WEBVTT 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:13.300 Hello and welcome to the Kalamazoo church of Christ podcast. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:14.839 Thank you so much for listening. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:16.199 We're startup church. 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:23.460 We just planted in September, 2020 and at the Kalamazoo church, we believe that Christianity is done best when it is done together. 00:00:23.539 --> 00:00:32.299 And so if you live in the Kalamazoo area, we would love to connect, be it coming to a Sunday service, one of our small groups, or even just grabbing coffee with a member to learn more. 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:36.439 You can visit kalamazoo.church in order to do that. 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:40.380 We pray that you are inspired by what you hear today. 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:42.200 Amen. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:47.859 Well, well, let's, let's get, let's get started then this, this evening. 00:00:48.460 --> 00:01:03.299 So the goal of this series that we're looking at is to, to give us the information that information, conviction, whatever, to free, to free us from the burden of money. 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:09.140 And so this, we're looking today at what Jesus says about money. 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:13.359 This is, this is more complete than probably the old Testament that we looked at. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:15.280 The old Testament was just a few proverbs really. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:20.599 But it's, it's probably not the full extent of even what Jesus teaches on money. 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:24.459 There's some parts where maybe you might think, Oh, we're, we're being redundant. 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:35.180 Like we talked about it last week and perhaps we have, I think that if I think if Jesus says that I want to pick it out in particular, and so we're going to look at some of that stuff. 00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:39.040 You know, Jesus, there's a bunch of parables that he uses. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:51.379 He uses money to communicate a lot of other concepts and thoughts and a lot of the, there's whole parables that speak on money that are not really related to, to money though. 00:01:51.480 --> 00:02:05.760 You know, there's a parable where Jesus, he says like there, there's these people who are working in a vineyard and some come at some point of the day, then a little bit later in the day, he asks somebody else and, and then he asks somebody else and he pays them all the same at the end. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.099 And we're like, well, what does that saying about our money? 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:11.020 And the answer is, it doesn't say that much. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:16.060 The parable about money, but it's not, it's not directly referring to and talking about money. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:32.099 Maybe it talks about where our eyes are looking, but really what the intention of that, that parable is it was talking about what do you, what are we going to do in that time as Jewish people who have been following now that the Gentiles are being let in and they're doing less to get in? 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:33.379 What are we going to do about that? 00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:34.520 Are we going to be frustrated? 00:02:34.520 --> 00:03:00.740 And, uh, and you know, we're some of those Gentiles or, or maybe more pertinent is thinking about what are we going to do if you give up your life for Christ when you're 15 years old, do you, do you feel okay about somebody when they're 85 being baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and then coming out of the waters and then, and then living a life of mess for 84 years of it. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:03.280 And then the finally, like, do we still feel okay about that? 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:05.520 And that's what that parable is talking about. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.139 Uh, you know, it's like Jesus is saying, Hey, I, I, I'm giving you something. 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:12.979 You agreed to work for a wage and so work for it. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:15.259 It's not really talking about money, but it mentions money. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:28.520 Um, we're going to look at one parable where, uh, what it seems to be is Jesus is really talking about money and it's, there's probably another one, there's maybe a couple of them, but there's a few that, that, that talk about it that I wanted to look at this evening. 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:31.020 Um, the first is in Luke 12. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:39.180 It says, uh, well, Jesus is, is teaching. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:41.360 So you have like the abridged version. 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:43.800 I'm going to read the whole, this whole parable here. 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:45.719 It's in Luke 12 in verse 13. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:51.199 It says someone in the crowd said to him, teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:57.259 Jesus replied, man, who appointed me a judge or arbiter between you? 