Distorted Work
Series: Thank God it's Monday
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 16th June 2013
Passages:
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Many moons ago when I worked in an engineering office,
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 very unusually there were three of us side by side,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 three offices side by side, three of us engineers,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 and one of those engineers on one side of me was a great comfort to me.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 He was pretty sensible and level-headed from my point of view.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 The other one drove me bananas.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:25 And because he saw that his Christian witness
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 was working harder and longer than anybody else.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 And I remember sitting there absolutely resentful one birthday for me.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 My birthday is 24th of April, always on a public holiday next door to Anzac Day.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 So he had me in there on the Anzac Day public holiday
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 working because he didn't have confidence I'd get my work done.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 So I sat there, not a very happy little camper at all,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:54 throwing off vibes all day and absolutely resentful of where I found myself.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 But my friend wasn't married.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 He would work until 1 or 2 a.m.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 trying to get the absolutely perfect solution to an engineering dilemma,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 which is not necessarily possible.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 It's sometimes an art, not just a science.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 And unbelieving colleagues would laugh behind his back
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 at his ridiculous work ethic.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:21 And then he would view that as working hard and suffering for the gospel.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 My friend in retail was another person
00:01:25 --> 00:01:30 who would work in the back office of a major department store
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 until 1 a.m., keeping the firm going.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 Never home for dinner with his family.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 Never managing to fall into bed at the same time as his wife.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 The firm asks for more and more.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 He's not after the money, though.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 He doesn't know anything different.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 He doesn't think that anyone will want to employ him.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 Any other employer would want to take him on.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:59 And so he burns out with serious mental illness
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 and work takes no responsibility for him.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 Someone else.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 The financial high flyer.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 Small children.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 Leaves home 4 a.m.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 gets his work done before anybody else is in the office,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 putting their requests in front of him.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 And he might get home for a bedside story at 7 p.m.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 He's esteemed.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 He's getting rich.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 He will make such a lot of money one year
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 that his home will be paid off many, many years
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 before the loan requires.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:45 And he and his lonely wife
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 will then begin to renovate their palace
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 and be debt-free.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:57 His wife does a magnificent job
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 in her very skilled vocation in the health industry.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 She receives a huge amount of kudos
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 and esteem in her paid work.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 She holds the fort together
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 in the nurture of the children.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 They don't need the money.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 But they plough on with no adjustment
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 to how they live
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 and their family life...
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 No adjustment to how they live
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 and how their family life is impacted.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 Another woman chooses unemployment
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 in preference to taking work
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 below her pay grade.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 The hard-working farmer
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 who's proud of what he has.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 He works hard.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 He never uses credit.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 When you see his wealth,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 everybody knows it's his.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 And the bank owns none of him.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 And then there's all the ways
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 we go about volunteer work
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 with sports teams
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 or community service
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 or even ministries at church.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 I have my place.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 I have my identity.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 Don't you know who I am?
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 I fight and I work for acknowledgement
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 and I don't give way easily
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 to new people and new ideas.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 There are many distortions to work.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 Using God as an excuse
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 for a ridiculous take on work.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 Working for a loveless master
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 and getting consumed.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 Pursuing massive material gain
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 while choosing to put
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 significant relationships
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 on the back burner.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 Trying to balance
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 a husband's work
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 and life against a wife's.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 Pride of place and position.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 People need to know
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 how important you are.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 Your identity is defined
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 by what you've done
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 or what you own.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 Laziness.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 They're all distortions of work.
