Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Matthew 6:19-24

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Matthew 6:19-24 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning, opening up your copy of God's Word to Matthew 5, or 6.
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So here at Christ's Family, we believe very strongly in preaching through God's Word verse by verse.
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! And so if you're landing here for the first time or you haven't been back in a while,
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you are providentially following on the next passage that we're going to.
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And so it isn't like we just targeted people today and decided to talk about wealth, money, and possessions.
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It actually just falls in line with where we are preaching through the Sermon on the Mount.
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And a very well-known sermon, I mean the title of it, the Sermon on the Mount,
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doesn't mean that's the only sermon that Jesus preached.
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It's just one of the most well-known discourses.
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And he preached it in Galilee.
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Galilee was a small, well, relatively small, comparatively speaking,
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300,000, 200,000 people maybe in small villages and towns.
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And the crowds gathered around him.
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But interesting enough, it says that he taught his disciples,
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and people began kind of, you know, listening in.
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And he opened his mouth and he taught them, it says in chapter 4.
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So standing on this high plain, probably overlooking the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum,
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Jesus begins teaching his disciples about what it looks like to belong to the kingdom of God
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and what the citizens of the kingdom of God and how they live
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and the godly life that is meant to be exhibited in everyday living in everything that we do.
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So the Sermon on the Mount is a very helpful, practical sermon,
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but also one that really hits us in hard places.
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And Jesus is constantly comparing the false outward righteousness
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that many saw in the religious leaders of the day
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to the true inward righteousness that God desires and that God only can bring about.
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And so today we land in verse 19 of all this.
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And it's a very sensitive passage.
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I'm planning some people to block the door so no one leaves.
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It's like one of those, please don't bring this stuff up.
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It really is sensitive.
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It's really hard.
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And I get it.
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I think I would be in the first in line to try to run out of the building at this point.
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But I'm kind of stuck here.
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It would be really weird if I just ran out.
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So before I begin, though, I want to just throw this out there,
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that a few things, so that you don't attack me later.
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I don't have all this figured out.
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I've been asking God.
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I, this past week, I've been wrestling, I've been praying, I've been measuring, discussing
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just what it is about money and possessions, especially that we Americans have,
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that as soon as it's brought up, we just go like that, like immediately.
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It makes us uncomfortable.
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So I've been asking God, why?
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Why is that happening in my own heart?
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Just wrestling over and over with this.
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And so my goal is to stand behind Jesus this morning, to let his words go out and let his
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words have its desired effect on you.
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So back in the old medieval days, if you had fruit or nasty vegetables and you wanted to
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throw them at somebody you didn't like, I'm hiding behind him today.
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So I might, you know, say something, then just kind of go in such a way.
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So here we go.
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Verse 19.
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This is the words of our Lord.
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He says,
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Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and
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where thieves break in and steal.
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But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where
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thieves do not break in and steal.
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For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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The eye is the lamp of the body.
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So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
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But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
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If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?
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No one can serve two masters.
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For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and
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despise the other.
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You cannot serve God and money.
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Let's pray together.
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Lord, I pray that you would just help me in this time to communicate truth, to communicate
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grace.
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Lord, I pray that if anybody has any issue today, it will be with you and your word and not with
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with me, that we would humbly work through this passage together.
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That you would teach us its meaning.
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Lord, your word is authoritative.
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Your word is inspired.
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It is God-breathed.
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And we know, Lord, that you do not utter nonsense.
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That every word is meant to be applied to our hearts, to our lives.
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It is, Lord, as we leave even here today, that we would, as the old Puritans used to say,
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speak of them in your families and pray and discuss them and ask that the Lord would help
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you not blaspheme his word by forgetting it.
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So, Lord, I just ask that.
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I ask that you would just work in our hearts that this would be worked out in real, tangible
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ways.
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That each family, each individual would seek you to see what this looks like in their life.
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Yes, Lord, we place it all in your hands to do a work among us.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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So, three points kind of coming out of this.
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Only three.
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Don't tell me there's more.
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That's it.
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The first, number one, very simply put, there are two kinds of treasures.
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We see it in verses 19 and verse 20.
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There's only two kinds.
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There is treasures on earth and treasures in heaven.
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But first, let's just speak briefly about what is a treasure.
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Treasure.
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It's not, maybe not what a lot of us may think, but a treasure simply is whatever you love,
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whatever you cherish, whatever you value the most in life.
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It's, in turn, what you might worship.
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Our old English word for worship is also connected to the idea of what we consider to be of the
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greatest worth, and that's shown by how we treat that particular thing.
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The old word originally was called worth-ship.
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And I guess at some point we got tired of such a long word, so we boiled it down to worship.
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But it is what we value, what we love, what we cherish, what we guard, what we seek is what,
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in very fact, gets us out of bed in the morning, what drives us on.
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And every one of us has a treasure.
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And notice that Christ is not saying to not have a treasure.
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He's just saying, make sure that you are very wise in your choice of treasure.
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So, as we unpack this, let's go a little further.
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There's two kinds.
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The first kind that's mentioned is an earthly treasure.
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In verse 24, we see that the literal Greek word is mammon.
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Mammon was a Semitic word for money and possession.
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So, kind of lob that in there.
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So, not just finances, not just money, but all the stuff that money can buy.
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Our money and our possessions, our mammon.
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So, today in America, we are living in the most wealthy, affluent, prosperous countries in the history of the world.
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So, history majors in here, you know that that's true.
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You can study other civilizations.
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You might see some very wealthy civilizations, but they don't even come close to what we have.
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College students, most poor college students, you are in the 1% of the wealthiest people in the world.
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That's if you work a part-time job.
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So, don't ever say that.
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Throw that phrase away.
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Comparatively speaking, you might not have a lot, but you are not poor.
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So, in this quite Disneyland of America, we have so much money, possessions, wealth, comforts, luxuries, and opulence than any other civilization before us.
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So, in short, earthly treasures are our money, our possessions.
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It's anything that is seen and anything that is temporal.
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So, that's what an earthly treasure implies.
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We'll get more at that in a minute.
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Then, the other kind is heavenly treasure.
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So, what in the world is that?
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Well, it's not just the spiritual version of mammon.
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It's not like, well, when I get to die, I get a golf course in heaven.
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I basically just get all the toys and pleasure that I have here in a heavenly form.
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That's not like what a heavenly treasure is.
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It's not big houses.
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It's not toys.
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It's not stuff.
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No.
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If you want to talk about this more later, I would argue very strongly, and I think that Scripture would agree, and I think that church history would agree with this,
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but Scripture reveals that the most amazing thing, overwhelmingly, that the treasure of heaven is the king of heaven.
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It's God himself.
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Heaven is synonymous in the Scripture with the presence of God.
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So, heaven just isn't a place.
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It's a person.
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And so, it's not just a cool place that we get to kind of all go and retire spiritually one day.
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It's being in the presence of someone.
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Psalm 16 says,
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Our argument here is that God himself, even in the person of Christ, is the treasure.
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He himself is the treasure.
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So, we could count all things as loss, as Paul says, in comparison to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Revelation 21.
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This is kind of getting toward the end of the book with the new heaven and the new earth, and this is what John says.
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He says,
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I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
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Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
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He will dwell of them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be their God.
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Go on and read that whole chapter.
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Chapter 21 in Revelation.
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So, you're very aware that it's not just a cool place.
