WEBVTT 0 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:07.910 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons podcast. This is 1 00:00:07.942 --> 00:00:10.550 where you can find audio from Sunday morning, messages and 2 00:00:10.582 --> 00:00:13.414 more. Make sure you're subscribed so that you don't miss 3 00:00:13.454 --> 00:00:15.914 future episodes. And thanks for listening. 4 00:00:21.094 --> 00:00:23.910 Well, good morning. If you've got your 5 00:00:23.942 --> 00:00:26.758 bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join me in Luke, chapter 6 00:00:26.806 --> 00:00:29.736 twelve. As 7 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.536 you turn there, we are going to be taking the Lord's supper here 8 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.266 at the end of the, There we 9 00:00:35.290 --> 00:00:38.186 go. Y'all probably liked it better when I was 10 00:00:38.210 --> 00:00:41.166 in the dark, let's be honest, right? We'll, be taking the Lord's 11 00:00:41.190 --> 00:00:43.998 supper together at the end of the service, and so 12 00:00:44.086 --> 00:00:47.022 hopefully you grabbed one of these from our greeters as you came in the Lord's 13 00:00:47.038 --> 00:00:49.784 supper cups. if you did not, this would be a 14 00:00:49.824 --> 00:00:52.694 wonderful time to go and get one of those. if you're 15 00:00:52.734 --> 00:00:55.248 here today, and you're a follower of Jesus 16 00:00:55.296 --> 00:00:58.250 Christ, you know that he is your lord and 17 00:00:58.312 --> 00:01:00.990 savior, you are invited to participate with 18 00:01:01.022 --> 00:01:03.726 us whether you are a part of this church or 19 00:01:03.750 --> 00:01:06.694 not, whether you're a part of our denomination or not. 20 00:01:06.814 --> 00:01:09.558 And so we want to invite you. Like I said, we'll give more 21 00:01:09.606 --> 00:01:12.310 specific instructions at the very end of the 22 00:01:12.342 --> 00:01:15.086 service. I do want to thank Leslie and the team for leading 23 00:01:15.110 --> 00:01:17.990 today, as Berger is away for the next 24 00:01:18.022 --> 00:01:20.550 couple of days, getting some rest and 25 00:01:20.582 --> 00:01:23.004 relaxation in, and doing that. And so thank you. 26 00:01:23.044 --> 00:01:26.040 Wonderful, job of y'all, leading, us, 27 00:01:26.010 --> 00:01:27.584 in worship this morning. 28 00:01:27.964 --> 00:01:30.748 It's not every Sunday that I get to start 29 00:01:30.796 --> 00:01:33.428 off my message with a quote from Mark 30 00:01:33.476 --> 00:01:36.332 Twain. But as I was reading in one of 31 00:01:36.348 --> 00:01:39.044 my commentaries this week for this passage in Luke 32 00:01:39.084 --> 00:01:41.814 twelve, this was a quote that one of the theologians 33 00:01:41.894 --> 00:01:44.834 used as an introduction into this passage. 34 00:01:45.254 --> 00:01:47.434 Mark. Civilization 35 00:01:48.494 --> 00:01:51.214 as this. A 36 00:01:51.294 --> 00:01:54.274 limitless multiplication 37 00:01:55.564 --> 00:01:57.744 of unnecessary 38 00:01:58.284 --> 00:01:59.384 necessities. 39 00:02:01.524 --> 00:02:02.984 A limitless 40 00:02:03.364 --> 00:02:06.228 multiplication of 41 00:02:06.316 --> 00:02:07.984 unnecessary 42 00:02:08.644 --> 00:02:11.316 necessities. Mark 43 00:02:11.380 --> 00:02:13.664 Twain, who lived long ago, 44 00:02:14.324 --> 00:02:16.956 defined civilization in a way 45 00:02:17.100 --> 00:02:19.980 that I feel defines where we live 46 00:02:20.092 --> 00:02:21.864 and how we live today. 47 00:02:22.964 --> 00:02:25.624 Limitless multiplication 48 00:02:26.604 --> 00:02:28.134 of, unnecessary 49 00:02:28.714 --> 00:02:31.442 necessities. The things 50 00:02:31.498 --> 00:02:34.306 that we think that we have to 51 00:02:34.370 --> 00:02:36.874 have in order to 52 00:02:36.914 --> 00:02:39.858 survive. Later this afternoon, my family and I are 53 00:02:39.866 --> 00:02:42.866 going to have the opportunity to get away for a few days. We'll be 54 00:02:42.890 --> 00:02:45.746 back next Sunday to, get off and go to the beach together. 55 00:02:45.852 --> 00:02:48.780 and one of the things that I love about the beach that we go to 56 00:02:48.876 --> 00:02:51.808 is there is nothing there. There's 57 00:02:51.880 --> 00:02:54.848 nothing there. There's very few people. 58 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:57.616 There's very few restaurants. There's very few 59 00:02:57.664 --> 00:03:00.528 stores. There's nothing there so we can get 60 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.512 away and just disconnect and come 61 00:03:03.552 --> 00:03:06.496 together and spend time together as a family. 62 00:03:06.624 --> 00:03:09.576 Somebody asked me earlier this week if it was like, edisto. I 63 00:03:09.584 --> 00:03:12.520 was like, no, no, no. Edisto's too busy, right? So if 64 00:03:12.536 --> 00:03:15.408 you know that, then you know, if you're like, man, Edisto is 65 00:03:15.440 --> 00:03:18.328 edeslow for a reason. But that's too fast paced 66 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:21.224 for us. All right? Now, that's the opposite 67 00:03:21.368 --> 00:03:24.332 of where I grew up, going to the beach. 68 00:03:24.672 --> 00:03:27.544 Every summer, my mom, my dad, my sister, and I would load 69 00:03:27.608 --> 00:03:30.536 up and make what seemed like the 70 00:03:30.664 --> 00:03:33.416 forever trip, three and a half hours across 71 00:03:33.504 --> 00:03:36.368 the state of South Carolina to wonderful 72 00:03:36.480 --> 00:03:39.424 myrtle beach, south Carolina. And 73 00:03:39.448 --> 00:03:42.424 some of you still go there, and you love it. You love all 74 00:03:42.448 --> 00:03:45.108 the people, all the places, all the restaurant, all, ah, 75 00:03:45.108 --> 00:03:47.992 953,000 putt putt 76 00:03:48.032 --> 00:03:50.212 locations that you can go to. 77 00:03:50.942 --> 00:03:53.678 You love wings. You love eagles. You love the 78 00:03:53.710 --> 00:03:56.358 beach USA shop of whatever it is. 79 00:03:56.470 --> 00:03:59.310 And that's how I grew up, and I understand it. 80 00:03:59.366 --> 00:04:02.302 It's not how I choose to relax now, but I understand 81 00:04:02.382 --> 00:04:05.222 where you're at. And I remember every night 82 00:04:05.262 --> 00:04:08.150 we stayed at. We stayed at the beachcomber hotel was on 83 00:04:08.166 --> 00:04:11.062 the south end of Myrtle beach, and it had all of the shops 84 00:04:11.102 --> 00:04:13.946 around it. And as a little kid, we'd go out to 85 00:04:13.994 --> 00:04:16.762 eat, to, some buffet, eat way too much, 86 00:04:16.866 --> 00:04:19.538 walk around the pavilion, and then we would walk around 87 00:04:19.594 --> 00:04:21.940 shops, and as a little 88 00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:24.440 kid, I'd go in, 89 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.692 and I'd say, I'd find that t shirt, you 90 00:04:27.716 --> 00:04:30.484 know, that new raft, the new 91 00:04:30.572 --> 00:04:32.840 snorkel set, you know, whatever it was. 92 00:04:33.340 --> 00:04:36.320 And I'd say, mom, I want this. 93 00:04:37.340 --> 00:04:40.140 She was like, well, it's okay that you want it, but 94 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:42.160 no, right? 