doctor, be a banker, even if you're a gifted ballet dancer. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:02.759 That doesn't matter, because it's what everyone else thinks valuable is what you should do. 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.279 And that can be suffocating. 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:11.320 And so this younger brother, and commentators will tell us it is a younger brother, 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:16.820 he will reject that idea, and he shouts out to Jesus, 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:20.600 because he sees the whole unfairness of the traditional system. 00:10:21.800 --> 00:10:27.400 And he wants the freedom to make his own choices, pursue his own dreams, 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:29.420 because that's where he will find his value. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:36.740 You see, if he has got money, and he's got the freedom to do what he wants with it, 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:38.260 then he can be somebody. 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:45.179 But what he found is his value is not found in looking outwards to others, 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:48.299 it's found in looking inward into what his own desires are. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:52.779 And the problem is that his brother is standing in the way. 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:56.399 And so he looks to Jesus. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.159 He says, 00:10:57.259 --> 00:11:01.159 Jesus, come tell my brother to divide the inheritance. 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:05.240 He looks to an outside authority to try and validate him. 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:10.460 Because you see, if you actually look inward to try and be somebody to your own desires, 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:14.879 you'll always end up needing someone else or something else to validate you. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:19.840 You know, we try in our culture, we're probably more, 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:23.480 we've got a mix of both of those sense of identities in Hong Kong, right? 00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:27.940 Some of us lean more to one, some of us lean more to the other. 00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:33.840 But for people who follow their own dreams and desires, 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:35.360 what you find is, 00:11:35.880 --> 00:11:39.280 you've got to find your identity in something outside of yourself. 00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:41.220 So you look to things like your brands, 00:11:41.660 --> 00:11:42.820 what you wear, 00:11:43.280 --> 00:11:44.260 where you shop, 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.500 the car you drive, 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.520 or even to your work, 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:49.920 to give you a sense of value. 00:11:50.760 --> 00:11:52.020 You know, I spoke to one guy 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:54.480 who got his dream job 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.840 in a top company. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.939 And he had a couple of friends with him at the same time 00:11:58.939 --> 00:12:00.279 who managed to get the same job. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.539 And about a month after he got this job, 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:04.240 he came complaining to me, 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:06.579 saying his friends 00:12:06.579 --> 00:12:08.419 had got all the interesting, 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.199 career-relevant work 00:12:10.199 --> 00:12:11.340 in their team, 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:14.460 and he was stuck in a dead-end project, 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.139 just crunching numbers. 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.939 And he was beginning to despair 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:21.060 and actually resent his friends 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:23.500 and try and think of ways out. 00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:23.800 He's like, 00:12:23.880 --> 00:12:25.100 hey, should I go to another job? 00:12:25.760 --> 00:12:27.800 Because he thought he wasn't being valued. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:30.540 Because he thought others didn't appreciate him. 00:12:30.800 --> 00:12:33.140 Because he thought that something was stopping him 00:12:33.140 --> 00:12:34.260 from being somebody. 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.600 He'd been there a month. 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:40.200 You know, the atheist philosopher, 00:12:40.520 --> 00:12:41.180 Alan de Botton, 00:12:41.260 --> 00:12:41.760 he says this, 00:12:41.800 --> 00:12:42.120 he says, 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:44.020 a work-based identity, 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:46.660 which is a real story in our culture, 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:49.819 is by its nature extremely unstable. 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.000 We're a sacking, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.159 a profit downgrade, 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.279 or a retirement away 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.600 from losing an established sense of self, 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.740 of who we think we are. 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.219 And because of competition 00:12:58.219 --> 00:12:59.480 in a market economy, 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.399 our status depends on victories over others. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.159 We end up wanting others to sink 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.679 because every time they do, 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:08.059 our own prestige will be enhanced. 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:11.059 That doesn't describe anywhere in Hong Kong, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.500 does it? 00:13:13.459 --> 00:13:14.079 You see, 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.240 in traditional society, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.700 your value comes outwardly. 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:19.240 In individual society, 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:21.220 it comes from your own desires and inwardly. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.600 But you've always got to be validated by others. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.560 But Jesus comes along and he says, 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:26.139 don't look outward, 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.919 don't look inward. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.440 Don't even look religiously to me. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:30.820 He says, 00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:32.960 what you need to do is you need to look upward 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:36.340 to find your own ultimate identity. 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.379 What he says is this. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:38.539 He says, 00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:41.740 do you know who your father is? 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:44.340 He says, 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:46.100 God feeds. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.220 He says, 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.379 consider the ravens. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:51.720 God feeds even these little birds. 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:57.700 How much more value are you than them, 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.039 than these birds? 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.740 And he goes on to say, 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:00.940 listen, 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:02.820 all this other stuff you're worried about, 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:07.460 your father knows what you need. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:09.280 You see, 00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.440 what he's saying is, 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:13.259 in the stories of our culture, 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:16.160 you don't have to try and be somebody, 00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:17.840 or make yourself someone, 00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.780 or maintain your position, 00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:21.720 through some kind of performance, 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.420 or some way of crushing other people. 00:14:23.680 --> 00:14:24.019 He says, 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.120 I give you an identity. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.080 For those who trust me, 00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.879 you go from being orphans, 00:14:31.400 --> 00:14:34.100 you've got to fight it out to try and be the top dog, 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:37.159 to actually becoming adopted sons and daughters, 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.759 of the king of the whole universe. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:42.879 You have a rich, 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.120 heavenly father. 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.060 And he loves us. 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.600 Isn't that amazing? 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.120 He loves us. 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.540 And he sent Jesus, 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:55.920 not just for some kind of theoretical idea, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.440 which is detached from your life. 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.980 He sent Jesus, 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.220 to release you, 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:01.080 and to lift you, 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.100 out of the rat race, 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:04.379 of having to try and prove yourself to be someone, 00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:06.820 from seeking value from everybody else, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.759 in your performance, 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:10.139 so you find worth and value in his love for you. 