WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.520 Well, Jeff, if you ever heard the phrase God loves 2 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.679 a cheerful giver, I have. Yes, Well today we're talking 3 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:06.080 about that. 4 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:08.080 Oh that's interesting. He's Chris and I'm Jeff, and we're 5 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:08.720 the Bobble guys. 6 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:22.359 Okay, so hey. 7 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:26.359 You know we have people who comment and you know, 8 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:29.480 subscribe and do all those things on social media, and 9 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:32.280 so I just wanted to make a couple of comments 10 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:37.240 about people. E j e JB has been our sharing 11 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:40.320 rock star. I mean, so say thank you, Chris. 12 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:42.719 Yeah, whoever EJB is, that's right. 13 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:46.119 He has been sharing our podcast with others, is what 14 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:46.560 you're meaning. 15 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:49.320 That's right, sharing our posts and our page and all 16 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:50.479 that stuff with all of his friends. 17 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:52.520 Hey, whoever EJ is, thank you, buddy. 18 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:55.759 That's amazing and more people need to be like EJ. 19 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:57.320 Yeah, for sure, that's awesome. 20 00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:00.920 And then Kathy B said it's very encouraging to hear 21 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:03.520 the daily Bible guys get into the nitty greedy of 22 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.920 God's truth no matter what, without pretenses. 23 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:08.319 Thank you for all you do for us, Kathy B. 24 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:11.120 That is that is one of my favorite compliments. 25 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:15.799 Without pretenses. Yeah, yeah, for sure, What does pretense mean? 26 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:20.760 Without pretense? Well, I mean I would guess that it's 27 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:23.560 meeting without it's. 28 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:24.959 Stripping away without putting on airs. 29 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.680 Yeah, it's it's stripping away of all that, and it's 30 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.079 just it's just being real authentic. 31 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:32.000 Yeah, wouldn't you say good? Good? 32 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:32.480 Yeah? 33 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:36.120 Absolutely, I was just asking so so then you know, 34 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.280 the reality is we don't really have much to put 35 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:41.480 airs on about, right, right, this is what you get 36 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:43.879 right here. We are we are, We are what you see. 37 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:46.760 So but we have fun doing it. And you know, 38 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.640 the whole premise behind the podcast is we're just a 39 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:51.439 couple of guys who like to talk about about the 40 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.480 Bible and practical and fun ways. 41 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:54.200 Yeah. 42 00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:57.200 Yeah, it doesn't doesn't mean we're the Bible theologians or 43 00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:59.680 the in depth study of you know. 44 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:01.319 It just means we. 45 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:05.000 Think that the Bible should be for practical application and 46 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:05.680 everyday life. 47 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:06.120 Yeah. Yeah. 48 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.840 And it's not that it's not overly complicated. We can 49 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.639 take the words on the page and you know, with 50 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:13.280 a little bit of discussion, we can work them out 51 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:15.719 and figure out what it means. Right, So that's it. 52 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:17.639 Every once in a while we'll have somebody that'll go, 53 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:19.800 you guys call yourselves the Bible guys. And that was 54 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.039 a shallow, you know, approach to that. And I'm like, 55 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.680 it's twenty minutes long, and we're not the theologian guys, right, 56 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:26.560 We're just a couple of guys talking about the Bible. 57 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:28.479 Well, if you think about it, the subject every day 58 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:29.319 is the Bible. 59 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:29.879 That's correct. 60 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:31.159 So we're allowed to say what we want. 61 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:32.039 That's right, that's right. 62 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:35.800 And be says that we own the Bible guys dot com. 63 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:36.280 That's right. 64 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:40.080 That automatically makes us the Bible guys, right, right, And 65 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.560 then hey, I love this and this might be my favorite. 66 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:47.039 Sandy Za say, can't thank you guys enough exclamation point, 67 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.479 exclamation point. I got to meet Chris in person with 68 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:53.840 like ten exclamation points after it at the Christmas service 69 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.599 for exclamation points, thank you, exclamation point. It was like 70 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:01.479 meeting a celebrity with five feel the same way, Sandy. 71 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:03.120 I just want you to know that every day, the 72 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.520 privilege of being able to sit next to Chris is 73 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:09.800 just it's almost overwhelming. You're welcome, Jeff, she said, thank 74 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.080 you for all your inspiration. 75 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:12.520 This is sandy Z. 76 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:13.719 Nice. 77 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:15.400 Hey, I just want to take a moment and see 78 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:18.680 if sandy Z is listening to thank you. That's that 79 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:23.439 feels very honoring. It's very nice, but certainly not the 80 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:24.879 celebrity for sure. 81 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:26.159 Oh well, you just don't know. 82 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:27.639 And that's what we love about you is you're so 83 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:29.439 humble about how amazing you are. 84 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.120 Well, you know, I model myself after Keanu Reeves, who 85 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:33.879 rides the subway like every commoner. 