Generous Giving
Series: Generous God
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 24th September 2023
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 we are today drawing to a close our series, Generous God.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:08 The thrust of this series has been that God's generosity to us
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 in the Lord Jesus Christ produces a life of generosity,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 pervasive generosity, generosity in all areas of life,
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 generosity with our time, with our talents, treasures,
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 our testimony, with our relationships, hospitality,
00:00:21 --> 00:00:25 with forgiveness, all of life, all of life.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:30 And one of the challenges has been is that it's possible to be generous
00:00:31 --> 00:00:36 in one area of life without being generous in another area of life.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 It's quite possibly generous here but stingy over here.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:44 It's possible to give away large portions of our finances and assets
00:00:44 --> 00:00:48 while not willing to serve in a ministry.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 What that tells us is that our time is more valuable to us
00:00:52 --> 00:00:53 than anything else.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:59 or to not draw close to others,
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 not to spend time but to share our hearts,
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 to share our emotions, our feelings,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:09 because our privacy is more valuable to us
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 than our time or our possessions.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 The radical generosity of God to us in Jesus Christ,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 it is a holistic salvation,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:27 produces a holistic, pervasive generosity
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 in all of life of those who follow him.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 Radical generosity is so much more than money
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 but it's not less than what we do with our money.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 That's why we've not really focused on the issue of money
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 in this entire series right through,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 I dabbled in a little bit earlier on,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 but right through this whole term,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 we've not really touched on the issue of money
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 until right today, right at the end.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 Because I didn't want you to think it was all just about money.
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 And I know you've been busting,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 waiting for the money one to come.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 And so here it is today,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 just to complete the whole series for you.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 Now, why are we doing it right now?
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 Why are we doing it?
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 There's three reasons I want to talk about money.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:18 Number one, it's because I actually want us to celebrate today.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 While we have had,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 and you've been aware of this in communications,
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 we've had some significant financial challenges
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 this year as a church,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 due to the childcare centre not coming off earlier this year.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 and we've, however,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 continued to give as a church,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 which has been fantastic.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 Back in 2014,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 can't believe it was only 10 years ago,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:53 part of the funding to redevelop our entire site here
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 was for us to take out a mortgage
00:02:55 --> 00:02:59 of about a bit over $400.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 We started this year
00:03:03 --> 00:03:08 with about $93 or so left to pay off on that mortgage.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 As of the end of last month,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 that is entirely paid off.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 St. Paul's is now debt-free
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 for the first time since 2014.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 That's a celebration moment.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 That is a phenomenal effort.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 So as I talk about money today,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 I'm talking about it with a heart of celebration for us as a church.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:33 I think it's a phenomenal response that we've had this year.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 Secondly,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 I want to talk about money
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 because in Luke's gospel,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:41 Jesus talks about money, possessions, greed, and wealth,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 a whole lot.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 One third of his parables in Luke
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 are about this issue.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 He warns of the dangers
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 and what it looks like to have a life of pervasive generosity.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 So Jesus talked about it
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 and we want to talk about it.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 Thirdly,
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 crucially,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 our perspective on money and possessions and wealth
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 and how we handle them
00:04:04 --> 00:04:08 lie at the very heart of the Christian life.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 At the very heart of the Christian life,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 at the very center,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 the core of the Christian life.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 If you think that's an overstatement,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 it is not.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 I'm not using hyperbole here.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 The Bible emphatically demonstrates
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 that what we do with our finances
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 significantly influences eternity.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Not just to other people's,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 yours.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 God has recorded in the Bible
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 everything we need to know
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 about his investment priorities,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 his high standard of management
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 and the rewards he offers
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 his faithful stewards.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 The issue of riches and wealth and money
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 come up again and again and again
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 as Jesus takes his journey towards Jerusalem.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 And as he draws near to Jerusalem,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 he's asked a question by a man known for centuries
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 as the rich young ruler,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 which is our text this morning.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 And with this interaction with Jesus,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 there are three things to learn about money,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:22 wealth and possessions.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 And if you've got the St. Paul's app in front of you,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 I'd encourage you to open it up
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 and you see the three points there in front of you.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 And the first one that he highlights
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 is the danger of money and wealth.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 And that's our first point.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 We see it in the middle of the passage.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 We're at Luke 18.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 So I open that up if you haven't got it in front of you.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 Luke 18 verse 24.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 Jesus looks right at this rich young man
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 and he says to him,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 how hard it is for the rich
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 to enter the kingdom of God.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 Indeed, it is easier for a camel
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 to go through the eye of a needle
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 than for someone who is rich
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 to enter the kingdom of God.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 Now, John touched on this last week.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 He strayed into my passage, unfortunately,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 but that's okay.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 I'm not correcting him on anything that he said.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 I'm just gonna remind you of what he said
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 because it's so essential.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:20 Jesus is using the metaphor of impossibility.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 The camel was the largest land animal
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 the people knew at that time.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 The eye of the needle was the smallest hole.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 It is impossible, in other words,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:30 he's saying here.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:35 It is impossible for the rich to get into heaven.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 Now, as I was writing this out,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 the richest person in the world at that time
00:06:42 --> 00:06:46 had a personal fortune of $251 billion.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 I don't know if it's gone up or down since then,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 but it probably doesn't matter to him a whole lot.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:58 I personally do not appear on any of the published rich lists.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 And yet, when Jesus says this,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 he's talking to me.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 He's talking to you.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 Everyone sitting in this room here,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 he's talking to us.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:22 He is saying that it is easier for a camel
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 to go through the eye of a needle
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 than it is for us
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 to get into heaven.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 Notice the reaction of those who are listening to this.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 Verse 26.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 Well, who then can be saved?