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It's not just earth hyped up and much better.
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It's being in the holy presence of God.
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But there will be other things in heaven, but they all will be pointing to and making much of the king of heaven.
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Jesus prayed this in John 17.
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He said,
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Think about what you think of eternal life.
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Well, it means living forever.
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It means not dying.
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And yes, it does live that.
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But here's Jesus' definition of eternal life.
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And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, and you have sent.
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And then later on in this prayer, in verse 24, he says,
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Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am,
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to see my glory that you have given me because you love me before the foundation of the world.
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So, Christ existed with the Father, completely joyful, completely satisfied before anything was created.
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And he's saying, Father, bring them with me one day so they can behold my glory,
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to behold me and to be with me.
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There's a big difference between just wanting to be spared hell and wanting to go to heaven.
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I wish I had learned this much earlier in my life.
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Richard Baxter, back in the 1600s, he wrote this,
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As a believer's life is very different from an unbeliever's life,
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so also a believer's death is very different from an unbeliever's death.
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The unbeliever prefers heaven to hell.
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The believer prefers heaven over earth.
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The unbeliever prefers heaven only over hell because he cannot imagine anything more blessed than this life.
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The believer prefers heaven over earth because the believer cannot imagine anything more blessed than life with God.
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That's it.
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So, though heaven may have many blessings,
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and though there will be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more sin, no more suffering,
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all of that is going to be directed toward the Lamb who is slain.
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And we will dwell with Him forever.
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So, Jesus is saying,
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Devote your life to accumulating treasure, not on the earth, but in heaven where you will be with God forever.
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Store up treasures in heaven.
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So, that's the two kinds, earthly and heavenly.
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If you ever stop to ask yourself,
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we're going to refer to this book so a few times, but I beg you,
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I've purchased this book.
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It's called The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.
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Not a big book.
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So, those of you who aren't really great readers, you can still read it.
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And I would say this book, above all I've ever read,
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has the best theology of money, best theology of stewardship.
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What should we do with our money?
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I'm really terrible at just managing money,
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like in terms of just like the math part of it, hands-on part of it.
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That's why I married a CPA.
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She can do that.
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But, that stuff has to be filtered through God's Word.
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It has to be filtered through principles that we see in God's Word about money and about possessions.
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So, why is so much attention?
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You ever stop to think about that?
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That's a ton of attention given in the Scripture about money and possessions.
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Just looking at the Gospels alone,
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15% of everything that Jesus says relates in some way,
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connects, relates, illustrated with money and possessions.
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That's mind-blowing.
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That's more than the teachings on heaven and hell combined,
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like direct teachings.
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So, interesting enough, though,
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of that 15%, Jesus only mentions tithing one time.
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And He's speaking to the Pharisees about it.
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He basically is saying,
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that's what's expected of you.
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You even tithe even your spices,
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He said to the Pharisees.
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But, you've neglected even the way or matters of the law.
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You've neglected mercy, justice, and faithfulness.
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So, should we tithe?
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If you want my honest opinion,
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I think it's a good principle to kind of start with in our giving.
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But nowhere, I mean, in the Scripture, people gave much more.
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And like those of us who have been liberated in Christ,
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you can say, well, we under the Old Testament law.
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No, you're supposed to be above it.
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You're supposed to give and to not hold on to all our stuff.
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We'll get more into that in a second.
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So, it's a great principle to kind of live by.
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But Jesus is basically saying,
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you're just doing what's expected of you.
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He said that to the religious leaders,
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the one time He mentions it.
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So, but why is it brought up so much?
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Why?
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Why does it come out so much in God's Word?
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Here's the question.
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You know, why does it happen?
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Well, I think that Jesus provides the answer for us.
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If you look at verse 21, He just says,
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for where your treasure is,
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there your heart will be also.
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There's a real fundamental connection
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between our spiritual lives
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and how we think and handle money.
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There's a real connection.
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We can deny it,
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but like we look at life,
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we look at how we live,
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we can't really get around it.
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So, again,
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what we treasure,
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what we desire,
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is what we worship.
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So, how can you know?
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How can you know that God is on the throne?
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Now, I want to kind of just put this as a disclaimer.
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Even believers,
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people who do belong to Jesus Christ,
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people who do want,
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really,
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to pour their lives out for Christ,
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there's still times that,
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practically speaking,
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something else could be on the throne of our life.
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We have to deal with it.
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And,
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just by way of examination,
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come talking about this later,
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if you have a problem.
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But,
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Louis Giglio,
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yes,
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Louis Giglio,
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he said this,
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in one of his books about worship,
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he said,
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here's how you find out,
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like what you worship.
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He says,
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simply follow the trail of your time,
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your affection,
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your money,
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and your loyalty.
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At the end of that trail,
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you'll find a throne.
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And whatever,
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or whomever,
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is on that throne,
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that's what's of highest value to you.
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So,
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follow that trail,
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your time,
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your affection,
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your money,
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your loyalty,
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and see where it leads.
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So,
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even as a believer,
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I can temporarily,
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think something else is more important,
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than Christ.
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So,
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kick it off,
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the throne,
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with the help of,
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the Holy Spirit.
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Here's,
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again,
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why does,
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this conversation,
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make us so uncomfortable?
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Could it be,
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we're scared,
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to kind of trace that trail?
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Like,
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I really don't want to think about that.
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I just kind of want to go on,
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about my day.
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But,
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it's important.
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Evidently,
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Jesus gives us two,
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ways that we can live.
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A view of,
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accumulating valuable things,
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on this earth,
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or,
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a view of,
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pursuing and accumulating,
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treasures,
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in heaven.
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And Jesus says,
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again,
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putting it in the context,
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of the Sermon on the Mount,
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the citizens of the kingdom of God,
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are marked,
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by people who are seeking,
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the eternal kingdom.
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People who are,
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laying up,
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treasures,
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in heaven.
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That's how we're,
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something that's supposed to,
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characterize us,
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to store up,
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everlasting joy,
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in God.
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And not just pursuing,
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all the things that are,
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down here on the earth,
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for us to chase.
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So,
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you might be asking,
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I asked,
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myself,
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I said it myself,
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self,
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can't we lay up,
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treasures in both places?
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No.
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I mean,
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I would say,
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can't we have some,
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awesome treasures,
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here on earth,
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and then likewise,
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maybe put some up in heaven?
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Like,
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of course,
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we'll definitely put more in heaven,
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but is it okay,
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for us to have,
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some treasure here?
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Well,
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you could say,
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yeah,
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obviously,
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if God is giving us,
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a lot of money,
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then surely,
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it's a sign of his blessing.
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And he wants us,
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to enjoy it,
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play with it,
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and have a good time with it.
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Right?
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Again,
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this is where I'm,
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ducking behind Jesus.
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Just look at what he says.
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He says,
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it's very clearly,
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that,
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laying up treasures in heaven,
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and laying up treasures,
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on the earth,
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don't mix well.
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As,
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Piper said,
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they don't make good bed pillows.
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In context,
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Jesus is,
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Jesus is demolishing,
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this false ideology,
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that,
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people had in his day,
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with the religious leaders,
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that,
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they,
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they,
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they connected.
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Worship God,
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and worship money.
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It's,
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it's kind of this,
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this synonymous,
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thing,
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that,
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if you were rich,
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it was a sign,
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of divine blessing.
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And it is,
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to a degree,
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right?
