WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.360 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:09.060 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:17.839 This morning, we're going to be in Proverbs chapter 6, continuing our series this summer in the book of Proverbs. 00:00:18.019 --> 00:00:24.420 And you'll remember that the book of Proverbs is a book about wisdom, and wisdom is skill in the art of living. 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:30.780 Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and wisdom continues with humility, 00:00:30.900 --> 00:00:35.100 that we have to be people who are willing to learn, who recognize we don't know everything, 00:00:35.260 --> 00:00:38.780 and we're open to being taught by God in His Word. 00:00:40.400 --> 00:00:48.680 As we come to Proverbs chapter 6, you may know Jesus has a lot of things to say about helping other people. 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:54.820 For example, in Matthew chapter 22, He tells us the sum of the law is to love God and to love others. 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:58.619 And in fact, He tells us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:05.079 And then in Matthew chapter 5, He tells us if someone asks you to go one mile with them, you should go two miles. 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:11.960 And if someone asks you for your tunic, if they sue you for your tunic, give them that, and then give them your cloak as well. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:14.859 In other words, you should be looking to help other people and to aid them, 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:19.099 which raises a question, when do we not help people? 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:24.680 What are the limits on Jesus' words there? 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.659 How do we know wise ways to help other people and unwise ways? 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:31.819 How can we help others grow in wisdom? 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:36.060 What are ways that we end up helping others be foolish? 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:40.739 We're going to be looking at that with Proverbs chapter 6 when it comes to our money. 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:43.159 And so we'll jump in right now. 00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:45.119 I invite you to turn with me in your Bible. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:48.379 You'll find it printed near the very end of your worship guide. 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:50.019 Of course, you can find it on your phone. 00:01:50.119 --> 00:01:53.319 But wherever you read it, remember that this is God's word. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:59.299 And Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5, tells us that every word of God proves true. 00:01:59.979 --> 00:02:03.120 He's a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 00:02:04.039 --> 00:02:07.699 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 1. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:16.020 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:21.379 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.159 then do this, my son, and save yourself. 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.099 For you have come into the hand of your neighbor. 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:30.740 Go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:35.460 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber. 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:40.120 Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:44.120 like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:49.560 I invite you to pray with me now as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:58.759 Our Father in heaven, we thank you that you give us instruction, 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:04.200 not just in spiritual matters, in our relationship with you. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:07.180 You give us instruction in practical matters. 00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:12.340 I saw last week that you give us instructions when it comes to our sexuality and our bodies. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:17.979 And this week, you give us instruction when it comes to how we manage our money, 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:20.580 especially when it comes to helping others. 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:25.620 So we thank you that you haven't left us to figure out life on our own, 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:27.319 but you've given us your word. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:33.240 We ask that you would use your word this morning to make us wiser than we were before. 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:39.900 And as we grow in wisdom, we would look and see Jesus as the one who teaches it to us, 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:46.280 and we'd see him as more beautiful and glorious than we saw him before. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:50.240 And we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus. 00:03:51.180 --> 00:03:51.500 Amen. 00:03:54.500 --> 00:03:58.140 There's a woman named Michelle Singletary, 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:02.259 and she's a well-known financial columnist. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:03.680 She writes money advice. 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:05.040 She writes for the Washington Post, 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:08.060 which growing up outside Washington, D.C., 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:10.479 that was the paper often that we would receive as a family, 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.479 but she syndicated in other newspapers as well. 00:04:13.799 --> 00:04:17.079 And she wrote an article back in 2016 in June 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:22.159 warning against the dangers of co-signing for other people's loans. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:24.099 Now, as part of her column, 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:26.279 she receives pushback, 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:28.680 so people will send her stories about, you know, 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:31.000 why she's wrong in the advice that she gives. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:33.680 And sometimes she'll run an article with that feedback. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:35.120 Hey, I gave you this advice, 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:38.040 and here's kind of the other side of the story. 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:41.600 Well, when she ran this article about not co-signing loans, 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:45.199 the next month, in July, she ran another article. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:46.000 She said, 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:47.399 usually I receive pushback, 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:49.339 but this time around, 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:53.160 I received mostly stories confirming everything that I told you. 00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:57.120 I received stories confirming the danger of co-signing loans. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.300 And so she shared a couple of those stories. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.780 One, a man had co-signed a loan for a woman he was dating. 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:05.500 It had a terrible end to their relationship. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:07.879 And now, 10 years after the fact, 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:11.639 he was still receiving notices every time her payments were late. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:13.899 He then went on to, 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:16.420 she went on to share a story 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:23.920 about someone who co-signed a loan on student loans. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:27.220 This person was promised they'd only be co-signed for a little bit, 00:05:27.280 --> 00:05:28.780 and they'd be replaced by the person's father. 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:30.160 They had a similar experience. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:33.780 They're receiving calls when this person's late on their payments. 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:35.080 It's a substantial amount. 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:38.259 And one of these individuals realized when they went to buy a home 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:40.660 that this credit was counted against them. 00:05:40.900 --> 00:05:43.660 So they had a harder time procuring credit 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:44.700 than they would have had otherwise. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:46.740 And then she shares a horror story near the end 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:49.540 about someone who co-signed a loan on a car, 00:05:50.200 --> 00:05:52.860 thinking they were doing a favor for a neighbor. 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:55.819 However, they didn't realize they were also being signed 00:05:55.819 --> 00:05:56.980 onto the deed of the car. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.500 And so when this person failed to pay the insurance payments, 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:03.639 they were the ones receiving calls about that. 00:06:03.780 --> 00:06:05.460 And the registration wasn't done correctly. 00:06:05.580 --> 00:06:06.939 They were receiving calls about that. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:10.600 This individual ended up paying all the fines for the car 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.960 and, I believe, at one point had to go to court. 00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:16.980 She points out the first two stories. 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:19.220 Both readers asked the same question, 00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:22.960 how in the world can I get removed from these loans? 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:26.720 And I tell you this story because it's telling us 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:31.120 the exact same thing we're being told in Proverbs 6. 00:06:32.440 --> 00:06:36.020 Do not put up security for other people. 00:06:37.140 --> 00:06:39.580 And, like these readers, if you do, 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:42.900 do whatever you can to get out of it. 00:06:42.899 --> 00:06:45.779 So first, we're told not to do it. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.419 That's in verses 2 through 5. 00:06:51.359 --> 00:06:55.060 It's compared to a snare in verse 2 or trap. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:58.739 And then in verse 5, it's compared to a trap again. 00:06:58.859 --> 00:07:01.579 You have to save yourself like you're someone being hunted. 00:07:02.339 --> 00:07:05.879 Now, the word surety is used here, putting up security. 00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:08.560 And basically what would have happened in the Old Testament 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:09.300 is you would have said, 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:12.959 okay, this other person is going to receive a loan 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:15.600 and I'm going to give you a piece of my property 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.740 or you can claim my property if they don't pay. 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.639 I'm going to be the one who's going to guarantee the loan. 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:22.780 Of course, the problem is 00:07:22.780 --> 00:07:25.220 if they don't pay the loan, 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:26.899 then your property gets taken. 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:30.439 Now, today we could talk about sureties. 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:31.879 It doesn't work quite the same way. 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:33.759 The most common instance is the one here 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:35.019 that this woman warns about. 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:38.040 And it's this common instance of cosigning on a loan. 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:40.120 Someone tells you, hey, I need this loan. 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:42.100 All I need you to do is sign. 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:43.439 I'm going to make all the payments. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:44.600 You don't need to worry about it. 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:46.660 You're just going to really help me out and do me a solid. 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:52.240 A warning, though, here is the same thing 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:53.780 that these readers experience. 