00:07:37 --> 00:07:42 You see, the disciples were confused by this
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 because in their culture, their day and age,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 they thought it was the rich ones
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 who were particularly blessed by God.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 Everything they had came from God.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 So it must have been God
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 who had obviously particularly blessed them
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 because of their righteousness
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 or in some way.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:02 And Jesus' response here is,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 what is impossible with men
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 is possible with God.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 Notice Jesus did not say,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 what is impossible for rich people,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 it's possible with God.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 He says, what's impossible with men
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 is impossible.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 In other words,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 what is impossible for all people,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 it's possible for God.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 He's saying,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:30 all salvation is a miracle.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 It is impossible for anyone
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 to save themselves
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 because as Romans 3 tells us,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 It's not possible for anyone
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 to save themselves
00:08:47 --> 00:08:52 except for God intervening
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 and doing the impossible.
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 Now, the reason why Jesus raises that issue here
00:09:00 --> 00:09:04 is because the same thing
00:09:04 --> 00:09:11 that makes salvation impossible for all of us
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 is made worse
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 by wealth, money and possessions.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:22 In the Old Testament book of Proverbs,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 it's a great book
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 if you have never read it,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 it's about,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 really about primarily concerned
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 with how to navigate life
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 in God's world well.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 The Proverbs talks a lot about money
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 and it talks,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 it's particularly got two very important things
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 to say
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 about the spiritual power of money.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 Firstly,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 it says that money has the power
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 to distract you
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 from what's important in life.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 Distracted enough
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 so that you actually don't ask
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 the really important questions of life
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 or why am I here
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 and what am I really meant to accomplish in life?
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 In fact,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 it can even be so distracting
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 for Christians
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 that they don't think
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 about the deeper issues of life.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 What are my priorities?
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 What is my next step?
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 Proverbs 11 verse 4 says,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 wealth is worthless
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 in the day of wrath
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 but righteousness delivers from death.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 What that's saying there is
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 money can't help you.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 It can't save you.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 When the troubles of life hit,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 it can't help you.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 It does try to give you
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 some sort of a delusion
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 into think that if you've got enough money,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 it will help you in those moments.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 I get the cancer diagnosis,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 I've got enough money,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 I can go to the best doctors
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 to try and get that solved.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 I've got a leg up there.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 Get myself in trouble with the law,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 got enough money,
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 I can hire the best barristers
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 to get me out of trouble.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 It gives you the illusion
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 that it will keep you safe.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 But you're not safe.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 You're not safe from grief,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 from bereavement,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 from illness,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 from disaster.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 Ironically,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 you're not even safe
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 from financial ruin
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 if you've got lots of money.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 Money can't stop death,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 it can't stop tragedy,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 heartbreak,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 and when it comes,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 if you've spent your life
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 pursuing it,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 trusting in it,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 living for it,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 it won't give you anything back.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Money has the power
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 to distract us
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 from the important questions
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 of life.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 The second thing
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 that Proverbs says
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 about money
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 is it distorts
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 your self-image.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 In Proverbs 30,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 verses 8 and 9,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 it says,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 give me neither poverty
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 nor riches,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 but give me only
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 my daily bread,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 otherwise I will have
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 too much
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 and disown you
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 and say,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 who is the Lord?