95 00:04:43.260 --> 00:04:45.860 And then I found that over the course of 96 00:04:45.900 --> 00:04:48.842 wandering around the store, as there's now somehow a 97 00:04:48.866 --> 00:04:51.666 dead shark floating in a paperweight, 98 00:04:51.858 --> 00:04:54.650 that I've determined that this is what my 99 00:04:54.690 --> 00:04:56.970 life has been missing and is now 100 00:04:57.010 --> 00:04:59.950 required that I obtain this. 101 00:05:00.370 --> 00:05:02.510 I would not go to my mom and say, mom, 102 00:05:03.250 --> 00:05:05.778 I want this. What would I 103 00:05:05.794 --> 00:05:08.466 say? I need it. 104 00:05:08.658 --> 00:05:11.226 I need it. And you know what? 105 00:05:11.418 --> 00:05:14.410 That didn't work either. Right? That didn't work 106 00:05:14.450 --> 00:05:16.994 either. She still had the same answer, which 107 00:05:17.042 --> 00:05:19.996 was, no, you don't 108 00:05:20.068 --> 00:05:22.988 need that. You shouldn't want that. That's a 109 00:05:23.004 --> 00:05:26.000 waste of money. But we live 110 00:05:26.620 --> 00:05:29.468 in a time of limitless 111 00:05:29.564 --> 00:05:31.300 multiplication, of 112 00:05:31.380 --> 00:05:33.720 unnecessary necessities. 113 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:36.840 I remember the first time when I was a little boy, 114 00:05:37.380 --> 00:05:40.156 when Big Macs were still served in styrofoam 115 00:05:40.188 --> 00:05:43.124 cartons, and we went to McDonald's, and 116 00:05:43.132 --> 00:05:45.280 you get a Big Mac meal for $2.99. 117 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:48.952 We're going through the drive through. And 118 00:05:48.976 --> 00:05:51.976 I saw words on the drive through 119 00:05:52.048 --> 00:05:54.780 menu that I didn't know existed. 120 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:58.220 And I found out, y'all know I love McDonald's way too much. 121 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:01.180 That for $0.39 more, 122 00:06:02.080 --> 00:06:04.800 I could do something called super 123 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:07.816 size. And 124 00:06:07.848 --> 00:06:10.680 I thought, there is no better way in this 125 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.708 world to spend $0.39 than 126 00:06:13.764 --> 00:06:16.628 supersizing a Big Mac meal. You 127 00:06:16.644 --> 00:06:19.564 know, before they put calories on a menu. 128 00:06:19.692 --> 00:06:22.480 Not that it really slows me down today. Much more, right? 129 00:06:22.900 --> 00:06:25.804 And so my fries went from like this to like this. 130 00:06:25.972 --> 00:06:28.600 My drink went from like this to like this. 131 00:06:29.020 --> 00:06:31.844 Then about a year later, they came 132 00:06:31.892 --> 00:06:34.840 out with the 99 cent 133 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:38.300 Big Mac kicker. I was in middle 134 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:41.220 school. Now I could get a big Mac meal. 135 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:44.276 I can supersize it for thirty nine cents. And for only 136 00:06:44.348 --> 00:06:47.160 $0.99 more, I could get a 137 00:06:47.460 --> 00:06:50.444 second Big Mac. That was a 138 00:06:50.492 --> 00:06:53.120 wonderful summer, right? That was it. 139 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:56.920 We live in a world 140 00:06:57.700 --> 00:06:59.920 that says that's not enough. 141 00:07:00.740 --> 00:07:03.492 Supersize. Now, you go 142 00:07:03.516 --> 00:07:06.484 to chick fil a, you go to wherever. You go to Burger King. You 143 00:07:06.492 --> 00:07:09.372 go wherever and you order your meal. And then there's. Would 144 00:07:09.396 --> 00:07:12.370 you like the add on? Would you like the add on? Would you like the 145 00:07:12.410 --> 00:07:15.138 add on? What you were coming to get is not enough. 146 00:07:15.234 --> 00:07:17.746 So would you like to add on these things as you go through 147 00:07:17.778 --> 00:07:20.546 that? And then, if you care, with one of these 148 00:07:20.578 --> 00:07:23.482 wonderful devices in your pocket, you 149 00:07:23.506 --> 00:07:26.330 know, the day that your 150 00:07:26.370 --> 00:07:28.430 phone is paid for 151 00:07:29.450 --> 00:07:31.994 is the day that your phone stops 152 00:07:32.042 --> 00:07:34.986 working, is the day that they tell 153 00:07:35.058 --> 00:07:38.034 you when you want them to fix this phone 154 00:07:38.162 --> 00:07:41.034 that you just got done paying for how to fix 155 00:07:41.082 --> 00:07:44.018 it. But instead they say, I'm sorry, 156 00:07:44.074 --> 00:07:46.030 sir, you need to what? 157 00:07:46.450 --> 00:07:49.322 Upgrade. Upgrade, right. That's it. 158 00:07:49.466 --> 00:07:51.790 That's the world that we live in. 159 00:07:52.210 --> 00:07:54.762 We live in a time of 160 00:07:54.826 --> 00:07:57.186 limitless multiplication, of 161 00:07:57.258 --> 00:07:59.390 unnecessary necessities. 162 00:08:00.170 --> 00:08:02.242 No one needs to supersize at 163 00:08:02.266 --> 00:08:05.138 McDonald's. No one needs to add 164 00:08:05.194 --> 00:08:08.138 on at chick fil a. An apple, 165 00:08:08.234 --> 00:08:11.180 as much as I love them, needs to develop a phone that 166 00:08:11.228 --> 00:08:13.802 doesn't require me and all three members of my 167 00:08:13.834 --> 00:08:16.738 family to upgrade. We have 168 00:08:16.762 --> 00:08:19.474 hit a point in life where what we 169 00:08:19.530 --> 00:08:22.514 have is not enough. And what we long for, 170 00:08:22.610 --> 00:08:25.602 what we need, what we want from the depth 171 00:08:25.634 --> 00:08:28.554 of our soul, is more. But you 172 00:08:28.570 --> 00:08:31.210 know what? It's not just mark 173 00:08:31.258 --> 00:08:34.126 Twain's culture that thought that. 174 00:08:34.746 --> 00:08:37.402 It's not just our culture that thinks 175 00:08:37.434 --> 00:08:40.237 that. It's the culture that Jesus lived in as 176 00:08:40.261 --> 00:08:42.517 well, where this 177 00:08:42.661 --> 00:08:45.525 mindset of longing for 178 00:08:45.565 --> 00:08:48.461 and desiring for more is there so in Luke twelve 179 00:08:48.533 --> 00:08:51.349 as we look at the parable of the rich 180 00:08:51.397 --> 00:08:52.025 fool? 181 00:08:52.565 --> 00:08:54.861 Here's the context of how it 182 00:08:54.893 --> 00:08:57.693 starts. It says, 183 00:08:57.749 --> 00:09:00.397 someone in the crowd said to 184 00:09:00.421 --> 00:09:03.185 him, teacher, 185 00:09:03.565 --> 00:09:06.416 tell my brother to divide 186 00:09:06.496 --> 00:09:08.236 the inheritance with me. 187 00:09:09.376 --> 00:09:12.276 But he being Jesus, said to him, 188 00:09:12.896 --> 00:09:15.712 man, who made me a judge 189 00:09:15.864 --> 00:09:17.876 or arbitrator over you? 190 00:09:18.736 --> 00:09:21.184 And he said to them, take 191 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.680 care and be on your 192 00:09:23.728 --> 00:09:26.528 guard against all 193 00:09:26.592 --> 00:09:29.064 covetousness, for one's 194 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.756 life does not consist 195 00:09:32.326 --> 00:09:35.306 in the abundance of possessions. 