00:04:55 --> 00:05:00 So today what I really want to do
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 is speak about
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 how when work becomes distorted
00:05:04 --> 00:05:04 and again
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 we're following
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 the book
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 Timothy Keller's book
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 it's on sale there in the foyer
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Every Good Endeavour.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 It's a great book
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 and if you want to read
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 more broadly
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 along the lines
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 of where we're trying to preach
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 that's a great book
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 and an accessible book
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 in terms of
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 not too hard to read.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 But we're talking about
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 when work becomes
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 I'm talking about
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 when work becomes
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 the means
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 by which we try
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 to control our world.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 In effect
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 when it becomes an idol
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 something we put ahead
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 of everything else
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 including God
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 and we look to it
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 to provide things
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 like inner comfort
00:05:44 --> 00:05:44 and meaning
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 which only a living relationship
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 with the living God
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 can give us.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:52 and it becomes
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 an idol
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 an idol is something
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 which enables us
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 to proudly assert
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 our independence
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 from God
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 and also
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 from one another.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 In mere Christianity
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 C.S. Lewis says
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 now I want
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 what I want you
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 to get clear
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 is that pride
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 is essentially
00:06:13 --> 00:06:13 competitive.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 It's competitive
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 by its very nature.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 Pride gets no pleasure
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 out of having something
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 only out of having
00:06:23 --> 00:06:23 more of it
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 than the next person.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 We say people
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 are proud of being rich
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 or clever
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 or good looking
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 but they're not.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 They are proud
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 of being richer
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 or cleverer
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 or better looking
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 than others.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 We're a lot like
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 Mr Burns
00:06:41 --> 00:06:41 in Homer Simpson
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 Homer Simpson's boss
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 a man who lives
00:06:45 --> 00:06:45 for wealth
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 and Homer says
00:06:47 --> 00:06:47 to him
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 Mr Burns
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 you're the richest
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 man I know
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 and Burns
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 says yes
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 but I'd trade it
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 all for more.
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 And so
00:06:59 --> 00:06:59 this race
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 to the top
00:07:00 --> 00:07:00 never finishes
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 and you know
00:07:03 --> 00:07:03 it's really easy
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 for us to sit here
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 we can take shots
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 at the rich
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 and those
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 who have wealth
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 and in some ways
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 they are an easy
00:07:09 --> 00:07:09 target
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 and the Bible
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 uses them
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 as an example
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 of warning to us
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 that an idol
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 the love of money
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 the desire to get it
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 lies deep
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 within me
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 and you
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 we want
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 what they have
00:07:28 --> 00:07:32 and work
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 loses its dignity
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 when we use it
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 as a tool
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 to live independently
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 of God
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 it's a distortion
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 it's what we do
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 when we pursue
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 wealth
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 or relationships
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 or our own
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 sense of self-esteem
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 ahead of our
00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 pursuit of God
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 in other words
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 when we put
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 work
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 ahead of him
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 and I'm not
00:07:56 --> 00:07:56 saying this morning
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 I don't want you
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 to hear this
00:07:58 --> 00:07:58 to come back
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 and hide in church
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 and religious activity
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 I'm saying
00:08:03 --> 00:08:03 let your faith
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 in Christ
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 permeate who you are
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 in the way
00:08:07 --> 00:08:07 that you go
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 about your work
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 and live your life
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 and if your work
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 gets in the way
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 of your faith
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 it has become
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 distorted
00:08:16 --> 00:08:20 and so
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 Ecclesiastes
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 chapter 2
00:08:22 --> 00:08:22 verse 17
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 I want to read
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 some of those
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 verses again
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 I hated life
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 because the work
00:08:27 --> 00:08:27 that is done
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 under the sun
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 was grievous
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 to me
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 all of it
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 is meaningless
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 a chasing
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 after the wind
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 I hated
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 all the things
00:08:36 --> 00:08:36 I had toiled
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 for under the sun
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 because I must
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 leave them
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 to the one
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 who comes
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 after me
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 and who knows
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 whether he will
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 be a wise man
00:08:43 --> 00:08:43 or a fool
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 and yet he will
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 have control
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 over all the work
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 into which I have
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 poured my effort
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 and skill
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 under the sun
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 this too
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 is meaningless
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 and so my heart
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 began to despair
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 over all my
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 toilsome labour
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 under the sun
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 for a man
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 may do his work
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 with wisdom
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 and knowledge
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 and skill
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 and then he must
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 leave it to others
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 leave all that he owns
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 to someone
00:09:09 --> 00:09:09 who has not worked
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 for it
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 this too
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 is meaningless
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 and a great
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 misfortune
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 what does a man
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 get for all the
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 toil and anxious
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 striving
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 with which he
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 labours under the sun
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 all his days
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 his work
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 is pain
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 and grief
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 even at night
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 his mind
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 does not rest