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To a degree.
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But,
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they were looked on,
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as like,
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this is God's favored people,
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and the poor,
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God's accursed.
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That's kind of how,
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they read it.
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So,
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we must be doing something right,
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because look at all the,
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the blessing,
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that we are getting out of this.
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But,
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Jesus said,
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that that's total malarkey,
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not how it is.
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He says,
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no,
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you must choose,
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between them.
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You have to pick.
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Look at verse 24.
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No one can serve two masters,
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for he either will hate the one,
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and love the other,
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or he'll be devoted to the one,
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and despise the other.
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You cannot serve God,
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and money,
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or man.
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And so,
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the word here,
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this uses,
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indicates the work of a slave.
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So,
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not an employee,
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not someone who's,
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you know,
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you've hired for a temporary job.
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It's,
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it's master and slave language,
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that we,
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we see here.
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So,
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since the slave is,
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the sole property of one master,
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he has to give that master,
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exclusive service.
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He goes to that master.
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And if someone is competing for that,
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then he's gonna,
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despise it.
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That's,
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that's kind of what we see here.
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And,
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there's something about God,
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and something about money,
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that tends to,
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make our hearts,
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move toward mastery.
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They're powerful things.
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And,
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we'll either be mastered by the living God,
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and make money,
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a bowing servant of God,
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or it'll be the other way around.
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You can't do both.
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This is why Jesus said,
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it's harder for a rich man to enter,
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into the kingdom of heaven.
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It's hard.
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And money is a very,
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very cruel master.
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So,
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just because someone is wealthy,
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it doesn't mean that God is,
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giving them a thumbs up on everything.
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We tend to equate it that way.
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But some of the most joyful,
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blessed people I've encountered in this world,
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are not wealthy,
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wealthy people.
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And,
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more than likely,
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some of the wealthiest I've known,
24:44
are the most miserable.
24:46
Even as believers.
24:47
Spurgeon said,
24:51
if earthly goods,
24:53
were of so much value,
24:55
the Lord would not give,
24:57
such a large measure of them,
24:58
to those who have the least of his love.
25:04
So,
25:05
another sign,
25:07
another thing that we can look at,
25:08
to kind of look into our lives,
25:10
and those around us,
25:12
he gives it to us in verse 22,
25:14
where he talks about the eye,
25:15
being the lamp of the body.
25:18
I wonder why that's like,
25:18
sandwiched right,
25:20
in between these things.
25:22
But the eye,
25:23
in some way,
25:24
is similar to the heart,
25:26
and how it's used,
25:28
in our literature here.
25:31
The lamp reveals the quality,
25:32
of someone's personal inner life,
25:34
if you just look.
25:37
A healthy eye,
25:38
implying that you can see things clearly,
25:41
suggests like a loyal devotion,
25:43
to God,
25:45
while a bad eye,
25:47
like impaired vision,
25:49
implies like sinful,
25:50
moral corruption.
25:52
So,
25:53
which treasure we're seeking,
25:54
which master we serve,
25:56
will be evident in our life.
25:57
You can,
25:57
you can see that,
25:59
he's saying like,
26:00
the eye of the lamp of the body.
26:03
Sometimes you can see,
26:04
which master,
26:04
someone is serving.
26:05
If they're serving,
26:07
the things of creation,
26:08
rather than the creator,
26:09
there will be darkness.
26:10
Yes.
26:13
I've,
26:14
read some accounts of,
26:17
of people in Papua New Guinea,
26:18
who were saved,
26:20
and brought the gospel,
26:21
and,
26:22
someone would just,
26:23
they would go and share the gospel,
26:25
with other villages,
26:26
around them.
26:27
And they would say,
26:28
we look into your eyes,
26:29
and we see light,
26:30
and we see life.
26:30
We look at our eyes,
26:31
and we see death.
26:32
That's like,
26:32
exactly what they said.
26:33
And,
26:34
so what master we serve,
26:38
which treasure we are seeking,
26:39
will be evident in our life.
26:40
It will emanate,
26:41
from within us.
26:45
So that's it.
26:46
There's,
26:46
two treasures.
26:48
One earthly,
26:49
one heavenly.
26:50
And we have to pick.
26:51
We can't always,
26:53
we cannot choose both,
26:54
according to Jesus.
26:57
Which brings us,
26:57
to the second point.
27:00
Very,
27:00
just simply put again,
27:01
don't set your heart,
27:04
on things that won't last.
27:07
Don't set your heart,
27:09
on things that won't last.
27:12
Verse 19,
27:14
do not,
27:16
lay up.
27:17
So,
27:17
lay up,
27:18
meaning,
27:19
to hoard,
27:20
to store up,
27:20
to pile on.
27:21
Like,
27:21
you got like this,
27:22
cartoon image of,
27:23
someone just like,
27:24
shoveling gold,
27:25
into a place.
27:25
Like,
27:26
don't do that.
27:27
Do not lay up,
27:29
for yourselves,
27:29
treasures on earth,
27:31
where moth,
27:32
and rust,
27:33
destroy.
27:34
And where thieves,
27:35
break in and steal.
27:38
So here's some,
27:39
some reasons why,
27:40
not to do this.
27:42
Very simply,
27:44
they won't last.
27:45
Okay?
27:46
Our Lord Jesus,
27:47
is warning us,
27:48
about,
27:49
making things,
27:50
that are seen,
27:51
but temporal.
27:52
Things that are earthly,
27:53
but will pass away.
27:55
Your ultimate treasure.
27:57
He's saying,
27:57
don't spend your life,
27:58
storing up money,
27:59
and material,
28:01
possessions,
28:02
because they will rot.
28:03
They will rust.
28:04
They won't last.
28:07
And you can't take,
28:08
any of it with you,
28:09
when you go.
28:09
Like,
28:09
not one thing.
28:12
All of it's going to stay,
28:13
right here.
28:16
Can't believe,
28:17
I'm about to say this.
28:19
As the old saying goes,
28:21
you find no U-Hauls,
28:22
behind,
28:23
thank you,
28:25
whoever that was,
28:25
talk to you later.
28:26
Thanks.
28:26
There's no U-Hauls,
28:28
behind the hearth.
28:31
Scripture,
28:32
has a lot to say,
28:33
about this,
28:34
but just one verse,
28:35
Proverbs 23,
28:37
it says,
28:37
do not,
28:38
toil,
28:39
to acquire wealth.
28:40
I don't,
28:41
labor,
28:41
for the idea,
28:42
of wealth,
28:43
itself.
28:45
When your eyes,
28:46
light on it,
28:47
it is gone,
28:49
for suddenly,
28:50
it sprouts wings,
28:51
flying like an eagle,
28:52
toward heaven.
28:54
It disappears,
28:55
and it disappears,
28:55
quick.
28:58
I remember,
28:59
the first time,
28:59
I actually got,
29:01
a job in a warehouse,
29:02
and,
29:03
I was still under 18,
29:05
and so I didn't get taxed,
29:06
for it either.
29:07
And they,
29:08
they handed me like,
29:09
nice fat paycheck,
29:11
more money than ever had in my life,
29:13
which doesn't sound like a lot,
29:14
to some of you,
29:14
but it was about,
29:15
it was about $800,
29:16
and I was like,
29:18
what am I going to go do?
29:20
I went to Bass Pro Shop.
29:22
Yeah.
29:25
Gone.