00:12:00 --> 00:12:05 To see a person
00:12:05 --> 00:12:09 humbled under prosperity,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 to see a person
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 humbled under prosperity
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 would have to be
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 one of the greatest
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 rarities in the world.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 In fact,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 I remember reading once,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 someone said,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 it's amazing how
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 the wealthy self-made person
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 becomes an expert
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 at everything
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 in life.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 Not just their area
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 of expertise,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 but everything
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 in life.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 Only the self-made
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 wealthy person
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 seems to have
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 that problem.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 It puts the person
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 into a place
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 where they say,
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 who is God?
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 Why do I need him?
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 That's the danger
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 of wealth.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 So why is it so dangerous?
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 We're going to go back
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 to the beginning
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 of this passage
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 and unpack
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 the second point,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 why wealth
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 is so dangerous
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 for us.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 So again,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 Luke 18,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 verse 18.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 A certain ruler
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 asked him,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 good teacher,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 what must I do
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 to inherit eternal life?
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 Why do you call me
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 good?
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 Jesus answered,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 no one is good
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 except God alone.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 You know the commandments,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 you shall not commit adultery,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 you shall not murder,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 you shall not steal,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 you shall not give false testimony.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 Honor your father
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 and your mother,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 all these I have kept
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 since I was a boy,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 he said.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 Now,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 when we read that,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 we should be shocked.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 We should be shocked
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 by Jesus' answer
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 to the question,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 what must I do
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 to inherit eternal life?
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 Because it appears,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 in fact,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 not just appears,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 it's what Jesus says,
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 obey the Ten Commandments.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 We should be shocked
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 by that.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 The implication is
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 that's how on earth
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 you get salvation.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 Be good
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 is what Jesus says.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 This should shock us
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 because immediately
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 before this,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Jesus tells the story
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 the Pharisee
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 and the tax collector
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 where the obedient
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 religious man
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 went home
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 not saved.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 But the sinner
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 is saved.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 So,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 what's Jesus do?
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 I mean,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 come on Jesus.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 Why did you not
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 just pull out
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 two ways to live?
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 You know,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 take the guy
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 through Alpha
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 for goodness sake.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 Why say that?
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 Why did he not say,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 I am on my way
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 to Jerusalem
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 to die on a cross
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 to pay a ransom
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 to take the penalty
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 that you deserve
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 for your sin
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 and if you put
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 your trust in me
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 you'll have eternal life
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and salvation.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 Why did he not say that?
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 Given it's consistent
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 with the New Testament
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 and everything else he said.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:08 that's because
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 to say to this young man
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 I've come to die
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 for your sins
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 would have been
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 incomprehensible
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 to him.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Like most people
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 he didn't think
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 he had a problem.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 His culture told him
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 he didn't have a problem.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 Look at what he says
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 in verse 21.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 All these I've kept
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 since I was a boy.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 In other words
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 I don't need
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 a rescuer.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 I'm a good person.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 I may not be perfect
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 but I don't need
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 a rescuer.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 So what Jesus is doing
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 in his response here
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 is he's trying
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 to target the heart.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 He's trying to dig deeper
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 into this man's heart.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 Deep down
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 despite his goodness
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 he must have been
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 feeling unsettled
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 in some way.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 That something
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 wasn't right.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 something was missing.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 Otherwise why would he
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 come to Jesus
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 with a question
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 in the first place?
