1 Timothy 5:8-18 • Money

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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)

THAT IS MY GRANDFATHER'S
MILK BUCKET, AND YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHAT THAT'S ABOUT IN A FEW
MINUTES.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU LOOK
IN YOUR BIBLES THIS MORNING AT 1
TIMOTHY, 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 5 AND
VERSE 8-18.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT
GRACE IN THIS CHURCH, AND WE'RE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT MONEY.
THOSE ARE NOT CONTRARY SUBJECTS
WHEN THEY ARE RIGHTLY HELD
WITHIN GOD'S WORD.
BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF A HARD
PASSAGE, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT
YOU JUST SIT AND KIND OF LET
THESE WORDS SINK INTO YOU AS YOU
CONSIDER WHAT GOD IS SAYING.
WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP THE
APOSTLE PAUL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
CHURCH'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE
FOR THOSE IN NEED, PARTICULARLY
A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NEED.
AND THEN HE'LL SAY WHERE DO
THOSE PRINCIPLES EXTEND IN THE
LIFE OF THE CHURCH.
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CONVERSATION, VERSE 8 OF 1
TIMOTHY 5, "BUT IF ANYONE DOES
NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS RELATIVES,
AND ESPECIALLY FOR MEMBERS OF
HIS HOUSEHOLD, HE HAS DENIED THE
FAITH AND IS WORSE THAN AN
UNBELIEVER.
LET A WIDOW BE ENROLLED IF SHE
IS NOT LESS THAN SIXTY YEARS OF
AGE, HAVING BEEN THE WIFE OF ONE
HUSBAND, AND HAVING A REPUTATION
FOR GOOD WORKS: IF SHE HAS
BROUGHT UP CHILDREN, HAS SHOWN
HOSPITALITY, HAS WASHED THE FEET
OF THE SAINTS, HAS CARED FOR THE
AFFLICTED, HAS DEVOTED HERSELF
TO EVERY GOOD WORK.
BUT REFUSE TO ENROLL YOUNGER
WIDOWS, FOR WHEN THEIR PASSIONS
DRAW THEM AWAY FROM CHRIST, THEY
DESIRE TO MARRY AND SO INCUR
CONDEMNATION FOR HAVING
ABANDONED THEIR FORMER FAITH.
BESIDES THAT, THEY LEARN TO BE
IDLERS, GOING ABOUT FROM HOUSE
TO HOUSE, AND NOT ONLY IDLERS,
BUT ALSO GOSSIPS AND BUSYBODIES,
SAYING WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT.
SO I WOULD HAVE YOUNGER WIDOWS
MARRY, BEAR CHILDREN, MANAGE
THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, AND GIVE THE
ADVERSARY NO OCCASION FOR
SLANDER.
FOR SOME HAVE ALREADY STRAYED
AFTER SATAN.
IF ANY BELIEVING WOMAN HAS
RELATIVES WHO ARE WIDOWS, LET
HER CARE FOR THEM.
LET THE CHURCH NOT BE BURDENED,
SO THAT IT MAY CARE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE TRULY WIDOWS.
LET THE ELDERS WHO RULE WELL BE
CONSIDERED WORTHY OF DOUBLE
HONOR, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
LABOR IN PREACHING AND TEACHING.
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, 'YOU
SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHEN IT
TREADS OUT THE GRAIN,' AND, 'THE
LABORER DESERVES HIS WAGES.'"
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
>>> FATHER, IN THIS PORTION OF
YOUR WORD, YOU DEAL WITH THE
NEEDS OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND
THE NEEDS OF YOUR FAMILY
WORLDWIDE.
AND YOU TALK IN VERY PLAIN TERMS
THROUGH THE APOSTLE.
HELP US TO HEAR, THAT WE MIGHT
UNDERSTAND THE GRACE THAT YOU
INTEND TO SHARE THROUGH US.
WE ASK YOU TO GIVE US INSIGHT
HOW WE MIGHT BE STEWARDS OF THE
MERCIES OF GOD IN CHRIST'S NAME.
WE PRAY IN HIS NAME.
AMEN.
>>> SOME WISE WORDS FROM AN
UNLIKELY SOURCE, THE DIRTY
GUV'NAHS, AN ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY
BAND, SAYING THINGS THAT IT MAY
TAKE SOME OF US A LOT OF LIFE TO
DISCOVER.
"WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I ONLY
DREAMED OF EXPENSIVE THINGS AND
ALL THE PLACES THAT I'D GO.
I ONLY WANTED THEN TO SHOW MY
SHIP WAS UNDER CONTROL.
OH YEAH.
MY SHIP WAS UNDER CONTROL.
NOW I JUST WANT TO BE FREE FROM
ALL THE THINGS I THINK I NEED."
AT ITS HEART IS JUST A
RECOGNITION THAT THE THINGS WE
THINK WE NEED AND ALL THE
EXPENSIVE THINGS FOR WHICH WE
YEARN ARE SOMETIMES BONDAGE TO
OUR HEARTS.
AND IT'S THAT REASON THAT THE
LORD JESUS SPEAKS ON THE SUBJECT
OF MONEY SO FREQUENTLY.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET HOW OFTEN
JESUS TALKED ABOUT MONEY.
HE ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT MONEY
MORE THAN HE TALKS ABOUT HELL.
HE TALKS ABOUT MONEY MORE THAN
HE TALKS ABOUT HEAVEN.
ONE QUARTER OF ALL THE PARABLES
ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF MONEY.
WHY DOES JESUS TALK SO MUCH
ABOUT MONEY?
IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE NEEDS IT.
IT'S BECAUSE JESUS KNOWS WHERE
YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL
YOUR HEART BE ALSO.
AND IT'S CONCERN FOR OUR HEARTS
BEING FREE, BEING UNITED TO HIM
AND THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL THAT
CALLS UPON OUR SAVIOR TO SPEAK
NOT ONLY SO PLAINLY ABOUT MONEY
BUT EVEN TO HAVE HIS APOSTLES DO
THE SAME.
IN THE SAME BOOK THAT I WAS JUST
READING TO YOU, THE APOSTLE PAUL
QUOTES THOSE FAMOUS LINES THAT
YOU WILL KNOW:  "THE LOVE OF
MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL KINDS
OF EVIL."
BUT BEFORE GETTING TO THE ALL
KINDS OF EVIL ROOTS, THE
APOSTLE'S ALREADY COVERED IN
THIS BOOK THE THINGS THAT MONEY
IS GOOD FOR.
IT CAN'T BE ALL BAD, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, EVEN THE LORD HIMSELF
SAYS, "A LABORER IS WORTHY OF
HIS WAGES."
IF THE LORD SAYS THE WAGES ARE
SOMETHING THAT WORTHILY COMES TO
HIS PEOPLE, THEN IT CAN'T BE ALL
BAD.
BUT WHAT GOOD ACTUALLY IS MONEY?
IN THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE,
THERE ARE THREE THINGS
IDENTIFIED, ALMOST AS CASE
STUDIES AS WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE
OF HOW THE CHURCH CARES FOR
WIDOWS IN NEED.
WE ARE LEARNING THAT THE CHURCH
IS SUPPOSED TO BE CONCERNED WITH
ITS MONEY FOR ISSUES OF MERCY,
FOR ISSUES OF FAMILY, AND FOR
MINISTRY.
NOW, WIDOWS ARE WHAT ARE
ADDRESSED IN THIS PARTICULAR
PASSAGE, BUT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK
AT OTHER PASSAGES, YOU WILL FIND
THAT THE APOSTLES AND JESUS TALK
TO US ABOUT MONEY IN TERMS OF
THE POOR, THE IMPRISONED,
REFUGEES, SICK, ORPHANS.
