Wary of Wealth
Series: WEALTH ON PURPOSE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 2nd June 2019
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 greed, wealth, a lot, which is in Luke's Gospels where we're going to be in the next month.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 One third of his parables are on this topic.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:17 He warns of the dangers and what it looks like to live a life of pervasive generosity.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:25 He wants us to see how the good news of what he has done for us changes everything in our world,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 including how we see wealth and possessions.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:36 The second reason is we've just finished our pledging project for Mission Month.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:41 Our vision series, which is our annual pledging time, is six months away,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 and we don't have any capital fundraising program on right now.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 So that's the reason why we're talking about money.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:57 When there is a sermon or a series of sermons during any sort of fundraising campaign at all,
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 it's way too easy for us just to think about the thing.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:07 You know, it's the pledging for the next year, the budget for next year,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:12 or raising a target for Mission, or raising money to build buildings.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 We focus on the thing we are raising the money for.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:22 When our minds and our hearts engage with the Bible on the issue,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:29 we default to the value of the thing we're raising money for,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:36 rather than the spiritual life and the habits and the values of the gospel of the Lord Jesus calls us to.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:42 We concentrate on the thing of the campaign and not our hearts.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:48 And so this is a deliberate focus on heart work in the next four weeks.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 Our perspective on money and possessions and wealth,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 how we handle them, lie at the very heart of the Christian life.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 Does that sound like an overstatement?
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 I want to say it's not at all.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:13 The Bible emphatically demonstrates that how we view our money and our possessions is of utmost importance.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 What we do with them will influence eternity.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:27 God has recorded in the Bible everything that we need to know about his investment priorities,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 his high standards of management,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:33 and the rewards he offers his faithful stewards.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:42 So this sermon series won't be about how to achieve your financial goals.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:52 But it will provide the light in which your financial goals should be evaluated and formulated.
00:02:52 --> 00:03:00 And that's why the central focus of this series is not insurance, but assurance.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 It's not securities, but security.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 It's not trust funds, but faith.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 It's not principle, but principles.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 It's not real estate, it's your eternal home.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 That's the focus.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:23 You will not find any net worth calculations in the next four weeks,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 which we easily mistake for self-worth calculations,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:35 but you will see how God measures your life's worth.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:45 The issue of riches and wealth and money come up again and again as Jesus walks this journey from Jerusalem.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:53 Sorry, he walks the road to Jerusalem on his way to his death for the salvation of humanity.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 And as he teaches his disciples again and again and again,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 what does it mean to be on the road with him?
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 What does it mean to be his disciple?
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 What does it mean to declare him as Lord?
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 And we find one of these encounters in Luke 18.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 Grab your Bibles.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 Luke 18.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 Young man comes up to Jesus and asks him a question.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:27 In verse 18, it says that the person is a ruler.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 And we are told that he's rich in verse 23.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 And throughout the centuries, he's been known as the rich young ruler.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:38 Not known by his name, but by all of his classifications.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 Rich young ruler.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 And with this particular interaction with Jesus,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:48 there are three things that we learn about wealth and money and possessions.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:55 And if you've got one of the outlines, you can follow it along this morning on paper form or in the St. Paul's app.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 You'll also find it there and you can take your notes and type them in.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 So three things.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 First of all, the danger of wealth.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 That's the first thing we see.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 It's in the middle of the passage.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 Verse 24.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 Jesus looks right at this young man and he says to him,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:19 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 Now, Jesus is using a metaphor here.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 It's what is known as a metaphor of impossibility.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:37 The camel was the biggest land animal that people knew at that time.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:43 And the eye of the needle was the smallest hole that people could imagine at that time.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 It's a metaphor of impossibility.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:52 It's the metaphor where we might say they've got a snowball's chance in hell.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 Metaphor of impossibility.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 No chance whatsoever.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 Virtually impossible, it says here, for the rich to get into heaven.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:05 Now, from my Google attempt the other day,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:14 the world's richest person at the moment has a personal fortune of 145.3 billion US dollars.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:23 Amazingly, he's also given less than 1% of his wealth away.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:28 So, you might also call him a greedy man as well, possibly.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 Now, I don't appear on that rich list.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 I went down the list, and I'm not there anywhere.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 I'm not published on any rich list, not even published on the Chatswood rich list.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 But when I put my wealth, and I've told you this before,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 and you can do exactly the same thing.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 You go on a website called Global Rich List,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:52 and I type mine and Nat's combined income, we put it in that rich list.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 I'm ranked, or together we are ranked,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 in the top 6 million richest people in the world.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 The top 6 million people in the world.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:09 That is, we're in the top 0.09% of the world's population when it comes to wealth.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:15 And as a financial advisor said to Nat and I a little while ago,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 you're a teacher and you're a pastor.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 You're not giving me much to work with here.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:29 When Jesus speaks about rich people, he's talking about me.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 He's talking about you.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 Even if you are a student in this country, he's talking about you.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:46 And he's saying it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of an eagle
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 than it is for you and for me to get into his kingdom.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 See the reaction of those who were listening to this incident?