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 this too
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 is meaningless
00:09:30 --> 00:09:34 and it's sort of like
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 this is the ultimate
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 self-made man
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 he's made his money
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 by blood
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 and sweat
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 and hard work
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 toil
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 toil
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 grievous toil
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 that's been his lot
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 in life
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 he's lived under
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 the curse of Adam
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 in Genesis 3
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 he's worked hard
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 and he may have used
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 wisdom
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 and knowledge
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 and skill
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 verse 21
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 he's even had
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 sleepless nights
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 wrestling with work
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 related problems
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 ring a bell
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 when you're sitting
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 for exams
00:09:59 --> 00:10:03 even at night
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 his mind
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 does not rest
00:10:04 --> 00:10:08 and after a lifetime
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 of effort
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 he awakes
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 to the harsh
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 realisation
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 that he's going
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 to pass it on
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 and so in verse 18
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 he says
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 I must leave it
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 all to the one
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 who comes after me
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 and who knows
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 whether they're going
00:10:20 --> 00:10:20 to be a brilliant
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 businessman
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 who will make it
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 all happen again
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 and continue
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 to grow the empire
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 or it may go
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 to a fool of a son
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 you know Luke 15
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 prodigal son stuff
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 and you can make
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 a will
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 but you can't
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 control things
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 once you're gone
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 wills can be
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 contested
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 the lawyers
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 will get a big
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 fee
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 won't you
00:10:42 --> 00:10:46 the old saying
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 you can't take
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 it with you
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 verse 21
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 he must leave
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 all that he owns
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 to someone
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 who has not
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 worked for it
00:10:52 --> 00:10:56 and he is
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 immensely frustrated
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 and in verse 17
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 I hated life
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 I hated all the
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 things I toiled
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 for
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 my heart
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 began to despair
00:11:07 --> 00:11:12 meaningless
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 meaningless
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 meaningless
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 meaningless
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 four times
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 through these
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 verses
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 what's it all
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 for
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 a puff
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 a vapour
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 it's fleeting
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 what he means
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 by puff
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 put some air
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 in your cheeks
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 that's a puff
00:11:27 --> 00:11:34 the fleetingness
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 of life
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 so this man
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 has been in
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 control of his
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 world
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 and his wealth
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 he's used his
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 work as a
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 journey to riches
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 he's busted
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 his guts
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 to increase
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 what he has
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and his
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 conclusion
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 a puff
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 I live
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 for a puff
00:11:52 --> 00:11:58 in Ecclesiastes 5
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 the teacher
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 wrestles with
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 other aspects
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 of money
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 and wealth
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 verse 8
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 chapter 5
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 if you see
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 the poor
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 oppressed
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 in a district
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 and justice
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 and rights
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 denied
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 do not be
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 surprised at
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 such things
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 for one
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 official is
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 eyed by a
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 higher one
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 and over
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 them both
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 are others
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 higher still
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 and the
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 increase
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 from the
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 land is
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 taken by
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 all
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 and the
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 king
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 himself
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 profits
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 from the
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 fields
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 and what
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 he does
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 is he
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 draws this
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 hierarchy
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 of society
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 and on the
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 bottom of the
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 heap
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 the poor
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 who are
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 oppressed
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 and the
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 measure of
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 oppression
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 is that
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 justice and
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 rights are
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 denied to
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 them
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 and they're
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 in this
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 state of
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 helplessness
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 and stuff
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 happens to
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 them and
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 they can't
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 prevent it
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 they don't
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 set the
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 taxes or
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 the prices
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 or they
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 don't make
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 the rules
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 but they
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 bear the
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 brunt of
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 them
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 and at the
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 top of the
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 heap is the
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 rich king
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 and in
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 between is a
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 hierarchy of
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 officials who
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 all get their
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 bit
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 it's a
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 description of
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 the world
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 that we know
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 we live like
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 kings
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 Sydney Morning
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 Herald this
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 week
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 millionaire
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 businessman
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 this is a
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 quote out of
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 the paper
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 millionaire
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 businessman