00:07:53.780 --> 00:07:56.600 So verses 2 and 5 tells us how terrible it is. 00:07:57.280 --> 00:07:59.480 And then verses 3 and 4 tell us what to do. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:01.740 If you find yourself in this sort of situation, 00:08:02.580 --> 00:08:03.240 get out of it. 00:08:04.780 --> 00:08:07.060 Get out of it as soon as possible. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:10.300 Don't let yourself sleep, is what we're told, 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:13.040 until you're able to remove yourself from this situation. 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:16.259 Because you know, as the author of Proverbs is telling you, 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:17.819 as this woman warns in her column, 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:18.680 this is a trap. 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:20.660 This is a great way 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:24.100 to find yourself making payments 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:25.340 for someone else's property. 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:27.899 Now, I've shared with you these stories from this article. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.139 As I've talked with people about this passage from Proverbs, 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:34.039 telling them, hey, this is what we're preaching on this week, 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.879 I've heard even more stories. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.079 So if you want to know all kinds of horror stories, 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:42.779 just start asking people about their experiences 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:46.219 or their friends' experiences with co-signing loans. 00:08:47.579 --> 00:08:49.860 These stories, of course, help us understand 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:51.899 why this is a bad idea. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:54.079 And we read in our confession of faith this morning 00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:57.480 another verse in Proverbs that tells us how dangerous this is. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:01.740 Proverbs 22, verses 26 and 27 asks, 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:05.000 why should your bed be taken out from under you? 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:08.720 In other words, you don't co-sign loans 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.980 because you could end up losing your own bed. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.360 You could end up losing the very thing 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.899 that you need to provide and support for yourself. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:19.379 You could bankrupt yourself. 00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:22.480 You could end up paying a monthly payment 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.240 that you have no means to pay. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:26.300 You could end up destroying your credit. 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:29.360 This is gonna be counted against you 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.800 as your total debt potentially 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:32.840 when you go and need to get a loan. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:35.500 And so it's gonna jeopardize your ability 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:37.000 to provide for yourself 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.580 and it's going to jeopardize your ability 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:41.700 to provide for your family. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:42.899 And so that's why I brought it up 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:43.779 with the Eighth Commandment. 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:46.060 This is going to put yourself in a situation 00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:48.600 where other people might be stealing from you. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:50.920 Put yourself in a situation 00:09:50.920 --> 00:09:52.539 where you might be tempted to steal 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:56.259 because it's such a bad idea financially. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.279 In her first article, 00:09:58.480 --> 00:09:59.960 this woman shares some statistics. 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:04.159 28% of co-signers see a drop in their credit scores 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.860 because the person they helped did not pay 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:09.559 or paid very late. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.620 38% had to pay some or, wait for it, 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:15.659 all of the loan payments 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:17.439 because the primary person didn't pay. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:22.160 If they go and they have collectors come after you, 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:24.340 you could end up paying late fees, 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:26.020 have your wages attached. 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:29.800 It's reported on your credit report. 00:10:31.660 --> 00:10:32.960 And as I mentioned before, 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:35.600 you may be limited in your ability to borrow 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:37.180 because if a lender looks at you, 00:10:37.260 --> 00:10:38.620 they're gonna see you already have 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:39.780 this massive amount of debt. 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:44.759 And then finally, she warns us, 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:46.720 you might be thinking at this point, 00:10:46.839 --> 00:10:47.939 yes, this is all true. 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:49.539 This is true of people who are irresponsible. 00:10:49.899 --> 00:10:51.279 You don't understand, right? 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.339 I'm actually co-signing a loan 00:10:53.339 --> 00:10:55.519 for someone who's incredibly responsible. 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:57.299 They just have this strange situation. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:59.079 It's an exception to the rule. 00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:01.919 Michelle warns us about that as well. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.779 That person might be incredibly responsible 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:06.959 and you can't guarantee 00:11:06.959 --> 00:11:08.039 they're gonna keep their job. 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:12.159 You have no control over their employment. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:14.839 So they may be the most responsible person in the world 00:11:14.839 --> 00:11:18.319 and then, right, the coronavirus hits. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.559 People are losing their jobs. 00:11:19.899 --> 00:11:21.220 This person's not able to pay. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.500 Guess who's on the hook for it? 00:11:23.839 --> 00:11:24.539 You are. 00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:26.360 You cannot, as she says, 00:11:26.439 --> 00:11:28.860 guarantee their health and their employment. 00:11:28.959 --> 00:11:29.480 In other words, 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:32.659 we don't enable foolish behavior in other people. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:35.639 We don't help someone else to be foolish. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:39.100 A final reason we don't do this is, 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.759 if banks don't trust them, 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:44.159 why should you? 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.480 If banks don't trust them, 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:47.959 why should you? 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:49.019 Think about this for a second. 00:11:49.579 --> 00:11:51.500 You know this if you've applied for a loan. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.720 You often get approved for more money 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:55.259 than you should wisely spend. 00:11:55.699 --> 00:11:57.339 When I went to buy my house, 00:11:57.899 --> 00:12:00.360 I asked how much I had gotten approved for. 00:12:00.939 --> 00:12:02.659 I had gotten approved for a number 00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:05.620 that was way more than I could ever responsibly spend. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.039 I could sign, 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.879 the bank would let me sign a loan 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:10.639 for an amount of money 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.219 that would put me under. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:14.639 They didn't need a cosigner for that. 00:12:14.719 --> 00:12:17.600 So imagine if I went and asked you 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.779 to cosign a home loan 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:20.360 how much money I'm borrowing. 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.220 I must be borrowing 00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:25.620 a wildly irresponsible amount of money. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:29.220 If banks don't even trust someone, 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:31.240 you have no reason, 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:34.840 no position putting yourselves 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:36.480 on the line for them. 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:40.320 It can destroy you. 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:43.379 It may hurt the person 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:45.120 you're helping with that loan. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.620 Now, this raises a question. 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:51.220 This is a church, Sunday morning. 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:54.560 Why in the world are we talking 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:57.360 about cosigning loans of all things? 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.580 And why am I reading you financial statistics 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.980 about what's going to happen 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.320 if you cosign? 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:07.360 Well, there's some principles here 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.460 that lie behind what's going on. 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.960 First, God commands us 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.720 and calls us to care for the poor. 00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:16.980 We're going to see that 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:19.580 all throughout the book of Proverbs. 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:21.400 We're told in Proverbs 3. 00:13:22.040 --> 00:13:23.139 Remember, we've already seen this. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.519 We preached in Proverbs 3 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.420 a couple weeks ago. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.960 Do not say to your neighbor, 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.080 go and come again. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:29.300 Tomorrow I will give it 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:30.379 when you have it with you. 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:32.540 So we've been commanded 00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:34.960 to care for people who have needs, right? 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.920 So we need warnings 00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:38.340 about what the exceptions are. 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:41.160 Proverbs 19 tells us 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.719 whoever is generous to the poor 00:13:42.719 --> 00:13:43.639 lends to the Lord 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:45.219 and he will repay him for his deed. 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:46.719 So you might be tempted to think, 00:13:46.839 --> 00:13:48.500 God commands me to care for the poor. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:50.559 This person is in a bad spot. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:52.199 They need me to cosign for them. 00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:53.240 I'm going to do 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.579 what God's commanded me to do. 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.579 No, the book of Proverbs 00:13:57.579 --> 00:13:58.480 gives us warnings. 00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:59.459 It gives us boundaries 00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.600 about God's commands. 