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.979 Then he said to them, watch out, be on your guard against all kinds of greed. 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:04.439 Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:10.460 And he told them this parable, the ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:12.340 He thought to himself, what shall I do? 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:13.960 I have no place to store my crops. 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:15.860 Then he said, this is what I'll do. 00:04:15.959 --> 00:04:21.259 I'll tear down my barns and I'll build bigger ones and there I will store my surplus grain. 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:25.819 And I'll say to myself, you have plenty of grain laid up for many years. 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:28.139 Take life easy, eat, drink, and be married. 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:32.420 But God said to him, you fool this very night, your life will be demanded from you. 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:36.079 Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:43.300 This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves, but it's not rich towards God. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:51.459 Um, this interaction occurs and, uh, these guys come up and they're like, we've got the teacher. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:05:03.879 Let's, let's settle this dispute, uh, with, with, with the guy who knows all of the answers and they call him teacher and they ask him this question and Jesus uses it to bring up something that's, that's even bigger. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:08.600 You think about perhaps Jesus was looking for an opportunity to share this parable. 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:16.480 He was looking for a way in and you think this, these, these two brothers led him, uh, right, right into sharing this parable. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:26.139 I think what challenges us or what should challenge you in this parable is we, we can read it and I know when I read it and when I think about my idol, um, or what, what is my idol? 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:33.339 You know, in the first class we said like money will communicate what you value and that's what Ingrid was sharing. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:44.459 Um, my challenge is I read it and the stuff that I value is like, I, I'd love to, you know, I want to put as much away for retirement and that's a noble cause I think. 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:50.560 And you know, the world that we, that, wow, that's something that's so valuable or I want to invest in my kids' education. 00:05:50.779 --> 00:06:02.540 That's something that's so valuable and it's a noble cause and it's very, uh, I'm putting in a quotation selfless of us to sacrifice again in quotations so that our children can have more than us. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:14.160 And this, these are things that, uh, that we put on such high like regard and, uh, and, and yet what he's saying is you're preparing for what's going to happen. 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:18.639 You're making great plans, but if you're not rich towards God, uh, you're a fool. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:31.459 And for, uh, for us, as you think about your dreams and your life, I don't know where you are in, um, you know, in this parable, perhaps, perhaps you're not even in this parable and that's great. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:41.899 But if you are, if you can see yourself in any way, shape or form, I think our question then is, are we rich towards God and the, how do we be rich towards God? 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.579 What can we do to be rich towards God? 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:49.519 There's a lot of ways and there's a hundred, you know, we said it's not just the financial component of it. 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:54.720 That's, that's, it's not just that, but it is that to some extent, like it is that, and it's also much more. 00:06:55.459 --> 00:07:07.160 And we're actually, we're going to get to a spot where if you can follow me for the next about 10 or 12 or 15 minutes, by the end of this, I think you're going to make a connection with money that I bet you've never made before. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:07.480 Okay. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:11.160 So this is a, that's a high claim and a high calling, but I really believe it. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.399 There's a connection in here that the Bible speaks about that. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:19.980 Um, I glossed over for years until I actually sat with a scripture and read some commentary on it. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:23.019 Um, but the first thing, what are we going to pull? 00:07:23.540 --> 00:07:26.860 Uh, well, storing up for yourself without giving to God, that's foolish. 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:34.160 And um, and then, and then he goes on, he gives a little bit more teaching at the, uh, a little bit later. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:51.920 He says, do not be afraid little flock for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom, sell your possessions and give to the poor, provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out a treasure in heaven that will not fail where no thief comes near and no moth destroys for where your treasure is there. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:08:12.949 Your heart will be also when you, uh, when you talk to somebody and it's, you would, you know, you guys know this probably, but whenever, you know, if you're interacting with somebody and they have children and you ask them about their children, um, that's probably the easiest way to get somebody talking about something. 00:08:13.009 --> 00:08:14.050 You know, how's your child? 00:08:14.129 --> 00:08:15.470 What are they, what's the new thing they're learning? 00:08:15.509 --> 00:08:16.129 What are they doing? 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:18.610 Uh, because they really treasure and value their children. 00:08:18.709 --> 00:08:19.589 It's easy to talk about. 00:08:19.589 --> 00:08:28.149 It's like from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks and their hearts are, are not centered on their children, but that their, their children occupy a big part of their hearts. 00:08:28.170 --> 00:08:28.970 The same thing with me. 00:08:29.050 --> 00:08:29.970 Same thing with any of us. 00:08:30.410 --> 00:08:32.009 Um, or many of us, I should say. 00:08:33.570 --> 00:08:39.250 Maybe it's, uh, there's another one of my friends where you get him talking about this certain sports team. 00:08:39.509 --> 00:08:42.350 He can go on and on and on and on. 00:08:42.830 --> 00:08:45.070 And I'm like, man, it's, that's great. 00:08:45.570 --> 00:08:47.929 Uh, but you know, there's more, there's more to life. 00:08:47.929 --> 00:08:52.049 Like life does not consist in a, in a love of basketball. 00:08:52.169 --> 00:08:52.710 You know what I'm saying? 00:08:52.769 --> 00:08:54.730 Like that's sports teams. 00:08:54.850 --> 00:08:56.850 That's pretty clear that that's where your heart is at. 00:08:57.350 --> 00:09:04.289 Um, you know, this, this, this scripture says, uh, where your treasure is there, your heart will be also. 00:09:04.710 --> 00:09:14.250 And he's saying, Hey, there's, there's later on at the end in Matthew and Matthew six at the end of our little lesson, Matthew six, just, it says you can't serve two gods. 00:09:14.250 --> 00:09:28.590 But, but this is saying that our, our view and our perspective ought to be one that, that puts our treasure in heaven and on heavenly things and on things that are going to last as opposed to everything else. 00:09:28.610 --> 00:09:54.950 And again, I, I share this and I feel, um, I feel challenged because this is very different than, um, than any society that, that we are going to, that we'd learn about, you know, the Bible talks about wealth creation and accumulation in a way that, uh, that it speaks about it positively if you're using it for the right thing, like being, being wise with your money is very positive. 00:09:55.070 --> 00:10:06.730 And in that way it would not fit a so, uh, like, uh, you know, like this, this, any kind of society that's like a socialist type of society because wealth creation is valued very highly. 00:10:06.730 --> 00:10:15.730 And at the same time, the, the downfalls of wealth are spoken about, like these, these things are not little, they're massive things. 00:10:15.769 --> 00:10:22.289 And in that way, it, uh, it, it can't really fit into a capitalistic society either. 00:10:22.490 --> 00:10:37.210 And so all the societies that we understand and we know in the forms of like the Bible, uh, God's view of it is like, it can't fit into any construct that we have in place right now, outside of just saying, this is what Jesus teaches about it. 00:10:37.230 --> 00:10:43.350 And I have to get my brain to view money the way God views money and, um, way more than it is. 00:10:43.470 --> 00:10:44.529 I have to do this and do this. 00:10:44.590 --> 00:10:47.629 I want to get my brain to the spot of viewing money, how God views money. 00:10:49.090 --> 00:11:00.710 Um, we're not going to read this, uh, this interaction that Jesus has with the rich young ruler, but, uh, but Jesus, if we're pulling, what are we going to learn about money? 00:11:01.190 --> 00:11:09.190 The rich young ruler comes and he says, I've done a lot of these Christian, these Jewish things, these spiritual things, I'm, I'm walking close. 00:11:09.370 --> 00:11:10.549 What do I got to do? 00:11:10.629 --> 00:11:15.490 And, and it seems like he's trying to be justified by, uh, by his actions. 00:11:16.090 --> 00:11:20.950 And Jesus identifies like one thing you lack, you know, you've got to sell your possessions and give to the poor. 00:11:21.529 --> 00:11:26.769 What we should pull from that is not that we should, everyone needs to sell our possession and give to the poor. 00:11:27.070 --> 00:11:28.450 Uh, that's what he had to do. 00:11:28.529 --> 00:11:29.730 And how do we know that? 00:11:29.730 --> 00:11:30.610 Am I just making it up? 00:11:30.889 --> 00:11:32.230 Well, no, because you can read in the Bible. 00:11:32.450 --> 00:11:38.750 There are, uh, you know, I think Joseph of Arimathea was said he, he had some, he's a wealthy guy, Nicodemus, same thing. 00:11:38.809 --> 00:11:43.690 Like there, there were people that became followers of Jesus who had had wealth. 00:11:43.690 --> 00:11:45.250 It speaks about it all over Acts. 00:11:45.330 --> 00:11:47.950 And so it's not a blanket, you have to do this. 00:11:48.610 --> 00:11:52.490 But what he is saying is he's identifying, this is what you're lacking. 00:11:53.269 --> 00:11:57.049 And in order to get to heaven, you've got to give this up. 00:11:57.049 --> 00:12:00.690 And perhaps, uh, perhaps that is true for some of us as well. 00:12:00.750 --> 00:12:11.990 I'm not saying that it is, but perhaps, uh, there's a, uh, I was listening to this lesson and he gave, uh, he said, there's some little tests to do. 00:12:12.070 --> 00:12:14.750 Um, and so he said, there's an envy resentment test. 00:12:15.029 --> 00:12:19.970 Uh, you know, when you see someone in a better place than you financially, do you envy them? 00:12:21.009 --> 00:12:22.710 Are you resentful towards them? 00:12:23.509 --> 00:12:24.909 There's an anxiety test. 00:12:24.909 --> 00:12:26.990 Are you constantly thinking about money? 