29:25
Gone.
29:28
Quickly.
29:31
It's,
29:31
it's a foolish thing,
29:32
it,
29:33
you can't,
29:34
hold on to it.
29:36
So,
29:38
let me make this point,
29:39
okay,
29:39
just listen very carefully.
29:42
Scripture never,
29:43
says that money,
29:45
alone,
29:45
by itself,
29:47
is an evil thing.
29:49
He says,
29:50
the love of money,
29:51
is evil.
29:51
evil.
29:52
We all know that,
29:53
and most of us,
29:54
like,
29:54
yeah,
29:55
of course,
29:56
the love of money,
29:57
is the root of all evil.
30:00
That's true.
30:02
But,
30:02
here's kind of the,
30:03
the difficult part about that.
30:04
how do you know,
30:08
that you're not worshipping money?
30:12
We're,
30:12
often the worst judges,
30:14
when it comes to measuring,
30:15
our own love for money.
30:17
We don't see it.
30:19
Usually,
30:19
other people see it around us.
30:22
It's very hard,
30:23
to tell.
30:25
So,
30:25
Paul says that money,
30:26
is not evil,
30:26
but he's like,
30:27
be very,
30:28
very,
30:28
very careful.
30:30
Tread,
30:30
cautiously,
30:31
around money.
30:34
Why?
30:34
Again,
30:35
because it's a very powerful thing,
30:36
that can become,
30:38
a master to you,
30:39
without even realizing it.
30:42
Turn to,
30:44
1st Timothy.
30:48
1st Timothy,
30:49
chapter 6.
30:58
1st Timothy,
30:59
chapter 6,
30:59
verse 6.
31:01
Kind of starting,
31:03
a positive,
31:04
then making a point,
31:06
then going to a negative,
31:07
to make a point.
31:08
Verse,
31:09
verse 6.
31:10
Here's the remedy,
31:11
for,
31:13
this issue,
31:14
right?
31:15
Godliness,
31:16
with contentment,
31:17
is great gain.
31:20
It is.
31:20
We brought nothing,
31:21
into the world.
31:23
We will take,
31:24
we will not,
31:24
we cannot take anything,
31:25
out of this world.
31:28
But if we have food,
31:29
and clothing,
31:29
with these,
31:31
we will be content.
31:32
Stop there.
31:33
So,
31:34
contentment is the remedy,
31:35
for this,
31:36
consumer,
31:37
give me,
31:37
give me,
31:38
give me,
31:38
I gotta have,
31:39
I gotta have.
31:41
Most of all,
31:42
you have lived long enough,
31:43
to know,
31:43
that whatever you're seeking,
31:44
is not gonna give you,
31:46
what you want,
31:46
like in this world.
31:49
Contentment,
31:49
is not,
31:50
addition,
31:50
it's subtraction.
31:52
When you have Christ,
31:53
when you have godliness,
31:54
when you have,
31:54
the treasure of heaven,
31:58
you realize,
31:59
that you need,
31:59
less and less.
32:01
And it's a freeing thing,
32:02
it's a really freeing thing.
32:05
If you have,
32:05
the treasure,
32:06
you don't need,
32:06
all this other stuff.
32:09
So,
32:09
contentment is,
32:11
how I go about this.
32:13
I mean,
32:13
when was the last time,
32:14
that you were,
32:15
quite content,
32:16
with just food,
32:16
and clothing?
32:18
You might throw,
32:18
having a roof,
32:19
in over your head,
32:19
possibly,
32:21
not adding,
32:21
into the scripture,
32:22
but,
32:23
that's it.
32:25
We have what we need,
32:26
and we're happy.
32:28
Here's the warning,
32:29
though.
32:30
Nine,
32:30
verse nine.
32:32
But those,
32:33
who desire,
32:34
there it is,
32:35
the seeking,
32:35
the storing up,
32:37
those who desire,
32:39
to be rich,
32:40
fall into temptation,
32:42
into a snare,
32:44
into many,
32:44
senseless,
32:45
and harmful desires,
32:47
that plunge people,
32:48
into ruin,
32:48
and destruction.
32:50
For the love,
32:51
of money,
32:52
is the root,
32:53
of all kinds,
32:54
of evil.
32:56
It is through,
32:57
this craving,
32:58
that some,
32:58
have wandered,
32:59
away from the faith,
33:01
and have pierced,
33:01
themselves,
33:02
with many pangs.
33:04
So,
33:05
be careful,
33:05
it can take hold,
33:06
of you quickly.
33:08
Money,
33:08
can be,
33:09
an ends,
33:10
a means,
33:10
the root,
33:11
right,
33:11
to get,
33:12
a lot of things,
33:13
that we don't need,
33:14
things that are bad,
33:14
for us,
33:15
things that are just,
33:16
going to weigh us down.
33:20
So,
33:20
be careful,
33:21
I'll,
33:23
I'll say this too,
33:24
it is totally okay,
33:27
totally alright,
33:28
for you to make,
33:28
a six digit income.
33:30
I need you,
33:31
I'm a pastor,
33:32
we don't make any money,
33:33
so I'm kind of,
33:34
I'm kind of freed,
33:35
from this.
33:36
It's totally okay,
33:38
for you to make,
33:38
a six digit income,
33:40
but I would argue,
33:42
strongly,
33:42
you cannot live,
33:43
a six digit lifestyle.
33:46
Cannot.
33:46
And,
33:48
and that's how,
33:49
our culture thinks.
33:52
But,
33:53
it is a diminishing return.
33:56
Jesus says,
33:57
stop thinking,
33:57
that just mere,
33:59
accumulation of money,
34:00
material junk,
34:01
is going to satisfy you.
34:02
It's not.
34:03
Don't spend,
34:04
all your money on toys,
34:05
and just make your life,
34:06
more fun.
34:08
More funner.
34:10
For emphasis.
34:11
I know,
34:12
I know,
34:14
that's incorrect,
34:14
I know.
34:16
But,
34:16
you'll remember it,
34:17
maybe.
34:19
Don't just spend,
34:20
spend,
34:20
spend,
34:21
just to acquire more toys,
34:23
just to make life,
34:24
more fun.
34:25
Not the goal.
34:27
Some of you,
34:27
have experienced,
34:28
like the deep,
34:30
seriously rooted,
34:31
joy,
34:32
and pleasure,
34:33
that comes,
34:34
from knowing Christ,
34:35
and serving Christ.
34:37
You would never,
34:38
trade that,
34:39
for just silly amusement,
34:40
at all.
34:42
Right?
34:44
And,
34:45
earthly treasure,
34:46
just never delivers,
34:48
what it promises.
34:49
Okay?
34:50
So,
34:51
particularly,
34:51
if you're,
34:52
you're a younger audience,
34:53
like listening to this,
34:54
girls who hope,
34:55
to be married one day,
34:57
think,
34:57
about your wedding.
34:59
Example,
35:00
there is,
35:00
I think,
35:01
scripture,
35:01
history,
35:02
and statistics,
35:03
and life experience,
35:05
reveal there is,
35:05
absolutely no,
35:08
positive correlation,
35:10
between,
35:11
between having things,
35:12
and being joyful.
35:13
None.
35:14
You can't find it.
35:17
And,
35:17
most people,
35:18
who,
35:18
who seek those things,
35:20
all it actually does,
35:21
is bring more stress,
35:21
more tension,
35:22
or every other thing,
35:23
more debt.
