WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 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. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:21.120 Good morning, Awakening. 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:22.879 Great to be with you. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:25.359 If you're new, we haven't met, my name's Ryan. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:27.679 Absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.679 And we're in a series called Unstuck as we're beginning this new year. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:33.679 And here's incredible news. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.719 God wants to help you get unstuck this year. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:42.000 Unstuck in some of the biggest significant areas of your life. 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:49.119 And the last week we asked this question, we're asking it again this week, is how do you get unstuck financially? 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:54.799 Like many of us were talking about this, we're just stuck financially, especially in the Silicon Valley. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:01.679 And last week we we asked this question can you really experience financial freedom in the Silicon Valley? 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.000 And the answer is no, no, you can't. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:05.760 I'm just kidding. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:13.519 Go back, listen to next week or last week's, and we talked about the debt trap and how that keeps us stuck. 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:21.280 Today, we want to ask and wrestle what is the path to experiencing financial peace? 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.319 Like, how do you really experience financial peace where you're just like, huh? 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:38.959 It's well, there's not the stress, the anxiety, the worry, the concern. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:40.959 Maybe this. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:50.799 Um how much money do you need to have in the bank to have peace of mind? 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:53.120 Do you have a number? 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:55.040 Have you thought about that? 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:07.920 Like to be able to navigate an economic uncertainty, a job loss, uh, kids and cost, inflation. 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:11.759 Like, what is the path to experiencing financial peace? 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:13.360 We want to wrestle with that today. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:24.479 And last week, here's a big idea that we said that's that's incredibly important as we have this conversation, and it's simply this that personal finances is more personal than financial. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.520 And this is part of what keeps us stuck, isn't it? 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:40.960 Because if it's just financial, it's just numbers, we can we can figure that out, but because it's so personal, because it's so vulnerable, it's hard for us to be open and honest. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:43.599 We can easily get defensive and hide. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:45.759 It's hard for us to ask for help. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.719 It's deeply emotional, isn't it? 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.280 And so I just want to invite you again this week afresh. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:59.919 Would you allow the Holy Spirit to come in and to speak and invite his help into this area? 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:03.759 Heavenly Father, would you work and would you move? 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:11.280 Would you help me experience your freedom and your peace in this significant area in my life? 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:14.479 And so uh the sermon titled today is simply Peace of Mind. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:17.039 Go ahead and say that to your neighbor, peace of mind. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:26.560 And I hate to tell you, um you did better than the last service. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:28.639 Um, you did. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:32.159 Um, I was gonna have you do it again, but you did pretty darn good. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:33.759 Peace of mind. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.800 For us to experience peace of mind, here's what we need to do today in our time together. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:45.039 I I want to give you a paradigm shift in the way we're thinking, and then revise our bucket list. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:50.159 You know, the bucket list are the things and hopes and dreams and experiences that we want to have. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:04:08.879 I want to give us a paradigm shift, and that paradigm shift will help shift us and move into a place where we we can begin to experience peace even in our present circumstances, and then this bucket list is what will help us develop a path of peace as a uh way of life. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:15.120 Uh the paradigm shift is this you are a steward, not an owner. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.319 You are a steward, not an owner. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:25.199 You are entrusted by God with what you have. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:30.160 You are not entitled because of yourself with what you have. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:35.839 In fact, Psalm 24, 1 says this the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:39.360 What is everything? 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.879 The world and help me out. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:48.160 All it all belongs to God. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.199 It all belongs to God. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:58.079 This is a fundamental paradigm shift because uh we tend to think and we have this thought, it all belongs to us. 00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:58.800 It's mine. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:03.680 I worked hard for it, I gotta get mine, I gotta make sure and keep mine, and you know what? 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.600 If you threaten mine, I feel threatened. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.399 And if the economy threatens mine, I feel threatened. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:13.920 But it all fundamentally belongs to God, and He's entrusted you. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:15.680 You're a steward. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:26.000 A steward is simply this a person who manages uh another's property or financial affairs. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.199 Your time is a stewardship. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:34.560 Your finances is a stewardship. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:44.959 Your clothes, your house, your car, it all belongs to God. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:49.040 This is actually incredibly freeing. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.879 When you begin to recognize and realize it's actually all His. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:06:01.120 Instead of gripping it tightly, and when we grip things tightly, we're worried about it, aren't we? 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:06.560 We're holding tightly onto it because if it's taken away from us, then we're less than. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.399 Instead, you're like, no, actually, God, it's all yours. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:14.639 And however you want me to use it, I'll use it that way. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:18.560 And if you bring some in, wonderful, and if you take some away, okay. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:22.560 I didn't actually lose because it was already yours to begin with. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.279 It all belongs to you. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:36.480 And so, if you are a steward, if you're entrusted, if it's already his to begin with, then this is our response. 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:38.000 And this is actually our memory verse. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:42.240 So we've been memorizing the Proverbs every single week, and this is the memory verse. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:42.959 It's two verses. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.439 I'm sorry, we're getting a little aggressive this week, okay? 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:50.560 But it is the most famous, probably, proverb there is in the Bible. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:52.879 And it's simply this Proverbs 3, 5, and 6. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:54.800 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:57.120 Lean not on your own understanding. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:03.199 In all your ways, acknowledge him or submit to him, and he will make your path straight. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:06.079 Why don't you go ahead and say that with me? 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:11.920 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:17.360 In all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your path straight. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.680 On your seat is a three by five card. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:21.120 Yes, I'm old school. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:27.040 Uh I want you to write that down and memorize it, review it this week. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:36.399 If you're a little bit new school, we'll have this in an Instagram post that you can set as your screensaver as well. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:38.639 Trust. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:40.879 Put your confidence in. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.720 Put your hope in. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.720 Let me ask you, where's your confidence and where's your hope today? 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:52.959 Because whatever your confidence and your hope is, that is what you're banking on to bring you peace. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.720 Trust in the Lord. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.399 Well, he made it all. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.199 It all belongs to him. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:07.199 And don't miss this. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.879 He gave it all for you. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:24.959 He is the most trustworthy being on the planet, and his disposition towards you is one of love and kindness, and for your very best, your welfare, your good. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:31.759 His wisdom that is woven throughout the fabric of the universe is not to harm you, but to help you. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.240 Trust in the Lord. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:38.480 Put your hope in the Lord with all of your heart. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:43.360 Don't lean on your own understanding in all your ways, submit to him. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:49.279 Go, God, however, you want me to deal with my finances, your ways is going to be the best way. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:50.399 And he'll what? 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:53.679 He'll direct you, he'll guide you. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:00.080 And so, what we do though, this is what we do, Proverbs 11, 28. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:06.159 Those who put their trust in riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:07.919 Isn't that interesting though? 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:14.720 Because in times of scarcity, in times of want, when we're going through a trial, don't we put our trust in God? 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:18.480 Like we call out, God, we need you. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:21.360 Help, show up, and then he does. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.919 And then what happens in times of prosperity? 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:28.320 You get that raise, you get that new job. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:32.159 Wow, you're your your stocks doing well. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:40.639 They uh, you know, you you all of a sudden have many, uh, much more, and you start to put your trust in what you have. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:54.799 You start to put your trust in how the economy's doing, you start to put your trust in your job, you start to put your trust in your education, you start to put your trust in, and then your peace is on shaky ground. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:56.799 And that's what we do. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:01.200 We put our trust in it, and then eventually it becomes shaky and we fall. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:04.240 And we live in this cycle. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.960 God doesn't want that for you. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.600 He says, Trust in me. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.919 It already all belongs to me, anyways. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:18.639 And I've given it to you for a season to steward it. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:29.039 And when you begin to hold your hands open like this and go, God, it's all yours, what do you want me to do with it? 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:36.879 Not only do you get to enjoy more of what you have, you have more peace coming into your heart and life. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:43.519 And so, trusting God with your life means trusting God with your finances. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:45.440 Let me say it again. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:56.480 Trusting God with your life, this is where a lot of us, we miss it, also means trusting God with your finances. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.759 Can I say something that's a little convicting? 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.600 You with me this morning? 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.240 Ish, no, okay, that was an ish. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:05.120 That was an ish. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.879 I'm gonna sit down for this one. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:17.279 Far too many Christians say they trust Jesus for their eternity. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:24.480 But they will not trust him with their stuff, with their life, with their finances. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.799 God, save me. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.240 But don't mess with me. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:38.399 God, God, God, save me, but but let me do life however I want to do it. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.679 And he says, no, no, no. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.320 Stop leaning on your own understanding. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:46.080 And the reason is because it's killing your peace. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.600 Trust in Him. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:54.000 It also means trusting God with your finances. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:56.799 For us to experience financial peace, there's a paradigm shift. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.639 You are a steward, not an owner. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.600 And then we have to revise our bucket list, okay? 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:10.320 Bucket list is simply uh we know this, a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.919 So let me ask you, what is your on your bucket list? 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:18.159 Maybe it's to own a home? 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:23.039 Maybe it's to travel the world, go on nice vacations, exotic places. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:27.120 Maybe it's to give your kids experiences that you never got to have. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:29.679 I want them to have more than what I had. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:36.399 To retire young or to have enough that you just don't have to worry. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:43.519 We want to revise the bucket list, the path to financial peace, and I want us to think buckets before budgets. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:50.320 And so I want to give us four big buckets that will be the pathway for us to be experiencing financial peace. 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:53.200 It's all from God's wisdom out of the Proverbs. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.360 The first bucket is this. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.200 Make it honestly. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:01.679 Make it honestly. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:07.200 Um, Proverbs 13 4 says, lazy people want much but get little. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:07.919 I like that. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.840 I want a lot, but you get not. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.639 Uh but those who work hard will what? 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.759 Prosper. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.360 Proverbs 21, 5, we'll say it a little bit later, but in a different version. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:24.879 The NLT says, good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:27.039 Make it honestly. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.639 And some of you are like, well, yeah, I make it honestly, Ryan. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:34.639 Here's what make it honestly means: it means work with integrity. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.039 It means work with integrity. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.720 Integrity of heart. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:43.120 I love the, you know, um, don't take shortcuts. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.919 Like, don't cut corners at work. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:51.759 I can't help myself here, but um, you know Wendy's and how they have the square patty? 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.679 Do you know why they have the square patty? 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.720 This is their slogan. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.559 Because they don't cut corners. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:57.919 I know. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.600 It makes no sense. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.919 But don't take shortcuts or cut corners at work. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.200 Work with integrity. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.799 Don't fudge on your taxes. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.879 Don't lie or exaggerate to get a job. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:13.679 Uh, don't put someone down to get ahead. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.519 Be great at what you do. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:17.039 Bring your very best. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.919 Be an excellent coworker or boss. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.840 Hold to your convictions. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:33.039 See, Christians should be the very best people on the planet, both to hire and to work for. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:39.200 The Apostle Paul would say, and whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:46.159 So what that means is that project that you're doing isn't for that company or for your boss, it's for Jesus. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:54.960 What that means is, you know what, um, I'm gonna respond to this client that is just a pain in the rear. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:15:02.720 Not the way I want to respond to them, but the way Jesus will respond to them because I'm working for Jesus. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:09.120 Like my job, and I get it, guys, I I the Silicon Valley, it's hard to be a Christian. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:12.639 You show up to work and you're alone there. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:19.600 It's an environment that honestly is antagonistic to your faith. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:26.000 And and what a time to be able to gather as a church and have a place where you look around and go, you know what, I'm not alone. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:29.519 There's other believers, there's other people, there's other followers of Jesus. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:37.600 But wouldn't it be an incredible day where people in the Silicon Valley would go, you know what, I don't believe what those Christians believe, but I want to hire all that I can. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:50.559 Because of the way they work, the integrity that they have, the way they show up, you know, they work from home, but they don't do the least amount. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:56.799 They're they're actually uh leveraging their time in ways that are making us better. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.200 They're having the difficult conversations. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:05.759 And so, the first bucket, make it honestly. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:12.159 And that next week we're gonna, or in three weeks, we're gonna talk about just work and stress and work-life balance and all that. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.200 And so here's what we do. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.240 The first bucket, we make it. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:21.039 Oh yeah, I have these pink um fuzzies here for it to represent all the things that we make, right? 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.600 Oh man, I'm spilling everywhere at this service. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.279 It's going everywhere, right? 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.759 So we're we make make it honestly. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:37.840 Then the second one, I know, I can't do this, is save it faithfully. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:43.679 If we're gonna be a good steward of what God has given us, first the way we go about our work matters. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:50.879 And I want to I want to say this all work is sacred work when done with integrity and honesty. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:57.840 There isn't, like, hey, there's spiritual work and sacred work, there's, you know, there's pastors in every one of us. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:06.960 You are doing deeply sacred work right where you're at, and God has called you and placed you in an incredible way to be a light. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:12.720 Make it honestly, and then save it faithfully. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.039 Proverbs says this. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.799 Proverbs 13, 22. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:23.440 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for righteousness. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:28.079 In fact, something that uh my parents and then my in-laws did, I love this. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:30.559 They started a college fund for our kids. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:37.519 It's just a way to leave an inheritance, especially as you know uh the crushing student loan debt that many are under. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.400 I'm like, oh, how incredibly kind of them. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.319 We contributed to that. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.680 Um a good person leaves an inheritance. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.599 To leave, you have to save. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:56.000 Uh, Proverbs 21, 20 says, the wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.079 Warren Buffett, you may have heard of him. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.480 He's done okay in life, at least financially. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:11.119 He said, Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:18.240 Nearly half, about 46% of Americans, have uh no retirement savings. 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.119 And you can write save and invest. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:26.240 Because I learned this these buckets, and it was just save, and later in life I learned invest. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:28.960 Oh, can I brag on my daughter a little bit? 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:31.440 She's a thank you, one person. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.160 I love that. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:35.119 Um, the rest of you, oh well, here we go. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:37.839 Um, so so she's uh she's amazing. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:39.920 If you ever get to meet her, she's just incredible. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:44.960 She's a freshman at Westmont College down in the worst place in the world, Santa Barbara. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:19:11.039 Um and when she was in junior high, she wanted to uh support a world vision child, and so she knew that uh she had to make money, so then she started uh really focused on her babysitting, and boy, she's really good at that, and she was she had brought in a lot, but she's a saver, you know, and so we we talked about these buckets with her, and you know, save at least 10%. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:15.359 Well, when you have a kid and you don't have any expenses, you kind of save it all if you're not a spender. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.799 And so, you know, let me get it. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:20.160 There's two, four, six, eight. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:22.480 Oh, that's nine, ten, right? 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.000 And so she saved. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:29.759 I mean, by the time she was entering into high school, she bought her own iPhone. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:32.720 Yeah, a thousand bucks, all on her own. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:36.799 By the way, parents, if your kids buy it, they take better care of it. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:41.039 She still uses the same iPhone now in college. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.720 She's a saver. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:49.359 And then she got a job at Pete's and she began to save up uh and hit going into college. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.799 She's like, I want to save up for college. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.400 She had$10,000 in high school going into college. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.039 Because she's just a saver. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.920 It was incredible. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:02.240 And then she came home and at 18, opened up a Roth IRA. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:05.279 She's investing in her retirement already. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:10.400 At 19 years of age, she's better than half of Americans right now. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:16.640 College students, you're not too young to start. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.240 20-year-olds, you're not too young to start. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.480 30, 40, 50 year olds, you're not too old to start. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.160 Make it honestly. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:33.440 Save it faithfully. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.119 Spend it wisely. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.839 Spend it wisely. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:47.519 If it is God's and it is not yours, then you have to ask God, how would you like me to use this? 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:50.240 Spend it wisely. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.759 Uh, there's a proverb. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:54.400 I I actually growing up, I thought it was in the Bible. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.200 It's not. 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:58.960 Um, but it says, a fool and his money are soon parted. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:04.720 I used to be uh a youth pastor back in the day, and we would take these trips. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.359 You know, our our students are going to Hume Lake in a month. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.440 It's awesome, junior high and high school. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:13.200 And you take these trips and you would immediately spot the fools. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.079 No lie. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:19.599 And I I mean, I wasn't a pastor to any of your kids, so uh your kids aren't fools. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.319 But this happened every trip. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:31.440 You could see the kid that the parent gave a wad of money to, you know, because they needed some spending cash and needed to buy some food on the way up, and they needed some stuff at the camp. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:36.079 And I mean, back in those days it might have been$40, now it's like$400 inflation. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.960 It's crazy. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:44.160 But you got this kid that has a lot of money in his pocket, it's just burning a hole, and he's so excited, and he's like showing it off. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:47.680 And here's what happens every single time, the very first stop. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.279 You know what happens? 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.960 He spends it all. 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:53.759 And it's generally a he too, by the way. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.680 Uh, but he spends it all. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:08.079 He goes over to In N Out and spends it there, and he buys it for Some stuff, and then he goes over to CBS and he buys all this stuff, and then by day two, um, Ryan? 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.920 Yeah? 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.119 I don't have any money. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.960 And I look at him, I go, I know you spent it all. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:21.839 It's gonna be a rough week, isn't it? 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.839 Yeah. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:27.839 Did you think about what you're gonna eat on the way drive back down? 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:28.960 No. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.119 You might want to sneak some food from the cafeteria. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.000 I didn't say that. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:39.119 Um spend it wisely. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:44.000 Uh this actually in our Bible reading, we're reading Proverbs 21. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.680 Today we're reading a Proverbs a day. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:47.920 I'm posting daily if you want to follow along. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:52.319 Uh this we could do this whole sermon just out of Proverbs chapter 21. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:58.799 Uh, and I redid this one because um last week many of you came and were like, oh, that hit. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:01.200 Oh, that hurt. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:09.599 Proverbs 21, 17 says, Whoever loves pleasure will become poor, and whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:11.599 And you know what I heard? 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.680 I love wine. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.880 I love olive oil. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:25.519 Proverbs 21, 5 says, the plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.559 It's just the NIV. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.599 We had just read this. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.640 The plans. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:31.119 Most people don't have a plan. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:35.359 You can't spend it wisely if you don't have a plan. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:40.799 Most people, it just goes out, and you don't even really know where it's going. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:46.400 You have no idea how much that habit is costing you every month or every year. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.599 And it just goes. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:24:02.400 And here's what happens is we spend over here, or keep spending over here, and then we actually make a little bit more, and we're just kind of trying to keep up, but we just keep spending over here, and life does cost the plans of the diligent. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:05.680 In fact, we're not going to get into the details, that's for freed up. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.759 Commercial begins again this week. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:09.039 Here you go. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:14.319 Please join, please grow, please learn. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.920 We're kicking it off. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.599 The plans of the diligent. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:22.960 Ron Blue, a financial expert, says this most of us are responders rather than planners. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:29.759 We respond to friends, advertising, and our emotions rather than planning our spending. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:32.480 Make it wisely. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.759 Save it faithfully. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.519 A good percentage is about 10%. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.319 Or make it honestly. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:40.160 Spend it wisely. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.720 And then any guess what the last one is? 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.119 Yeah, thank you. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.960 You didn't have to be timid. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:49.359 Give it generously. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.680 Give it generously. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.039 Give it generously. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.799 Proverbs says this. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.480 Proverbs 3, 9 and 10. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:05.119 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops, then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.640 Give it generously. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.640 Now this is a paradigm shift. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:13.920 If you're a steward, not an owner, is it really giving? 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:19.359 It already belongs to God. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.440 It's all his. 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.519 All of this is already his. 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:34.000 If you're a steward and you're entrusted and it's all his, then you're simply going, God, you direct me where you want me to give your finances to. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.079 You direct me, how do you want me to use the car that you've given me? 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:45.200 You direct me, how do you want me to get entrust the house that I live in or the job that I work at? 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:47.279 It's all yours. 