MANY TIMES, THE LORD SAYS, "FOR
THE SAKE OF MERCY, THE CHURCH
AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY
SHOULD BE USING THEIR MONEY FOR
MERCY."
NOW, WHY IS MERCY IMPORTANT?
BECAUSE IT MESSAGES THE GOSPEL.
IF YOU JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT
MERCY IS, IF IT'S TRULY MERCY:
IT'S ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES,
PROVIDING FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT
PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES.
THAT'S A PHYSICAL MESSAGE, BUT
IT'S REFLECTING A SPIRITUAL
REALITY.
BECAUSE GRACE, AT ITS VERY
HEART, WHAT THE GOSPEL IS DOING
IS SAYING TO GOD'S PEOPLE
SPIRITUALLY, "WHEN YOU CANNOT
PROVIDE FOR YOUR OWN HOLINESS,
FOR YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHEN
YOU CANNOT GET RID OF YOUR OWN
SIN, GOD IN HIS MERCIFUL
GENEROSITY HAS PROVIDED FOR
YOU."
AS GOD HAS SPIRITUALLY PROVIDED
FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT PROVIDE FOR
THEMSELVES, WE ARE GIVING OBJECT
LESSONS OF THAT IN THE CHURCH'S
MINISTRIES OF MERCY.
WE ARE SHOWING PHYSICALLY WHAT
GOD INTENDS SPIRITUALLY TO OCCUR
BY HIS GRACE.
AND THE PROCESS FOR THAT IN
VERSE 9 IN THIS PASSAGE IS JUST
SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT WIDOWS,
A PROCESS WE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE
AS MUCH ANYMORE, BUT THE VERSE
SAYS, "LET A WIDOW BE ENROLLED
IF SHE IS NOT LESS THAN SIXTY
YEARS OF AGE, HAVING BEEN THE
WIFE OF ONE HUSBAND."
IF THERE IS A WIDOW WHO DOES NOT
HAVE A HUSBAND WHO'S ABLE TO
PROVIDE FOR HER AT THIS POINT OR
WHOSE HUSBAND IS DEAD AND HIS
ESTATE DOES NOT PROVIDE, THE
CHURCH IS TO IDENTIFY BY
ENROLLMENT, BY A LIST OF SOME
SORT, THOSE WHO WERE IN NEED.
AND THAT PROCESS IS EXPANDED, AS
I SAID, ACROSS MANY PLAINS AS
THE MINISTRY OF MERCY IS PUT
BEFORE THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT THE
OLD TESTAMENT AND INCLUDING IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
WE FIND MEANS OF EXPRESSING THE
GOSPEL, NOT JUST BECAUSE MERCY
MESSAGES THE GOSPEL:  IT'S
ACTUALLY MAINTAINING THE TRUTHS
OF THE GOSPEL.
WHY WOULD YOU HELP SOMEONE WHO
IS OVER SIXTY YEARS OF AGE IN
THIS CULTURE THAT THE APOSTLE IS
DESCRIBING?
BECAUSE HE'S DESCRIBING SOMEONE
NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY PROVIDE
OR MARRIAGEABLE AT THIS POINT,
NOT ABLE BY WORK NOR ABLE BY
MARRIAGE, TO BE PROVIDED FOR FOR
THEMSELVES.
THAT MEANS THAT THE CHURCH IS
PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE SIMPLY FOR
THE GOSPEL'S SAKE TO MESSAGE THE
DIGNITY OF INDIVIDUALS, NOT
BECAUSE THEY CAN PROVIDE, NOT
BECAUSE THEY CAN GIVE BACK TO
THE CHURCH, NOT BECAUSE IT'S AN
ADVANTAGE TO ANYONE TO HELP
THEM:  SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS
SOMEONE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
WHO HAS DIGNITY BEFORE GOD.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE IN
TERMS OF OUR WORK.
THE REASON WE KNOW THAT OUR WORK
HONORS GOD IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO
WERE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD DO
IT.
AND BECAUSE GOD DIGNIFIES THEM,
THEIR WORK HAS DIGNITY.
THEIR WORK IS ACTUALLY WORSHIP
AS PEOPLE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD DO IT.
SO WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, WE ARE
AFFIRMING THEIR DIGNITY BEFORE
GOD, BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS
DESIRING TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
DESPITE THEIR ABILITY TO GIVE
BACK.
WHEN I WAS A PASTOR IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS, I CAN REMEMBER A TIME
IN THE CHURCH WHEN TWO WOMEN
BEGAN TO ATTEND, DID NOT HAVE
RELATIONS IN THE CHURCH; THEY
DID NOT HAVE MUCH MONEY, MANY OF
THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD.
AND ONE GOT TO A VERY DEPRESSED
STATE AND MADE AN ATTEMPT ON HER
OWN LIFE.
THAT GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE
CHURCH; IT GOT THE ATTENTION OF
THE ELDERS.
AND IN ONE OF THE VERY HONEST
DISCUSSIONS THAT THE ELDERS HAD,
THE QUESTION CAME UP, "WHY WERE
WE SO UNAWARE OF THESE WOMEN AND
THEIR PLOT WHILE THEY'VE BEEN
ATTENDING OUR CHURCH; THEY'RE IN
OUR CHURCH?"
AND ONE VERY WISE AND
COMPASSIONATE ELDER WHO, BY THE
WAY, HAD BEEN AN ELDER IN THIS
CHURCH BEFORE BEING A MEMBER IN
THAT CHURCH, HE JUST SAID IT
VERY HONESTLY.
HE SAID, "THE REASON WE DID NOT
KNOW ABOUT THEM IS BECAUSE IT
WAS NOT TO THE ADVANTAGE OF ANY
OF US TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEM."
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
AND THEREFORE THE CHURCH IS
SHOWING THE DIGNITY TO PERSONS
TO WHOM IT EXTENDS ITS MERCY,
NOT BECAUSE IT'S AN ADVANTAGE TO
US BUT BECAUSE WE ARE
DEMONSTRATING THE GOSPEL IN THE
DIGNITY THAT GOD INTENDS AS WE
TAKE CARE OF OTHERS MADE IN HIS
IMAGE.
AS WE ARE MAINTAINING THE
GOSPEL, WE ARE TO HELP THOSE WHO
CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES.
BUT MAINTAINING DINIT--, DIGNITY
TAKES A CERTAIN TURN IN THIS
PASSAGE AS THE APOSTLE ALSO
CAUTIONS ABOUT NOT HELPING THOSE
WHO CAN HELP THEMSELVES.
THERE WAS AN AGE LIMIT IN THAT
SOCIETY ON THE WIDOWS WHO WOULD
BE HELPED.
AND THE REASON THE APOSTLE
EXPLAINS IN WORDS THAT ARE KIND
OF HARD FOR US TO HEAR, BECAUSE
HE SAYS, "IF THERE IS SOMEONE
WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES,
THEY SHOULD DO IT," BECAUSE HE
IS EXPRESSING THE CHURCH WAS
APPARENTLY HELPING WIDOWS WHO
HAD OTHER MEANS OR COULD TAKE
CARE OF THEMSELVES, AND THE
CONSEQUENCE WAS THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES
ANYMORE.
AND SO HE BEGINS TO DESCRIBE:
THEY BEGAN TO SPEND TIME IN
OTHER PEOPLES' HOMES AND IN
OTHER PEOPLES' BUSINESS.
