Latest / The Landmark Church Podcast / The Problem of Money

Transcript

The Problem of Money · The Landmark Church Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Right, so we continue from where we stopped last week.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, last week I tried to convince you that um you are rich.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: I tried to convince you that you are rich.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think I succeeded to convince us that we are rich.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: But whether you think I succeeded in con in co in convincing you that you are rich or not, um the fact, the empirical fact is that you are rich.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Whether you think I succeeded in convincing you that you are rich or not, the empirical fact is that you are rich.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: And I said that this is good news and this is bad news.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Why is it so?
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: It is because the subject of wealth and money is perhaps one of the greatest disadvantages you will have in your bid to be a disciple of Jesus.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Let me say that again.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: The subject of wealth and money is one of the greatest challenges that you will have to navigate in your journey of discipleship.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: If you desire to be a follower of Jesus, you want to be a serious follower of Jesus, you want to really follow Him well.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: The subject of money and resources is something you must resolve, you must solve that problem.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it's gonna be one of your biggest challenges.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: For some people, it is the lack of it.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: For some people, it's the lack of it, and that's the lack of money is going to is gonna is gonna color your faith.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna color your faith, it's gonna it's gonna make you believe what you shouldn't believe, it's gonna affect your mindset.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: For some of it, it is a lot of money that they have that then it becomes their God.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it becomes it becomes a challenge for them, it becomes a snare unto them.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: So the subject of money and wealth is something that we cannot run away from.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: It's something that as a disciple of Jesus, if I want to be serious about my my discipleship, I must take advantage of it, I must master it, I must understand it, I must have have a way to navigate it.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus, Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler in Mark chapter 10, his encounter with the rich rich young young ruler.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: You remember the story?
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: How this wrong young ruler came to Jesus, and the Bible tells us that he went away sorrowful because he had great possession.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: He went away sorrowful.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Because he had great possession.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Last week we studied three problems of being rich.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: We studied how many problems?
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: Three problems of being rich.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: We said that when you are rich, it is harder to depend on God.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: And we said that when you are rich, it distracts you from true priorities.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: When you are rich, it distracts you from true priorities.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: And finally, we said that when you are rich, you have greater responsibility.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: You have greater responsibility because to whom much is given, what now?
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Much is expected.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: If you are rich, and your wealth, your wealth has the potential to trip you up.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: That's what we're saying.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: If you are rich, that your wealth, which you have, which I have, has a potential to trip us up.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: And this is why the apostle Paul instructing Timothy, he said, As for the rich among you, as for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, charge them not to be arrogant.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: That's first Timothy chapter 6 and verse 17.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: He says, Charge them not to be haughty, not to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Who richly provides us with everything to enjoy?
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: He says, Rich people, you and I, who are the rich people now?
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: You and I should do what?
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: Set our hopes on God.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: What does it mean to set our hopes on God?
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: What does it mean to set our hopes on God?
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: It means that your expectation, my expectation of a better tomorrow should be on God.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: Your expectation of a better tomorrow.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: How many people believe tomorrow is going to be better than today?
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: How many people believe that their tomorrow is better than today?
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, your tomorrow, no matter what you have seen, no matter what you have experienced so far, your tomorrow is going to be better than your today.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: That's what the Bible says.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: The Bible says the path of the just is like a shiny light and it's shining more and more until the perfect day.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now it says that to set our hopes on God means that my expectation for that brighter tomorrow is not on how big my retirement nest egg is.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: My expectation of that brighter tomorrow is not on how much I earn as a salary.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: My expectation of that brighter tomorrow is not how much I have in the bank.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: My expectation of a brighter tomorrow is on God.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: Because God is the only one that can never change.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs chapter 20 23 and verse 5.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 23 and verse 5.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: The greatest, the the wisest man that ever lived.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: Look at what it says.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: It says, Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: For riches certainly make themselves wings, they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: The wisest man that ever lived, he said that will you set your eyes on things that is not?
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: Will you set your eyes on riches?
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: Will you set your eyes on things that is not?