86 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:36.680 By the way, did you. 87 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:38.840 Know he's known to be one of the nicest and 88 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:40.520 most down to earth celebrities that there is. 89 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:41.520 Yeah, I've heard about that. 90 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:43.240 Yeah, he's just super nice. 91 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:45.879 And I've heard people just tell stories about how just 92 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.680 absolutely you know what I mean. And Tom Hanks is 93 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.159 that way too, by the way, Yeah and so and so. 94 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:51.759 Yeah. 95 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:55.639 I wouldn't say that pastors are celebrities, but I do 96 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:58.319 think that there's a lot of people that recognize us. 97 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:01.800 Sitting on my desk, rate on my desk, I've got 98 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.919 a group of books, like a funny little library of 99 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.240 funny titles to books, and one of them is like 100 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.240 Yoga for the inflexible male and stuff. But I have 101 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:14.319 one of them, you know, you know the phrase w 102 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:17.199 W jdah. I have a book and it's titled what 103 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:20.160 would Keanu Do? And the whole book is if you 104 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:22.279 find yourself in this situation, do this, do that. 105 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.279 It's so funny. But yeah, that's hilarious. 106 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:29.000 Yeah, okay, anyways, that meant nothing, But I just want 107 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:31.319 to be more like Chris. And so, Sandy, you said 108 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:32.240 what we all are thinking. 109 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:34.920 Hey, so the purpose of this segment, by the way, 110 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:39.319 is to just highlight people who are active on social 111 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:42.759 media with us, to highlight the fact that we appreciate 112 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:46.199 the interaction. Yeah, we appreciate the sharing, we appreciate the feedback. 113 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:48.199 And I think most of this came from YouTube. Is 114 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:50.600 that right? I think I'm not sure. 115 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.000 No, I think Facebook. 116 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:57.759 Okay, Facebook, Yeah, Facebook, very cool. So do all the 117 00:04:57.800 --> 00:04:58.759 social media things. 118 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:01.759 Yeah, subscribe and like and share. Thank you? 119 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:02.759 Yeah. 120 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:05.480 Well, hey that was really really neat. So thank you 121 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:07.519 to EJ, Kathy and Sandy. 122 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:10.160 Yes, okay, we are in. 123 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.399 Second Corinthians chapter nine today. We're just gonna read through 124 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.079 the whole chapter. He's continuing to speak about the giving 125 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:17.959 and some of our listeners went, oh, no, they're talking 126 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.959 about money two days in a row. But others you 127 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:22.680 lean into it and go, oh, hey, I want to 128 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:24.959 learn more. And so this is remember this is just 129 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.120 a continuation of the conversation he was having that we 130 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:28.920 talked about yesterday. 131 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:33.240 Hey, by the way, I just want to say this. 132 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.879 This is the best way to talk about money, because 133 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:38.839 number one, you and I are not doing a campaign. 134 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:41.079 Number Two, we're not asking people to give to any 135 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:41.879 specific place. 136 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:42.240 Right. 137 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.519 We do this for free, right, And this is just 138 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.399 money in general, that's right, right, And everybody has money, 139 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:47.879 that's right. 140 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:48.519 Everybody. 141 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.439 Everybody, yeah, well, I mean most everybody. 142 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:51.519 Yeah. 143 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:53.920 So anyways, we'll just start in verse one. We're reading 144 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.319 from the New Living Translation. It says, I really don't 145 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.040 need to write to you about this ministry giving for 146 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.680 the believers in Jerusalem, for I know how eager you 147 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:02.720 are to help, and I've been boasting to the churches 148 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:05.800 in Macedonia that you and Greece were ready to send 149 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:08.319 an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your 150 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.680 enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to 151 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.399 begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be 152 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:16.160 sure you really are ready as I've been telling them, 153 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:18.360 and that your money is all collected. I don't want 154 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:20.399 to be wrong, and my boasting about you, we would 155 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:22.800 be embarrassed not to mention your own embarrassment. If some 156 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.560 Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren't 157 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:28.120 ready after all I had told them, so, I thought 158 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.000 I should send these brothers ahead of me to make 159 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:32.439 sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want 160 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:35.240 it to be a willing gift, and not one giving grudgingly. 161 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:37.759 Remember this, A farmer who plants only a few seeds 162 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.199 will get a small crop, but the one who plants 163 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.439 generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide 164 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:45.600 in your heart how much to give, and don't give 165 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:49.360 reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God gives or 166 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.720 God loves a person who gives cheerfully, and God will 167 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.160 generously provide all you need, and then you'll always have 168 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:58.079 everything you need and plenty leftover to share with others. 