SO THEY BECOME BUSYBODIES AND
SLANDERERS.
THEIR RELATIONAL NEEDS BEING
TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT DEPENDENCE
UPON GOD, JUST IN DEPENDENCE
UPON THE CHURCH AND ITS
GENEROSITY.
AND THE CONSEQUENCE IS, THE
APOSTLE SAYS, THEY BECOME SO
LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE THINGS
OF GOD THAT THEIR PASSIONS,
THEIR SEXUAL DESIRES, ACTUALLY
LEAD THEM INTO RELATIONSHIPS
WITH MEN WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS
AND THEREFORE THEY END UP
ABANDONING THE FAITH BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT GOD
ANYMORE.
IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING SET
OF DOMINOES.
THE APOSTLE IS SAYING, "CHURCH,
MAKE GOOD USE OF YOUR MONEY.
YES, HELP THOSE WHO HAVE NEED.
BUT DON'T HELP THOSE WHO
SHOULDN'T BE HELPED, WHOSE HELP
WILL ACTUALLY CREATE A
DEPENDENCE THAT WILL MAKE THEM
FORGET THEIR GOD."
NOW, WE WRESTLE WITH ALL THOSE
ISSUES IN THE CHURCH.
SOME OF YOU KNOW THE BOOK BY
BIAN--, BRIAN FIKKERT AND STEVEN
CORBETT CALLED "WHEN HELPING
HURTS," WHERE THE CHURCH OUT OF
GENEROSITY WANTING TO EXPRESS
MINISTRY SOMETIMES IS UNWISE AND
IS NOT CONSIDERING WHERE ARE WE
ACTUALLY CREATING DEPENDENCE
RATHER THAN CREATING
INDEPENDENCE, HELPING PEOPLE TO
FIND THEIR DIGNITY IN THEIR
WORK.
AND THAT CAN BE PARTICULARLY
HARD IN A SOCIETY WHERE THERE
MAY BE INSTITUTIONAL POVERTY,
LONG-TERM RACISM, INJUSTICE THAT
MAKES PEOPLE UNWILLING OR UNABLE
TO FIND WORK, AND WE WONDER:
WHAT IS OUR ROLE HERE?
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE MAY THINK
IS OUR ROLE, WHAT THE APOSTLE IS
SAYING, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT VERSE
16 IN PARTICULAR, "IF ANY
BELIEVING WOMAN HAS RELATIVES
WHO ARE WIDOWS, LET HER CARE FOR
THEM.
LET THE CHURCH NOT BE BURDENED,
SO THAT IT MAY CARE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE TRULY WIDOWS."
EVEN IF THE DECISIONS ARE
DIFFICULT, THE APOSTLE IS
SAYING, "THE CHURCH STILL HAS A
DUTY.
AND THE DUTY IS STILL TO FIND
PLACES THAT IT CAN SHOW MERCY,
BECAUSE IT'S TRYING TO MESSAGE
THE GOSPEL AND MAINTAIN THE
GOSPEL."
SOMETIMES, HOW DO I SAY?
OUR OWN HARDNESS OF HEART AND
LACK OF GENEROSITY IN THE CHURCH
SAYS, "BECAUSE WE FEAR CREATING
DEPENDENCE, WE CHECK OFF OF
HAVING RESPONSIBILITY."
AND THE LORD IS SAYING, "THIS IS
HARD WORK."
I SO ADMIRE THE DEACONS OF THIS
CHURCH AND THOSE WHO ARE HELPING
THE DIACONATE MINISTRIES AS THEY
ARE TRYING TO MUCH TO WEIGH OUT:
HOW DO WE TAKE THE MERCY THAT WE
INTEND TO EXTEND AND MAKE IT
ACTUALLY HELPFUL TO PEOPLE?
AND SOMETIMES BEAR THE BRUNT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, "WE
SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT MERCY.
THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB."
IT'D BE A STRANGE CHURCH THAT IS
NOT CONCERNED TO MESSAGE THE
GOSPEL OR TO MAINTAIN ITS
MESSAGE IN SOCIETY BY SIMPLY
GIVING UP ON MERCY MESSAGES.
THAT MINISTRY WE ARE CALLED TO,
BECAUSE AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT'S
NOT JUST SHOWING THE GOSPEL TO
OUTSIDE, THOSE OUTSIDE THOSE
CHURCH OR THOSE IN NEEDS IN THE
CHURCH.
THE RIGHT USE OF MONEY IS
ACTUALLY SHOWING THE GOSPEL TO
OUR OWN FAMILIES.
THAT IS WHY, ACTUALLY, IN VERSE
8 THE APOSTLE SAYS, "IF ANYONE
DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS
RELATIVES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR
MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD, HE HAS
DENIED THE FAITH AND IS WORSE
THAN AN UNBELIEVER."
IT'S NOT THAT OUR MERCY IS
MERITING SALVATION.
IT IS BECAUSE THIS ABILITY TO
CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE, THIS
WILLINGNESS TO CARE FOR OTHER
PEOPLE, IS SHOWING THE HAND OF
GOD AND THE HEART OF GOD TO
PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU WON'T DO THAT, IF YOU
WON'T SHOW THE HEART AND THE
HAND OF GOD TO PEOPLE, YOUR OWN
FAMILY DOESN'T BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL.
THE FAMILY ITSELF IS DAMAGED.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO FIND OUT
HOW, KIND OF, WHY IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF SHARING THE
GOSPEL, RECOGNIZE WHO IS BEING
TOLD HERE NOT TO BE WORSE THAN
AN UNBELIEVER BECAUSE THEY ARE
CARING FOR THEIR FAMILY.
WE ALMOST ALWAYS TAKE THAT VERSE
8 AND APPLY IT TO HEADS OF
HOUSEHOLDS.
BUT IF YOU'LL BACK UP IN THE
PASSAGE JUST A LITTLE BIT TO
VERSE 4 OF CHAPTER 5 OF 1
TIMOTHY, YOU'LL READ THESE
WORDS, BACK IN THIS CARE FOR
WIDOWS DISCUSSION:  "BUT IF A
WIDOW HAS CHILDREN OR
GRANDCHILDREN, LET THEM FIRST
LEARN TO SHOW GODLINESS TO THEIR
OWN HOUSEHOLD AND TO MAKE SOME
RETURN TO THEIR PARENTS, FOR
THIS IS PLEASING IN THE SIGHT OF
GOD."
WHO'S ACTUALLY BEING ADDRESSED
IN TERMS OF NOT CARING FOR THEIR
OWN HOUSEHOLD?
HERE IT'S ACTUALLY CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
AND THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE
PEOPLE BEING CONCERNED.
I'LL TAKE YOU TO VERSE 16 AGAIN.
"IF ANY BELIEVING WOMAN HAS
RELATIVES WHO ARE WIDOWS," NOW
ASSUMING HERE THAT THE BELIEVING
WOMAN ARE THOSE ACTUALLY THE
WIDOWS WITH MEANS THAT HAVE BEEN
DESCRIBED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER,
"IF ANY BELIEVING WOMAN HAS
RELATIVES WHO ARE WIDOWS, LET
HER CARE FOR THEM."
WOW.
CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, WOMEN
OF MEANS, HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS.
THIS IS A WIDE RESPONSIBILITY TO
FAMILIES, BECAUSE IT'S SO
POWERFUL IN THE FAMILY TO SEE
GOD'S PEOPLE BEING CONCERNED FOR
THEIR OWN MEMBERS WITH THE FUNDS
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN.