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 Geoffrey
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 Cousins who
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 is also a
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 Telstra
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 director
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 has criticised
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 the wealthy
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 families in
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Australia who
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 try to avoid
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 paying their
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 fair share of
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 taxes
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 saying that
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 they need to
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 remember that
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 they have a
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 civic duty to
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 contribute to
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 society
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 all the evidence
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 would say that
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 the percentage of
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 wealth in the
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 world and
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 certainly in
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 western countries
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 is falling into
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 fewer and fewer
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 hands
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 Cousins said
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 if you don't
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 increase taxes on
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 the wealthy
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 inevitably people's
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 standard of living
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 is going to
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 decline and
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 governments are
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 going to find it
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 extremely difficult
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 to maintain
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 services let alone
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 improve them
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 Cousins has called
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 that perspective
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 unethical
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 saying the
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 well-off have a
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 duty to contribute
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 to society
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 in a reasonable
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 way
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 the idea that if
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 you somehow
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 can somehow avoid
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 paying tax
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 then you ought to
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 take that
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 opportunity
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 I don't agree with
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 that at all
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 he said
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 the law is the
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 base level of
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 behaviour and I
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 find it very
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 depressing
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 when people say
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 well it's legal
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 therefore it's
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 fine
00:14:23 --> 00:14:27 see
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 people of
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 immense privilege
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 and power sit
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 on top of the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 tree with
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 multi layers of
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 officials under
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 them that was
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 the world
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 2500 years ago
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 it's the world
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 today
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 and not just
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Australia
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 and some of us
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 want to climb
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 that pyramid
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 that's what we're
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 trying to do
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 and if you
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 don't want to
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 climb the
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 pyramid you
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 want your
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 children or
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 your grandchildren
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 to climb that
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 pyramid
00:14:56 --> 00:15:01 or if you're a
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 child or a
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 grandchild you
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 feel the pressure
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of mum and dad
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 wanting you to
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 do those things
00:15:07 --> 00:15:11 and it's really
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 interesting because
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 he doesn't say
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 meaningless
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 he's really saying
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 that this is part
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 of the framework
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 of the broken
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 world in which
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 we live
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 it is the
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 state of
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 things and
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 it's not
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 meaningless
00:15:25 --> 00:15:29 but the next
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 bit is
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 verses 10
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 and 11
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 this is
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 chapter 5
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 Ecclesiastes
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 whoever loves
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 money never
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 has money
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 enough
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 whoever loves
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 wealth is
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 never satisfied
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 with his
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 income
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 this too is
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 meaningless
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 as goods
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 increase so
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 do those who
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 consume them
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 and what
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 benefit are they
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 to the owner
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 except to
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 feast his eyes
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 on them
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 he's got a
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 house full of
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 appliances
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 never enough
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 never satisfied
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 and the more
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 stuff you've got
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 the less time
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 you have to
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 look at it
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 let alone
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 use it
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 isn't that
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 the truth
00:16:10 --> 00:16:14 we have a
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 big throw out
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 just prior to
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Christmas
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 we're doing it
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 at the moment
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 aren't we
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 it's um
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 what is it
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 council collection
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 at the moment
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 look what goes
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 out on the
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 street
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and some of
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 you got wives
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 or husbands
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 who pick it
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 up
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 but there's
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 some great
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 stuff
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 I visited
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 a house
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 the other
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 day where
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 the front
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 veranda was
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 full of it
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 the person
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 warned me
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 before I
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 came
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 they said
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 you won't
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 believe my
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 place
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 and I
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 said oh
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 you're just
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 being the
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 woman who
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 says the
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 minister's
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 coming and
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 therefore you've
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 got to have
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 it all cleaned
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 before you
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 arrive
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 I'm used to
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 that
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 and she
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 said no
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 you won't
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 believe it
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 and she
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 was right