00:12:27.529 --> 00:12:31.889 Does it occupy your thoughts when you go to bed, when you wake up, what is on your mind? 00:12:31.990 --> 00:12:36.570 If it's, if it's money, then perhaps Jesus would, would be saying one thing you lack. 00:12:37.929 --> 00:12:39.230 There's a spender test. 00:12:39.389 --> 00:12:41.870 Do you feel, do you feel better when you buy things? 00:12:41.950 --> 00:12:50.669 Like, is there a little, a little bit of joy that you get that that's a disproportionate amount of joy from me, from purchasing things. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:13:01.340 Or there's a, um, you know, a, a, uh, spending or there's a say, I guess saving test might be the other one. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:11.340 Do you, do you feel best when you don't buy anything, like when you can just save just that little bit of money, does it do something to you, uh, to a disproportionate degree? 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:20.600 And if you're, if you'd answer a yes to any of these things, then, then perhaps, uh, perhaps you would say, Hey, your, your focus is too much on money and not enough on me. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:27.840 The, uh, it says it's, it's hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:32.299 And I, I listened to a lesson in person and I, it just has stuck with me. 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:59.399 It was in Milwaukee and the guy was sharing and he said, uh, if this scripture is true, um, and how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, why am I, why is my focus, uh, occupied with giving my kids, uh, the silver spoon, basically like, why is that my whole focus, uh, is to give, give my children everything, every opportunity, every, um, you know, afford them all these different things. 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:08.700 If that, if it really is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, so difficult that only Jesus, I mean, only Jesus can help any of us get to heaven, which is the cool part of that passage. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:14.980 But if that's the focus, uh, then, then why is that, why, why is that occupying so many of my thoughts? 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:19.440 And, um, and I think about that, you know, at the time I was a college student and it wasn't relevant. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.200 And now it's quite relevant to me. 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:43.500 Um, there's another, there's another, uh, thing that we could, we could gloss over or miss if we're, if we're not, uh, if we just read the Bible pretty, pretty quickly, like a quick overview, but in the parable of the sower, Jesus describes some of, uh, some of the pitfalls of wealth, um, in Luke. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:51.159 So Luke eight, Mark four, Matthew 13 and Mark four, like they're pretty, they're really, really close, but the Luke eight's a bit different. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:54.960 It just says, uh, I'll, I'll read all three of them and then we'll make sense of it. 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:57.200 Uh, how Jesus views money. 00:14:57.259 --> 00:15:09.299 It says Luke eight 14, the seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:22.100 Still others like seeds sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:33.600 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.720 What is it saying? 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:48.139 You know what Jesus is saying that there, that wealth, the desire for other things, it's going to stop us from, from having a spiritual harvest in our lives. 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:52.340 It's going to stop us from, from the spiritual fruit. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:57.120 You know, it uses the word, this deceitfulness of wealth and wealth promises. 00:15:57.419 --> 00:16:04.179 We said that this is that what makes it so tough is it promises so much and it delivers on some of it. 00:16:04.549 --> 00:16:16.519 It promises full security and it delivers on some of it and it promises status and delivers on some of it and it promises joy and it delivers on some of it. 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:35.019 And that's what makes it deceitful because that, that space in between it fully getting there and just achieving some of it, that, that space is the one that only Jesus can fill, but that space is if we're paying it too much mind, giving it too much authority over our lives, it's going to be deceitful and we just get to the next spot and get to the next spot and get to the next spot. 00:16:40.090 --> 00:16:48.710 Jesus, Jesus says that, that we do, we can do these things that the worries of this world come in and they choke us. 00:16:48.750 --> 00:16:50.370 It doesn't say that we don't grow. 00:16:50.870 --> 00:16:52.450 It says that we don't produce fruit. 00:16:52.509 --> 00:16:53.870 It doesn't say that we don't do things. 00:16:53.909 --> 00:16:55.309 It says that we don't produce fruit. 00:16:55.409 --> 00:17:05.210 And so if you're looking at your life and you say, I go to church and I read the Bible and I do spiritual things and I avoid things that are not spiritual. 00:17:05.950 --> 00:17:16.568 Uh, if, if there's a worry of this world that's in our lives, perhaps, perhaps you're just being choked so you can't reap the fruits that God wants in your life. 00:17:18.549 --> 00:17:19.450 We say fruit. 