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.300 You know, 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:15.620 if one of Lee Ka-Shing's sons, 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.720 or granddaughters, 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:19.720 came to do an apprenticeship in a company, 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:22.159 but none of the colleagues, 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:22.800 none of the bosses, 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:24.540 knew who she was. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:25.740 Now, 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.200 she may get shouted at. 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:29.660 She may make mistakes. 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:31.079 She's got to work hard, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.439 and do her best in the job. 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.919 But at the end of the day, 00:15:34.839 --> 00:15:36.419 whether she's been shouted at, 00:15:36.459 --> 00:15:37.639 or whether she's been praised, 00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:38.980 she can walk out, 00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:40.179 and in and out of that office, 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:40.860 with confidence, 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:41.639 because she knows, 00:15:41.719 --> 00:15:43.839 she's the granddaughter of Lee Ka-Shing. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.480 Right? 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:48.959 She's secure, 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:52.759 if her identity is not in that. 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.179 But Christianity says, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.439 the God of the whole universe, 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:58.500 through Jesus, 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.780 has given you status, 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.420 apart from your performance, 00:16:02.800 --> 00:16:04.620 how much more secure should we be? 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.540 So that means, 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.740 the domestic helper, 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.280 who is devalued in our society, 00:16:11.640 --> 00:16:13.040 is honored in Jesus, 00:16:13.520 --> 00:16:15.480 and is free to do her job well, 00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:17.700 without being crushed by inferiority. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:18.780 That means, 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.500 the CEO, 00:16:19.800 --> 00:16:21.420 who is honored by society, 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.700 doesn't need to crush people, 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:26.500 or maintain his own kind of superiority, 00:16:27.020 --> 00:16:28.180 to maintain his position, 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.900 because he has a heavenly father, 00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:31.300 who gives him value, 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.840 apart from his social status. 00:16:34.400 --> 00:16:34.740 You see, 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.879 faith in Christ, 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:36.780 sets you free, 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:38.379 from running on the treadmill, 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:40.340 of seeking to be somebody, 00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:42.800 because Christ has already made us somebody. 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.060 That's the first thing. 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:47.040 It gives us value, 00:16:47.040 --> 00:16:48.160 for the status seeking. 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:49.879 Second thing, 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:52.780 that the gospel gives us, 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.779 it gives us freedom, 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.339 for the enslaved. 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.000 You know, 00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:58.100 some people, 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.939 live for the weekends. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:00.659 Okay? 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.860 It's Monday morning, 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:04.420 and they're already thinking about Friday night. 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.980 That's none of you in here, 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.500 I'm sure. 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.259 We live for our comfort, 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.039 right? 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.660 Other of us, 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:13.379 you know, 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.099 Monday morning, 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.660 we're thinking, 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.500 what can I accomplish this week? 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:16.960 You know, 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.779 the A types, 00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:18.559 you're kind of driven, 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.359 you thrive off development, 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.059 achievement, 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:21.819 accomplishment, 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.500 improvement, 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:25.480 we're very different kinds of people. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.720 But whether you're living for comfort, 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.299 or whether you're living for success, 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:32.480 or anything else like this, 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.359 Bob Dylan, 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.420 that great theologian, 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.160 said this, 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.240 the singer, 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:38.740 he said, 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:40.339 you've got to serve somebody. 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:44.039 We're all serving something. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:46.460 And the question is, 00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:48.779 what master in your life, 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.779 brings life, 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.019 and love, 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:52.779 and freedom, 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:54.940 and which master will enslave you, 00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.539 or leave you trapped, 00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.299 in regret, 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.139 fear, 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.839 or insecurity, 00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.920 if you don't get what you want. 00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:03.559 Jesus comes to this man, 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:05.500 and he says to him, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:08.559 he actually completely avoids the question, 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:12.240 the request the man has said, 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:12.940 and he says, 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:13.740 take care, 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.279 and be on your guard, 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.359 against all covetousness, 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:18.619 that means greed, 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.500 for one's life, 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.919 doesn't consist, 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.960 in the abundance, 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.819 of one's possessions. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.940 What he's saying is, 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:27.640 he's saying, 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.340 don't live, 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.840 for the wrong treasure, 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.740 in your life. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.340 Because when you look back, 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.100 on your life, 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:36.200 you'll find you've actually, 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.220 wasted your life, 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.880 and you're living in regret. 00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:39.900 And what he does, 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:41.240 he then tells this story, 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.600 of a rich farmer, 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.420 a successful farmer. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.620 And he says, 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:47.000 this farmer, 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:48.380 his success wasn't enough, 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:48.740 he was like, 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:48.960 oh, 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.860 I've got all of this, 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.519 now let me build bigger barns, 00:18:51.600 --> 00:18:52.620 so I can store more, 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.139 I mean, 00:18:53.439 --> 00:18:54.779 and so he's investing, 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.979 bigger warehouses, 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:58.359 he's seeking financial security, 00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.759 so he works hard now, 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:01.139 so he can retire early, 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.859 he can relax, 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.239 eat, 00:19:03.439 --> 00:19:03.679 drink, 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.479 and be merry. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:07.359 He wants to play golf, 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:09.059 he wants to go to good restaurants, 00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:09.759 and have holidays, 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.559 in the Maldives. 00:19:11.479 --> 00:19:13.079 That's his treasure in life. 00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:15.819 He's chasing the Hong Kong dream. 00:19:17.459 --> 00:19:17.939 Right? 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.859 Doesn't everyone want that? 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.599 That's the kind of system, 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:22.899 that he, 00:19:22.959 --> 00:19:23.819 that's the story, 00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:24.859 that he's playing out. 00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:26.039 But Jesus says, 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.099 there's a couple of things, 00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.899 that are wrong in this. 00:19:28.199 --> 00:19:29.139 The first thing is, 00:19:29.739 --> 00:19:31.559 your treasure can be taken away from you. 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.399 He says, 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.259 fool. 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.500 That's pretty strong. 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:37.919 He says, 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.859 you fool. 00:19:39.979 --> 00:19:41.079 And Jesus says to everyone, 00:19:41.199 --> 00:19:42.359 following the Hong Kong dream, 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.579 you fool. 00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:47.359 Invest in a ship, 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.619 that's got holes in it, 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:51.479 and you will see your investment sinking, 00:19:51.479 --> 00:19:52.839 before your very eyes. 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:53.939 He says, 00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:55.559 tonight, 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.599 the whole of what you've lived for, 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.799 will be gone. 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.899 And who's going to pick up everything that you have? 00:20:03.939 --> 00:20:04.359 You see, 00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:04.979 what he's saying is, 00:20:05.199 --> 00:20:07.599 make your kids' education your treasure, 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.619 and see how insecure and fearful you are, 00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:13.259 when it comes to trying to find schools for them. 00:20:14.419 --> 00:20:16.679 Make financial security your treasure, 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:18.939 and see how insecure and fearful you become, 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.179 when the stock market crashes. 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.839 You see, 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.839 anything that can be taken away from you, 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.919 is not a treasure that is stable enough to hold you. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:32.560 And the next thing he said, 00:20:33.060 --> 00:20:34.320 that comes out of this is, 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.380 if something can be taken away from you, 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:38.580 but this man cannot see it. 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:39.759 Because you see, 00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:41.060 if you live for another treasure, 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:42.300 which is not Jesus, 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.539 it will blind you, 00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:44.560 and enslave you, 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.519 to reality. 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.060 I know someone, 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.360 again, 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.759 whose treasure was his career. 00:20:49.080 --> 00:20:50.920 He was doing really well in his career, 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.980 but he had a boss, 00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:53.840 who he could never say no to, 00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:55.360 who was just unreasonable, 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.820 who was exploitative, 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:58.740 and who really was just, 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:02.440 just really enslaving him in his job. 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.980 But he would never say no, 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.019 because he was afraid, 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.960 of being fired, 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.400 or afraid of losing his promotion opportunity. 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:12.799 And he'd be out for a birthday meal with his wife, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.819 and his boss would call, 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.599 and demand something to be done right there, 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:18.220 which actually didn't need to be done at all, 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.000 for the next few days. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:23.000 And despite his wife's protestations, 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.259 he would just get up and do it. 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.220 Until the day, 00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:28.079 when his wife sat him down, 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.139 gave him an ultimatum, 00:21:29.199 --> 00:21:29.599 and said, 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:32.720 you can either draw healthy boundaries, 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.899 around your boss, 00:21:33.939 --> 00:21:34.740 or I'm leaving you. 00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:37.139 And suddenly, 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:41.119 he saw how his self-centered desires, 00:21:41.419 --> 00:21:42.859 had blinded him, 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:45.339 to the destructive choices that he'd made. 00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.559 It had enslaved him, 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:49.339 and actually the very things that he loved, 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.460 he was actually destroying. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:52.980 That's all of us. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:56.579 With any treasure that you put before Christ. 00:21:57.660 --> 00:22:00.759 Because any treasure that can be taken away, 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.340 will leave you insecure, 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.279 it will leave you a slave, 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.799 and it will blind you. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.640 But Jesus says this, 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.460 where do you get freedom? 00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:10.059 He says, 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:11.740 make God your treasure. 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.759 He says, 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.500 seek first God's kingdom. 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:18.480 Worship God before anything else. 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.339 And then he says, 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.039 fear not, 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.579 little flock, 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:22.519 it's your father's good pleasure 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.419 to give you the kingdom. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.519 Sell your possessions, 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.480 give to the needy, 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.819 provide yourselves with money bags 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.139 that don't grow old, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.839 with a treasure in the heavens 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.119 that doesn't fail, 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.579 where no thief approaches, 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.919 and no moth destroys, 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.720 for where your treasure is there, 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.500 is your heart. 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:38.819 You see, 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.559 what is he saying? 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.240 He's saying, 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:40.559 actually, 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.859 when you place your treasure in Christ, 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:45.220 and worshipping him above everything else, 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:49.039 it can't be taken away from you. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.460 You see, 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.599 when God is your treasure, 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.019 the economy can be collapsing, 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:55.160 your kids may be failing in all their exams, 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.299 the people you're trying to help, 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.940 and you live for helping people, 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:00.799 may be refusing to listen to you, 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.960 but there is still, 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.599 your life is not collapsed, 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.920 because you still have 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:08.820 an unshakable anchor. 