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:55.920 And so it's actually not losing, it's investing in the very things that are on the heart of God. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:08.480 And so, a good practice, oh, we can't pull from there, you haven't made it yet, is to give 10% if you can. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:11.440 But most people can't because we live beyond our means. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.960 We don't have a plan. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:16.160 So start with 1%, 2%. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:24.480 Now here's what we do, and here's the call of this scripture and throughout scripture is give to God first, not what's left over. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.559 Here's what we do. 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:42.799 We make it, and we maybe hopefully save it, and then we're spending it on life, and then if there's any left over, oh, we kind of give it. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.680 Right? 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:50.160 It's like, oh, it's a little bit left over, and it's like we feel like, oh, what what a what a good boy or girl am I? 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:52.240 I feel so good about myself. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:57.839 It does not take faith to give last, it does take faith to give first. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:04.720 And by the way, this is right here, this is really good wisdom from the world. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.319 This is the order for the world. 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:11.119 You make, you save and invest, you live and give if you have anything left. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:17.759 You make, you save and invest, and you give, or you live, and then you give if you have anything left. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:30.960 Scriptural would say this: peace of mind if you really want peace of mind, peace of heart, make, give, save, and then spend. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.799 Give to God first. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:40.160 In fact, Proverbs 11, 24 and 25 says, one person gives freely, yet gains even more. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:44.079 Another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:51.039 A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:55.519 Like it's just incredible reality. 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.839 Like God set it up. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:04.720 His wisdom is literally, we said it earlier, woven throughout the fabric of the universe. 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:08.559 Jesus said it this way: it is more blessed to what? 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.480 Give than receive. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:13.200 We've said it before many times. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:31.920 The best science and research shows that people who are generous, in fact, there's incredible research that says that give at least 10%, are doing significantly better in all major areas of life, both in happiness, purpose, and peace, and uh direction of life. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:37.920 And yet, what we do is we live under incredible financial pressure. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:46.240 We're making it, we're spending it, and we're kind of saving just a little bit, and this is all the way back here, and we have no plan for it. 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:49.039 No wonder you don't have any peace. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.599 No wonder. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:04.559 He says, As you make it, when you give it, it's a reminder that it's not yours in the first place. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:08.880 Generosity releases Greed's grip on our heart. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.720 It's a reminder that we're stewards. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.160 God, all this is yours. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.440 How do you want me to use it? 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:15.200 Who do you want me to bless? 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:19.200 And hear me, this is not about, hey, how do you give to awakening? 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:24.720 I think we do a fantastic job with what God's given us to impact this generation. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:28.079 And I love many of you are so generous to us. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:38.960 But this is how do I leverage my time, my talent, and treasures to align with the heart of God and to address deep needs in our world. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:47.920 You know what's interesting is you have never missed money that you were generous with. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:50.400 You've never regretted it. 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:52.640 You're never like, gosh man. 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:55.440 You know what you regret? 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.920 Oh, I'll tell you one. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:02.400 I I think I have time for this because Rowan asked that great question. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:10.319 Um, we were away during the on a date, and there was this nice shop, and they had this, this is the one of the purches I paid too much for. 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:18.079 And it was this shirt, and it was honestly, I thought it was cool, but it was one of those impulse perches, you know, and it really wasn't cool. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:23.359 And I didn't know how much it costs, and I got up to the counter, and then they told me how much it costs. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.559 It was a hundred dollars. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:38.240 And and I'm like, I I don't pay a hundred dollars for t-shirts, but I I have pride, and and I didn't want them to know that I don't pay a hundred dollars for t-shirts, and I was too embarrassed to go, oh bless God, that's too much for me. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:44.640 I bought the dang t-shirt, and Jenny still makes fun of me to this day about it. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:50.640 We have all those things that we go, why did I do that? 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:54.480 Misspent, mismanaged. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:31:00.960 But we don't regret when we're generous because it's well invested. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:12.960 I remember when Jenny and I, it just we first were learning this stewardship and trusting God, our memory verse, with all your heart, which means with your finances. 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:19.279 Uh we were newly married, we had two kids, uh babies at the time. 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:21.359 We were living in Atlanta, Georgia. 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:24.720 If you ever experienced church hurt, we get it. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:29.680 If you've ever been like deeply wounded and want to give up on the church, we get it. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.119 That's where we were at. 