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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Hello everyone.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>This is Pastor Benjamin.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>You're listening to Sermon Audio from New City Orlando.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>At New City, we long to see our Father answer the Lord's Prayer.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>For more resources, visit our website at Newcity Orlando.com.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Invite you to stand if you would and pray together with me this prayer of illumination before we get to the scripture reading.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>We ask God, would you shine your light on our hearts through your word as we sit under the Word of God this morning?

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Doing with me.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Teach us your way, O Lord, that we may walk in your truth and find life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Amen.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Our scripture reading this morning comes from the book of Proverbs, chapter one and chapter three.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Hear now the word of the Lord.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>For the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>This is God's word.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>Thanks be to God.

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<v Rev. Benjamin Kandt>You may be seated.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, I don't know about you all, but 2020, it was a tough year for my family.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>First of all, let's just name the obvious.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>There was a global pandemic.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In 2020, my wife and I moved into a new home.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We were one and a half years into our church plant, and early on in the pandemic, my wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, Amy's okay.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Amy is healthy.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>But because of the particular year with a global pandemic going on, uh her treatment, which required surgeries, would have normally been done in one, maybe two surgeries, ended up being extended to three surgeries.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, at the time, get ready to have a little bit of insight into the life of a church planner, we didn't actually have medical insurance.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, I have some wisdom.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>There was a uh sharing company that my family and I were a part of.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We'd been a part of it for a number of years, and it worked out for all of the normal doctor visits.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>My assumption was that being a part of uh this company for a few years, three surgeries for something that was a big deal, they were going to cover it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>But because there were three surgeries rather than just what could have been done in one or two, they said, period.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I thought, okay, let's get down to brass tax.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What can we start changing?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do I actually need a cell phone?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Um I've never been cheated a good meal in my life, but maybe we could go over to rice and beans for for a season.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do I need to actually keep tithing?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The second that I had that thought, the second that I asked that question, I knew that this moment was a significant moment.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I knew how we answered this question was going to have great impact.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, at the time, it's not that I would say that my wealth was great, but wealth was doing what wealth does.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, it was making a false promise.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>If you honor me, if you use me the way that you think is wise, the way that you want to, I will satisfy you.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Did you hear the command that's in the text that we read this morning?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Proverbs 3, verse 9, it's right there.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honor the Lord with your wealth.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And if you're anything like me, this is difficult.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It's difficult.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Why?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Because whether we have much or we have little, wealth whispers false promises.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Wealth promises that it can give us what only God can give.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Oftentimes money feels safer, it feels smarter, it feels more secure and even more satisfying than trusting God.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Of course, we struggle to honor God with our wealth because wealth makes these promises.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I'll protect you, I'll satisfy you, I'll maximize you.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Our Lord Jesus Himself says these words.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so this morning, as we begin our new sermon series, learning uh wisdom from the wisdom literature, I believe here is what the Lord would teach us from Proverbs chapter 3.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>When we honor the Lord with our wealth, we live wiser and we live fuller.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Or to say that slightly more succinctly.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honor the Lord with your wealth, live wiser, live fuller.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I want to unpack that truth that I think we see here in the book of Proverbs this morning by looking uh at these three points together: priorities to value, principles for investment, and the path to true prosperity.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And as a quick aside, lest you thought my first sermon at New City was going to be lighthearted, joke is on you.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And I totally asked for a shorter pulpit.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I'm only 5'4, so you'll be back to your normal pulpit next week.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Priorities to value.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So I think there's actually something that we can learn and see right here in the text.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want to be full?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want to be full?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The answer that Proverbs chapter 3 gives is this: then give what is weighty in your life to God.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want to be full?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Then give what is weighty in your life to God.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, the text that we started with this morning, it opens up with a command.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honor the Lord with your wealth.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In Hebrew, this word for honor is the word kavod.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Elsewhere in the Old Testament and throughout the scriptures, it's translated as weighty.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In other words, what uh weighs the most in your life and in your heart is what you are to honor the Lord with.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We get a little more specifics, the text goes on, and what the first fruits of all of your produce.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, as modern English readers, I don't know how many of you here at New City this morning happen to be farmers, but for the original readers here of this text, it would have been the vast majority.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, they lived in an agrarian society, and this is a direct commandment that would have made a whole lot of sense.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honor the Lord with your wealth and with your first fruits.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, in many ways, this is a hyperlink to elsewhere in the Old Testament.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Lots of places we can go, but really briefly, I want to read for us Deuteronomy 26, verses 8 through 11.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, when Moses had led the people through the wilderness, as we just talked about last fall, he's preparing them for life in the promised land.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And before Moses uh puts up his staff for the very last time, he passes on to the people a common rhythm, a way of life.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Part of their way of life is going to be a creed that they would recite on a regular basis.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Here are some of that creed and what they are to do with it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Deuteronomy chapter 26, verses 8 through 11.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And the Lord, he brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great teeds of terror, with signs and wonders.