IT'S AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
SOMETIMES FORGET, BECAUSE WE'RE
NOT IN ROMAN SOCIETY.
IF WE WERE IN ROMAN SOCIETY AND
THE APOSTLE PAUL IS ADDRESSING
THESE NUMEROUS PEOPLE, CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVE KIND OF
CHECKED OUT OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT WAS ANOTHER GENERATION'S
PROBLEMS.
WIDOWS WHO SAY, "WELL, I'M A
WIDOW, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY
RESPONSIBILITY," AND PAUL
ACTUALLY ADDRESSING EVERYBODY
AND SAYING, "YOU CAN'T CHECK
OUT; EVERYBODY'S GOT TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR THEIR
FAMILY AS GOD HAS MADE IT
AVAILABLE TO THEM," THAT
PARTICULARLY FOR THE HEAD OF THE
HOME THIS IS RADICAL NEWS.
BECAUSE THE MACHISMO
UNDERSTANDING OF A ROMAN HEAD OF
HOUSEHOLD WAS:  I'VE JUST GOT TO
TAKE CARE OF ME; MY FAMILY IS
SECOND.
AND HERE IS PAUL ELEVATING
CHILDREN AND WIVES AND SAYING,
"THEY HAVE EQUAL RIGHT TO YOUR
MONEY."
AND EVEN NOW IN OUR SOCIETY, WE
RECOGNIZE SOMETIMES THE WAGE-
EARNER SAYS, YOU KNOW, "IT'S MY
MONEY, SO I CAN PROVIDE FOR MY
HOBBIES AND MY FREEDOM AND MY
INTERESTS AND MY BANK ACCOUNT,"
AND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS ARE MADE
SECONDARY.
AND THE APOSTLE PAUL IS PRETTY
CLEAR HERE.
THOSE WHO PUT THEIR SELF
INDULGENCE, THE LANGUAGE OF THE
PASSAGE, ABOVE THE NEEDS OF
THEIR FAMILIES, ARE WORSE THAN
UNBELIEVERS, BECAUSE THEY'RE
DENYING THE GOSPEL: CARE FOR
THOSE WHO CANNOT TAKE CARE OF
THEMSELVES IN THE WAY THAT
THEY'RE DEALING WITH THINGS.
NOW, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT
GO INTO, SOMETIMES, PEOPLE NOT
PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
IT MAY BE SELF INDULGENCE.
IT MAY BE SOME FORM OF
ADDICTION, WHETHER IT'S CHEMICAL
OR GAMBLING OR CAREERISM OR
WORKAHOLISM, THAT WHICH JUST
KEEPS GETTING DIRECTED TOWARD ME
RATHER THAN THE CONCERN FOR
THOSE THAT GOD HAS PUT IN MY
LIFE TO CARE FOR.
IT HAPPENS IN LOTS OF WAYS.
SENIOR CARE CAN BE NEGLECTED
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MY
GENERATION.
THE APOSTLE PAUL IS DEALING WITH
THAT.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET THE ETERNAL
CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
A FEW MESSAGES AGO, I REMINDED
YOU THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLING BEGAN
AS A MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CHURCH
AS PEOPLE SEEING THE DIGNITY OF
ALL MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
SAID, "IN THE CHURCH, IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE FUTURE
GENERATIONS, SO THAT A SOCIETY
MAY FLOURISH."
THAT'S PART OF THE CHURCH'S
RESPONSIBILITY AS WE BEGIN TO
SEE THE DIGNITY OF ALL PERSONS.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT
UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF US
MAY RECOGNIZE AT TIMES THAT THE
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF OUR
CHILDREN MAY ACTUALLY COST A LOT
OUT OF OUR BANK ACCOUNTS?
AND, YET, IF I AM CONCERNED FOR
ETERNAL THINGS AND I HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SCHOOLING
MAY HAVE INFLUENCES UPON MY
CHILD OR THE PARTICULAR
PERSONALITY OR THE WAY IN WHICH
A PARTICULAR CHILD MAY BE
AFFECTED MEANS I MAY MAKE
DECISIONS THAT ARE VERY
NECESSARY FOR MY CHILD.
IT MAY COST US A LOT.
KATHY AND I, BECAUSE OF THE AGE
RANGE OF OUR CHILDREN, WE
RECOGNIZE WE HAVE PAID TUITIONS
FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FOR OVER
25 YEARS CONSECUTIVELY.
AND PEOPLE LOOK AT US AND SAY,
"YOU ARE CRAZY."
AND WE SAY, "HEY, WHAT ELSE WERE
WE GOING TO SPEND IT ON?"
I ACTUALLY KIND OF MEAN THAT.
IF HEAVEN IS REAL, IF THE
ETERNAL GOOD OF OUR CHILDREN IS
PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY, THEN
WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE GOOD
OF THOSE THAT GOD HAS PUT IN OUR
OWN HOUSEHOLDS, RECOGNIZING THAT
OUR MONEY IS ACTUALLY GIVEN TO
US IN PART FOR MERCY BUT ALSO
FOR THE BEST CARE OF OUR
FAMILIES THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US,
BECAUSE THAT IS AN EXPRESSION OF
THE GOSPEL ITSELF.
WHAT DOES THE GOSPEL SAY?
WHEN WE HAVE BEEN SAVED BY GOD'S
GRACE, "WE ARE NO LONGER
STRANGERS AND ALIENS BUT FELLOW
CITIZENS AND MEMBERS OF GOD'S
HOUSEHOLD.
HE IS OUR FATHER, WHEREBY WE
CRY, 'ABBA, FATHER.'"
THE FAMILY ITSELF IS A MESSAGE
OF THE GOSPEL.
IN ROMAN SOCIETY, SO MANY PEOPLE
WERE CONVERTED BECAUSE THEY SAW
THE UNIQUE MINISTRIES OF
FAMILIES, THE UNIQUE CHARACTER
OF CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.
AND PEOPLE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW
THAT KIND OF LOVE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT KIND OF
SELFLESSNESS AND COMPASSION."
AND WHAT WAS BEING EXHIBITED IN
FAMILIES BECAME THE POWERFUL
MESSAGING OF THE GOSPEL.
AND WHEN WE ARE USING OUR FUNDS,
WHETHER CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN,
WIDOWS, OR HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS,
FOR THE CARE OF THOSE IN OUR
FAMILY, WE'RE ACTUALLY MESSAGING
THE GOSPEL AS GOD INTENDS.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE LAST OF THE
REASONS THAT MONEY IS BEING USED
FOR GOD'S PURPOSES IN THIS
PARTICULAR PASSAGE.
THE LAST IS, BEYOND MERCY AND
BEYOND FAMILY, MONEY IS
RESOURCING GOD'S MINISTRY.
VERSE 17, "LET THE ELDERS WHO
RULE WELL BE CONSIDERED WORTHY
OF DOUBLE HONOR, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO LABOR IN PREACHING AND
TEACHING."
THE DOUBLE HONOR:  NOT JUST
OFFICE BUT ALSO PROVISION IF
THERE IS FULL-TIME LABOR IN THE
PREACHING AND TEACHING OF THE
WORD.
VERSE NINE--, VERSE 18, "FOR THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, 'YOU SHALL NOT
MUZZLE AN OX WHEN IT TREADS OUT
THE GRAIN.'"
WELL, I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE
BEING COMPARED TO AN OX, BUT
THERE IT IS.
[LAUGHTER]
"'BECAUSE THE LABORER DESERVES
HIS WAGES.'"
OUR MONEY IS ALSO TO BE
PROVIDING FOR MINISTRY.