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: He said, For riches make themselves wings and fly away.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_00: That is why we cannot trust them.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: That's why the apostle Paul said that you can't you should not trust in uncertain riches.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: Because riches make themselves wings.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: If I ask all of us here, you probably know one or two people that were once rich and they are no longer rich.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: They were once wealthy, they were once the talk of town, they were once the person that everybody was looking up to, but something happened.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: Government policy changed, the economy changed, something moved in the society.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they got sick, and then the person that was so rich that was the talk of town, the successful businessman, and now that person is no more, he doesn't have any money anymore.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Because riches make themselves wings and fly away.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: The apostle Paul continues in verse 18 of 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 18.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: It says they are to do good.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody say, Do good.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: It says they are to be rich in good works, to be generous, to be ready to share.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: And in verse 19, he says, Thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: There's a lot packed in there.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: There is a lot packed in there.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: They are to do good, they are to be rich in good works, they are to be generous, they are to be ready to share.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: And then when they do all these things, they are doing what they are storing up treasures for themselves.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: Where your treasures are, there your heart will be.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: When they do all these things, they are doing what they are storing up treasures for themselves as a good foundation for the future.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: And that future, you can um you can use your money to buy a good foundation for yourself in heaven.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: You can use your money to buy a good foundation for yourself in heaven.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: You can use your money to buy a good foundation for yourself in heaven.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's what this place is saying.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: Use your wealth to store up treasures for yourself in heaven.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: Use your wealth to store up treasures for yourself so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: Today, I want to talk to us about what I'm calling the deceitfulness of being rich.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: The deceitfulness of being rich, the deceitfulness of being rich.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: And we get this idea of the deceitfulness of riches in Jesus' parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: We get this idea where a sower goes out, it goes a sower goes out into the fields and plants seeds in different places.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_00: And as the seed starts coming out, Jesus said that the deceitfulness of riches choked out the growth of the seed.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: Matthew chapter 13.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: The deceitfulness of riches, it did what?
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: Choked out the growth.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: In other words, the deceitfulness of riches has a potential to choke out your growth.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: Riches have a potential, have a possibility to choke out your growth.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know how many of us have been to um Dave and Busters, been to Dave and Busters, and you know, you are playing all those arcade games or one of these pizza places, you're playing all those arcade games and you are you are getting tickets, you know, you are getting those tickets, and they promise you that you know, if you get as you get a lot of tickets, you get to um win a prize, right?
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: How many of us have been to those kind of places?
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: Or you get a free pizza if you get enough tickets, you know.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you so so you are getting you are playing the games when you win, you get those tickets, and they're telling you, ah, the more tickets you win, the more um the price you're going to get.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_00: So you keep playing, accumulating tickets, and you are hoping that the price they will give you is going to be worth it.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: You are hoping that the price they will give you will change your life, and then you get all the tickets, and then you get to the place where you're supposed to redeem your price.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what you get?
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: This is what you get.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: This is what you get.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: You get the price, and they give you they give you a toy car.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: You get you get you are like, okay, for all that effort, for all the time I spent, this is what I got.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: This is what I got for all that effort.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: You see, the same way in life, the ticket, the ticket that we're always look looking for is the dollar bill.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: We're always looking for that ticket, hoping that oh, once I get more, once I get more, once I get more, once I get more, um, you know, um with Jackson on on its face, once once I get more um green paper with Washington on on its face, once I get more paper, then I'll be happy.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: Then I'll be happy.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: That's the lie that the enemy tells us.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: And the key thought, one of the key thoughts for this message is that the world wants you to serve money.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: The world wants you to do what?
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Serve money.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: The world does what does what it wants you to serve money.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: Matthew chapter 6, verse 24, Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: No one can serve two masters, either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: You cannot serve both God and money.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: Notice that Jesus did not say that you cannot serve both God and Satan.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: He didn't say you cannot serve both God and fame.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: He said you cannot serve what?
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: Both God and money.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: It is because he knew that for many of us, Jesus knew that money would be the number one competitor of our hearts and our affection.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus knew that money will be the number one competitor of your heart and your affection.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, he knew that, and you also know it if you want when you want to be honest with yourself.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: You know it.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: You know that money takes up more space in your head than any other thing.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: How to get it, how to spend it, how to save it, how to invest it.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus knew that money will be the number one competitor for your heart and for your affection.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: He knew it.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: So he said, You cannot serve God and money.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: Well, if you are taking notes, write this down.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: Money is an attractive false God.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: And why is this so?
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: It is because money promises only what God can provide.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: Money is an attractive false God, and why is it so?
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: Because money promises what only God can provide.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: Money promises what the things that only God can provide.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: Money, you see, this is this is a core cost for every for any Christian, especially living in America.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: This understanding God's perspective around around money, around wealth is a corpus for us.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's a corpus for us.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: And if you don't understand it, we're just going to be piercing ourselves with many sorrows, wondering what's going on.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna be piercing, you're gonna be wondering why you are not moving forward.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: Where why things are a mess?
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna be wondering.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: Money is an attractive false God.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: Because money promises you what only God can provide.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: What are the two things that money promises you?
