WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.360 Well, it'd be great if you could just keep your Bible open at Luke chapter 12. 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:07.520 It's lovely to be with you this morning. 00:00:08.460 --> 00:00:10.720 Great to be back in this part of Edinburgh. 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:17.280 Nicky and I used to live just about half a mile from here in Marchment. 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:21.980 And every day I used to walk the beautiful walk to work through the meadows. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:23.980 Lovely, lovely walk. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:27.879 Sometimes we did come up to this leafy part of town, Brunsfield. 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:32.780 And if we were feeling really upmarket, we would continue on to Morningside. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:38.759 I want to bring greetings as well from Greenview Church in Glasgow. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.239 It's been good over the years to have links between Greenview and Brunsfield. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:47.920 And despite the chasm between us, between Glasgow and Edinburgh, 00:00:48.379 --> 00:00:51.899 it's good to be united in the things of the gospel. 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:57.840 I want to just read also a verse just before I pray from 2 Corinthians chapter 8. 00:00:58.800 --> 00:01:03.240 And I'm just going to read this verse that's going to help us think about this passage in Luke as well. 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:04.859 So let me read and then I'll pray. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:08.100 This is 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. 00:01:09.219 --> 00:01:09.579 It says, 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:33.259 Our Father, we pray that as we now open your words, that you will open the eyes of our hearts to see Jesus, 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:40.359 to see more of your will for our lives, to grasp more of the purposes of your kingdom, 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:46.760 to change our desires towards the things of you, the things of God, the things of Christ. 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:49.540 And we ask this in Jesus' name. 00:01:50.240 --> 00:01:50.719 Amen. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:58.300 Well, according to Jessie J, who I don't listen to very often, 00:01:58.460 --> 00:02:03.159 but according to Jessie J, it's not about the money, money, money. 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:06.500 She don't want your money, money, money. 00:02:07.479 --> 00:02:09.560 She just wants to make the world dance. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:12.000 Forget about the price tag. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:15.139 It ain't about the cha-ching, cha-ching. 00:02:15.620 --> 00:02:17.620 It ain't about the ba-bling, ba-bling. 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:20.280 She just wants to make the world dance. 00:02:21.079 --> 00:02:23.659 And it's not about the price tag. 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:30.199 Well, the lyrics sound good, and it certainly sells well. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:34.719 But is it detached from the real world that we live in? 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:36.699 I think it is. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:42.180 Because we live in a world, don't we, where people are rather obsessed with money. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:44.800 They do want the money, money, money. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:51.620 Indeed, Jessie J herself has a reported worth of 17 million pounds. 00:02:51.620 --> 00:02:55.860 This is the world in which we live. 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:59.120 It's a world in which the rich are envied. 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:06.520 It's a world in which 70% of UK adults play the national lottery regularly. 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:11.659 It's a world full of scrambles for promotion and higher salaries. 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:18.960 It's a world full of endless upgrades to our phones and our homes and our cars. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:25.939 If our society has forgotten anything, it is certainly not the price tag. 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:31.080 Britain is dancing today to the tune of money. 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.740 But we need to understand that this is not something new. 00:03:36.540 --> 00:03:41.280 This is not a 21st century or even Western phenomenon. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:53.580 Indeed, one of the surprises, perhaps, as we study Luke chapter 12, is seeing that in Jesus' day, the world was plagued with this problem. 00:03:54.900 --> 00:04:03.699 Jesus, speaking in verse 30 of this chapter, speaks of the pagan world running after material things. 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:11.019 The first century world was chasing money like a greyhound chases the rabbit. 00:04:11.959 --> 00:04:15.280 You know how that goes, the greyhound chasing the rabbit and never quite catching it. 00:04:15.359 --> 00:04:19.379 That's our generation, and it was Jesus' generation. 00:04:20.620 --> 00:04:23.279 The greed of gold is not a new problem. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:27.919 It is as old as the sinful heart of man. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:33.560 Then and now, we need to hear the challenging words of Jesus Christ. 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:40.720 We need to hear these prophetic words that will cut and will challenge us in a materialistic world. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:48.480 Now, as we come towards Jesus' words, I want you to notice something that is very important. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:50.740 This was very significant. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:56.580 As I was studying this week, this observation that really opened up the passage to myself. 00:04:56.579 --> 00:05:03.279 And it's this, that if you look down at verse 13, notice something important. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:07.339 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus. 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:14.979 And then if you look down at verse 15, then he said to them, that is to the crowd. 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:23.959 Now, it's crucial to see that verses 15 to 21 is Jesus speaking to the crowd. 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:26.439 Now, who is the crowd? 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:32.839 The crowd are a range of people who aren't yet following Jesus. 00:05:33.479 --> 00:05:35.879 That's who the crowd is in the Gospels. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:39.419 Now, there's a great deal of variety in the crowd. 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:42.500 People are not all the same in the crowd. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:46.879 There are those who are curious and want to learn more about Jesus. 00:05:47.599 --> 00:05:51.419 There are others who are indifferent to Jesus and not really listening. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:57.220 There are others still who are hostile towards Jesus, like the Pharisees. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.180 So there's variety within the crowd. 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:06.840 But what binds the crowd together is that they are not yet followers of Christ. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:12.740 In this sense, the crowd are to be distinguished from the disciples. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:18.060 The crowd surrounds Jesus with interest. 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:23.019 But the disciples follow Jesus with intensity. 00:06:24.460 --> 00:06:28.960 And there's still that differential today as we think about evangelism. 00:06:28.960 --> 00:06:31.480 We've just been talking about evangelism together. 00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:33.759 There's often a crowd. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.860 There's often the group of people who surrounds the church and the witness of the church. 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:44.259 But there's that distinction, isn't there, between those who are simply there in the crowd, 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:52.659 whether hostile or curious or indifferent, and those who actually begin to follow the Lord Jesus. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:59.020 You will notice that from verse 22, Jesus then addresses the disciples. 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:05.460 So it's important to see that though Jesus is speaking about money in both of these sections, 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:07.360 he's speaking to two different groups. 00:07:08.640 --> 00:07:12.480 Jesus has something different to say to the crowd, the world, 00:07:13.440 --> 00:07:16.600 than he does to then say to his followers. 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:21.879 For the crowd, he has a serious warning. 00:07:23.200 --> 00:07:31.860 And for the followers, he has an encouragement, a word of encouragement to you if you are a follower of Jesus. 00:07:32.820 --> 00:07:36.580 So let's look at two things this morning in the time remaining. 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:41.900 First of all, a warning to crowds who never have enough. 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:44.700 That's what we see in the first part of the passage. 00:07:44.699 --> 00:07:49.099 A warning to crowds who never have enough. 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:52.199 Verses 13 to 21. 00:07:53.159 --> 00:07:59.159 Jesus, as we've been saying, as you've been hearing in recent weeks, is journeying towards Jerusalem. 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:05.860 He's made the decisive turn towards his goal, which is the city of Jerusalem, 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:08.879 and which is ultimately the cross. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:16.079 And as Jesus journeys towards Jerusalem, he is traveling and teaching. 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:19.259 He is teaching on the way. 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:21.500 His disciples are following him. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.699 And as they follow him on this epic and unique journey, 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:26.740 Jesus is teaching. 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:31.639 Indeed, much of the teaching of Luke's gospel comes in the midst of this decisive journey. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:40.120 Also, as he stops in various towns, people in the town come out and they crowd around Jesus. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:44.899 And as the crowd comes around Jesus, he's also preaching to them. 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:49.620 So he's teaching his disciples on the one hand, but he's also preaching. 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:53.179 He's evangelizing, you might say, the crowd. 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:59.759 And here we see a crowd, that's the context here, is surrounding the Lord Jesus. 00:09:01.979 --> 00:09:07.399 And what's happening here is that there's an ad hoc evangelistic sermon. 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:14.139 It's interesting how often in the gospels and in Acts, the sermons are ad hoc. 00:09:14.819 --> 00:09:17.859 They're not, you know, pre-planned the way that we tend to do them. 00:09:18.699 --> 00:09:20.339 Very often they happen in a moment. 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:23.500 They happen in an instant, as happens here. 00:09:24.780 --> 00:09:27.340 Jesus doesn't raise the topic of money. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.360 A man in the crowd does. 00:09:30.420 --> 00:09:34.780 This unnamed man asked Jesus a question. 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:40.700 Verse 13, he asked if Jesus will settle a dispute about inheritance. 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:45.639 This man's in some kind of inheritance dispute with his brother. 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:52.860 And in these days, often financial disputes would be brought to the Jewish rabbis. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:57.460 The Jewish rabbis were considered to be experts in the law of God. 00:09:57.779 --> 00:10:00.460 And so they would become the judge and jury in these cases. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:02.399 They would decide what money went where. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.759 And so Jesus is being treated as a judge and as a rabbi. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:19.159 And more than that, he is being pressed here to not only sit upon the case, but to make a judgment on the case. 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:23.559 You notice the man's not saying to Jesus, let's just have the case out. 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:24.539 Let's just adjudicate. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:28.559 He's pressing Jesus to make a judgment in his favor. 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:33.100 Tell my brother to give me my inheritance. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:42.700 Now, Jesus, as we might expect, has little interest in settling this case. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:46.980 This is partly due to the nature of Jesus' mission. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:52.580 Jesus didn't come into the world to help us save our pennies. 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:57.639 Jesus came into the world to save our souls. 00:10:59.060 --> 00:11:02.200 So this is outside the orbit of Jesus' mission. 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:12.100 But I think even more than that, even more deeply here, the reason for Jesus' lack of interest is he sees a deeper problem. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:15.820 He sees a heart problem. 00:11:17.400 --> 00:11:26.700 It can hardly be an accident that having refused the request of this man, Jesus launches into a warning about greed. 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:32.420 I think reading between the lines, he is reading the heart of this man. 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:37.780 He is seeing something of the greedy motivations of this man. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:43.780 And he is warning the man and the crowd of the dangers of greed. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:51.240 He says that the people are to be on guard against greed. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:59.340 It's the image of a soldier who is constantly on guard in case an enemy pounces upon him. 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:03.480 Jesus says that greed is like an enemy. 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:05.320 It's a threat. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:06.180 It's a danger. 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:07.500 It's going to attack you. 00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:08.940 It's going to overcome you. 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:12.799 Be on guard against the danger of greed. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:21.120 And the sense here, it's in the continuous tense, which means that we are to go on guarding against greed. 00:12:22.459 --> 00:12:26.339 Greediness is not something you just deal with on day one of being a disciple. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:34.759 It's not like you hear a sermon on it the first time and you repent of your greediness and you become generous towards God. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.600 And then you never need to hear another sermon on greed. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.939 It doesn't work like that. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:44.799 We are to go on guarding against the danger of greed. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:49.340 And this is not something we tend to hear today, is it? 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:55.480 Greed in general is not condemned when it's on a personal basis. 00:12:55.480 --> 00:13:00.379 We may condemn the greed of those bankers. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:05.560 But at least in our own personal lives, we don't really censure each other for greed, do we? 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:14.399 You know, if someone buys a lavish car or goes on a very expensive holiday, we don't tend to frown upon it in any way, do we? 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:19.440 We indeed encourage indulgence in our culture. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:23.180 We see it as a good thing to have as much as possible. 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:28.719 Good for you, well done to you, is often the attitude. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:38.120 And yet Jesus reminds us here that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. 00:13:39.699 --> 00:13:41.739 That's an amazing little phrase, isn't it? 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:47.159 I was thinking memory verses, I was thinking it would be a great verse for us to memorize. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:52.620 Imagine if you'd memorize this verse and then you go shopping. 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:54.679 It would be helpful, wouldn't it? 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.979 You're thinking, will I, won't I? 00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.799 And then the verse comes into your mind. 00:13:58.839 --> 00:14:05.039 I don't know what the actions would be, but life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. 00:14:05.239 --> 00:14:10.059 How many purchases would we not make if we had that in mind? 00:14:10.979 --> 00:14:13.699 But a year ago, we were moving house, Nicky and I. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:21.080 And I was just astonished at how much stuff we have accumulated over just 15 years. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.240 When we started out, we had absolutely nothing. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:30.320 This time when we moved, it took an hour and a half to unpack the van. 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:35.200 I was embarrassed by the amount of possessions we had. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:42.080 But Jesus warns us that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.560 Life isn't about possessions. 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:47.700 Think about the funerals that you attend. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:54.600 How many funerals have you attended where people have paid tribute to the person's stuff? 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.600 You ever been to a funeral like that? 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:03.379 Where they get up the front and they itemize all the possessions that the individual accumulated? 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:08.560 A hundred things, five hundred things, a thousand things. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.680 Is that what we talk about? 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:14.440 Isn't the focus upon the person's faith? 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.580 The person's family? 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.800 The person's relationships? 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.560 What the person did? 00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:26.200 Nobody cares how much stuff they accumulated. 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:33.580 If anything, the more stuff the person has, the more hassle it's going to be for the family, 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:38.240 who have to either distribute it or discard it. 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:46.220 This parable is a case study of the folly of living for the accumulation of stuff. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.580 It's about a man who not only has a lot of possessions, 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:55.519 but a man who thinks life is about having lots of possessions. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:01.240 The issue in this parable is not that the man is wealthy. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:05.560 It is not a sin in the Bible to have money. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:12.379 Men like Abraham and Job and David and Solomon, if you read the Bible, 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:15.120 were men of significant means. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:22.580 Some people, by virtue of birth or labor, acquire greater wealth than others. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.740 Wealth in itself is not condemned in Scripture. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:29.519 Indeed, it is part of God's good creation. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.159 That's not the issue Jesus is condemning. 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:39.060 Notice that the man is already rich at the start of the story. 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:42.500 He is called a certain rich man. 00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:50.659 He's already relatively wealthy, but one year he enjoys an abundant harvest. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:56.799 He moves, if you like, from middle income to upper level income. 00:16:57.199 --> 00:17:01.119 He moves from millionaire to billionaire, perhaps. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:09.140 And the trouble is, his immediate thought is to hoard his wealth for himself. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:15.940 His current barns aren't big enough to hold all of the produce. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:23.859 So he plans to tear them down and build some mega barns for his mega bucks. 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:32.740 It never seems to occur to him to do anything else with the bumper harvest than keep it to himself. 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:41.179 His first and only thought is to fill his own life with stuff and to fill his own life with comfort. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:48.500 Notice the repeated use of the word my, which comes four times in this parable, 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:54.319 and the use of the word I, which comes eight times in the original language. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:01.720 The problem with this man is that he is obsessed with his own self-indulgence. 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:09.400 He is storing up things for himself, verse 21, and he is not being rich towards God. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:16.039 And the scary thing is that he's also deluded. 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:22.500 He has a baseless confidence that his self-indulgent life will last a long time. 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:27.139 Notice his reference to many years in verse 19. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:33.279 He wrongly assumes that his life of indulgent luxury will last many years, 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.899 when in fact it won't even last the night. 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:42.379 That very night, God says to him, verse 20, 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:44.880 You fool. 00:18:45.520 --> 00:18:50.120 Fool used in the Old Testament of the person who lives without reference to God, 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.620 who lives as if there is no God, 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.480 who lives without wisdom. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.480 You fool. 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:58.240 God says this very night, 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:02.620 your life will be demanded from you. 00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:05.000 And what will happen 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:08.720 with all of your possessions? 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.720 As we think about this, 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.640 we should be so thankful 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:17.640 for the Lord Jesus Christ, shouldn't we? 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:20.940 Jesus Christ, too, is the very opposite 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:22.900 of this man. 