00:08:00 --> 00:08:00 Verse 26.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Well, who then can be saved?
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 Who can be saved?
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 Izzy, can you get me my water bottle, please?
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 Sorry, I've had a throat infection this week.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 You wouldn't notice it.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 But I feel it.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 Who can be saved?
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 You see, the disciples in this moment are confused by the words of Jesus.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:37 Jesus, aren't the rich ones the ones who are particularly blessed by you?
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 Haven't you particularly blessed them?
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 That's their cultural thinking.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:48 Jesus responds, what is impossible with men is possible with God.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:54 Now, notice that Jesus didn't say here, what is impossible for rich people.
00:08:54 --> 00:09:00 He says, what is impossible with all people is possible with God.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 He's saying that all of salvation is a miracle.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:10 It is impossible that anyone would be saved because as Romans chapter 3 says,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:20 It is not possible for anyone to be saved unless God himself intervenes
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 and does the impossible for us.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:30 But the reason Jesus raised it here with this rich man
00:09:30 --> 00:09:37 is because the same thing that makes salvation impossible for us all
00:09:37 --> 00:09:42 makes it worse when you've got money.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:49 The Old Testament book of Proverbs is primarily concerned
00:09:49 --> 00:09:54 about how to navigate life well in God's world.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:59 It says a lot about money and in particular,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 two really important things that it talks about
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 when it says about the spiritual power of money.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:14 Firstly, it says that money has the spiritual power to distract you
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 from what really matters in life.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:25 So distracted, we don't have time in fact to ask really the important questions like,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:30 what am I really here for and what am I really attempting to accomplish with my life.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 Proverbs 11 verse 4 says,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:38 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 but righteousness delivers from death.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:50 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath means that money can't help us
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 when troubles hit us in life.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 It does attempt to give us a deep delusion
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 that if we have enough of it, then we are safe.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 It attempts to do that.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:08 But we are not safe from grief and bereavement,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 from illness, from disaster.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 We are not even safe from financial ruin
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 when you've got lots of money.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Oh, the irony.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 Money can't stop death.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 It can't stop tragedy.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 It can't stop heartbreak.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:28 And when they come, we're not ready for it.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 Money has the power to distract us
00:11:33 --> 00:11:37 from the really important questions of life
00:11:37 --> 00:11:41 and distract us to the point
00:11:41 --> 00:11:45 to delude us into thinking that if we have money,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 then these things won't hit us.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 They become our security.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54 They become, in fact, Jesus says, our God.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 Secondly, Proverbs says
00:11:57 --> 00:12:04 that money has the ability to distort our self-image.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:09 In Proverbs 30, verses 8 and 9, it says,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 Give me neither poverty nor riches,
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 but give me only my daily bread.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 Otherwise, I may have too much
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 and disown you and say,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 Who is the Lord?
