WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.419 The reading today is Proverbs chapter 10, and we'll be reading the first five verses. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.679 The Proverbs of Solomon. 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:11.939 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:18.339 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:24.120 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:30.280 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 00:00:31.880 --> 00:00:38.320 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 00:00:40.120 --> 00:00:45.280 Father, we thank you for this privilege to come before you and call you our Father. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:53.859 And because of how we relate to you, we have a vision in life and in future. 00:00:54.739 --> 00:01:03.599 May you help us as we read and think about your words from Proverbs 10, that we might indeed be wise. 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.700 Thank you, Lord. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:10.539 --> 00:01:18.180 So the title of the sermon is The Relational Basis of a Rational Life. 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:19.560 Sorry, it's quite a long title. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:23.299 I just want us to remember relational and rational. 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:26.700 I mean, we don't need to be rational. 00:01:26.880 --> 00:01:28.420 We can live anyhow we like. 00:01:28.660 --> 00:01:38.300 But if you want to have a rational life, usually it means that we need to relate to someone. 00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:43.979 Someone who is wiser or someone who cares for us and about to kill us. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:53.239 I believe that many children who are here this morning, if their parents allow them to stay home and watch leg flats, 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:56.840 they might choose to stay home until coming here. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:04.420 But because your parents told you and wanted you to come, so you came. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:07.900 You may not know why you need to come Sunday by Sunday. 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:16.099 But your parents know and they've gone through it and they know that it's good for you in the future. 00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:23.419 Yet we naturally choose to do things or spend time on things that give us most pleasure. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.900 But it may not be the best for us in times to come. 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:29.699 And it takes efforts. 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:36.840 If you want to do something that is not pressurable, like cleaning up your bedroom, it takes a lot of effort. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:39.020 But it's a good habit. 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:48.780 And then that would help children as they mature into adults to have good habits to live a rational life. 00:02:49.920 --> 00:03:00.360 So today from this Proverbs, we would consider about how a person has a rational life. 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:09.500 A life that is with meaning, with hope, with achievement, a sense of achievement as well. 00:03:10.600 --> 00:03:18.460 Before I go into the verses, I would like to share with you the story of Ji Ping. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:22.400 Ji Ping is a man in Malaysia. 00:03:24.160 --> 00:03:26.860 I first met him about eight years ago. 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:32.300 But I just tell you that he died two months ago. 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:34.920 So he was about my age. 00:03:36.260 --> 00:03:40.460 I met him when I went to the church that he was attending. 00:03:40.820 --> 00:03:41.900 I was preaching there. 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:45.840 And after the service, I noted that he was sitting by himself. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.380 And that's why I approached him and started talking to him. 00:03:49.940 --> 00:03:51.300 And finally, he was single. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:57.800 And it was not common to have a single older man in a church in Malaysia. 00:03:58.900 --> 00:04:04.640 Either they don't come to church at all if they're single, or they would have come with their wives. 00:04:06.820 --> 00:04:10.880 And he told me that he became a Christian just a few years ago 00:04:10.880 --> 00:04:15.660 in a Christian rehabilitation center for drug addicts. 00:04:15.659 --> 00:04:20.279 He became addicted to drugs in his teenage years. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:27.519 And for the next 30 years, his life became irrational. 00:04:28.159 --> 00:04:30.439 He lived only for drugs. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:34.019 And he was willing to do anything just to get drugs. 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:38.099 And he sold drugs so that he can get money. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:41.879 He also borrowed money from loan sharks. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:44.779 Loan sharks are those people who lend you money, 00:04:44.979 --> 00:04:47.939 but charge you a lot of interest for you to repay. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:51.579 And when you can repay those loans, 00:04:52.299 --> 00:04:57.500 those loan sharks will go to his parents or his family to get money from them. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:03.220 And so, and then he also, 00:05:03.899 --> 00:05:08.000 Ziping was in and out of jail for selling drugs and other crimes. 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:12.180 So finally, or eventually his parents disowned him. 00:05:12.860 --> 00:05:15.360 He was just kicked out of the house. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:19.180 And he needed to find places to live. 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:27.639 So he lived either in jails, in prisons, or in a rehab center. 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.939 And he'd gone through rehabilitation again and again. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:33.340 But he just couldn't get out of this drug habit. 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:37.000 One day, in one of the centers run by Christians, 00:05:37.420 --> 00:05:40.180 he heard the gospel and he understood it. 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:44.819 And suddenly, he just was free from this drug habit. 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:48.699 And he saw somehow something change him. 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:55.060 And he started working for that same rehab center for a few years. 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:58.560 And at the same time, he learned and studied from the Bible. 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:01.199 And I'm amazed that he studied well. 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:02.879 Even though he didn't have much education, 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:03.819 when I talked to him, 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:07.939 he understood the gospel very well, 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:11.000 better than many people that I talked with in Malaysia. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:15.560 Even though he only got a few years of learning. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:21.439 However, he came to that church because eventually, 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:25.540 he couldn't relate too well with some people in the rehab center. 00:06:25.740 --> 00:06:26.220 And he left. 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:29.500 And he went to a small village. 00:06:29.840 --> 00:06:32.019 It's a, lived by a lot of Chinese. 00:06:32.540 --> 00:06:35.019 And it's a village full of idols. 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:36.220 I've been there before. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:39.639 Everywhere you can see idols in that village. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:41.860 He could be the only Christian there. 00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:45.959 He rented a small house. 00:06:46.659 --> 00:06:51.019 And he sold stationeries and snacks to students, 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:53.819 especially primary students who, after school, 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:55.560 who dropped by his place. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:59.939 And he had a Sunday school or Bible class 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:01.779 for those students as well. 00:07:01.779 --> 00:07:04.859 And then he was in the church. 00:07:04.979 --> 00:07:07.179 He helped out in the adult Bible study group. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:10.019 And he led the adult Bible study group too. 00:07:10.559 --> 00:07:13.759 He would be the least educated person in that church. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:21.179 But he was the keenest one to have the Bible study. 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:23.919 So every time I went to that church, 00:07:23.919 --> 00:07:26.819 I would spend some time with him. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:31.199 But when we, when the last year, in February, 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:33.959 that was the last time before COVID hit, 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:37.939 he didn't attend Sunday service. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:39.459 I found that he was sick. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.719 And by February this year, that's two months ago, 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:47.060 Leigh's brother told us that he passed away. 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:50.139 He passed away with liver disease. 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:54.539 He would have got hepatitis C from the use of drug. 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:57.640 And that eventually killed him. 00:07:57.819 --> 00:07:59.700 And he died quite miserably. 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:02.280 Unfortunately, because of COVID restriction, 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:07.160 people from the church couldn't visit him. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:10.620 Leigh's brother actually broke the law 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:12.800 driving to his place. 00:08:13.820 --> 00:08:15.879 On his last day, he went there. 00:08:16.320 --> 00:08:18.960 He was already very, I mean, 00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:20.560 nobody cared for him for a few days. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:24.379 So the brother sent him to a place to care, 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:25.800 but he died the same night. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.139 But at least Leigh's brother was there 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:30.480 just in time before he died. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:33.980 It's quite sad in a way, 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:38.919 but also quite a joyful thing, 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:43.980 seeing the mercy of God working in this man's life. 00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:48.480 He would have died at least 10 years before that 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.080 if he did not change, 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:52.100 if he kept, I mean, 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:53.560 if he kept on using drugs 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:55.800 and not eating regularly, 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:58.240 no fixed place of staying. 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:00.820 But do you think 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:03.519 Ji Ping's life became easier or harder 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.080 when he lived, he changed, 00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:06.120 he lived a new life? 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:08.680 Do you think it became easier or harder? 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:10.680 In a way, 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:12.840 it could be easier for him to keep using drugs 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:15.639 as numb himself and die off. 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:18.980 You don't need to worry anything else. 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:21.019 That's how he used to live. 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:24.360 And now that he's drug free, 00:09:24.699 --> 00:09:26.159 he needs to live a new life. 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:29.319 So he needs to think about how he get money, 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:30.799 how he support himself, 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.100 his family didn't want to get him back, 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:37.460 and how he starts to relate to people. 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:39.659 As I said, he was sitting by himself in the church. 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:40.539 So it's not easy. 00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:42.500 When you are in your 40s, 00:09:42.939 --> 00:09:46.399 suddenly you want to get back to the society. 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:48.799 Even in the church, 00:09:49.219 --> 00:09:54.139 it's not easy for him to persist on that. 00:09:55.099 --> 00:09:58.599 So he will have struggles within himself as well 00:09:58.599 --> 00:10:00.759 about temptations and other things 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:02.740 that he never needed to worry about 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:04.599 in his old life. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:07.440 So it was amazing that he became a Christian, 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:09.980 but it was even more amazing 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:14.540 for him to persevere in his real life 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:19.460 instead of going back to his drug habit 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:23.139 and trying to make a living for himself 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:24.440 and serve in the church 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.159 while he copes with his illness 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:29.240 and his loneliness. 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:33.639 I pray that none of the young people here 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:37.299 will end up like Ji Ping in his former life. 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:40.120 Ji Ping's life became irrational 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.340 when he had a strong craving for drugs. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:44.879 He sacrificed his education, 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:45.659 his youth, 00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:48.039 his relationship with his parents, 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:48.740 his friends, 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:53.299 just for the transient pleasure of having drugs. 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:55.560 The problem with craving is that 00:10:55.560 --> 00:10:58.019 even though there were times 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:00.000 when Ji Ping regretted his lifestyle, 00:11:00.819 --> 00:11:01.899 he got no home, 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.059 he got no hope. 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:07.299 But it was too difficult for him to get out of it. 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:09.500 That's how he knew how to live. 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:11.899 And he don't know what else to do. 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:16.159 Why did Ji Ping become addicted to drugs 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:17.199 in his teenage years? 00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:20.919 It was because he wanted to please his friends 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:22.360 and to please himself 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:25.360 instead of pleasing his parents. 00:11:26.059 --> 00:11:27.840 If he had listened to his parents, 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:31.079 he would not have lost his youth to drugs. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:34.879 Proverbs 10 starts with the contrast 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.720 between a wise and a foolish son. 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:39.039 A wise son is one who knows 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:41.019 that he is not as wise as his parents. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.059 He learns from his parents 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:45.659 and tries to understand his parents' concerns. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:49.179 A foolish son is one who thinks 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:51.399 that he is wiser than his parents. 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:54.460 He pays no regard to the advice of his parents. 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:57.019 So in verse 1, we read, 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.240 A wise son makes a glad father, 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.259 but a foolish son 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:03.500 is a sorrow to his mother. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:07.840 So the first question about these words, 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.980 I suppose, is to, 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:11.039 why only about sons? 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.779 Sorry, in your bulletin, 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.200 the heading is a bit different. 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.519 So A should be, 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.740 why only about sons? 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.320 What about daughters? 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:24.139 Don't daughters need to do the same thing as well? 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.159 Yes, they do. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.480 But wise sons? 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.960 For three reasons. 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:30.019 One, ultimately, 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:33.340 Proverbs talks about the perfect relationship 00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:35.500 between Jesus the Son 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.039 and God the Father. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:40.279 So that is one of the reasons. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.360 Secondly, 00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:44.399 it is through Jesus' sonship with God 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:45.620 that we relate to God. 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:49.440 So, in God's sight, 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:51.960 we are all sons in one way 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:54.820 because we relate to him as our father 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:56.159 through his son, 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.539 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:59.200 So that is why sonship. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:00.700 Three, 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.639 sonship also implies 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.080 more about privilege and responsibility, 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.560 not about gender. 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:10.039 So it does not matter 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.419 if you are a male or female, 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:15.480 if you are a son or a child of this family, 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.480 you are loved and cared for. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.320 At the same time, 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.019 you are expected to respect 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.779 and listen to your parents. 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:27.940 That is the implication of a sonship. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.820 Second question is, 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:34.419 why should we care about pleasing our parents? 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.820 So as we read verse 1 and verse 5 in particular, 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:40.759 we have a sense that a son is wise 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:42.700 when he aims to please his parents 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:44.000 and bring honor to them. 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:47.679 How does this apply to us 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:48.659 in the Western culture 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:51.899 in which we mostly live to please ourselves? 00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:56.060 And how does this apply to those 00:13:56.060 --> 00:13:57.120 in the Eastern culture 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.700 in which becoming a Christian 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:02.600 can be considered as dishonoring to the family? 