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: Money promises you happiness, money promises you security.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: If only I had more money, I would be happy.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: Money is promising you happiness now.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: If only I had more money, if only I had enough money, I will be secure.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_00: You may not say it, but I guarantee it that you think it.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: You may not say it, but I guarantee that you think it.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: If I had enough money, I will buy that thing that will make me happy.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: That bigger house, I'll buy that bigger house.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: If I had more money, I'll buy a nicer car.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: If I had more money, I'll buy that car with a sunroof.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: You know those cars with a sunroof, and I'll put my my my my cap my my phone in that car, and I'll record one of those Instagram and TikTok videos of people showing their showing off their sunroof and giving us motivation.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: I'll record one of those videos.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'll buy a car with a sunroof and record those motivational videos where people are you wrote, this person is just showing off his sunroof, he's just showing off his sunroof.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: That's it.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: If I had a if I had more money, if I had more dollar bills, I will buy a nicer car, I'll buy a bigger house.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: That is money promising you happiness.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: But you will soon realize that true joy only comes from God.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: True joy comes from who comes from God.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_00: The same is true of security.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: You think that if you have enough money, you can buy your problems away.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_00: But as soon as you get that big stack of money, somebody you love gets sick, somebody you really love gets sick.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: Then you realize that prompt that money is promising something that it cannot deliver on.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: Money is promising you something that it cannot deliver on.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: The story is told by our pastor, you know, of a man, he retired as you know, a top executive, one of the oil and gas companies in Nigeria, one of the big oil and gas companies, he retired as a top executive there, and so it was a he was a millionaire in any currency, was in good money, retired, and then he just wanted to, you know, just relax.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: Just as he retired, he became sick, diagnosed with cancer.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: They flew him to the United States, he came to the United States, they started to treat him, went to the best doctors, went to the best hospitals, and of course, you know that when you come to the United States and you are not a citizen and you don't you don't have insurance, you have to pay everything out of pocket.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: And so they started to pay.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: The man had money, they started to pay, pay for this test, pay for that test, pay for this trial, pay for this trial, and they started to pay.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_00: Until they continue to pay and they started to sell his properties, until they started to sell the land, the lands, and the houses that he had in Nigeria and in other parts of the world, they continued to sell it and they continue to pay.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_00: This man, maybe 65, continued to do that, continue to do that until they sold the last property.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what?
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: The man died of that sickness.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: He died of that sickness.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: Money promises you security, but it cannot deliver on it.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to me, it promises security, but it cannot deliver on it.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: Only God can give you happiness and joy, only God can give you the security that you need.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: And remember, the world wants you to serve money.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_00: The what this system is set up for you to serve money.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you know that.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you know that.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you are not just going with the flow.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you are not just, you know, being a zombie in this system.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_00: This system is set up for you to serve money.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we have those who are living in the UK.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you cannot you cannot survive on just one job now in the UK.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: You can't.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: I mean some part of the United States of America.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: So people have to take multiple jobs.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: Multiple jobs.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: You can't survive on just on just one one job.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: You know, the because why the system is set up in a way for you to serve money, and that's why we bring seminars like that one that we did on Tuesday to us, so that you will not you will not continue to serve money.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, so that you can change your perspective, so that you can change your perspective, so that you can see a different way to live life, so that you can see a different way to make your money work for you, and so that you are not always serving money, so that your money begins to serve you.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody say amen.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody say louder, amen.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, the world, this system wants you to serve money.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what?
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: If you are to whom you submit yourself to, that person is your master.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, that's what the Bible says in Romans.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: It says, To whom you yield yourself to to obey, to whom you yield yourself to obey, that person is your master.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: So yield yourself to righteousness.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: If you yield yourself to sin, sin is your master.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_00: But I yield myself to righteousness, I yield myself to righteousness.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: When you are yielding yourself to money, always obeying the promptings of money.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: You have made money, your master.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: You might say that, well, I don't serve money, I don't serve, but guess what?
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: If you've ever bought something that you don't need to impress people that you don't like, that is a sign that you are serving money.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: If you've ever bought something that you don't need to impress the people that you don't like, that may be the fact that you are serving money.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_00: You've ever cheated on your taxes, change the dates on your taxes, change something on your taxes.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_00: That might be a sign that you're serving money.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: That might be a sign you're serving.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_00: If you have ever compromised your value, you have ever compromised your value on the altar of momentary material gain, that may be a sign that you are serving money.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to me.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: This is true.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe a sign you're serving money.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: This is why Paul told Timothy, when you are dealing with rich people, and let's remind ourselves who are the rich people again.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_00: Who are the rich people?