OKAY, WE'VE SUDDENLY COME TO THE
POINT IN THE MESSAGE THAT
EVERYBODY DREADS.
OUR MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE
FOR MINISTRY.
AND NOW MY GOAL IS TO SEE HOW
GUILTY I CAN MAKE YOU FEEL.
[LAUGHTER]
NO, THAT'S REALLY NOT THE GOAL.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DREAD.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I DREAD?
I DREAD THE INEVITABLE, "OH,
HERE WE GO:  PRAISE THE LORD AND
PASS THE PLATE" SMIRK.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE MANIPULATED
AND I DON'T WANT TO BE A
MANIPULATOR.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS
GREAT TENDENCY TO MOVE AWAY FROM
THESE PASSAGES BECAUSE YOU AND I
HAVE A DREAD OF WHAT WE MAY DO
TO EACH OTHER.
SO LET ME JUST TELL YOU HONESTY
WHAT I BELIEVE.
GOD'S PEOPLE WANT TO SUPPORT
CHRIST'S CAUSE.
YOU REJOICED TODAY WHEN ALL
THESE PEOPLE WERE UP HERE, WHEN
THE MISSION TEAM WAS GETTING
READY, WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO WERE PROVIDING FOR US
TO WORSHIP IN THIS WONDERFUL
FACILITY.
AND YOU REJOICED TO SAY, "GOD IS
AT WORK IN THIS PLACE."
AND WHEN YOU MEET PEOPLE WHO ARE
REJOICING IN GENEROSITY, YOU
RECOGNIZE YOUR OWN HEART LONGS
FOR THAT.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF GOD'S
CALL, CHRIST'S PURPOSE.
I LONG FOR THIS.
LISTEN, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MY
LIFE ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY.
THAT'S REALITY.
BECAUSE OF MY PREVIOUS POSITION,
PARTICULARLY AS A SEMINARY
PRESIDENT, I ASKED LOTS OF
PEOPLE, SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, FOR MONEY.
AND I BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE THE
CHARACTER OF PEOPLE THAT I WOULD
DEAL WITH IN TWO CATEGORIES.
THERE ARE THOSE BELIEVERS WHO
SERIOUSLY HAVE DISCOVERED THE
JOY OF GIVING, THAT THEY SEE
THEIR MONEY BEING MULTIPLIED FOR
ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY PURPOSES
AND THEY HAVE TO STEWARD IT;
THEY CAN'T GIVE TO EVERYBODY,
BUT THEY ACTUALLY DELIGHT TO
FIND THE CAUSES THAT THEY
BELIEVE IN.
THERE'S ANOTHER CATEGORY OF
PERSON WHO WILL GIVE MONEY, BUT
THEY BEGRUDGE IT; THEY DO IT
BECAUSE THEY THINK GOD'S GOING
TO GET MAD AT THEM IF THEY
DON'T.
AND SO THEY GIVE BEGRUDGINGLY.
AND THEIR RESPONSE ALMOST
ALWAYS, IF THEY ARE A GIVER WHO
GIVES BEGRUDGINGLY, IS THEY WILL
TRY TO TURN ME INTO A BEGGAR.
I'M NOT A BEGGAR:  I'M A CHILD
OF THE KING.
AND ON A HOLY ERRAND, I CAN TELL
YOU THE GREAT THINGS THAT GOD IS
DOING.
BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE TRY TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, WITH THE SMIRK ON,
"YOU NOW COME BEGGAR ME--,
BEGGING ME FOR MORE MONEY."
WHEN THAT GOES ON, I WILL TELL
YOU THERE'S A FRIEND I HAD WHO
WAS ALSO IN MY BUSINESS OF
ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY WHO
TRIED TO HELP ME ONE TIME WITH
DEALING BEING MADE INTO A
BEGGAR, BUT HE ACTUALLY HURT ME.
HE HURT ME BY TELLING A STORY
THAT I COULDN'T GET RID OF IN MY
BRAIN.
THE STORY HE TOLD WAS THIS.
HE SAID, "I WENT TO A WEALTHY
MAN ONE TIME, AND THE WEALTHY
MAN KIND OF STIFF-ARMING ME,
DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO HELP, HE
SAID, 'OH, PASTOR, WHEN WE GET
TO ETERNITY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
SO PLEASED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH
MONEY I'VE GIVEN TO THE LORD.'
AND THE PASTOR SAID TO HIM, 'YOU
WILL BE IN ETERNITY FOR THREE
SECONDS, AND YOU WILL GRIEVE
THAT YOU DID NOT TRIPLE YOUR
GIFTS.'"
NOW, IT SOUNDS KIND OF
SPIRITUAL:  IT IS TOTALLY
UNTRUE.
IF HEAVEN IS REAL, YOU WILL NOT
FEEL GUILTY FOR A SINGLE THING
WHEN YOU GET THERE.
OH, NO, NOW I'VE LOST MY
LEVERAGE.
[LAUGHTER]
NO.
I HAVEN'T LOST MY LEVERAGE.
THOSE WHO GIVE OUT OF JOY ARE
NOT GIVING UNDER COMPULSION.
THEY'RE NOT GIVING UNDER GUILT.
WHY DO GOD'S PEOPLE GIVE WITH
JOY?
BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE
THAT GOD IS USING THEIR WEALTH,
THEIR RESOURCES, THEIR
STEWARDSHIP FOR ETERNAL
PURPOSES.
THE MAN WHO HELPED ME THE BO--,
MOST, HE'S WITH THE LORD NOW SO
I CAN MENTION HIS NAME, WAS BEN
EDWARDS WHO WAS THE HEAD OF A.G.
EDWARDS.
AND A LOT OF HIS MONEY HAD
SUPPORTED CHRISTIAN CAUSES
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHEN I WENT TO HIM AS A NEW
SEMINARY PRESIDENT, I DIDN'T
KNOW HOW TO RAISE MONEY.
I SAID, "BEN, HOW DO YOU THIS?
WHAT DO YOU?"
HE SAID, "IT'S NOT THAT
DIFFICULT.
TELL GOD'S WORK TO GOD'S PEOPLE,
AND LET GOD TAKE CARE OF THE
REST."
OH, I LOVED THAT.
I CAN DO THAT.
TELL GOD'S WORK TO GOD'S PEOPLE,
AND LET GOD TAKE CARE OF THE
REST.
AND I SO DELIGHT THAT YOU AS A
CHURCH HAVE SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO TELL OF
GOD'S WORK, NOT JUST THIS
MORNING, BUT I THINK OF, YOU
KNOW, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN
THIS CHURCH WHO YOU SEE
REPRESENTING THE CAUSES OF
CHRIST:  YOUTH FOR CHRIST, CHILD
EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP.
AS I THINK OF THE RESCUE
MISSIONS HERE IN TOWN THAT WE
REGULARLY HAVE HERE, YOU ON THE
BOARD OF THE SALVATION ARMY, AS
I THINK OF THE WORLD MISSIONS--,
MISSIONARIES WHO WILL BE HERE IN
JUST A FEW WEEKS WHO WILL TELL
YOU THEIR STORIES, WHO WILL
REPRESENT GOD TO YOU AND YOU
WILL SEE MEN AND WOMEN OF
COURAGE AND COMPASSION FOR WHOM
THE GOSPEL MEANS SO MUCH, AND TO
SAY, "I GET TO PARTICIPATE IN
THAT; I GET TO BE A PART OF
THAT."
AND I FORGET--, I ASK YOUR
FORGIVENESS:  EVERYONE WHOSE
MINISTRY I HAVE NOT MENTIONED BY
NAME SO FAR.
