Vision Series 2017
Series: RADICAL WEALTH
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 25th November 2017
Passage: Luke 18:1-43
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Hopefully you've received one of these on your seats or on the way in.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 If you haven't got one of those, then our ushers will be more than happy to bring one to you where you are.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 Just a bit of an outline of where I'm heading this morning.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:24 And as Sam has indicated, if you're a guest here today, you have helicoptered right in the middle of our vision series for us as a church.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:42 And the big theme of the vision series is that if we have been the recipients of such radical, abundant generosity from God, what sort of lives does that lead to?
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 What does it mean for us?
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 What does it mean for the recipients?
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 And the bottom line is that it overflows from us into a life of radical generosity as we have received.
00:00:51 --> 00:01:03 So we give and not just in terms, as I said last week, in terms of finance, although that is going to be what I'm going to land on today, is that it's much more than that.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 It's emotional generosity.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 It is generosity with your time.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 It's generosity in every aspect of life.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:19 When you are the recipient of abundant generosity, it overflows to a life of abundant generosity.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:25 And as Sam also said, we are on this journey with Jesus.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 It's said in chapter 9 of Luke, Jesus resolutely set his face to Jerusalem.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 He's on the way there to die.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:37 Again, it's his radical generosity towards us in that he's dying for the sins of humanity.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:44 And he calls us to follow him, but to also acknowledge there's a cost that's associated with following him.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 In chapter 9, verse 23, it says,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:07 That is, because as a recipient of God's radical generosity, our whole life is just turned around and do totally different priorities of what they used to be.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:12 This is a difficult journey for Jesus to make, but he calls us to walk it with him.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:19 He's not just our substitute, which is what I've said all along, not just our substitute, but he is also our pace setter.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 He sets the pace for us in life.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 This is a radical call for us.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:32 It's a radical call, but the basis of it is radical generosity, mercy, grace towards sinners.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:40 And so what is the result is pervasive generosity, which includes money, which we're looking at here.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:48 The issue of riches and wealth and money come up again and again as Jesus walks this road to Jerusalem.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:54 As he teaches his disciples what it means to be a follower of him, what does it mean to be on the road with him.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:01 And someone says here in verse 18, he gets asked this question.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:07 He has a number of encounters with different individuals where he tells stories about rich people,
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 but here's one in the flesh right in front of him.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 It says that this person is a ruler.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:19 In verse 23, we are also told that he's rich.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:25 And in Matthew and Mark's account of this incident, we are also told that he is young.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 And so for centuries, this guy has been known as the rich young ruler.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:30 Don't know what his name is.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 Just know that he's the rich young ruler.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:33 That's who he is.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:43 And with this particular interaction with Jesus, there are three things that we can learn about money, wealth, possessions, and where they fit.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 So firstly, the danger of wealth.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:54 We see that right in the middle of the passage, verse 24, Jesus looks straight at this young man in the eyes.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 And he says how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:05 Indeed, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 Now what Jesus is using here is a metaphor.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 It's a metaphor of impossibility.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:18 The camel was the biggest land animal that people knew of their time.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:25 They didn't have elephants in the Palestine at that point.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 And the eye of the needle was the smallest hole that they could kind of imagine.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 And it's kind of a similar kind of metaphor that we might use nowadays.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 Oh, you know, they've got a snowball's chance in hell.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 It's that kind of a metaphor.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 It's a metaphor of impossibility.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:48 It is virtually impossible for the rich to get into heaven.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 That's what Jesus is saying.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:56 Now, I don't know if you saw the news this week, but Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon,
00:04:56 --> 00:05:04 passed the $100 billion US mark in personal wealth.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 Apparently, it's the second time it's ever happened.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:12 Bill Gates hit the milestone very briefly in 1999.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:18 So it's nearly 20 years since anyone's hit the $100 billion mark in personal wealth.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 He's got more money than I've got.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:26 That's another understatement thing.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:35 However, I'm not on any BRW rich list or anything like that, not even close, but I am on the global rich list.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 That's something that's more significant.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 And you too are on the global rich list.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 The global rich list is a website.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 You go on the website.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 You can load on your income or you can load on your assets.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:53 And it will give you a position in the world of where you sit in terms of wealth.