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And he brought us into this place, and he gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground which you, O Lord, have given me.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And you shall set it before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house and to the Levite and the sojourner who is among you.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Did you catch that?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>At this point in the people of God's story, before they're getting ready to begin life in the promised land, when Moses hands them over this common rhythm, he's trying to explain this to them.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Everything you have, it comes from the Lord.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your freedom, he's the one that rescued you from Egypt.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your home, he is the one that is provided for you.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your jobs, he brings the rain and the abundance.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your families, your very way of life is all a gift of grace from Yahweh, the Lord himself.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And what was true for the ancient people of God remains true for us today.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so the question in Deuteronomy 6 and Proverbs 3, and even here this morning, is what is how will we respond to the Lord's good and gracious gifts that he gives to us?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Proverbs tells us honor the Lord with your wealth.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Give to him what is weighty.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>God is first, not left over.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>God is to be trusted, not hedged against.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>God is to be valued above what wealth can buy, but not what's left after fear is satisfied.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>When we honor the Lord with our wealth, we give to him before fear speaks.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And what does this lead to?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>This leads to fullness.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>One more time, verses nine and ten.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you see how this works, church?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Verse 10, it actually affirms your desire for fullness.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Yes, fullness matters, but the lesson that comes from the book of Proverbs is wisdom offers a better kind.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The people of God in ancient times and today, we give God the weightiest thing in our hearts.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Why?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So that we may be made full by God.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Amy and I have lived here in Orlando for eight months now.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And church, we love it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We love living here and doing life with you and being able to have Friday nights at Disneyland.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And we've observed and we've been students of the culture as much as you can be in the short amount of time that we've been here.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And in Orlando, wealth too makes promises.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Wealth, it promises experiences, it promises comfort, security, excitement, control over time, travel, leisure, children, lifestyle, all good things, all weighty things, but not ultimate things.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What do we learn here in the book of Proverbs?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want to be truly full?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And that's a rhetorical question, but I know the answer, you do.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Then what are we to do?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We put the weight of the promises of all of these things on God.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Because these things, they never ultimately can handle it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>But God, He is the mighty one, He is the strong one, He can handle it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We honor the Lord with our wealth, and we allow God to satisfy us that we may be full.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So this is the command.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What are we to prioritize?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We're to prioritize weightiness and we are to prioritize fullness.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>How do we actually go about giving these weighty things to God?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Well, the answer is essentially we invest in what really matters.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So that's the second thing I want to unpack for us this morning.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Principles for investment.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, when I say principles for investment, I really do mean that.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I really do mean principles.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And there's two from the wisdom literature I want to kind of highlight this morning.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Universal impoverishment and exponential profit.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Universal impoverishment and exponential profit.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>First, universal impoverishment.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What do I mean by that?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Here's how I would want to say it in the simplest way.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your heart is too big for wealth or money to ever fill it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your heart is too big for wealth or money to ever fill it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In another book, another one of uh books that are in the wisdom literature, it is summed up like this in Ecclesiastes 3:11.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>He has made everything beautiful in its time.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Did you hear that?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The Lord Himself has put eternity into your heart.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It will take something eternal, it will take something infinite to truly satisfy it the way that it longs for.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In the year of 2021, a friend of mine that I grew up with, he called me and he said, Hey boy, do I have an investment for you?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, 99.99% of the times, if somebody says, Hey, I have an investment for you, don't listen.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Except for actually do you want you to listen to me right now?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And I'm telling you, I have an investment opportunity.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So he said, Hey, there's this crypto uh coin that I really think you should look into.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In the last week, I've made a 10x return on my investment.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And I'm thinking, man, a 10x that's pretty good.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Let me let me look into it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so I started looking into it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And it was this crypto coin called Loop Ring, and it was only 50 cents.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I'm thinking, man, 50 cents.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I could I could do a lot with 50 cents.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Let's let's see what happens.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so I made an investment in this particular crypto coin.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, I haven't done a whole lot of gambling in my life, but I see why uh they have to have an addiction place for it.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In the first week, I watched the graph do this.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Uh my little investment that I made first doubled, became 50 cents, now was worth a dollar.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And then over the course of a week, the investment that I made it was worth 450.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And again, if you're anything like me, your heart starts going to places.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I'm gonna pay off my house.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Uh I'm gonna build you know an investment pro I'm thinking through all these things.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I thought I had invested in US steel back in 1910.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I thought that's what loopering was gonna do for me.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Well, for one week it went up, and then just as quickly as it went up, it went down.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I lost everything that I had put into loop ring.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>This morning for funsies, I logged on.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Loop ring today is worth five cents.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Uh maybe it will go up, church.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Here's the question: When is enough ever actually enough?