00:12:23 --> 00:12:27 To see a person humbled under prosperity
00:12:27 --> 00:12:31 is the greatest rarity in the world.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 Let me just repeat that.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:40 To see a person humbled under prosperity
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 is the greatest rarity in the world.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 Wealth leads to pride.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:51 I read this sometime.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 I can't quote who it was,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 but I remember reading some time ago
00:12:54 --> 00:12:58 a philosophical paper on wealth
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 and what it does to you in terms of spiritual pride.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 And it's interesting that a person
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 who's particularly skilled,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 like a skilled engineer,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 can take pride in the fact
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 they're a skilled engineer
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 and they're really good.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 For some reason,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 that when it comes to wealth,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:18 a person who has become a self-made person,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 built their own personal fortune,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 has a delusion into thinking
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 that they are skilled at everything.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:30 An engineer might be skilled in the engineer
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 and have certain pride in that,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 but don't think for a moment
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 they're a great dentist.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:39 But a person who has built their personal wealth
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 has for some reason
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 an inbuilt thing in them,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 in their heart,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 to lead them to pride in every area of life.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:52 Give you advice on every area of life.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 Wealth leads to pride.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 And it puts us in a place where we say,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 who is God?
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Why do I need him?
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 That's the first point.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 Secondly, why wealth is so dangerous.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Let's go back to the beginning of this passage
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 in Luke 18
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 and unpack why wealth is so dangerous for us.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 So verse 18,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 certain ruler asked him,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 good teacher,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 what must I do to inherit eternal life?
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 Why do you call me good?
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 Jesus answered,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 no one is good except God alone.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 You know the commandments.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 You shall not commit adultery.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 You shall not murder.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 You shall not steal.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 You shall not give false testimony.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 Honor your father and your mother.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 All of these I've kept since I was a boy,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 he said.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 Now,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 we should be shocked,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 first of all,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 by Jesus' answer to the question,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 what must I do to inherit eternal life?
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 Jesus says to him,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 go and obey the Ten Commandments.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 And the implication is,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 to Jesus' answer,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 well, that's how you get eternal life.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 You just obey the Ten Commandments.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 This should shock us.
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 Because immediately before this,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 Jesus tells the story
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 of this parable
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 and this tax collector,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 this parable of the Pharisee and tax collector,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 where the
00:15:07 --> 00:15:11 obedient religious man
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 went home,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 went home,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 not saved.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 He was not saved.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 And yet the sinner,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 the tax collector,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 is saved.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 And Jesus says,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 again and again,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 that we cannot save ourselves.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 He says it right here.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 It's impossible for any person
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 to save themselves.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:36 So why does he say here,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 obey the Ten Commandments?
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 Why doesn't Jesus just be consistent
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 to this rich young ruler?
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 Well,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 I'm on my way to Jerusalem,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to Zion a cross,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 to pay a ransom,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 and to pay the penalty
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 that you deserve for your sin,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 and if you put your trust in me,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 you'll have eternal life.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 Why doesn't Jesus do that?
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 I mean,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 I could have done that.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 That would be consistent
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 with what Jesus has said elsewhere
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 in the rest of the New Testament.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 But to say,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 I've come to die for your sins
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 would have been incomprehensible
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 to this young man.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 Like the majority of people,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 he doesn't think
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 he's got a problem.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 Look at what he says
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 in verse 21.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 I've done all that.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 All this I've done.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 I've kept them all
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 since I was a boy.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 In other words,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 Jesus,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 I don't need a rescuer.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 I'm a good person.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Might not be perfect,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 but I don't need a rescuer.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 And so Jesus is just going,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 he's just digging deeper
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 and deeper
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 into this young man's heart.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 Deep down,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 he must have some feeling
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 that something wasn't right.
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 Something was wrong.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 Something was missing.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 Otherwise,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 why was he there
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 in front of Jesus
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 asking this question?
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 You see,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 if we think
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 that we can get right with God
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 by being good enough,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 we will always feel insecure.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 We will always see someone
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 who's more righteous than us
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and we'll always be left
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 with a question,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 have I done enough?
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 Have I done enough?