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:02.759 Proverbs 21 says, 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.179 whoever closes his ear 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:05.259 to the cry of the poor 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:07.240 will himself call out 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.139 and not be answered. 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:10.919 Except if the poor 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.539 is calling out 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.120 and asking you 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.080 to cosign alone. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:15.460 Then you close your ears. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.199 So part of the reason 00:14:19.199 --> 00:14:20.019 this is in the Bible 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:21.159 is we need boundaries 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:22.639 to give us wisdom 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.360 when it comes to God's commands. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:25.480 There are, in other words, 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.879 wise ways 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.199 to help other people. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:30.360 There are unwise ways 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.600 to help other people. 00:14:31.699 --> 00:14:32.559 So this is a book 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.340 about wisdom. 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:35.340 It's an incredibly practical book. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.439 We need to be warned 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.660 and not be foolish. 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.940 This highlights 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:41.900 another thing for us 00:14:41.900 --> 00:14:43.020 which is the necessity 00:14:43.020 --> 00:14:44.720 of having wisdom, right? 00:14:44.780 --> 00:14:46.180 It's not enough 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:47.040 to just have 00:14:47.040 --> 00:14:49.100 a good, tender, generous heart. 00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:52.200 You can be incredibly tender 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.060 and generous 00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:54.420 and a loving person 00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:56.700 and still be a fool. 00:14:58.400 --> 00:14:59.840 Your heart can be 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.820 in the right place 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:02.680 and you can still do 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:04.160 stupid and foolish things. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.919 And so this is a reminder 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.980 to us that we need 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.759 to study books 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.679 like the book of Proverbs. 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:10.000 We need to study wisdom 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.339 to protect us 00:15:11.339 --> 00:15:12.219 from foolishness. 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.299 Part of loving God 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.240 is being wise 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.000 in this world. 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.439 Remember we talked earlier 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.240 about the characters 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:18.819 of Proverbs. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.839 We have the foolish person 00:15:19.839 --> 00:15:21.179 and the simple person. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.659 The simple person, 00:15:22.839 --> 00:15:24.059 one of his characteristics 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.419 is that he has trouble 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:27.259 connecting present actions 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.379 to future consequences. 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.899 Simple person has trouble 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.539 connecting present actions 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.599 to future consequences. 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:35.259 So a simple person 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.079 would have trouble 00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.179 thinking through 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.159 what might happen 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.860 to him or her 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:40.299 if they co-signed a loan 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.319 or they put up security 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.919 for someone else. 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.179 And so this just again 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:45.980 highlights for us 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.799 the importance of wisdom. 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:47.879 We have to listen. 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:49.719 It's not enough 00:15:49.719 --> 00:15:50.699 just to be a good, 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.379 loving person. 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:52.179 It's not enough 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:52.919 to just want 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:54.439 to care for the poor. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.120 I'll also point out 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.039 that this highlights 00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:59.899 God's fatherly heart 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.620 towards us. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:03.580 God gives us advice 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:05.139 about practical things. 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.659 We can trust him. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.840 We can love 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.820 and praise God 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.500 in part 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.799 because he's willing 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.720 to talk to us 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.620 about the nitty-gritty 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.639 details of life. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.519 We're going to hear 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.399 about the nitty-gritty 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.320 details of life 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.139 in the book of Proverbs 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:20.299 when it comes to relationships 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.000 and emotions. 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:22.600 We've heard about 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.500 the nitty-gritty 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.659 details of life 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.220 in Proverbs 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.700 when it comes 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:26.620 to our sexuality 00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.259 last week. 00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:27.519 Of course, 00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:28.440 we'll hear about it again 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:30.139 later in chapter 6 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.000 and chapter 7. 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:33.340 God loves us 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.319 so much 00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:36.699 that he talks 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:37.340 to us 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.679 about granular 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:39.819 things like this. 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.740 God loves us 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.340 so much 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:43.939 that he's willing 00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:44.879 to talk to us 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.799 about the details 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.600 of how we handle 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.019 our money. 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.480 God cares about 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.059 our lives 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:49.919 not just on Sunday 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:50.319 morning 00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:51.360 when we come 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.019 to sing songs 00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.340 to him. 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.080 He cares about 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.620 our lives 00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.539 Monday through 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.500 Saturday as well. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.480 There are things 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.399 we do Monday 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.000 through Saturday 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:58.819 that are wise 00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.620 wise and unwise 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.740 wise or foolish. 00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.880 And so if that's true 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.200 if this is the 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.440 floor of the law 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.220 as I talked about 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.640 earlier 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:11.340 what's the ceiling 00:17:11.340 --> 00:17:11.480 then? 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.480 If we put off 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.240 putting up security 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.120 for other people 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:16.440 what is it 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.059 that we actually 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.500 put on? 00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:18.039 What should we 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.740 be pursuing? 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.460 Well, 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.059 we pursue 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.460 wise generosity. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.039 We pursue 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.820 being generous 00:17:24.820 --> 00:17:25.340 and caring 00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:25.960 for ways 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.779 in ways 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.120 that are 00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:28.579 helpful. 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:30.140 Wise generosity 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.519 restores others. 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.220 It doesn't 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.840 enable them. 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.059 Wise generosity 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:36.019 restores and 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.759 helps other 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.160 people 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:38.100 rather than 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:39.059 enabling them 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.960 to make foolish 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.539 decisions. 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.360 Remember I 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:41.860 mentioned earlier 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.319 if you had 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.059 co-signed a 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.920 loan for me 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:44.880 in buying a 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.200 house 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.799 you would 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:46.120 have been 00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:47.100 enabling me 00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:47.579 to make 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.299 a terrible 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.840 foolish 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.340 decision. 