WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:08.080 This podcast is brought to you by Grant Parkway Factor. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:12.480 Helping people to know, joy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit GrandParkway.org. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:21.519 Let's pray together. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:25.120 Lord, uh, that's what we've come to do to praise you, to make much of you. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.760 Uh uh and what we hear today from the Bible. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:30.559 Let it increase our capacity to praise you. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:32.159 Let it not produce guilt. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:34.000 Guilt is not a fruit of the spirit. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.039 And so no one's here to whip anybody with a guilt stick. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:38.240 That's not what this is about. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:39.840 So let's get that out of our head. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.799 This is about us being set free by the truth. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:44.079 That's what you said, Jesus. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:46.799 We'll know the truth, and the truth will set us free. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:53.679 Let this find us and unwind us and increase our capacity to enjoy everything that you provide. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:57.359 That's why you provide it to ramp up our enjoyment. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:02.320 So if we need to repent for not enjoying things enough, we're going to repent of that today as well. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:05.680 So, Lord, just have at us where our hearts are wide open. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:06.959 We're not here to hide. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:13.840 Every one of us are like my friend Lance, we have a story, and some of us are suppressing that story because we don't want anybody to know. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.439 The truth is that you already know and you're already at work. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:22.400 So our story finds ultimate expression in the story you've been telling all along. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.319 And so, Lord, turn up the volume on the story you're telling today. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:29.920 We ask this in Jesus' name, and everyone said, Amen. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:30.480 Amen. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:31.840 You can have a C if you got a Bible. 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:34.560 Invite you to take and open up to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:35.840 First Timothy chapter 6. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:45.760 And if you're a guest, we're in a series right now called the M Word, uh, just for the month of January, because in January, people usually kick into resolutions, New Year's resolutions about this, that, and the other. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:50.000 And instead of increasing your determination, we want to expand your understanding. 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:54.799 So we're in a series called the M Word, where we're looking at things like my relationships, my body. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:57.599 And today I'm going to talk about my money. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.319 Now, stay with me because some of y'all, if you're visiting for the first time, you just thought you rolled your eyes. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:02.879 Yep, there we go. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:06.959 I come to church for the first time since 1977, and the preacher talks about money. 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:10.240 I will fight you in the parking lot when we're done, if you think that, okay? 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:12.080 Because that's not what I'm about, okay? 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:15.680 I I want you to understand what the Bible says about money. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:18.319 Now, I somebody asked me this week, I said, What's the N-word this week? 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:18.960 I said money. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.639 And the guy said, Oh, you're talking about tithing. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:22.639 I said, No, did you not hear what I said? 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:23.919 I said money, not tithing. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.599 Well, that's what preachers usually talk about, right? 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:33.439 I said, the reason preachers, when it comes to money, talk about tithing is because when the Bible talks about money, it's harder on preachers than anybody else. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:36.719 You don't believe that, do you? 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.280 The other like, you seem very excited about this. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:40.639 Uh no, but that's why. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:43.759 Because it's like, oh, let's talk about you and what you should be doing with your money. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:45.039 Now, here's what I'm gonna do. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:50.080 You're gonna see in the Bible what God says is that I provide everything so you can enjoy it, okay? 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:56.479 And the chances, the biggest sin most of you in this room are committing is that you don't enjoy what God has provided enough. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:00.960 Mmm, Kimo Sabe, you speak in riddles. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:01.919 Yes. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:03.919 So it's not, I'm not here to make you feel bad. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.840 We're not gonna pass salad bowls and kind of go, oh, you give something you made to the church. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:08.719 No, no. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:10.800 I'm gonna read this passage right here. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:16.400 There's there's two sections you talk about poor Christians and rich Christians, and he gets after preachers in between. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:20.080 And so who's not who who's in favor of the Bible getting after the preacher? 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:21.039 Say amen. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.759 Y'all enjoyed that way too much. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:25.599 All right, so here's what we're gonna do. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:28.479 Now, uh now let me before I read the passage, let me just say this. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.319 This is this is bonus round material. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:32.319 There's four things you can do with money, okay? 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:37.120 You can earn money, you can tithe off your money, you can save money, and you can spend money. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:38.240 Let me say them again. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.919 You earn money, you tithe off of money, tithe is a word that means the tenth. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:42.960 He's like, What? 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:43.840 Yeah, yeah. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:46.080 God's so generous, God says, here's what I want you to do. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:48.080 The first fruits, the tithe that belongs to me. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:51.919 You bring that to the storehouse, you you you you give that, I'll take care of everything else. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:55.520 He says in the book of Malachi, he says, I'll open up the he says, test me in this. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:56.960 Put me to the test, God says. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:02.240 See if I don't open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing upon you until there is no need. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:02.719 Okay. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:04.319 No, I can't convince you of that. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.039 The sermon's not about tithing, but I will say this about tithing. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.919 Uh, free bonus, more bonus around material. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:15.039 You will raise your children in a house of provision or in a house of blessing. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:19.199 You will raise your kids in a house of provision and a house of blessing. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:23.120 A house of blessing is people that practice the biblical teaching on tithing. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:26.319 That God's gonna open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on you, okay? 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:31.759 If you're like, I'll tell you what, no, that's Old Testament, Bible, whatever internet theologian you listen to. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:34.319 You're raising your children in a house of provision. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:36.079 Now, I'm not saying like some people do. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:37.839 Oh, if you don't tithe, you're gonna be miserable. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.920 No, I know people don't give a dime to the church and they live in large right now. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.560 That's another thing I shouldn't say, isn't it? 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.800 Because some of y'all are like, well, I can do the same. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:48.480 Here's what haunts them, though. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:51.120 They get in bed at night and they're like, man, this is really good. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:53.519 What you should wonder is this is just provision. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:55.360 What would blessing be like? 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.600 And you can't get there just by wishing. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:00.639 You have to practice this. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:02.480 And so, four things you can do with money. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.519 You can earn, you can tithe, you can save, you can spend. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:09.199 Which one of those four things is your favorite to do with money? 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:11.519 Spend it. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:12.879 Yes, is my wife in the crowd? 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:14.000 Where are you, honey? 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:16.720 Yeah, and so so I want to talk about my money. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:17.839 And here's look, look at me. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:21.439 Don't check out, I feel you pull it back, like I tell you what, I ain't here for this. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:27.279 Uh, I want to increase your enjoyment of every dime you have right now. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.480 And I ain't gonna ask you for a red scent of it. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.959 Some guy just leaned over to his wife and said, I doubt that. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:38.319 So I'm just gonna read uh from 1 Timothy chapter 6. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.360 I'll start reading verse 2. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:44.639 I'm gonna point to four things in the Bible, and the Bible is gonna lay the wood to all the preachers in the room today. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:45.279 Amen. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:47.519 Uh, 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 2. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:49.040 Teach and urge these things. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:58.959 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:12.879 He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are deprav who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:16.160 Imagine that godliness is a means of gain. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.800 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:22.639 For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:27.040 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:36.160 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires, and that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.959 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.439 It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:48.560 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:55.279 Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness, fight the good fight of the faith. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:01.759 Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:31.360 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who is in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time, he who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal dominion. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.160 Amen. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:42.959 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:56.160 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of that which is truly life. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.480 Four things I want to point to when we talk about my money today. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.639 And the first one is this is that the prosperity gospel is nothing new. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:06.800 The prosperity gospel is nothing new. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:10.959 Now, when I say the prosperity gospel, if you know what I'm referring to, say amen. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:16.319 Yeah, it's the people you see on TV that say, hey, send me a hundred dollars and God will give you a thousand. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.399 Uh that's a lie, that's not in the Bible. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.439 You can't do that. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:23.759 And so, but but but we tend to think, you turn on the TV and you think, what's come of America? 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:25.439 The church has been, it's corrupt. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:26.240 Look at me. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.240 People like that have always been around. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.199 You say, What do you mean? 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:32.799 Look back there in the very beginning, verse 3 of 1 Timothy 6. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:40.080 He said, if anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:46.000 Translation, if you hear me say anything that that's not according to what the Bible says, you should leave. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:47.600 You should not trust me, okay? 00:08:47.759 --> 00:09:07.519 And that what the Bible says, the person that does that, he's puffed up with conceit, he understands nothing, he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.799 How do you know they're depraved in their mind and they're deprived of the truth? 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.320 Because they imagine that godliness is a means of gain. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:18.080 They imagine that godliness is a means of gain. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.679 Uh, the first prosperity preachers are right here in the Bible. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:26.799 And let me just say this sadly, some preachers are the most money-hungry people in the world. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:31.759 There are preachers in the world that think because I work for God, I'm entitled to whatever I want. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:37.759 There's some preachers that say, hey, God told me to tell you to buy me a$65 million jet. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.000 Happened last year. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.120 And some of y'all called me and said, What do you think about this? 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:45.120 That's that's crazy talk. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:46.320 That's crazy. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:50.480 But if you got 65 million, you want to break my brother off a jet, I'll put that thing in sugarland. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.240 No, I don't, I don't need a jet. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:57.120 My favorite part is when the guy said, I need this so I can fly around the country and preach the gospel. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:09:59.279 Crazy. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.039 But I just that's not new. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.480 That's always been around. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:04.960 So don't act like, oh, Christianity is corrupt. 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:05.600 No, no, no. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:09.200 There's some weasley people out there trying to steal money from people. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:13.919 And don't you worry, on judgment day, God is gonna lay the wood to them skippies, okay? 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:16.080 So you hadn't got to get it all in a twist about it. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:19.759 I just want to point and kind of say, hey, this has been around a long time, it's nothing new. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:21.840 Secondly, and now I want to get it used. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.159 Uh uh, contentment is the goal. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:29.360 Contentment, instead of being mad at all these fake people on TV, we got to practice contentment. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:32.799 Verse six, but godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:33.279 Why? 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.519 Because we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:42.399 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:46.960 Now, if you're not careful, you think of this in terms of poverty or wealth. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:51.200 When in reality, this is about contentment or covetousness. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.960 It's not poverty or wealth, it's not the haves and the have-nots. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:11:02.480 Because, see, there's this there's this thought around nowadays that says, hey, I don't have anything, and there's people that do, and they they should give me some of their stuff. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.639 No, you should work hard for your money. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:07.919 Stop living palm up and put your head down and go to work, okay? 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:12.000 Socialism is not supported by the Bible, it's just not, okay? 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:15.200 So you can be lazy and like, oh, we should tax the rich. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.240 How about get up and go to work every day and stop complaining? 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.039 Start there, and your life would get better, okay? 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.639 I wish I could see your faces. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:27.440 You know, like, is he saying this out loud? 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.240 My only regret right now is that the live stream is down. 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:31.840 This is not going all over the internet. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.559 I believe this is every core of my being. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:38.240 Quit being sorry, lazy, dead beat, no account people. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.360 The Bible says if you don't work, you don't eat. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:45.600 And there's a lot of places that are hiring. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:47.279 Jimmy Johns is hiring. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.679 I said the other day they said, You know, nobody wants to work? 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.960 I said, How you feel about women? 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:51.759 My life's available. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.039 She's like, shut up. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:54.320 I've got a job. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.600 Well, you don't work on the weekends. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:56.480 I work on Sundays. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:58.000 How about Friday and Saturday? 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.360 I'm just saying. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:01.840 No, see, contentment is the goal. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.159 There's two kinds of poor Christians here in the Bible, okay? 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.200 Right here in these verses. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.399 There's the contented poor. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:07.919 That's verses 6, 7, and 8. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.879 Look at him, what he says. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:11.519 He says, Godliness with contentment is a great gain. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:11.840 Why? 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.279 We brought nothing into the world. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.879 We can take nothing out of the world. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:20.559 But if we have food and clothing, have you gotten over the wonder of a well-made sandwich? 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:25.440 You ever just make a sandwich and just like, before I eat this, kids, come look at this. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.960 There's turkey and cheese, mayonnaise and mustard. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.720 I don't eat mayonnaise because I grew up poor. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.919 I eat miracle whip. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:34.159 And my wife's like, why do you eat miracle whip? 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:35.840 Why you gotta question me all the time? 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.480 Because every time I eat miracle whip, this is what I think. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.000 I ain't poor no more. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:45.440 I now I'm rich, but not like the people like what y'all think about rich. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:51.200 But I put tomatoes on there and pickles and banana peppers, and my wife's like, Isn't that too much? 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.360 He zip it. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.480 And then I just look at it. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:01.679 I just look at it, I just back up like she's like, baby, is this a sandwich? 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.200 No, it's not just a sandwich. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:10.399 If you've ever opened your refrigerator and all that was in there was a pitcher of water and a half-eaten can of pork and beans, you'd never get over a sandwich. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:20.720 You're just like I made a sandwich, and I have a big rectangular box in my kitchen that keeps everything cold. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.240 And my wife's like, You're a strange little man. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.519 Because I just meditate on it. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.960 I put a verse like that in my mouth and I eat it like my kids eat jello. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:35.200 I just swish it around until I can just swallow it. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.679 And I'm like, oh, thank you, Jesus. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:39.840 And it wards off self-pity. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.320 Hey, we brought nothing into this world. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:44.080 You can take nothing out of it, okay? 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.360 We have food and clothing. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.559 Well, this will be content. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.200 Now look at me. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.559 The Bible's not saying that's all you're gonna get, so make the most of it. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:55.200 No, no, no, it's not saying that's all. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:59.519 But these are the contented poor, and then you have the covetous poor in verse 9. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:01.600 Listen to how these knuckleheads talk. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:10.879 But those who desire to be rich fall into a temptation, uh, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.000 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:16.720 Money is not the root of all kinds of evil. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:23.600 The love of money, this inordinate kind of lust for more money will get you, okay? 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.600 It keeps you from just enjoying things. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:26.720 You're always comparison. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:35.440 You go to someone's house that looks like what you see people on HGTV, like Chip and Joanna came to their house, and you can't rejoice. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.639 Ask yourself this question. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:42.799 Can you rejoice with those that rejoice when you're around people who have better and more and nicer stuff than you? 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.559 Or when you go to their house, do you leave and get in the car and kind of go, Can you leave that house? 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:48.240 I mean, they don't need that. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.879 And then I probably may deal with the devil. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.480 And your poor husband's got to listen to you all the way home. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:58.639 It's just like, can we not just kind of go, man, I leave my peace on your house? 00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.759 This is beautiful. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.120 Glory to God. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:03.840 I went to a kid's basketball game yesterday. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.000 By the way, five-year-olds shouldn't play basketball. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.879 They can't even dribble. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.320 That ball dribbles them. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:13.279 I'm just looking around, like, what is this? 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:18.320 And them little suckers got colored wristbands, and you cover the guy that's got the red wristband on the other team. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:18.960 It was great. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:21.840 And I said, Hey, I saw construction people in front of your house a couple weeks ago. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.200 Yeah, we got some work done. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:23.919 I'm like, what? 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.919 Well, we we got, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.279 And then I said, Oh, that's awesome. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:32.480 Because what they expect is, oh, you spent money on your house, don't you know we're building a new sanctuary? 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:34.960 No, I love to rejoice with you. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.240 I want to celebrate with you. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:38.080 I was like, oh man, that is awesome. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.279 Well, and we also got this. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.200 Oh man, that's incredible. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.600 Well, we'll have you, we have to have you guys over sometime. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.639 You don't have to. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:48.399 You can, but it's not like, hey, we built this, so we should have the preacher over. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.799 I'm just I'm just happy for you. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.600 Yeah. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:55.440 Here's how you know that you're not one of those covetous poor people. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:59.440 Now, by the way, when the Bible says poor, it's not destitute, it's less than. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.759 It's not destitute. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.879 There's not a one, I doubt there's anybody in here that's destitute. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.440 Uh it's, hey, I got less than that person. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:11.679 Now, we we live in a country and we got a government that says, you know what, you got less than somebody else. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.240 You deserve to them to give you some of their stuff. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:21.039 No, stop making excuses and stop being lazy and work hard, and your life will improve. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.559 It just will. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:24.799 That's the way God designed it to be. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:28.240 And so there's the content poor, then there's a covetous poor. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.360 These people that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:39.039 It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs, many hardships. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:43.600 They've stabbed themselves with many a consequence of bad ideas. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:46.879 Third thing the Bible says is preachers should be an example. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.399 I thought I was kidding when I said that, hey, preachers talk about tithing. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.679 We're gonna talk about money. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:57.360 Because when it comes to money, the Bible holds the pay, the preacher to a standard that don't hold anybody else to. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.960 And you say, What do you mean they should be examples? 00:16:59.200 --> 00:16:59.840 Verse 11. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:08.079 But he Paul says to Timothy, but but as for you, O man of God, translation, as for you, Pastor, flee these things. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:11.200 Don't be some money-grubbing preacher up there all the time. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:18.240 Flee these things, but pursue these things: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:22.559 Steadfastness is that's that that you're steadfast in difficult circumstances. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:26.240 Gentleness, you're you're you're you're gentle with difficult people. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:30.720 You have anybody in your life when you see them coming, you just brace, like, oh, here we go. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.680 Oh, this is not gonna be the Bible says of the preacher, hey, you gotta be gentle with those people. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.960 You gotta be gentle. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:41.359 I'm gentle every Sunday when someone comes up to me and goes, Why is it so cold in here? 