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 It's understandable
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 really his predicament.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 If we think
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 that we can get
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 right with God
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 by being good
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 we will always
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 feel insecure.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Even those
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 who project
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 an image
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 that they've got
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 it all together
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 on the outside
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 deep down
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 on the inside
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 they know better.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 We know better too.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 We all know better.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 We know the things
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 that we've done.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 We know the things
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 that we've thought.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 We know the things
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 that we
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 would work
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 our entire life
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 to hide
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 from everyone else
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 so that they
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 do not see
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 the true us.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 The things
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 that we cannot hide
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 from our own
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 consciences.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:55 Jesus is reminding
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 this man
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 that his first
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 and his fundamental
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 problem
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 is that he
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 is in fact
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 not good
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 at all.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 No mere
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 mortal
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 is.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 And then
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Jesus starts
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 to prime
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 us to show
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 him where
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 he's not good.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 Verse 22
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 when Jesus
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 heard this
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 he said to him
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 you still lack
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 just one thing
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 wouldn't that be great
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 just one thing.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 Sell everything
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 you have
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 give to the poor
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and you will have
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 treasure in heaven
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 and then come
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 follow me.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 should be crucial
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 to point out
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 again that
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 Jesus has
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 never
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 never
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 suggested
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 to another
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 individual
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 that the way
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 to be saved
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 is to give away
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 all of your money
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 to the poor.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 He's never done
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 that before
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 and never does
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 it after this.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 He's doing it
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 here
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 as a brilliant
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 strategy
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 to help
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 this young
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 man see
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 that he
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 has a need
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 of rescuing.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:58 he targets
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 his heart
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 his idol
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 is what he
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 does
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 the core
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 of his life
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 that he's
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 living for
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 the thing
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 that he's
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 looking to
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 to ultimately
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 make him
00:18:08 --> 00:18:11 approachable
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 to God
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 or God
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 to like him
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in some way.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 You see
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 money for him
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 is not just
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 a tool
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 it's his
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 scorecard
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 it's his
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 security
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 it's his
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 hope
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 this is
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 the thing
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 that he's
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 squeezing
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 God
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 out of
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 his life
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 and when
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 Jesus
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 presses him
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 on this
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 one issue
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 he finally
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 sees that
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 in fact
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 he's not
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 obeying
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 the commandments
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 at all
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 he can't
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 even get
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 past the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 first one
00:18:44 --> 00:18:48 you must
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 have no
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 other gods
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 before me
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 his money
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 was his
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 God
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 because he
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 walks away
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 sad
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 refusing to
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 surrender it
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 and that
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 puts Jesus
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 up
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 where he
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 puts money
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 up as the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 alternative
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 God
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 he could have
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 used a whole
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 range of
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 things but he
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 only ever
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 puts money
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 up as the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 alternative
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 God
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 you cannot
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 serve both
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 God and
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 money
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 you're devoted
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 to one
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 or the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 other
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 but it
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 can't be
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 both
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 that
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 is why
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 wealth
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 is so
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 so
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 dangerous
00:19:25 --> 00:19:31 which brings
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 me to the
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 last point
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 how do you
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 therefore
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 escape
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 the danger
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 my landing
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 point here
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 is you
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 escape the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 danger
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 through a
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 life of
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 radical
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 generosity
00:19:41 --> 00:19:45 the first
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 thing
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 to escape
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 the danger
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 is to
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 assume
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 that you
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 are in
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 denial
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 just
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 assume
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 it
00:19:55 --> 00:19:58 Jesus
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 is so
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 blunt
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 with this
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 guy
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 because he
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 was in
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 denial
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 and that's
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 the very
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 nature of
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 addiction
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 the very
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 nature of
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 addiction
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 is that
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 you're
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 in
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 I'm not
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 addicted
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 I don't
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 have a
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 problem
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 I've got
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 it under
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 control
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 the first
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 thing that we
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 need to do
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 is to
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 assume
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 that we're
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 under the
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 influence
00:20:18 --> 00:20:21 especially
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 living in
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 a society
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 that is
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 deeply
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 deeply
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 committed
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 to
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 materialism
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 where
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 your
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 personal
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 scorecard
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 is
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 your
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 assets
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 your net
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 worth
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 is your
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 self-worth
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 that's
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 our
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 materialistic
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 culture
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 so assume
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 that you
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 are marinating
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 in that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 culture
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 all the
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 time
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 and it
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 is
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 having a
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 significant
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 influence
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 on your
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 priorities
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 assume
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 that the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 amount
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 of money
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 that you
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 think
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 you need
00:20:56 --> 00:20:59 is more