35:24
That's like,
35:25
what it brings.
35:28
It never gives,
35:29
what it promises.
35:30
Scripture calls this,
35:31
Jeremiah says,
35:32
it is a broken cistern,
35:34
that cannot hold,
35:35
water.
35:36
You're pouring stuff in,
35:37
and it's coming right out.
35:39
So,
35:41
be careful,
35:42
it doesn't give,
35:43
what it promises.
35:44
A second reason,
35:45
kind of,
35:46
underneath this,
35:46
is kind of going on,
35:48
is,
35:48
it's foolish,
35:49
to store up treasures,
35:51
on earth,
35:52
and where,
35:53
it won't last.
35:54
It's foolish,
35:55
and it's damning.
35:57
Jesus is making it,
35:58
crystal clear,
35:59
that wealth,
36:00
and possessions are,
36:01
they're just,
36:01
they can,
36:02
they can be,
36:03
stumbling blocks.
36:04
They can be,
36:06
stumbling blocks.
36:07
The rich,
36:08
young ruler,
36:09
we know,
36:10
that was something,
36:11
that he could not,
36:11
overcome.
36:15
Why?
36:16
Because the rich man,
36:17
is too tempted,
36:17
to focus on the gift,
36:19
and not the giver.
36:19
He's,
36:20
he's tempted,
36:20
to think that his security,
36:22
and his well-being,
36:23
comes from what he has,
36:24
and not from the living God.
36:27
We're all tempted,
36:28
to feel that way.
36:31
Turn to the gospel of Luke.
36:34
chapter 12.
36:47
You hate me yet?
36:48
Don't hate me.
36:51
Luke 12.
36:53
And listen to the story,
36:54
that Jesus tells.
36:56
Luke 12,
36:57
starting in verse 13.
37:01
Someone in the crowd,
37:02
said to him,
37:02
Teacher,
37:02
tell my brother,
37:05
to divide the inheritance,
37:06
with me.
37:07
Stop there.
37:08
So,
37:09
this man more than likely,
37:10
didn't have a lot of money,
37:11
and that's why he wants it.
37:11
So,
37:12
you don't have to be rich,
37:13
to be selfish.
37:14
Some of the,
37:15
most selfish people you can find,
37:16
are people who are very poor too.
37:18
So,
37:18
it doesn't really matter,
37:19
about,
37:20
whether you have,
37:21
or you don't have,
37:21
to be this way.
37:23
Teacher,
37:23
tell you,
37:24
tell my brother,
37:25
to divide the inheritance,
37:26
with me.
37:29
But he said to him,
37:30
man,
37:31
who made me,
37:33
a judge,
37:34
or arbitrator,
37:34
over you?
37:36
And he said to them,
37:38
take care,
37:39
and be on your guard,
37:41
against all covetousness.
37:44
Underline this in your Bible,
37:45
for one's life,
37:46
does not,
37:47
consist in the abundance,
37:48
of his possessions.
37:50
And he told them,
37:51
a parable saying,
37:53
the land of a rich man,
37:54
produced plentifully.
37:55
And he thought to himself,
37:58
what shall I do?
37:59
For I have nowhere,
38:00
to store my crops.
38:02
And he said,
38:03
I'll do this,
38:04
I'll tear down my barns,
38:05
and build larger ones,
38:07
and there I will store,
38:08
all my grain,
38:09
and my goods.
38:11
And I will say to my soul,
38:12
soul,
38:13
you have ample goods,
38:16
laid up for many years,
38:17
relax,
38:18
eat,
38:19
drink,
38:20
and be merry.
38:22
Stop there.
38:23
That is,
38:24
that is America,
38:25
to the T.
38:29
How could he know that,
38:30
2,000 years ago,
38:32
that we would be looking at this like,
38:34
uh-huh,
38:35
that's us.
38:35
That's what we,
38:36
that's what we preach to ourselves.
38:39
So,
38:39
what he's done at that point,
38:42
go on to verse 20.
38:44
But God said to him,
38:47
fool,
38:48
this night your soul is required of you,
38:52
and the things you have prepared,
38:54
whose will they be?
38:58
So it is,
38:59
with the one who lays up treasure,
39:01
for himself,
39:02
and is not rich,
39:03
toward God.
39:05
This man didn't recognize,
39:06
that his wealth came from God,
39:09
first off,
39:10
and then he used it,
39:11
on himself,
39:12
rather than,
39:14
to serve others,
39:15
and to store up treasures,
39:17
in heaven,
39:18
which is the way,
39:18
storing up,
39:19
being rich toward God.
39:22
Okay.
39:27
Look at Luke 18,
39:29
just quickly,
39:30
just flip over,
39:31
and I have to,
39:33
while we're here,
39:36
this is kind of off script,
39:38
but,
39:39
verse 18,
39:42
chapter 18,
39:42
verse 18,
39:43
this is that,
39:44
story we,
39:45
I mentioned a minute ago,
39:47
it says,
39:49
the ruler asked him,
39:49
good teacher,
39:50
what must I do,
39:51
to inherit eternal life,
39:52
and Jesus said to him,
39:53
why do you call me good,
39:55
no one is good,
39:56
except God alone,
39:58
you know the commandments,
39:59
do not commit adultery,
40:00
do not murder,
40:01
do not steal,
40:02
do not bear false witness,
40:04
honor your father and mother,
40:05
and he said,
40:07
all these I've kept,
40:08
from my youth,
40:10
when Jesus heard this,
40:11
he said to him,
40:13
one thing you lack,
40:15
sell all that you have,
40:16
and distribute to the poor,
40:18
and you will have treasure,
40:19
in heaven,
40:20
and come follow me,
40:22
so what is Jesus doing there,
40:24
he's not,
40:24
he's not studying,
40:25
a works based salvation,
40:27
where,
40:28
this man is going to be saved,
40:29
based on what he does,
40:31
but he hit this man,
40:32
right where he knew,
40:33
it would hurt him,
40:34
he couldn't do it,
40:37
he touched his wealth,
40:38
made him uncomfortable,
40:40
and he walks away,
40:40
watch this,
40:41
but when he heard these things,
40:42
he became very sad,
40:45
for he was extremely rich,
40:47
Jesus,
40:48
seeing that he had become sad,
40:50
said,
40:50
how difficult it is,
40:51
for those who have wealth,
40:53
to enter the kingdom of God,
40:55
for it is easier,
40:56
for a camel,
40:57
to go through the eye of a needle,
40:58
than for a rich person,
40:59
to enter the kingdom of God,
41:01
those who heard this,
41:03
remember their thinking,
41:04
if someone is rich,
41:06
it meant blessing,
41:07
it meant that God is cool,
41:08
with what they're doing,
41:09
look at it,
41:10
he's blessing them,
41:11
so they saw this,
41:12
and they're shocked,
41:13
and they said to him,
41:15
then who can be saved,
41:18
if these guys can't,
41:19
right,
41:20
but he said,
41:21
what is impossible,
41:22
with man,
41:23
is possible,
41:24
with God,
41:26
Peter said,
41:27
see,
41:27
we've left our homes,
41:29
and have followed you,
41:30
and he said to him,
41:33
here it is,
41:35
truly I say to you,
41:36
there is no one,
41:37
who has left house,
41:38
or wife,
41:39
brothers,
41:40
or parents,
41:40