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.000 Why do you think I wear denim shirts? 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.200 It's cold all the time. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:47.440 I crank the air up, somebody else cranks it down. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.519 I'm just like, who's having a hot flash? 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.440 Okay, stop taking us hostage. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:56.319 But I see them coming, and you're it's like, hey, do you know it's cold in here? 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.000 I mean, come on, man. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:01.440 I'm wearing my Yellowstone attire today because it's cold in here all the time. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.359 I'm John Dutton up in here. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.279 No, I haven't watched it, but I've heard about it. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:09.519 All y'all are like, but God said the other day. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.559 I think my wife's like Beth. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.519 I went, who's Beth? 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.720 You don't want to know. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.400 I'm like, now I'm curious. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.640 So after church, can somebody tell me who Beth is? 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.039 If you know who Beth is, say amen. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.880 Do I want to know? 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.559 Okay, well, there you go. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.519 Never mind. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.079 Let me write this down just for a second. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:30.480 Dear Jesus, my people are watching bad TV. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:34.720 Anyway, anyway, uh, preacher should be an example. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.279 What do you mean? 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.160 Look at verse 11. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.200 He says, but as for you, oh man of God, flee these things, then pursue. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:43.519 You should be an example in three ways ethically, doctrinally, and experientially. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.359 You should look at me and you should ask, is that man ethical? 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.359 Ethics is about oughtness. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.240 Is he ethical? 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:52.240 Okay, does he flee these things? 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.519 Does he love money too much? 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:56.480 One of the requirements of being an elder is you don't be a lover of money. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.079 That doesn't mean you can't have money. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:02.640 I have friends that are fabulously wealthy, and they say to church, they go to church. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.279 I love these people. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.400 They say, Well, we're blessed. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.480 I'm like, blessed, you rich, man. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.200 Come on. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.720 No, but actually, I told him the other day, I said, uh, I don't think you're rich. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.960 I think you got money, but you ain't rich. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.519 And then he's like, What do you mean? 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:18.319 I said, You got money, but you're like neurotic. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.599 He goes, every everyone's always trying to. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.599 He goes to another church in another state. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:30.079 He said, Everybody, every time I go, somebody's asking me, people beat me in the park in my church, and they ask me, I said, I'm so sorry that happened. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:34.559 You see, you we'll get to this in a minute, but you can have money and never be rich. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.119 Y'all don't believe me? 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:39.119 You're like, don't listen to that, honey. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.079 He doesn't mean that. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:42.160 Yeah, we'll we'll get to that just in a minute. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:45.839 But I want you to hold me to the stand ethically, secondly, doctrinally. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.799 Look at verse 12. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:49.039 Doctrinally, I should be an example doctrinally. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:52.160 Verse 12 says this fight the good fight of the faith. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:55.519 If you're prone to write in your Bible, circle the word the right before faith. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:58.000 Fight the good fight of the faith. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:01.440 Not my faith, not your faith, but the faith. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.000 Okay? 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:04.400 And what's the big deal? 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:10.480 Because we live in a day and age where everything's personal, you know, and so we've lost the faith. 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:23.039 The objective standard of historical biblical Christianity has been thrown overboard for this self-centered pursuit of whatever allows you to do what you always want to do and still consider yourself to be a Christian. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:27.680 But it the Bible says we got to fight the good fight of the faith. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.519 It's not your preferences supported by your opinion, it's the faith. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.839 We don't want to submit to the faith. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:38.400 So what we talk about is my faith, my journey, my pilgrimage. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:40.880 And I just say wrong pronoun. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:46.559 A man in his church said about a month ago, two months ago, I said, How are you these days? 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.079 Well, I'm just kind of focused on my pilgrimage. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.279 I said, What are you going to Mecca? 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.799 What do you mean, my pilgrimage? 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:54.880 He said, No, I mean, I said, Christianity is not that individualistic. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.799 It's the faith. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:03.519 You so you submit to the historical teachings and tenets of the biblical Christian faith, or you're not a Christian. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.240 He's like, dang, bro, this is how it starts. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:09.119 I'm not trying to be hard up in here, but but this is how it starts. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:11.200 My pilgrimage, my preference. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.119 I mean, we got so many people. 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:15.680 Corona has so baptized people's preferences. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.799 They got their own church. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:21.680 They got my faith, my church, meets on my couch, in my pajamas, drinking my coffee. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.240 And we wonder why anxiety and depression are through the roof. 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.000