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, you and I.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_00: We are the rich people.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: Paul was telling Timothy, when you are dealing with rich people, remind them, command those who are rich in this present world.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: That suggests to me Paul had a perspective that there is a present world.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: This is a present world, and there is a future.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_00: There is a future that is coming.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_00: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, not to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous, to be willing to share.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: And it said, in this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to write this down.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: God has blessed me with more than I need.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: God has blessed me with more than I need.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_00: I am rich.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: I will not trust in riches, but in him who richly provides.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: But in him who richly provides.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: Let's try it again.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_00: Say, God has blessed me with all that I need.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: God has blessed me with more than I need.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_00: Say, I am rich, I will not trust in riches, but in him who richly provides.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: The challenge, according to scriptures, is that the love of money is the root of all evil.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: Not money, of course.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: Money is not the root of evil, but the love of money is the root of evil.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: Money is neutral.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_00: Money only takes on the character of the person that is wielding it, that is using it.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_00: Money only takes on the character of the person that is using it.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_00: It only takes on your it only amplifies who you already are.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: The love of money is the root of all evil.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_00: And I want to show us today three things about people who love and trust money.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_00: I want to show us how many things.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: Three things about people who love and trust money.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_00: Three things about people who love and trust money.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_00: You see, I guarantee that you will see yourself in some of these as I will also see myself.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_00: You will see yourself in some of these things as I will also see myself.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_00: Three things about people who love money and trust money.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, people who love and trust money never have enough.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_00: People who love and trust money never have enough.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: If I ask you right now, are you satisfied with where you are financially?
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_00: Are you satisfied with your current income?
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: You probably will say no.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_00: You probably will say no, and that's okay.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: We're not encouraging complacency.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: We're not encouraging complacency, we're not saying that you should just say you should just take everything you are and just accept everything and just say, Oh, this is the best you can ever be.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_00: No, we are not saying that.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: We're not encouraging complacency, but we are saying that there must be contentment.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: There must be contentment for where you are.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_00: Complacency says this is the best I can ever be, this is the most I will ever be.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, there is no more to be.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: I cannot, I cannot make more money, I cannot earn more money.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_00: That's complacency.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_00: That's complacency.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_00: Contentment says that I am grateful for where I am, and I know that because I am a child of a great God, I'm a child of a great father, I know that he has more in store ahead of me.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_00: That's the difference between complacency and contentment.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to me, let me say it again.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_00: Complacency says that ah, this is the best.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: Will ever be, and it says it has a quick quisara sera attitude.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: What will be will be.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_00: I cannot do anything more.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: I have done everything.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_00: What else can I do?
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_00: So what else can I do?
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_00: That's complacency.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: Just sit on their hands.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_00: That's complacency.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_00: I can't do anything more.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_00: That's complacency.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: Contentment, however, says that oh, I am grateful for where I am.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: I am grateful for where I am.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: But I know, and I know that because I have a great God and I serve a great king, he has more in store and he has more ahead of me.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: That's what contentment says.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: I know that greater is possible.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I know that greater is possible.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: I know that greater things are possible.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_00: Ecclesiastes chapter 5 and verse 10.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_00: Look at what it says.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: Ecclesiastes chapter 5 and verse 10.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_00: Whoever loves money never has enough.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_00: This is true.
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_00: People who love and trust money, they never have enough.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: People they are always complaining about something.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_00: They always think more money will make their lives better.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_00: And the wisest man, the wisest man that ever lived, and he should know something about money.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_00: This man knows something about money.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: He better believe Solomon's Wisdom is talking about money.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_00: Ecclesiastes 5, verse 10.
• 23:18
  SPEAKER_00: It says, Whoever loves money never has enough.
• 23:21
  SPEAKER_00: Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_00: This is true.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_00: If you love money, you will never be satisfied with your income.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_00: I told you the story the last time of how when myself and my wife were earning let barely earning 30,000 a year.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_00: How I thought, and I probably have said I said it that if we can never make 80,000 dollars, hey, if you can, what are we going to do with the money?
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_00: What are we going to do with it?
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: Ah, we'll buy houses, we will we will we will build in Nigeria.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: What are we going to do with this money?
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_00: Ah, what are we going to do with this money?
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, you know, children started to come, and then you had to move to DMV.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_00: And then you are you want to pay off your debt, you want to pay off your student loan, and then suddenly you want to buy a house, and then you realize ah, this money is not enough.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_00: This fire is not enough.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: This money is not enough.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: Those who trust and love money never have enough.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_00: How much money do you need to be happy?
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_00: If you trust, if you love and trust money, the answer to that question will be more than I currently have.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_00: You always say that I need more than I currently have.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, you always say I need more than I currently have.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: And that is incredibly dangerous for your relationship with God.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs chapter 18, verse 11.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 18 and verse 11.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: It says the rich think of their wealth as a strong defense.
• 25:11
  SPEAKER_00: The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense, they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 18, verse 11.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_00: It says, The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_00: They imagine, they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: And let's remind ourselves again.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_00: Who are the rich people we are talking about here?
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_00: You and I.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_00: You and I, we're the rich people.
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_00: They imagine that their wealth is a wall of safety, and it's a lie.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_00: That is a lie.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_00: And that's what Jesus called what?