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.880 There is someone 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:11.500 who nothing can take away, 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:13.380 the place of joy that you can have, 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.039 peace, 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:14.980 security, 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:18.440 because he says, 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.700 there's no thief 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:21.360 that can take away God from you. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.420 You see, 00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:27.240 that's why research actually shows 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.360 people who have faith 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.500 have far higher levels 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.039 of emotional, 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.420 mental, 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.360 and physical well-being 00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.019 than those without. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.980 I didn't know that. 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.819 They're more storm-resistant. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.940 It also says, 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.319 he says, 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:38.579 give to the needy, 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.599 sell your possessions. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.500 Do you know what research also shows? 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:43.039 That people of faith 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.140 who really have God as their center 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:46.400 are far more generous 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.019 with their time, 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.279 money, 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.019 and talents, 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:51.099 especially when it's hard times, 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:53.559 because they've got a security 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.240 that means they don't have to hold on. 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.880 So if you are a believer, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.460 or if you're not, 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.700 how are you doing with generosity 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.319 in the times we live in right now? 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:05.279 Because that will actually 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.019 give you a window 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.279 on where your treasure is. 00:24:09.919 --> 00:24:11.439 But it's not that Jesus says 00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:15.460 it just can't be taken away from you. 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:17.460 When God is your treasure, 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.259 it also sets you free. 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.299 Because you have a master, 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:24.159 a king of his kingdom, 00:24:24.439 --> 00:24:26.299 who is not there to enslave you, 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:29.019 but he's there to free you 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.740 from the slavery 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:31.359 from your own desires. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.679 For that man, 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.919 it was his greed 00:24:33.919 --> 00:24:35.339 that drove him 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.299 and blinded him. 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.439 But what God says is, 00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:41.000 I want to bring you 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.859 into freedom. 00:24:41.979 --> 00:24:43.459 And freedom only works 00:24:43.459 --> 00:24:44.339 if you live according 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:45.179 to your design. 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:46.079 Do you know that? 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.359 If you're a fish, 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.859 and you think, 00:24:49.159 --> 00:24:49.319 hey, 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.439 I'd just love to spend 00:24:50.439 --> 00:24:51.299 a little bit of time 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.979 on the land. 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:53.699 Now, 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.839 you might want to do that, 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.299 but let me tell you, 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:55.939 you're going to die. 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.779 You see, 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.419 fish were made 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.639 to flourish in water. 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.700 We were made 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.300 to flourish 00:25:01.300 --> 00:25:02.259 in relationship 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.120 and worshiping God 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.780 as the center. 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:06.759 And so when God calls us 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:08.600 to do things, 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.280 there are commands 00:25:09.280 --> 00:25:09.820 in scripture, 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.180 right? 00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:12.500 And often what we think, 00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:14.140 even if we've been Christians 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.180 for a long time, 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.160 deep in our hearts, 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.900 we often think 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.780 God's commands 00:25:18.780 --> 00:25:20.540 are restrictive to us. 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:22.160 They're trying to hold us 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.100 back from freedom. 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:25.399 But actually, 00:25:25.459 --> 00:25:26.179 his commands are there 00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:27.679 to free you from yourself. 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.799 Just think about forgiveness. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.019 You know, 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.559 all the research, 00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:33.899 again, 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.819 shows that forgiveness 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.539 is actually 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.719 both good for you 00:25:36.719 --> 00:25:37.719 and it's good for relationships 00:25:37.719 --> 00:25:38.819 and it's good for society. 00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:39.459 I mean, 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.019 it's a win, 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:40.799 okay? 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:43.039 I talked to one lady. 00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:45.139 She'd been badly treated 00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:45.819 by a colleague. 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.740 And she was bitter 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.699 and angry 00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.619 and miserable. 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:51.459 Every time she went to work, 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.939 it was just like hell. 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.559 for her. 00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:55.199 And we talked about 00:25:55.199 --> 00:25:55.859 the forgiveness 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.299 that God calls us to. 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.099 And she said, 00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:59.159 I don't want to forgive. 00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:01.719 Anyone ever felt like that? 00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:03.079 Right? 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.599 I don't want to forgive. 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.199 And I said, 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.139 don't you realize 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.619 that the longer 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:08.839 you hold on to bitterness 00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:11.039 and anger, 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.659 the greater the control is 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:13.679 that that other person 00:26:13.679 --> 00:26:14.819 has over you. 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:16.439 You realize you're a slave? 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.319 Your own desires 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:20.179 for what you think you want 00:26:20.179 --> 00:26:21.599 actually leave you to slavery. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:21.719 slavery. 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.359 But Jesus says 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.439 he died both to forgive you 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:27.099 but also to call you 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:28.000 to forgive others. 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.959 Not just because 00:26:28.959 --> 00:26:29.779 he's trying to make life 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.639 difficult for you. 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.980 He wants to lead you 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:34.000 into a freedom of life. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.500 And that goes for 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:38.179 every command he ever gives. 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.599 Even the ones 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.579 that you are resisting 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:42.000 right now in your life. 