WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:23.440 Today we're in part three of our series Now What? 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:26.480 And I think this is where we have been living. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:28.079 Okay, now what? 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:30.559 What's gonna happen now? 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:34.880 In fact, uh in this season, we're faced with two pressing questions. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:37.600 The first is, what's gonna happen now? 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.799 And for many of us with kids, what's gonna happen now that our kids aren't gonna go back to school? 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:45.280 That was kind of like one of the things we were holding on to. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:52.079 Like, okay, at least we'll get back to some semblance of normalcy, and now they're gonna be home with us. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:53.039 That's great, kids. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:53.600 We love you. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:55.039 We're so excited that you're here. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.920 It's just a little bit of a challenge, you know. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:02.880 And so as we look at this and we go, what's gonna happen in our world, in our country? 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:17.120 And you bring it home in the season as is extended, long after many of us anticipated, what's gonna happen with our relationships and friendships and marriages and kids and school and work. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:22.400 And the truth is we don't have that answer about what's happening in the future. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:28.079 And the problem is we try to leverage that question to answer the following question. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.079 What do I do now? 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:32.560 Like, like, okay, now what? 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:34.239 What do I do now? 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:51.280 And we've been answering this in the book of James, as James, the pastor to the early church, these early followers of Jesus who have been going through their own COVID, persecuted, scattered, upheaval moment of now, what do I do now? 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:57.359 In week one, we talked about what do we do financially, or not financially, what do we do spiritually? 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:58.959 And then last week, Dr. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:00.400 Charlie Self is so good. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:05.439 Go back and listen to it, talked about what do we do uh in regards to our future. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:09.599 This morning, we're gonna be talking about what do we do financially? 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:11.759 What do I do financially? 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:15.840 Like many of us, that's a question we've been wrestling with. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:20.560 In fact, I remember right when COVID hit and the stock market just plunged. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:25.680 And I was talking to a good buddy that I really respect, and he was giving me some advice. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:30.639 He's like, I think, you know, I think the Dow was at like 18,000 or something like that. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:33.120 And he's like, I think it's gonna bottom out at 15. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:34.560 Get everything out of there. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:36.240 And so I was listening to him. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.639 Now, mind you, he was not a financial expert. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:43.120 I have a couple good buddies that are that, Eric Frampton being one of them, I should have asked him. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:46.479 And uh, and so I was like, all right, and so I got that out of that. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:51.039 The minute I got everything out of there is the minute it took off, you know, and it just went right up. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:52.800 I'm like, ah, dang it. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:57.439 And I think that's where we're at of like, who do we listen to? 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:02.319 And how do we navigate these uncertain times when the economy are we in a recession? 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:03.360 Aren't we in recession? 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:04.479 What does it look like? 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:07.919 What's gonna happen in the future? 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:24.319 But I think there's a better question for us to wrestle with today, a question that will be so powerful for you in navigating these next seasons ahead is not just what do I do financially, but listen to this. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:29.360 How do I experience financial peace in a pandemic? 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:34.080 I bet you never realized or thought that that was even possible. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:38.719 For some, your anxiety level, your stress level is through the roof. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:42.719 For many, there's a lot, large part of your retirement that you lost. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:49.599 There's the the uncertainty of what's going to happen with your work and and where are you gonna be in a year? 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:53.360 Are you gonna move because financially you can't afford to live here? 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.639 And so you probably haven't even asked this question. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:01.039 But this is the question James wants us to ask because it's a better question. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:14.000 How can you, how can I experience financial peace, shalom, in the ever-turbulent, changing economic times. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:19.120 And he's actually, James is going to give us a word of warning. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:22.079 He's gonna say, watch out. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:31.600 And the reason is, is James understands there are natural human responses when you're under pressure. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:43.519 And often, and you get this, you've seen this, and maybe you've done this, is often an under when you're under pressure, you make decisions you regret later that seem good in the moment, right? 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:56.399 We all do this because we're under pressure, and so we have a limited frame of view of what we can see and do, and so we make decisions in the moment that in hindsight we look back and go, wow, that was dumb. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:59.439 But it sounded and it seemed so good then. 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.439 And he's gonna give us some strong warnings. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:13.199 I gotta just you gotta be aware, there's some strong warnings coming our way because he's like a good father to a young daughter or son saying, watch out, there's some perils ahead of you. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:18.639 And so he's gonna be emphatic on this and tell us what not to do financially. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.319 Three strong warnings. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:27.519 If you want to have peace in the midst of a panic, uh pandemic, don't panic, don't do this financially. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.480 And the first thing he's gonna say is this you ready? 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:33.680 Don't hoard it. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:35.839 Don't hoard it. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:46.000 Your natural tendency, my natural tendency is to hoard, to feel like there's not enough, to live with a scarcity mentality, to think like, what if I don't get mine? 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:47.759 What if I lose what's mine? 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:48.800 What will happen? 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:51.519 And so I hoard all that I have. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.560 I gotta keep it for me because there's not enough. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:59.360 There's not this pie is limited, and so I gotta make sure I gotta get mine. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.839 Listen to what James says. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.920 He says this, now listen, so pay attention, and then he says, You rich people. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:14.560 Now I just gotta stop here because right when he says that, 90% of you or more started stopped listening. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:16.639 You're like, I ain't rich. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.199 I've seen rich people. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.639 We live in Silicon Valley. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:22.240 I ain't rich. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.439 Let me give you a definition for rich. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:30.000 Rich is having more than you need. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.160 That's the definition of rich. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.480 Rich is having extra. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:39.759 And so if you have extra of something, in this definition, you're rich. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:42.079 Do you have an extra pair of clothes? 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:42.800 You're rich. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:47.519 Do you have extra food in your uh pantry? 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:48.879 You're rich. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.240 Are you able to take a long shower? 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.000 You're rich. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.120 Do you uh have a car? 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:01.199 Do you have an iPhone or any other kind of phone or a computer? 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:08.399 If you have internet and you're able to listen to this sermon, you're rich in the world's eyes in comparison. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:12.959 If you have extra, have you ever let food go bad so that you had to throw it away? 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:14.319 You're rich. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:18.480 So this isn't just for the super ultra wealthy. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:19.680 This is for us. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.040 This is for you, and this is for me. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:29.199 In fact, the other day I was um we ran out of coffee at the house. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.399 Uh, and every morning I get up early and have my cup of coffee. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:35.920 It takes a little while for me to kind of let go, everything, right? 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.519 And I ran out of coffee. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.040 It was mean my brain to wake up. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:39.920 I didn't finish that thought. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:41.519 And you're like, what are you talking about? 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:44.160 Um, and so I sit with my cup of coffee. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.519 Well, I was all out. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:48.720 I woke up and Pete's, and you'll, this is how weird I am. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.279 Pete's is opening up later during COVID. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:53.040 It opens up at 5 30 now. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:01.759 So literally, I'm laying in bed watching the clock, waiting for it to be time to go to Pete's to go get my cup of coffee. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:08.160 Now, here's what's amazing to me as I began to understand this definition of rich. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:13.120 I went and bought a cup of coffee, a large, mind you, because I didn't want to go back. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:15.600 It cost me$3.15. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:19.040 I didn't even think about it. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:25.439 Now, if I did that every day, it would impact my budget, but it didn't, it didn't even register. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.800 It's just like, yeah, I'm gonna pay it. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:28.639 It didn't, I didn't feel it. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:39.840 And so I gotta sit back and recognize, and you have to sit back and recognize because so many of us want to push this off as somebody else's word for them, and this is God's word for us. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.720 Ryan, I'm speaking to you. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:45.759 God's saying, I'm speaking to you. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:49.679 Okay, now listen, you rich people, weep and well. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:51.440 I told you there's strong words in here. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:55.519 He's the goddess, because of the misery that is coming to you. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:09:01.840 There's a decision that you're making now that feel good in this moment that are not good for you in the long run. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.480 You'll look back and regret and do great harm. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:08.000 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:14.240 In the ancient day, the wealth that you had was really, you know, you had clothing that was part of your wealth. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:15.919 How much garments did you have? 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:22.720 They were incredibly uh expensive, livestock and uh and grain, and then you also had precious metals. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:31.519 He's saying those have rotted, your gold and silver have eroded, their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:35.360 Now, here's what he's saying. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:43.919 If you want to experience financial peace, warning, do not hoard it. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:48.799 And you're like, I would never hoard it, Ryan. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:50.240 What are you talking about? 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:54.799 I would never hoard anything whatsoever. 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:03.519 You know, 2020 might go down as the great uh toilet paper crisis of all time. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:09.919 I mean, think about this the beginning of the pandemic and and how insane this is. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:14.320 COVID, bad, but it doesn't create even diarrhea. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:15.919 I'm sorry, did I say that, kids? 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.159 Listen, but but think about this. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.720 Why were we so consumed? 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:25.039 Like this was gold, you couldn't find it on the uh shelves anywhere. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:29.200 You had it locked behind where you had to go and get at one point. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.759 I bought one roll of these at a time. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:40.960 Because our human nature, listen, our human nature is in under pressure is to hoard and keep what's mine. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:47.840 And we do this in so many areas, and it creates great harm. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.080 And we have the scarcity mindset. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.639 I gotta get mine, I gotta protect mine. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.320 What if I don't have enough? 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:56.080 What if I lose it? 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.720 And it will erode your peace in the way God has intended you to live. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.799 The second thing he says is don't hoard it. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:08.720 And then he's gonna say, never cut corners, don't take shortcuts. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:10.000 Notice what he says. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.240 Look, pay attention. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:18.399 The wages you failed to pay workers who mowed your field are crying out against you. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:27.759 Now, in the Levitical law, there was a law that you were not uh that it was unlawful to withhold anyone's wages. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.559 And day laborers in that day literally lived day to day. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:39.120 They would work, they would get paid, and with that money, they would then bring food home to their family. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.639 If they did not get paid, they would not eat. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:12:06.480 And here's what he's saying: when you hoard for yourself, or even you delay the good that you should give, you're keeping from others what is rightfully theirs, and God's actually attentive to this, and it might increase your bank account, it might increase your storehouse in this moment, but God will hear their cries. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:12.799 He says, The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:18.799 In fact, there's a literal law, Levitical law in the Old Testament that says don't cut corners. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.159 I don't know if you knew that. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:27.279 Literally, if you own a property with uh grain and you're you're harvesting it, don't cut the corners. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:35.519 You leave part of what is yours because all is God's for others and for the poor to take care of one another. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:40.559 By the way, we do not need the government to solve our socioeconomic disparity. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:43.759 We need the church to begin to apply the word of God. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:48.720 We're called to be the solution, not a politician or even politics. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:54.639 And when we step into that and when we begin to apply his word, we'll see change in our world. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:57.440 But it begins with us not cutting corners. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.759 It says, never cut corners. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.360 I know lame. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.480 Okay, I get it. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:03.360 I get it. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:04.960 I that's stupid. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:07.120 I I'm fine, I'll put that one down. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.559 Never cut corners. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.200 What does that mean? 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.720 Unfair wages. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.120 Have you ever paid someone below? 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:17.279 Maybe you're an employer, and you have to make that right. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:24.000 Unjust gains where you've manipulated things for your benefit, but it took advantage of another person. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.600 Dishonest business deals. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:33.679 My wife's a real estate agent, and she was listing this home recently. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:41.360 And it's interesting how under pressure, how we have to make sure I'm gonna cut corners so I can take care of my family, some of these sort of things. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:47.919 And they went in under contract, and three days later, the real estate agent said, We're out. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.159 Like, why? 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.919 What's interesting is his candidness. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:14:05.200 We actually put a couple offers in on houses, and they decided which one they wanted, and we're gonna leverage the contingency here to get out of this one. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.559 Illegal, by the way, unless they're able to pay for both houses. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:16.320 It was underhanded, it was cutting corners, and it was taking advantage of the moment, and we do this. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.360 We apply this in different areas. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.559 It might be with your work. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.960 In fact, we might be cutting corners because of working at home. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:30.320 Cutting corners with how we do what we do and how we take care of another person. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:33.279 It says, Don't hoard it and never cut corners. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.720 And then finally, he's going to say, resist. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.399 Now he's not really going to say it this way. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:42.240 So you just read it up on the screen, but he doesn't say these exact words. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:45.360 I I put it into our context. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.960 Resist retail therapy. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.120 This is what we do. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.559 This is what we're doing. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.200 In fact, if you search, there's a lot of posts right now to help us not do this. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.799 Resist retail therapy. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.960 He says, You lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:12.000 That's the excess, excessive, unrestrained gratification of one's appetite, desires to live for your pleasures, to indulge yourself. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:15.039 You fatten yourself in the day of slaughter. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:20.799 And then he goes on, you have condemned and murdered the innocent one who is not opposing you. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:30.399 That that I can live for myself and keep all for myself and continue to pour this out and not care for the person who has nothing. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:35.919 You know, I was going, I had two days with where I didn't have coffee at home. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.639 So the second day I went to Pete's early in the morning. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.799 And as I walk out, there's a homeless man. 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.399 I've seen him around. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:51.600 Um so I recognized him, and he asked me if I could give him some food. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:53.279 And I said no. 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.279 And I walked on. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:59.360 I got in my car and I was just so convicted. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:06.159 And I was like, okay, what does it look like where I can buy a cup of coffee? 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:08.240 This is my own self-gratification. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:08.960 Do I need it? 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.799 The answer is yes, I do need it. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:13.600 No, no, I don't, but I kind of do. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:22.559 But I can spend three dollars on me to get a cup of coffee, but I wouldn't spend three or five dollars on him to feed him. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.879 This is what he's saying here. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:27.440 And so I began to drive away. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.519 I'm telling you the honest story, okay? 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.200 Because you need to hear. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:38.399 And the Spirit of God, the further I got away from Pete's and the closer I got to home was just louder and louder and louder. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:43.120 And it was easy that I was teaching this passage, and the Spirit's like bringing it to my mind. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:46.720 And uh and so I turned around. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.679 And I went to him, I said, Hey man, I'm sorry. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.840 I would love to buy you breakfast. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.639 What can I get you? 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.519 And Noah's bagels was right there, and can I get you a bagel? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.200 And he said, No, I don't like bagels. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.240 Oh Lord. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.159 He's like, Can I get a taco? 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.880 Like, it's 5 30 in the morning. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.640 Where do you get a taco at this time? 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.680 And he got quick answer. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.559 Jack and the Bell's Jack in the Bell. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.000 Jack in the Box? 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:12.960 Clearly. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.720 I I anyways. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.720 Jack in the Box is right over there. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:19.279 I'm like, okay, I can't walk into here. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.480 Fine. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:29.119 I drive over, buy him six tacos and a Coke, I bring it back to him, and he says, Oh, thank you for this. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.079 What's in here? 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.359 Uh Coke? 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.519 I normally have milk in the morning. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.279 I'm like, I don't know. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.559 Oh man. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.759 Here's the reality. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:46.000 I tell my kids this all the time, and then I tend to forget it. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:50.960 God has given us a lot, not so that we can hoard it, keep it, and make ourselves better. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.359 God gives us a lot so we can give a lot. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:00.720 And he says, James is going to say, if you want to experience financial peace, there's three warnings. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:06.319 Don't hoard it, never cut corners, and resist retail therapy. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.000 You're like, okay, what's the picture? 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.119 Well, I have two. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:15.759 I have a credit card right here, because we can just charge it, forget about it, and then live under this immense amount of weight. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:20.559 And then I have my Costco card, and yes, it's really messed up and broken, all this sort of stuff. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:38.000 But I gotta let you know, I was just at Costco yesterday shopping for the family, and this passage was so good reminder because when I see the kayak, no, I don't really care about the kayak, but there are so many things at Costco that you just spontaneously buy and you just don't even think about it. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:40.079 And you go, resist it, resist it. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.880 Okay, so if that's what not to do, what do we do? 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:45.920 Let me give you the path to financial peace. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:52.079 So if you don't hoard it, the biblical call all throughout the Bible is to steward it. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:54.079 We're called to steward it. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.880 It was never yours to begin with. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:02.079 All that you have is God's entrusted to you to steward. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:13.039 And so we are to ask this question God, with my check, my banking account, with my resources, my finances, how would you want me to spend this? 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.279 Don't hoard it, spend it. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.559 Well, what does that look like? 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.480 First, give. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.400 Give first. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:24.640 For some, the minute COVID hits, you stop giving. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.400 Many, you started to give more. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:31.599 And I'm so grateful because we're able to do what we're able to do as a church because of your generosity. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:35.279 But I know many people that the uncertainty stopped giving. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.119 That's when you know you're hoarding. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:39.920 See, it's not bad to save. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:41.680 We're gonna talk about that in a second. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:46.000 In fact, it's not even bad to have wealth, it's what you do with your wealth. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:50.400 Are you a steward or are you a hoarder? 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.160 Stewards lean into generosity first. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.880 This is what we said as a church. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:01.920 We said that we are going to err on the side of generosity. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:09.440 Even though this season is uncertain, even though we're not sure how giving's gonna look, we're gonna err on the side of generosity. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.480 And so we figured out how can we partner with Del Mar? 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.079 How can we continue to take care of our staff? 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:25.039 How can we step into the needs around us and turn on lights over here for a family that lost their electricity and give food to over here? 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:30.079 We have said we're gonna lean into that, and that's what we're called as individuals to do. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:38.160 You know, as a church, we have decided at the very beginning we would give at least 10% of our general budget away. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.759 Because we just believe that's what we're called to do as people. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:50.960 And so this year, and this is amazing, we've given$132,671 away just out of our general budget. 00:20:51.119 --> 00:21:02.079 And then above and beyond, we gave another 130k away, 260k away just like that, as a church, leveraged together, leaning into generosity. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.279 That's I mean, it's amazing when you do this. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:09.119 And by the way, you cannot give God, we've been taken care of. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:15.839 Give first, steward it, give first, begin to tie that awakening. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:22.559 If you're wrestling with that, begin to give to a great organization that loves God and is doing good. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.440 But give first, then save second. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.799 Save second. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.559 See, it's not wrong to save. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:35.759 In fact, the proverb says a wise person, a prudent person, a good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:42.480 But often what happens is we we save first or we hoard instead of give, and then save. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.519 This is what we're doing as a church and individually. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:49.119 We're we've been saving up for a long term location. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:55.839 We're leaning into generosity, give first, save second, begin to put some money away. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.599 Stop living on credit cards, especially those that are. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.880 Youthful that are just going like, well, I can charge it, I can charge it. 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:04.640 You will pay later. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:08.079 Do not pay later, save today. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:11.119 Give first, save, second, then live on the rest. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:18.960 So that you can take care of your needs, pay your mortgage fee, live off what you have. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.359 Okay? 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:21.519 Give first, save, second, live on the rest. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:24.480 Pat to financial peace, don't hoard it, steward it. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:32.000 Then, secondly, never cut quarters, work with integrity, work with honesty. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:35.680 Work in such a way that it honors God. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:41.519 And whatever you do, whether word and deed, the apostle Paul will say, do it all unto the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:48.240 That you'll say, What I say, what I do, how I respond, may it honor you. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.880 What I say, what I do. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:57.039 No matter how I respond, may it honor you, Jesus. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:01.759 The Proverbs says it's this way: whoever walks in integrity, walks securely. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.960 You want to have peace? 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.960 Walk in integrity. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:10.319 But whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:15.200 One little step, and I just want to brag on the leadership of our church. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:18.400 So this isn't me, this is our leadership council. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:23.359 We had a big decision with uh PPP, the Paycheck Protection Program. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:26.240 Yeah, there's a lot of words to say uh right there. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.680 Like, do we take it in the early days of COVID? 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:34.880 And well, our giving was really good, and I'm so grateful for you all in that. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:42.799 And we, because we use wise financial stewardship, we have money in the bank and we spent less than what was coming in. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:50.000 So we weren't in danger of not being able to take care of our team and our staff and cover our cost. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:53.759 And so we said, you know what, we're not even gonna apply for PPP. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.039 We know other churches are and other people are, and that's great. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:00.480 But for us, it was a conviction of integrity not to do that. 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.200 Why? 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:06.559 Because if we were to apply and get it but not need it, it would have taken it from someone else who did. 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:11.759 And we said, we're just not gonna do that, even though we didn't know what the summer is gonna look like. 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:18.160 We had no idea that July would be the best July giving of the entire history of our church. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.440 Isn't that amazing? 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:23.759 In the midst of a pandemic, it is the best giving we've ever seen. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:29.759 But it's whoever walks with integrity walks securely. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:35.279 So proud and honored to walk with those who walk in integrity that way. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:37.599 Walk and work with integrity. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:41.920 And for some, because you're working at home, you can cut corners. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:47.839 There's ways to get around things, and you're like, well, okay, the first part was really about employers. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:53.119 Let's bring it down to employees and how we work and how we go about what we do. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:25:00.880 Would you, would you begin to say, I'm gonna walk and I'm gonna work with integrity? 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:05.039 All right, don't hoard it, steward it, never cut corners, work with integrity. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:07.440 Finally, remember, resist retail therapy. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.799 Okay, what do I do then? 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.039 Leverage your resources for good. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.480 Leverage your resources. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:17.200 Now notice I said resources, not just your money, all that you have. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.799 I just want to read a few Proverbs here for you. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:31.839 Proverbs 14, 31 says, Whoever presses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors the God, honors God. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:37.839 I gotta tell you, I've been sitting in these Proverbs, and the way that I see homeless people has changed. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:47.519 I've seen a lot more because I've been aware a lot more lately, and I cry a lot more, realizing they're image bearers of God. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:49.759 They're somebody's son or daughter. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:59.279 You know, we have a team that goes out with their resources with blessing bags and is loving on the homeless right now. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:07.039 Proverbs 19, 17, whoever's kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:12.960 Church, may we be a church that leverages our resources for good that is kind to the poor. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:19.519 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:22.960 Resist retail therapy, self-indulgence. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:25.920 How do I just make numb myself and make myself feel good? 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.119 But then lean in. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:29.440 If you want to experience financial peace, lean in. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:31.279 Leverage what you have for good. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:34.559 And it begins with your treasure, your finances. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:40.400 Wherever your heart or wherever your money goes, there your heart follows. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:43.039 Would you lever it with your finances? 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.519 Would you leverage it with your time? 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:50.400 And we can begin to hoard our time because we're afraid, aren't we? 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:52.880 This is an uncertain season. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:55.440 I just want to challenge you with this one thought. 00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:02.000 Would you begin to pray for those in need and then ask God what he wants you to do? 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:08.240 When you begin to leverage your time by praying, and then invite him to show you he will. 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:20.240 And he'll begin to move you and ask you to do some things that might be uncomfortable, but he'll bring about great good with your talents, with your skills and your abilities. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:23.839 I just think of the teams that are starting up right now. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:27.519 I think of the team uh we have a foster care team. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.799 I mean, this is amazing. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:34.640 As a church, we just wrote a check this last week for$25,000 for Foster the Bay. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:56.160 When we want to sit back and answer the question, how are we going to make a tangible, long-term, sustainable impact when it comes to racial justice, when it, when it comes to uh the homeless uh in our area, when it comes to uh just the whole idea of how do we love the marginalized, we believe it's in the foster care system. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:01.839 And so we're making a strong commitment the next six months, giving$50,000 to foster the Bay. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:08.880 And we have a team that's leveraging their skills and gifts to build out a foster care team for Awakening Church. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.640 If you're interested, let me know. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.559 We'd love to get you a part of that. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:18.720 But they're leveraging their talents, their abilities, and their skills to do incredible good. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:25.039 See, the question I want you to ask is am I leveraging my resources for the good of others? 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:30.160 See, financial peace isn't about a paycheck, it's about a pathway. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:40.480 It's not how much money you have in the bank, but it's what are you doing with what God has given you to bring glory and honor to Him. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:43.119 See, how do I experience financial peace? 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:54.240 Don't hoard it, steward it, never cut corners, work with integrity, resist retail therapy, leverage your resources for good. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.680 I just want you to imagine. 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:04.880 Imagine if just our church began to do this. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.720 Hundreds of people. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:12.480 What's amazing is more and more people are watching us from all over the country and even all over the world. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:16.880 Our church has expanded in ways that are beyond our imagination. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:20.160 Hundreds and hundreds of people beginning to apply this. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:29.039 Imagine the impact when we join together what God would want to do, not only in you, but through you. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:43.119 And then imagine, just in your home, whether you're in an apartment, you're single, whether you're married, maybe you're a family, maybe you're an empty nester, and you began to apply these principles. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:50.240 Imagine the peace that God wants to bring you and the good he wants to do through you. 00:29:51.200 --> 00:30:02.720 And when we bring this to him, this is the church that God wants to use in this season to bring hope and life and healing. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:08.799 Let us be that church and let's stop using the excuse we have to go to church. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:15.519 You are the church, lean into it, let's live it out, and it begins right here, right now. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.720 Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:21.359 It is convicting and we need it. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:36.319 Break us out of the slumber, break us free from our our own justifications, and make us a generous people that bring about great good in the name and the power of Jesus. 00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.279 Amen.