WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.960 We're in a series called Contentment. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:21.920 Go ahead and say that to your neighbor. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:23.280 Just yell it out, Contentment. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:23.679 Go for it. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:24.079 There you go. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:26.480 Contentment! Yeah, someone said it very happily. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:27.359 Contentment. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.559 Here's what we know. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:30.480 We know life would be better with it. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:32.320 We're not really sure how to get it. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:36.560 And when we do get it from time to time, we're not sure how to keep it. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:41.200 Contentment, really, how do we live a deeply content life? 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:43.679 This is how the dictionary defines contentment. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:44.960 We talked about this last week. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.600 If you missed, I'll catch you right on up. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:55.439 Contentment is a state of satisfaction, ease of mind and peace, a feeling of quiet happiness. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:56.719 Ah. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:00:59.520 So good. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:01.600 Why? 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:05.680 Why is contentment so incredibly difficult for us? 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:20.159 In fact, I last week we talked about the thing that actually pushes contentment out of our life or drives discontentment in our life, it's this idea called the myth of more that we buy into the myth of more, and the myth of more goes something like this. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.079 When I get more, then I'll be content. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:27.280 When I get more, then I'll be content. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:32.480 When I get, you know, a little bit thinner after Thanksgiving, then I'll be content. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:48.400 When I get a little bit prettier, when I get that car, when I drive this, when I get this job, when I get married, when I get kids, when I get it's when I get, then I'll finally be content, then I'll finally be happy, then I'll finally be satisfied. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.840 And here's the problem with more. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.319 The myth of more says when you'll get it, you'll be content. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:59.120 But here's what happens is then underneath more is if some's good, then more's better. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:01.040 I got it, but it was good. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:01.840 Oh, it was very good. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:12.800 And I was content for a bit, but now I want just a little bit more money in the bank, just a little bit better job, drive, just a little nicer car. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:31.520 And underneath is a belief, we wouldn't say it out loud, but it drives our actions, it drives our thoughts, it drives our feelings about what we have and what we need that more is fundamentally the key to life and to happiness and to security. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:43.680 That's why we feel the inflation rise, we see the stock market drop, and then we hear the looming tell of a recession on the horizon. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:46.240 So, what do you need to feel secure? 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.120 A little bit more. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:50.719 Because it's the key. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:51.520 And here's what we said. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.800 We wrestled with these questions last week. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:59.599 Why do we own more but possess less peace? 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:07.360 Why do we own more, live in one of the wealthiest places on the planet, and yet have less peace? 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.439 Why does owning more only create more anxiety than security? 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:25.120 If more really is the key to life and happiness, but why do we get more and then we live in the most anxious age, perhaps, in all of human history, and we live in the age with more? 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:31.919 And why does someone else's more tend to rob us with our happiness of our more? 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.560 Why do we look at what they have and how they have it and that they just got a little bit more? 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:37.599 And that's not fair. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:43.039 And I saw her walk in dressed like that, and ooh, and we judge them. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:44.960 Like, how could they wear that here? 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.759 But inside we wish we had that. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:53.680 And why does giving our kids more often hurt them more than help them? 00:03:53.759 --> 00:04:02.319 And we want to give them more than what we had, and yet studies show that the more we give them, it actually undermines their well-being. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:12.800 And finally, why do those in parts of the world that have less seem to possess more peace and happiness? 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:16.879 We are wrestling with this question in this little mini-series of ours. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:26.399 How do you cultivate contentment in a world constantly trying to make you dissatisfied with everything you own? 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:36.240 How do you cultivate it when everything around you is driving you towards discontentment, driving us towards the myth of more? 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:44.160 And here's what we said contentment actually is a decision of the heart, not a destination in life. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:46.319 That's incredibly good news. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:47.920 And I nobody applauded for that. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:48.480 That's weird. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.800 I don't know why you should have stood up. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:51.759 Amen. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.920 Standing ovation, thank you, Pastor. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.199 You solved it. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:00.399 Contentment is a decision of the heart, not a destination in life. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:02.639 More is a destination. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:08.240 And you wonder why you never arrive because more keeps shifting. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:11.120 Contentment. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:24.639 And you can walk out today a little bit more content, and you can practice, you can cultivate contentment by daily decisions that you make. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:30.879 And we've been actually looking at uh this letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protege, Timothy. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:39.600 Now, Timothy's pastoring uh this church in Ephesus, and Ephesus is this incredibly important, well-known city in the ancient world. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:43.279 It's the capital of the Roman Empire in Asia Minor. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:47.519 It's beautiful, it hosts one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:49.279 It's incredibly affluent. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:06:07.120 And Timothy's trying to pastor this young church, and the Apostle Paul gives him such incredible advice in how to lead a church that has more, but not content, to experience peace and satisfaction and happiness. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:11.279 And today we're actually going to talk about living richly. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:13.120 Go ahead and say that out loud with me. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:14.720 Living richly. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.800 Because here's the truth, isn't it true? 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:23.199 Many people spend incredible amounts of energy trying to get rich. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:31.199 But few people actually really figure out how to live rich lives. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:33.120 And don't you want to be? 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:39.279 Don't we want to be someone who has at the end of their lives said that was a rich life? 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:41.920 And isn't it true? 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:48.399 Those who have riches and live rich lives, those don't always go together. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:55.519 And so, how do we how do we get more out of life that matters? 00:06:55.680 --> 00:07:04.720 How do we get them like like exactly like um how do you end up with more of what really matters in life? 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:06.879 How do you take hold? 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:15.360 As this is an incredible line, that the apostle Paul is gonna say, he's gonna close out our teaching, he's gonna tell us, he's gonna teach us how to do this. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:19.120 How do you take hold of life that's truly life? 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:25.439 Because isn't that what we're running after and pursuing and hoping for, anyways? 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.360 Life that's truly life. 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:40.480 Not life that's caught up in the rat race, not life that's just trying to eat by, not life that's just numbing so you can get through another day, life that's truly life. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:46.720 If you got your Bibles, would you open up to 1 Timothy chapter 6, 1 Timothy 6, 17? 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:47.759 We pick it up here. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:08:03.360 He says, Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides them with everything for our enjoyment. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.800 Command them, okay, whoa, we got a couple commands here. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:12.480 Them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous, willing to share. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:13.839 Notice this. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:26.399 In this way, they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of life that is truly, help me out. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:26.959 Life. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.399 That's what we want to do today. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.279 How do you take hold of life that is truly life? 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:38.080 And again, I want to give you a perspective shift and then a practice, a perspective shift and a practice. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.159 Here's the perspective shift. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.200 Contentment is found in God. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.759 That's a very pastor thing to say of you, Ryan. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:46.879 Thank you very much. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:48.799 Like, that's pretty obvious. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:53.440 It is indeed, he's the author of life, and yet we don't practice it. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.759 We think contentment is found in more. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:56.799 That's what we've been talking about. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.919 Contentment is found in, you know, achieving or arriving. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:00.639 No, no, no. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:06.720 Contentment is found fundamentally in the author of life, God, who has given me all that I have, what? 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.320 To enjoy. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:10.080 Did you notice that line? 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:16.879 He actually gave you what you had, what you have to enjoy. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:24.320 In fact, I think there's many of us that are gonna get to heaven and God's gonna go, why didn't you enjoy more? 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:31.519 Not only to enjoy and to leverage for good. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.919 Notice what the apostle Paul said. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:38.879 He said, Command those who are rich in this present world. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:43.759 And now immediately you're going, Okay, thank God I'm off the hook. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:49.039 I saw that one person and what they drove in the parking lot, Ryan's speaking to them. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:55.440 See, here's the problem with rich is none of us think we're rich. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:10:02.480 We can always point to someone who's rich, and often it's somebody who has not only more than us, it's doubly more than us. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:06.000 If you make 50 grand, someone who makes a hundred grand, wow, they're rich. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:07.440 If you make a hundred, it's two hundred grand. 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.919 If you make a million, it's two million. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:14.320 Rich is always out there and it's never right here. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:17.919 You know the definition for rich, at least biblically? 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:23.120 Rich is having more than you need, having extra. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.320 That's all it is. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:27.279 Rich is saying, I actually have extra. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.320 I have leftover. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:30.720 Anybody have leftovers in their fridge right now? 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:31.360 Hello? 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.279 Your food, rich. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:39.440 Anybody throw away any food that went unused in your fridge? 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:40.960 Yeah, no, me too. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:47.519 You know what gets thrown away a lot is those like um packs of um, oh, the mixed greens. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:54.720 You ever, you know, you get those things and then they see they in the drawer and then you pull them out, and it's like this goopy mess. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:02.960 Buy food, put it in a refrigerator, store it for a couple weeks, pull it out, it's gone bad, I throw it out. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.559 Because I have extra. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:06.240 I have more than I need. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:11.279 We don't think of ourselves as rich, but in the global economy, we are rich. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:21.759 In fact, one person did the math, and if you earn$37,000 annually, you're in the top 4% globally of the world. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:23.200 Hello, top 4%. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:33.360 And and by the way, um, many of us, if we earn$37,000, um, it would be a significant pick up, right? 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:35.679 You're like, no, no, thank you. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:43.279 See, having more than you need, in fact, in in the ancient day, if you had two of something, you were considered wealthy. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.279 If you had more than just your daily bread, you were considered wealthy. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.120 And and we have closets full. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:50.240 I don't know if you notice this. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.879 Oh, I won't pick on you right now, I'll pick on me. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.759 Um, I have more than two of many things. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.799 In fact, right now I'm wearing my jean jacket. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:05.360 I wore a different jean jacket last week. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:10.080 I have two, I am rich jean jacket-wise. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.960 Um, and then here's I buy just the same thing. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:24.480 I I have this black shirt, I have multiple of the same black shirt, and then I these black jeans, I have multiple black jeans of the same ones. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.440 I just bought a new pair. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:25.759 Why? 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:30.639 Because these are faded out, they're not black enough for my dress-up black jean days. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.360 You know what I mean? 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:37.120 And you gotta have like fully jet black jeans to be dressed up, and then shoes. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:42.879 I have running shoes, I have basketball shoes, they're from indoor. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:47.600 My old basketball shoes, yes, I have a second pair of basketball shoes, they're for outdoor playing. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:51.519 Then I have some dress-up shoes, and then I have these shoes. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:57.759 This is for when it gets colder, and you're like, poor Ryan, he doesn't have socks, he couldn't afford socks. 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:59.759 No, I just have good-looking ankles. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.480 No, I just wanted to show them off. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:17.440 See, one of the powerful tools for us to understand in perspective shifts of contentment is when instead of trying to somehow get rich, you embrace you already are rich. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.840 You are rich. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:28.000 We have more than we need, we have extra, and it changes the way you think about your stuff. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:34.480 And so then what the apostle Paul says next is for us, not for somebody else. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:38.480 He says we need to be aware of two common traps. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:39.759 There's two things. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:50.240 He says, not to be arrogant or to put your hope in your stuff, not to be arrogant. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.279 What is what is one of the common traps when you get more? 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:56.480 Is you believe that more makes you a somebody. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.720 You walk around. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.559 We all did this in high school. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:01.519 Don't even play. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:10.080 I remember when I got a new watch in high school, just a watch, not a new fit, a watch. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.039 I walked on like I was so cool. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:23.840 And we don't grow out of it because it's what you drive, it's what you wear, it's how big your house is. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:35.039 And there's this subtlety about you know arrogance that that it actually you think the more you have, you you all of a sudden begin to believe I'm smarter than everybody else. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.799 I'm better than everybody else. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:37.759 Of course I am. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.200 Look at all that I've been able to acquire. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:45.840 First trap, beware, it doesn't make you a somebody. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:50.240 The second one is more provide security. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:55.759 It says, Don't put your hope in riches, which is so uncertain. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:05.840 And this is what we do because we shift our hope onto our stuff, and we think if we only get more, then we will be safe. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:10.240 In fact, the Proverbs says it this way in 23:4, don't wear yourself out to get rich. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.679 Don't trust in your own cleverness. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:14.000 Cast but a glance at riches and they're gone. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.000 For they'll surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.519 It's and we get it. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.480 We've all watched it. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:27.200 We the last three years we've seen the stock market do this and this and this and then this again. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.759 And we're all hoping it'll do this again. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:36.320 And we put our hope thinking that somehow the more we get, the more secure we'll be. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.440 He says, No, no, no. 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.799 But put your hope in God. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:48.559 Remember, contentment is found in God, who richly provides us with everything for our own enjoyment. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.559 I love that. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:55.440 He doesn't say command those who are rich to feel really bad about what they have. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.759 Shame on you. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.679 How could you have nice things? 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:10.960 Command those who have nice things to always apologize about the things they have and tell how they got it on sale or got a deal or knew somebody. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.200 That's what we do in church world, by the way. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.440 If you're new to church, you drive something nice. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.960 Oh, I got a really good deal. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.559 Oh, no, no, no. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.399 This is a gift, it was a birthday present. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.519 It was. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.000 Uh both both jean jackets were. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.320 No, no, no. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:32.080 Command them not to be arrogant or to put your hope in your stuff. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:37.360 Put your hope in God who richly provides it for your own enjoyment. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.480 Hey, I want you to enjoy the good things that I've provided for you. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.240 That's that's the heart of the Father. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.519 I like the way Andy Stanley, a pastor in Atlanta, says it. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:49.600 He says, My hope is not in riches, but in him who richly provides. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:17:00.960 If we're gonna develop and cultivate contentment, if we're actually gonna be those who take hold of life that's truly life, end up at the end of life of more that matters, a perspective shift. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:08.240 Contentment is found in God, who has given me all that I have to enjoy, and say and with me. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:14.400 And because we don't and it, we period it sometimes. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:19.119 Contentment is found in God who has given me all that I have to enjoy. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.240 It's a fun ending. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.279 But it's not a rich living. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:29.359 It's a fun ending. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:44.400 It sounds nice, but it's actually fundamentally without the and it's hollow living, it's empty living, it's shallow living, and leverage for good. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.079 Leverage for good. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:18:07.039 We ended last week talking about generosity, and actually the apostle Paul finishes with generosity, leverage for good, command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:09.920 Why did he have to command them to do good? 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:17.920 Because the natural human instinct is not to be generous, but to get mind. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.440 Yeah, it is. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.680 Look at any toddler. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.119 You ever hung out with toddlers? 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.920 You ever taken a toy from a toddler? 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:36.480 Mine! Many toddlers, their first word is mine. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.640 Command them to do good. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:44.480 And here's why, as we buy into another myth of more. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.440 Isn't that amazing? 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.440 With the myth of more, there's always more. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:50.559 And here's the myth with the other myth of more. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.000 It's almost a word. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.920 Uh tongue teaser. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:58.880 When I get more, then I'll give more. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:02.720 When I get more, then I'll get more. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:18.720 See, we believe that one day, someday, we can actually leverage what we have for good, and it is a myth because if we don't put it into practice here, if we don't leverage presently what we have for good, we won't do it later when we get more. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:29.759 In fact, contentment says this contentment leverages more for good. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:43.039 Contentment says, because I am already rich and I am enjoying what God has given me, the more that I have, the extra that I have is not mine. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:49.279 I'm actually a steward of, and I'm gonna leverage for good. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:56.000 And here's what's amazing about leveraging what we have or practicing generosity. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:59.200 This is generosity's great mystery. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:02.480 This is the secret to living richly. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:09.759 Jesus said it this way it is more blessed to give than receive. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.160 What if he was right? 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.279 You ever think about that? 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:21.440 You ever just stop and like read the gospels and go, what if he was right about life? 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.599 What if he actually knew what he was saying? 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:37.599 It is more blessed, it is happier, it is better, it is a flourishing life to give than to receive. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.759 Like you get more out of it. 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:42.799 It is a rich way of living. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:50.559 In fact, the Proverbs would say it this way: one person gives freely yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.880 A generous person will prosper. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:56.799 Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.359 What if the perspective shifts? 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:05.599 I am already rich, I am enjoying what I have, and the extra that I have, I'm gonna leverage for good. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:13.920 And by the way, when I leverage for good, I experience great joy and contentment and flourishing out of that. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:25.519 In fact, um Christian Smith and Hillary Dixon, their uh professors at Notre Dame, they wrote a book called The Um Paradox of Generosity. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:33.359 And in the paradox of generosity, they simply said uh it was a scientific research book, not Christian by any means. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.039 This was their conclusion. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:49.680 If Americans want to become happier, healthier people, who live with greater purpose, suffer less depression, and enjoy more personal growth, one way they might better accomplish that is to learn to be more generous. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:59.440 The scientific evidence shows clearly that more generous people are doing significantly better in their lives in many important ways. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:06.079 Generosity is the pathway to truly enjoying what God has provided. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:12.160 It's almost as if Jesus 2,000 years ago already knew it. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:24.400 And it's the reason the apostle Paul said, those of us who have more, I need to command you to be rich in good deeds. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:27.680 To be generous and willing to share. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:36.960 Because it's not your natural response of the soul, it's to get mine, and we subtly buy into the myth of more. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.519 And I just need a little bit more to be secure. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.880 I just need a little bit more. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:44.000 No, no, when I get more, then I'll give more. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.920 And no, no, you have to practice it. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.519 You have to put it into practice. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.720 You have to make it a part of your life. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.519 And so, how do we practice this generosity? 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:59.359 The Apostle Paul, writing to another wealthy uh city, the Church of Corinth, writes this to them. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:05.039 He says, Each of you should give what you've decided in your heart to give. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.720 So he's gonna tell us like, how do we put this into practice? 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:14.000 Well, give what you've decided in your heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.640 Why? 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:17.200 God loves a cheerful or hilarious giver. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.680 Like, I can't believe I get to be a part of this. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:29.359 And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:33.519 Okay, so how do we actually put this into practice? 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:35.920 Three words that I brought up last week. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:39.680 I want to circle back and just dive a little bit deeper. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:43.599 How do we put this into practice first consistently? 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:48.079 If you're gonna practice generosity, you have to do it consistently. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:57.920 It's gotta become a habit, a part of your life, a practice, not occasionally, not just spontaneously, which is wonderful, or sporadically here and there. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:00.319 No, no, we got to do it consistently. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:08.000 If we're gonna begin to cultivate a heart of contentment where we really understand contentment is found in God, not in my stuff. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:10.480 Contentment is found in him, not in having more. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:15.519 Contentment is found in God who gave this to me to enjoy and to leverage for good. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:20.000 I then have to consistently practice it, make it a habit. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:23.440 And here's what we do, and here's the reason many of us miss out on it. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:27.599 We do it one time, we do it spontaneously, we have one moment, oh, that really felt good. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:32.480 I helped that one person, but it doesn't make any lasting impact or effect on our life. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:38.160 It's the same reason you go to the gym and work out once. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:42.640 And then you get onto that skill and you're disappointed. 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.559 Or you look in the mirror. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.880 Oh, wait, none of you have ever done that. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.279 Why? 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.640 Because that's stupid. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.599 I have, though. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.039 I literally, I have. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:54.400 I we all want instant results. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:58.720 But we know we have to cultivate and put it into practice. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:02.640 First, make it a habit of your life, a routine. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.079 We have to do it consistently. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:06.720 Secondly, we have to do it systematically. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.759 Systematically. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:11.200 You gotta have a plan, not just emotionally. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:13.680 And we give emotionally to things, don't we? 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:18.000 And we hear, you know, some need going on or some crisis in the world. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.680 Those are wonderful things. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:23.440 And that we, you know, see something on TV, and so we give to it. 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:27.039 That's great, but we also have to give systematically. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.359 You have to have a plan. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:34.880 In fact, the Bible would talk about giving and talks about it as your first fruits. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:37.519 It was a plan that you would give first. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:41.920 Here's the way we tend to give is we tend to give last. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:46.720 We give, you know, and figure out we live on what we have, and then we kind of look at it, and you're like, you know what? 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:49.839 Hey, I got I actually have cash in my wallet. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.680 I got I got a dollar here. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.240 Awesome. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.599 Oh, I got a dollar left over. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.480 Oh, give. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.759 That's not a plan. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:58.400 Is giving that good? 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.920 Yeah, but you gotta have a plan. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.440 Here's the way we do it in my house. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:06.480 I'm like, just the whenever Jenny gets a paycheck from real estate, we write a check. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:10.000 Anytime I get paid, I have it automatically given out. 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:15.279 So I just have a plan that a give first, save second, live on the rest. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.519 We've said it so many times over the years here. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:20.160 You develop a plan systematically. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:23.440 Give first, save second, and then just live on the rest. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:32.160 Enjoy what God has given you consistently, systematically, and then finally, significantly. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.920 Significantly. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:48.160 Where we actually give a amount that we go, oh, amount that actually challenge us to realize, is it mine or is it God's? 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:54.240 The way to best do this, I think, is um with a percentage. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:27:00.000 So we give significantly and not reluctantly. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.559 And the passage it said, not reluctantly. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.559 And choose a percentage. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.240 Our family, we choose 10%. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.839 The Bible talks about a tithe. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:18.880 I believe that tithing trains our heart to trust God that I take that 10% no matter what we make, and we just say the first of it goes to you, and I'm giving it to you, and then we give over and above that. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:28.480 I've known people who've chosen significantly who said, I want to one day be able to reverse tithe so I can give 90% away and live on 10. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:31.519 And by the way, they're able to do it. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:37.519 But where you begin to give significantly and you choose a percentage. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:42.640 Part of that, it just positions you for this rich living. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.240 Here's what's amazing. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:55.759 When we started Awakening Church, we chose not only as a leadership, do we give 10%, but we we as a church said we're gonna give at least 10% of what comes in outside the doors of our wall. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:59.359 This last year we were able to give just over 20% away. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.799 Unbelievable. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:04.240 Now, here's something that is, yeah, thank you, mom. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.759 I think it was mom clapping there. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.400 I don't know. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:18.160 Um, but here, can I just tell you like the story that I want my life to be a part of, the story you want your life to be a part of, is found in living richly. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:32.559 We said from day one that uh we believe the church should unleash extravagant, lead the way in unleashing extravagant generosity to a hurting and broken world because we have an extravagantly generous God. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:38.000 God actually made the first move of generosity. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:41.279 God so loved the world that he gave. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:48.319 Jesus became poor for our sake that we might become rich. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:54.240 And so we said Del Mar, where we meet, is more than a place to meet, but a people to love. 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.519 Now think about this. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:29:02.319 Think about a decade of this and what it has done to enhance the name of Jesus to people who don't know him. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:07.359 Every single Friday, we bring coffee and donuts for the teachers here at Del Mar. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:09.279 We've been doing this for a decade. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:20.000 At the beginning of each school year, we do something special for the staff, and then we give them some sort of gifts or gift cards just to say, welcome back and we love you. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:24.319 At the end of each semester, we throw a taco truck party. 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:24.880 Why? 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.960 Because tacos will be in heaven. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:31.920 Um, we've been doing this for 10 years. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:45.279 Last month, we were able to help students who couldn't afford to even pay for the tuition fees to apply for college and paid their tuition fees. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:49.920 Many of them come from homes where nobody's ever been to college before. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:56.559 Not$10,000 worth of students being able to afford to apply to college. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:09.920 Multiple times over the last several months, we get emails or a phone call or a text from either the principal saying there's a family here that's about to get evicted or in crisis. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.720 Could you help? 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:17.200 We've been able to keep people in their homes, take care of them, provide for food. 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:22.559 Next week, we're actually gonna kick off our giving tree, which we do every year. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:31.119 The very first year we did this, because we just want to be able to provide Christmas for kids and families who wouldn't otherwise be able to experience Christmas in Jesus' name. 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:44.799 The very first year we did this, we uh we got to know um and hear of a story of a girl who had um her braces on about a year after uh she was supposed to have them off. 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:51.119 And the reason she couldn't get them off is the Orthodonists wouldn't take them off because their family couldn't pay the rest of the bill. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:53.920 Her mouth was an incredible pain. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:58.480 We were able to pay for that and get her braces off. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:07.440 There's a family that for six months didn't have electricity because they couldn't afford the PGE bill. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:19.440 We were able to cover not only six months, but we wanted to cover even more, so we paid six months into the future of what we thought it would be, so that they got the lights and heat on by Christmas Day. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:29.440 I remember walking in and we'd sit down and we'd get a kind of hand out these gifts to the students, and I remember being embarrassed of one particular gift. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:34.400 And it's this bag, but on top of it, gift bag, on top of it had a big thing of toilet paper. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:38.640 And I'm like, whoever gets that, oh man, and there's lots of good stuff underneath it. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:43.599 Um the senior, cool guy, walks in. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:46.240 I was like, oh no, we gave him toilet paper. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:50.720 He saw the toilet paper and he started to cry. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:58.000 He's like, I haven't had we haven't had toilet paper in over a month. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:03.759 I've been taking napkins from fast food restaurants. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:11.200 Like, I had no idea a simple toilet paper to this kid was gonna be incredible. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:14.319 Talk about living richly. 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:18.480 See, here's what's fascinating. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:26.319 The only thing that lasts are the people you come across, not the possessions you acquire. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:43.359 And when we steward and when we leverage what we have for good in this way, he says, you'll lay up a treasure as a firm foundation in the coming age so that you'll take hold of life that is truly life. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:48.720 Getting more only sucks the life. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.920 Giving more. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.480 So let me ask you. 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:16.000 Let me ask us Am I leveraging what I'm presently having for good? 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:23.599 Not what you hope to have, not what you want to have, not not not what you go like, man, I wish I had. 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:25.519 And when I get that, then I will. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:30.720 Am I leveraging what I presently have for good? 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:35.680 My time, my talent, my treasure. 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:40.559 See, that's rich living. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:50.640 You know what's interesting is you don't ever really miss the money that you gave generously to help someone. 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:57.200 You do miss the money that you misspent or misinvested, don't you? 00:33:57.920 --> 00:34:01.839 But you never really go, oh man, I wish I got that back. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:13.360 Uh this last week, Robbie and I were hanging out, and he's reminded me of a time, uh, because he was asking me, like, hey, you lived in Georgia for three years and then we moved back to the bay. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.719 How'd you get back here? 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.880 And I was just sharing the story. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:22.159 And it and it reminded me of one story that, like, when we had nothing. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:26.480 And how we could actually, we didn't know, we didn't know as rich living back then. 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:30.880 We just thought it it was just obedience to what God had called us to. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.639 But we'd never regret it. 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:43.599 When we were moving from Georgia back to the Bay Area, um, the place where I work actually shortchanged us two months of salary. 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:51.679 So now I have a mortgage, I have two kids, um, the money in the bank is dwindling quickly. 