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:33.119 I can't go into that story. 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:37.039 I do in our Awakening 101, that's coming up in a couple of weeks. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:46.480 But we're moving, and our our job church had stopped paying us, which we're still working, that was not cool. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:53.279 Um, and we had no money, we had a mortgage, and we're trying to move back to the West Coast. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:32:02.480 And I had a Honda pilot, 1999 Honda pilot, uh, and I just put a new engine in it, a whole nother story for another time. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:08.720 And I was going on a missions trip with high school students, and one of the parents, I said, Would you help me sell this? 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:12.240 Because this is how we're gonna like afford our mortgage and move across country. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:14.400 And he said, Absolutely, I'll help you sell it. 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:18.079 We wanted to get$5,000 for this Honda passport. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:29.839 And and so he's working on it, and while I was in Mexico, I just got this sense from guys that like, you need to give this family that's helping you sell it the Honda Passport. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:34.240 Now they had four teenagers, they didn't have a lot of means. 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:37.680 And and I remember calling up Jenny, I said, I just got this sense. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:40.799 She's like, Yes, absolutely, let's do this. 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:48.559 And so I went to him and I said, Hey, um God told us we actually aren't gonna sell it, we're gonna give it to you. 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:50.000 And he said, No, you can't do that. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:52.319 I said, Well, you you have to take it. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:54.799 God said it, and you shouldn't say no to God. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.440 I don't think that's pretty wide. 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.880 I that's not good. 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:06.559 And so we gave them the car, and then we're in that middle. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:09.119 What's gonna happen? 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:13.680 We don't have money, our bank account is almost on zero. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:18.160 We have a mortgage, we gotta move across country in a week. 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:24.960 Like we don't have any way to pay, and you're in that middle, and some of you are in that middle right now. 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:38.079 And I gotta experience the reality that you can't outgive God, and when you trust Him, He actually takes care of you. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:49.359 We got this knock on our door like a few days before we were moving, and it was a courier, and at that stage in my life, I never had a courier show up to my door. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:34:01.200 You had to sign for this little, you know, uh envelope, and I sign for it, I get it, and I opened it up, and a note from a guy I met once said, Heard you're moving out of the area, sad to see you go. 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:08.559 Thought you could use a little moving around money, and in it was a check for$5,000. 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:24.400 Like when we trust God, we get to see God provide, and then we get to know that He is the provider of all our things, and we get to hold it and go, God, I can't wait to see what you're gonna do with this. 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:32.000 But most of us are living like this, and we never get to see God provide or show up because you're trusting yourself. 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:38.079 No wonder you're not experiencing the power of God in your life. 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:40.000 There's no faith. 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:47.360 He says, in fact, would you just trust me with a little? 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.199 And let me show up. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.159 Because I don't need your stuff. 00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:56.159 I do want your heart. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.239 And often our stuff has our heart. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.960 Paradigm shift. 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.880 You're a steward. 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:09.039 Not an owner. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:12.239 A new or revised bucket list. 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:13.519 Make it honestly. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.920 Give it faithfully. 00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:17.679 Spend it wisely. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.280 Oops, wrong order. 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:22.159 Save it faithfully. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:24.079 Spend it wisely. 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:28.480 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:31.280 Lean not on your own understanding. 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:33.840 In all your ways. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.920 Submit to him. 00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.440 God, this is yours. 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:42.000 And he'll direct your path. 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:56.960 Jesus, thank you for my friends, and I just feel for some that walked in the weight of worry financially, the stress, and the anxiety. 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:04.559 God, in this moment, would you be ever present? 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:12.960 Remind them of your grace and your goodness, that you want something for them, not from them. 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:22.719 Remind them that you're the God that gave it all for them. 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.280 They can trust you. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:35.920 And today, would you make a lordship decision? 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:40.320 God, today I trust you with all my heart. 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:48.159 Which means all my time, all my finances, I trust you with my friendships and my relationships. 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:49.599 God, I trust you. 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.880 You know best. 00:36:54.000 --> 00:37:02.639 And would you bring whatever you're holding on tightly to Him and say, God, today I give it afresh to you, knowing you want what's very best for me. 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:04.480 In Jesus' name. 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:08.159 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:12.800 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.039 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:21.119 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.