196 00:09:35.726 --> 00:09:37.306 Let's pause there for a minute. 197 00:09:38.366 --> 00:09:40.706 Jesus here is acknowledging 198 00:09:41.406 --> 00:09:43.826 that in his world as well, 199 00:09:44.646 --> 00:09:47.646 that people are saying, no, no, no. What 200 00:09:47.686 --> 00:09:50.666 does it mean to get more? 201 00:09:51.886 --> 00:09:54.346 And Jesus here deals with 202 00:09:55.046 --> 00:09:57.986 the heart of the want. 203 00:09:59.976 --> 00:10:02.850 In, my notes here, I wrote something incorrect I want to share. 204 00:10:02.970 --> 00:10:05.906 I said, jesus is asked a question here. 205 00:10:06.098 --> 00:10:09.066 And as I was standing up here, I realized, no, Jesus was never asked a 206 00:10:09.098 --> 00:10:11.770 question. Jesus was given an 207 00:10:11.810 --> 00:10:14.762 expectation. I never went to my 208 00:10:14.786 --> 00:10:17.738 mom and said, will you buy this for me? I went to my mom and 209 00:10:17.754 --> 00:10:19.670 said, I want this. I need this. 210 00:10:20.610 --> 00:10:23.150 A man comes to Jesus 211 00:10:23.990 --> 00:10:26.934 viewing Jesus as a rabbi, 212 00:10:26.982 --> 00:10:29.846 and it was not uncommon for rabbis 213 00:10:29.958 --> 00:10:32.254 to be asked to render 214 00:10:32.382 --> 00:10:35.374 judgment on ethical or even legal 215 00:10:35.422 --> 00:10:38.390 matters. People would come when there was disputes 216 00:10:38.550 --> 00:10:41.134 and the rabbis judgment, while 217 00:10:41.182 --> 00:10:44.030 not truly legally, what was 218 00:10:44.110 --> 00:10:47.062 needed to be imposed within that context, it 219 00:10:47.086 --> 00:10:49.934 was. But it's very obvious that this man comes 220 00:10:49.982 --> 00:10:52.950 with an expectation. This man comes 221 00:10:53.030 --> 00:10:55.654 with a, with a statement of what he expects 222 00:10:55.702 --> 00:10:58.350 Jesus to do, of what he is 223 00:10:58.390 --> 00:11:01.214 determined is right. Tell my brother 224 00:11:01.302 --> 00:11:04.094 we don't know older brother, we don't know younger brother, 225 00:11:04.182 --> 00:11:07.030 we don't know half brother, we don't know anything in this 226 00:11:07.070 --> 00:11:09.854 context. But Jesus, as a rabbi, 227 00:11:09.942 --> 00:11:12.678 tell my brother to divide 228 00:11:12.814 --> 00:11:15.702 the inheritance with me. We don't know in half, we don't know in a 229 00:11:15.726 --> 00:11:18.250 third. We don't know what the stipulation 230 00:11:18.590 --> 00:11:21.530 here is of this man's expectation, 231 00:11:22.750 --> 00:11:24.170 but he's very clear. 232 00:11:25.230 --> 00:11:28.070 Jesus, tell my brother to 233 00:11:28.110 --> 00:11:29.370 give me mine. 234 00:11:30.910 --> 00:11:32.050 And Jesus 235 00:11:33.350 --> 00:11:36.022 challenges. Jesus 236 00:11:36.166 --> 00:11:38.926 pushes back. And instead 237 00:11:38.958 --> 00:11:41.958 of giving a ruling on 238 00:11:41.974 --> 00:11:44.086 the matter at hand, he 239 00:11:44.158 --> 00:11:46.640 challenges this man's 240 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:49.560 motivation. Warren Weirsby says 241 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:52.340 this. He says the issue this man faces 242 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:55.896 is his desire for 243 00:11:55.968 --> 00:11:58.696 Jesus, is that Jesus 244 00:11:58.768 --> 00:12:01.700 would serve him, not save him. 245 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.540 This man doesn't come to Jesus 246 00:12:06.280 --> 00:12:08.740 to know more about what he's teaching. 247 00:12:09.640 --> 00:12:11.700 This man comes to Jesus 248 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:15.340 saying, this is what you're going to give me. 249 00:12:15.760 --> 00:12:18.296 This is how you're going to render in my 250 00:12:18.328 --> 00:12:19.020 favor. 251 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.944 And Jesus doesn't do 252 00:12:23.992 --> 00:12:26.848 that. And what Jesus does is he's going to 253 00:12:26.864 --> 00:12:29.656 talk about it. He's going to tell the parable that we're going to read here in just a 254 00:12:29.688 --> 00:12:32.352 moment. But Jesus is going to deal with the sin of coveting. 255 00:12:32.536 --> 00:12:35.504 She's going to deal with the sin of coveting. So what is 256 00:12:35.552 --> 00:12:37.920 coveting? Right. It's in the Ten 257 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:40.528 Commandments. It made the top ten. All 258 00:12:40.544 --> 00:12:43.396 right. It's important. Exodus 259 00:12:43.428 --> 00:12:46.180 2017 says, you shall not covet your neighbor's 260 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:48.884 house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife 261 00:12:49.012 --> 00:12:51.836 or his male servant or his female servant or 262 00:12:51.868 --> 00:12:54.868 his ox or his donkey or anything that 263 00:12:54.924 --> 00:12:57.320 is your neighbor's. 264 00:12:58.180 --> 00:13:00.040 May the top ten. It's there. 265 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:04.332 It's an expectation. It's a 266 00:13:04.396 --> 00:13:07.164 standard that God had given to the 267 00:13:07.212 --> 00:13:09.844 Israelites as his people in that 268 00:13:09.892 --> 00:13:12.524 moment. And then Jesus here 269 00:13:12.652 --> 00:13:15.122 challenged, challenges this man and 270 00:13:15.226 --> 00:13:17.554 warns him about having a 271 00:13:17.602 --> 00:13:20.140 disposition, a, bent toward the 272 00:13:20.204 --> 00:13:23.076 sin of coveting. So what does that 273 00:13:23.132 --> 00:13:25.644 actually mean? You shall not 274 00:13:25.716 --> 00:13:28.716 covet your neighbor's house. What 275 00:13:28.732 --> 00:13:31.724 does that mean? Should you not like it? Should 276 00:13:31.756 --> 00:13:34.724 you not want it? Should you not look 277 00:13:34.756 --> 00:13:37.564 at it and say, man, I really like how theirs is set up better than ours, 278 00:13:37.596 --> 00:13:40.540 and we'd be more efficient if that was there. I really like that they're on 279 00:13:40.564 --> 00:13:43.476 this side of the street versus this side of the street. I really like what they did with this. 280 00:13:43.532 --> 00:13:46.330 Like, what does it mean? What does coveting mean? 281 00:13:46.394 --> 00:13:48.678 Well, covet carries the root. 282 00:13:49.178 --> 00:13:51.792 And when you look at this definition, the root to delight 283 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.072 in, it's a very 284 