00:05:53 --> 00:06:03 And as it turns out, Nat and I are ranked in the top 6 million richest people in the world in terms of income.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 Top 6 million people.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:12 So if they had a BRW that went right down to 6 million, I'd be on the list.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 Down the bottom, but I'd be on the list.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:21 That means that I'm in the top 0.09% of the wealthiest people in the world.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:29 And yet, as a financial advisor said to us recently, based on our incomes, he says,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:33 Steve, you're a pastor, Nat, you're a teacher, you haven't given me much to work with here.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:44 Did you know that even if you're a student in this country and you live off solely off the government to be a student,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 which, let's be frank, most students do, or their parents,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:53 you are in the top 16% of wealthiest people in the world.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 So when Jesus is here speaking about rich people, he's talking about people like me.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 Not Jeff, he's referring to Jeff as well, but people like me, people like you.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:15 He's saying it's easier for a camel to go through that little eye of a needle than it is for us to get into heaven,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 to be part of his kingdom, to be friends with God.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:25 So, is Jesus saying here that it's only possible for rich people to get into heaven,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 but everyone else, holidays for everyone else?
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 I think that would be a problem, if that's what he was saying,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:37 because a number of the great ones in the Bible were fabulously wealthy.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:45 Job, for instance, in the Old Testament, fabulously wealthy, and yet they were saved.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 See, notice the reaction of those who were listening to this incident, this little encounter.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 Verse 26, they said, well, who then can be saved?
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 Who can be saved?
00:07:55 --> 00:07:59 You see, the disciples are confused because in their culture,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:04 they just assumed that the rich ones were the ones who God had blessed.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 That's why they would say, well, that God had blessed them.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 So if they can't be saved, then who can be saved?
00:08:09 --> 00:08:15 But Jesus responds with, what is impossible with men is possible with God.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:23 Jesus didn't say here, what is impossible for rich people is possible with God.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:29 He says, what is impossible for all people is possible with God.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:41 What he's saying there is that all salvation, all rescue is a miracle.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:47 It's impossible that anyone can be saved because as Romans 3 says,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:57 It's not possible for anyone to be part of God's kingdom,
00:08:57 --> 00:09:03 part of his family, to be friends with God, to be saved,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 except for God intervening and doing the impossible.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 That's what Jesus is saying here.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 So why does it appear that Jesus is picking on the rich guy?
00:09:13 --> 00:09:23 I think it's because that the spiritual issues that create a problem for us
00:09:23 --> 00:09:27 tend to be made worse by wealth.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 The same thing that makes salvation impossible for all
00:09:32 --> 00:09:37 is made worse by money, wealth, possessions.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:42 That is, money has an incredible power for good,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:46 but it also has an incredible power to make things even worse.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:52 The Bible actually says a great deal of positive things about money,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 but it also has a number of warnings.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 The Old Testament book of Proverbs is a wisdom book
00:09:58 --> 00:10:02 and it's primarily concerned about how to navigate life well
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 in God's world his way.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 And it says a great deal about money,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 a great deal of positive things about money.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 But there are two really important things
00:10:12 --> 00:10:17 that it says about the spiritual power of money.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:21 Firstly, it says that money has the spiritual power
00:10:21 --> 00:10:25 to distract us from what is really important in life.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:32 That is, it says that money makes us very busy.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 And I'm not sure if you've ever noticed
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 in another kind of word study here
00:10:35 --> 00:10:40 how busyness and business are very similar words,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 as you will know from Monday to Friday at least.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:49 The making of money takes so much time.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:53 It absorbs so much of our life to accumulate things.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 And then when you do make it,
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 it gets you busy spending it.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 It makes you busy getting it,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 then it makes you busy getting even more of it
00:11:04 --> 00:11:08 and maintaining it and sustaining it and spending it.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 So busy, in fact, that we don't have time
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 to really ask the important questions of
00:11:15 --> 00:11:19 what am I really here for?
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 What is my life about?
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 What is the trajectory of my life?
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 Is this world all that there is?
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 What am I really seeking to accomplish in life?