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.920 So we're 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.600 generous in 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.360 wise ways. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:53.759 You want to 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.559 actually help 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.259 me and enable 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:55.500 me. 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:55.940 You want to 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.619 move me 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:57.500 towards a 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:57.920 place where 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.799 I'm self-sustainable. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.599 God in his 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.019 redemption 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.359 does not just 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:01.839 throw us 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.480 handouts. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.440 He doesn't 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.119 just buy us 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.539 out of our 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.059 sin and 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.519 leave us 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:05.720 there. 00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:06.779 He restores 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.160 us. 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:07.920 There's the 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.539 process of 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.379 sanctification 00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.720 where God 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.319 is making 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:11.819 us more 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.160 and more 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:12.559 into the 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:12.980 image of 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.559 Jesus Christ. 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.039 He's making 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.640 us look 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.180 like him. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:15.859 There's 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.220 something 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.559 lazy about 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.099 co-signing 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:18.519 alone. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.539 It's easy 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.140 to sign a 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.480 piece of 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:21.740 paper. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.720 It's hard 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.460 to get 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.259 alongside of 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:24.640 someone and 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.240 actually help 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.700 them in the 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.240 situation 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.420 they're in. 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.299 You're 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.120 resolving a 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:31.200 symptom rather 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.220 than addressing 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:32.960 the cause, 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.680 the problem 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.740 that underlies 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.319 that symptom. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:36.980 And so 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.640 there's a 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.140 variety of 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:38.440 things you 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.720 could do. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.220 For example, 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.299 you could give 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.120 a gift to 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:42.660 someone rather 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.359 than enabling 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.039 them to take 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.599 out a loan. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.160 That gift 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:45.620 means you 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.259 measure how 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:46.819 much can I 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.559 actually afford. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.740 I know that 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.420 I'm giving this 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:49.900 money rather 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.539 than wondering 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.079 whether I'm 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.519 giving this 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.200 money, and so I 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:52.839 can calculate 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.120 that. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.539 Is this 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:53.919 gift going 00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:54.239 to help 00:18:54.239 --> 00:18:54.399 them? 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.459 There's a 00:18:55.459 --> 00:18:56.019 book that we 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.419 go through 00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:57.099 sometimes in 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.619 this church 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:57.959 with our 00:18:57.959 --> 00:18:58.479 leaders called 00:18:58.479 --> 00:18:59.059 When Helping 00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.539 Hurts. 00:19:00.439 --> 00:19:00.939 And it talks 00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.399 about the fact 00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:01.779 sometimes you 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.159 can hurt 00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:02.619 someone by 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.139 helping them, 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:03.479 and it gives 00:19:03.479 --> 00:19:04.759 categories for 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.399 the helpful 00:19:05.399 --> 00:19:06.179 ways to come 00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:07.299 alongside someone. 00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.179 They give 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:08.899 three categories. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.339 One is 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:11.199 relief, one is 00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:12.979 rehabilitation, and 00:19:12.979 --> 00:19:13.379 one is 00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:13.939 development. 00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:15.019 These are 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.839 different ways of 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.159 giving sacrificially 00:19:17.159 --> 00:19:18.579 rather than 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.439 destructively. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.360 We give and 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:22.059 we help other 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:23.440 people sacrificially 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.620 rather than 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.279 destructively. 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.779 So I'll give 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.740 you some 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.180 examples. 00:19:27.320 --> 00:19:27.740 Let's say 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.580 someone comes 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:29.720 and they ask 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.539 you to co-sign 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.059 a loan for 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.120 them on a 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.420 car. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.420 Well, this 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:35.840 might be a 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:36.519 legitimate need, 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:36.720 right? 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.299 This person 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.019 might actually 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.620 need a car. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.100 What can you 00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:39.640 do instead of 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.220 co-signing the 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.380 loan? 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.539 Well, maybe 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.559 you need to 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.279 gather together 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:43.799 a group of 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.420 other people 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:45.400 who can all 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.039 put in some 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.600 money, and 00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.279 maybe you help 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.820 this person 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:49.079 buy a 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:49.879 $4,000 00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:51.599 car rather 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:52.359 than co-signing 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.099 a loan for 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.159 a $20,000 00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:54.759 car. 00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:56.439 That might be 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.299 a wise way to 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.659 help that 00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.220 person rather 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.779 than a foolish 00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.240 way to help 00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.740 that person. 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.299 Maybe that 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.980 person, instead 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.519 of needing 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.159 help buying a 00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:04.659 car, maybe 00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.200 they need you 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.659 to counsel 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.539 them to use 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.259 public transit 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.759 instead. 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:08.939 Maybe they 00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:09.299 need to do 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:09.859 some budgeting. 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:10.939 That would 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:11.480 be a wise 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:11.799 way. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.399 If you're 00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:13.899 helping someone 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:14.859 with a home 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.839 loan, by 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.500 the way, a 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:16.939 lot of 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.519 co-signing 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.440 happens 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:22.079 between parents 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.639 and children. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.619 Again, don't 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.000 think that 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.440 this is an 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.079 exception, that 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.660 these warnings 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.000 are an 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.539 exception when 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:28.960 it comes to 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.339 your kids. 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:29.779 I could tell 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.139 you more 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:30.779 stories about 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:30.980 that. 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.240 I won't 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.599 go there. 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.960 Someone asked 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.519 for help in 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.059 purchasing a 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.240 home. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:35.879 Maybe instead 00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:36.359 of helping 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.879 them by 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.440 co-signing, 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.359 you help 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:38.619 them with 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:38.960 a down 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.299 payment. 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.619 You know 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.119 how much 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.460 you're able 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:41.960 to afford 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.220 and you 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:42.500 give them 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:42.940 a gift. 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:45.079 Maybe instead 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.440 of doing 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.319 that, this 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.000 person needs 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.480 help getting 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.220 better job 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.519 skills. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:48.920 Maybe they 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.180 need a 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.740 higher paying 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.099 job. 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.799 That's a 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.619 wise way to 00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:52.180 help someone. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.000 Maybe you 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.720 pay for some 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.359 job training 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:55.779 for them. 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:56.779 That's a 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.240 way to give 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.859 them development 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.359 in those 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.000 categories of 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.339 relief, 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.000 rehabilitation, 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:01.900 and development. 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.140 Maybe this 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.740 person needs 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.460 help budgeting 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.440 and saving so 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:05.839 that they can 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.460 make a larger 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.259 down payment on 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.799 a car and 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.119 they can have 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.440 a lower 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.200 monthly payment. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.799 If someone 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.360 comes and 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:12.019 asks you to 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.600 co-sign for 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.279 student loans 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.660 for them, 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.059 by the way, 00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:14.500 this is one of 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:14.860 the worst 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.240 things you 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.779 can co-sign 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.019 on, 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:17.640 there are 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.740 wise ways 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.160 to help 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.319 them. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:19.819 Maybe they 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.660 need counseling 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.900 to go to 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.299 a cheaper 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:22.759 school. 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.680 Maybe they 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.019 need to go 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.600 to a community 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.319 college rather 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:25.920 than a four-year 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.400 college. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.620 Maybe this 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.319 person needs 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.000 to do school 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.759 at a slower 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.039 pace so they 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.720 can work and 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.240 pay for it 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.660 along the 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:32.920 way. 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:34.259 Whatever it 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:36.080 is, we're 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:36.680 not saying 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.019 from this 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.759 passage, don't 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.240 help other 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:38.579 people. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:40.880 What we're 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.420 saying is 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:41.799 there are 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.740 wise ways 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.240 that make 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.960 other people 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:45.099 wise and 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.440 there are 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.240 foolish ways 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.620 that make 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.240 other people 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.740 foolish. 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.980 We embrace 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.059 the wise ways. 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.259 We help 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.680 people. 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:54.240 We want to 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.000 come alongside 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.460 of them. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:55.940 We want to 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.620 assist other 00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:56.900 people. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.180 We know that 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.900 not everyone 00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.339 is in the 00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.000 situation they 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.440 are because 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.700 they're 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.339 irresponsible. 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.259 Some people 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.160 are, some 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.660 people aren't. 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.019 Some people 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.599 need help. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.039 We just need 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.640 to help them 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.180 in ways that 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.980 don't endanger 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.720 ourselves and 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.000 our own 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.400 families. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.200 We help 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.460 them in 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:10.920 ways that 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.779 model God. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:12.119 God as 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.599 our Father 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:14.460 instructs us 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.440 and God as 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:15.819 our Father 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.700 shows us how 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.579 redemption works. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.380 He comes and 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.140 he restores. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.359 He's the kind 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:20.940 of Father who 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.880 provides relief, 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:22.980 rehabilitation, 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.140 and development. 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:24.799 He provides 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.819 redemption for 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.079 us. 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:26.920 That's the 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.700 logic of the 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.059 gospel. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.380 That Jesus 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:30.319 dies for us, 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.299 he pays what 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.079 he can afford, 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.299 which is 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.660 infinite. 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.220 He's able to 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.920 afford paying 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.500 the cost of 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.160 our sins and 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:37.180 then he 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.920 rehabilitates 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.120 us. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:38.900 He restores 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.140 us. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.860 He renews 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.140 us. 00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:41.080 That's the 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:41.580 way he 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.320 helps people. 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.320 That's the 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:43.740 way we 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.300 help people. 