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_00: The deceitfulness of riches.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: The deceitfulness of riches.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_00: Money promises you things that only God can provide.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: Money promises you things that only God can provide.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: That is, if you get triple of what you are earning today, if you get triple of what you are earning today, you may still not be satisfied.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, the line is always moving.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_00: The line is always moving.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_00: Ah, I told us last week the line is always moving.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody's I earned this money today, but uh, it's 150 that will make me happy.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: You earn 150, oh, it's 250 that will make me happy.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_00: The line is always moving because it is a spiritual issue, it is not a money issue, it is a heart issue, it's not a money issue, it is a it is a condition of your heart that is making you think like that.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_00: It is a spiritual issue, it is a heart issue.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_00: That heart needs to be changed by Jesus.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it has to be changed, and that's why we must take it seriously.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_00: We're talking about three things about people who love and trust money.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_00: We said number one, people who love and trust money never have enough.
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, people who love and trust money find it increasingly difficult to give big.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: People who love and trust money find it increasingly difficult to give big.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_00: They find it difficult to give big.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_00: The interesting thing is, studies have shown that the more people earn, the less the percentage of their given.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_00: The more people earn, the smaller the percentage of what they actually give.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, there may be exceptions to this, but uh on the average, the more people earn, the less the percentage of their giving.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_00: The less the percentage of their given.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: I want to ask you, have you when was the last time you increased your giving?
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_00: When was the last time you increased your giving?
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: You know, when was the last time you increased your giving?
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_00: I've been given, you know, ten dollars or twenty dollars.
• 27:42
  SPEAKER_00: When was the last time you said, okay, maybe you got a raise, or you you you just decided, or the spirit just prompted you and just decided, I'm going to just increase my giving.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_00: When was the last time you increased your giving?
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_00: Or you've just stayed stuck on one spot, giving the same thing over and over again.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_00: People who love and trust money find it difficult to give big.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_00: They find it difficult to give big.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_00: Told my wife, we have to change our giving, we have to increase our giving, we have to increase it.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_00: We had a conversation, we have to increase it.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_00: We cannot keep we cannot keep giving this amount, we have to increase it.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_00: And the Lord helps us help us to increase it.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: Even when it was not convenient, we kept giving it.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_00: Even when it was not convenient, we kept giving it.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_00: People who love and trust money find it difficult to give big.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_00: People who love and trust money find it difficult to give big.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus tells the story of that widow.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_00: He tells the story of that widow who came to worship.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody came to worship.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they came to worship, and all the the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the priest and high priest and all of them, they were giving their gifts.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_00: They were they were putting things in the offering basket, but putting things in the offering basket, and Jesus said she had given more than every other person in that service.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus said she had given more than every other person in that service.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 29:07
  SPEAKER_00: Because she put in a higher percentage of what she had, and in our case, she gave 100%.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_00: This is a message you don't want to hear, but I'm teaching it.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_00: She, in our case, she gave 100%.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus said she has given more than every other person.
• 29:23
  SPEAKER_00: There are four types of givers in the church.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_00: Let me quickly run through this.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_00: Four types of givers in the church.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, there are non-givers.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_00: There are non-givers, people who don't give at all.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_00: People who don't give at all.
• 29:35
  SPEAKER_00: And sadly, in some churches, these people, non-givers, are also in leadership.
• 29:41
  SPEAKER_00: These non-givers, they can find themselves in leadership.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what?
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_00: Generous churches are led by generous givers.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_00: Generous churches are led by generous givers.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_00: So if you consider yourself a leader of the landmark church, you must be generous in your approach to giving.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_00: Generous churches are led by generous givers, not stingy, not tight words.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_00: They're led by generous givers.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_00: Generous churches are led by generous givers.
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what?
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_00: The landmark church is going to be a church.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody say amen to that.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_00: I said we're going to be a generous church.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_00: I said we're going to be a given church.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_00: Say, I said, we're going to be a given church.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: We will give to people, we will give to the homeless, we'll give to other churches, we will support missions, we will give and give and give again.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_00: Non-givers.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, we have initial givers in the church.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_00: These people are like they tip God.
• 30:41
  SPEAKER_00: They tip God.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: Every once in a while, when it's convenient for them, they just tip initial givers.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_00: They just they just put something in inside.
• 30:47
  SPEAKER_00: When it's convenient, when they remember to bring the money from home.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_00: When they remember, when it's when it's when it's when it aligns with them, when it when they feel right, when they bring the offering basket in front of them.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_00: If they don't bring the offering basket in front of them, they they forget to give.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_00: They're like, um, it's not necessary.
• 31:03
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they are their initial givers.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe they give they give once in a while.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_00: And number three, we have systematic givers, systematic givers.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_00: These are the people that give regularly.
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_00: Some of them even automate their giving.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_00: Some of them automate their giving.