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 veranda
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 front room
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 then out the
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 back door
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 the entire
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 backyard
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 was full
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 stuff that
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 had been
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 accumulated
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 on council
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 cleanups
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 and was
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 in your
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 water
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 so it
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 could be
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 sold on
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 gum tree
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and that
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 was before
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 you got
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 into the
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 double
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 garage
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 which was
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 full of
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 the good
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 stuff
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 unbelievable
00:17:14 --> 00:17:18 I hardly
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 ever talk
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 to a person
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 around here
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 who tells
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 me they're
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 rich or
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 wealthy
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 we live
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 in a very
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 affluent
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 area of
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 Sydney
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 where our
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 homes are
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 worth anything
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 from a million
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 dollars up
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 overseas
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 trips are
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 commonplace
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 private
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 schooling
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 has almost
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 been the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 norm
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 in the
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 past
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 anyway
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 some of
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 us have
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 investment
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 properties
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 we have
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 the shopping
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 centre on
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 our doorstep
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 that draws
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 most people
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 from the
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 north shore
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 of Sydney
00:17:42 --> 00:17:45 nobody says
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 they're rich
00:17:46 --> 00:17:50 and strangely
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 many of us
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 feel like we
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 don't have
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 enough
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 we'd like
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 more security
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 a little
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 more wealth
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 we aren't
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 satisfied with
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 our incomes
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 and our
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 lifestyle
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 we would
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 still like
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 more
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 I would
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 I know a few
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 more things
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 that I would
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 like to have
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 in place
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 financially
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 but never
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 enough
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 never satisfied
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 not content
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 we are much
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 higher up the
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 pyramid than
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 many people in
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 Australia and
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 certainly the
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 world
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 can you imagine
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 going to a
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 dinner party
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 around here
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 and one of
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 the guests
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 says
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 you're
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 sipping
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 I don't
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 know what
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 you sip
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 around the
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 pool at a
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 dinner party
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 or around the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 table
00:18:39 --> 00:18:44 and one of
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 the guests
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 says I
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 think I
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 could live
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 on a lot
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 less and be
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 satisfied
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 I don't
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 need all
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 I've got
00:18:49 --> 00:18:52 I could
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 really enjoy
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 benefiting others
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 with my
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 wealth
00:18:54 --> 00:18:57 I'd love
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 to give a
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 significant
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 amount to
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 the building
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 development at
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 church
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 I'm thinking
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 giving 60%
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 of what I've
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 got to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 mission
00:19:02 --> 00:19:05 I really
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 don't think
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 it's great
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 for my kids
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 to be given
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 everything
00:19:08 --> 00:19:14 but our
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 greed is
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 insatiable
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 the more we
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 have the more
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 our appetite
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 for more
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 and it
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 consumes
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 and it
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 destroys us
00:19:20 --> 00:19:23 and our
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 lives are
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 described by
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 this passage
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 verse 12
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 the abundance
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 of a rich
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 man permits
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 him no
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 sleep
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 the labourer
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 sleeps
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 sweetly
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 verse 13
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 wealth is
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 hoarded to
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 the harm of
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 the owner
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 verse 14
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 wealth is
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 swept away
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 by misfortune
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 I've heard
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 many stories
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 of people
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 losing
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 everything
00:19:43 --> 00:19:46 and the
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 rich man
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 eats in
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 darkness
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 with great
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 frustration
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 affliction
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 and anger
00:19:54 --> 00:19:57 he's
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 entered the
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 world
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 with zip
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and he
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 exits
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 with a
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 big
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 fat
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 zilch
00:20:01 --> 00:20:05 so the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 writer declares
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 the barrenness
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 of life
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 live for
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 money
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 and possessions
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 and wealth
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 hopeless
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 things to put
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 in the place
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 of God
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 and if that
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 is what you
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 live for
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 you live
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 for a
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 distorted