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, when I wanted to see it keep going up, and I wanted not a 10x, I wanted a thousand X return on my investment, I don't think that I'm actually alone.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In a 2018 paper published by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton, researchers asked a group of millionaires two questions.

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<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The first one, how happy they were on a scale of one to ten, and two, how much money they would need to get a 10 on the happiness scale.

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:15.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Commenting on the results, Norton said all the way up the income wealth spectrum, basically everyone said they would need two to three times as much.

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:29.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Money fails to satisfy, wealth fails to satisfy because it is finite and the human heart is not.

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:38.880
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Money does promise gain, but the book of Proverbs tells us that wisdom offers a better return.

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:45.839
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honoring the Lord with your wealth, it's not lost, church, it's wisdom arbitrage.

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:49.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>For all the investors here, they know what I'm talking about.

00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:54.160
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want real profit in your life?

00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:00.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The answer that the book of Proverbs gives is this invest in wisdom.

00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:05.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Investing in wisdom leads to exponential profit.

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:16.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Now, very, very brief and very, very small side excursus, but if we are doing a sermon series on wisdom, what indeed is wisdom?

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:24.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I think the best uh summary of what wisdom is, it was given to me by one of my seminary professors, Jack Collins.

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.160
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>He says, wisdom is this.

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:31.119
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Wisdom is skills in the art of godly living.

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:44.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, if we take the book of Proverbs, if we take all the wisdom in the scriptures and apply it and live it out in our lives, we will be equipped to be satisfied in all of life.

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:51.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And this is the message that's being given here in uh Proverbs chapter 3, verses 13 through 15.

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:56.559
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding.

00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:01.839
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>For the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her Profit better than gold.

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:08.079
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:13.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you hear the escalation in verses 13 through 15?

00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:17.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>If you find it, if you get it, what will it lead to?

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:29.119
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Verse 14, gain and profit, such an extent that it climaxes in verse 15 that nothing you desire can compare with her.

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:41.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Old Testament scholar Derek Kindner, he sums it up and he says it like this Wisdom can make you a richer man or woman than money ever will.

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:46.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What's an investment that leads to exponential growth?

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Wisdom.

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Why?

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:55.920
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Because investing in your wisdom is an investment in your satisfaction and your prosperity.

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What do we learn?

00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:00.480
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What have we learned here in the book of Proverbs?

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Your longings are right.

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:07.279
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Oftentimes, your savior is too small.

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:10.960
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The Bible doesn't say that wealth is bad.

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It says that wealth is a bad God.

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:17.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Proverbs agrees with our longing for more.

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:21.839
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It just refuses to let money be the answer.

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:30.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So, what should we ultimately to satisfy the longings of our heart?

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.720
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The answer the book of Proverbs gives is wisdom.

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:41.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Because investing in wisdom is ultimately an investment in your own prosperity.

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:45.200
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So that leads us to this final thought.

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Then how do we walk down this path?

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:51.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What is the path then to true prosperity?

00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:55.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Relationship and personhood.

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:58.480
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Relationship and personhood.

00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:18.720
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>See, if I were to sum up everything that I've talked about here so far this morning, that I think we get here from Proverbs chapter three, I would say it like this: What we are looking for, what you are looking for, ultimately, it can't be bought, but he is freely given.

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:26.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, in the book of Proverbs, it starts off, and that was why we have that as the very first passage we read.

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:33.759
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The uh beginning of knowledge or the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:39.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Church, fear of the Lord is relational, not transactional.

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:43.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In fact, that really is kind of how the book of Proverbs is laid out.

00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:47.119
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It's laid out like a father speaking to their child.

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.880
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I want what's best for you.

00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I want your flourishing.

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:54.880
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I want you to grow and succeed in all that you do.

00:22:54.880 --> 00:23:02.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Proverbs 3, verse 1, my son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:08.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It's a gentle father who loves and has a relationship with their child.

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What's the command?

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.160
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Get understanding.

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>This is a gift.

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:22.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Wisdom is ultimately about living in right relationship with God.

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:29.200
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>You see, prosperity in the book of Proverbs, it's never detached from God Himself.

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:40.240
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And if wisdom is ultimately about knowing God, then wisdom cannot just be a principle, it must be personal.

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:48.160
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Proverbs tells us that wisdom begins with fear of the Lord.

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:53.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>The gospel tells us that wisdom takes on flesh.

00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:55.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Church, don't you see?

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:59.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Jesus is wisdom personified.

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:06.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>First Corinthians chapter 1, verse 24 says, Christ is the wisdom of God.

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:14.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Colossians chapter 2, verse 3 says, In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:17.279
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Remember that first verse that we started?