• 31:16
  SPEAKER_00: They automate it.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_00: They say, okay, we can give online, so I'm going to just automate my giving and just you know give hundred dollars every every time I get paid.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_00: They just automate it.
• 31:26
  SPEAKER_00: It's they they leave it once and done.
• 31:28
  SPEAKER_00: The money is coming in here any anyway, so they don't have to think about it, they are just systematic givers.
• 31:33
  SPEAKER_00: So they give regularly.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_00: Number four, we have proportional givers.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: These proportional givers are those who bring the full tithe to God.
• 31:41
  SPEAKER_00: They give they bring the full tithe to God.
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's non-negotiable for them.
• 31:46
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what?
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_00: We actually don't take our offerings, we receive our offerings.
• 31:53
  SPEAKER_00: I know the language is a little um is like semantics, but it's important.
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_00: We don't take your offerings, we receive your offerings.
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_00: We receive what you have proposed proposed for to give God in your heart.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_00: We receive it, we receive it.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_00: You have decided, oh, this is what God is worth to me, this is what I want to give to God, this is what I'm prepared to give to God.
• 32:14
  SPEAKER_00: We receive that in church.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_00: So we have non-givers, we have initial givers, we have systematic givers, and then we have proportional givers.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_00: These are the people that that give their tithe, and then finally, we have extravagant givers.
• 32:29
  SPEAKER_00: We have extravagant givers.
• 32:32
  SPEAKER_00: Extravagant givers.
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_00: These are the people that they go above and beyond.
• 32:36
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody say above and beyond.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_00: Say it again, say above and beyond.
• 32:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, they go above and beyond, they are extravagant givers, and we are going to raise extravagant givers at the landmark church.
• 32:48
  SPEAKER_00: We are all going to be extravagant givers in the name of Jesus.
• 32:52
  SPEAKER_00: I am going to be an extravagant giver in the name of Jesus.
• 32:56
  SPEAKER_00: You want to be a kingdom financier.
• 32:59
  SPEAKER_00: It is now that we will know whether you are serious about becoming a kingdom financier.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_00: That's this is this is when we are going to know.
• 33:06
  SPEAKER_00: We are going to know now.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to know now whether you are serious about your desire to be a kingdom financier.
• 33:13
  SPEAKER_00: Are you extravagant in your giving?
• 33:14
  SPEAKER_00: Paul bragged about the group of believers in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 2 to 3.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_00: He was bragging about them.
• 33:21
  SPEAKER_00: They were poor and they were barely making it.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_00: And here's what Paul said about them.
• 33:24
  SPEAKER_00: He said, In the midst of very severe trials, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_00: Verse 3 of 2 Corinthians chapter 8, it says, For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_00: It says, In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in welled up in rich generosity.
• 33:54
  SPEAKER_00: For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_00: They went above and beyond.
• 34:01
  SPEAKER_00: They were generous beyond their ability.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_00: Because they were not trusting in their stack.
• 34:07
  SPEAKER_00: They were not trusting in the green paper.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_00: They were not trusting in the green paper.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_00: They went above and beyond.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_00: The problem is the more we have, the more difficult it is for us to give big.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_00: The more we have, the more difficult it is for us to give big.
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_00: What we have in our minds most times is that I will give when.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_00: But no, we give.
• 34:47
  SPEAKER_00: We are going to give big now.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_00: We are going to give big now.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_00: That's a sign that I don't trust and I don't love money.
• 34:55
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to give big now.
• 34:57
  SPEAKER_00: And listen, I'm not raising funds after this, after this teaching.
• 35:01
  SPEAKER_00: Because it might be sounding like I'm not raising funds.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just teaching the Bible.
• 35:04
  SPEAKER_00: We are going to give big when?
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now somebody say now.
• 35:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we're going to give big now.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_00: Paul says, Command those who are rich, you and I, to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, to be ready to share.
• 35:16
  SPEAKER_00: Thus, stirring up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_00: So that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_00: Because these green papers, they promise something.
• 35:28
  SPEAKER_00: They promise something, but they cannot deliver on it.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_00: These green papers, they promise you something, but they cannot deliver on it.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_00: They will not satisfy.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_00: But we give our lives to serve others, we give our lives to serve those in need.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_00: That fills us up in a deep way, in a meaningful way.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_00: We don't serve money, we serve God as money serves us.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_00: We don't serve money.
• 35:54
  SPEAKER_00: We serve God, we are countercultural, we think differently.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_00: The world wants us to serve money, but we say no, we are not going to serve money.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_00: We serve God as money serves us.
• 36:07
  SPEAKER_00: We serve God as money serves us.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_00: We use our money as a tool to accomplish the things that are on the heart of God.
• 36:15
  SPEAKER_00: That's what we do.