or children,
41:41
for the sake,
41:42
of the kingdom of God,
41:44
who will not receive,
41:45
many times more,
41:46
in this life,
41:48
and in the age to come,
41:49
eternal life,
41:52
he's saying,
41:52
you think,
41:53
that you've sacrificed,
41:55
something here,
41:56
you haven't,
41:57
because in the life to come,
42:00
you're going to see,
42:01
how awesome this is,
42:03
I'm going to give you back,
42:05
more and more,
42:06
and more,
42:07
for what you think,
42:08
that this was a sacrifice,
42:10
Jesus himself,
42:11
makes up,
42:12
for what we think,
42:12
we sacrifice,
42:14
and he's so much better,
42:17
so there's a,
42:18
I mean,
42:18
just a picture,
42:19
you see how much,
42:20
is in here,
42:20
about that kind of stuff,
42:23
the man had not,
42:24
keeping all the commandments,
42:25
he had idols,
42:26
in his heart,
42:26
he loved his wealth,
42:29
more than God,
42:30
if you want to turn here,
42:33
you can,
42:33
this was something that,
42:35
is out of,
42:36
Randy Alcorn's book,
42:38
but he,
42:39
if you could ask,
42:39
a very,
42:40
very rich man today,
42:42
teach me,
42:42
some things you've learned,
42:44
about this,
42:47
probably,
42:48
we don't know for certain,
42:49
but probably,
42:50
Solomon wrote,
42:51
Ecclesiastes,
42:52
more than likely,
42:54
but in Ecclesiastes 5,
42:56
he's talking about,
42:56
the wealth of money,
42:57
the wealth of,
42:58
having,
43:01
stuff,
43:02
and,
43:03
Randy Alcorn,
43:04
like paraphrases,
43:05
each little,
43:06
thing that he says,
43:07
this is,
43:08
Ecclesiastes 5,
43:09
verse 10,
43:10
if you want to look there,
43:12
verses 10 through 15,
43:14
but,
43:14
here's what it says,
43:16
Solomon says,
43:17
maybe,
43:18
again,
43:18
whoever loves money,
43:20
never has enough,
43:22
and this is Alcorn,
43:23
the more you have,
43:25
the more you want,
43:29
also in verse 10,
43:30
whoever loves wealth,
43:31
is never satisfied,
43:33
with his income,
43:34
the more you have,
43:38
the less you're satisfied,
43:40
as goods increase,
43:42
so do those,
43:43
who consume them,
43:44
verse 11,
43:46
the more you have,
43:48
the more people,
43:49
including the government,
43:50
will come after it,
43:51
verse 11,
43:56
and what benefit,
43:56
are they,
43:57
to the owner,
43:58
except to feast,
43:59
his eyes on them,
44:00
the more you have,
44:03
the more you realize,
44:04
it doesn't meet,
44:05
your real needs,
44:07
verse 12,
44:10
the sleep,
44:11
of a laborer,
44:12
is sweet,
44:13
whether he eats,
44:15
little or much,
44:17
so true,
44:17
but the abundance,
44:18
of the rich man,
44:20
permits him,
44:21
no sleep,
44:22
the more you have,
44:25
the more you worry about,
44:27
it goes on,
44:31
verse 13,
44:32
I've seen a grievous evil,
44:34
under the sun,
44:35
wealth hoarded up,
44:36
to harm,
44:36
its owner,
44:38
the more you have,
44:40
the more,
44:40
you can hurt yourself,
44:42
by holding on to it,
44:43
and the last part of it,
44:47
our wealth,
44:48
lost through some misfortune,
44:50
the more you have,
44:52
the more you have to lose,
44:53
and then,
44:55
verse 15,
44:59
naked a man comes,
45:00
from his mother's womb,
45:01
maybe Paul was thinking,
45:02
about that,
45:03
and as he comes,
45:05
so he departs,
45:06
he takes nothing,
45:07
from his labor,
45:08
that he can carry,
45:09
in his hand,
45:10
the more you have,
45:11
the more you leave behind,
45:13
very simple,
45:15
this brings us,
45:18
to our last point,
45:19
if that's not enough,
45:19
argument for you,
45:20
to not seek,
45:22
to store treasures,
45:23
on this earth,
45:24
let's get into the next part of it,
45:26
moving on,
45:27
set your heart,
45:28
on things that will last forever,
45:30
that's point three,
45:31
set your heart,
45:32
on things that will last forever,
45:34
verse 20,
45:35
back in Matthew,
45:37
lay up for yourselves,
45:38
treasures in heaven,
45:40
where neither moth,
45:40
nor rust destroys,
45:42
and where thieves,
45:42
do not break in and steal,
45:44
heavenly treasure,
45:46
does last forever,
45:48
it won't rot,
45:49
it won't fade,
45:50
and we can make,
45:52
spiritual deposits,
45:53
in this life,
45:54
going into the next life,
45:56
Paul tells us,
45:57
to seek the things,
45:58
that are above,
46:00
something that,
46:02
I hope happens,
46:03
more and more,
46:05
in our marriage,
46:07
and possibly,
46:09
if we,
46:09
Lord willing,
46:10
one day,
46:10
have children,
46:11
that we would teach them,
46:13
to view all things,
46:14
through life,
46:15
through an eternal perspective,
46:16
like you have to,
46:17
to filter things,
46:18
through that,
46:19
if you know,
46:20
where things are going,
46:21
you can,
46:22
aim all things,
46:23
at that,
46:24
to seek the things,
46:25
that are above,
46:26
where Christ is,
46:27
set your minds,
46:28
on things,
46:28
that are above,
46:29
not,
46:30
on things,
46:31
of the earth,
46:32
faith,
46:33
so,
46:34
a very,
46:34
easy,
46:35
practical way,
46:36
to do this,
46:37
is,
46:38
I think Jesus,
46:38
gives us the answer,
46:40
in another,
46:41
you know,
46:41
in the synoptic gospel,
46:43
of Luke 12,
46:44
where he's kind of,
46:45
referring to the same thing,
46:47
Luke 12,
46:48
verse 33 and 34,
46:49
he says this,
46:50
sell your,
46:51
possessions,
46:53
give to the needy,
46:54
provide yourselves,
46:55
with money bags,
46:56
that do not grow old,
46:58
with a treasure,
46:59
in heaven,
47:00
that does not fail,
47:02
where no thief,
47:03
approaches,
47:03
and no moth destroys,
47:05
for your treasure is,
47:06
that your heart,
47:06
will be also,
47:08
isn't it interesting,
47:09
that the main,
47:09
the main remedy,
47:11
for hoarding,
47:14
and holding on,
47:15
to your money,
47:15
is to give it away,
47:18
the remedy,
47:19
of hoarding,
47:19
is giving,
47:21
scripture teaches,
47:22
he who is generous,
47:23
will be blessed,
47:25
in Acts 20,
47:26
it is more blessed,
47:27
to give,
47:28
than to receive,
47:29
and all of us know,
47:29
this is true,
47:30
we all know it's true,
47:31
and,
47:34
again,
47:35
with the eternal perspective,
47:36
one of the greatest,
47:37
deterrents of us,
47:38
giving in this life,
47:39
at least for me,
47:40
is I,
47:40
I very easily forget,
47:42
that I think,
47:43
this world is my home,
47:45
and so that's why,
47:46
I'm focusing so much,
47:47
I'm having a good time here,