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 Even though
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 those who project
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 an image
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 that they've got it all together
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 on the outside,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 on the inside,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 they know better.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 And on the inside,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 we know better too.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 Every single one of us
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 knows the things
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 that we have done
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 and thought
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 that we could hide,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 but we can't even hide them
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 from our own conscience,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 let alone God.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 And Jesus is reminding
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 this young man
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 that his first
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 and fundamental problem
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 that is
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 that he is in fact
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 not good.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 No mere mortal is,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 which is the point
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 of verse 19.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:12 And so Jesus goes on
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 just a little bit further
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 just to push him
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 to help him to see
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 where he is not good.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 Verse 22,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 when Jesus heard this,
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 he said to him,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 you still lack
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 one thing,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 one thing.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 Sell everything
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 that you have,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 give it to the poor
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 and you'll have
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 treasury in heaven,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 then come follow me.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:38 Jesus has never suggested
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 to anyone else
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 that the way
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 to be saved
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 is to give all
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 of your money
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 to the poor.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 Never suggested
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 that to anyone else.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 So why here?
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 He's doing it
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 because it is
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 a brilliant strategy
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 to help this
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 rich young ruler
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 to see that
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 he needs rescuing.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 Jesus targets
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 this man's idol,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 the one of his heart.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 This is the thing
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 that he's looking to,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 to give him
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 that only God
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 can give him.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 You see,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 money is not just
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 a mere currency
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 to him.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 It's not just
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 a tool for him.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 It is an identity
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 scorecard.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 It is his security
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 and his hope.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 This is the thing
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 that is squeezing God
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 out of his life.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 And when Jesus
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 presses him on it,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 he sees he,
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 in fact,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 hasn't obeyed
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 the commandments
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 at all.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 He is not good
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 at all.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 Jesus pushed him
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 to give it all up
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 for the poor.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 Give it all up
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 for God.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Give it all up
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 and follow me,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 he says.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 And he couldn't.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 Verse 23 says
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 he became very sad.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 He was deeply
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 grieved.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 He was deeply
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 distressed.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 His money
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 is not just
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 money to him.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 His money
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 to him
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 is, well,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 just simply
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 more important.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 And he did not
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 want God
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 to get in the way
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 of what was
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 more important.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 He wasn't good.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 In fact,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 he didn't actually
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 obey the Ten
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 Commandments.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 He couldn't even
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 get past
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 the very first one.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 You shall have
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 no other gods.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 You couldn't
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 even get past
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 that one.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 And when you
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 break the first
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 one, you've
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 broken them all.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 His money
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 was his God.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Money can so
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 easily become
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 a pseudo-savior.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 Of all the things
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 that Jesus said,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 you cannot serve
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 both God
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 and he chose
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 money.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Could have chosen
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 anything else,
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 but he chose
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 money.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Because he knew
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 it is the pseudo-savior.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 It's the false
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 savior.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 Jesus sets
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 it up.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 There's the
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 alternative God.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 We are devoted
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 to the one
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 or the other,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 but you can't
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 have both.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Wealth is
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 that dangerous.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 And so
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 for two-thirds
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 of this sermon,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 I just wanted
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 to raise that
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 issue for us.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 Do you
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 realize how
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 dangerous
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 your wealth
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 is?
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Just think
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 it's important
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 to raise it,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 how dangerous
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 it is.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 Do you
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 see it
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 as dangerous
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 as it
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 slips through
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 your fingers
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and your
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 bank accounts?
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 How do we
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 escape the
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 danger?
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 That's the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 third point.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 The first
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 thing,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 first thing
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 here is to
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 assume that
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 you're in
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 denial.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 That's the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 first thing.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 Always assume
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 you're in
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 denial.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 Jesus is
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 pretty blunt
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 because this
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 rich young
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 ruler here
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 was in
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 denial.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 That is
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 the very
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 nature of
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 addiction.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 An addiction
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 will say,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 I'm not
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 addicted,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 I don't
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 have a
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 problem.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 And so
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 the first
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 thing here
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 is to
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 assume that
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 we are
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 all living
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 in a
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 Western
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 materialistic
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 society
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 under the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 influence.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 Assume that
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 the amount
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 of money
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 you think
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 you need
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 is more
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 than what
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 you really
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 need.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 Let me
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 just say
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 that again.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 Assume
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 that the
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 amount of
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 money you
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 think you
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 need is
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 more than
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 you really
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 need.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 And
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 secondly,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 I'll say
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 this twice
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 as well,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 assume that
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 the amount
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 of money you
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 think you
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 can give
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 away is
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 less than
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 what you
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 really can
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 in fact give
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 away.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:52 I'll say
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 it again,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 I said I
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 was going
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 to assume
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 also that
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 the amount
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 of money you
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 think you
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 can give
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 away is
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 less than
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 what you
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 actually can
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 give away.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 Assume
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 it.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 The Bible
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 says money
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 makes us
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 blind.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 That's the
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 first thing.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 Assume
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 you're in
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 denial.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 The second
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 thing to
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 do here
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 to escape
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 the danger
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 of money
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 and wealth
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 is to
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 look to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 the rich
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 young ruler.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Now
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 why do
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 that when
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 the rich
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 young ruler
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 walks away
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 sad and
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 rejects
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Jesus?