169 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:00.519 As the scriptures say, they share freely and get generously 170 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.560 to the poor, Their good deeds will be remembered forever. 171 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:06.040 For God is the one who provides seed for the 172 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:08.319 farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, 173 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:11.279 He will provide and increase your resources and then produce 174 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:14.360 a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will 175 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:17.120 be enriched in every way, so that you can always 176 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.439 be generous. And when we take your gifts to those 177 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.160 who need them, they will thank God. So two things 178 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.319 will result from this ministry of giving. The needs of 179 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:26.560 the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will 180 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.160 joyfully express their thanks to God as a result of 181 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.959 your ministry. They will give glory to God for your 182 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:34.839 generosity to them and to all believers who will prove 183 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:37.480 that you are obedient to the good News of Christ. 184 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:41.800 And they will pray for you with deep affection because 185 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:44.720 of the overflowing grace God is given to you. Thank 186 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:47.319 God for this gift, too wonderful for words. 187 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:51.040 What a great statement at the end there, thank God 188 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.600 for this gift, too wonderful for words. 189 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:56.319 Yea, His appreciation is overflowing at that point, right, Yeah, 190 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:56.879 isn't that great? 191 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:00.560 Yeah? I love it, you know, too wonderful for words? 192 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:05.199 Is you know, people often say, you know, words aren't 193 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:09.079 enough to express my gratitude. And Paul's talking about this, 194 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:12.160 and he's doing it in the context of the church. 195 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:14.560 And I've said this before from the stage for the 196 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:18.319 last thirty years, but I always find it very, very 197 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:24.399 fascinating how God makes giving an individual thing, and yet 198 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:27.560 at the same time it's a collective thing. So it's 199 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.079 God's it's God's thing where and by the way, that's 200 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:31.639 that's the way. 201 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.120 It always is. 202 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:36.879 Christianity in general, like our faith is always an individual thing. 203 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:41.360 Our relationship with our heavenly Father oftentimes is personal. 204 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.360 It's personal. 205 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:48.519 So you know, our obedience, our gratitude, our actions, our behavior, 206 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:52.320 our worldview, all of it is completely dependent. And our 207 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:56.639 relationship of our intimacy with our prayer life. 208 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:58.919 And our you know anyway, all that stuff. So it's 209 00:08:58.960 --> 00:08:59.720 all personal. 210 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:04.480 And yet faith in general is a community experience. So 211 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:07.200 faith is a community experience in almost every way, it 212 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:08.120 affects others. 213 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:09.519 It impacts others. 214 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:12.679 Uh, you know, it benefits others, right, and then and 215 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:15.840 then we being a part of the others also then 216 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:19.799 get to benefit personally what anyway, all have to say this, Uh, 217 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.600 the same is true with giving. And this is sort 218 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:24.799 of what Paul is laying out here. He's not he's 219 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:26.799 not saying it the way I am, but he's pointing 220 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:28.759 out the fact that because you know, he says, when 221 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.279 these things happen to two things will result, you know, 222 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:34.960 And I always think of man whenever you write a check, 223 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.080 and whenever you give of your resources and God says, 224 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:40.320 give of the first fruits. 225 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.679 Of what I've blessed you with. It's an individual act 226 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:43.320 of faith. 227 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:45.960 And you have to say instead of saying, you know, 228 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:48.840 what if I need this money for other things? What 229 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:50.919 if I have expenses coming up, what if I'm not 230 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:54.759 saving enough? Instead of saying those things, you say, Okay, God, 231 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:58.240 in faith, I trust you, uh, you know, and then 232 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:01.360 and then I'll live on on the rest. And you know, 233 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:03.679 you know, you give just a portion, a small portion. 234 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.000 Well, that's an individual thing. 235 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.080 But at the same time, God moves the church forward 236 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.639 collectively this way, so we as a church are called 237 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.960 to things. And as the church continues to do their 238 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:23.399 individual giving, we collectively together watch. You know, big movements 239 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.919 happen through the generosity of individuals. 