WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:04.500 And I'm so glad to be back together this morning. 00:00:04.740 --> 00:00:09.200 Some of you are regularly here with us and you know what's going on in the life of our church. 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:11.839 Some of you may be new, maybe this is your first time. 00:00:12.019 --> 00:00:17.359 So for all of us, this is week two of the Advent Home Campaign, 00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:21.059 which is an incredibly exciting time in the life of our church. 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:27.100 It's an opportunity for us to revisit the reasons that we started this church 12 years ago, 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:30.320 the values that drive the life of this community. 00:00:31.020 --> 00:00:37.020 We started Advent in a living room in Columbia Heights on Newton Street 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:41.200 with a commitment to loving the city of D.C. long term, 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:46.200 loving the DMV region long term. 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:51.960 And the Home Campaign is a huge opportunity for us to take a major step forward 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:55.660 toward accomplishing that goal and that vision. 00:00:55.659 --> 00:01:01.039 The biggest obstacle that we face in trying to live out this commitment 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.019 is the lack of a permanent space, 00:01:03.599 --> 00:01:09.979 a place where we can serve the city not only for the next year or two, 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:12.039 but for generations. 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:17.519 A place where we can be not only on Sundays, 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:22.620 but every day of the week to love and to serve the community where God puts us. 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:27.840 So the goal of the Home Campaign is to secure a permanent home for Church of the Advent 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:31.960 so that we can love this city and this region long term 00:01:31.960 --> 00:01:35.040 until it becomes a great home for all people, 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:37.200 where Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:01:37.300 --> 00:01:38.380 That's what we're doing. 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:42.640 And so we're not asking anyone to make a commitment today. 00:01:42.800 --> 00:01:44.939 We recognize that this is a very unique thing. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:47.380 We've never done anything like this as a church in 12 years. 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:53.060 What we're doing right now is to simply ask people to commit to making a commitment, 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:55.379 to be open to what God might do. 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:59.239 And I recognize for some of you you're new and this is your first encounter with any of this. 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:01.759 And so we recognize all of that. 00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:05.340 But I'm asking everybody to just be open. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:09.979 In three weeks' time, March 29th, we're actually going to have an opportunity here 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:15.439 to fill out a commitment card for those who feel called to be a part of this and to support it. 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:17.840 I'm fully committed and invested. 00:02:18.399 --> 00:02:20.379 Our staff is fully committed and invested. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:23.099 Our parish council is fully committed and invested already. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:27.179 My hope is that God will call you to be a part of this as well. 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:32.679 It's a huge opportunity also for us to grow in our faith as a community. 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:40.939 And this is a huge opportunity for us to rethink the way we approach things like stewardship and generosity. 00:02:41.200 --> 00:02:43.640 You know, if you look at Scripture, I said this last week, 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:49.020 Jesus talks more about wealth than almost any other topic save for the kingdom of God. 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:53.260 And many places where he talks about wealth, he's also talking about the kingdom of God. 00:02:53.259 --> 00:03:02.379 So topics that come up a lot more like sex or money or sex or heaven or hell, things like that, 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:05.879 he doesn't talk about nearly as much as he talks about money and wealth. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:09.439 As a church, we've hardly ever talked about it. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.039 I said last week, I was looking back over 12 years, 00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:16.019 and I think I could count on one hand the number of times I've directly addressed this from the pulpit. 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:19.120 It's just most of the time not the most comfortable topic to talk about. 00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:20.840 A lot of other things that we'd rather talk about. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:25.460 But this is a huge opportunity for us to talk about this and look at what Jesus has to say. 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:27.500 So this is what we're going to be doing for the next five weeks. 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:33.099 We started last week looking at Luke chapter 12, and this week we'll be looking at Luke chapter 18. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:39.300 These encounters that Jesus has and what they teach us about stewardship and generosity. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:42.039 So this week we're looking at chapter 18, 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:48.520 and we're going to meet a man who has what I would say most people in D.C. want. 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:55.340 If you moved to D.C., you probably moved because you thought that moving here would help you get these things. 00:03:55.460 --> 00:04:00.260 He's young, he is wealthy, and he's influential. 00:04:01.100 --> 00:04:05.360 He's young, he has means, he's very wealthy, and he's influential. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:06.100 He's a ruler. 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:10.760 We learn that because this story shows up in all three of the synoptic gospels. 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:14.219 Matthew, Mark, and Luke refer to this encounter. 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:15.160 So we know it's important. 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:21.120 And what we see in this encounter with Jesus is he comes to Jesus asking, 00:04:21.500 --> 00:04:22.759 how do I live the good life? 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:25.159 How do I assure myself of salvation? 