00:34:51.840 --> 00:35:03.199 I have to start my new job at Westgate earlier and sooner, and we're not really sure how we're going to be able to afford to pay to move back to the Bay Area. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:10.000 Well, I had a Honda uh passport, 1999 Honda passport, and I was gonna sell it for$5,000. 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:15.440 That was our ticket to being able to, you know, be able to cover our mortgage. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.360 Uh yeah, I know, and move back. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:20.880 It's a different time and different place, a lot cheaper there. 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:32.559 And I was away on a mission to Mexico trip with a with a with our youth group, and I had asked a guy in our church, he was his kids were a part of our youth ministry. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:34.719 In fact, he had four teenagers. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.880 Unbelievable. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:39.599 Uh like they're in the most incredible family. 00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:44.480 And I said, Would you, you know, help me sell this car um while I'm gone? 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.360 He said, Absolutely. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:50.239 And so he was showing it, he was taking it at night after work to other people who are looking at it. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:59.440 And I remember while I was in Mexico getting this like distinct sense, I'm like, we're supposed to give this family our car. 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:05.599 And I was like, you know, I had this tug of word, but how are we gonna afford and pay to move back? 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:07.760 And we don't have an income right now. 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:13.280 And I called Jenny, who's much more spiritual than I, and I just said, Hey, I'm getting this sense. 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:15.280 She's like, absolutely, I think we should do it. 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:18.079 They have four kids, they're gonna need another car. 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.800 We should totally give it to them. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:28.639 And so I remember saying, Hey Dell, um I just felt like God called us to give you this car. 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.599 No, I couldn't take it. 00:36:29.679 --> 00:36:31.199 It's not you taking it, it's God giving it. 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:32.480 I'm being obedient to God. 00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:34.079 You deal with him, not me. 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:41.119 Give the car away. 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:45.679 A couple days later, I get a knock on our door. 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:52.559 And there's a courier, and I'd never had a courier show up to my house before, hands me an envelope, I signed for it, and was like, Oh, that's cool. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.440 What is this about? 00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:58.719 I opened this envelope, and a guy I'd only met once wrote a note. 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:00.639 Hey, heard you were moving out of the area. 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:02.559 Really sad to see you go. 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:06.719 Thought you could use some moving around money for a check. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.679 Five thousand dollars. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:13.119 I don't know if you caught that. 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:26.079 Uh, where the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians said, and God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, not all that you want or desire, but all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:32.239 I'm gonna give that, I'm gonna bless it so that you can abound in every good work. 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:35.760 And that's living richly. 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:44.559 And we wouldn't get that story of seeing God supply without first obeying. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:51.760 A couple years later, Dale got sick, and he unfortunately passed away. 00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:59.519 And I had the honor and privilege to go back and be with the family and at the funeral. 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:04.559 And they're like showing off this car to me. 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:11.280 Oh, I would never ever want to take that back. 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:28.480 That that gotta be a sense of hope and a way that God provided for them, and he would take the little that I have when we just had nickels rubbing together, and he would allow us to get to be a part of this story to bring hope in the midst of this, and they still had that car well often, and they're like, This is amazing. 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:32.400 I'm like, oh my goodness, that is so well spent. 00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:33.760 It's better spent. 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:36.239 It's better invested. 00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:43.119 Am I spending what I presently have? 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:44.079 Am I leveraging it? 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:47.840 Don't you stand in the closer? 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:53.119 Heavenly Father, I pray for my friends. 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:09.119 As we live in such a crazy space, this space of Silicon Valley, and get caught up in the rat race of more and bigger and better. 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:14.880 Would you help us to embrace we are rich? 00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:23.920 And God, I ask for those that walked in discontent that you would settle in their soul. 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:33.360 That you're the source, that you're the provider, that they can enjoy it and leverage it. 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:38.960 Make us that kind of people, a content people that lives richly. 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.360 For your name's sake. 00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:43.199 In Jesus' name. 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.159 Amen. 00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:48.159 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:52.800 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:55.039 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:39:55.199 --> 00:40:01.119 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.