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:44.259 He wants your freedom. 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.379 freedom. 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:46.299 So when you follow Christ 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.879 as the center of your life, 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.480 nothing, 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.160 it cannot be, 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.259 your treasure cannot be 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.339 taken away from you. 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.980 And it sets you free. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.859 He gives you value 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:58.319 for status-seeking people. 00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.200 And thirdly, 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.740 and finally, 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.900 it gives you rest 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:04.000 for the restless. 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.140 You know, 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.519 Jesus, 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:09.980 at least three or four times 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.640 in this passage, 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.019 he says to his disciples, 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.740 don't be anxious 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.639 about your life. 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:14.940 He says, 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.240 which of you by being anxious 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.180 can add anything more 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.779 onto your life? 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.259 He says, 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.319 why are you anxious 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.099 about your life? 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.819 Like he goes, 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:21.680 why are you worried 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.440 about everything? 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.740 What is he assuming? 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.539 That people are anxious 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:28.759 and restless 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.200 and worried. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.379 Right? 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.279 And this was 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.799 2,000 years ago 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.779 before Twitter, 00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:36.480 email, 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.220 Facebook, 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.940 any other social media. 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.740 You see, 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:42.180 what they were anxious about 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.960 was that they 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.880 and their families 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:46.259 were always two harvests 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.440 away from death 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.299 by starvation. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.539 That's fairly, 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.079 like, 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.500 reasonable, 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:51.880 right? 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.400 I mean, 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:55.279 what we get anxious about 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.539 is we get anxious 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.240 about our kids 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.740 don't get into 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.400 the right schools, 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.319 we feel like we're 00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.839 falling behind 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.839 everybody else at work, 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.640 we don't have 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.640 that amazing relationship 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.200 we wanted, 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.299 we feel that people 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.059 will reject us. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.400 Now, 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.680 put that in perspective 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.940 of starvation, 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:10.940 and it's not quite 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.880 in the same category. 00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:12.940 Right? 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.519 But if I was to say 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.019 to you, 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.279 as Jesus kind of says, 00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:18.680 he says, 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.059 hey, 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.820 stop worrying, 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.240 it's stupid. 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.380 I mean, 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.160 he kind of says, 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.279 hey, 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:24.000 it's not going to add 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.880 anything to your life. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:25.640 Like, 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.440 he goes for a logical 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.000 argument, 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:30.140 he doesn't leave it there, 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.140 but he starts with 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.860 a logical argument. 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.720 But if I say to you, 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.519 stop worrying, 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:35.779 does that help you 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.420 to stop worrying? 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.599 No, 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.019 if I say, 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.940 worrying is stupid, 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.379 you go, 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:41.980 I know, 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:46.220 but I can't help it. 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.000 You see, 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:52.039 why do we keep 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.279 staying awake at night 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:53.980 worrying? 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.960 Why are we still 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.139 on this treadmill 00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:56.740 in life? 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.519 It's because 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:59.039 deep inside, 00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.960 we're desperately 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.599 insecure. 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.960 All of us. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.079 And if you don't 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.779 think you are, 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.480 you're probably 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.200 more insecure 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.039 than you realize. 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.120 You see, 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.860 we're insecure, 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.460 we want to be loved, 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.539 we want to feel safe, 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.480 we want to belong, 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.799 we want to flourish, 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.720 and those we love too. 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.059 And so we want 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.220 to control our world 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.100 so that we can be 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.059 like at the center, 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.200 we can get those things. 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.340 But hasn't COVID 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.160 showed us 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.880 we're not in control 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.440 of our world? 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.680 If you thought 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.860 you were in 2019, 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.199 you have been 00:29:33.199 --> 00:29:34.000 very severely 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.019 disillusioned. 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.459 The world 00:29:37.459 --> 00:29:38.079 is not, 00:29:38.199 --> 00:29:39.459 is uncertain place. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.500 People are not 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.339 always safe. 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.199 And the reason 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:42.839 we hurry, 00:29:42.979 --> 00:29:43.899 the reason we strive 00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:44.819 to prove ourselves, 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.979 the reason we feel 00:29:45.979 --> 00:29:46.579 like we've never 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.359 done enough 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.519 to really earn, 00:29:48.939 --> 00:29:49.500 to really be able 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.679 to rest well, 00:29:51.719 --> 00:29:52.759 is because deep down 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.359 we know that we're 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.459 not totally acceptable. 