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:27.440 A man full of the fear of the Lord. 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:29.839 A man full of wisdom. 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:33.400 A man focused entirely upon 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:36.320 the will of God and the kingdom of God. 00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:41.340 A man who didn't store up treasure for himself, 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.440 but a man who gave up 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.940 all of the treasures. 00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:47.360 Who vested himself 00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.900 of the splendor of heaven 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:50.200 and the glory of heaven 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:52.840 and came down into this world as a man. 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:56.720 One who was not selfish, 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.440 but selfless. 00:19:58.540 --> 00:19:59.180 Who became 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.620 the servant. 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.180 Who not only gave up 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.480 all of his stuff, 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.340 but gave up his very self 00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:08.860 when he died 00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:10.720 for our sins. 00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:15.700 How wonderful a Savior we have. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.860 And what a warning 00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:19.960 this is to us 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.560 who are living 00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:23.940 for the things of this world 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.259 rather than living 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.840 for the Savior. 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.720 What a challenge 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.399 to the crowds 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.179 who are dancing 00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:31.599 to the tune of materialism. 00:20:31.959 --> 00:20:32.599 What a warning 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:34.419 to those who really do think 00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:35.919 that life consists 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:37.179 in how much stuff 00:20:37.179 --> 00:20:37.959 you acquire. 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.819 A world where people 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.819 live for luxury 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.699 and self 00:20:41.699 --> 00:20:43.240 and for cozy retirement 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.779 and for the next holiday. 00:20:47.199 --> 00:20:49.099 A world where people 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.279 live for the creation 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.639 rather than the creator. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.159 That's the world we live in. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.660 And this is a great parable 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:59.240 to help communicate 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.440 the gospel to them. 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.060 This is one of the most 00:21:02.060 --> 00:21:02.800 effective ways 00:21:02.800 --> 00:21:03.519 to share the gospel 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.340 with people today 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.740 using the stories 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.600 that Jesus told, 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.240 the parables. 00:21:08.580 --> 00:21:09.600 Communicating a story 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.420 like this 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:12.000 and showing the 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.580 pointlessness 00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:13.500 and futility 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.040 of it all. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.640 There's a pastor 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.420 in America 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.720 named Mark Dever 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.200 and he's a very good evangelist 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.279 and he tells 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.420 a great illustration. 00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.000 He says, 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.240 you need to have 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.640 the why conversation 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:31.440 with your non-Christian friend. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:33.019 Here's how the why conversation goes. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.140 You can practice this this week. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.880 So it goes like this. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.880 Your friend says to you, 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.400 good news, 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.759 I've been accepted 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.539 to university. 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:42.519 You say, 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.079 that's wonderful. 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.799 Why do you want to go there? 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.059 And they say, 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.420 well, you know, 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.140 I want to study 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:48.100 in business 00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:49.079 and I want to get 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.519 my degree. 00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:50.740 Great. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.579 That's wonderful. 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.619 And why do you want 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.259 to get your degree? 00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:53.980 Well, because 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.579 once I get my degree 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.279 at university, 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.579 I can go into business. 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.240 Brilliant. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.579 And then what's going 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.599 to happen after that? 00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:01.119 And they say, 00:22:01.199 --> 00:22:01.759 well, you know, 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:03.460 after I do well in business, 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.359 hopefully we'll get promoted 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.139 and get to the top 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:06.679 of the company. 00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.799 That's great. 00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:08.779 And then what's going 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.559 to happen after that? 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.179 Why do you want to 00:22:10.179 --> 00:22:10.859 get to the top 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.339 of the company? 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:12.679 Well, once I get 00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:13.500 to the top of the company, 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.339 I might try and acquire 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.159 some other companies 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:16.119 and maybe run 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.960 a number of 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.759 different businesses 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.859 and get really wealthy. 