00:13:54.160 --> 00:13:56.464 specific type of 285 00:13:56.576 --> 00:13:59.504 wanting that carries more 286 00:13:59.576 --> 00:14:02.286 than, like, oh, man. Like, let me see 287 00:14:02.422 --> 00:14:05.150 that Bible that you've got. I'm looking for a new Bible, man. I'd like to 288 00:14:05.174 --> 00:14:07.654 have the one that you have. Where'd you get that at? 289 00:14:07.686 --> 00:14:10.570 Right. It's different than that. And it 290 00:14:10.594 --> 00:14:13.314 carries with us this root to 291 00:14:13.346 --> 00:14:16.178 delight in it. It's more than lacking. It's more 292 00:14:16.338 --> 00:14:19.072 than wanting. Think, of it this way. When it 293 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:21.992 comes to things, that are not yours, 294 00:14:22.144 --> 00:14:24.472 a good description is the lust 295 00:14:24.544 --> 00:14:27.496 of. It's 296 00:14:27.536 --> 00:14:30.408 beyond a feeling. It's a 297 00:14:30.472 --> 00:14:33.436 lusting for something 298 00:14:34.376 --> 00:14:37.036 that someone else has. 299 00:14:38.816 --> 00:14:41.688 So we see in this passage, it's their house, 300 00:14:41.752 --> 00:14:44.672 it's their spouse, it's 301 00:14:44.704 --> 00:14:45.596 their workers, 302 00:14:47.936 --> 00:14:50.036 it's the equipment that they have, 303 00:14:51.256 --> 00:14:54.236 and then it's anything that's there 304 00:14:54.616 --> 00:14:57.376 to guard your heart. You see, the issue 305 00:14:57.416 --> 00:15:00.304 with coveting, I believe, is that when 306 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:03.128 we look at the cycle of what coveting creates, coveting leads to 307 00:15:03.152 --> 00:15:04.876 greed. Greed leads to idolatry. 308 00:15:05.666 --> 00:15:08.554 Coveting says, I desire what I should 309 00:15:08.610 --> 00:15:11.578 have. Greed says 310 00:15:11.682 --> 00:15:14.126 what I desire. I should have more of 311 00:15:15.426 --> 00:15:18.202 idolatry. Says, I love and 312 00:15:18.234 --> 00:15:20.166 find purpose in all that I have. 313 00:15:20.906 --> 00:15:23.666 It defines me. And God 314 00:15:23.706 --> 00:15:26.162 doesn't want our hearts to be the hearts that 315 00:15:26.194 --> 00:15:28.730 covet. What God wants for 316 00:15:28.778 --> 00:15:31.402 us is to have hearts that are 317 00:15:31.434 --> 00:15:33.766 content. Hearts that are content. 318 00:15:34.346 --> 00:15:37.338 In one Timothy six, six through ten, there's 319 00:15:37.362 --> 00:15:40.218 a verse that we'll get to in this passage that is 320 00:15:40.242 --> 00:15:43.066 a verse that I'm, Like. I hear it all the 321 00:15:43.106 --> 00:15:46.018 time. Misquoted. And 322 00:15:46.042 --> 00:15:48.466 when it is misquoted, it does not carry the 323 00:15:48.506 --> 00:15:51.362 meaning that God has determined 324 00:15:51.394 --> 00:15:54.394 and set for us. So let's look at the whole piece. 325 00:15:54.490 --> 00:15:56.326 One Timothy 6610. 326 00:15:57.446 --> 00:15:59.910 But godliness with contentment is great 327 00:15:59.958 --> 00:16:02.546 gain. Great gain. 328 00:16:03.086 --> 00:16:05.586 For we brought nothing into the world, 329 00:16:05.886 --> 00:16:08.502 and we cannot take anything out of the 330 00:16:08.534 --> 00:16:11.150 world. But if we have food and 331 00:16:11.198 --> 00:16:14.086 clothing with these, we 332 00:16:14.126 --> 00:16:16.854 will be content. But 333 00:16:16.910 --> 00:16:19.666 those who desire to be rich 334 00:16:20.366 --> 00:16:23.326 fall into temptation, into a 335 00:16:23.366 --> 00:16:26.346 snare, into many senseless 336 00:16:26.646 --> 00:16:29.414 and harmful desires that 337 00:16:29.470 --> 00:16:32.166 plunge people into ruin 338 00:16:32.246 --> 00:16:35.238 and destruction. And then this first part of verse ten. It's 339 00:16:35.262 --> 00:16:38.086 what we misquote all the time. For 340 00:16:38.126 --> 00:16:40.990 the love of money is a 341 00:16:41.038 --> 00:16:43.238 root of all 342 00:16:43.382 --> 00:16:46.294 kinds of evils. It 343 00:16:46.310 --> 00:16:49.090 is through this craving that some have 344 00:16:49.138 --> 00:16:52.090 wandered away from the faith and pierced 345 00:16:52.138 --> 00:16:55.066 themselves with many pangs. Let's look at that first part, verse 346 00:16:55.106 --> 00:16:57.766 ten. It's not money. 347 00:16:59.026 --> 00:17:01.006 It's the love of money. 348 00:17:01.706 --> 00:17:04.426 It's the idol of money. It's the 349 00:17:04.466 --> 00:17:07.426 coveting of money. It's the condition and the 350 00:17:07.466 --> 00:17:09.366 desire of the heart 351 00:17:10.426 --> 00:17:12.726 that is not the root 352 00:17:13.106 --> 00:17:15.458 of all kinds of evils, but 353 00:17:15.482 --> 00:17:18.354 it's a root of all 354 00:17:18.490 --> 00:17:21.002 kinds of evils. I think 355 00:17:21.034 --> 00:17:23.882 oftentimes we look at that which we don't 356 00:17:23.954 --> 00:17:26.762 have, and we look at those who have it, and we'll 357 00:17:26.834 --> 00:17:29.602 talk about this at the end. And 358 00:17:29.634 --> 00:17:32.370 we want to make ourselves feel better about where we are 359 00:17:32.418 --> 00:17:35.362 about. So we say it's, you know, money is the root 360 00:17:35.394 --> 00:17:36.566 of all evil, 361 00:17:39.066 --> 00:17:40.846 but it's not money. 362 00:17:42.266 --> 00:17:44.682 I know godly men and 363 00:17:44.714 --> 00:17:47.246 women who have millions, 364 00:17:48.426 --> 00:17:51.346 and we'll talk about how they live with 365 00:17:51.386 --> 00:17:54.194 that. And I know godly men 366 00:17:54.330 --> 00:17:56.686 and women who are getting by. 367 00:17:57.786 --> 00:18:00.706 It's not the object. It's 368 00:18:00.746 --> 00:18:03.366 the heart of what we see. 369 00:18:03.826 --> 00:18:06.226 And so what we can draw from this is that 370 00:18:06.266 --> 00:18:09.206 contentment will bring us to satisfaction. 371 00:18:09.586 --> 00:18:11.834 And what satisfaction actually brings us to is 372 00:18:11.850 --> 00:18:14.802 gratitude. That when we're content and where 373 00:18:14.834 --> 00:18:17.802 we are in life, of what is there, that what we find 374 00:18:17.914 --> 00:18:20.642 in our contentment is the satisfaction of the 375 00:18:20.674 --> 00:18:23.346 soul. We find the peace within the 376 00:18:23.386 --> 00:18:25.978 soul. So then what it leads to within the 377 00:18:26.002 --> 00:18:28.806 satisfaction of the soul is the gratitude. 378 00:18:29.826 --> 00:18:32.226 So simply put, when I see this? Spiritually, what 379 00:18:32.266 --> 00:18:35.186 contentment looks at and says is, man, 380 00:18:35.306 --> 00:18:37.864 I am good. I am 381 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.752 good. I know that God is in 382 00:18:40.784 --> 00:18:43.400 control, and my faith, my 383 00:18:43.448 --> 00:18:46.120 hope, my trust is in him. and so where 384 00:18:46.216 --> 00:18:48.492 I am in my life, 385 00:18:48.792 --> 00:18:51.452 I'm good. I'm good, 386 00:18:52.192 --> 00:18:54.092 which leads to satisfaction. 