WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.959 Welcome to Christ the Redeemer Podcast. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:07.120 A little something different this week because our sermon did not record on Sunday. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.480 So I'm going to try something different this week. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:12.080 I'm going to just talk my notes into a recorder. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:20.239 I'm not going to so much preach as talk, and I'm just going to go through my notes like I did on Sunday, but I'll do it for you, the podcast listeners. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:26.640 So last week I got curious about what Christian books were selling in the month of December. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:33.520 So I looked it up, and the number one Christian book in December of last year, just before Christmas, was the book being sold. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.960 It's Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.479 So this sort of piqued my interest. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.159 I researched a little bit more and got into some research. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:47.920 And according to Fidelity Investments research, you know, they sell mutual funds and different stuff like that. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:58.560 Their research for 2020, about 70% of Americans have some sort of New Year's financial resolution. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:12.239 Now, 51% of us Americans hope to pay down debt. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:17.120 And 35% of us want to spend less. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:19.840 I think all of us, we'd hear that, we'd nod right along. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.400 Yes, yes, yes, yes, that's us, that's me. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:29.760 Now, of course, we all know money plays a huge role in our lives, but also in our hearts. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:41.280 And what the research shows about our resolutions and certainly biblical teaching is that money can either serve us or money can enslave us. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:47.120 Money can either serve us or money can enslave us. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:56.480 So before jumping into studying the book of Joshua, which is what we're going to study this winter and this spring, we're going to talk about money this morning. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.640 We're going to talk about how money affects the heart. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:07.599 Listen to what Paul says to his menti Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, 6 through 10. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:11.199 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:16.080 For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:20.479 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:32.879 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:37.680 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:44.879 It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:50.800 So, point number one, coming off of that passage, is that contentment begins in the heart. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:52.879 See, this is about the heart. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:59.919 That's why the scriptures talk so much about money, why Jesus talks so much about money is because it is about the heart. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:06.319 And this passage is saying that godliness and contentment, these are heart categories when we talk about godliness and contentment. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:07.599 They're about the heart. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.319 Godliness means piety toward God, piety toward God. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:20.879 Now, that word piety or piety can be a bit of a loaded word in modern times, but what it means is a heart directed toward God. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:23.280 That's what godliness is. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:24.960 It's a heart directed toward God. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:31.360 It's been ravished by the love of God, redeemed by the work of Jesus, and is directed toward God. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.759 Now, contentment means sufficient. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:38.240 I'm sufficient, you're sufficient. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:42.159 Or satisfied with what you have. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:44.639 That's what it means to be content. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.319 You're satisfied. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.360 Your heart is satisfied and at peace with what you have. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:04:01.680 So Paul is talking about a heart directed toward God that is already satisfied and is living in a place of peace and contentment and calm and satisfaction. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.360 So this begs some questions for our hearts. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:18.639 The first question that comes up is, and you can look at the screens, the first question is, does my heart begin in satisfaction and contentment or neediness and wanting? 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:23.439 Does my heart begin in satisfaction and contentment or neediness and wanting? 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:29.199 Number two, how am I trying to use money to find satisfaction and peace? 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.639 How am I trying to use money to find satisfaction and peace? 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:38.959 Number three, last question Am I living holistically as a whole, from the entirety of my heart? 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.360 Am I living holistically from the heart? 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:48.079 Allowing the love of God and the truth of scriptures to transform my relationship with money. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:52.000 Last week I read in my Men's Journal magazine. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.000 I take Men's Journal, one of my favorite magazines. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:03.439 And this magazine is always telling me about the greatest, the best things, and it was about the most expensive sports car to ever be built. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:08.240 The Bugatti Cheeron, Cheeron, Cheeron, I'm not sure how you pronounce that. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:10.800 Cheeron Super Sport 300. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:12.240 And it's arrived in New York City. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.079 There's one in New York City. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:16.720 This is a French automobile manufacturer. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:22.720 They're only making 30 of this car, the Super Sport 300, 30 for the entire world. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:25.680 It can go 300 miles per hour. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:29.920 It can go zero to 60 in 2.3 seconds. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:34.399 So that means from right now, one, two, to 60 miles per hour. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:35.600 I mean, that's incredible. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.800 And it only costs, it only costs four million dollars. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:41.360 That's it. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.319 That's all it costs. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:52.319 Now, even if you don't have that kind of money, I doubt you do, most of us don't, but even if you don't have that kind of money, you sort of, you sort of wish you could buy one. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:56.800 Even if you don't want to buy one, you sort of wish you could buy one, right? 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:07.439 Like even if you wouldn't piddle your money away on that, you still have something that you wish you could piddle your way, some money on, because it means you would have so much money, right? 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:16.399 I mean, this is something we so easily fall into, and it's just this idea that like if I had that thing, if I had that, I would be enough. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:20.720 If I had that, I would be enough. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:23.360 Right? 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:29.279 I mean, this is something we so easily believe that's incredibly unhealthy for our hearts. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:46.240 If I had that next amount of money, if I had that next amount of mutual funds, if I had that next thing, then, then, then, then, then I would be at peace, then I would be enough, then I'd be content. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:52.959 And as soon as we begin into that cycle, we have lost in our hearts. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:58.160 It's about our hearts, our hearts will never know contentment. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:02.399 And that's what Paul is saying in that 1 Timothy 6.6. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.879 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:06.000 Your great gain. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:08.959 My great gain is godliness with contentment. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:09.680 That's what it is. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:14.399 A heart directed toward God that is living, satisfied, and sufficient. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.399 That's what we want, anyways. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:25.199 And that's not about perfection, it's about a heart definition and heart direction. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:31.199 Point number two is this great gain, straight from the verse there, 6-6. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:35.120 Great gain comes by godliness and contentment. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:39.839 Now, Paul isn't talking about an increase of cash flow. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:46.399 He's talking about an increase of the flow of peace and contentment for your heart. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:56.480 And that sort of gain comes by having a heart that's at the end of itself and overwhelmed and defined by the love of God and not the love of money. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:58.399 Now, commercials won't tell you that. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:00.720 My men's journal magazine doesn't tell me that. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.399 No, they show me the Bugatti. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:09.600 But what Paul's talking about, what the scriptures tell us, tell us the gospel story. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.160 This is free to receive. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:35.519 And it's such a good, good thing that we don't need anything else to be at peace, but a heart growing in awareness that it's only by the love of God and a heart directed toward God that we're gonna know any of this contentment and satisfaction and peace in this world. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:39.519 Verse 10. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.200 Now the bad news. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:42.799 Verse 10, he drops the bad news. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:46.960 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.480 So it's a root, there's that heart language is inside of us. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:53.279 Love of money, that's all that's heart language is inside of us. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.320 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:03.200 So out of that love, that consumption, that affection, that desire, all kinds of evils come from that. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:09.279 All sorts of, you maybe you've seen it in people, yourself, your family, control, greed, hoarding. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:21.519 Verse 10, it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:27.120 So, point number three is this the love of money can threaten your walk of faith. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.279 The love of money can threaten your walk of faith. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:35.519 Now, I don't think Paul is saying it threatens the gift of Jesus' forgiveness and absolution and righteousness for you. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:49.039 Your justification is not at stake here, but the faith walk you have to experience that freeing relationship and the status you already have in Jesus, that experience of that freedom and that peace that's in the heart. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:51.440 It begins inside the core of who you are. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:58.399 That freedom, that faith walk is at risk when you love money. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:05.759 16 years ago, Christy and I went through a robust premarital counseling. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:09.600 I'm talking like eight months, 20 sessions. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:13.279 Apparently, we really needed it, or the counselor thought so. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:16.720 The section on the section on the money, uh, it was good. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:17.600 It was the best. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:20.399 I mean, the section on sex was good too, you know, that for sure. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:23.759 But the section on money was great also, and I'm a saver. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:25.679 I, you know, I live, especially then. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:30.960 I mean, I just I could save everything, I could live anywhere, I could live in a tent and save, and I'd be happy. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.480 I had to learn to give and I had to learn to spend. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:38.639 I've overly loved money my entire life, just if I can save a little bit more. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:43.200 Now, Christy came into our marriages, she came in as a giver and as a spender. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:48.240 So I had to learn to give and spend, and she had to learn to save. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.919 And now, those are the three categories. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.440 They're the three categories for money anybody lives with. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.240 Saving, spending, and giving. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.000 Saving, spending, and giving. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:01.759 Those are the only three categories that money does anything. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:13.200 Now, contemplating these categories with the Lord, that is about derooting money as an idol of the heart, as to live in greater peace and contentment. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.399 And then money doesn't enslave you, but it serves you. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.080 And you don't even own that money. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:25.840 You begin to realize you steward that money early on in our premarital counseling. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.679 Two pieces of practical advice. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:32.639 They've brought us so much great freedom to Christy and I over the years. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.399 So helpful to us. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.399 And the the first practical advice was this. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.559 The first one was this agree if you're married, the first one's if you're married, the second one's for everybody. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:47.919 The first one is this it agree upon a budget together and live by it together. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:50.799 Okay, so agree upon a budget together. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:59.440 You contemplate it, you sit down, you plan together, you agree upon it together, live by it together, so you don't have to police each other. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:03.279 Now, this was groundbreaking because Christy loves Starbucks. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:09.120 And I see Starbucks is like four bucks at a time, just gone, gone, gone. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.679 It was like burning money, but she loves Starbucks. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:16.240 And so to give her a line item where she had some money to spend and she could spend as much as she wanted to. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:16.720 You know what? 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:24.639 If I wanted to buy a third chainsaw, I could buy a third chainsaw, and the budget became the one to say, you can do this or you can't. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.720 The budget policed each of us, and we didn't have to police each other. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.559 That gave us great freedom in our relationship. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:44.879 The second piece of advice that was so freeing for us when it came to money was this: it was contemplate the giving question first, then the saving, then the spending. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:48.720 Contemplate the giving question first, then the saving, then the spending. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:56.879 Now this seems paradoxical because uh naturally we kind of go, well, you know, I'm gonna contemplate my spending and then I'll save some and then I'll give some. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:11.440 But no, if you flip it around and you contemplate the giving question first, then the saving, then the spending, this creates time and space for you to consider your finances with God, asking the Spirit to guide your plans. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.240 And here's what happens so radical. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.879 But it makes sense when we stop and think this through. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:26.240 You become more generous to the church and others when you live in a contemplative rhythm of giving rather than a reactive rhythm. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:28.960 So a reactive rhythm of giving is good. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.639 I don't want to downplay that. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:32.799 That's a good rhythm, it's spontaneous. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.759 That was a great sermon. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.759 I'm gonna drop a little bit in the offering plate. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:48.799 Or maybe you see somebody in need and you give money, you feel emotional, you have a reaction, you want to give, and you spontaneously give, you're a fundraiser, you're a friend in need, and you give, it's reactive, it's spontaneous, and it's good, it's good. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:14:05.120 But to grow in giving, and then the freedom of a generous heart, heart that's free and generous, it means that you you you're reactive, but you're also you're also contemplative about it. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:20.080 You are contemplating, and you are setting forth a pattern of giving from the very beginning of your finances, and you are setting forth this pattern because you want to have a free and generous heart. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:40.399 And you're gonna do this no matter how you feel, because it's already set and it's planned, and it turns out a generous spirit in us increases our joy in life because we're moving from enslavement from money to money serving us and others. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:53.440 And then we ask the saving question, and then we ask the spending question, and it's miraculous because then we begin to save more because we're more conscious, and then we become more self-aware of our spending. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:56.080 Now I know the question comes, right? 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:59.759 As soon as you start to talk about finances, because you're like, well, how much should I save? 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:07.120 And just to get practical, you can Google Crown Ministries, Crown Ministries budget worksheet. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:13.840 And they'll look at your income, you put in your income, and then they'll break down the percentages of what you should be spending on each category. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:22.240 Christy and I, we still work off the Crown Ministry's budget worksheet that we set in place 16 years ago. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:26.000 Second question becomes this, how much should I give? 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:29.200 If I'm the contemplate this giving question first, like how much? 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.200 And I'd like to say, I don't know. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.000 I'm still asking that question. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:37.120 Christy and I are still asking that question for ourselves. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:44.159 Because the gospel sets us free from the law of tithing 10% to be right with God. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.600 You're already right with God because it's Jesus' love and death for you. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.600 You're fully righteous because of Jesus. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:16:04.080 It's not that at 9% of giving, all of a sudden you're not okay, and at 7%, or you know, heaven forbid, 2%, you know, God doesn't love you, but at 12%, all of a sudden he loves you in incredible and wow, if you up it above that, who knows what could happen for you? 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.360 None of that's going on. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.639 This is about a heart set free to be generous. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:17.679 And when it comes to the New Testament, Jesus is teaching that Jesus talks about money as not being a treasure in your heart and to give freely. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:21.840 Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9, 7. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:34.799 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.080 Now, different churches word this differently. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:45.039 What we like to say at our church for sake of clarity is we love to say, you know what, giving 10% of your income is good to consider. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:54.720 But the guide is joyful, sacrificial giving, because you're free from the law, so walk in the spirit. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:17:05.839 You get to give to our church, or who knows, maybe you end up at some other church and you get to give there joyfully without obligation or guilt or burden. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:13.279 And you get to give to that place to help that place run and the ministries they support. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:16.319 And it's an act of worship. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.279 It's an act from the heart. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:32.559 And here's what actually happens by asking that quotes questions in that order, the giving question first and the saving question, then the spending question in that order, you'll probably give more or you'll grow toward it. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:38.880 You'll probably save more, or you will grow toward it, and you'll become more aware of your spending. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:48.720 And the giving becomes joy, and the saving becomes joy, and even the spending becomes joy. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:59.839 And it's all from a heart that's been ravished by the love of God, directed toward God, and at peace and content with God alone. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.519 Now, a few things as we close. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.079 I'm on my last sheet of notes here. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:14.880 Some of us are in debt, and it is really difficult to even breathe. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:24.160 And Christmas didn't help because you know that credit card bill is coming in in mid-January and you're already worried about it. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:33.920 And we have people in our church, if your finances are such a mess, you don't even know how to begin to get out of the hole, or you're just looking for some additional help. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:42.400 We have people in our church that would love to sit down with you and set a plan with you to begin to get out of the hole. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:53.920 And you can come and speak to me, or you can email our staff email, staff at redeemermarietta.org, and we will set you up with somebody. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.640 So that's the first thing in my closing. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:07.039 The second thing in my closing is this this past summer, comedian Tracy Morgan, he picked up his two million dollar Bugatti in New York City. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:14.079 He pulled out of the garage to begin driving his two million dollar Bugatti home. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:19.200 And he sure enough gets in a wreck with a Honda. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.759 Now here's the good news. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:29.359 Good news for Tracy, good news for that guy owning that Honda, good news for you know anybody. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:33.039 That Honda and that Bugatti. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.799 They're both gonna rust and break down. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.000 And you're gonna rust and break down. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:42.480 My hips are already positing me. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:45.759 My lower back when I work too long at a desk, right? 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.960 Like, like we're all gonna die one day. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.759 We're gonna leave it all. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:20:01.519 And isn't that freeing to a heart that wants to latch on and tight grip things in this world? 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.240 Now here's the last thing. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:11.119 Best of all, God walks with you in grace through all of this. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:14.000 Yes, we overly love money. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:18.240 We overly love money in so many different ways. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:22.240 Or maybe we don't care at all about money, and that's its own issue. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.519 Maybe you hoard or maybe you spin, maybe you hurt people with money. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.400 We're sinners. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.920 We are sinners. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:32.000 We don't have a right relationship with money from our hearts. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:40.480 But in Jesus, we are always absolved, always forgiven, and always righteous. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:45.599 God loves us even while we don't have our hearts completely right. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.799 Or our finances in impeccable order. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.920 So listen to how Paul begins his letter to Timothy. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.960 So this is in chapter one. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:57.920 You've got to consider what we read about with the money, it was chapter six. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:05.200 So long before, this is one letter, long before he writes about money, listen what he says to Timothy. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:10.160 He roots Timothy in the security of the gospel. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:13.599 Listen to this. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.759 1 Timothy 1, 15 through 17. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:26.160 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:31.119 But I received mercy for this reason. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:42.720 That in me, as the foremost Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:50.880 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:52.960 Amen. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.279 Let's pray together. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:22:01.920 God, I pray for these listeners who hear this word from your word, 1 Timothy, about money and about the heart. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:07.440 And would you put in us a free and giving heart in greater and greater ways? 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:15.440 Would we know we're already free in Jesus and you are calling us deeper into a greater freedom to know and walk in? 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:24.319 God, would you help us to see the ways in which we don't have right relationship with money? 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:39.599 Would we live in an ongoing repentance in your grace that we are free to repent and free to surrender over in new ways because you already love us, already absolve us, already forgive us, and we're already righteous. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:55.440 Thank you that long before you gave us any thoughts about contentment and money, you gave us the promise of Jesus that we are fully secure in your children long before we have our acts together. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:04.559 Thank you for this great love, this great mercy, this perfect patience that we need as sinners. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:07.279 And thank you that you love us always. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.240 Amen.