00:22:47.060 --> 00:22:47.840 Now I've 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.320 told you 00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:49.259 before, 00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:49.560 when we 00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:49.960 talked in 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.279 Proverbs 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:50.980 chapter 3, 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.400 that the 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.120 way Proverbs 00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.940 work is 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.500 that Proverbs 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.080 are not 00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:55.100 rigid rules. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:55.960 They're 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:57.000 principles rather 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.560 than rules. 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.400 They're guidance 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:59.240 about how life 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.320 generally works, 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.140 and so they 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.519 need to be 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.200 applied at the 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.840 right place at 00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:03.460 the right time. 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.140 What I don't 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:05.559 want you to 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.340 hear is that 00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:06.960 it is a 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.240 sin to 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.759 cosign a 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.120 loan for 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.440 someone. 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:09.819 In fact, 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.180 the Old 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:11.259 Testament gives 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.620 an example in 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.480 the book of 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.700 Genesis of a 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.559 security being 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.000 given, a 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.360 surety. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.420 There's actually 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.140 a law in the 00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.600 Old Testament 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.079 about it, and 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.539 the law is 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:19.880 meant to 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.500 protect the 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.019 person who 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.420 gives the 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:21.720 surety. 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:22.180 It says if 00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:22.920 you take 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.380 someone's 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.600 cloak as 00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.120 a surety, 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.019 make sure you 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.640 return that 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.100 before it's 00:23:27.100 --> 00:23:27.480 cold at 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:27.660 night. 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.039 So it's 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.559 not forbidden 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.120 by God's 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.279 law. 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:30.920 It's allowed. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:31.980 It's just 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.440 foolish. 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.360 So what are 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:33.920 the exceptions? 00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:34.320 When would 00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:34.580 be the 00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.840 situation that 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.100 you would 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:36.660 cosign a 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.000 loan for 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.340 someone? 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.640 I'd say 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:38.960 there's a 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.700 few principles. 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.080 One of 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:40.340 them we 00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.480 see in 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.860 that verse 00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.299 in Proverbs 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.059 chapter 22, 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.500 which I 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.860 will refer 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.440 to as the 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:44.640 bed 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.080 principle. 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.480 Whatever you 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.039 do, if you 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.559 cosign a 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.080 loan, make 00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:50.000 sure that 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.559 you are 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.320 prepared to 00:23:51.320 --> 00:23:52.480 pay every 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.320 single payment 00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:53.860 on that 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.580 loan, and 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:54.980 that doing 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.740 so means you 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.220 won't lose 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.620 your bed. 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.799 So you need 00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.400 to have enough 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.279 money in your 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.000 budget that you 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.960 can add that 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.740 payment for as 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.620 many years as 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.720 it lasts, and 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.319 it will not 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:05.960 hurt you and 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.420 your family 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:06.960 financially. 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:08.480 You've got to 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:08.980 make sure you 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.200 pass the 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.779 bed rule. 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.019 You've got to 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.720 be willing then 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.240 to be able to 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.660 pay it, and 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:15.960 then you have 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.660 to ask, are 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.240 you enabling 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.279 bad behavior? 00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:18.860 Are you 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:19.720 enabling someone 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.640 to take out 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.319 a loan that's 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.220 irresponsible for 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.680 them to take 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:22.900 out? 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:24.059 There might be 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.700 some exceptions, 00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.039 right? 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.860 And I'll give 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.480 you an example 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.600 of one exception 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:29.620 to cosigning a 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.039 loan or putting 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.519 a surety. 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.400 When we got 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.160 our loan on 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.619 this church 00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:34.019 building, we 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.500 did not have 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.940 a cosigner, but 00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.639 we did have 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.319 someone who 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:39.420 put up $500,000 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:41.460 as a surety, I 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:41.980 guess is what you 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.339 could say. 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.160 They weren't 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.759 cosigning, they 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.160 weren't taking 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:45.039 responsibility for 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:46.240 our payments, but 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.980 they said, I 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.559 will be on the 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.779 hook for $500,000 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.639 if this church 00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.220 falls down. 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.500 For this 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.799 individual, this 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.359 individual who 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:54.900 did this is 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.279 worth hundreds of 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.740 millions of 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.079 dollars. 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.139 dollars. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.179 So, had 00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.579 they had to 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.059 pay that 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.679 $500,000, they 00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:01.939 would have 00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:02.480 passed the 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.099 bed principle. 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.139 He would 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.439 have not 00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:04.879 lost his 00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.079 bed. 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.619 It's a 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:08.079 slightly different 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.799 situation with 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.399 a church than 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:10.799 a person, and 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.460 at the end of 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:11.899 the day, when 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:12.740 we renegotiated 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.599 our loan last 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.819 fall, we had 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.359 this person 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.460 released from 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:16.859 the loan. 00:25:17.699 --> 00:25:18.259 So, this 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.899 man never 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.839 ended up paying 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.740 that $500,000. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.500 He's not on 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:21.879 our loan 00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:22.259 anymore. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.439 The bank 00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:24.579 said, wow, 00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:24.980 you guys have 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.619 done a fantastic 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.399 job paying your 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:26.880 loan payments 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.360 every month. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:27.759 We're going to 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.300 set this up 00:25:28.300 --> 00:25:29.019 well, and this 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.540 man's off the 00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:29.740 hook. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.140 So, there are 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:31.640 exceptions. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.460 The fact that we 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.100 got him removed, 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.980 he never paid 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.920 that $500,000, 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.240 proves that that 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.780 was an exception 00:25:36.780 --> 00:25:37.300 to the rule, 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:37.540 right? 00:25:37.600 --> 00:25:38.900 He decided to 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.320 do that. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:39.980 He's a Christian 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.280 man. 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.680 He wanted to 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.259 help a church. 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.320 Ended up 00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:42.820 proving to be 00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:43.180 wise. 00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.340 But again, it's 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.080 exceptions like 00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:47.440 that that prove 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.820 the rule. 00:25:48.580 --> 00:25:48.840 If you're 00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:50.400 cosigning, make 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:50.940 sure you're like 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:51.480 this man. 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.420 You can afford 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.740 to pay it and 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.300 not lose your 00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:54.560 bed. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.579 So, we 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.240 don't apply 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.659 Proverbs 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.299 rigidly. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.519 We understand 00:25:59.519 --> 00:25:59.859 there are 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.720 situations where 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.279 it applies, 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.119 situations where 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:02.500 it doesn't 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:02.859 apply. 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.019 This one's 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.359 going to 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.440 apply most 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.059 of the time, 00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.599 almost all 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.119 of the time. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.879 Of course, I've 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.480 been telling you 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.480 that Jesus is 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.139 our great 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:16.159 wisdom teacher, 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:18.060 and Jesus 00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:19.900 teaches wise 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.180 generosity as 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.500 well. 00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.300 He tells us a 00:26:22.300 --> 00:26:24.000 story in Luke 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.920 chapter 10 about 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.779 the Good Samaritan. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.420 If you're familiar 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.019 with this, you 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.600 know that there's 00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:28.640 a man who comes 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.540 and asks Jesus, 00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.400 what does it 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.000 mean for me to 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.700 love my neighbor? 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:33.019 Jesus tells a 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.620 story about a 00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:34.360 man who's beaten. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:34.900 He's on the 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.400 side of the 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.759 road and 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.400 there's religious 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.160 people who look 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.640 him over who 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.240 don't help him 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.620 and there's a 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.259 Samaritan who 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.860 comes and he 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.660 does help this 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:41.880 man. 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.400 What does he do 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:42.660 for him? 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.300 Well, he takes 00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:43.420 him. 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:43.779 He gives him 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.220 relief. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.500 He takes him 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.039 to a place 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.440 where he can 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:46.900 stay. 00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:48.120 He gives his 00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:49.019 own money as 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.779 a gift, right? 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.400 He's actually 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.079 being generous, 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.720 but in a way 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.319 that's wise. 00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.059 He knows this 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.180 man is in a 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.880 bad position 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.100 not because of 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.960 his foolishness 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.500 but because of 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.059 someone else's 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.519 violence. 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.640 So he helps 00:26:59.640 --> 00:26:59.819 him. 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.700 He gives his 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.440 own money to 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.000 the innkeeper 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.460 and he says, 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:02.940 if you need 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:04.339 any more, I'm 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:04.600 here. 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:04.980 I'm going to 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.420 be the one 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.039 who pays it. 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:08.100 That's wise 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:09.140 generosity, right? 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.819 That's a way 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.160 to care for 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.579 others. 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.319 Jesus tells us 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:13.720 in Matthew 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.600 chapter 25, 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.120 there's going 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:15.440 to be a 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.100 time where 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.740 he looks at 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.000 people. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.440 He tells us 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.900 the story of 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.200 the sheep 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.740 and the goats 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.680 and he's 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.120 going to 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.700 say to 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.200 the sheep, 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:22.860 whatever you 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:23.620 did to one 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.079 of the least 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.740 of my brothers, 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.200 you did it 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.519 to me. 00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.019 So Jesus 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.079 teaches us, 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.200 he commands 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.960 us to care 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.400 and help 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:29.759 for other 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.039 people. 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.700 He tells us 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.319 when we help 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.860 other people, 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.120 we are doing 00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:33.960 it for him, 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.339 we're doing 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.100 it to him. 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.319 And so we 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.120 want to be 00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.839 generous people. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.539 We want to 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.700 be people who 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.480 help the poor, 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:42.640 who help people 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:42.980 in need. 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.960 Jesus empowers 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.600 this as well. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.120 We see in 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:46.140 Acts chapter 2, 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.800 in Acts chapter 4, 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.740 Jesus' spirit, 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.720 the Holy Spirit 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.700 is enabling people 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.900 to share generously. 00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.660 They're sharing 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.660 whatever they have 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.640 with people 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.460 who are in need. 