00:11:31 --> 00:11:35 Nobody, and I mean nobody,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 on their deathbed says,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 I wish I'd spent more time in the office.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 Nobody.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 And Proverbs 11.4 says,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 but righteousness delivers from death.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:56 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath means
00:11:56 --> 00:12:01 money can't help you when troubles hit.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:07 It does attempt to give us the delusion
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 that that's what it can do for us when troubles hit.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 It does try to give us the delusion
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 that we're safe when we've got it.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 You know, for instance,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 you get into sorts of legal troubles,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 and if I've got money,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 I can pay the best lawyers
00:12:20 --> 00:12:25 who can get me an innocent verdict,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 so then I've got a clear conscience.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 The one thing God can give you,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 money can provide,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 apparently in this scenario.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 Or if I get really sick,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 I can have the best doctors to treat me,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 and I can get healing,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 and so on and so forth.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:41 That's why Jesus says that money is the alternative God.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 It gives me the delusion
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 that it can give me things
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 that only God can give me.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 We're not safe.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 We're not safe from grief,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 from bereavement.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 We're not safe from illness.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 We're not safe from disaster,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 and it doesn't matter how much money you've got,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 you're never safe from financial ruin.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 You're never safe from financial ruin.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 No amount of money can stop those things happening to us.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 Money can't stop death,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 can't stop tragedy,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 heartbreak,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and when they come,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 it says in Proverbs,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 you're not ready for it.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 When it happens,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 you're not ready for it.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 In fact, right at the beginning of this journey
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 to Jerusalem,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 Jesus told a story about a rich man
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 who accumulated more and more things
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 with the goal of having a safe,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 and secure retirement
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 in ease and comfort.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 And God said to him,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 you fool,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 you idiot,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 you fool,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 this very night your life will be demanded of you.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 Then you will get,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 who will get what you're prepared for yourself.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 So busy,
00:13:58 --> 00:14:01 distracted from what is really important.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 Secondly,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 Proverbs also says that money has the ability
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 to distort our understanding of ourselves.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 It distorts our self-image.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Proverbs 38, 9 says,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 give me neither poverty nor riches,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 but give me only my daily bread.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 Otherwise,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 I may have too much
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 and disown you and say,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 who is the Lord?
00:14:24 --> 00:14:30 I could extend on extensively with this one,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:35 but as I think it was Bernadette Clairvaux said,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:39 to see a person humbled under prosperity
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 is the greatest rarity in the world.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:47 To see a person humbled under prosperity
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 is the greatest rarity in the world.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 Wealth leads to pride.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 It leads to independence,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 self-confidence.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 It puts us in a place
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 in our thinking
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 where we actually think
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 that because I'm a self-made individual
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 in a Western world,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 it leads us to a view
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 that we're experts on everything.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 It puts us in a place where we say,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 who is God?
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Why do I need him?
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 I've got myself.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 So why then is wealth so dangerous?
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 Let's go back to the beginning of this passage.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 Verse 18,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 a certain ruler asked him,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 good teacher,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 what must I do to inherit eternal life?
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 Why do you call me good?
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 Jesus answered,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 no one is good except God alone.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 You know the commandments,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 you shall not commit adultery,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 you shall not murder,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 you shall not steal,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 you shall not give false testimony,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 honour your father and your mother.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 All these things I've kept
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 since I was a boy,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 he said.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Now,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 if you've been here
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 for the first few weeks
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 of this series,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 you should be shocked
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 by that answer from Jesus.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 You should be shocked
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 that the answer to the question,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 what must I do
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 to inherit eternal life,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 Jesus effectively says to this guy,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 obey the Ten Commandments.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:11 The implication is,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 that's how you get eternal life.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 And if you were here
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 a couple of weeks ago,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 you should be shocked by that
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 because immediately,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 in fact,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 almost exactly immediately
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 before Jesus has this encounter
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 with this rich young ruler,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 he has this story
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 of this Pharisee
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 and the tax collector.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 And the Pharisee is proud
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 that he obeys the commandments.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 He was sure
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 that he was right with God.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 And the tax collector
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 instead knows he's rotten,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 knows he's a sinner,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 pleads for mercy.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 And Jesus says,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 it was that tax collector,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 that rotten scoundrel tax collector,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 the one who said,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 who asked and pleaded
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 for grace and mercy,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 forgiveness.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 He was the one
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 who went home saved.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 He was the one
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 who went home
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 with eternal life.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 He was the one
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 who went home
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 right with God.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 And the Pharisee
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 went home
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 not saved,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 not justified,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 not right with God.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 That is the point back then
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 was you cannot get
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 a relationship
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 through good works.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 You can't get a relationship
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 with God
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 through the obedience
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 to Ten Commandments.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Nobody can do it.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 It's impossible.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 So why does Jesus say here?