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:29.939 And Jesus' response reveals the fact that because of his wealth, 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.480 this man is actually in grave spiritual danger. 00:04:34.579 --> 00:04:36.759 Because of his wealth, he's in grave spiritual danger. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:38.319 And this completely catches him off guard. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:40.959 So we're going to see the danger of wealth. 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:43.740 Then we're going to see the reason why it's dangerous. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:47.480 And then we're going to see how to overcome it, how to deal with it. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:50.660 The danger of wealth, the reason it's dangerous. 00:04:51.460 --> 00:04:52.699 And then how do we overcome it? 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:53.480 How do we deal with it? 00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:54.540 Let's pray. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:57.800 Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:02.939 And we thank you that when we come here every week, our hope does not rest in human wisdom. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:06.740 It doesn't rest in our ability to help ourselves. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:12.500 That, Lord, we come here because we know in our souls that there is something that we need outside of us. 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:17.400 And we know that when we gather together, you are present with us. 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:21.699 And when we open your word, your spirit illuminates it. 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:27.660 And through your written word, we are able to encounter face-to-face your living word, Jesus Christ. 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:33.180 And it's because of him that we're here and in his name that we pray. 00:05:33.820 --> 00:05:34.100 Amen. 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:38.320 So first of all, the danger of wealth. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:44.280 This passage is clear that wealth can be spiritually dangerous. 00:05:44.700 --> 00:05:48.840 But chances are it is not for the reason that most of us might think. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:54.000 Even if you're not a Christian, most people are familiar with verse 25. 00:05:54.119 --> 00:05:58.500 People who have never opened a Bible on their own are familiar with this verse. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:05.519 For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:07.259 So most everybody knows that verse. 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:14.099 And at first glance, this seems to suggest that there is something inherently wrong with rich people. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:14.820 Right? 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:21.300 It seems to suggest that being wealthy is somehow inherently wrong. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:25.439 And that if you are rich, you must be so corrupt. 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:32.640 Maybe that's how you got rich that there's no chance for you to enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:06:33.140 --> 00:06:37.640 But if you look at the larger context of scripture, that would suggest otherwise. 00:06:37.960 --> 00:06:38.120 Right? 00:06:38.280 --> 00:06:42.920 Some of the prophets, some of the apostles, some of the early church leaders were poor. 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:44.040 That's absolutely true. 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:45.620 They were poor, uneducated fishermen. 00:06:46.520 --> 00:06:49.040 But you also have wealthy people. 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:52.820 Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were phenomenally wealthy. 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:57.020 People like David and Solomon, profoundly wealthy. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.540 People like Lydia, who hosted one of the first churches. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:03.580 A dealer of purple goods, obviously very wealthy. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.500 People like Joseph of Arimathea. 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:09.480 These are people in the Old and New Testament who are wealthy. 00:07:09.640 --> 00:07:10.580 And God uses them. 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:10.860 Right? 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:14.780 You have cultural elites like Daniel. 00:07:15.280 --> 00:07:17.720 High-level political leaders like Esther. 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:18.240 Right? 00:07:18.960 --> 00:07:24.360 Influential city planners who get massive grants to do urban renewal work like Nehemiah. 00:07:25.080 --> 00:07:25.480 Right? 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:32.580 So the beauty of God's salvation story is not that he only uses poor people because they're the really faithful ones. 00:07:33.640 --> 00:07:38.080 Or that he only uses rich people because they're the ones who can really get things done. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.740 The beauty of God's story is that he uses everybody. 00:07:42.420 --> 00:07:43.259 And anybody. 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:44.640 Rich and poor alike. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:46.580 Educated and uneducated alike. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:49.379 Because the point is, it is God doing the work. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:53.519 And he demonstrates that again and again and again by using anyone and everyone to do it. 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:54.979 Right? 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:59.579 So what does Jesus mean with the whole camel-needle analogy? 00:08:00.159 --> 00:08:03.899 And I think the clue to this, and I think it's a mysterious passage, frankly. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:05.519 I've wrestled with it for a long time. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.439 The clue comes from the context of the passage. 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:13.439 By the way, if there's ever a point where you're reading Scripture and you're not quite clear how to make sense of what you're reading, 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:14.480 look at the context. 00:08:14.579 --> 00:08:18.779 It's one of the first things you can do to gain clarity as to what the passage means. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:23.100 So if you look just before this, earlier in Luke chapter 18, 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:27.699 Jesus has just told a parable about two men who go to the temple to pray. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:30.779 And one of the men in the parable goes and he says, 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:33.539 I thank God that I am not like other sinners. 00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:36.100 I thank God that I'm a good man. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:41.220 And then Jesus contrasts that with the other man who is so full of awareness, 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:45.259 so full of shame and guilt, that he's only able to look at the floor. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.180 He can't even lift his eyes. 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:50.920 And all he can utter quietly is, 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:52.700 have mercy on me, a sinner. 00:08:53.800 --> 00:08:55.759 And the point of the parable, Jesus says, 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:59.159 I tell you the truth, that man went home justified. 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:04.259 And he says, those who humble themselves will be justified, 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:06.259 will be lifted up, right? 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:08.860 And then Jesus makes a remark about the children. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.100 He points to some kids who are coming to them, 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:13.419 to see him and to touch him. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:15.639 And he says of these children, 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:17.980 to the people who are listening, 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:21.259 whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:22.480 shall not enter it. 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:24.819 So you look at these two together, 00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:26.899 and it seems to be saying something pretty clearly. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:29.600 There's only one way into the kingdom of God. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:33.519 And that is to recognize, number one, that we need it. 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:36.720 And number two, that there's nothing we can do to earn it. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:39.259 That's the flow of the passage. 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:41.700 You have to recognize that you need it, 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.480 and you have to recognize that you can't earn it. 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.779 That's the context that brings us into this encounter 00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:50.700 with this rich, young ruler. 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:52.240 The kingdom cannot be earned. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.700 It can only be received as a gift. 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:57.720 There's a hymn that we sometimes sing that I love. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:58.920 This is my favorite verse. 00:09:59.060 --> 00:09:59.259 It says, 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:01.779 Let not conscience make you linger, 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.519 nor a fitness fondly dream. 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:09.500 All the fitness he requires is to feel your need of him. 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:12.139 So when this man says to Jesus, 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:17.399 Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:18.379 Tell me what to do. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.180 What's the formula? 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:20.660 What's the five steps? 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.600 With the acrostic, 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.879 What's the five-step plan? 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:29.680 It's clear that he doesn't get it. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:34.120 And this is why I think that Jesus responds in the curious way that he does. 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:34.600 He says, 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:37.560 And I think there's not a little bit of irony in this. 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:39.680 Why do you call me good? 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:41.820 Only God is good. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.720 He's setting him up, right? 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:46.000 It's almost like he's playing with him. 00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:50.139 You can see a bit of a wry smile tugging at the corner of Jesus' mouth, right? 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:51.420 Why do you call me good? 00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:54.819 But this man obviously has no idea who he's talking to. 00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:56.000 He doesn't get it. 00:10:57.019 --> 00:11:03.399 This man fails to recognize Jesus because he fails to recognize his own need. 00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:09.479 He fails to recognize Jesus because he fails to recognize his own need. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:12.259 He is standing face to face with the Son of God, 00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:14.959 who is ready to give him the keys of the kingdom. 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:17.059 And he's asking for advice. 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:19.179 He doesn't get it. 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:22.579 The point is this. 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:25.879 You say, you know, well, what does this have to do with the man's wealth? 00:11:26.739 --> 00:11:29.759 Well, the danger of wealth, wealth is not inherently evil. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.519 It's neutral. 00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:36.139 The danger of wealth is that it insulates us from need. 00:11:37.079 --> 00:11:39.839 It insulates us from need. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:52.720 If the only way, if this section of Luke is teaching us that the only way to know God and have a relationship with God and have access to God's kingdom is to know that we need it, 00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:59.820 anything that reduces our sense of need is going to be spiritually dangerous. 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:02.020 All right, so it's not just wealth. 00:12:02.060 --> 00:12:03.320 It could be a whole variety of things. 00:12:03.520 --> 00:12:04.080 But I'll tell you this. 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:05.660 Wealth is at the top of that list. 00:12:06.760 --> 00:12:10.100 Need reduction, need mitigation, wealth. 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.980 That's the best thing it can do, right? 00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:15.700 It's the most effective use of wealth. 00:12:15.900 --> 00:12:18.020 And that's why most people use it for that reason. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.960 So now we want to look at the reason why. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.820 So what's the danger of wealth? 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:25.360 Well, it reduces our sense of need for God. 00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:28.840 Why is it dangerous? 