240 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:30.600 Yeah, so I usually differentiate between and I'm not correcting, 241 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:34.679 I'm just refining the statement. I usually differentiate between individual 242 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.519 and personal. There's not much in the Christian life that 243 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.879 is that is for the individual, but it is personal, 244 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.480 like your faith. Everyone in a while will have somebody 245 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.919 who is trying to be clever and they'll say, well, 246 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:50.919 you know, I don't share my faith a lot. I'm 247 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:53.919 not real overly vocal about my faith. I'm kind of 248 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.320 like an undercover Christian, and I'm always like, there's no 249 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:59.080 such thing. And people could say, well, my faith is 250 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:01.919 very private. I'm very private about my faith, and I'll say, 251 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.480 there's no such thing as private faith. There's personal faith. 252 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:07.960 But you can't grow in your faith privately. It's not possible. 253 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:08.759 Yeah, that's funny. 254 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:14.440 You can't grow privately or individually in all the fruits 255 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:17.559 of the spirit, love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, perseverance, all 256 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.279 those kinds of things. 257 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.639 You can't. It's not possible. 258 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:22.440 You can only do it in the context of relationship 259 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:24.799 with other people. You can only become a mature Christian 260 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:29.519 in the context of other people, which then actually makes 261 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:32.679 me understand the fact that I have responsibilities to the 262 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.519 rest of the body. I'm a part of the whole body. 263 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.399 And Paul, we've already dealt with that in first print 264 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:39.240 things when Paul says, hey, what would happen if you 265 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:41.320 cut the thumb off. It's separated from the body, It's 266 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.159 going to rot and die. We're all part of the body. 267 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:46.559 And I think it's the same thing with giving and 268 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.840 so giving. I have a responsibility to the rest of 269 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:53.639 the body, whether it's here in my local body of 270 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:57.600 believers or if it's the global church. I have a 271 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:02.159 responsibility to leverage the resources God's give me. But he says, 272 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:05.080 don't do it begrudgingly. Do it cheerfully and by the way, 273 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:09.000 God's going to provide everything you need. And even more so, 274 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:13.080 when we pivot from this, how do I individually provide 275 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:17.159 myself for myself too? How do I leverage my resources 276 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:20.360 for the benefit of the body and take care of myself? 277 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.399 God says He'll give you everything you need and plenty. 278 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:28.120 God rewards the person who pivots their thinking from an 279 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:34.000 individual financial thinking to a personal it's personal between you 280 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:36.240 and God, but it's not individual. Now, I'm part of 281 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:38.440 a group and we have a responsibility to move the 282 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:41.399 kingdom forward. And so he kind of takes that nuance 283 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:42.200 to angle with this. 284 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:42.600 A little bit. 285 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.200 Well, I'm glad. 286 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:46.000 I'm glad you said that, because it's important for people 287 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.200 to hear it the right way, because what you're saying 288 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:49.080 is semantics. 289 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.320 Yeah, So I used individual. 290 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:53.519 An individual and personal, right, right, right, it's the individual. 291 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:57.840 I use the literal definition of one human right, but individual. 292 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:01.600 The way people hear it is they hear it semantically. 293 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:03.279 They create their own definition. 294 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:06.000 They think of it as independent and autonomous. Right, And 295 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:09.080 as believers, we're not independent or autonomous anymore. I'm not 296 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.919 independent from Christ and I'm not independent from the body anymore. 297 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:13.759 Right, right, right, Yeah, Yeah, that's important. 298 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:16.080 Yeah, And I think that's great because then he's saying, 299 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.960 so then you don't have any to worry about. So 300 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:22.480 if your priorities align with God's priorities, God only has 301 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:27.320 people to work with. Right, So God's not doing you know, hey, 302 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:31.039 I'm going to magically send you know, one thousand dollars 303 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.039 to this circumstance that needs to be solved. 304 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.039 He doesn't just. 305 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.360 Suddenly do it and you wake up in the morning 306 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.639 and there's money in the bank account. 307 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:38.759 That's not what happens. 308 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:42.559 Instead, God chooses to use people to solve financial problems. 309 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:47.000 So then if your willingness to align with God's will, 310 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:51.840 then God will provide everything you need and enough for 311 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.759 you to be able to give because there's a convergence 312 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:57.279 of your will and God's will, and He's going to 313 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:01.120 work through you. Then, because God's looking for willing servants, 314 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.200 and so this is why he says God loves a 315 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:06.519 cheerful giver. God, God will provide everything you need. He 316 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:12.080 delights in resourcing the people who delight and resourcing God's people. 317 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.559 Yeah, that's what he's saying. 318 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:13.879 You know. 319 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:18.200 It's interesting how sometimes an opportunity will present itself, you know, 320 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.519 like you're walking by. 321 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.960 This is a crude. 