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 Why does he say that here?
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 Why does he not say
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 to this rich young ruler,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 dude,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 whatever your name is,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 I'm on the way
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to Jerusalem.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 I'm going there
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 to die on a cross
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 to pay a ransom
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 for the sins of humanity,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 to take the penalty
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 for the sins
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 that you deserve
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 upon myself.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 And if you put
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 your trust in me
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 and walk with me,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 you put your trust in me,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 you will have eternal life.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 I mean,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 that would be consistent,
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 Jesus.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 That'd be consistent
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 with everything you've said.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 That'd be consistent
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 with the whole New Testament
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 if you did that.
00:17:56 --> 00:18:01 I think the reason
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 why he doesn't do it
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 is because Jesus
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 is brilliant.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 That's why he doesn't do it.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 Jesus is so,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 so perceptive.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 When Jesus deals with people,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 he's not working
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 from some script.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 Don't forget,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 you know,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 someone comes to you
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 and asks me
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 about eternal life,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 start at point one
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 and go down to point six.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:27 He is amazing
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 in the way he deals
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 with people.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 He is so perceptive
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 into the insights
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 of their hearts
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 and he penetrates
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 their hearts
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 every time.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 To say,
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 I've come to die
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 for your sins
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 would have been
00:18:41 --> 00:18:44 totally incomprehensible
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 to this man
00:18:44 --> 00:18:47 in the same way
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 that it is
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 totally incomprehensible
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 to most people
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 in Sydney right now.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:55 this man
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 like us
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 don't think
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 we've got a problem.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 We don't think
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 we need a rescuer.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 We don't need
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 someone to die for us.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 In fact,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 reading a journalist
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 early this week
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 from London
00:19:15 --> 00:19:18 said that the most,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and this journalist
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 is not a friend
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 of Christianity
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 but said the most
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 offensive thing
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 about the Christian faith
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 is the fact
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 that we need
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 a rescuer.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 Look what he says
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 in verse 21.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 All this
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 I've kept
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 since I was a boy.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 In other words,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 I don't need a rescuer.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 I'm a good person.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 I might not be perfect
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 but I don't need
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 a rescuer.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 And Jesus
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 is so perceptive here.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 He's digging deep
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 into this young man's heart.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 He projects,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 this young man
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 projects a confidence
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 in his own righteousness,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 his own goodness.
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 So you've got to ask
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 the question,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 why is he even here?
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 Why is he even
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 in front of Jesus
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 at this point?
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 Because deep down,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 take the surface off,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 deep down in his heart
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 he must have been
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 feeling something.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 He must have been
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 knowing something's
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 not quite right here.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 There's got to be more.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 Something's wrong.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Something's missing.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 A doubt that in fact
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 he was not right.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 Which of course,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 if we think we can
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 get right with God
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 by being good,
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 it will always,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 always deep down
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 result in a
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 lack of confidence.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 It will always
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 dig down
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 in a sense of insecurity.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 Am I really good enough?
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Have I really
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 done enough?
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 Even those who project
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 an image that they've
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 got it all together,
00:20:58 --> 00:21:01 on the outside,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 on the inside
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 they know better.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 There's always
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 things that we
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 would not want
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 to come to the surface,
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 things that we
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 would work hard
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 to hide.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 Jesus seems to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 jump on in
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 straight away.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 He says this man
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 in verse 19,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 he just jumps on him,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 why do you
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 call me good?
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 It's like he
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 rebukes him straight away.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 What do you
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 call me good for?