00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.339 Oh, that's great. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.519 And why do you want 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.079 to do that? 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.799 Well, you know, 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.559 once I've got all 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.679 my possessions and stuff, 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.139 I guess I'll probably 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:27.879 want to settle down 00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:28.480 and get married. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.079 Maybe have a few children. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.079 That's brilliant. 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:31.879 So what are you going 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:32.379 to do once you've got 00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:32.859 the businesses 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.399 and the money 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.299 and the family? 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:34.579 You know, 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.199 what's next? 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.740 Well, I suppose 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.639 maybe I'll retire early 00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.480 and, you know, 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.179 start going on 00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:41.199 lots of cruises 00:22:41.199 --> 00:22:41.899 every year. 00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:42.899 And brilliant. 00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.639 That's great. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:45.679 And what about 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.480 after that? 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:49.880 And he says 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.519 every time he's had 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.180 the conversation, 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.080 people will say, 00:22:52.320 --> 00:22:53.180 I don't know. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.740 I guess I'll just die. 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.900 And some people, 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:59.060 this is in all honesty, 00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.779 some people have said 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.120 to him, 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.560 when I think about it, 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.120 my life is pretty pointless. 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.000 I hadn't thought 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.680 of that before. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:09.519 Jesus exposes 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.980 and we need to expose 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:13.799 actually the pointless lives 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:16.000 that most of us are living 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.820 and that we lived 00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:18.940 before we knew Christ 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:19.840 if we are Christians. 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.680 By the way, too, 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.740 this is also a challenge 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.299 to Christians. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.180 Even though Jesus 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.340 is directing this 00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:28.200 at the unbeliever, 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.740 as we listen in, 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.580 we need to ask ourselves 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:32.120 the question, 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:34.039 could this be true of us? 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.160 Could this be true of us? 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.580 Second thing, 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.240 and more briefly 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.200 as we finish, 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.360 a comfort for disciples 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.799 who fear 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.920 they will not have enough. 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:44.019 So a slight change 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.480 of direction, 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.840 a comfort for disciples 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:47.100 who fear 00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:48.180 they will not have enough. 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.299 Verse 23, 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.660 he begins to speak 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.320 to disciples 00:23:51.320 --> 00:23:52.860 and Jesus has 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.880 a different message 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.580 for them. 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.200 Notice that the message 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.980 to disciples 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:00.180 doesn't need to be 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.880 stop living for money. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.960 Jesus assumes 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.500 that that won't be true 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:05.880 of them. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.420 Jesus is assuming 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.220 that a Christian 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.119 is someone 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:11.180 who is living 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.180 for another treasure. 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.839 And in the case 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.880 of these disciples, 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.420 of course, 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.079 this was true 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.359 in a very evident way. 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.039 Because remember, 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.740 to follow Jesus 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.839 in the day 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.900 in which he lived 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:27.000 meant that you had 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.140 to leave everything 00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:28.680 behind 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:30.400 in order to follow him. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.240 you had to physically 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.180 give up your job. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.019 You had to physically 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.700 move around 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.740 with the Lord Jesus. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.360 And therefore, 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.240 it brought many 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.180 of these disciples 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.140 into a place 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.500 of desperation, 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.259 of need, 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.580 and of poverty. 