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:39.000 Without fail, every evening when we're in the kitchen cooking dinner, right around the time that we start to cook dinner, 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:42.660 our kids bust into the kitchen from whatever they're doing, and they beg for junk food. 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:45.360 And they are starving. 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:48.519 And they're going to die if they don't eat something. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:50.379 And they're very dramatic about it, right? 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.919 Without fail, right? 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.120 The minute we fire up the stove, the minute we start to cook them something good and nutritious and healthy, 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.639 they beg for junk food. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:04.559 It's almost like the smell of cooking vegetables triggers their kind of primal mind to want sugar and fat. 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:06.980 You know, and so they bust in and they're starving, right? 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.700 And what's the problem with that, right? 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:17.139 The problem with junk food is that it tricks you into thinking that you have eaten what you need to eat, right? 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:18.820 Hunger is a good thing. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:27.360 The hunger drive motivates us to go get nutrients and put them into our body because that's what our body needs to grow. 00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:32.340 The problem with junk food is that it tricks us into thinking that we've gotten those nutrients. 00:13:33.040 --> 00:13:36.140 But in fact, all we've done is eat a bunch of sugar and fat. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:48.639 So if our kids eat junk food, if we give in and we say yes, they're not actually going to eat the healthy food when we give it to them 30 minutes later because they won't feel the need for it anymore. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:49.919 Right? 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.839 And so the point is this. 00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:55.959 All of us have deeper existential spiritual needs. 00:13:57.079 --> 00:13:59.319 And we have those needs for a reason. 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:02.099 Like hunger motivates us to get nutrients. 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:06.740 These deeper spiritual needs motivate us to seek the Lord. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.379 That's why we have them. 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:14.120 We need as human beings a sense of safety and security. 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.899 We all need that. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:21.720 We all need to have a sense of our own value and our own worth as people. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:28.840 We all have to deal with and cope with negative, painful, unwanted emotions. 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:32.860 You can't live life and not have these needs. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:38.820 And these needs are ultimately there to drive us to the Lord, to lead us to God. 00:14:39.060 --> 00:14:40.460 They're like spiritual hunger. 00:14:41.560 --> 00:14:44.420 We're spiritually hungry when we're feeling those needs. 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:51.740 And the thing that we most need, like the body needs nutrients, the thing that we most need is God at the center of our lives. 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:59.580 But the problem with wealth is that it tricks us into believing that our needs have already been met. 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.840 It takes away that hunger. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:02.960 Right? 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:06.440 So for some people, wealth is where they find their security. 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:08.759 We talked about that a little bit last week. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:16.580 By the way, I was with a small group this past week doing the week one of the curriculum that we're doing in all of our small groups. 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:18.039 We were working through some of those questions. 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:22.559 And people were just sharing in very vulnerable ways what money means to them. 00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:25.659 And it was incredibly powerful just to hear what people said. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.839 Some people said, for me, it's really about feeling safe and secure. 00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:31.360 It meets that need. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:32.419 Right? 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:36.639 For some people, wealth is a source of self-worth and validation. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.639 You have a job title. 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:39.019 You're paid at a certain level. 00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:43.459 And that says something about who you are and your worth relative to other people. 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:58.340 And I think for a lot of us, when it comes to dealing with negative unwanted feelings, I think probably there's not a person in this room who hasn't found ways to self-medicate as a way to deal with those unwanted feelings. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:09.200 And, man, the more wealthy you are, the easier it is to self-medicate with things like food and drink or tech, you know, smartphones, things like that, or shopping. 00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:09.960 Right? 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:13.040 These are ways that we self-medicate. 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:22.759 You know in hospitals when somebody is, they're doing pain management in a hospital and they give them the little button to dose themselves with pain medicine, right? 00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:23.879 It's called a PCA. 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.160 Not the denomination. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:29.340 It's called a patient, it's called a patient-controlled analgesia. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:30.580 Right? 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:31.400 PCA. 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:35.620 Every time you feel pain, a little click of that button gives you another dose. 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:35.879 Right? 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:46.139 Every time I'm on Amazon shopping and I see that little one-click buy now button, I think of that like a spiritual PCA button. 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.080 Right? 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.059 It's a spiritual PCA. 