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 No one is good
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 except God alone.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 Now Jesus isn't
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 saying here that
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 he's not good,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 he is however
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 responding to this
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 rich young ruler's
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 characterization of him.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 This rich young ruler
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 walks up to Jesus
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 as Jesus is
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 walking to Jerusalem
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 and he calls him
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 teacher,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 rabbi.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 That's it.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 you're a good
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 bloke,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 Jesus.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 You said some
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 amazing stuff.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 But you are just
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 like any other man,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 you're another man.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 And Jesus is saying
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 here,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 why are you
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 walking up to
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 someone who you
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 regard just merely
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 as another human
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 being and calling
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 him good?
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Why are you doing
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 that?
00:22:13 --> 00:22:16 If you think I'm
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 merely just another
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 human being,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 why are you
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 calling me good?
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 Because there is
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 no person
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 is good,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 only God
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 is good.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 And so what
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 Jesus is doing
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 here in a roundabout
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 kind of way
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 is he's reminding
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 this young man
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 that his first
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 problem,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 his foundational
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 problem,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 his biggest
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 fundamental problem
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 is that he
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 in fact is not
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 good.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:43 And Jesus
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 then goes on
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 to show him
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 where he's not
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 good.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 Verse 22,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 when Jesus
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 heard this,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 he said to him,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 you still lack
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 one thing,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 sell everything
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 you have,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 give to the
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 poor,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 and then you
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 will come and
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 have treasure
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 in heaven,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 then come
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 follow me.
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 Now Jesus
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 has never
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 suggested to
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 anyone else
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 that this is
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 the way to
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 be saved.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 Never suggested
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 to anyone else
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 that you must
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 give away all
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 of your money.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 John 4 with
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 the woman of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 the world,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 didn't say to
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 her,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 give away all
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 your money.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 Zacchaeus,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 next chapter,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 Zacchaeus is
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 welcomed by
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Jesus,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 so overwhelmed
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 by that,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 he immediately
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 gives away
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 half of his
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 income,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 half of his
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 resources,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 just gives
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 it away.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 Jesus doesn't
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 say,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 we're going to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 beat Zacchaeus,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 that's only
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 halfway.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 Zacchaeus,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 that's fine,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 good on you
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 Zacchaeus.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Good work
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 Zacchaeus.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 So why
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 here?
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 Again,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Jesus is just
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 so brilliant.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 He's doing it
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 because it's a
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 brilliant strategy
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to help this
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 rich young
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 ruler to see
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 where he needs
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 rescuing.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 Jesus targets
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 deep down in
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 his heart
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 the idol of
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 this man,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 what he values
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 more than
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 anything else.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 This is the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 thing that he's
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 looking to,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 to give him
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 what only God
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 can give him.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 See,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 money is not
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 just a tool
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 for him,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 it is his
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 identity
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 scorecard,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 it is his
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 security and
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 his hope,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 and Jesus
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 is going
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 after it
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 because it
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 is the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 thing in
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 his life
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 that is
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 squeezing
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 God out.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 And when
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 Jesus presses
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 him on,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27 we see he
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 hasn't in
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 fact obeyed
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 the commandments
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 at all.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 He's not
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 good.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 Jesus
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 pushed him
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 to give
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 it all up
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 for the poor,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 to give it
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 all away
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 for God,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 to give it
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 all up
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 and follow
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 him.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 And he
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 couldn't.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 He wouldn't
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 do it.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 Verse 23
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 says he
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 became very
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 sad.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 It's a
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 strong word
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that means
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 he was
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 deeply
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 grieved,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 deeply
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 distressed.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 His money
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 was just
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 too important
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 for him
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 to give
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 it up.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 His money
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 to him
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 is what
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 money is
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 to many
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 of us
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 in a
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 Western
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 materialistic
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 world.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 More
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 important
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 than
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 anything.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 He
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 didn't want
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 God to
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 get in
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 the way
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 of what
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 was so
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 important
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 for him
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 and so
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 what Jesus
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 was showing
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 him,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 dude,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 you're not
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 good.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 You're not
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 good.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 You actually
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 haven't obeyed
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 the Ten
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 Commandments.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 You,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 in fact,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 haven't even
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 got past the
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 First
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 Commandment
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 which says
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 you will
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 have no
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 other gods
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 but me.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 He says
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 this money
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 is your
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 God.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 We cannot
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 possibly get
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 eternal life
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 by obeying
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 the Ten
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 Commandments.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 We need
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 a Saviour.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 Money can
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 so easily
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 become the
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 pseudo-Saviour
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 for us,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 the alternative
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 of God,
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 a false
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 Saviour,
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 and Jesus
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 sets it
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 up as
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 alternative
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 God
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 when he
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 says you
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 cannot
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 serve both
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 God and
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 money.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 You're either
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 devoted to
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the one
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 or to the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 other but
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 you cannot
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 have both.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 That is why
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 money is so
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 dangerous.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:12 So how
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 do we
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 escape the
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 danger?