00:17:19.509 --> 00:17:20.670 I want to be, I want to be clear. 00:17:21.108 --> 00:17:38.230 I, we can, we, it's not just this, but it does say in Galatians 5 22, it says the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:17:38.829 --> 00:17:40.650 It says against such things, there's no law. 00:17:40.809 --> 00:17:45.230 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 00:17:45.690 --> 00:18:04.119 Since we live by the spirit, let us keep in step with the spirit and if you're searching and you're fighting and you're going after, you're doing spiritual things, but there's, there's just this click that's just not there and it seems so easy for other people, but for you, you just can't get there. 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:07.920 Perhaps you're being choked by the deceitfulness of wealth. 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:28.259 The uh, the, the amazing thing, again, Jesus, uh, Jesus speaks in, uh, in this other parable and it's in Luke 16, it'd be worth it if you, it'd be worth it for you to read the entire parable. 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:29.640 We're not going to read it right now. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:43.380 Um, but in Luke 16, it's the parable of the shrewd manager and it's super difficult I think because, uh, Jesus lifts up this guy who is really, um, comes off unspiritual. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:54.240 It says, use your worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves is what is, and we're like, well, doesn't that seem, doesn't that seem unspiritual, but no, it's, it's talked about in the Bible. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:56.819 He says, use your worldly wealth to make friends. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:05.059 Uh, that should be a little bit of, you know, as we're thinking about like, how are we going to, uh, use, use it for God's purposes? 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.000 What are God's purposes? 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:11.740 How do we use it for God's purposes outside of just giving, uh, giving money for contribution? 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.799 Well, it's to make friends is what the Bible is teaching. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.319 That's a way. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.339 How do we make friends? 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.400 Do we just hand them money? 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.700 No, I don't think we just hand them money. 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:21.599 It's, but it might be an easy way to make some friends. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.220 Um, maybe that is what you got to do. 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:24.660 I don't know. 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:26.599 Yeah. 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:26.859 Bring. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.599 Yeah, exactly. 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:29.859 Like I, I, yeah. 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:33.910 Read it. 00:19:33.990 --> 00:19:35.630 Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 00:19:35.710 --> 00:19:36.150 That's right. 00:19:36.230 --> 00:19:36.490 That's right. 00:19:36.569 --> 00:19:37.170 Yeah, absolutely. 00:19:37.529 --> 00:19:48.789 And, and this is, uh, yeah, there, there's an ability not only to have people in your home, but then spending money on them and, and all of that stuff, it says, use your worldly wealth to make friends. 00:19:48.789 --> 00:19:52.210 But something else that says, uh, this is what makes it so tough. 00:19:52.210 --> 00:19:54.170 Again, we were saying, use your worldly wealth to make friends. 00:19:55.650 --> 00:19:57.549 That's a tough scripture to preach on a Wednesday. 00:19:57.690 --> 00:20:03.869 It's probably more difficult to preach on a Sunday because it seems superficial and fake unless we're viewing money the way God views money. 00:20:04.009 --> 00:20:13.569 Like it is, it's a tool and we're stewards of it and it's a tool and we're stewards of it and the world views it, uh, it's a tool, but it's a tool for only my pleasure. 00:20:14.130 --> 00:20:18.769 Uh, God is saying it's a tool that's used to show your faith and your trust in me. 00:20:19.630 --> 00:20:32.049 It says in Luke 16, whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 00:20:32.430 --> 00:20:40.390 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:45.220 I have a question and I actually want you guys to answer it. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:47.319 What, what are true riches? 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:54.220 Like it says, if you, you gotta be trustworthy with worldly wealth and if you're trustworthy with worldly wealth, you'll get true riches. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:56.519 Like you'll be, you'll be entrusted with true riches. 00:20:56.619 --> 00:21:02.460 But if you are not trustworthy with worldly wealth, why would I give you real riches? 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:07.920 And so it begs the question, then what are real riches and what, what do you guys think? 00:21:10.650 --> 00:21:12.029 Yeah, the first stuff, yeah. 00:21:12.569 --> 00:21:13.309 The fruit. 00:21:13.450 --> 00:21:13.869 Absolutely. 00:21:15.589 --> 00:21:16.069 Yeah. 00:21:16.750 --> 00:21:17.009 Yeah. 00:21:17.130 --> 00:21:18.730 I, I'm on, I agree with you. 00:21:18.730 --> 00:21:19.190 What else? 