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Surely
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 he's not
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 someone to
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 follow here.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 You're
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 absolutely
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 right.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 I'm not
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 referring to
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 him.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 I'm
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 referring to
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 the other
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 rich young
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 ruler in
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 this story.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 Jesus is
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 around 30,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 32 when
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 he is
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 heading to
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 Jerusalem.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 The Bible
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 says he
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 existed with
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 God for
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 eternity.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 He made
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 everything.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 He rules
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 and sustains
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 everything by
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 the power of
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 his word.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 He owns
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 everything.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 Everything
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 is his.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 He left
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 that aside,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 came from
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 heaven to
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 identify with
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 the spiritual
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 poverty of
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 the human
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 race.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 He is
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 on his
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 way to
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 Jerusalem
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 to die
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 on a
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 cross
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 and into
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 a deeper
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 poverty
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 than anyone
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 else has
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 ever gone
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 before.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 He will
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 be stripped
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 of everything
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 including
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 his life.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 And 2
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 Corinthians 8
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 and 9
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 puts his
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 sacrifice on
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 the cross
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 for us
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 in economic
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 terms.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 For you
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 know the
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 grace of
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 our Lord
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 Jesus Christ
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 that though
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 he was
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 rich,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 yet for
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 your sake
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 he became
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 poor,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 so that
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 you through
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 his poverty
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 might become
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 rich.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 It's in
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 those songs
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 we sang this
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 morning,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 because of
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 his poverty
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 we have
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 everything
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 in Jesus
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 already.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Everything
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 that we
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 are looking
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 to money
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 to give
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 us
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 and we
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 are
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 labouring
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 for money
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 to provide
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 for us,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 security,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 identity,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 Jesus
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 gives it
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 to us
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 already
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 as a
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 gift.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:32 he was
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 drained
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 of all
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 of his
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 riches
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 so that
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 we
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 through
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 his
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 poverty
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 can
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 receive
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 his
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 riches.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 In
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 Jesus
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 we get
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 adoption
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 into
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 God's
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 family,
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 forgiveness
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 parted
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 eternal
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 life.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 It is
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 the only
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 wealth
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 that makes
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 us truly
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 secure,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 even in
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 death
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 and beyond
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 death.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 We need
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 to look
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 to the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 true
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 rich
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 young
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 ruler
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 until
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 we get
00:25:55 --> 00:25:58 weepingly
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 excited.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 Weepingly
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 excited
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 over what
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 he has
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 achieved
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 for us
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 and what
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 he has
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 gifted
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 us.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Look to
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 the glorious
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 news of
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 God's
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 grace and
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 his riches
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 to us
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 in the
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 Lord
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Jesus
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 until
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 it drains
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 all power
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 out of
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 money and
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 possessions
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 until
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 they just
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 become mere
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 currency that
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 goes through
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 our hands
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 for the
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 glory of
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 God.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 Just
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 money,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 that's all
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 it is.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 It's no
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 longer
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 eternal
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 security,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 it's no
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 longer
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 identity,
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 it's no
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 longer
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 self-esteem,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 it's no
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 longer
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 comfort.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 The third
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 thing you
00:26:45 --> 00:26:48 do is
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 to have a
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 plan to
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 use your
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 wealth with
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 purpose.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 To use
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 it with
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 eternity
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 in mind
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 as
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 stewards
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 of
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 God's
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 resources.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 So,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 let me
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 get
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 practical.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 A few
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 steps here.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 Step
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 one,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 investigate
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 today what
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 percentage of
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 your income
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 are you giving
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 away.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 How much
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 goes to
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 Christian
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 ministry and
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 to charity?