387 00:18:54.952 --> 00:18:57.320 And when we understand biblical 388 00:18:57.416 --> 00:19:00.212 satisfaction, it's more. 389 00:19:00.832 --> 00:19:02.812 It's more than I'm good. 390 00:19:03.562 --> 00:19:06.162 It's, I'm blessed. I'm 391 00:19:06.202 --> 00:19:09.082 blessed. And now, blessing is not 392 00:19:09.122 --> 00:19:11.338 defined the way the world defines 393 00:19:11.410 --> 00:19:14.146 blessing, by all of the possessions 394 00:19:14.274 --> 00:19:17.002 that I have. Blessing is 395 00:19:17.042 --> 00:19:19.954 now defined by the relationship that I have and 396 00:19:19.978 --> 00:19:22.662 the standing that I have with my creator and savior. 397 00:19:23.322 --> 00:19:25.498 So I move contentment to 398 00:19:25.530 --> 00:19:27.970 satisfaction. And in that, what 399 00:19:28.026 --> 00:19:30.994 comes from me is gratitude. 400 00:19:31.178 --> 00:19:33.986 Is gratitude. And so I 401 00:19:34.034 --> 00:19:36.898 thank the one who has blessed 402 00:19:36.930 --> 00:19:39.642 me. I thank the one 403 00:19:39.762 --> 00:19:42.514 who has saved me. So this 404 00:19:42.538 --> 00:19:45.282 is the background of setting up of what 405 00:19:45.322 --> 00:19:48.170 Jesus is going to build from. But as we talked about. As 406 00:19:48.186 --> 00:19:50.862 we looked at. As we looked at parables, 407 00:19:51.442 --> 00:19:54.102 parables is the story that comes alongside 408 00:19:55.182 --> 00:19:58.062 something somebody says, something that somebody asks, something 409 00:19:58.102 --> 00:20:01.022 that someone thinks sparks a teachable moment 410 00:20:01.062 --> 00:20:04.014 for Jesus. And so Jesus sometimes, like 411 00:20:04.038 --> 00:20:06.462 he did today, directly addresses 412 00:20:06.502 --> 00:20:09.402 it and then goes into a story. 413 00:20:10.222 --> 00:20:13.078 Goes into a story. So what I want us to look 414 00:20:13.110 --> 00:20:15.622 at here is the pursuit of 415 00:20:15.662 --> 00:20:18.478 satisfaction. The pursuit of 416 00:20:18.510 --> 00:20:21.142 satisfaction, right? Because I believe 417 00:20:21.442 --> 00:20:24.352 whether you're a follower of Jesus or not, like, what we all want 418 00:20:24.512 --> 00:20:26.736 is we all just want that feeling of 419 00:20:26.784 --> 00:20:29.784 satisfied, being satisfied. But the question 420 00:20:29.848 --> 00:20:32.736 is, how do we pursue that? How do 421 00:20:32.744 --> 00:20:35.608 we pursue that? I'm sure this man thought, if I gain my 422 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.544 inheritance of what I believe is rightfully mine, then I'll 423 00:20:38.568 --> 00:20:41.408 be satisfied. But there's the 424 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:44.432 heart that Jesus wants to address. And so verse 425 00:20:44.472 --> 00:20:46.920 16 through 19, we see the 426 00:20:46.936 --> 00:20:49.624 parable. And he told them a 427 00:20:49.648 --> 00:20:52.608 parable saying, the land of 428 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:55.584 a rich man produced plentifully. And he 429 00:20:55.608 --> 00:20:58.216 thought to himself, what shall I 430 00:20:58.264 --> 00:21:00.888 do? For I have nowhere to store my 431 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:03.608 crops. And he said, I will do 432 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:06.552 this. I will tear down my barns 433 00:21:06.672 --> 00:21:09.664 and build larger ones. And there I 434 00:21:09.688 --> 00:21:12.576 will store all my grain and my 435 00:21:12.624 --> 00:21:15.170 goods, and I will say to my 436 00:21:15.226 --> 00:21:17.666 soul. Soul, you have ample 437 00:21:17.714 --> 00:21:20.106 goods laid up for many years. 438 00:21:20.234 --> 00:21:23.002 Relax, eat, drink, be 439 00:21:23.042 --> 00:21:25.778 merry. And this is the story that 440 00:21:25.810 --> 00:21:28.570 Jesus tells. And it's the parable 441 00:21:28.746 --> 00:21:31.466 that is known as the parable of the rich fool, which 442 00:21:31.514 --> 00:21:34.346 seems to be in conflict 443 00:21:34.394 --> 00:21:37.326 with one another, like, those who are rich, we think, well, 444 00:21:37.342 --> 00:21:40.254 they're not foolish. You can't be foolish and 445 00:21:40.286 --> 00:21:43.204 be rich. But Jesus, in talking about, 446 00:21:43.276 --> 00:21:46.084 in the scope of eternity, looks at that 447 00:21:46.116 --> 00:21:48.884 and says, no, no, no. What we're going to find here, 448 00:21:48.956 --> 00:21:51.916 what we see is that in this, his 449 00:21:52.012 --> 00:21:54.764 richness is going to define his 450 00:21:54.836 --> 00:21:57.180 foolishness. And you can be 451 00:21:57.284 --> 00:21:59.788 poor and still live in the 452 00:21:59.828 --> 00:22:02.328 foolishness of this individual. 453 00:22:03.468 --> 00:22:06.208 But two things that we notice about this man. Number one, 454 00:22:07.008 --> 00:22:09.664 nowhere in here, in this parable that Jesus 455 00:22:09.696 --> 00:22:12.504 tells, does he show evidence of a relationship with 456 00:22:12.536 --> 00:22:15.144 God. He doesn't thank God for his excess of 457 00:22:15.176 --> 00:22:18.144 crops. He doesn't seek God's will for what 458 00:22:18.176 --> 00:22:21.120 he needs to do with the excess of crops. So he 459 00:22:21.144 --> 00:22:23.888 is wise in his own mind and he is 460 00:22:23.928 --> 00:22:26.704 determined to do what he is determined to 461 00:22:26.736 --> 00:22:29.690 do. So that's one, nothing that shows evidence of a 462 00:22:29.714 --> 00:22:32.490 relationship with God. The second thing is he does not 463 00:22:32.514 --> 00:22:35.316 show any thought concerning anyone else 464 00:22:35.372 --> 00:22:38.020 other than himself. There's 465 00:22:38.084 --> 00:22:40.764 nothing that we find within this passage of 466 00:22:40.796 --> 00:22:43.388 scripture where the thought 467 00:22:43.468 --> 00:22:46.292 goes through his mind of what I can 468 00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:49.188 do with this, to bless 469 00:22:49.348 --> 00:22:51.608 or help someone else. 470 00:22:52.548 --> 00:22:55.020 So what I want us to get is, it's not a 471 00:22:55.084 --> 00:22:57.848 sin to have excess. 472 00:22:58.748 --> 00:23:01.412 It's not a sin to have 473 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:03.876 plenty. It's not a 474 00:23:03.932 --> 00:23:06.308 sin to have done financially. 475 00:23:06.348 --> 00:23:08.756 Well, I don't want you to sit here and hear 476 00:23:08.812 --> 00:23:11.684 this and think that there's this attack, 477 00:23:11.724 --> 00:23:14.018 on individuals, whether it's an 478 00:23:14.058 --> 00:23:16.962 inheritance, whether it's earned, whether how, 479 00:23:17.010 --> 00:23:19.802 and you came to this, as long as it's not 480 00:23:19.850 --> 00:23:22.650 sinful means to obtain it. That is wrong with 481 00:23:22.674 --> 00:23:25.226 you. Having plenty, having excess or having 482 00:23:25.282 --> 00:23:28.266 wealth. Back to second, back. First Timothy six, 483 00:23:28.362 --> 00:23:31.138 the love of money. Right. This is what we're dealing 484 00:23:31.178 --> 00:23:33.842 with. However, in this man's excess of 485 00:23:33.890 --> 00:23:36.754 plenty, who does he consider he considers 486 00:23:36.826 --> 00:23:39.762 himself. And so coveting is 487 00:23:39.810 --> 00:23:42.690 not about the things. It's not about 488 00:23:42.714 --> 00:23:45.530 the grain, it's not about the goods. What Jesus 489 00:23:45.594 --> 00:23:48.358 is addressing here is his heart. 