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:25.980 Sure. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:26.660 Yeah. 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.339 And when you say heavenly things, you're right. 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.160 You guys are both right. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:36.000 I mean, heavenly things, like you think about what is so valuable, uh, it's things that are going to last forever, right? 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:41.359 Like that's the, the things that are most valuable in this world is anything that's last, gonna last forever. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:43.279 Like love, uh, lasts forever. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:47.960 Relationship with God that lasts forever, uh, or has the opportunity to last forever. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.259 Something else. 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:54.640 I think if you were to ask Jesus and you said, Jesus, what is valuable to you? 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:59.819 I think he'd look you in the eye and I think he would say, you're, you're most valuable to me. 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.819 Um, absolutely. 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.640 And so what are you saying? 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:10.059 This is, this is Jesus talking and he's bringing this massive, uh, this massive thing, the shrewd manager. 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:18.680 And I think he intends it to be something I have to believe when he was preaching it, he knew that we were, people are going to dissect it and try to figure out what is he talking about? 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:21.519 It's so different than so many of his other parables. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.200 What could he possibly mean? 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:30.559 And then he makes, uh, some of it clear though, he's, you know, we are, we are these true riches. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:35.759 I really believe that like our relationship with God is what is most important. 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:40.900 Well, it's important enough for Jesus to die on a cross for us to have a relationship with the father. 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:47.019 And so the true riches then are people and people's relationship with God. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:49.039 And that is, that is the fruit of the spirit. 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:52.200 Like this, this depth of relationship that, that's, that is what it is. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:23:00.160 But it's not just that it's even more and it is heavenly things, uh, but it's heavenly things on earth though, if you, if you'll work with me. 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:14.759 And so what's this, what's this click or what's this connection is that if we are, if we are great stewards with the money that God has given to us, like, like Paul was sharing, we're great stewards of it. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:20.319 God is going to give us spiritual influence over, over people and over, over their lives. 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:25.740 Um, I'm not talking about your, Oh, you're going to get the title of being a leader. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.640 That's not what I'm saying. 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:44.119 Um, I'm not saying, Oh, you're going to know, but I mean in your families, like you think about your families and you think about, uh, perhaps they're spiritual, but if you think of like on a big level, I bet you there's a lot of our family members that are just not very spiritual and that were like, man, I want an influence over them. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.539 I believe the Bible is communicating. 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:53.839 If you're really, if you're really wise in the way that you're handling worldly wealth, of course I want to give you spiritual influence over these people. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.539 Of course. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:56.000 And how does he going to, how is he going to do that? 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.380 I think some of it's inexplicable. 00:23:57.460 --> 00:24:00.319 Like I do believe that is some of the mystery of Christ. 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:05.160 Like how does, in what way and how is it going to happen or are they going to call me or do I, I don't know. 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:18.279 But what I, what I see communicated is if we are trustworthy and handling worldly wealth, like the steward, we're great stewards with what God has given us, he is going to give us true riches. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:21.779 And I have to believe that that is what all of us want. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:31.099 I have to believe that's a massive reason why we're here right now and not doing something else is that we want spiritual influence over the lives of the people closest to us. 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:38.680 Um, those who are saved, we want great spiritual influence to help keep them safe and help help them grow. 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:45.460 Those who are not yet, uh, Christians, I think that's a math that's, that's, that, that tugs on us. 