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.420 And in such a scenario, 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.680 Jesus needs to 00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:52.500 reassure his followers 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:55.040 that God will provide 00:24:55.040 --> 00:24:55.500 for them 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.720 the basic things 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.360 of life. 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.360 Notice that these 00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.400 are basic things, 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.140 verse 22. 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:01.839 It's things like 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:03.880 food and clothes. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.400 It's the worry 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:06.960 of not having 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.900 enough to eat 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.720 or not having 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.880 enough to wear. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.740 I really don't think 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.480 that God is that 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.020 interested 00:25:15.020 --> 00:25:16.480 if we can't buy 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.860 that 17th pair 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:20.240 of fancy extra shoes 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.260 that we really want 00:25:21.260 --> 00:25:22.580 or that we can't 00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:24.000 get the sky package 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.560 that we wish 00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.400 we could afford. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.560 I don't think 00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:27.680 that's really 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.260 what we're praying for 00:25:29.260 --> 00:25:29.820 when we say 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.460 in the Lord's Prayer, 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:30.920 Lord, 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:33.120 give us our daily bread. 00:25:34.280 --> 00:25:35.600 God's not necessarily 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:37.020 concerned with our wants, 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:38.240 but he is concerned 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.420 about our needs. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.360 And there may be 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:43.260 some here 00:25:43.260 --> 00:25:44.060 even today 00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:45.540 and you find yourself 00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:46.540 in difficult 00:25:46.540 --> 00:25:47.840 personal circumstances. 00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.740 You're living 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.780 on a tight budget. 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:52.700 Maybe you're 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.480 in a situation 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.820 of unemployment. 00:25:57.280 --> 00:25:58.340 Maybe you don't know 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:59.480 how all the ends 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.320 are going to meet. 00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:02.700 And the wisdom 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.620 of Jesus here 00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:04.980 is utterly priceless. 00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:06.840 It boils down 00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.580 to three things. 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.760 Three things to do. 00:26:09.820 --> 00:26:10.620 If you're a disciple, 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.900 and you tend 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.940 to be a worry wart. 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.100 Number one, 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.040 go for a walk 00:26:16.040 --> 00:26:16.620 in the park. 00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.660 I'm not joking. 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.460 That's what Jesus says, 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.820 more or less. 00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.180 He says, 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.380 the worrier 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.660 is to consider 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.440 the ravens, 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.400 the flowers, 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.840 and the grass. 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.940 So wherever you can find 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.440 ravens, 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:30.980 flowers, 00:26:31.080 --> 00:26:31.360 and grass, 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:31.880 I think ravens 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.720 might be more difficult, 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.940 but certainly you could 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.800 find some birds 00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:36.040 and flowers 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:36.660 and grass. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.160 If you go down 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.620 to the park, 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.620 go to the botanics, 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:41.099 God feeds 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.059 the ravens. 00:26:43.219 --> 00:26:43.899 He feeds 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:44.819 the ravens. 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:45.699 It may be significant 00:26:45.699 --> 00:26:46.639 that it's ravens. 00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.419 Ravens were 00:26:47.419 --> 00:26:49.059 unclean birds. 00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.399 Unclean birds, 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.379 non-kosher birds. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.019 Yet God 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:53.219 even feeds 00:26:53.219 --> 00:26:54.139 the ravens. 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.379 I think that's 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:55.879 the point. 00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:57.959 And he clothes 00:26:57.959 --> 00:26:58.579 the flowers 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.279 with a greater 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.459 splendor than Solomon. 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.000 And he clothes 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.799 the grass, 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.399 which is here today 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:05.199 and gone tomorrow. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:08.660 And the argument 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.840 is from lesser 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.580 to greater. 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.480 If God feeds 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.279 the birds, 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.720 then he's surely 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.559 going to feed you. 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.920 And if God 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.180 clothes the grass, 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.519 then he's surely 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.400 going to feed you, 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.940 one who is made 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.600 in his image. 