• 36:16
  SPEAKER_00: We use our money as a tool to accomplish the things that are in the heart of God.
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_00: And finally, those who love and trust money, they have more money.
• 36:25
  SPEAKER_00: They have money in the bank, but no peace in their heart.
• 36:30
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, those who love and trust money never have enough.
• 36:33
  SPEAKER_00: Those who love enough money, those who love and trust money find it increasingly difficult to give big.
• 36:39
  SPEAKER_00: And number three, those who love and trust money, they have money in the bank, but no peace in their hearts.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_00: Wow.
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_00: That one hit me.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_00: They have money in the bank, but no peace in their heart.
• 36:53
  SPEAKER_00: They have cars in the garage, but no peace in their heart.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_00: They have clothes in the closet, but no peace in their heart.
• 37:02
  SPEAKER_00: They have stacks of dollar bills, but no peace in their heart.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 18, Proverbs 15, rather.
• 37:08
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 15, verse 16.
• 37:10
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 15 and verse 16.
• 37:12
  SPEAKER_00: It says, better a little with the fear of God.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_00: Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
• 37:19
  SPEAKER_00: Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
• 37:25
  SPEAKER_00: It is better to have little with a lot of God than to have a lot without God.
• 37:31
  SPEAKER_00: Let me say that again.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 15, verse 16.
• 37:34
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 15, verse 16.
• 37:35
  SPEAKER_00: It is better to have a little with a lot of God than a lot without God.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_00: It is better to have a little with peace, security, good relationships.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_00: Good relationships than to have a lot with chaos, tension, and fighting and all sorts of acrimony.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to me.
• 37:55
  SPEAKER_00: And that let me let me spend a minute here.
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_00: That acrimony, you know, the spirit of strife is actually one of the accompanied spirits to the spirit of poverty.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going a little deeper now.
• 38:07
  SPEAKER_00: The spirit of fear, the spirit of strife, rather, the spirit of strife is one of the accompanied spirits to the spirit of poverty.
• 38:15
  SPEAKER_00: So those who have a lot, but there's still strife in their lives around them, they're actually poor.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_00: They're actually very poor.
• 38:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's better to have a little with the fear of God than to have great wealth with great turmoil and strive.
• 38:32
  SPEAKER_00: See, when we talk to those who are close to billionaires, they will tell us, when we talk to those who are close to billionaires, they will usually tell us that there is a burden to manage all that wealth.
• 38:44
  SPEAKER_00: There's a lot of burden to manage all that wealth.
• 38:46
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, someone someone who works with the ultra-wealthy, they asked him that, you know, will he will he trade places with the people he's helping?
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like he's a financial advisor, and he helps the ultra-wealthy, like the billionaires.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_00: And they asked him, Will you trade places with these people that have billionaires?
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_00: He said, No, not in a million lifetimes.
• 39:04
  SPEAKER_00: I will not trade places with them.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_00: I will not trade places with them.
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_00: Because he has seen the burden.
• 39:10
  SPEAKER_00: And I know for many of us, we are like, okay, there's a problem there.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, let me have it first.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see, we'll figure out the problem.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_00: You're like, uh, there's a problem being a billionaire.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_00: Let me get it first, we'll sort the problems out.
• 39:23
  SPEAKER_00: It is because you still don't believe what the wisdom of the Bible, Proverbs 15, verse 16, that better is a little with a lot of God than a lot with no God.
• 39:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's because you still don't believe that.
• 39:36
  SPEAKER_00: You see, better, the Bible says, better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with a lot of turmoil.
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_00: The truth is, wealth will make it harder for you to depend on God, it will make it harder for you to depend on God, it will distract you from true priorities, and you know that there is a significant responsibility because you are wealthy, because to whom much is given, much is expected.
• 40:05
  SPEAKER_00: What I've realized in my own life is that when I have financial pressure in my life, it is because I have not been obedient to the wisdom of the Bible.
• 40:12
  SPEAKER_00: When I have financial pressure in my life, what I've realized it is because I have not been obedient to the wisdom of scriptures.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_00: And listen to me, that thing is true of you too.
• 40:23
  SPEAKER_00: When you have financial pressure, it's because you are spending everything, you're not putting everything away, you are spending everything on your own loss.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_00: I must do this, I must do that, I will do this, I will do that.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_00: Why about living beneath your mist?
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_00: What happened to that?
• 40:38
  SPEAKER_00: You see, many of us are making money in a year that our parents never dreamed of making.
• 40:43
  SPEAKER_00: The amount of money we make, our parents never dreamed of making it, and yet we are still under more financial pressure than they are, than that than they ever were.
• 40:52
  SPEAKER_00: If you start to believe that money is the answer to your problems, it is a sign that you are under the power of money.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_00: I want us to to break that thing.