490 00:23:49.458 --> 00:23:52.194 His heart. He's going to get condemnation 491 00:23:52.386 --> 00:23:54.478 from God here in just a moment. 492 00:23:55.188 --> 00:23:57.884 And his condemnation does 493 00:23:57.916 --> 00:24:00.524 not come as a result of 494 00:24:00.596 --> 00:24:01.848 having plenty. 495 00:24:03.268 --> 00:24:05.808 His condemnation comes 496 00:24:06.668 --> 00:24:08.404 when he finds his 497 00:24:08.476 --> 00:24:11.348 satisfaction in the things. Look at this 498 00:24:11.428 --> 00:24:14.324 soul. You have ample goods laid up for 499 00:24:14.356 --> 00:24:17.356 many years. Relax, eat, drink, 500 00:24:17.452 --> 00:24:18.488 be merry. 501 00:24:20.648 --> 00:24:23.384 Caution is most of the 502 00:24:23.416 --> 00:24:26.256 times when people receive 503 00:24:26.432 --> 00:24:29.032 the excess, they 504 00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:31.828 believe that the excess 505 00:24:32.208 --> 00:24:34.628 is the blessing of God. 506 00:24:35.368 --> 00:24:37.948 And I'm not saying that excess isn't, 507 00:24:38.568 --> 00:24:40.148 but it's not the 508 00:24:41.368 --> 00:24:42.788 blessing of God, 509 00:24:44.128 --> 00:24:46.748 because what we see here is his greed, 510 00:24:47.438 --> 00:24:49.858 and we see his incompatibility 511 00:24:50.758 --> 00:24:53.750 with the will of God, and 512 00:24:53.774 --> 00:24:56.458 that's it. Where is your heart? 513 00:24:57.998 --> 00:25:00.582 We talked about that. Coveting can lead to greed, 514 00:25:00.710 --> 00:25:02.782 and greed can lead to 515 00:25:02.910 --> 00:25:05.766 idolatry. That's the warning, I 516 00:25:05.782 --> 00:25:08.758 think, for the wealthy. But let's say you're not 517 00:25:08.798 --> 00:25:11.702 wealthy. Let's look at how this is a heart issue, right? 518 00:25:11.790 --> 00:25:14.686 It can be a heart issue because coveting can lead 519 00:25:14.702 --> 00:25:16.578 to something else called bitterness. 520 00:25:17.598 --> 00:25:19.938 And then bitterness can lead to hatred. 521 00:25:21.158 --> 00:25:23.598 Coveting says, I 522 00:25:23.638 --> 00:25:26.446 desire, I lust for what I 523 00:25:26.462 --> 00:25:29.414 should have. And then 524 00:25:29.446 --> 00:25:31.838 when I look around and see that I don't, it leads to 525 00:25:31.878 --> 00:25:34.534 bitterness. And bitterness says, what I 526 00:25:34.566 --> 00:25:37.174 desire to have, I don't, but others 527 00:25:37.246 --> 00:25:40.138 do. And who are they? 528 00:25:41.188 --> 00:25:43.688 And then that bitterness turns to hatred. 529 00:25:44.428 --> 00:25:47.356 Since I don't have what 530 00:25:47.412 --> 00:25:50.236 I desire, what I lust for, 531 00:25:50.372 --> 00:25:53.100 what I feel I should have, I then hate 532 00:25:53.164 --> 00:25:55.988 those who do. And in my 533 00:25:56.028 --> 00:25:58.928 perception, I hate the God who gives it to them. 534 00:26:00.068 --> 00:26:01.928 And so we see this cycle, 535 00:26:02.748 --> 00:26:04.168 and Jesus is 536 00:26:04.668 --> 00:26:06.648 impressing on him. 537 00:26:07.424 --> 00:26:10.424 in this parable is 538 00:26:10.456 --> 00:26:12.976 it's not just about what you have 539 00:26:13.032 --> 00:26:15.880 today. It's not just 540 00:26:15.944 --> 00:26:18.348 about what you're doing in this moment. 541 00:26:18.768 --> 00:26:21.144 But are you thinking about your 542 00:26:21.176 --> 00:26:23.960 tomorrow? The man says that 543 00:26:23.984 --> 00:26:26.816 his soul, his 544 00:26:26.872 --> 00:26:29.748 soul is good to relax, 545 00:26:30.728 --> 00:26:33.128 eat, drink, 546 00:26:34.228 --> 00:26:35.368 be merry. 547 00:26:37.428 --> 00:26:40.208 Not bad, right? Not bad. 548 00:26:40.588 --> 00:26:42.968 This is a common phrase that would have been used 549 00:26:43.348 --> 00:26:46.324 during the time of Christ. But it's not the 550 00:26:46.356 --> 00:26:49.148 whole phrase. It's not the whole 551 00:26:49.188 --> 00:26:51.924 phrase. This man leaves out 552 00:26:51.996 --> 00:26:54.528 something that then Jesus addresses 553 00:26:55.228 --> 00:26:58.004 the common phrase. The full phrase that you would have seen or heard 554 00:26:58.076 --> 00:27:01.052 during the time of Christ is we. We eat 555 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:03.892 and we drink, for tomorrow 556 00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:06.956 we die. Now, remember, this is 557 00:27:06.972 --> 00:27:09.884 a story that Jesus is telling. This is not an actual 558 00:27:09.956 --> 00:27:12.700 event. So Jesus has intentionally left that part 559 00:27:12.724 --> 00:27:15.412 of the phrase off as he tells. 560 00:27:15.540 --> 00:27:18.420 And here's Jesus's point of what we're gonna see that he's going 561 00:27:18.444 --> 00:27:21.060 to address with him in this moment. 562 00:27:21.124 --> 00:27:23.980 Jesus point is this, is that the man is living for 563 00:27:24.004 --> 00:27:26.900 the lust and the desires and the coveting of the 564 00:27:26.964 --> 00:27:29.178 moment, and is put no thought, 565 00:27:29.918 --> 00:27:32.270 no thought into the matter of 566 00:27:32.294 --> 00:27:35.078 eternity. My barns 567 00:27:35.118 --> 00:27:37.694 are good. My account 568 00:27:37.886 --> 00:27:39.138 is full. 569 00:27:42.878 --> 00:27:45.658 But what happens when you die? Tomorrow 570 00:27:48.078 --> 00:27:49.858 you got your inheritance. 571 00:27:51.278 --> 00:27:53.058 But what happens 572 00:27:54.538 --> 00:27:57.234 when you die? I heard someone 573 00:27:57.306 --> 00:28:00.146 say one time that when we think about it 574 00:28:00.242 --> 00:28:03.218 so many times, those things we cling to and those things that we 575 00:28:03.258 --> 00:28:06.178 value and those things that we long for, 576 00:28:06.218 --> 00:28:09.138 to have and to possess and to hold on, that when we 577 00:28:09.178 --> 00:28:12.078 die, they become somebody's yard sale. 578 00:28:16.178 --> 00:28:18.518 But that's what we hold is the most important. 579 00:28:20.638 --> 00:28:23.486 Jesus says this verse 20 and 580 00:28:23.502 --> 00:28:26.350 21. But God said to him, 581 00:28:26.414 --> 00:28:27.058 fool, 582 00:28:29.038 --> 00:28:31.814 this night your soul is 583 00:28:31.846 --> 00:28:34.590 required of you in the 584 00:28:34.654 --> 00:28:37.098 things you have prepared. 