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 First
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 thing is
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 to assume
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 you're in
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 denial.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 That's the
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 first thing.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 Assume
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 everyone here
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 just work on
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 the assumption
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 you're in
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 denial.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Jesus is
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 pretty blunt
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 to this
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 guy.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 It's like
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 why was
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 he so
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 blunt?
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 It's like
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 because Jesus
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 is slapping
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 him in the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 face.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 Wake up
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 dude.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Wake up
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 you're in
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 denial.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 That's the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 nature of
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 addiction.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 The addiction
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 will say
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 I'm not
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 addicted.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 I haven't
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 got a
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 problem.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 So the
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 first thing
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 is to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 assume we
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 are under
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 the influence.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 Just humor me
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 with this
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 one.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 Assume that
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 the amount
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 of money
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 you think
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 you need
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 is more
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 than what
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 you really
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 need.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 Just assume
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 that.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Assume that
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 the amount
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 of money
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 you think
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 you need
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 is more
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 than what
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 you really
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 need.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 And
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 assume also
00:27:03 --> 00:27:05 the amount
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 of money
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 you think
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 you can
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 give away
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 is less
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 than what
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 you really
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 can give
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 away.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 Assume it.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 The Bible
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 says that
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 money makes
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 us blind.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 Second thing
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 to escape
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 the danger
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 of money
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 is to
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 look to
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 the rich
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 young ruler.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 Why do
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 that when
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 this guy
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 doesn't do
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 the right
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 thing?
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 He walks
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 away sad,
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 he rejects
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 Jesus.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 So why
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 look to
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 the rich
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 young
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 ruler?
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 Well,
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 there's
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 actually
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 two rich
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 young
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 rulers
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 in this
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 text.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 Did you
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 notice
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 there's a
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 second one?
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 Jesus is
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 around 30
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 to 32
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 when he's
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 heading to
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 Jerusalem.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 The Bible
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 says that he
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 existed with
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 God for
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 eternity.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 He made
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 everything.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 He rules
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 everything.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 He sustains
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 everything.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 And he
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 left that
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 aside,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 came from
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 heaven to
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 identify with
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 the spiritual
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 poverty of the
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 human race.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 And he is
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 on his way
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 here to
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 Jerusalem to
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 die on a
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 cross and
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 to at that
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 moment to
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 go into
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 deep, deep
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 poverty,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 deeper poverty
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 than anyone
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 else has
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18 ever experienced.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 He will be
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 stripped of
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 everything of
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 his earthly
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 goods, which
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 is minimal.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Everything will
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 be taken away
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 from him.
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 And he will
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 be abandoned
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 by his
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 father and
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 he will lose
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 his life.
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 He will even
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 give away his
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 life.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 And he
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 gave everything
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 for us,
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 for the
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 poor, the
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 spiritually
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 blind, the
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 spiritually
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 dead, the
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 ones who
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 need
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 rescuing.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 2 Corinthians
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 8-9 puts
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 it in
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 economic
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 terms.
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 It says,
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 for you
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 know the
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 grace of
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 our Lord
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Jesus
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 Christ,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 that though
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 he was
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 rich, yet
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 for your
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 sakes he
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 became poor,
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 so that you
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 through his
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 poverty might
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 become rich.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 He was
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 drained of
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 all of his
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 riches, so
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 that we,
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 though poor,
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 can receive
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 all of his
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 riches.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 In Jesus, we
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 get adoption
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 into God's
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 family, forgiveness,
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 pardon, eternal
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 life.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 It is the only
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 wealth that
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 makes you truly
00:29:16 --> 00:29:19 secure, even
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 through and beyond
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 death.