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.580 Just click. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.159 Just click. 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:49.500 That's all. 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.220 It's so easy. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:50.539 Right? 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.320 You're feeling empty inside. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:52.919 Click. 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.320 Right? 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.679 You're feeling lonely and unwanted. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.220 Click. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.519 You're feeling sad and depressed. 00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.059 Click. 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.940 You're feeling angry and unappreciated at work. 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:02.320 Click. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:02.400 Click. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:03.300 Right? 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:06.400 You're feeling like everybody around you is more successful than you are. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.700 Click. 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:11.600 It's so easy to self-medicate. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.000 Right? 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:18.779 And the more we numb ourselves to those needs, the more we numb ourselves to that kind of pain, 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:22.860 the less we feel the need for anything outside of ourselves. 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:31.979 How much American consumerism is driven by people trying to meet spiritual needs with material goods? 00:17:34.139 --> 00:17:37.799 You almost think of this as something that we could do to help the environment. 00:17:37.959 --> 00:17:38.059 Right? 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:45.659 How much less waste would there be if people were only buying what they need rather than using consumerism to self-medicate? 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.319 Right? 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:54.099 It's an interesting thing to think about how much excess is produced because of our desire to satisfy spiritual longings with material goods. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:58.039 So the danger of wealth is that it diminishes our need for God. 00:17:58.159 --> 00:18:02.339 It tricks us into thinking that we're full, even when we're spiritually starving. 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:06.740 So how do we overcome this danger? 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:08.319 Right? 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:12.639 All of this, I think, helps us understand Jesus' response to this man. 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:16.319 Because first, Jesus says what the man expects. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.259 So you can imagine the man walks up, good teacher, in front of a bunch of people. 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.819 What must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.639 How do I live a good life? 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:24.619 And he's ready because he thinks he knows what Jesus is going to say. 00:18:24.939 --> 00:18:28.299 Jesus first responds the way most people, most rabbis would respond. 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.279 Well, you know the commandments. 00:18:31.639 --> 00:18:33.000 And the man's ready with an answer. 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:35.899 Well, as long as I can remember, I've kept all the commandments. 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:40.779 And so then Jesus says something that catches this man off guard. 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:46.299 It's almost as though the man starts to walk away kind of feeling like, oh, yeah, I'm living a pretty good life. 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.920 And Jesus says, oh, one more thing. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:55.680 Sell all that you have, distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.019 And come, follow me. 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.240 Now, what's going on there? 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:06.660 Okay, the point is not if you want to go to heaven, give all your money away. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.380 That's not the point. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.700 You all know Warren Buffett. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:13.680 Years ago, Warren Buffett, the kind of multi-multi-billionaire. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:17.579 At this point, I think he was the second wealthiest man in the world. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:22.819 And he announces famously that he's going to donate 85% of his fortune to charity. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.420 A lot of press about that. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.099 And so people ask him about it. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:32.139 And he says this, as a quote, there's more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way. 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.659 That's so Warren Buffett, right? 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:38.480 And a lot of people, I think, think that on some level. 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:41.699 A guy like Warren Buffett gives billions of dollars away to charity. 00:19:41.959 --> 00:19:45.000 Surely, if God's going to let somebody in, he's going to let a guy like that in. 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:46.879 How amazingly generous is that, right? 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:50.039 I think a lot of people think that on some level. 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:52.039 But that's not the point of what Jesus is saying. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:57.960 Think about what we just said about wealth, and look at what Jesus is really saying to this man. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.659 He's saying, okay, you kept the commandments. 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:01.220 One thing you still lack. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.779 Let go of your financial security. 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.359 Let go of it. 00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:11.599 It could all be gone tomorrow, and you need to realize that. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:19.039 A few days ago, the Dow dropped the most points in a single day in history because of a virus. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:21.740 It could all be gone tomorrow. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.940 I read an article about a guy who retired that week. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:27.279 He's like, I'm just not even looking at my investments. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.039 It's too depressing. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.759 It could all be gone. 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.720 Let go of your financial security. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.500 It's an illusion. 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.359 It's not real. 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:41.519 Let go of the self-worth that you derive from your earnings or your job title. 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:46.740 Those don't say anything about your worth as a human being. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:53.079 Stop self-medicating to deal with the painful realities of life. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:56.779 I didn't put you on this earth to be numb all the time. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.759 I put you here to be alive. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.059 Stop looking to your wealth, Jesus is saying. 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.200 He says, sell all that you have. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.620 What's he saying? 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:11.079 Stop looking to your wealth to give you things only I can give you. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:15.199 Leave all that behind. 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.019 Come, follow me. 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:19.559 Make me the center of your life. 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.559 Bring all of those needs to me. 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.819 That's why you have them. 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.559 But the man refuses. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.599 And he goes away sad. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:32.220 He goes away in despair because it says he's extremely rich. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:36.960 That's the Bible's way of saying wealth had so taken hold of his heart and soul. 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:41.240 It was so in his DNA and marrow and bones and blood. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.799 It was so a part of who he was. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:45.559 It was so inextricably linked to his worldview. 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:48.799 It was so necessary for him to get up in the morning. 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:52.680 It was so necessary for him to deal with the day-to-day realities of his life. 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:54.339 He couldn't imagine life without it. 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.500 It's too great a sacrifice. 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:59.279 And he can't bring himself to do it. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:02.680 And, you know, it would be easy to kind of look at this and smugly think, 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.799 well, you know, number one, I'm not nearly that rich. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:08.619 And number two, I think I have a much better awareness of my spiritual need. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.119 And number three, I'm going to be able to do this in a way that this man can. 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:13.960 And I just think we have to be honest with ourselves. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:19.299 These things have too firm a grip on us. 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.799 You know, me too. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:27.159 This is why the people see all this happen and they say, well, who can be saved? 00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:34.940 You know, in their worldview, in our worldview, it's fashionable among some people to look at the wealthy and to be down on them, right? 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:37.339 And to assume the worst about people who are extremely wealthy. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:46.180 But in this society, in the ancient Near East, in the Greco-Roman world, if you were wealthy, people assumed that you were that way because God blessed you. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.359 So this is a morally good man. 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.039 He's wealthy. 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:51.039 The assumption was that he'd been blessed by God. 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:55.500 And so they look at a guy like this and they say, well, if a guy like that can't be saved, then who can be saved? 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:57.799 Right? 00:22:58.220 --> 00:23:00.059 These things have a firm hold on us. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.359 But look at what Jesus says in verse 27. 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:07.599 What is impossible with man is possible with God. 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.579 Now, what's he talking about? 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.480 He's talking about the gospel. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:17.480 The rich young ruler refuses to sacrifice these things for Jesus. 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.839 It's too great a sacrifice. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.819 But don't you see? 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:30.159 The gospel tells us that Jesus made this exact same sacrifice for us. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:38.139 Only Jesus was unimaginably more wealthy than this rich young ruler. 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:44.379 He is the wealthiest being ever to have existed because everything that exists belongs to him. 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:46.200 He's wealthier than we can possibly imagine. 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.500 But he gave it all up. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:53.420 Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8 verse 9, 00:23:53.420 --> 00:24:22.420 The only way that you or I will ever have the courage to let go of these things that sit at the center of our lives is when we realize that Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed infinitely. 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.720 More for us. 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.660 More for us. 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:30.200 When you recognize that while this man was not willing to make the sacrifice, Jesus was. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.700 And he did so joyfully and willingly. 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:41.799 Not in this version, but in another gospel version of this story, it says that Jesus looked at this man and he loved him. 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:46.960 He looked at you and he loved you and he says, you're not going to sacrifice anything for me. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:49.640 I'm going to sacrifice everything for you. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:56.700 So the question to think about this week is, what sits at the center of your life? 00:24:58.280 --> 00:25:00.259 And what role does wealth play in that? 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.720 It might be a need for security. 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:04.940 It might be a need for status and worth. 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.540 It might be something that I haven't mentioned. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:08.520 There's lots of reasons, lots of things. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.840 It could be combinations of things. 00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:17.299 But what do you do to meet those needs for security and self-worth and value? 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:20.599 How do you deal with your negative emotions? 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:25.019 In the core group study this week, one of the questions that I'm asking people to think about, 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:29.019 or one of the things that I'm asking you to do, is to look at your spending over the last month 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:33.359 and to try to come up with a self-medication budget. 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:38.660 In other words, try to figure out of all that you spent over the last month, 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:43.200 how much of that was in some way connected to your desire to self-medicate for these deeper needs? 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:45.200 How much of your income is actually going to that? 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.900 Arithmetic can be a powerful thing. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:54.660 In overcoming that gap between who we think we are and who we really are, 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.139 look at the math. 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.660 The math doesn't lie. 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:57.960 Right? 00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:02.080 So whatever that is, whatever we're looking to for these things, 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:05.740 savings account, job, degree, whatever, ask yourself this. 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:08.960 You know, look at that thing that's at the center of your life or those things, 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.800 and ask yourself this. 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:11.880 Does this thing love me? 00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:15.360 Does it love me? 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:17.380 Would it sacrifice for me? 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:20.880 Or am I the one sacrificing for it? 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:25.600 And if the answer is no, you're making a bad investment. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:28.679 Jesus says at the end of the passage, 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:36.439 truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 00:26:36.439 --> 00:26:41.859 who will not receive many times more in this time and the age to come eternal life. 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:45.139 Listen, that may sound extreme, but think about it. 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:53.759 There are plenty of people who have sacrificed home and spouse and siblings and parents, even their children in pursuit of wealth. 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:58.079 People make that sacrifice every day, every week. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:06.119 And if they live long enough, those people reach a point in their life where they realize the sacrifice was not worth it. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:13.899 But Jesus says the best investment you can possibly make is to invest in the kingdom of God. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:18.699 He says that this investment yields a far greater return than anything it might cost you. 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:22.179 He says, you know, you may give up financial security. 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:30.920 You may give up your sense of safety, but you gain the absolute certainty of life in the kingdom of God. 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:39.960 You may give up your source of self-worth, but you gain an eternal being who is willing to die for you because he loves you. 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.960 You may give up your life in the kingdom of God. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.960 You may give up your life in the kingdom of God. 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:58.279 You may give up home or family or kids for your faith, but you gain a global family of mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters in the church that spans all space and time. 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:09.240 This is why we keep saying that this time in the life of our church is such a great opportunity, and I really believe that it is. 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:17.200 Because this gives us a chance to recenter our lives on Jesus and away from some of the other things that have crept in. 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:26.680 And it gives us an opportunity to make a kind of kingdom investment in the DMV that will yield returns for eternity. 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:45.380 And so that's why I'm excited about this and why we're praying that the fruit of this is a community that much more deeply understands the trustworthiness and the faithfulness and the power of God to do his work through anyone and everyone for his glory. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.620 Let's pray. 00:28:46.619 --> 00:29:01.799 Lord, we thank you again for the fact that each one of us, if we were this rich young ruler and we were face to face with you, and you gave us this offer, that we would probably walk away. 00:29:02.479 --> 00:29:03.179 I know I would. 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.180 Lord, I would. 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.180 Lord, I would. 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:20.180 And I thank you that it doesn't hinge on us, but it hinges on you looking at us, loving us, and laying down everything, not just your financial security, not just your self-worth, but your life. 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:25.539 Lord, that you were rich but became poor for us so that we might become rich. 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:44.220 And we pray that we would be a wealthy community, Lord, that the wealth of the kingdom of God would overflow so that the more we grow and the more we are blessed, the more the entire community around us would celebrate because they're the ones who are the recipients of that blessing. 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:51.920 Lord, we pray this for the sake of this city that we're committed to loving because we believe that you've put us here for just that reason. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.680 In your son's name, amen.