WE HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE
TO TELL GOD'S WORK TO GOD'S
PEOPLE AND THEN REJOICE AT THE
WORK THAT GOD IS DOING AMONG US.
AND WHEN YOU FIND THAT JOY, IT
JUST CHANGES YOU.
IT'S NOT TWISTING ARMS:  IT'S
ACTUALLY REJOICING THAT GOD IS
ABLE TO USE PEOPLE LIKE US AND
STEWARD WHAT WE GIVE TO HIM FOR
AMAZING, ETERNAL PURPOSES.
I MEAN, IF THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY
GOING ON IN OUR STEWARDSHIP,
THAT GOD IS CHANGING LIVES
THROUGH MERCY AND THROUGH FAMILY
AND THROUGH MINISTRY AND
ETERNITY IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF
THAT MESSAGING OF THE GOSPEL,
THEN WHY DO WE SO STRUGGLE TO
GIVE?
IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY
SEE THE GREAT PRIVILEGES THAT WE
HAVE.
MONEY IS NOT JUST RESOURCING
GOD'S PURPOSES.
ULTIMATELY, MONEY IS REVEALING
OUR PRIVILEGES.
WHAT ARE THE PRIVILEGES THAT WE
HAVE?
WELL, WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED DAILY
BREAD WITH OUR MONEY.
NOW, IF THAT SOUNDS TOO LITTLE,
LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT IT A
LITTLE BIT.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE DAILY
BREAD IS ACTUALLY INTENDED TO
RELEASE US FROM FEAR.
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH
EVERY DAY KIND OF WONDERING:  AM
I GOING TO MAKE IT, AM I GOING
TO MAKE IT?
OR EVEN TOMORROW:  WILL I MAKE
IT?
KATHY'S FATHER USED TO REGALE US
WITH THE STORY OF A COUPLE THAT
HE KNEW IN COLLEGE, MARRIED
YOUNG, STILL IN SCHOOL, SCRAPING
MONEY TO GET BY EVERY MONTH.
AND THE WAY IN WHICH THEY
ASSURED THEMSELVES THAT THEY
COULD MAKE IT THROUGH AND NOT
STARVE THAT MONTH IS THEY MADE
SURE THAT ON THEIR SHELF EVERY
MONTH THEY AT LEAST MAINTAINED
THEIR COLLECTION OF 31 CANS OF
PORK AND BEANS.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THAT WAY, NO MATTER WHAT
HAPPENED THAT MONTH, THEY KNEW
THEY WOULD NOT STARVE.
[LAUGHTER]
THEY HAD NO FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT
HAPPEN, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED
THEY HAD THE DAILY BREAD OF PORK
AND BEANS IN THEIR LIVES.
WHAT'S IT MEAN WHEN YOU AND I
HAVE THE MONEY FOR MERCY AND
FAMILY AND MINISTRY?
I MEAN, THAT WE JUST EVEN HAVE
DAILY BREAD.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
"EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT
FALLETH FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN
FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH
WHOM THERE IS NEITHER DARKNESS
NOR SHADOW OF TURNING."
THE FACT THAT YOU I CAN BUY
GROCERIES, GO TO WALMART, OR
EVEN GO TO THE SOUP KITCHEN IF
WE NEED IS BECAUSE THE HAND THAT
CREATED THE LIGHTS OF THE SKY,
THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS, THAT
SAME HAND IS OPERATING IN YOUR
LIFE AND MINE.
WE HAVE MONEY FOR DAILY BREAD
BECAUSE THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE
IS ACTIVE IN OUR LIVES.
AND IF I REALLY BELIEVE THAT,
THAT GOD WHO CREATED THE
UNIVERSE CARES FOR ME AND HE'S
WORKING IN MY LIFE, THEN I'M
KIND OF REMOVED FROM THE FEAR
THAT MAKES ME HOARD AND COUNT
AND ACCUMULATE AND KEEP AWAY
EVERYBODY WHO MIGHT NEED THE
GENEROSITY THAT GOD WOULD BE
REQUIRING OF ME.
THE REALITY IS, WHAT GOD IS
PROVIDING IN DAILY BREAD IS A
FREEDOM FROM FEAR THAT HE
ACTUALLY MEANS FOR US AS HE IS
PROVIDING FOR THE FUNDS THAT HE
GIVES US IN LIFE.
AND SOMETIMES THAT PROVISION IS
ACTUALLY WORKING, AS A HEAVENLY
FATHER DOES, TO REMIND US THAT
OUR SECURITY IS NOT IN OUR BANK
ACCOUNTS.
EVERY NOW AND THEN AS THE STOCK
MARKET DOES THIS, I LOSE A LOT
OF MONEY IN MY RETIREMENT
ACCOUNT.
AND I'VE DISCOVERED THAT
SOMETIMES WHEN I LOSE THE MOST
MONEY, I GET TO BE THE MOST
GENEROUS.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE MY CHILD WILL COME AND
SAY, "DAD, I NEED SOME MONEY FOR
THE CAR," OR, "I NEED SOME MONEY
FOR COLLEGE," AND I GO, "WELL,
HERE IT IS.
I'VE ALREADY LOST SO MUCH, WHAT
IS A LITTLE MORE?"
[LAUGHTER]
WHEN MY SECURITY IS NOT IN MY
BANK ACCOUNT, THEN GOD IS
TEACHING ME MY SECURITY IS IN
HIM THAT ACTUALLY CREATES WHAT I
NEED TO CAST FEAR ASIDE.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT MONEY,
EVEN THOUGH WE MAY BAD ABOUT IT
AT TIMES, THIS CAN'T BE GOD'S,
THAT THIS SAME LOVE OF MONEY,
THAT'S THE BAD THING, BUT THE
MONEY ITSELF IS NOT THE BAD
THING, THAT MONEY IS ACTUALLY
GRANTED TO US AS A HOLY COMPASS
IN OUR LIVES, A PRIVILEGE THAT
YOU AND I HAVE BEFORE GOD.
NOW, THAT VERSE THAT WE ALL KNOW
COMES OUT OF THE NEXT CHAPTER:
"THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT
OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL."
BUT IT'S RIGHT IN THE CONTEXT OF
GOD REMINDING US THAT GODLINESS
WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN
AND THE VERSE ACTUALLY CONTINUES
AFTER THAT "LOVE OF MONEY BEING
THE ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL,"
WITH GOD REMINDING US, "IT IS
THROUGH CRAVING MORE THAT SOME
HAVE WANDERED AWAY FROM THE
FAITH AND HAVE PIERCED
THEMSELVES WITH MANY PANGS."
I WANT MORE.
WHAT I HAVE ISN'T ENOUGH.
AND PAUL SAYS, "ACTUALLY,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT CONTENT,
BECAUSE YOU WANT MORE AND MORE
AND MORE OR DIFFERENT OR
MEASURED BY OTHER PEOPLE, YOU'RE
ACTUALLY HURTING YOURSELF.
YOU'RE PIERCING YOURSELF WITH
WHAT GOD DOES NOT INTEND WHEN
YOUR CONTENTMENT GOES AWAY."
IF WE WERE ACTUALLY CONTENTED,
IF WE COULD PRAY THE PRAYER OF
PROVERBS 30, DO YOU REMEMBER?
IT'S WHERE THAT DAILY BREAD
FIGURE COMES FROM.
PROVERBS 30 AND VERSE 8, "LORD,
GIVE ME NEITHER POVERTY NOR
RICHES, BUT ONLY MY DAILY BREAD,
LEST I STEAL AND DISHONOR YOU OR
LEST I FALL--, GET FULL AND
FORGET YOU."