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 Christian
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 ministry to
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 help people
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 out of
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 spiritual
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 poverty and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 charity to
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 help people
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 out of
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 physical
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 poverty.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 step
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 two,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 if it's
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 not at
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 least 10%,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 which is
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 the baseline
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 commandment in
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 the scriptures,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 work out
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 how you
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 could aggressively
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 move towards
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 10% in the
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 second half of
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 this year.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 Step
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 three,
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 figure out
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 what sacrifices
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 you are going
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 to make in
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 order to take
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 that step.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 Number
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 two,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 what are you
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 going to stop
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 doing?
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 If you
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 don't need to
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 make sacrifices
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 in order to
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 give away 10%
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 and the reality
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 is 10% is not
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 your benchmark,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 you need to
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 go higher.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 You need to
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 keep working
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 higher.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Sacrificial
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 giving is not
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 about percentage,
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 it's when our
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 standard of
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 living changes
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 in such a
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 way that we
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 feel loss.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 That's
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 sacrificial
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 giving.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 That's radical
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 generosity.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 It's when
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 our giving
00:28:18 --> 00:28:21 changes,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 our standard
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 of living
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 changes in
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 order for us
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 to feel
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 loss as
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 we give.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 That's
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 sacrificial
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 giving.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 Just let
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 me add
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 what Jesus
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 says at the
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 end of these
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 verses.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 Having seen
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 the rich young
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 man walk
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 away sad,
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 Peter pipes
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 in and says,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 hey, we
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 have left
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 everything to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 follow you.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 In other
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 words, we're
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 not like
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 him, we've
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 given up
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 everything,
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Jesus.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 Do we
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 get eternal
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 life?
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 And Jesus
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 reassures the
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 disciples that
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 though they
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 may have
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 sacrificed many
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 things, they
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 have left
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 many things.
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 They will
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 not fail to
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 receive many
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 more blessings
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 now and
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 forever.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 Truly I
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 tell you,
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 Jesus said to
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 them, no one
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 who has left
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 home or wife
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 or brothers
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 or sisters
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 or parents
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 or children
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 for the sake
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 of the kingdom
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 of God will
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 fail to receive
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 many times as
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 much in this
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 age and in
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 the age to
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 come eternal
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 life.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 Step four,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 decide what
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 you are giving
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 to and follow
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 through with
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 it.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 Make yourself
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 accountable.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 That's partly
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 one of the
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 reasons why we
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 do pledging
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 here.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 It's a
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 spiritual issue,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 it's not a
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 financial issue.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 It's one of
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 the reasons why
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 we do pledging
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 here at St.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 Paul's.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 Giving is a
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 spiritual issue
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 and like every
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 single spiritual
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 issue, we are
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 accountable for it
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 in the same
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 way that I
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 am.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 To live
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 radically
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 generous lives
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 with our
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 money, with
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 our wealth
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 and possessions,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 we don't need
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 courage.
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 That's the point
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 here.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 We don't need
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 courage.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 What we need
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 is joy.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 That's what we
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 need.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 We need to be
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 relaxed and at
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 peace and secure
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 in Jesus enough
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 in order to live
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 a life of radical
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 generosity.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 This joy only
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 comes when we
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 look at the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 true rich young
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 ruler who lost
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 everything so that
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 we would gain
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 everything.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 And the more
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 we look to
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 Jesus and the
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 riches we have
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 in him, the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 more free we
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 will be to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 live a life of
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 pervasively
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 generous life,
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 radical
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 generosity,
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 including giving
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 our money away
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 in eye-popping
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 proportions with
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 joy.
00:30:37 --> 00:30:40 thoughts and
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 mooden Morgan
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 lost Apple
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 chanting
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 sorry
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 stor Musimy
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 laughed
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 awfully
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 roll
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 Pens by
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 madly
00:30:46 --> 00:30:48 gratitude
00:30:48 --> 00:30:51 Marvin
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 är
00:30:52 --> 00:30:55 en kanje
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 dag
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 Vi
00:30:55 --> 00:31:04 amb