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.119 If you're honest. 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.059 Because if others 00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:58.839 really knew 00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.959 what was inside of you, 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:01.360 even if your loved ones 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.160 knew everything 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:03.079 that you actually 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:04.039 really thought, 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:08.460 that would be 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.460 a scary prospect. 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.620 And so what we want 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:12.920 to do, 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.460 we want to do 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.420 anything we can 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.100 to cover up, 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:16.059 to prove and to show 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.600 that we're worthy 00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:17.019 of love, 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.059 we're worthy of respect, 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.799 we're worthy of being 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.160 noticed. 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.319 That's why we're so 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.220 busy all the time. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.079 And you know, 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.680 what some people 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.519 do with that is 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:25.960 then they try 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.640 and find their worth 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.220 in religion. 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.840 Religion tells you, 00:30:30.040 --> 00:30:30.980 you've messed up, 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.060 you've sinned, 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.660 but now just do 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:35.300 some really good 00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:36.720 spiritual things. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.759 And that will kind of, 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:39.960 that will get you 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.880 in the right place. 00:30:41.020 --> 00:30:41.140 You know, 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:42.280 read your Bible, 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.040 go to church, 00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.780 give some money, 00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:44.540 give money in the offering, 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.280 give even more, 00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:45.800 because then you might 00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.380 get a bit more 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.420 kind of a sense 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.360 of peace in your heart. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.700 Be a good person, 00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:50.340 help the granny 00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:51.259 across the road. 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.700 Even if she doesn't 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.240 want to cross, 00:30:53.320 --> 00:30:54.220 just help her anyway. 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.420 Anyway. 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.100 But then the next time 00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.860 that you screw up 00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.980 and shame and guilt 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:01.220 come upon you, 00:31:01.280 --> 00:31:01.920 what have you got to do? 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.560 You've just got to keep 00:31:02.560 --> 00:31:03.220 on that treadmill. 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.660 It's never ending. 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:11.340 But we've quoted this before, 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.700 but I think this is really pertinent. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.280 The fourth century theologian, 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.060 Augustine, 00:31:16.020 --> 00:31:16.600 said, 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.880 because you have made us 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.720 for yourself, 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:22.580 our hearts are restless 00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:25.640 till they find their rest 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.940 in you. 00:31:29.020 --> 00:31:30.100 You see what he's saying? 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:31.680 He's saying there's only one place 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.860 where you can be fully known 00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:33.680 and fully loved. 00:31:35.540 --> 00:31:37.060 And that's through Jesus Christ. 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.100 You see what Jesus says 00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:39.700 in this passage? 00:31:39.820 --> 00:31:40.280 He says, 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.020 it's your father's 00:31:42.020 --> 00:31:43.720 good pleasure 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:45.540 to give you the kingdom. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.140 Now what's he talking about? 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.740 The kingdom 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:50.220 is the place 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.259 where we are living 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.180 in right, 00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.980 satisfying relationship 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:55.319 under his rule. 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.759 It's where we belong. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.180 It's where we are loved. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.819 It's where we flourish in him 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.019 and he gets all the glory. 00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.160 He's at the center. 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.880 What he's saying is this. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.380 The man whose greed 00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:08.779 led him to strive 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:11.120 ceaselessly 00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:12.620 to find life 00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.839 in his bank balance 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.680 and then for the future, 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.420 he says, 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.819 God has already got 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:19.620 an abundance of life for us. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.660 He's not stingy. 00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:23.060 He wants, 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.320 no, 00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:24.500 not just he wants, 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.500 he actually gets pleasure 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:28.360 from giving 00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:30.019 the kingdom to us. 00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.300 Do you see that? 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:33.080 It brings a smile 00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:33.940 to his face. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.340 He's not going, 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:34.680 oh, 00:32:34.800 --> 00:32:35.019 well, 00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:36.320 I guess I better be generous 00:32:36.320 --> 00:32:36.779 to them. 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:39.100 That's my job as God. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.759 No, 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.660 it gives him 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:42.279 this overwhelming pleasure 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:45.040 for us to find 00:32:45.040 --> 00:32:46.720 satisfaction in him. 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:48.860 You see, 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:49.519 Jesus is saying 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.080 to those who are 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.059 trying to control 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.759 our worry, 00:32:52.939 --> 00:32:54.079 our world through worry, 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.480 through restless striving. 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.359 He says, 00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.199 come to me, 00:32:57.419 --> 00:32:58.699 all you who are weary 00:32:58.699 --> 00:32:59.819 and heavy laden, 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:01.220 and I will give you rest. 00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.519 Anyone feel restless? 00:33:05.419 --> 00:33:05.980 You see, 00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:07.259 how does he give us rest? 