LISTEN, THE MONEY THAT GOD PUTS
INTO OUR LIVES:  HE KNOWS OUR
PERSONALITIES; HE KNOWS OUR
NEEDS; HE KNOWS OUR SOULS; HE
KNOWS WHAT TEMPTS US; HE KNOWS
WHAT SUPPORTS US.
AND SO GOD IS GIVING US
SOMETIMES JUST ENOUGH THIS SIDE,
NOT POVERTY BUT JUST, NOT TOO
MANY RICHES, JUST ENOUGH GIVEN
WHO WE ARE, WHAT HE KNOWS WE'RE
LIKE, KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TEMPTED
BY, KNOWS WHAT WE CAN HANDLE:
HE'S ACTUALLY STEERING US IN
LIFE WITH THIS ROAD BETWEEN
POVERTY AND RICHES, A LITTLE BIT
MORE HERE, A LITTLE BIT, NO,
STEER THAT, NOT QUITE THAT, GO
THAT WAY.
AND IS ACTUALLY STEERING US IN
THE DIRECTION HE GOES.
IF YOU KNEW FOR SURE THAT GOD
WAS PROVIDING EXACTLY THE, TO
THE PENNY, WHAT YOU NEEDED TO
GLORIFY HIM AND KNOW CONTENTMENT
IN YOUR LIFE, THAT HE, KNOWING
YOUR SOUL, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR
FAMILY, YOUR NEEDS, YOUR
ETERNITY, THAT HE WAS PROVIDING
EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEEDED THAT WAS
BEST FOR YOU, YOU WOULD BE
CONTENT.
WHERE WE DON'T GET CONTENT,
WHERE WE GET OFF THE PATH, WHERE
WE ACTUALLY BUST THROUGH THE
GUARDRAILS THAT GOD IS INTENDING
TO STEER US WITH IN TERMS OF THE
MONIES HE'S PROVIDING IN OUR
LIVES, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE
GETTING OFF TRACK THROUGH A
COUPLE OF FAIRLY OBVIOUS MEANS.
HOW DO WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING
LOST?
ENVY.
I NEED WHAT THEY HAVE, LORD, NOT
WHAT YOU'RE PROVIDING.
WE GET DRIVEN BY CONSUMER
CULTURE BUT ALSO BY OUR SINFUL
NATURE TO WANT MORE AND MORE AND
MORE THAN WHAT GOD SUPPLIES.
IF WE HAD THE FAITH THAT
GUARD--, THAT GOD IS GUARDING
THE MONEY SUPPLY IN SUCH A WAY
THAT WE ARE BEING PERFECTLY
PROVIDED FOR IN A WAY THAT'S
BEST FOR US, HOW OUR CONTENTMENT
WOULD GROW AND THE COMPARISONS
THAT HURT US SO WOULD BECOME SO
MUCH LESS INTENSE.
I'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF
CAR; I'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT BIG A
HOUSE; I'VE GOT TO HAVE THOSE
KIND OF CLOTHES; I'VE GOT TO
HAVE THAT COM--.
IF WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE GOD HAD
GIVEN EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED,
THEN HIS CONTENTMENT WOULD GUIDE
US SO MUCH MORE THAN THE
COMPULSIONS OF OTHER THINGS.
AND SO OFTEN THE EVIDENCE OF OUR
ENVY IS OUR DEBT.
FROM THE DECEMBER SURVEY OF "THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL," AVERAGE
CREDIT CARD DEBT IN THE UNITED
STATES $16,000, AVERAGE AUTO
LOAN DEBT $27,000, AVERAGE
MORTGAGE DEBT $166,000, AVERAGE
STUDENT LOAN DEBT $48,000.
NOW, I RECOGNIZE THE LAST TWO
CAN BE CALLED INVESTMENT DEBT
RATHER THAN CONSUMER DEBT, BUT
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALL OF
THOSE IS FAMILIES FEELING
ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED BY DEBT.
THE SAME "WALL STREET JOURNAL"
REPORT SAID HALF OF ALL AMERICAN
FAMILIES ARE EMBARRASSED BY
THEIR DEBT.
WELL, I'M NOT SO CONCERNED ABOUT
YOUR EMBARRASSMENT AS I AM ABOUT
OUR IMPRISONMENT:  THE WAY OUR
FAMILIES DON'T SATISFY US, THAT
OUR MARRIAGES ARE NOT SWEET,
THAT WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED SEEMS
NEVER TO BE ENOUGH, THAT WE ARE
SLEEPLESS AND PRESSURED AND
HURTING AND ANSWERING TO
CREDITORS IN WAYS THAT ROB US OF
THE JOY OF OUR SALVATION.
THAT'S NOT WHAT GOD INTENDS FOR
US AS THE WAY TO LIVE.
AND WHAT PUSHED US TO THAT PLACE
WAS ACTUALLY THE LACK OF
CONTENTMENT.
AND IF ENVY AND DEBT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY THE SIGNS THAT WE
HAVE PUSHED PAST THE GUARDRAILS
THAT GOD INTENDED, MAYBE THE
GREATEST EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE
PUSHED PAST THE GUARDRAILS THAT
GOD PUT IN OUR LIVES IS NOT JUST
THAT WE'VE LOST OUR CONTENTMENT:
WE'VE LOST OUR GENEROSITY.
WELL, I CAN'T DO MORE.
I CAN'T PROVIDE MERCY.
I CAN'T PROVIDE FOR MINISTRY, AT
LEAST NOT VERY MUCH.
WELL, I'M PROVIDING WHAT MY
GRANDDAD DID.
WELL, THAT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA.
IF WE HAVE LOST THE CAPACITY FOR
GENEROSITY, CONTENTMENT IS GONE
TOO.
WE NEED MORE THAN WHAT GOD
INTENDS FOR US TO HAVE, BECAUSE
WE ARE TAKING FROM GOD WHAT
WOULD ACTUALLY SUPPORT HIS
PURPOSES.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, GENEROSITY
HURTS US.
I MEAN, IF YOU THINK OF THE BIG
PICTURE, WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO
US, HE'S SAYING, "ALL RIGHT,
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED MERCY.
AND THERE IS FAMILY WHO NEED
YOUR CARE.
AND THERE IS MINISTRY FOR THE
GOSPEL."
I MEAN, IF YOU KNEW THAT YOUR
FUNDS WERE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING
MERCY, THEN YOU WOULD EARN ALL
YOU COULD.
IF YOU KNEW THAT YOUR FUNDS WERE
SERPRID--, WERE PROVIDING FOR
THE SECURITY OF YOUR FAMILY, YOU
WOULD SAVE ALL YOU COULD.
AND IF YOU KNEW THAT YOUR FUNDS
WERE PROVIDING FOR THE MINISTRY
OF THE GOSPEL, YOU WOULD GIVE
ALL YOU COULD.
UH OH.
EARN ALL YOU CAN, SAVE ALL YOU
CAN, GIVE ALL YOU CAN:  I DON'T
HAVE A FORMULA FOR THAT.
NOW, I KNOW A LOT OF US HAVE
BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT TITHING, AND
I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU RIGHT NOW
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
THE PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT
TITHING ARE SAYING, "I'VE GOT A
FORMULA THAT WILL FIX ALL THESE
CONCERNS FOR YOU."
HERE'S THE PROBLEM:  THE PEOPLE
WHO TALK ABOUT TITHING ARE
TYPICALLY POINTING BACK IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT TO THE TEMPLE
TITHE, AND THEY FORGET THAT WAS
JUST ONE OF THE TITHES FOR THE
OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE.