322 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.720 Example, but like you're walking into a store and the 323 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.639 Salvation Army guy rings his bell, right, and so crude 324 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:32.159 meaning like it's just a pretty detached example, right, So 325 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.840 either you're going to be moved emotionally or something says, 326 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:36.840 oh man, you really need to give to that, you know, 327 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.679 or you're not. 328 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:40.440 And so there's so many opportunities. 329 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:42.679 I went through a drive through and they said, would 330 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:44.879 you like to round up for the benefit of X, 331 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:47.720 Y and Z, And I always feel like a heel, 332 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:50.519 but sometimes I say yeah, not today, thank you, you know. 333 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.480 And then sometimes most of the time I'll just say yeah, 334 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:55.000 round up, you know. But anyway, all have to say this. 335 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:59.200 I get a text last night from and I'm sure 336 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:02.600 you did too, from an individual on our staff who 337 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.840 is talking about raising money for somebody who is in 338 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:09.240 need and so this this text came in like probably 339 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:12.519 close to midnight, and uh, and and just sort of 340 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.639 throw it out and just said, hey, there's a person 341 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:17.559 we know that's sort of struggling, and you know, just 342 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:20.840 think about this and and uh, in anyway, the opportunity. 343 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:23.759 I read it, and a lot of times it's just 344 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:25.480 you you read it, and you know, I mean, you 345 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:27.240 get you may get one hundred of those a week 346 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:32.559 or one hundred a month, right, but something inside said, yeah, 347 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:35.480 you need to be a part of this. And it's 348 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:38.519 hard to it's hard to describe what that is, but 349 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.399 it's just like, you know, you just say like, yeah, 350 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:41.840 I think I need to I need to be a 351 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:44.320 part of this and and and really what it is, 352 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.360 I think it's just it's recognizing that God, Uh, even 353 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:50.799 though that opportunities are in front of us every day, 354 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:54.080 sometimes God selects you to be a part of certain ones. 355 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:57.519 And I think that that's really important because you know, 356 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.360 it's just like what we read last week or or 357 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:03.559 yesterday where it says they begged to be a part 358 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.200 of the blessing. 359 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.720 Remember that the church begged to be a part of it. 360 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.240 Yeah, And I think and so I responded last night 361 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.360 at midnight, and I just said, hey, I want to 362 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.039 be a part of this if I can, and if 363 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.759 it goes this direction, here's where I can help. But 364 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.879 I think that I think it's just really important to 365 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.759 pay attention to those things. 366 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:21.919 Yes, And then he talks about generosity as being kind 367 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.480 of think of a farmer with seed. Now, for most 368 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:29.320 people who plant stuff in their backyard, you don't think 369 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.960 of this, but for those farmers in that day, you 370 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:35.559 had to make a decision. Are we going to eat 371 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:37.799 these kernels of corn or are we going to dry 372 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.960 them out and use them as seeds next year? R 373 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:44.320 So there was a decision every time, and this would 374 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:47.080 be with regard to every kind of fruit and vegetable. 375 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:49.440 Everything has a seed in it, they would have to think, 376 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.480 are we going to consume all of it? Are we 377 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:53.320 going to save some back so we have seeds for 378 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:57.480 next year. And then he says, so you take one 379 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:01.399 seed and you plant that seed's sacrifice because that means 380 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:05.440 you chose not to consume that seed, but you get 381 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.599 the harvest that you get from that one seed is 382 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:10.119 so much more. I think about that with corn, I 383 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.000 think about that with tomatoes. You plant one seed of 384 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.799 corn and then you get a stalk with two or 385 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:18.599 three ears of corn, with hundreds of kernels of corn 386 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.880 from that one investment. We tend to think of that 387 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:23.319 sacrifice as being extreme, and God is saying, hey, it's 388 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:26.359 the same principle. You plant a little and see if 389 00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:29.160 I don't just bless you extravagantly. And I just have 390 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.599 to say, you know, the blessings go beyond I think 391 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:35.119 financial entirely, but man alive. I just see that God 392 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.119 keeps showing up in that way in my life, that 393 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:40.559 he continues to bless. I think he'll do the same 394 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:43.319 because he says in verse ten for the one for 395 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.519 God is the one who provides seeds for the farmer 396 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.799 and then bread to eat. In the same way, he 397 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:51.079 will provide and increase your resources and then produce a 398 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:54.920 great harvest of generosity in you. Yeah, that's also God's 399 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.160 goal in increasing your resources is to also increase your generosity. 400 00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.480 Let's do go hand in hand. 401 00:17:59.640 --> 00:17:59.880