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 than what
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 you really
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 need
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 and assume
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 also that the
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 amount of
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 money that you
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 think you can
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 give away
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 is less
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 than what you
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 actually really
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 can give away
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 assume both of
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 those things
00:21:15 --> 00:21:18 assume it
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 the bible
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 says that
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 money makes
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 us blind
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 in a way
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 that other
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 sins don't
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 no one
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 commits adultery
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 and doesn't
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 realise that's
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 what they're
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 doing
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 they know
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 exactly what
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 they're doing
00:21:34 --> 00:21:38 but not
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 when it
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 comes to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 money
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 we're
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 blind
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 to this
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 issue
00:21:40 --> 00:21:43 the second
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 way to
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 escape
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 and the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 key way
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 to escape
00:21:48 --> 00:21:52 the danger
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 of wealth
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 is to look
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 to the rich
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 young ruler
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 as your
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 hope
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 your salvation
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 and your
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 motivation
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 salvation
00:22:00 --> 00:22:03 why would
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 you do
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 that
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 when this
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 rich young
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 ruler walks
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 away
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 and rejects
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 Jesus
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 why would
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 we look
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 to him
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 for our
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 hope and
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 our salvation
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 well it's
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 because I'm
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 not referring
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 to him
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 I'm referring
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 to the other
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 rich young
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 ruler in
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 this passage
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 there's two
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 of them
00:22:17 --> 00:22:20 Jesus is
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 around 30
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 to 32
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 when he
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 is headed
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 to Jerusalem
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 the bible
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 says that he
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 existed with
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 God for all
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 of eternity
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 he's the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 God who
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 made
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 everything
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 he's the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 God who
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 rules
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 everything
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 he's the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 God who
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 owns
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 everything
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 sustains
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 everything
00:22:36 --> 00:22:39 and he
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 left that
00:22:40 --> 00:22:43 came from
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 heaven to
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 identify with
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 the spiritual
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 poverty of
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 humanity
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 he is on
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 the way to
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Jerusalem to
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 die on a
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 cross
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 and into
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 a poverty
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 deeper
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 than any
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 human being
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 has ever
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 ever experienced
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 in the entire
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 history of
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 humanity
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 he will know
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 and experience
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 a humanity
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 deeper than
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 anyone has
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 ever experienced
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 he will
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 experience the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 abandonment
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 and loss
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 like no one
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 has ever
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 experienced
00:23:16 --> 00:23:19 he will be
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 stripped of
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 everything
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 including his
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 life
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 life
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 and what
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 he has
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 done for
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 us
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 2 Corinthians
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 verses
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 chapter 8
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 verse 9
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 puts in
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 economic terms
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 for us
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 for you know
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 the grace of
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 our Lord Jesus
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 Christ
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 that though he
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 was rich
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 yet for your
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 sake he
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 became poor
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 so that you
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 through his
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 poverty
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 might become
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 rich
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 he was drained
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 of all riches
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 chose to do
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 that so that
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 we
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 though we
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 are spiritually
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 poor and
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 bankrupt can
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 receive the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 abundance of
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 his riches
00:23:55 --> 00:23:58 his bank
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 account has
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 been swapped
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 with ours
00:24:00 --> 00:24:03 in Jesus we
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 get adoption
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 into God's
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 family
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 forgiveness
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 we get
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 pardoned
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 we get
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 eternal life
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 it is the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 only wealth
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 that makes us
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 truly secure
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 even in and
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 beyond death
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 and so we
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 need to look to
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 the true
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 rich young
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 ruler
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 the true
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 rich young
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 ruler
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 until we
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 get excited
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 excited over
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 what he has
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 achieved for
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 us
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 what he has
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 gifted to
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 us
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 this is what
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 this series on
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 generous God
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 has been all
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 about from
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 start to
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 finish
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 it's been
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 about the
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 gospel
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 the good
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 news of
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Jesus Christ
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 look to the
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 glorious news
00:24:43 --> 00:24:45 of God's
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 grace and
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 riches to us
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 in the Lord
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 Jesus Christ
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 until it
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 drains all
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 the power
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 out of
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 money and
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 possessions
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 until it
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 no longer
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 becomes your
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 scorecard
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 until it
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 just merely
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 is currency
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 it is no
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 longer your
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 security and
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 your self
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 esteem
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 your hope
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 your salvation
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 salvation
00:25:06 --> 00:25:11 and so that
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 leads me to
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 the third
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 thing that
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 we need to
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 do to
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 escape
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 and that
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 is a
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 life of
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 radical
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 generosity
00:25:16 --> 00:25:19 have a
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 plan to
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 use your
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 wealth with
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 purpose
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 to use it
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 with eternity
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 in mind
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 as stewards
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 of God's
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 resources
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 and I got
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 four steps
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 here very
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 quickly
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 four steps
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 number one
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 investigate
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 what percentage
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 of your
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 income you're
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 currently giving
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 away
00:25:37 --> 00:25:40 how much
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 goes to
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 Christian
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 ministry and
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 charity
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 Christian
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 ministry to
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 help people