THERE WERE TEMPLE TITHES AND
PRIESTLY TITHES AND TITHES FOR
THE POOR AND TITHES FOR THE
FEAST DAYS AND THERE WERE THE
SACRIFICES AND THERE WERE THE
PASSOVER FEASTS AND DON'T FORGET
THE YEAR OF JUBILEE WHEN ALL
DEBTS GOT CANCELED AND ALL LAND
WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER
AND ALMOST NOBODY WANTS TO GO
THERE.
SO IS THERE A TITHE?
LISTEN, THE ONLY PLACE IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT WHERE A TITHE IS
SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED AS
OBLIGATING ANY NEW TESTAMENT
PEOPLE IS WHERE JESUS ACTUALLY
CRITICIZED THE PHARISEES AND THE
SCRIBES FOR TITHING MINT AND
CUMIN, THEIR SPICES, AND
IGNORING THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS
OF THE LAW:  COMPASSION AND
MERCY.
THAT YOU COULD TITHE IN SUCH A
WAY THAT YOU ACTUALLY DID NOT DO
YOUR JOB.
GOD IS CALLING US TO, IF YOU
WILL, TITHE FROM THE HEART,
BECAUSE IF WE BEGIN TO ESTABLISH
SOME KIND OF RULE FOR TITHING.
[CHUCKLES]
I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AND YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS.
WAIT, IS IT ON THE GROSS OR THE
NET?
[LAUGHTER]
BEFORE TAXES OR AFTER TAXES?
WAIT, IS IT THE INVESTMENT
VALUE, THE PURCHASE VALUE, OR
THE MARKET VALUE?
AND I HAVE HEARD PREACHERS AND
ACCOUNTANTS ARGUE THIS IN WAYS
THAT JUST MAKE ME BLUSH.
WHAT VERSE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
QUOTING?
I THINK WHAT GOD IS REMINDING US
TO DO IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU
HAD THE TEN LEPERS COME TO JESUS
AND HE WAS SHOWING US A PATTERN
AS IT BEGINS TO APPLY TO OUR
LIVES.
YES, THERE WERE ANOTHER TEN AS
WE SEE A TITHE PATTERN, NOT A
RULE.
BUT HEARTS THAT ARE BEING
MOTIVATED BY THANKSGIVING.
ONE OUT OF THE TEN RETURNED TO
GIVE HIM THANKS.
AND WE'RE SEEING GOD
ESTABLISHING KIND OF A MINIMAL
STANDARD.
I THINK IF WE KNOW IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT THOSE UNDER THE LAW
GAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE DOLLAR IN
TEN OF WHATEVER ACCOUNT YOU WANT
TO LOOK AT, HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD
WE, WHO'VE SEEN THE RESURRECTED
LORD, WHO KNOW THE GOODNESS OF
THE GOSPEL, WHO KNOW HOW THE
GOSPEL OF GRACE IS WORKING IN
THE WORLD BE WILLING TO SAY,
"GOD IS CALLING FOR MY HEART TO
RESPOND TO THE GREATNESS AND THE
GOODNESS THAT'S IN HIM"?
AND IF I CAN HELP, I HELP.
I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE MY FAMILY
BY MAKING IT INSECURE.
I DON'T WANT TO FAIL TO THINK
ABOUT THE MERCY NEEDS OF OTHERS.
BUT GOD IS PUTTING THINGS IN MY
LIFE THAT HE IS MAKING ME
RESPONSIBLE FOR, NOT SO THAT I
WILL QUALIFY FOR HEAVEN:  SO
THAT I CAN REFLECT IN GRATITUDE
HOW GREAT IS HIS MERCY TOWARD
ME.
AND WHEN THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING, THE APOSTLE PAUL HAS
ACTUALLY GIVEN US THE STANDARD.
YOU REMEMBER IT.
"EACH ONE SHOULD GIVE WHAT HE
HAS DECIDED TO GIVE IN HIS OWN
HEART, NOT RELUCTANTLY, NOT
UNDER COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES
A CHEERFUL GIVER."
LISTEN, GOD'S NOT WANTING YOU TO
BE CONTROLLED BY A FORMULA OR
FEAR BUT RATHER BY CHEER.
WHEN YOU KNOW HOW GREAT IS HIS
LOVE TOWARD YOU, YOUR HEART
RESPONDS WELL.
YOU KNOW THAT.
LET ME JUST DEMONSTRATE IT TO
YOU.
BEN LEARNED'S GOING TO HELP ME
HERE.
SERMON'S ALMOST OVER.
YOU CAN GET, STOP WIGGLING IN
YOUR SEATS.
IT'S ALMOST DONE.
BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD.
HOW DO WE GET GENEROUS?
WE COUNT OUR BLESSINGS.
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, THAT
WILL HELP US.
YOU KNOW, IF BLESSINGS WERE
BOTTLES, MOST OF US HAVE A
BUCKET FULL.
>>> BEN, ANY BLESSINGS IN YOUR
LIFE?
LOTS OF BLESSINGS?
HEY, YOU GOT A FAMILY?
THAT'S A BLESSING.
HEY, GOT A GOOD CHURCH?
>>> YEAH.
>>> THAT'S A BLESSING.
YOU GOT A CAR?
>>> NOT YET.
>>> NOT YET.
FAMILY GOT A CAR?
ALRIGHT.
HOW ABOUT A CELL PHONE?
YOU GOT A CELL PHONE?
>>> YEAH.
>>> GOOD.
GOT A NINTENDO, A WII?
NO.
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
>>> XBOX.
>>> GOT AN XBOX.
[LAUGHTER]
LET'S SEE.
YOU EAT TODAY?
>>> YEAH.
>>> YEAH.
GOT ANY MONEY IN YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT?
>>> YEAH.
>>> YEAH?
BOY, THERE'S LOTS OF BLESSINGS
IN YOUR LIFE.
>>> YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]
>>> GOT A DOG, GOT A CAT, GOT A
PET?
THERE'S A BLESSING.
GOT ANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS?
>>> YEAH.
>>> ANY OF THEM BLESSINGS?
>>> YEAH.
ALRIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
HOW YOU DOING OVER THERE?
YOU DOING OKAY?
OKAY.
ANY MISSIONARIES THAT YOU
SUPPORT?
ARE THEY A BLESSING TO OTHER
PEOPLE?
THEN YOU'RE A BLESSING TOO.
HEY, YOU GOT A LITTLE TROUBLE.
CAN I HAVE ONE OF THOSE BACK?
THERE'S TEN.
CAN I HAVE ONE?
OKAY.
OH, I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT MIGHT HELP YOU A LITTLE
BIT.
IT MIGHT HELP SOME OTHER PEOPLE
TOO.
>>> AND THAT'S THE POINT.
IT MIGHT HELP YOU, MIGHT HELP
SOME OTHER PEOPLE TOO IF
GENEROSITY WAS IN YOUR HEART
BECAUSE YOU'VE COUNTED YOUR
BLESSINGS AND YOU KNOW HOW GREAT
IS GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU.
>>> FATHER, BLESS OUR PEOPLE.
WE TALK ABOUT MONEY AND WE KNOW
ALL THE STEREOTYPES AND ALL THE
JOKES.
BUT SHOW US THE GOSPEL AND THE
GRATITUDE OF THOSE WHO IN
GENEROSITY ARE PART OF IT.
USE US FOR YOUR PURPOSES WE
PRAY.
IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.

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