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 reality
00:20:18 --> 00:20:21 they don't
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 journey with
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 us and
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 protect us
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00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 afterlife
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 they give
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 us grief
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 and misery
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 in this
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00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 it robs
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00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 sleep
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00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 harm to
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00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 it can be
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 swept away
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00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 never
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00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 always
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00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 New Testament
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 is completely
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 in agreement
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 with the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 wisdom
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 of
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Ecclesiastes
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 in Luke
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 12
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 Jesus
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 told the
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 story
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00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 great wealth
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 such wonderful
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 success
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 I'll pull
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 down the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 old barns
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 I'll build
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 bigger ones
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 I'll say
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00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 take life
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 easy
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00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 retirement
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00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 $40
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 a
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 week
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00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Maccas
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and
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00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 20%
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 $8
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 not
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 a
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 big
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 deal
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 income
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 $40
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 20%
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 not
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 a
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 bad
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 effort
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 in
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 my
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 view
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00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 $30
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00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 he
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00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 about
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00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 read
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00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 a
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 Christian
00:24:00 --> 00:24:03 but
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 what a
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 wonderful
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 moment
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 to
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 stop
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 as a
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 family
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 three
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 times
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 a
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 day
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 and
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 say
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 thank you
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 God
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 thank you
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 for this
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 meal
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 which
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 sustains
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 us
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 thank you
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 for this
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 food
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00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 I
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 enjoy
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 thank you
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 for what
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 you have
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 given
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 from your
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 hand
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 even if
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 it's
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 tuna
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 or salmon
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 or something
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 other yucky
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 such
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 substance
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 it's
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 gratitude
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00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 reflects
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 dependence
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00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 God
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00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 not
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00:25:06 --> 00:25:09 and so
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00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 humbly
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 acknowledge
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 the immense
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00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 and controls
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00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 we don't
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00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 as I
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00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 message
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00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 a radio
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00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 I say
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 again
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00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 no
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 I say
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 again
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 divert
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 your
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 course
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 this is
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 the
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 aircraft
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 carrier
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 enterprise
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 we are
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 a large
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 warship
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 of the
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 US
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Navy
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 divert
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 your
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 course
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 now
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 this
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 is
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 a
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 lighthouse
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 your
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 call
00:26:11 --> 00:26:17 see
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 when we
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 work for
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 wealth
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 it
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 creates
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 an illusion
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 that makes
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 us think
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 we're
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 big
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 and
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 powerful
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 it's
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 this
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 idol
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 that we
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 throw
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 ourselves
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 at the
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 feet
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 of
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 and we
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 worship
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 and serve
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 with all
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 our
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 might
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 and power
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 and this
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 good
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 God
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 given
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 gift
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 is
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 distorted
00:26:31 --> 00:26:34 and the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 writer of
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 Ecclesiastes
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 does an
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 absolute
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 demolition
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 job on
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 its
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 power
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 it robs
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 you of
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 sleep
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 it robs
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 you of
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 joy
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 it does
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 not bring
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 contentment
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 you leave
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 it to
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 fools
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 it saps
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 your energy
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 it takes