585 00:28:37.478 --> 00:28:40.342 Whose will they be? So 586 00:28:40.390 --> 00:28:43.246 is the one who lays up treasure 587 00:28:43.382 --> 00:28:46.114 for himself and 588 00:28:46.146 --> 00:28:48.958 is not rich toward God. 589 00:28:52.498 --> 00:28:55.154 Jesus says in culmination of this 590 00:28:55.186 --> 00:28:55.878 parable, 591 00:28:58.018 --> 00:29:00.218 great, great. That you're 592 00:29:00.258 --> 00:29:02.794 overflowing. But guess what's going to 593 00:29:02.826 --> 00:29:05.298 happen tonight? You're going to 594 00:29:05.338 --> 00:29:08.238 die. You're going to die. 595 00:29:09.138 --> 00:29:11.678 And with every corner of your heart, 596 00:29:12.628 --> 00:29:15.076 you've been foolish and you've been 597 00:29:15.132 --> 00:29:17.860 selfish and you've been greedy. 598 00:29:18.004 --> 00:29:20.740 And it's not works based salvation that we're 599 00:29:20.764 --> 00:29:23.244 teaching. That's not what Jesus is teaching here 600 00:29:23.316 --> 00:29:26.308 either. But in that what 601 00:29:26.348 --> 00:29:29.052 you haven't been is someone 602 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:32.100 who has surrendered and responded 603 00:29:32.204 --> 00:29:33.208 to the Lord 604 00:29:35.388 --> 00:29:37.524 in all of this. Come. 605 00:29:38.558 --> 00:29:41.054 this man in the parable thought it was all for 606 00:29:41.086 --> 00:29:43.974 him. He said, my crops. He said, my 607 00:29:44.006 --> 00:29:46.678 barn. He said, my goods. He said, my 608 00:29:46.718 --> 00:29:49.406 soul. But Jesus 609 00:29:49.462 --> 00:29:51.898 says that this 610 00:29:52.998 --> 00:29:55.874 is what's going to be required of, 611 00:29:55.824 --> 00:29:56.468 you. 612 00:29:59.568 --> 00:30:01.468 The man's problem was not. 613 00:30:02.258 --> 00:30:04.898 Was not that he 614 00:30:05.058 --> 00:30:07.642 had treasures and 615 00:30:07.690 --> 00:30:08.478 riches. 616 00:30:12.298 --> 00:30:15.122 So many men and 617 00:30:15.170 --> 00:30:17.698 women fund and 618 00:30:17.738 --> 00:30:20.410 support through their gifts and their 619 00:30:20.474 --> 00:30:23.458 talents and their offerings, the work 620 00:30:23.578 --> 00:30:25.598 and ministry of God. 621 00:30:26.458 --> 00:30:29.280 Some do it more and number 622 00:30:29.344 --> 00:30:31.188 wise than others 623 00:30:32.008 --> 00:30:34.632 because of where they're at and their 624 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:37.544 blessing that's been given and entrusted to 625 00:30:37.576 --> 00:30:40.428 them. It's not about 626 00:30:40.888 --> 00:30:43.728 the number. It's about 627 00:30:43.888 --> 00:30:46.496 the heart. Whether it's the 628 00:30:46.552 --> 00:30:47.268 widow 629 00:30:49.888 --> 00:30:51.988 or whether it's the wealthy. 630 00:30:53.288 --> 00:30:56.168 It's the rich heart toward God. 631 00:30:57.348 --> 00:31:00.252 And so my challenge for us, my 632 00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:02.568 question for you this morning is this. 633 00:31:04.188 --> 00:31:06.208 Are you being rich toward God? 634 00:31:07.308 --> 00:31:09.956 Let me just tell you that God is 635 00:31:10.012 --> 00:31:12.328 rich to you 636 00:31:14.548 --> 00:31:16.768 in what we can offer. God 637 00:31:19.188 --> 00:31:21.610 would not fill up a 638 00:31:21.634 --> 00:31:24.618 .001% 639 00:31:24.698 --> 00:31:27.618 of this cup compared to what he's 640 00:31:27.738 --> 00:31:30.682 given for us. I heard somebody say, 641 00:31:30.730 --> 00:31:33.650 the gift that we can give God is the slow drip that 642 00:31:33.674 --> 00:31:36.402 comes out of our shower. And what God 643 00:31:36.450 --> 00:31:38.786 gives us is the overpouring of Niagara 644 00:31:38.802 --> 00:31:39.558 Falls. 645 00:31:42.178 --> 00:31:44.078 Are you being enriched toward God? 646 00:31:44.898 --> 00:31:46.896 What does that mean? What does that look like? 647 00:31:47.042 --> 00:31:50.036 Close with these three things challenge us all. 648 00:31:50.172 --> 00:31:52.768 Number one, are you sacrificial in your offering? 649 00:31:53.508 --> 00:31:55.888 Are you sacrificial in your offering 650 00:31:56.188 --> 00:31:58.620 of taking what the Lord has given 651 00:31:58.684 --> 00:32:01.668 you and in turn giving back 652 00:32:01.708 --> 00:32:04.008 to him? Number two, 653 00:32:04.588 --> 00:32:07.148 are you living generously to 654 00:32:07.188 --> 00:32:09.708 others? It was common during the time of 655 00:32:09.748 --> 00:32:12.652 Christ when some had 656 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:15.118 plenty. Just like today, 657 00:32:15.938 --> 00:32:18.118 there would be others that have few. 658 00:32:19.058 --> 00:32:21.770 And the expectation in 659 00:32:21.794 --> 00:32:24.154 the people and in the culture, in the 660 00:32:24.186 --> 00:32:27.002 civilization that should have been largely 661 00:32:27.050 --> 00:32:28.558 based in God's word 662 00:32:29.698 --> 00:32:32.458 is as I have, what is 663 00:32:32.498 --> 00:32:34.358 my neighbor lacking? 664 00:32:35.898 --> 00:32:38.678 And when we take the teachings of Jesus, 665 00:32:39.718 --> 00:32:42.590 it's what do I have? And not just the neighbor that 666 00:32:42.614 --> 00:32:45.518 I like. It's what 667 00:32:45.558 --> 00:32:48.550 do I have? And even the neighbor that 668 00:32:48.574 --> 00:32:51.566 I don't like, that doesn't like 669 00:32:51.622 --> 00:32:53.950 me. And I'm being 670 00:32:54.094 --> 00:32:57.022 generous. And 671 00:32:57.030 --> 00:32:59.910 I want to say this. I don't think we think about this when 672 00:32:59.934 --> 00:33:02.334 we talk about the richness of 673 00:33:02.366 --> 00:33:04.926 God and being rich toward 674 00:33:04.982 --> 00:33:07.280 him. It does mean 675 00:33:07.344 --> 00:33:10.194 sacrificial in, offering. It does mean giving to 676 00:33:10.226 --> 00:33:12.388 others. but it also means 677 00:33:12.768 --> 00:33:14.668 trusting Christ for everything. 678 00:33:15.608 --> 00:33:16.628 For it all. 679 00:33:16.968 --> 00:33:19.960 I want to close with this. I've 680 00:33:19.984 --> 00:33:22.368 been told and taught and 681 00:33:22.448 --> 00:33:25.440 heard and try to live my life 682 00:33:25.544 --> 00:33:28.440 in a phrase, one I want to challenge you with, 683 00:33:28.624 --> 00:33:30.308 that is open handed. 684 00:33:31.748 --> 00:33:34.436 Open handed. And to live 685 00:33:34.492 --> 00:33:36.808 open handedly to God. 686 00:33:37.748 --> 00:33:40.728 Because do you know what it means to live open handedly? 687 00:33:41.228 --> 00:33:43.884 It means, Lord, what I have 688 00:33:44.036 --> 00:33:46.804 is here. And I 689 00:33:46.836 --> 00:33:49.564 oh, it's not this. It's 690 00:33:49.636 --> 00:33:52.088 definitely not this. It's this. 691 00:33:52.708 --> 00:33:54.808 And so, Lord, what I have, 692 00:33:55.668 --> 00:33:58.268 what is mine, it's not mine, Lord, it's 693 00:33:58.308 --> 00:34:01.300 yours. Do with it. Use it. Whether it's. It's 694 00:34:01.324 --> 00:34:04.210 the money and my account, whether it's the car that I drive, where it's 695 00:34:04.234 --> 00:34:07.074 the home that I live in, whether it's the education that you give 696 00:34:07.106 --> 00:34:09.730 me, whether it's the shirt off my back, whether there's the food on my 697 00:34:09.754 --> 00:34:12.554 plate or whatever I have, Lord, I want to live open 698 00:34:12.626 --> 00:34:15.530 handed to you, Lord. I want to live open handed to others. 