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:07.419 Well, 00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:08.799 the God of the whole universe, 00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:11.179 the one who sustains us, 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.659 the one who's got 00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:12.079 the past, 00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:12.519 the present, 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.099 and the future 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:14.119 all in his hands 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.859 right now, 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:17.079 the one who's actually 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.579 in control 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.559 of your circumstances, 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.359 whatever you're going 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.200 through right now, 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.799 the one who has 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.519 all of that, 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:25.440 he has the world 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.339 on his shoulders, 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.559 so you don't have 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.419 to take the weight 00:33:28.419 --> 00:33:29.039 of the world 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:30.940 on your shoulders. 00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:34.200 But more than that, 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.539 more than even just 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.379 trusting him 00:33:37.379 --> 00:33:38.619 with your circumstances, 00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:40.879 he says to insecure 00:33:40.879 --> 00:33:42.059 people like you 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.980 and me, 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.759 unacceptable people, 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.159 that he's made 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:48.060 in exchange, 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:50.100 that he says, 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:51.259 I take your life 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.360 and I give you mine. 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:53.900 Because on the cross, 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.340 he's taking all the heap 00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:57.340 of our restless worries 00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:58.519 and our guilt 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.620 and our shame, 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.420 and he says, 00:34:00.540 --> 00:34:02.200 I took that on myself. 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.880 He was weighed down 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:05.460 with the burden 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.279 of your sin, 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.279 your guilt, 00:34:07.540 --> 00:34:08.280 your striving, 00:34:08.740 --> 00:34:10.440 that you could rest 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.340 in him. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.380 And that rest 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:13.980 doesn't mean 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.480 you're just sitting 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.099 on the sofa, 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:16.559 it means heart rest. 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:19.059 It means you can go 00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.960 to work and be busy, 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.639 but actually you don't 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.539 have to prove yourself. 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.900 It means he is 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.239 the sacrifice for you, 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:27.119 so you do not need 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.699 to make yourself worthy. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.940 It means the God 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.639 who rules the world 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:35.219 came down in Jesus 00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:36.699 and it was his pleasure 00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:38.559 to crush Jesus. 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:40.279 That's what Isaiah 53 says. 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:42.760 Jesus is the one person 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:44.860 who knows the depths 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.840 that your heart 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.860 can sink to. 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.640 Do you know why he knows? 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.960 Because he's experienced 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.940 it on the cross. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.500 He's experienced 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.800 the weight of your anger, 00:34:54.060 --> 00:34:55.140 the weight of your frustration, 00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.300 the weight of everything 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.200 that you go through. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.519 He has felt that 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.240 and taken it, 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.820 and yet with the full knowledge 00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:02.019 of how bad 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.060 you and I can be, 00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:04.760 yet he doesn't reject us, 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:06.320 he doesn't turn away from us, 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.660 he doesn't do all the things 00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.200 that we fear 00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:09.679 from everybody else around us. 00:35:09.919 --> 00:35:11.439 Instead, he runs towards us 00:35:11.439 --> 00:35:12.019 and his death 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:13.679 brings forgiveness to us, 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.719 cleanses us, 00:35:14.819 --> 00:35:15.279 and he says, 00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:16.319 it's my good pleasure 00:35:16.319 --> 00:35:17.219 to give you the kingdom. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.579 I want that for you. 00:35:20.419 --> 00:35:21.179 I've done that 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:21.899 so you can come 00:35:21.899 --> 00:35:23.259 and be set free 00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:24.519 from worshipping 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.219 everything else, 00:35:25.299 --> 00:35:26.539 being slaves to everything else 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.239 so that you can find 00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:27.980 freedom in me. 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:30.619 And that's the place of rest. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.799 And he calls us 00:35:33.799 --> 00:35:34.679 to follow him 00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:36.239 on that way of freedom 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.779 and flourishing. 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.639 The place where you're 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.339 fully known 00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:41.719 and fully loved. 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.579 You know, 00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.500 I often meet 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:47.359 either some older people 00:35:47.359 --> 00:35:48.579 going up the steps 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.339 in the MTR 00:35:49.339 --> 00:35:50.919 and they're carrying 00:35:50.919 --> 00:35:52.319 these really heavy loads. 00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:54.099 And I often stop and say, 00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.879 hey, do you want a hand? 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.619 Can I give you a hand? 00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.679 And many of them say no. 00:35:58.379 --> 00:35:59.579 And what I see them doing 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.719 is they're kind of like 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:01.819 puffing and panting, 00:36:01.899 --> 00:36:02.539 they're exhausted, 00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:03.579 they're kind of swearing 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.299 under their breath, 00:36:04.339 --> 00:36:04.879 they're complaining 00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:05.559 about everything, 00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:06.599 and they're getting up here 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:06.919 and I'm like, 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.939 are you sure you don't want a hand? 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.340 And they're going, 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:08.599 no. 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:11.539 And I look at them 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.019 and go, 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.920 you know, 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.800 it was really simple, 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.380 I could have just 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.280 given you a hand up. 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.679 Why don't they? 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:21.179 Well, 00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:23.200 it's because of our pride. 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:25.139 It's because we want to feel 00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:26.179 like we've done it. 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.880 It's because we want to go, 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.360 there we go, 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:30.840 I managed it by myself. 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:32.059 I might have destroyed 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:33.220 everyone else in the process, 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:34.300 but I managed it. 00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.620 You see, 00:36:37.700 --> 00:36:38.800 what keeps us restless 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:41.120 when rest is available for us 00:36:41.120 --> 00:36:42.640 in our everyday lives 00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:44.620 is our pride. 