• 41:01
  SPEAKER_00: If you start if you continue to believe that money is the answer to all your problems, it is a sign that you are under the power of money.
• 41:07
  SPEAKER_00: Because money is not the answer to your problems.
• 41:11
  SPEAKER_00: More money, more money does not mean more joy.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_00: More money does not mean more security.
• 41:16
  SPEAKER_00: What you need is more of Jesus.
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody say, More of Jesus.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_00: That's all you need.
• 41:20
  SPEAKER_00: That's what I need.
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_00: I need more of Jesus.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_00: More of Jesus is the answer to our problems.
• 41:26
  SPEAKER_00: More of Jesus is the answer to our problems because more money will not keep my children safe.
• 41:30
  SPEAKER_00: More money will not eat that person of cancer.
• 41:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, more money will not preserve the lives of my loved ones.
• 41:37
  SPEAKER_00: More money will not do that.
• 41:39
  SPEAKER_00: It is more of Jesus that transforms me.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_00: It is more of his power and more of his glory that transforms that that transforms me.
• 41:46
  SPEAKER_00: It is more of his grace, it is more of his presence that transforms my life.
• 41:51
  SPEAKER_00: So we're going to give big.
• 41:52
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to give big because we know that we don't trust money.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_00: We don't love money.
• 41:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we're going to give big.
• 41:58
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to give big because we know that we don't trust money.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_00: And we know that God has given us more than we ever need.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, he has given us more than we ever need.
• 42:10
  SPEAKER_00: And we're going to keep giving big.
• 42:12
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to give in proportion to his blessing in our lives.
• 42:14
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to increase our giving.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to increase our because we have been commanded.
• 42:20
  SPEAKER_00: Command those who are rich in this world to do good, to be rich in good works, to always be willing to share, to be generous.
• 42:27
  SPEAKER_00: Therefore, we are storing up treasure for ourselves.
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_00: I know that more money, I will have more money in the bank, but I will also have peace in my heart.
• 42:44
  SPEAKER_00: I said I will have more money in the bank, but I will also have peace in my heart.
• 42:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 42:48
  SPEAKER_00: I'll buy a better house, I'll build a better house.
• 42:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, but I will also have peace in my heart.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_00: Because I don't love and I don't trust money.
• 42:56
  SPEAKER_00: We don't serve money, we serve God as money serves us.
• 43:00
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 43:01
  SPEAKER_00: Because God has blessed us with more than we ever need.
• 43:05
  SPEAKER_00: We are rich, but we will not trust in the riches, but in him who richly provides.
• 43:11
  SPEAKER_00: Want us to take this confession together?
• 43:13
  SPEAKER_00: I have it on the screen.
• 43:15
  SPEAKER_00: Say, God is my father.
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_00: He has blessed me with more than I need.
• 43:21
  SPEAKER_00: Say, I am rich.
• 43:23
  SPEAKER_00: Say I will not trust in riches, but in him who richly provides.
• 43:28
  SPEAKER_00: Say money will not take God's place in my heart.
• 43:32
  SPEAKER_00: Say money will not take God's place in my heart.
• 43:35
  SPEAKER_00: Say, I give big because I do not trust in money.
• 43:40
  SPEAKER_00: Say I give big because I do not trust in money.
• 43:44
  SPEAKER_00: I trust God to supply all my needs according to his riches and glory.
• 43:52
  SPEAKER_00: Say I serve and worship God alone.
• 43:54
  SPEAKER_00: Say I serve and worship God alone.
• 43:57
  SPEAKER_00: Money serves me as I serve God.
• 44:02
  SPEAKER_00: Say money serves me as I serve God.
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_00: Say this month and for the rest of this year, and for the rest of my life.
• 44:11
  SPEAKER_00: I have money in the bank and peace in my heart.
• 44:16
  SPEAKER_00: Say, I have money in the bank and peace in my heart.
• 44:20
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 44:22
  SPEAKER_00: Make that declaration for 30 seconds.
• 44:23
  SPEAKER_00: Make it for 30 seconds.
• 44:24
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 44:26
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 44:29
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 44:32
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 44:33
  SPEAKER_00: I know money is not the solution to all my problems.
• 44:36
  SPEAKER_00: I know, I know.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_00: I need more of Jesus, not more money.
• 44:40
  SPEAKER_00: I need more Jesus.
• 44:43
  SPEAKER_00: More Jesus.
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_00: More Jesus.
• 44:46
  SPEAKER_00: More Jesus.
• 44:47
  SPEAKER_00: In the name of Jesus.
• 44:49
  SPEAKER_00: We give you praise, Father.
• 44:51
  SPEAKER_00: We give you glory.
• 44:53
  SPEAKER_00: We give you praise.
• 44:54
  SPEAKER_00: We give you glory.
• 44:55
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Lord.