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.139 So even in both cultures, 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.200 there's difficulty in accepting 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:11.820 this implication of pleasing our parents. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:14.379 But then we read in the Old Testament 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:16.040 in the fifth commandment, 00:14:16.140 --> 00:14:16.540 God said, 00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:18.600 honor your father and your mother 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:21.300 that your days may be long in the land 00:14:21.300 --> 00:14:23.860 that the Lord your God is giving you. 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:27.940 So this is the only commandment 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:32.320 that can be promised result. 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.240 If we do that, 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.740 something else will happen to our life. 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:38.860 So why, 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:40.159 that we can consider, 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:42.759 why is this important to honor our parents? 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.019 I think in God's economy, 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:46.940 in God's plan, 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.899 the family units are God's design, 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.360 that design building blocks 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.220 of a society and a nation. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.019 Stable families 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:57.460 build a stable nation. 00:14:57.460 --> 00:15:00.300 And if we don't listen, 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.740 or if all the children 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:03.420 just do their own things, 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:06.080 families are not stable, 00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:08.580 then we would not live 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.639 in a stable society 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.740 or a stable nation. 00:15:13.540 --> 00:15:15.620 And how a person treats his parents 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:17.200 reveals his character. 00:15:18.060 --> 00:15:19.820 A son who dishonors his parents 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:21.139 is not likely to relate 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.200 to other people well. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.639 So that, again, 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:26.080 will set up the society, 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.460 how stable it is. 00:15:27.540 --> 00:15:28.500 If we don't relate 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.379 to our parents well, 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.540 or we don't, 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:33.120 if we dishonor our parents, 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.040 then it's not likely 00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:36.940 that we will respect other people. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.960 And number three, 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:42.200 parents have more experience in life 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.320 than their children. 00:15:44.660 --> 00:15:46.200 That's because they're older, 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:46.900 for the fact that. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.440 So their views are usually wiser. 00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:51.879 These are some of the reasons 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.580 I can think of 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:54.379 why God told us 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:56.240 to honor our parents. 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:57.460 Obviously, 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.799 God is our father. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:01.600 If we don't honor our parents, 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.580 it's unlikely 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.519 that we will honor God 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.799 as our heavenly father. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.240 However, 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:07.879 the commandment 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.720 to honor parents 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.299 was given 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.299 in the context 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.539 of the first commandment, 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.139 that is to worship God alone. 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.960 So that is in the context. 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:17.700 It's not only 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.860 just honoring your parents, 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.460 anyhow. 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.180 God is still 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:23.180 in the first place. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.720 But most of what we do 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.700 to honor our parents 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:27.720 would also honor God 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.519 at the same time. 00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:29.539 It is rare 00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.720 that we need to choose 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.440 between honoring God 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:34.440 or honoring parents. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.080 So there are two questions. 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.279 Why only about sons? 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.340 Why should we care 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.480 about pleasing our parents? 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.220 The third question 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:47.039 is about Jiping. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.899 Could Jiping have avoided 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.879 getting into drugs 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:51.839 just from these verses? 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.419 Jiping and I 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.399 came from a similar 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.379 family background. 00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.679 We were both teenagers 00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.339 in Malaysia 00:16:59.339 --> 00:17:00.039 in the 70s. 00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:01.980 We both grew up 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:03.360 in non-Christian families. 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.960 I could have easily 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.700 got involved 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.440 with drugs 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.359 like Jiping did 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.119 or other young men, 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.379 young children did. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:14.039 What was holding me back 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:15.039 from trying out drugs? 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.519 I think one of the most 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.940 important factors 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.200 was my fear 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.220 of bringing shame 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.059 to my parents. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.859 The name of the family 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.680 is most important 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.500 in Eastern culture. 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.359 When I was growing up, 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.339 whenever I went 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.440 to friends' houses, 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.200 the first thing 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.659 their parents 00:17:32.659 --> 00:17:33.599 wanted to know 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:35.879 was who my parents were. 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.819 So this is us, 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.039 whose child it is. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.899 every time 00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:43.980 as I got this exposure, 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.720 then I realized 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.500 that my parents' 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.740 name is very important 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:50.720 for me as well, 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.859 for my standing. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.859 And so if I shame 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:54.539 my parents, 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.519 that means I bring shame 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.339 on myself. 00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.460 And so 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:01.019 because of that, 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:03.779 I learned to 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.500 listen to my parents 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.359 and not to do things 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:07.839 that would 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.500 bring shame 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.480 to them. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:15.339 But I will add here 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.460 that while honoring 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.720 parents is important, 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.220 if parents make this 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.319 the only important thing, 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.680 they would forfeit 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.460 many other good things 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.180 in the relationship 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.279 with their children. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.980 Why did Jiping's family 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:29.160 not accepting him back 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:29.960 to their foe 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.880 when he was no longer 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.119 addicted to drugs? 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:33.740 It was partly because 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.880 of the pain and dishonor 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.740 he brought them 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.319 in the past. 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.599 It was also because 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.480 he became a Christian. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.819 To many Chinese families, 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.079 especially at that time, 00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:45.180 to have a son 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.079 becoming a Christian 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:47.519 was almost as shameful 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:49.059 as him becoming 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.680 a drug addict. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.220 Because Jiping's parents 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.940 took their honor 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:56.200 to be the most important 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.160 thing in life, 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.539 they forfeited the blessing 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.880 of having their son back. 00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:02.019 When I became a Christian, 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.599 I did not tell my parents 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.199 because I was doing 00:19:05.199 --> 00:19:05.879 something that would 00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.279 bring shame to my family. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.399 I could imagine 00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.619 people in town 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.299 would start talking 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:12.859 if so-and-so's child 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.819 has become a Christian. 00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:17.339 But I was thankful 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.799 that after becoming 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.279 a Christian, 00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.179 not long after, 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.939 I left town 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:22.419 and went to another city 00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:22.939 to study. 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:28.860 So that was the only time 00:19:28.860 --> 00:19:30.400 when I needed to choose 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.480 whether to honor God 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.660 or honor my parents. 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.740 But that was 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:36.519 the only issue. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.320 However, 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.580 I learned to love 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.799 my parents a lot more 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.740 after becoming 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.279 a Christian 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.680 with the love of God 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.420 that has been poured 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.200 into my heart 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.779 that made 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:47.000 a big difference 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.259 and such you could 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.120 nearly understood 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.620 by God's grace. 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:52.939 So a wise son 00:19:52.939 --> 00:19:54.019 makes the glad father. 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:54.979 A wise son 00:19:54.979 --> 00:19:55.599 is one who 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.879 treasures his relationship 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:58.179 with his parents. 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.479 Such a person 00:19:59.479 --> 00:20:00.299 is not easily 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:00.919 led astray 00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:01.619 by others. 00:20:03.939 --> 00:20:04.159 Okay, 00:20:04.219 --> 00:20:05.019 we're going to 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.619 verse 2. 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.639 Treasures gained 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.500 by wickedness 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.199 do not profit, 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.159 but righteousness 00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.819 delivers from death. 00:20:11.979 --> 00:20:12.939 We're talking about 00:20:12.939 --> 00:20:13.319 profitable 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.799 and unprofitable 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.559 treasures. 00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:17.439 What was 00:20:17.439 --> 00:20:18.559 Ji-Pin's treasure 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.379 before he became 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.819 a Christian? 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.459 He treasured 00:20:21.459 --> 00:20:21.959 the pleasure 00:20:21.959 --> 00:20:22.979 that he could 00:20:22.979 --> 00:20:24.019 derive from drugs. 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.939 To gain his treasure, 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.439 Ji-Pin disobeyed 00:20:27.439 --> 00:20:27.959 his parents. 00:20:28.479 --> 00:20:29.399 He committed crimes. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.039 He ignored 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.099 medical advice. 00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:33.119 He suppressed 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.199 his own conscience. 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.959 A wicked heart 00:20:35.959 --> 00:20:36.759 obeys only 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.019 his own desires 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.799 and reject 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.399 advice from others 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.659 and from God. 00:20:42.479 --> 00:20:43.239 A wicked heart 00:20:43.239 --> 00:20:44.039 does not know 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.659 how to relate 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.559 to others properly. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.739 He knows only 00:20:46.739 --> 00:20:47.879 how to make use 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:48.459 of others. 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:51.039 Ji-Pin's treasure 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.759 did not profit 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.299 him much. 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.400 His drug habit 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:53.980 caused him 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.700 his relationship 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.440 with parents 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.120 and family. 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.220 He caused him 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.980 his education. 00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.900 He caused him 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.500 his health. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.059 His treasure 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:02.319 became his slave master. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.120 It was through 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.799 God's grace 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.660 that he was free 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.019 to live again. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.700 In his new life, 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:09.779 Ji-Pin began 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.660 to learn to relate 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.200 to others 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.860 and to God 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:13.160 in a new way. 00:21:13.840 --> 00:21:14.519 In the past, 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.519 he was thinking 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:17.240 how to use others 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.099 to get what he wanted. 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.720 Now he began 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.920 to serve others. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.460 Ji-Pin was given 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.059 a life 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:25.400 that overflows 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.039 to others. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.099 Through the righteousness 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.160 of Jesus, 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.319 though Ji-Pin 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.059 is now dead, 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.000 we know that 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.759 he's still alive 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.579 in Christ. 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:36.019 So, 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.299 righteousness 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.220 delivers 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.940 from death. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.500 Verse 3, 00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:42.500 the Lord 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.380 does not let 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.160 the righteous 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:44.880 go hungry, 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.220 but he told 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.460 the craving 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.500 of the wicked. 00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:50.700 We're talking 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.260 about hunger 00:21:51.260 --> 00:21:51.880 and craving 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.600 in these words. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.020 What is the difference 00:21:54.020 --> 00:21:54.960 between hunger 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.560 and craving? 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.800 Hunger implies 00:21:58.800 --> 00:21:59.520 a desire 00:21:59.520 --> 00:22:00.700 that can be satisfied 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.960 and is constructive. 00:22:04.020 --> 00:22:04.920 In the scriptures, 00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:06.320 hunger also implies 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:06.840 the desire 00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:07.380 for meaning, 00:22:07.820 --> 00:22:08.360 for love, 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.240 for glory. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.580 Craving implies 00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:12.060 a desire 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:13.280 that cannot be satisfied 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:15.000 and is destructive. 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.879 It is often 00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.740 associated 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.660 with the desire 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.960 of worldly pleasure. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.319 Hunger for food 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.259 is a constructive thing. 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.059 Our body 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.660 needs food 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.319 to survive. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.200 Craving for food 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.619 is a destructive thing. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:32.899 Too much food 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.519 eventually 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.740 destroys our body. 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.839 We crave 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:37.379 for something 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:38.039 when we think 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.859 that we will not 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.379 be happy 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.119 unless we get 00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:40.519 this thing. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.720 and God 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.299 will not 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.480 let anyone 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:46.079 get real happiness 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:47.200 through things. 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.539 Matthew 5, 00:22:49.639 --> 00:22:50.339 6 says, 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.539 Blessed are those 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.039 who hunger 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.680 and thirst 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.579 for righteousness, 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.940 for they shall 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.680 be satisfied. 00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.819 When we hunger 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.359 to be right 00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.940 with God, 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.319 we shall be satisfied 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.799 and we will find 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.480 real happiness. 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.559 It was God's mercy 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.279 that he did not 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.940 let J.P. 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.660 in craving 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.240 for drugs 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.200 to enslave him 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.620 forever. 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.860 When J.P. 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:11.880 J.P. 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:11.920 J.P. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.600 eyes were opened 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.960 to see Jesus Christ, 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.080 he could let go 00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:17.620 of his craving 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.220 for drugs 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.519 because he now 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.400 had hunger 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:21.080 for something 00:23:21.080 --> 00:23:21.799 far greater 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:23.039 in Christ. 00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:24.600 When he had 00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.039 the proper 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.640 relationship 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.279 with God, 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:26.940 his life 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.700 also changed 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.740 from being irrational 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.500 to one that 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.259 was rational. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.140 Verse 4, 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.720 A slack hand 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:36.519 causes poverty, 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.640 but the hand 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.620 of the delusion 00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.640 makes rich. 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.780 In this verse, 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.500 we are considered 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.100 enjoying 00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:45.320 and enduring. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.680 Why do I choose 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.320 enjoying 00:23:47.320 --> 00:23:48.240 and enduring 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.180 for this verse? 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:52.140 Because laziness 00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:53.080 or stagnant 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.280 does not usually 00:23:54.280 --> 00:23:55.240 mean doing nothing. 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.640 Laziness 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.700 means doing 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.300 only things 00:23:58.300 --> 00:23:59.040 which are easy 00:23:59.040 --> 00:23:59.780 and enjoyable. 00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:01.500 J.P. 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.480 was trying hard. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.300 He was actually 00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:04.160 quite hard working. 00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:04.920 He was trying hard 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.840 to get more drugs 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.539 all the time. 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.059 A child can be 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.899 very dedicated 00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:09.379 in playing 00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:10.299 electronic games, 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.879 but that is not 00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:13.000 diligence. 00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.699 Diligence implies 00:24:14.699 --> 00:24:15.179 a willingness 00:24:15.179 --> 00:24:16.119 to do things 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.919 which are difficult. 00:24:17.899 --> 00:24:18.359 We are only 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.500 willing to endure 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.500 because either 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.399 we have a greater 00:24:21.399 --> 00:24:22.599 goal in mind 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.579 or because we 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.299 have been obedient 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.139 to our parents. 00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.279 When we are young, 00:24:27.419 --> 00:24:28.419 we may not understand 00:24:28.419 --> 00:24:28.939 why we need 00:24:28.939 --> 00:24:29.720 to spend time 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.859 learning difficult 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.339 lessons. 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:33.339 If we relate 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.000 to our parents 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.480 properly, 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.639 we will trust 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.500 and obey 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.220 their instructions. 