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.660 And so this is 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.320 the character 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:58.020 of the Christian 00:27:58.020 --> 00:27:58.440 community. 00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.220 It's the character 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.100 that Jesus gives 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.500 to us. 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.500 He just gives it 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:03.160 to us in wise 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:03.759 ways. 00:28:04.820 --> 00:28:05.400 And then Jesus 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:06.160 models it, 00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:06.540 of course, 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:06.880 for it. 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.720 He models it 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.860 and empowers it. 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:10.179 He models it 00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:11.039 and empowers it 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.539 through the way 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.179 that he lives 00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:12.719 on this earth, 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.619 restoring people. 00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:14.019 And of course, 00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.599 ultimately, 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.479 he models and 00:28:15.479 --> 00:28:16.539 empowers it for us 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.339 in his death 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.939 on the cross. 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.199 He shows us 00:28:19.199 --> 00:28:21.019 what wise 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.039 generosity looks 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.379 like. 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:23.939 For those who 00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:24.679 are willing to 00:28:24.679 --> 00:28:25.659 repent of their 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.579 sins and follow 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.159 after him, 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.339 turning away from 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.719 sin and towards 00:28:29.719 --> 00:28:30.240 righteousness, 00:28:30.459 --> 00:28:31.219 admitting that they 00:28:31.219 --> 00:28:32.219 have no hope 00:28:32.219 --> 00:28:33.319 in this world 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.219 aside from Jesus, 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.419 that outside of 00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:36.419 their hope and 00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.399 faith and trust 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:37.900 in Jesus, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.820 they will face 00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:40.519 eternal punishment 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.300 and separation 00:28:41.300 --> 00:28:42.140 from God. 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.580 Jesus offers 00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:45.160 through his death 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.740 forgiveness and 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.140 restoration. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.680 He offers relief 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:50.100 and rehabilitation. 00:28:51.280 --> 00:28:52.420 That offer is 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.060 for us. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.900 It's for you 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.500 this morning, 00:28:54.540 --> 00:28:55.180 for anyone 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.660 who has repented 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.300 of their sins 00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:58.360 or who repents 00:28:58.360 --> 00:28:59.380 of their sins. 00:28:59.540 --> 00:29:00.240 Jesus makes 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.759 that offer, 00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:02.060 that generous offer, 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.660 and it doesn't 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.759 lose him his bed. 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:08.339 Jesus can afford 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:08.619 it. 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.140 Jesus can afford 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:10.900 to offer it 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.440 because he's 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.019 earned it 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.440 through his 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:12.839 death. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.579 And then he 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.579 restores us, 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:15.799 right? 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.599 He's working 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.240 with us. 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.299 Jesus isn't 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.859 lazy. 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.539 He doesn't just 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.500 pay off the 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.140 debt of sin. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.559 He's restoring 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:22.920 us. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.779 He's renewing 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.460 us into his 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:24.819 image. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.480 And so he's 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.440 making us 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.319 people who 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.079 look like him. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.599 We do not 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.339 need a 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:31.879 cosigner, 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.160 right? 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.519 We didn't 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.339 need someone 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.699 to come 00:29:34.699 --> 00:29:35.019 and say, 00:29:35.159 --> 00:29:35.259 well, 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.539 if they 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:35.959 can't pay 00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:36.359 the debt, 00:29:36.439 --> 00:29:36.879 I will. 00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:38.579 There's no 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.179 way we 00:29:39.179 --> 00:29:39.500 could pay 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:39.819 the debt 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.159 of our 00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:40.419 sin. 00:29:40.939 --> 00:29:41.480 And so we 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.220 couldn't have 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.859 a cosigner. 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.679 We needed 00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:44.939 someone to 00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:45.899 completely pay 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.699 our debt. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.279 We needed 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.679 Jesus. 00:29:49.179 --> 00:29:50.019 And so we 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.699 look to him. 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.259 We look to him 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.059 for wise 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:52.699 generosity. 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.899 We know 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.359 that Jesus 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:55.099 is at work 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.459 restoring us, 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.119 and he's 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:58.819 restoring this 00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.179 world. 00:29:59.319 --> 00:29:59.759 And so we 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.599 can follow 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.379 after him, 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:03.640 restoring others, 00:30:04.280 --> 00:30:05.040 and restoring 00:30:05.040 --> 00:30:05.820 this world 00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.340 that Jesus 00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:07.260 loves and 00:30:07.260 --> 00:30:07.920 died for 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:09.900 in ways 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.520 that are 00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:11.120 wise 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:12.140 rather than 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.540 foolish. 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.140 Please pray 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.540 with me. 00:30:18.260 --> 00:30:19.000 Our Father 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.380 in heaven, 00:30:19.540 --> 00:30:20.680 we thank you 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.060 that you 00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:21.720 give us 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.080 nitty-gritty 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:24.140 instructions 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.940 about life. 00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:26.860 You teach 00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.260 us how to 00:30:27.260 --> 00:30:27.660 walk in 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.260 this world, 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.400 not just in 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.220 repentance to 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.880 you, but in 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:32.120 ways that 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:32.960 help build 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.100 others up 00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:35.480 rather than 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:35.819 tear them 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.019 down. 00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:36.500 We ask that 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:36.880 you'd grow 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.440 us up in 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:37.779 wisdom, 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.400 especially when 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.360 it comes to 00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:41.360 money, and 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:41.740 that we would 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.460 look to you 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.180 as our model 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.500 and our 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.160 example, that 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:44.440 we would 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.980 embrace your 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.860 restoration of 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:47.819 us, and 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.120 that it would 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:48.740 cause us to 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.819 work for 00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.559 restoration of 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:50.819 others. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.860 We thank 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.640 you that 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.039 you give 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.600 us wisdom 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.960 through Jesus, 00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.559 and so we 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.220 ask for that 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.700 wisdom in 00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.180 his name. 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:57.920 Amen. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.059 Amen.