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 And so we need
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 to look to the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 true rich young
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 ruler in this
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 passage.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:29 until we get
00:29:29 --> 00:29:32 weepingly
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 excited,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 weepingly
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 excited over
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 what he has
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 achieved for
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 us and what
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 he has gifted
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 us.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 Look to the
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 glorious news
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 of God's
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 grace and
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 his riches
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 to us in
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 the Lord
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 Jesus until
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 it drains,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 drains all
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 the power out
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 of money and
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 possessions.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:55 until those
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 things just
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 become
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 currency.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 Not
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 identity
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 markers, just
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 currency.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 Just money
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 are no longer
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 our security
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 and our
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 self-esteem.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 Third thing
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 to do is to
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 have a plan.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 Step one,
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 this is getting
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 particular now in
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 terms of radical
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 generosity.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 Step one,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 investigate what
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 percentage of
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 your income
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 you are giving
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 away.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 We in
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 Australia,
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 the more
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 money we
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 get, the
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 less we
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 give away.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 I think the
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 latest thing
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 was around
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 2% or even
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 under 2%
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 that we give
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 away of
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 our income.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 So work out
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 what percentage
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 of your income
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 you're giving
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 away.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 How much of
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 that goes to
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 Christian
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 ministry?
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 How much of
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 that goes to
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 poor, needy,
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 outside your
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 own family?
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Step two,
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 if it's not
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 10%, the
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 very least
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 amount the
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 disciples are
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 encouraged to
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 give away.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 Work out how
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 you can
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 aggressively
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 move towards
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 10% this
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 year.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 Step three,
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 figure out
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 what sacrifices
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 you are going
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 to make in
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 order to get
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 there.
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 If you don't
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 need to make
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 sacrifices in
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 order to give
00:31:07 --> 00:31:10 10%, then you
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 aren't really
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 giving.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 Sacrificial
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 giving is not
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 about a
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 percentage.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 It's about a
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 standard of
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 living.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 It's about a
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 standard of
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 living changing
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 in such a
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 way that we
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 feel the
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 loss.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 That's what
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 generosity, we
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 start to feel
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 the loss.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 Just let me
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 add here what
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 Jesus says at
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 the end of
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 these verses
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 when I talk
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 about loss.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 Having seen
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 the rich young
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 man walk
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 away, Peter
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 pipes up.
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 Verse 28,
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 we've left all
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 we had to
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 follow you.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 And Jesus
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 reassures the
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 disciples in
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 this moment that
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 though they
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 have made
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 sacrifices and
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 have sacrificed
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 many things,
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 they have left
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 many things,
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 they will not
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 fail to
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 receive many
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 more blessings
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 now and
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 forever.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 Truly I say
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 to you,
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Jesus said,
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 no one who
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 has left home
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 or wife or
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 brothers or
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 sisters or
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 parents or
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 children for
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 the sake of
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 the kingdom
00:32:11 --> 00:32:13 of God will
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 fail to
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 receive many
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 times as
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 much in this
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 age and in
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 the age to
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 come eternal
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 life.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 God's no
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 man debtor.
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 He's no
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 man's debtor.
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 Step four,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 decide what
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 you're going to
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 give to,
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 wear and
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 follow through
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 with it.
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 That is make
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 yourself accountable.
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 That's why we
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 do pledging here
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 at St. Paul's.
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 Giving is a
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 spiritual issue
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 and like all
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 spiritual issues
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 we are accountable
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 for it.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 To live
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 radically
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 generous,
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 to be
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 radically
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 generous with
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 our money,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 our wealth,
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 our possessions.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 We don't
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 need courage.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 What we
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 need is
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 joy.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 That's what we
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 really need.
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 We need joy.
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 We need to be
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 relaxed and at
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 peace and
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 secure enough
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 in order to
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 do this.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 And the
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 only joy,
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 the only
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 security,
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 the only
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 peace that
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 comes to
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 us is when
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 we look at
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 the true,
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 rich,
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 young ruler
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 who lost
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 everything so
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 that we could
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 gain everything.
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 The more
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 we look to
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 him and
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 the riches
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 that we have
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 in him,
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 the more
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 free we
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 will be,
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 the more
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 free we
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 will live
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 a pervasively
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 generous life,
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 including giving
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 our money away
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 in eye-popping
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 proportions.