47:49
accumulating things here,
47:50
because I've lost sight,
47:51
of the bigger picture,
47:54
so where we choose,
47:55
to store up,
47:56
our treasures,
47:57
largely depends,
47:58
and where we see,
47:59
our home,
48:01
the Christian,
48:02
to the believer,
48:04
to the child of God,
48:05
is only heaven,
48:07
that's it,
48:09
scripture says,
48:10
that we are pilgrims,
48:12
strangers,
48:13
and aliens,
48:14
on the earth,
48:15
do you feel like,
48:15
a pilgrim,
48:16
or a settler,
48:18
that's right,
48:19
out of Hebrews 11,
48:21
we're ambassadors,
48:22
representing,
48:23
our true,
48:24
country,
48:25
second Corinthians five,
48:27
our citizenship,
48:29
is in heaven,
48:29
Philippians three twenty,
48:31
we are citizens,
48:32
of a better country,
48:33
and a heavenly one,
48:35
Hebrews 11,
48:36
sixteen,
48:37
and here's,
48:38
why I wanted to read,
48:39
a little tiny,
48:40
tiny part,
48:40
out of this,
48:42
we're all here,
48:44
on short term visas,
48:45
that are going to expire,
48:46
and the problem is,
48:47
you don't know,
48:47
when it's going to expire,
48:50
this is something,
48:51
that Alcorn says,
48:53
when we choose,
48:53
to store up treasures,
48:54
depends largely,
48:55
on what we think about,
48:57
we think is our home,
48:58
suppose your home,
49:00
is in France,
49:01
and you're visiting America,
49:02
for a few months,
49:04
living in a hotel,
49:06
you're told,
49:07
that you can't bring,
49:07
anything back,
49:08
to France,
49:09
on your flight home,
49:10
but you can earn money,
49:12
and make mail deposits,
49:13
to your bank,
49:14
in France,
49:15
would you fill,
49:18
your hotel room,
49:19
with expensive furnishings,
49:20
and wall hangings,
49:21
of course not,
49:23
you send your money,
49:24
where your home is,
49:26
you would only spend,
49:28
what you needed,
49:28
on temporary residence,
49:30
sending your treasures ahead,
49:32
so that they'd be waiting for you,
49:34
when you got home,
49:35
that's the principle,
49:37
think about that,
49:39
it'd be foolish right,
49:40
to just,
49:41
I live a very low profile,
49:43
and send it all right,
49:44
just go on,
49:45
send it all home,
49:48
don't spend too much time,
49:49
money on energy,
49:50
on in the hotel room,
49:52
send it ahead,
49:55
all right,
49:56
so,
49:56
in conclusion,
49:59
instead of giving you,
49:59
a bunch of laws,
50:00
because I don't have any,
50:01
I'm just giving you principles,
50:03
the story of two men,
50:07
in Cairo,
50:08
Egypt,
50:09
there is a,
50:11
exhibit,
50:12
at the Egyptian,
50:13
National Museum,
50:14
which I would love,
50:15
to go see one day,
50:16
of King Tut,
50:18
known as the boy king,
50:20
who died at age 17,
50:23
long time ago,
50:25
about 3,000 years,
50:28
buried with a solid gold chariots,
50:31
thousands of golden artifacts,
50:34
his burial site,
50:35
was filled with gold,
50:36
and his tomb was like,
50:37
encased in gold,
50:38
and gold,
50:39
and gold,
50:39
just like so much gold,
50:41
and valuable treasures,
50:42
all around him,
50:44
the ancient Egyptians,
50:45
believed,
50:46
that you could take,
50:46
that stuff with you,
50:48
when you left,
50:49
a lot of cultures,
50:50
believed that,
50:51
you could take,
50:51
your earthly treasures,
50:52
with you,
50:53
when you died,
50:55
but,
50:56
all the treasures,
50:56
that were in store,
50:57
for King Tut's,
50:59
eternal enjoyment,
51:00
sat there,
51:02
for 3,000 years,
51:04
until archaeologist,
51:06
Howard Carter,
51:07
discovered them,
51:08
in a burial chamber,
51:09
in 1922,
51:11
untouched,
51:12
for 3,000 years,
51:14
so if you walk,
51:15
on the other side,
51:16
of this,
51:16
if you walk,
51:18
down in Cairo,
51:19
a little dusty street,
51:21
middle of nowhere,
51:23
in the city,
51:25
there's a little,
51:26
tiny,
51:27
tiny graveyard,
51:27
of American missionaries,
51:30
tiny little,
51:30
insignificant graveyard,
51:32
of American missionaries,
51:33
and one tombstone,
51:34
reads,
51:35
William Borden,
51:36
1887,
51:38
to 1913,
51:39
Borden,
51:41
Borden,
51:41
was,
51:42
an heir,
51:43
to great wealth,
51:44
he rejected,
51:46
the privileged lifestyle,
51:47
that his family,
51:48
was trying to,
51:49
to put on him,
51:50
and he left it all,
51:51
to share Christ,
51:52
with Muslims,
51:54
Borden,
51:54
gave away,
51:55
hundreds of thousands,
51:56
of dollars,
51:57
to missions,
51:58
and after only,
51:59
four months,
52:00
after he only got there,
52:01
for four months,
52:02
in Egypt,
52:03
he contracted,
52:05
spinal meningitis,
52:06
and died,
52:06
age 25,
52:08
some of you are,
52:09
are young,
52:10
like that in this room,
52:12
and the epitaph,
52:13
on Borden's tombstone,
52:15
talks about,
52:17
his love for Christ,
52:18
and his love,
52:19
for the Muslim people,
52:21
and this is what it says,
52:22
on his tomb,
52:22
on his tombstone,
52:25
apart,
52:26
from faith in Christ,
52:28
there's no other,
52:29
explanation,
52:30
for such a life,
52:30
apart,
52:34
from faith in Christ,
52:35
there is no explanation,
52:36
for such a life,
52:38
so the King Tut exhibit,
52:41
at the museum,
52:42
stands in sharp contrast,
52:45
to the humble grave,
52:46
of a brother of ours,
52:47
William Borden,
52:48
yet where is Tut now,
52:51
more than likely,
52:52
he's in eternal agony,
52:53
separated from the living God,
52:55
while Borden,
52:56
is enjoying,
52:58
treasure in heaven,
52:59
in the presence of,
53:00
God forever,
53:03
I'm going to give you a,
53:05
I'm aware,
53:05
I'm watching,
53:07
it's better to give you,
53:10
pictures of this,
53:11
than for me to tell you,
53:12
what to do,
53:13
go back and look at,
53:16
a singer in the 90's,
53:17
Rich Mullins,
53:18
our God is an awesome God,
53:20
that guy,
53:22
passed away,
53:23
died in a plane crash,
53:24
like all good musicians do,
53:26
he would not mind,
53:29
but Mullins,
53:31
could have been,
53:32
a multi-millionaire,
53:34
with all the songs,
53:35
that he wrote,
53:35
and all the music,
53:36
that he produced,
53:37
but he was aware,
53:39
of the stuff,
53:40
that we're talking about,
53:42
and,
53:43
so what he did,
53:44
was he basically,
53:44
looked at,
53:45
what is the average,
53:46
mean,
53:47
like what is the American,
53:47
making like the average,
53:49
lifestyle,
53:50
like,
53:51
you know,
53:51
mean,