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Chapter 3, verses 9 and 10, verse 10.

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:28.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:41.200
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>This language of bursting elsewhere in the scriptures, particularly in the New Testament, it's the same word that's used before Jesus breaks the bread and multiplies the loaves.

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:48.079
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And it's the same word that when Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, he says is about to happen to him.

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:50.480
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you see a church?

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:58.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Jesus allowed his body to be burst open, that you in him might be satisfied.

00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:04.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Here's how the Apostle Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 9.

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:16.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:24.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>To an ancient audience, the prophet Isaiah asked this question Why do you spend money on what does not satisfy?

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:35.039
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Many years later, our Lord Jesus answers this question with this if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:40.960
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>God is not against your satisfaction, new city.

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:43.200
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>He is committed to it.

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:46.640
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want to honor the Lord with your wealth?

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:48.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Do you want to gain wisdom?

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:53.039
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What is the call of Proverbs and of Scripture?

00:25:53.039 --> 00:26:02.960
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Come to Jesus and you give him your all, including your wealth, just as he gave his all for you.

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:05.680
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Remember 2020?

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:09.519
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Remember the moment that I knew it was a test?

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:17.039
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Amy and I prayed and we said, Come what may, we're committed to this path.

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:20.559
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We're committed to following Jesus, and that means we're not going to stop tithing.

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>That means we're not going to stop honoring the Lord with our wealth.

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:31.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>However, this workouts works out, even if we lose our house, Jesus is worth honoring.

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:35.519
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so we kept trying to work the system.

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:42.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Sometime in mid-January, and church, I could hardly ever get through this story without tears of joy.

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:44.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So uh bear with me.

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:55.920
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>In mid-uh January, Amy got a call in the middle of the day, and there was a man on the other end of the phone, and he said, Hey, listen, uh, I've been hired to work your case.

00:26:55.920 --> 00:27:05.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I've been working with uh the medical share company that you're with, and I've been working with OSU, and OSU's made it abundantly clear they're not backing down.

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:07.200
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>This debt is due.

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:17.920
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And the company that you're working with, they've made it abundantly clear because of how it was done, they're not going to uh they're not going to pay for it.

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:24.640
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so they had said, uh, I've been hired to kind of make a ruling and a judgment on your case.

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:29.839
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And I just want you to know uh we took care of everything.

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:36.559
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>When Amy first heard this, she had been working the system for so long she didn't even believe it.

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:42.480
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And if she were to tell you the story, she would say, you know, she might have even been just slightly a little rude or impatient with the guy.

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.920
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Oh, thanks, thanks for your help.

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.279
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>I'm sure that was great.

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:54.319
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And uh he kind of just said, you know, hey, if you have any more questions or I can, you know, help you out in any other way, please let me know.

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.839
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And they got off the phone.

00:27:55.839 --> 00:28:01.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It wasn't for a couple more hours where Amy started to let the words digest and sink in.

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:11.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And she logged on to our account in OSU and she went to the billing pay tab where there was an outstanding balance of $436.

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>There now was zero.

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:21.039
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Amy called me into the room and she said, Justin, look what the Lord has done.

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:28.079
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And I saw this and I fell to my knees, and Amy and I together praised the Lord, seeing the doxology.

00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:32.480
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>He had given this to us, he had wiped out our debt.

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:35.200
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>But Church, do you see this is what Jesus does.

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:44.079
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Not only does he wipe out your debt, he makes a deposit in your deepest satisfaction.

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:48.400
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:56.079
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It's only in Jesus, only in Jesus will you find what your heart is looking for.

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.799
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So, what's the call?

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:03.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>What's the call here from the book of Proverbs?

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:09.599
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Honor the Lord with your wealth, live wiser and live fuller.

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.720
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>How do we do that?

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:16.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Well, we must prioritize the right things, weighty things, so that we might be full.

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:30.640
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We must invest wisely, namely in wisdom itself, and wisdom will always lead us down the path, not to itself, but to Jesus, because true prosperity is found in him.

00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:34.559
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>May we all honor the Lord with our wealth together.

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:36.640
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Would you join me in praying?

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:47.839
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>So, our Lord Jesus, we confess to you now you are satisfying.

00:29:47.839 --> 00:30:00.559
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We confess to you now that so often we look to other things, things that we've named this morning, things that we're too embarrassed to name, to try to satisfy the deepest places and longings of our heart.

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:03.119
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>But they're nothing compared to you.

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:06.160
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>And so, Lord, help us to believe that.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:10.000
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>We believe, help our unbelief.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.480
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Jesus, you are good and you are satisfying.

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:19.359
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Quench the desires and longings of our heart now.

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:25.440
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>It is in his mighty and merciful name that we pray and ask all these things.

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.559
<v Rev. Justin Grimm>Amen.