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 out of
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 spiritual
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 poverty
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 charity to
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 help people
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 out of
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 physical and
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 emotional
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 poverty
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 investigate
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 what percentage
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 that's not
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 hard to
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 do
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 number two
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 if
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 that
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 percentage
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 is not
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 at least
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 10%
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the very
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 least amount
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 that the
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 disciples are
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 to give
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 away
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 the very
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 least
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 biblical
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 amount
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 is 10%
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 work out
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 how you
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 could aggressively
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 move towards
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 10%
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 before the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 end of
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 this year
00:26:17 --> 00:26:20 which means
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 step three
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 work out
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 what sacrifices
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 you are going
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 to make
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 to get
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 there
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 selling
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 stuff
00:26:29 --> 00:26:33 cutting
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 back on
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 expenses
00:26:34 --> 00:26:39 if it
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 is not
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 sacrifice
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 to get
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 there
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 then it's
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 not radical
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 generosity
00:26:44 --> 00:26:47 if you
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 don't need
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 to make
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 sacrifices
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 to give
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 10%
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 then you
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 aren't
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 giving
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 enough
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 sacrificial
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 giving
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 is not
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 about a
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 percentage
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 it is
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 about our
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 living standard
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 changing
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 in such a
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 way that we
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 feel lost
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 so that others
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 might gain
00:27:04 --> 00:27:07 that's what
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 sacrificial
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 giving is
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 that's what
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 radical
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 generosity
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 is
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 it's not
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 a percentage
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 it's about
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 you feeling
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 lost that
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 others might
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 gain
00:27:15 --> 00:27:21 let me add
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 to what
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 Jesus says
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 here at
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 the end
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 of these
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 verses
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 having seen
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 the rich
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 young ruler
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 walk away
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 Peter pipes
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 in verse
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 28
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 we have
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 left everything
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 to follow
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 you
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 what about
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 us
00:27:33 --> 00:27:36 and Jesus
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 reassures
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 his disciples
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 that though
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 they have
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 sacrificed
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 many things
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 that they
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 have left
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 many things
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 they will
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 never fail
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 to receive
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 many more
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 blessings
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 now and
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 forever
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 truly I tell
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 you Jesus
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 said to them
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 no one who
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 has left
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 home or
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 wife or
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 brothers or
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 sisters or
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 parents or
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 children for
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 the sake of
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 the kingdom
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 of God
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 will fail to
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 receive many
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 times as much
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 in this age
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and in the
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 age to
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 come
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 eternal
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 life
00:28:06 --> 00:28:10 when you
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 choose to
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 lose for
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 others
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 you actually
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 gain
00:28:15 --> 00:28:19 you actually
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 gain
00:28:19 --> 00:28:22 in other
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 words when
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 you choose
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 to lose for
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 others
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 you're pursuing
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 your joy
00:28:27 --> 00:28:31 step four
00:28:31 --> 00:28:34 decide what
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 you're going
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 to give
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 and follow
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 through with it
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 make yourself
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 accountable
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 in other words
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 our giving
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 to ministry
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 and charity
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 is a spiritual
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 issue
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 and like all
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 spiritual issues
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 we're accountable
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 for it
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 to live radically
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 generous lives
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 with our money
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 our wealth
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 and our
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 possessions
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 you don't
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 need courage
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 as much
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 as you need
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 joy
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 you need
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 joy
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 you need
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 to understand
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 everything that
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 you have
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 in Jesus
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 what he
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 God has
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 already
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 provided you
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 with
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 we need
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 to be
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 relaxed
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 and at
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 peace
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 and secure
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 enough
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 to give
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 away
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 our
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 resources
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 and this
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 joy only
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 comes when
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 we look to
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 the true
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 rich young
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 ruler
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 who lost
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 everything
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 so that
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 we might
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 gain
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 absolutely
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 everything
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 for eternity
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 and the
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 more we
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 look to
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 Jesus
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 and the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 riches
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 we have
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 in him
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 the more
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 we allow
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 the gospel
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 to be preached
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 to our hearts
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 and our minds
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 day in and
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 day out
00:29:37 --> 00:29:40 the freer
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 we will
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 live
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 a pervasively
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 generous life
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 to have
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 2 Corinthians
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 8 verse 9
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 with you
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 every time
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 you go into
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 Westfield
00:29:52 --> 00:29:56 to have
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 it in
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 front of
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 you
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 before you
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 choose to
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 upgrade your
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 house
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 or do the
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 next renovation
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 to have
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 that in
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 front of
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 you say
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 here is
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 my hope
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 not this
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 thing that
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 I'm
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 holding
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 from the
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 rack
00:30:10 --> 00:30:13 Jesus
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 is my
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 hope
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 fill
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 yourself
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 with gospel
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 joy
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 before
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 you open
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 your wallet
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 phone
00:30:22 --> 00:30:30 you
00:30:30 --> 00:30:35 knew
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 good
00:30:42 --> 00:30:45 okay
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 I
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 may
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 oy
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 but
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 I
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 don't
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 okay