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 away
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 gratitude
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 and you're
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 gone
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 and with a
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 friend like
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 that who
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 needs
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 enemies
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 and the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 New Testament
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 picks up on this
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 teaching from
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 Ecclesiastes
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 the Apostle Paul
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 writes to his
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 young protege
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 Timothy
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 he says
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 godliness with
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 contentment is
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 great gain
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 we brought
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 nothing into
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 the world
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 we can take
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 nothing out
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 of it
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 if we have
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 food and
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 clothing
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 we will be
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 content with
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 that
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 people who
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 want to get
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 rich fall
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 into temptation
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 and a trap
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 and into many
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 foolish and
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 harmful desires
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 that plunge
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 people into
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 ruin and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 destruction
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 for the love
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 of money
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 is a root
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 of all kinds
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 of evil
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 some people
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 eager for money
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 have wandered
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 from the faith
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 and pierced
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 themselves
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 with many
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 griefs
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 Jesus said
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 in the sermon
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 on the mount
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 do not worry
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 saying what
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 shall we eat
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 or what
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 shall we drink
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 or what
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 shall we wear
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 for the pagans
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 run after all
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 these things
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 and your heavenly
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 father knows
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 that you need
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 them
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 but seek first
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 his kingdom
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 and his
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 righteousness
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 and all these
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 things will be
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 given to you
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 as well
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 therefore do not
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 worry about
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 tomorrow for
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 tomorrow will
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 worry about
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 itself
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 each day has
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 enough trouble
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 of its own
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 it's a call
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 to contentment
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 and dependence
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 our work is a
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 God given
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 gift
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 it's what he
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 calls us
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 to
00:28:07 --> 00:28:09 God knows
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 that we
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 need to
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 eat and
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 drink and
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 be clothed
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 and be housed
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 but there is
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 something that
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 matters even
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 more
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 seek first his
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 kingdom and his
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 righteousness and
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 all these things
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 will be added
00:28:19 --> 00:28:22 I could apply
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 this message by
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 telling you to
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 do all sorts of
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 things with your
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 wealth to
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 benefit God's
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 kingdom but I
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 don't want to do
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 that this morning
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 this passage calls
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 us to choose
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 between two
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 mighty objects
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 of worship
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 two different
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 objects as we
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 go about our
00:28:40 --> 00:28:43 work to choose
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 today who we
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 will serve who
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 who we trust who
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 we depend on who
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 we work for
00:28:48 --> 00:28:51 true story
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 Josh Short's
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 dad one of
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 our you know
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 Josh one of
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 our student
00:28:56 --> 00:28:59 ministers his
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 dad ministers in
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 Canada and he
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 says the culture
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 in Canada at
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 funerals in the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 eulogy is to
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 detail a person's
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 material successes
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 it's like Ray's
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 funeral on Thursday
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 if we'd read out
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 all the things he
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 owned and all the
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 things he possessed
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 and he said
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 his dad's
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 Josh's dad said
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 a friend of his
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 was taking a funeral
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 one day and he
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 read the man's
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 achievements and he
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 read all the things
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 that he owned and
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 then he stood beside
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 the casket he
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 crumpled the piece
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 of paper and he
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 let it fall to the
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 floor and he said
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 and what good is it
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 to him now
00:29:32 --> 00:29:37 a puff
00:29:37 --> 00:29:41 we can leave life
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 live we can leave
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 life with the
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 illusion of success
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 but reality will be
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 concerned when we
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 run into the
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 lighthouse who is
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 our maker
00:29:48 --> 00:29:51 we all know what it
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 is to exercise faith
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 and trust and
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 dependence but what
00:29:55 --> 00:29:57 is it in the God
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 who is never
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 satisfied who robs
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 us of sleep and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 contentment and joy
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 and who can
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 malevolently take it
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 all in a moment and
00:30:05 --> 00:30:07 does when we die or
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 the God and father of
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 our Lord Jesus Christ
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 who loves us who
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 knows our basic
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 needs who promises
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 to provide who
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 gives us sweet
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 sleep and contentment
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 as we trust in him
00:30:19 --> 00:30:21 who is able to bring
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 us to rich and
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 everlasting life deal
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 or no deal who do
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 you work for
00:30:27 --> 00:30:31 happen in the holy
00:30:34 --> 00:30:37 raising
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 now
00:30:52 --> 00:30:56 you