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.259 So, 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.720 next time you're 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.360 feeling worried, 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.559 seriously, 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:29.140 go for a walk 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.779 in the park 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:32.019 and open your eyes 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.059 and consider 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.879 God's care 00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:35.200 for his creation. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.279 Secondly, 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.399 ask a deep question. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.379 Are you ready 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.339 for a deep question 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.440 at half twelve 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.039 on a Sunday afternoon? 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.119 The question, 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.960 verse 25, 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.139 who of you 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.440 by worrying 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.200 can add a single 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.539 hour 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:54.160 to his life? 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:56.099 Can you add 00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.779 an hour 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.599 to your life 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.420 through your worry? 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.460 Can you? 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:03.000 Worry is pointless. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.599 Quite aside 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.480 from anything else, 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.839 worry achieves 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.379 nothing. 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.019 It doesn't even 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.059 add an hour 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.099 to your life. 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.920 If anything, 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:13.960 the medical 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.460 professionals 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.180 might tell us 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.299 it takes away 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.879 hours from our life. 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.279 So, 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:21.119 go for a walk 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:21.559 in the woods 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:23.299 and ask a deep 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.740 question. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.819 And the third 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.099 thing, 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.180 third practical 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.000 thing is this. 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.379 Learn 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.580 the where 00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:31.500 there 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.500 principle. 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.160 Learn the 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.640 where 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.320 there 00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:36.000 principle. 00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:36.440 Look at 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.400 verse 34. 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.620 Jesus says, 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:40.620 where your 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.800 treasure is, 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.480 there 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.660 your heart 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.520 will be also. 00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.640 Do you see the 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.400 where and the 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:47.720 there? 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.440 Where 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:50.660 your treasure 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.320 is, 00:28:52.020 --> 00:28:52.660 there 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:54.580 your heart 00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:54.980 will be. 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:57.079 So, 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.559 let me ask you 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.140 this question. 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:00.539 Where is your 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:01.400 treasure this 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:01.740 morning? 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.299 This is the 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.960 rubber that 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.620 hits the road 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:04.839 bit. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.559 Where is your 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:06.799 treasure? 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.339 If I ask you 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.960 that question, 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.819 is your answer, 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.400 my treasure, 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.980 is in my bank 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.319 account? 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.140 Or it's in my 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.980 investment fund? 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:20.579 Or it's in my 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.039 property? 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.480 If that's what 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.200 you consider to 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.000 be your real 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.519 treasure, 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.740 then what Jesus 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.319 is saying is your 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.920 heart's going to be 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.799 drawn towards that. 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.140 That means you're 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.200 going to desire that, 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.680 you're going to live 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:33.980 for that, 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.740 you're going to focus 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.420 your thoughts on 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:35.620 that. 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.319 That's going to 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.420 become your all 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:39.000 consuming concern 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.799 to protect and 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.720 cultivate the money 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.279 in your bank 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.599 account, 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.700 to protect and 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.319 cultivate your 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.860 investments. 