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.640 Like we want that to happen. 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.960 That's why we're here. 00:24:48.339 --> 00:25:00.200 And so the Bible is communicating, like it's, it's this big that if we're handling our money well, God's going to give us spiritual influence over in the, in the lives of people and how he's going to do it. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:09.920 I don't know, but I do believe he will do it as we, um, that that's your nugget. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.740 Maybe you knew that, uh, if you knew that, then you're better than I was for years and years. 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:21.480 But, but I, I think when I made that connection, it was, um, I just, it's started to be fun. 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:25.720 Like, okay, I want to spend well because I want to influence people. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.759 Like I want, I really want to, and I want to view money how God does. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.700 And I'm just not there yet. 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.559 Like I want to get there. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:34.160 I've re ultimately like more than spending well, I want to view money how Jesus does. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:48.140 Like if I want to view wealth creation, how Jesus does, and I want to view, uh, you know, how to give freely, like, I want to do it how Jesus does because I want to have influence over people and not, I want to, I want to help them to know God. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:52.460 I want God to entrust some of his true riches in, in the people. 00:25:52.599 --> 00:26:02.380 I want him to be able to say, Jaron, you're able to help these people like you, you're able to, your character is such that you can help them or your, your desire. 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:05.259 You're just, you're a good steward with the little I've given you. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.579 So of course I'll give you more. 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.640 Um, I really want to do that. 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:16.000 And so that's been, uh, that probably overall the things of motivation wise, like that is, that's my motivation for money stuff. 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:27.539 I just, I, the other stuff is great, but I don't know if I have the character for it, for just to do it because, um, but, but this and understanding that it has massive impact, like forever has been a great motivator for me. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:33.740 Um, and then, uh, you know, Matthew six, we, again, we know this scripture as well. 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:38.859 Um, it says, how can, uh, it says no one can serve two masters. 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:43.880 Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:46.319 You can not serve both God and money. 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:55.000 Jesus, uh, Jesus makes it, makes it clear that our, the way that we, you know, we can't serve God and money. 00:26:55.720 --> 00:27:00.539 And I believe in all of our hearts, we would say, of course we serve God over money. 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:12.180 The question is, would somebody else say that if they had to, if you gave him the snapshot of your life, uh, and you said, okay, you can just impress them. 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:15.319 You could like, you could put a little flash drive or what do you know? 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:18.539 And they could just see, okay, this is what's going on in Sharon's life. 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.940 This is what's going on in his mind. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.119 You know, as when he said, oh, he serves God. 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:25.119 And we say, you know, he's like, he serves God over money for sure. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:31.220 Um, and I, I, I think that has to be a question that we ask ourselves. 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:35.440 Like if you, if you, you know, we're, we're biased because we love ourselves. 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:42.579 Um, if somebody could see your life, would they say that you serve God over money or money over God? 00:27:48.200 --> 00:28:01.680 The, um, the joy of all of this is, uh, is that there's, this is, uh, we're just, we're just, we're talking in circles of Jesus didn't die on the cross. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:04.299 Like that's, that's really the, the joy of all of this. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:11.599 And I said it last time, but I'll say it again, that Jesus, Jesus has done all this on the highest level. 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:20.980 You know, even as he's talking to the rich young ruler, um, Jesus was the richest, like he, he gave up his, his riches, right. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:28.740 Uh, he was 31 years old and that's, that's old to some of us, but, um, but it's not old to me anymore. 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:31.880 Um, you know, I'm, I'm 30, I'm 32. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:56.099 So, uh, you know, um, and he was a ruler and he gave up all of that, uh, in an effort to give us the opportunity to know Jesus, to know his father, um, and to have this perfect relationship that he and his father have, um, he decided to give up his, uh, gave up his wealth to give the status. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:01.779 Um, he, he gave up his ability even to connect with his father on the cross. 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.039 Like, why have you forsaken me? 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:04.240 Like he even gave that up. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:11.039 Uh, he gave freely and he did it so that you and I could, uh, could have the opportunity to know him and love him. 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:18.559 And if that's our motivation and if our motivation is on, um, to be great stewards, uh, I just, I know God's going to bless it. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:33.380 I know he's going to continue to bless this, this church and give, let there be more people who want to learn and want to know, and there's so many people in Kalamazoo who want to learn and who want to know, and I think God's like, Hey, where am I going to put them? 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:40.839 And he's like, I got a few here and I'm going to send a few over there and I'm going to, and I don't know how the allotment works, but I just want more allotment, you know, like I, I don't know. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:46.279 Again, I, whatever this means, again, we're, we're speaking in human terms, but I'm like, God, give us more allotment. 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.720 Like we're going to, we'll figure it out. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:53.839 Wherever you're going to send people, like let us get some people, uh, in, in order to, to, to grow this family. 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:59.079 Um, I believe money plays a massive role in, in that though. 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.339 Amen. 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:00.779 Awesome. 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:02.720 Let's pray and then we'll be dismissed. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.440 Yes. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.420 Yes, yes, yes, yes. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.000 Amen. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.460 Yes. 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:10.640 Pray. 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:16.319 Dear God, Lord, um, God, we don't know why you do. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.579 Uh, we don't know why you do the things you do. 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.599 We don't know. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:24.859 Um, we, we don't know all of, uh, all, all of the plans you have. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:27.180 We don't know the intricacies of your plan. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:31.059 We see just a faint little bit of it through a pinhole Lord. 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:57.720 And, um, the, the part that we're seeing in Florida, Lord, it's just, it's terrifying and it's scary and it's like, it's, uh, it's sad and it's, you know, there's, there's just so much, God, I want to pray for your hands to be on all of the people, Lord, I pray that this will be, um, this will lead more people to you, father, I pray that more people will, uh, will, will be prompted to love how you love Lord. 00:30:57.799 --> 00:31:01.980 More people will be drawn to you through, um, through this massive storm. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:13.000 God, I want to pray that, um, you know, it feels, uh, foolish to pray for no casualties, Lord, I pray that you'll minimize the casual casualties, Lord. 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:19.539 I pray that, um, Lord, I just want to pray for people, uh, God, that they'll even get right if they're on their way. 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:23.259 Uh, you know, if you're going to call their name tonight, I pray they get right before that father. 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:27.059 Uh, Lord, we, we are so grateful for your plan. 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:29.119 We're so grateful for your love. 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:34.900 We're so grateful that you consider us worthy to, uh, to entrust us with all that you've entrusted to us. 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.579 God, I pray that we'll be great stewards of it. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:39.779 I pray that our reliance and faith on you will only grow father. 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.839 We love you so much. 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.640 Jesus is in your name that we pray. 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:42.920 Amen. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.240 Awesome. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.599 Uh, you guys are dismissed. 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:50.359 I think by tonight this will be uploaded on, um, on Spotify. 00:31:55.960 --> 00:32:00.640 Thank you so much for listening to the Kalamazoo church of Christ podcast. 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:04.319 If you're in the Kalamazoo area, we'd love to get connected. 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:14.579 Please go to kalamazoo.church and fill in your information to come to a Sunday service or any other event that we have going on in any case, you'll be hearing from us next week.