53:51
information,
53:53
and that's what,
53:53
he aimed it at,
53:55
and he,
53:56
all the rest of the money,
53:57
that he made,
53:58
it just went out,
54:00
he had,
54:01
some people working for him,
54:02
and,
54:03
all the money would come in,
54:04
and what would happen,
54:05
is it would be,
54:06
distributed,
54:07
out,
54:08
to,
54:09
ministries,
54:09
churches,
54:10
missionaries,
54:11
that needed funding,
54:14
and that's where it went,
54:15
every time it came in,
54:16
and one time,
54:18
you know,
54:18
I think his,
54:19
his secretary,
54:20
looked at the total,
54:21
and she was like,
54:21
gosh,
54:23
she said,
54:23
do you want to know,
54:25
how much it is,
54:26
and he just,
54:27
said no,
54:28
like,
54:29
don't show me,
54:30
like I'm sending it out,
54:32
and I want to store up,
54:32
treasures,
54:34
in heaven,
54:35
apart from faith in Christ,
54:39
there's no other explanation,
54:40
for such a life,
54:41
it doesn't make sense,
54:44
a friend of mine,
54:46
lives up in,
54:47
Hiawassee,
54:50
he's,
54:50
one of my,
54:52
really good friends,
54:53
I wish I got to talk to him more,
54:55
he's a dentist,
54:56
he makes,
54:57
pretty good money,
54:59
I went to North Georgia,
55:00
a long time ago,
55:01
he was a Sigma Chi,
55:03
and he was in the core,
55:04
and his wife was a,
55:05
Kappa Delta,
55:06
I think,
55:07
long,
55:08
you know,
55:08
he's back in the 90's,
55:09
I think,
55:09
when they were in school,
55:11
but,
55:12
I,
55:12
when I first met him,
55:13
he was very much,
55:15
into,
55:17
you know,
55:17
well,
55:17
God's blessed me,
55:18
so,
55:19
I'm gonna,
55:19
you know,
55:20
I'm gonna give,
55:20
but I'm also gonna have,
55:21
a lot of stuff here too,
55:23
so he had,
55:23
a lot of different,
55:25
he had,
55:27
he had one home,
55:28
and he had,
55:28
a place in the lake,
55:29
and he had,
55:30
tons of,
55:31
you know,
55:31
other nice stuff,
55:32
including a lot of expensive vehicles,
55:35
and,
55:37
we were talking about it,
55:38
and he's,
55:39
he's really good at managing money,
55:41
and he was trying to help me,
55:42
because I didn't have a penny in my name,
55:44
and,
55:45
but he was,
55:47
he was just very much focused on,
55:48
more or less,
55:48
like the American,
55:49
capitalistic mentality,
55:50
of making money,
55:51
and,
55:52
enjoying pleasure here,
55:54
but I knew this man loved Jesus,
55:57
like,
55:57
I know this man belonged to Jesus,
55:59
I just think he'd been taught,
56:00
wrong,
56:01
to a degree,
56:01
and what I did was,
56:03
one day I was like,
56:05
hey man,
56:06
read this book,
56:07
and,
56:10
Jason,
56:15
if you ever listen to this,
56:15
I'm talking about the treasure principle,
56:17
not the Bible,
56:18
and,
56:19
I don't know,
56:20
but within the year,
56:23
those of you,
56:24
I don't know,
56:24
a couple of you probably know him,
56:25
he's really like,
56:26
like in your face,
56:27
like yeah,
56:28
like kind of guy,
56:29
he's like,
56:30
man,
56:30
that book rocked my world,
56:31
and,
56:33
here's what happened,
56:35
he sold the lake house,
56:37
he sold tons of his other stuff,
56:39
that he didn't need,
56:40
and he basically just kind of,
56:41
consolidated it all,
56:43
onto the family farm,
56:45
in Hiawassee,
56:46
and he and his wife support me,
56:49
and he and his wife support me,
56:49
even to this day,
56:50
and they give so much to missions,
56:52
particularly to unreached areas,
56:54
and they go themselves,
56:56
doing medical missions,
56:57
and,
56:59
and lastly,
56:59
I have a friend,
57:01
who lives in Athens,
57:02
and she recently,
57:04
got control of,
57:08
a lot of money,
57:09
she received a lot of money,
57:10
from her husband,
57:11
that had passed away,
57:13
her husband,
57:14
was a,
57:15
in earthly terms,
57:17
a great man,
57:18
I've already cried for him,
57:19
I've already,
57:20
made my peace with it,
57:22
and so,
57:22
so is she,
57:23
I did not know the Lord,
57:24
but he,
57:28
he kept a tight rein,
57:29
on how,
57:29
they spent their money,
57:30
and didn't really,
57:31
allow her to have,
57:32
kind of free reign,
57:33
over a lot of things,
57:35
but now she has,
57:36
all that money,
57:37
all of it,
57:38
and she's,
57:39
praying like God,
57:40
how do I,
57:41
use this money,
57:44
and,
57:44
here's something,
57:46
that she wrote,
57:48
I know that my,
57:49
financial resources,
57:50
are a gift from God,
57:53
and our finances,
57:54
our finances,
57:55
exceed our normal,
57:56
living needs,
57:58
then God allows us,
57:59
to help other people,
58:00
as he brings their needs,
58:02
to our awareness,
58:04
we are then,
58:06
connected to God's miracle,
58:08
in someone else's life,
58:09
when we give,
58:11
when we give,
58:12
we receive more,
58:13
than we ever imagined,
58:14
we could,
58:16
this is how God works,
58:17
it's the most,
58:18
one of the most,
58:19
fundamental principles,
58:20
believe it,
58:21
giving is such,
58:22
a privilege,
58:24
and so,
58:25
she's,
58:26
figuring out ways,
58:27
to give,
58:28
and to send out,
58:29
that money,
58:30
for God's kingdom,
58:32
I don't know,
58:33
what that looks like,
58:34
in your life,
58:35
I don't know,
58:37
I know that we just,
58:38
need to be careful,
58:38
not to be governed,
58:40
solely by,
58:42
capitalism,
58:42
the kingdom,
58:44
the kingdom ethics,
58:45
look more like this,
58:46
I remember,
58:46
your pastor,
58:47
Nathan,
58:47
a long time ago,
58:49
someone was saying like,
58:49
man,
58:50
you just sound like socialism,
58:51
he's like,
58:51
no,
58:51
no,
58:52
no,
58:52
that's socialism,
58:53
socialism says,
58:54
what you have,
58:55
is mine,
58:56
the gospel says,
59:00
what I have,
59:00
is yours,
59:02
so different,
59:03
and,
59:05
we really need,
59:06
just to ask God,
59:07
to examine our lives,
59:09
and,
59:09
to be obedient,
59:11
to where he's leading,
59:11
like wrestle with this stuff,
59:13
not easy,
59:14
read this,
59:15
and maybe,
59:16
after that,
59:17
read,
59:17
read this,
59:19
and,
59:19
sit down with a friend,
59:21
or,
59:22
your spouse,
59:23
and work through,
59:23
some of this,
59:25
it's all gonna perish,
59:26
one day,
59:27
all of us,
59:29
so let's store up,
59:30
treasures in heaven,
59:30
or not,
59:31
on the earth,
59:33
let's be moved,
59:34
by grace of the gospel,
59:36
let's pray together,