699 00:34:15.634 --> 00:34:18.490 But then there's, there's another aspect of living 700 00:34:18.554 --> 00:34:21.138 open handedly with God. And you know what that is? 701 00:34:21.258 --> 00:34:24.118 It's God. I'm now I'm ready to receive, 702 00:34:24.498 --> 00:34:27.178 Lord. Whatever you have for me. Whatever you think I 703 00:34:27.218 --> 00:34:30.082 need, Lord, whatever you want to put on my plate, Lord, whatever 704 00:34:30.130 --> 00:34:32.994 you desire for me, Lord, I'm not getting to choose. 705 00:34:33.066 --> 00:34:35.978 I'm not the little snot nosed kid that I was 706 00:34:36.058 --> 00:34:39.010 running around the store saying, mommy, mommy, mommy, I need, I need, I need, I want, 707 00:34:39.034 --> 00:34:41.962 I want. I want. God, I'm the faithful son or daughter 708 00:34:42.010 --> 00:34:44.706 of the God that holds my hands out and says, whatever 709 00:34:44.762 --> 00:34:47.674 you give me, Lord, I'm going to take it, and I'm going to use it for 710 00:34:47.706 --> 00:34:50.666 your name and for your kingdom and for your renown, Lord. And 711 00:34:50.682 --> 00:34:53.474 you're going to work in me and use me. And so, Lord, to live open 712 00:34:53.546 --> 00:34:56.458 handedly with you is such a huge blessing, because 713 00:34:56.498 --> 00:34:59.192 God, what we can give and what we can see, you 714 00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:01.808 use. But, Lord, in that, as we live open 715 00:35:01.888 --> 00:35:04.456 handedly, God, we receive what you give 716 00:35:04.512 --> 00:35:05.108 us, 717 00:35:09.678 --> 00:35:11.298 and what we receive. 718 00:35:12.558 --> 00:35:13.978 What we receive. 719 00:35:15.078 --> 00:35:17.818 Far out 720 00:35:19.558 --> 00:35:22.494 is what we get. What 721 00:35:22.526 --> 00:35:24.798 we get. What we 722 00:35:24.838 --> 00:35:27.614 receive is so much 723 00:35:27.686 --> 00:35:30.538 greater than what we give. 724 00:35:34.378 --> 00:35:37.250 Live. M not with 725 00:35:37.274 --> 00:35:38.838 things stored up in barns, 726 00:35:40.018 --> 00:35:41.758 say, and look at what's mine. 727 00:35:42.818 --> 00:35:45.610 Live with everything before the 728 00:35:45.634 --> 00:35:48.328 Lord God. this is yours. 729 00:35:48.948 --> 00:35:51.728 What do you have for me? Let's pray. 730 00:35:52.948 --> 00:35:55.128 God, I thank you so much for your word. 731 00:35:56.328 --> 00:35:59.224 Lord, I thank you for your Jesus, your 732 00:35:59.256 --> 00:36:02.192 bluntness in this moment. Lord, I thank you 733 00:36:02.200 --> 00:36:05.096 for your bluntness with me. Lord, I 734 00:36:05.112 --> 00:36:07.464 thank you for your bluntness with our 735 00:36:07.496 --> 00:36:10.352 church. Lord, may we 736 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:13.248 be men and women of all that we have that would 737 00:36:13.288 --> 00:36:15.828 live open handedly to you, 738 00:36:17.488 --> 00:36:20.136 saying, God, take. Take 739 00:36:20.192 --> 00:36:23.192 all. Take my time, take my talent, 740 00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:24.508 take my tithe, 741 00:36:25.968 --> 00:36:28.654 take the things that you've entrusted me with, 742 00:36:28.766 --> 00:36:31.694 that you've given me, Lord, and use 743 00:36:31.726 --> 00:36:34.718 it for your kingdom and give me a heart 744 00:36:34.798 --> 00:36:37.670 through it. A celebration of 745 00:36:37.734 --> 00:36:40.694 joy as the king of kings and the Lord 746 00:36:40.726 --> 00:36:43.590 of lords is working and moving. God. And thank 747 00:36:43.614 --> 00:36:45.898 you so much for inviting us. 748 00:36:46.878 --> 00:36:48.258 Inviting us 749 00:36:49.958 --> 00:36:52.918 and to be a part God. May we 750 00:36:52.958 --> 00:36:55.458 also live open handed, 751 00:36:56.038 --> 00:36:57.338 ready to receive. 752 00:36:58.758 --> 00:37:01.048 Ready to receive what you have for us, 753 00:37:01.708 --> 00:37:04.088 God. And sometimes those things come 754 00:37:04.828 --> 00:37:07.248 like a pretty package on Christmas morning 755 00:37:08.188 --> 00:37:10.208 that we're ready to tear into 756 00:37:10.988 --> 00:37:13.924 that when we see it, Lord, we. We shout with 757 00:37:13.956 --> 00:37:16.548 great joy. But 758 00:37:16.588 --> 00:37:19.408 sometimes, Lord, when you give us, 759 00:37:20.668 --> 00:37:23.528 you give us things to work us, 760 00:37:25.148 --> 00:37:27.088 to challenge us, 761 00:37:27.988 --> 00:37:29.608 to sharpen us, 762 00:37:32.458 --> 00:37:34.758 Lord, we're not excited to get them, 763 00:37:35.778 --> 00:37:38.394 but, Lord, let us look at them. That 764 00:37:38.466 --> 00:37:41.370 everything, everything that comes from you, Lord, 765 00:37:41.394 --> 00:37:44.358 it is good, it is useful, 766 00:37:44.698 --> 00:37:46.238 and it is needed 767 00:37:49.338 --> 00:37:50.878 to make us into 768 00:37:53.178 --> 00:37:55.770 the sons and daughters of God that you've called us to 769 00:37:55.794 --> 00:37:56.358 be. 770 00:37:58.778 --> 00:38:00.718 And I thank you. The ultimate gift, 771 00:38:02.018 --> 00:38:04.038 the gift of where this begins 772 00:38:05.048 --> 00:38:06.628 is found in salvation, 773 00:38:07.968 --> 00:38:10.840 and not salvation that comes and says, God, look how 774 00:38:10.864 --> 00:38:13.064 good I am. This is what I 775 00:38:13.096 --> 00:38:15.880 deserve. But salvation 776 00:38:15.944 --> 00:38:18.792 that comes when we say, look how 777 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:21.512 good Jesus is. Look how perfect he 778 00:38:21.560 --> 00:38:24.348 is. And I am not. 779 00:38:25.448 --> 00:38:28.280 But I find forgiveness for 780 00:38:28.304 --> 00:38:30.974 my soul in him, and him 781 00:38:31.006 --> 00:38:33.894 alone. God, as we prepare to 782 00:38:33.926 --> 00:38:35.648 take the Lord's supper together, together, 783 00:38:36.628 --> 00:38:39.368 or would you bring each of us to the point of 784 00:38:40.188 --> 00:38:42.808 conviction and repentance where we need to be? 785 00:38:43.828 --> 00:38:46.732 We are ready to acknowledge the ultimate gift that Christ 786 00:38:46.780 --> 00:38:49.764 gave for us, his life on the cross. 787 00:38:49.956 --> 00:38:52.768 So in Jesus. And we pray. Amen. 788 00:38:56.548 --> 00:38:59.292 Thanks again for listening, and be sure to check back 789 00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:02.158 next week for another episode. In the meantime, 790 00:39:02.278 --> 00:39:05.072 you can visit us at, willowridgechurch.org or 791 00:39:05.120 --> 00:39:07.496 by searching for Willowridge Church on Facebook, 792 00:39:07.632 --> 00:39:08.648 Instagram and Twitter.