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.779 That's going to be 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.599 the focus of your 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:46.980 heart. 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.860 if that's what 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.720 your treasure is. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.019 But what if your 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.720 treasure is somewhere 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.079 else? 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:56.180 What if your 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.019 treasure and my 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:58.240 treasure is located 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.860 somewhere else? 00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.380 What if it's 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.559 located in Christ? 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.920 What if it's 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:04.120 therefore located in 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:05.559 heaven itself where 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.799 Christ is at the 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.880 right hand of God? 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.759 If that's where my 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.400 treasure is, 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.480 then you see my 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.480 heart will be drawn 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.019 to him and drawn 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.579 to there. 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:19.299 How can I know if 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.039 my treasure is in 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.400 Christ? 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.259 What would be some 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.880 of the evidences? 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:25.380 Well, if my 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:26.000 treasure is in 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:28.019 Christ, then I 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.799 won't spend all of 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.660 my time worrying 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.440 about wealth. 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.259 I may sometimes 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:35.240 have concerns about 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.460 money. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.019 We all have 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.720 concerns at times 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.160 about money. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.240 But I won't be 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:40.799 plagued with worry 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.599 about wealth. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:44.219 Second, if my 00:30:44.219 --> 00:30:45.079 treasure is in 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.639 Christ, then I 00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.699 won't be running 00:30:47.699 --> 00:30:49.019 after wealth like 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.459 a pagan. 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.419 There's a 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.619 difference between 00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:53.719 working hard and 00:30:53.719 --> 00:30:54.399 earning a good 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:56.699 wage and running 00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:57.659 after wealth like a 00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:57.899 pagan. 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:00.779 And sometimes we 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.319 need to know the 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:01.899 difference between 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:02.679 those two things. 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.419 Thirdly, if my 00:31:04.419 --> 00:31:05.279 treasure is in 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.819 Christ, I will not 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:08.599 be marked by greed, 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.980 by greediness, by 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.940 excess. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.000 Are there things 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.220 in my life that I 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:17.299 could say, that's 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.980 excessive? 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.519 And here's a big 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:21.740 one. 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.460 Fourthly, if my 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.079 treasure is in 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.799 Christ, then my 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.900 life will be marked, 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.579 verse 33, by 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.440 generosity. 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.079 It talks about 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:34.099 giving stuff 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:34.559 away. 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.339 You see, the only 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.079 way you can give 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.299 stuff away is when 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.079 stuff doesn't really 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:38.819 matter to you. 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.140 That's when you're 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.740 free to give it 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:42.799 away because it's 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.299 not your real 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:43.720 treasure. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.319 If my treasure is 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:48.039 Christ, then I 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.259 will invest in the 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.799 things of the 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.099 kingdom. 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.539 I won't build 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.640 bigger barns. 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.759 I will invest 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.279 what God has given 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:59.319 me in gospel work 00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:01.019 and in gospel 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.740 ministry. 00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:03.059 I will invest not 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:04.200 in building my own 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:06.259 barns, but in 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.079 building the church. 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:09.859 I will spend my 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:12.039 earthly resources in 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.259 order to store up 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:15.859 treasure in heaven. 00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:18.159 May this be true of 00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:18.639 all of us. 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:20.659 May God help us to 00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:21.659 respond to his word 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:23.299 to us today. 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.299 Amen. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.139 Amen. 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:25.200 Amen.