00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.439 Many patients 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:42.599 or younger patients 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:44.119 who come to see me 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:45.240 because they 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:45.959 never learned 00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:46.559 to tackle 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:48.759 difficult matters 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.000 since young, 00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:51.259 they now rely 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.019 on drugs 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.339 or social welfare 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.879 to cope with life. 00:24:56.879 --> 00:24:57.879 They are poor 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.759 not only 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:00.079 in terms of 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.460 monetary income, 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:03.160 but they are also 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.859 poor because 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.339 they cannot 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.180 appreciate much 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.039 deeper beauty, 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.079 truth, 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.119 and generosity 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.940 in life 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:11.539 because since young, 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.099 they have never 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.379 learned to 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.839 handle problems 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.359 by themselves. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.960 Their parents 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.619 did everything 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:18.680 for them 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.680 and they treat 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.259 their parents 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.099 like their servants 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:21.960 who are there 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.680 to fulfill 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.240 their wishes. 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:25.059 So when they grow up, 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.640 they do not know 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.279 how to solve 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.099 their own problems, 00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:29.019 not to mention 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.819 knowing how to 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.419 help other people 00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.399 to solve their problems. 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.879 Ji-Ping could 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.959 have kept 00:25:34.959 --> 00:25:35.559 using drugs 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.359 to cope with life, 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.799 but God changed him. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.299 In his 40s, 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.099 he began to earn 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:41.059 a living for himself 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:42.599 and began to serve. 00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:43.959 Did Ji-Ping 00:25:43.959 --> 00:25:44.619 become rich? 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.639 Yes, he did. 00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:47.759 Anyone who is 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.579 willing to serve 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.279 other people 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.839 are rich. 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.319 I hope that there 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.339 are more rich people 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.919 in the church, 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.099 people who can 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:55.059 cheerfully give 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.459 themselves 00:25:55.459 --> 00:25:56.139 for the good 00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.699 of others. 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.799 And for the glory 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.379 of God. 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.379 Verse 5, 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.359 He who gathers 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.000 in summer 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.119 is a prudent son, 00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:05.240 but he who 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.319 sleeps in harvest 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.599 is a son 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.099 who brings 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.799 shame. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.099 For these words, 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.579 we think about 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.319 summer and winter. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.819 It is natural 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.679 to see bees 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.179 and ants 00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:17.039 gathering their food 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.740 during summers. 00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.240 Animals know 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.779 they need to 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.459 make good use 00:26:20.459 --> 00:26:20.959 of summers 00:26:20.959 --> 00:26:21.779 to survive 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.419 their winters. 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:24.819 However, 00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:25.459 humans are 00:26:25.459 --> 00:26:25.980 a bit more 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.719 complicated. 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:28.240 there are 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.859 beaches 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.819 and crickets 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.879 during summer. 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.679 While the ultimate 00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:34.799 waste of summer 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.659 is to 00:26:35.659 --> 00:26:36.459 sleep it away. 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.419 While the ultimate 00:26:39.419 --> 00:26:40.259 waste of summer 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.199 is to sleep it away, 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.500 because sleeping 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.159 is best done 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:43.699 in winter, 00:26:43.939 --> 00:26:45.039 so those who 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.619 sleep in summer 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.240 is very 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.480 foolish 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:50.500 to do so. 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:52.819 but there are 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.500 other ways 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.039 for us to 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.460 waste our 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:54.759 summer. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.299 I am not 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.720 saying that 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.279 we should not 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.240 do what is 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.680 enjoyable 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.420 during summer, 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.759 but I am 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.119 saying that 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.140 we should not 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.579 forfeit 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:04.980 our future 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.619 for the sake 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:06.200 of transient 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.900 enjoyment. 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.480 Jipin spent 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.140 his youth 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.140 in drugs. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.299 It was so 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.059 difficult for him 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.720 to establish 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.700 a normal life 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.359 when he became 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:15.220 free from drugs 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.160 in his 40s. 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.820 So summer 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.400 can mean a 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.700 season in a year, 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.900 or it can mean 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.680 a season in 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.440 your life, 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.279 or a season 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.460 that is a season 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.040 for maturing 00:27:26.040 --> 00:27:26.560 and growing. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.180 It can also mean 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:29.980 your life on earth. 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.140 Our whole life 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:32.480 on earth 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.160 is a season 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:33.920 of summer 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.820 to prepare 00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.700 for eternity. 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:37.540 Jipin 00:27:37.540 --> 00:27:38.100 forfeited 00:27:38.100 --> 00:27:39.000 many summers 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.580 of his years. 00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:41.600 He forfeited 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.060 the summer 00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.660 of his youth. 00:27:43.320 --> 00:27:44.060 By God's grace, 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.580 he did not 00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:45.259 forfeit the summer 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:45.900 of life. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.100 In Christ, 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.620 he became 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.420 a son of God 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:48.940 and started 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.420 to have 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.640 hunger for the truth. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.300 So in these 00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:53.880 five verses, 00:27:54.040 --> 00:27:54.640 we have considered 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.120 the mark 00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:56.240 of a wise child. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.240 He is one 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.720 who honors 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.320 the parents 00:27:59.320 --> 00:28:00.019 and treasures 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.640 his parents. 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.960 Because of this, 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.900 he had the joy 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:04.320 to obey his parents 00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.259 when he was told 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:07.120 to turn off the TV 00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:08.140 and do his homework, 00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.800 and he will grow up 00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:12.060 into maturity, 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.420 into adults. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.900 he will be able 00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:18.360 to learn, 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.140 earn a living 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.700 for himself 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.620 and serve others. 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.259 What about 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.660 parents who are 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:24.240 self-centered 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:24.920 and foolish? 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.100 I mean, 00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:28.680 no parent 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.640 is perfect. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.880 Respecting your parents 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:34.080 may not necessarily 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.620 help you 00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.700 to mature, 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.960 but disrespecting 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.580 your parents 00:28:38.580 --> 00:28:39.200 will certainly 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.819 be harmful 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.819 to your maturity. 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.279 So we respect 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.779 our parents. 00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.279 Your parents 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.080 are not wise 00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.559 themselves. 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.640 It may not be 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:48.640 much help to us. 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.259 But in any case, 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:53.619 if we disrespect 00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.460 our parents, 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.339 it would definitely 00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:56.960 be harmful 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.539 for us 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.799 for our maturity. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.579 In Luke, 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.400 in the Gospel of Luke, 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:02.980 chapter 11, 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.599 verse 13, 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.900 Jesus said 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.759 to the parents, 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.339 if you then, 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.140 who are evil, 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.220 know how to give 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.940 good gifts 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.740 to your children, 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.920 how much more 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.240 will the Heavenly Father 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.480 give the Holy Spirit 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.160 to those 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.220 who ask Him? 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:19.759 Jesus said 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.500 that despite 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.839 our fallen nature, 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.299 parents naturally 00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:25.120 want to do good 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.940 to their children. 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.660 Ji-Ping forsook 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.460 his relationship 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.559 with his parents 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.559 in his younger days 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:34.579 and ended up 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:36.759 living a chaotic life. 00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:38.279 When he repented, 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.640 his parents 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.960 did not accept him back, 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.140 but Ji-Ping 00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.279 had a Heavenly Father 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.720 because of his 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.240 relationship 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.799 to God. 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.700 Ji-Ping 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.860 had the Spirit 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:50.660 of God in him 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.579 and he was able 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.660 to live a life 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.960 that was rational 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:55.220 and purposeful. 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.440 So in any case, 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.220 the emphasis 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.900 of Proverbs 10, 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.660 1-5 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:01.960 is what the wise son is. 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.819 It's not about 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.460 parenthood. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.019 It is about 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.779 how we should 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.579 live our life 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.039 in relation 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.900 to our parents 00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:10.240 and also 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.700 in particular 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.299 to God. 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.759 None of us 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.180 can actually 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.279 live up to the standard 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.740 in these 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.980 five verses, 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:18.339 as a wise son, 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.200 partly because 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.960 we do not know 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.400 how to, 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.880 partly also 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.539 because we do 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.180 not want to. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.360 That's 00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:28.360 why Jesus came. 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.140 Jesus came 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.440 not only to show us 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.299 what a wise son 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.759 is like, 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:32.839 he can also 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:33.900 help us to be one 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:36.960 because Jesus Christ 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:38.440 is a perfect son. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.140 When Jesus 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.140 came to the world, 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.539 though he was a son, 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.940 he learned obedience 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.600 through what 00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:45.160 he suffered. 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:48.360 God said to Jesus 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.580 in Luke 3, 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.420 verse 22, 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.480 you are my 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.279 beloved son, 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.299 with you 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:55.460 I am well pleased. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.440 So, 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.600 he shows that 00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:59.160 God is well pleased 00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.640 with Jesus Christ. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.539 Jesus 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.440 honored the Father 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:04.000 by not 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.320 only not going 00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:06.220 after the pleasures 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.920 of the world, 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.180 but he also 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.960 did that 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.640 by choosing 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.279 to suffer 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.360 according to 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:11.839 God's will. 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.219 For the first 00:31:13.219 --> 00:31:13.859 30 years 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:15.139 of his earthly life, 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.299 Jesus prepared 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.559 for his mission. 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.240 In Luke 2, 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.339 verse 52, 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:20.959 it says, 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.779 and Jesus 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.939 increased in wisdom 00:31:22.939 --> 00:31:23.839 and in stature 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.639 and in favor 00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:26.179 with God 00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:27.059 and man. 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.939 After those 00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:30.619 30 years, 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.500 he called 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.279 his disciples 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.159 and proclaimed 00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:33.619 the message 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.159 of God, 00:31:34.699 --> 00:31:35.240 telling people 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:35.959 to repent 00:31:35.959 --> 00:31:36.579 and come 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:37.199 to know God. 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:39.439 What did 00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:40.059 Jesus gain 00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.899 by being obedient 00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.460 to God 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:41.980 the Father? 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.700 He was treated 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.299 with hatred 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.099 by the religious 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:46.319 and political leaders 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:47.599 and he was 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:48.500 eventually killed 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.919 by them. 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.099 However, 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.119 his death 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:52.059 was for the purpose 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.639 of saving 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.259 his people 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.779 and also 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.339 for being 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.299 the first person 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.220 who inherited 00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.220 the imperishable 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:58.679 body. 00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:01.399 For the joy 00:32:01.399 --> 00:32:02.339 that is, 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.039 for the joy 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.899 of saving 00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:05.220 his people, 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.419 for the joy 00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:08.059 of being 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.019 the first fruit 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.259 or first person 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:13.440 who inherited 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.779 the imperishable 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.319 body, 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.420 for the joy 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.700 of the glory 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.539 that is to come, 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.440 Jesus enjoyed 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:22.940 the cross, 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.859 despising the shame 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:26.039 and now 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.579 he's seated 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.519 now at the right 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.139 hand of God, 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.460 the right hand 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.000 of the throne 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.440 of God. 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.099 Through Jesus Christ 00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:34.980 who died for us 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.680 and now he's 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.700 interceding for us, 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.579 we can relate 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.059 to God 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:38.839 as our father. 00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:40.339 In Christ, 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.500 God is helping us 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.720 not so much 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.559 to be successful 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.419 in life, 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.639 he's helping us 00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.539 to relate to him. 00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:48.039 Until God 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.799 is our father, 00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.059 everything else 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.819 we do is quite 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.279 meaningless. 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.899 There's not much 00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:53.399 point for me 00:32:53.399 --> 00:32:53.799 to tell you 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.519 to be diligent 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:56.319 if at the end 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:56.939 we all die. 00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.220 When God 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.179 becomes your father, 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.339 your life 00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:02.099 is about 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:02.899 God's business. 00:33:03.439 --> 00:33:04.240 Then there will be 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.919 motivation 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.480 and hope 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:05.880 for you 00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.340 to live 00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:07.380 a life 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:07.740 that has 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.560 eternal value. 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.800 When God 00:33:09.800 --> 00:33:11.580 becomes your father, 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.680 you will ask him 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.779 for the Holy Spirit 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:15.019 to fill you 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.340 so that you might 00:33:16.340 --> 00:33:16.980 become mature 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.600 in Christ 00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:19.240 and have the strength 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.080 to live a life 00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:21.240 worthy of his calling. 00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.220 And when God 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.180 becomes our vision, 00:33:25.560 --> 00:33:26.360 there's nothing 00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.400 that will stop us 00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.460 to live a life 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.380 that's rich, 00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:30.519 profitable, 00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:31.360 and glorious. 00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:33.240 Let us pray. 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:39.059 Father, 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:41.339 we know 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:41.859 that we 00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:43.539 are foolish 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.980 and short-sighted 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:47.620 and we thank you 00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:48.900 for your goodness 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:50.059 and mercy upon us 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.339 that 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:53.660 we could see 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.720 our 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.779 falling short 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.460 of your glory 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.519 and also 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.500 could see your glory 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.500 in Christ Jesus. 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.019 Oh, may you 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.759 help us to 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.420 see clearer and more 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:05.619 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:08.460 and have this 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:10.280 life 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:12.579 that you have promised 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.280 in Christ. 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.519 Thank you, Lord. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.639 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.539 Amen. 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:16.639 Amen.