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:47.039 It's because 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:50.720 we often prefer a religion 00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:52.900 or a non-religion 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:54.300 of performance 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.660 to a place of rest. 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:57.379 But the good news 00:36:57.379 --> 00:36:58.059 of Christianity 00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:59.399 is for anyone 00:36:59.399 --> 00:36:59.940 who's willing 00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:01.319 to lay down your pride, 00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:02.819 for anyone 00:37:02.819 --> 00:37:03.739 who's willing to say, 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.119 I don't have to be 00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:06.420 in control of my life. 00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:08.259 I don't have to prove myself. 00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:10.359 Jesus has done everything 00:37:10.359 --> 00:37:11.279 to say, 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:13.319 there's a gift for you 00:37:13.319 --> 00:37:14.099 today 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:15.599 of rest. 00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:18.599 It's not grudging 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.579 kind of acceptance. 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.759 There's a gift. 00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.599 And if you are not 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.739 a Christian today, 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.940 my challenge is, 00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:26.199 will you take 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.519 the offer 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.699 and receive 00:37:28.699 --> 00:37:29.279 the gift 00:37:29.279 --> 00:37:30.460 of his rest to you? 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.719 Or do you want to 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:32.779 just carry on your life 00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.619 on that treadmill? 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.299 Because Christ 00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:38.000 has done everything 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.699 for us. 00:37:42.219 --> 00:37:43.400 If you are a Christian, 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:49.280 you know, 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:51.559 there's someone I know 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:54.460 who their relationship 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.160 with their dad 00:37:55.160 --> 00:37:56.320 was really strained. 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.220 Growing up, 00:37:58.240 --> 00:37:59.099 he'd been really critical, 00:37:59.460 --> 00:37:59.920 controlling. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:01.780 Nothing they did 00:38:01.780 --> 00:38:02.660 was ever good enough. 00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:04.099 They could never 00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:05.000 say no to him. 00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:06.480 They were constantly 00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:08.079 compared with other people, 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.480 with their siblings 00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.099 or others, 00:38:10.180 --> 00:38:10.780 and they never felt 00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:11.500 they were good enough. 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.079 And no matter 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:13.920 how successful 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.500 they were, 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.199 and they tried 00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:16.079 really hard 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:16.960 to be successful 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.259 and to please, 00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.400 they always felt 00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:19.920 like a failure. 00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.599 And they lived 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.460 with this resentment 00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.400 inside of them. 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.199 And they often tried 00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:25.219 to avoid their dad 00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:26.920 because he always 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.380 made them feel 00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:27.920 like a failure. 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.279 Until the penny 00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.319 dropped for them, 00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:36.759 that Jesus 00:38:36.759 --> 00:38:39.880 didn't just die 00:38:39.880 --> 00:38:40.759 to send you to heaven. 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:43.180 Jesus died 00:38:43.180 --> 00:38:44.240 to take their shame, 00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:45.520 to take their guilt, 00:38:45.620 --> 00:38:46.180 to even take 00:38:46.180 --> 00:38:47.120 that sense of failure. 00:38:49.520 --> 00:38:50.960 God was pleased 00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:52.480 through what Christ 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.120 has done, 00:38:53.220 --> 00:38:54.600 not through their performance, 00:38:55.600 --> 00:38:57.500 but totally independent 00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:58.760 of their dad's approval. 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:01.420 They had a status. 00:39:02.140 --> 00:39:03.240 They had a place 00:39:03.240 --> 00:39:03.920 of freedom. 00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:05.040 They had a place 00:39:05.040 --> 00:39:05.920 where they were worthy. 00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:07.720 They were no longer 00:39:07.720 --> 00:39:09.340 slaves to his expectations. 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:13.019 And that set them free. 00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:15.220 I think many of us 00:39:15.220 --> 00:39:16.700 still live 00:39:16.700 --> 00:39:18.440 in places 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.019 where maybe 00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:19.880 from our past, 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.099 maybe from things 00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:21.740 that people have said 00:39:21.740 --> 00:39:22.320 to us, 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:24.220 we're in bondage. 00:39:25.220 --> 00:39:25.900 And the gospel 00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:26.700 kind of stays up 00:39:26.700 --> 00:39:27.460 here in our heads, 00:39:27.579 --> 00:39:28.599 but it's not sunk down 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:29.340 into our hearts 00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:30.059 in these areas. 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:32.820 And what it did 00:39:32.820 --> 00:39:33.619 for this person, 00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:34.519 it set them free 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.719 to draw healthy boundaries 00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:37.019 and to actually say no 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.880 to their dad 00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:38.880 when they had to. 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:40.679 It set them free 00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:41.320 to apologize 00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:42.059 to their dad 00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:42.659 for resentment. 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:44.559 It set them free 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:45.420 to pity him 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:45.880 and to seek 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:46.759 how to love him 00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:47.460 rather than 00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:48.460 how to avoid him. 00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:51.500 And every time 00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:51.940 when there used 00:39:51.940 --> 00:39:53.420 to be constant stress 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:54.440 before he rang 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:54.779 and they're going, 00:39:54.860 --> 00:39:55.820 what does he want now? 00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.139 Then they had 00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:58.659 this peaceful rest 00:39:58.659 --> 00:39:59.679 because they knew 00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:01.799 my heavenly father, 00:40:02.679 --> 00:40:03.919 my heavenly father, 00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.019 his opinion 00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:06.199 counts most. 00:40:07.819 --> 00:40:08.119 You see, 00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:09.179 make God your treasure 00:40:09.179 --> 00:40:12.139 and he gives you value. 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:14.159 You find a place 00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:14.799 of freedom. 00:40:15.379 --> 00:40:16.159 You find a place 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:16.799 of rest. 00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:18.319 Look anywhere else, 00:40:19.159 --> 00:40:20.159 anywhere else, 00:40:20.819 --> 00:40:22.000 and you will find 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:23.099 yourself enslaved, 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:24.679 constantly chasing, 00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:26.659 neglecting the people 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:27.440 who really matter. 00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:31.539 Christ came to set us free. 00:40:32.299 --> 00:40:33.579 That's not just a one-off 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.480 thing in the past. 00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:35.839 That's for us today, 00:40:36.359 --> 00:40:37.500 every day.