1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:08,160 We are in the Advent season, and I remember as a little, well, a 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:13,240 young boy, I would say that when it came close to Christmas, I 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,480 think it's not about 10 days. And my, if my math is correct, 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,360 it's about 10 days before Christmas. 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,760 And those 10 days, the closer it got to Christmas, the longer it 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,440 took it. Those last week or so, it was 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,640 awfully long. That's no longer the case now. 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,159 It's very rushed. It seems I can't work fast 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,760 enough to get everything done before Christmas Arise arrives. 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,960 But I want to just bring my thought, bring our thoughts back 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:44,520 to why, as a little boy, did I wait and anticipate Christmas so 12 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,800 much. It was not because I had 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:52,440 opportunity to give, it was because I was going to get, I 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,560 was going to receive stuff. And I couldn't wait till 15 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,000 Christmas morning till I would go downstairs. 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,520 Well, not upstairs. We had, we didn't have a 17 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,120 upstairs at the time. We had a tradition and many of 18 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,480 you met us Mennonites and some of you may have done it too. 19 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,040 But for us as Mennonites in Mexico, what we would do is on 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,240 Christmas Eve, we would have a big bowl from the, from the 21 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:13,720 cupboard. Mom would give us each a big 22 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:15,720 bowl to put on the table at our place in the table. 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,000 And so Christmas morning, there's all kinds of goodies in 24 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,640 there. There's some toys in there and 25 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,680 Christmas Eve to Christmas morning lasted forever. 26 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,880 Not because I was going to give, because I was going to get. 27 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:33,720 And I'm wondering how many of us still live with that mindset of 28 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,320 Christmas time too. Not myself, not anymore. 29 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,200 Well, I do get some gifts and it's great and it's all good. 30 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,560 But now my mind has shifted. Who do I need to give something? 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,800 And of course, our children all get gifts and our grandchildren 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,280 all get gifts, which is very good. 33 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,880 But it has shifted in my mind. Who's the greatest giver? 34 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,800 And this morning we want to talk about giving in and of itself. 35 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,840 God is the ultimate giver. We read right from the get go in 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,520 the book of Genesis how God was a giver. 37 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,919 You know that no human being is born into this world without 38 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,720 owning or having anything. They haven't been given the gift 39 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,800 of life itself. It's a gift you didn't earn your 40 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,480 gift, your life before you received it, God gave it to you. 41 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,000 God gave you life. When God put Adam and Eve in the 42 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:30,400 garden, he says in Genesis chapter one, verse 20 and 129, I 43 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:31,520 won't have these on the board here. 44 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,520 It says, and God said, I have given you verse 29 and 1:29. 45 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,680 I've given you every herb of the of the field. 46 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,760 So everything God had, he had given them. 47 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,120 Well, first he gave it to Adam. Then God said it's not good for 48 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,680 the man to be alone. And so God put Adam to sleep and 49 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,400 he gave him a wife. He didn't have him earn a woman. 50 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,520 He didn't have him work for a woman. 51 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,800 He gave him a woman. God is a giver. 52 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:08,120 But then we know what happened. Adam and Eve, they send and 53 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,720 things didn't go so well. And God comes as Adam. 54 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,800 What have you done? And then you know what Adam had 55 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,520 the gall to do? Hey, God, that woman you gave 56 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,200 me, she is responsible for what I've done. 57 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,880 God was now the bad guy because you gave me a woman. 58 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,160 If you hadn't given me a woman, it wouldn't have happened. 59 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,480 He doesn't say that, but that's the implication. 60 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,600 And because the sin happened, there was another need now, the 61 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,560 need to give some more. And God decided I'm going to 62 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,400 give you a Savior. He gave them the law to tell 63 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,600 them, this is what you've done and this is who you are. 64 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,280 But here's my gift to you, salvation through my Son Jesus 65 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,560 Christ. It became necessary for God to 66 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,880 do some more giving at the time, which of course he already knew. 67 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,920 But then when Jesus came, God gave the baby Jesus to Joseph 68 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,960 and Mary and there was some more giving happening. 69 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,720 Of course, God knew they would have to go to Egypt and and the 70 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,080 baby boy Jesus would be threatened and they have to go 71 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,600 to Egypt. So some wise men came and gave 72 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,680 gifts of gold, frankincense and mirrors. 73 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,600 Some more giving was happening. But then there's one little 74 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,040 incident in the story. A guy named Herod. 75 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,800 He hears about this new baby Jesus. 76 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:21,480 Nobody will be a threat to my territory. 77 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,680 I'm going to eliminate this boy. And so he started on a taking 78 00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:31,400 spree, taking the lives of many little baby boys in the realm of 79 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,600 Bethlehem. That's the difference. 80 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,440 The sermon this morning is not a Christmas sermon as far as its 81 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,760 content goes, but it's tied together with the principle of 82 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,240 giving that we find connected and interwoven through all of 83 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,480 Scripture. I've titled my sermon this 84 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,200 morning the right kind of giving. 85 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,240 You know, we all give in some way, shape or form. 86 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,760 The question is not do we give the questions what do we give 87 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,440 ourselves to and what do we give ourselves for? 88 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,080 Some people give out of hearts of generosity, others out of 89 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:11,440 duty and obligation. We know from scripture that not 90 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:15,640 all giving is godly giving. Some people are very meticulous 91 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,920 legalistic givers, not so much generosity minded. 92 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,960 But what do I have to do? I have to. 93 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:26,920 How much do I have to? Some of it is with strings 94 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:31,720 attached. I love fishing, but the whole 95 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:37,560 concept of fishing troubles me sometimes because when I tie 96 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,120 that hook to the end of the line and put a worm on the end of 97 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,840 that line, I'm hoping I can deceive some fish. 98 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,400 Because some fish will see that worm and think that's a gift or 99 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,000 a freebie and that worm will. The fish will swallow that worm, 100 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,200 which of course is what I want, and I'm going to reel them in 101 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:01,600 and that's my fish for dinner. That's a little bit a worldly 102 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:06,360 mindset of giving, deceptive, deceitful. 103 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,600 Now, I'm not saying you should stop fishing, OK? 104 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,880 I'm just saying that's what we as Fisher people, fishermen do. 105 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,920 But when, when you and I give, how do we give In God's Word? 106 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,840 There's a lot about giving. There's a lot, as I talked about 107 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:24,480 the Old Testament already, and we're coming to the close, our 108 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,800 First Corinthians, which we've been going through now for quite 109 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,120 some time, over half a year. And Paul had a lot of stuff to 110 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,200 teach the Corinthian church, issues they were going through, 111 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,560 struggles they were having, and he addressed 1 issue after 112 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,320 another after another. Then he went on to this teaching 113 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,440 about the resurrection. Some were confused about that. 114 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,760 What's that going to be like? But then in chapter 16, it's a 115 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:49,280 very abrupt change. All of the teaching so far up to 116 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:51,840 that point had been basically their struggles, their issues 117 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:56,160 they were dealing with. But here and then up to in 1314 118 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,480 and 15 and 15 and 16, it was about the resurrection. 119 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,440 I mean, 1450 about the resurrection and so on. 120 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,200 More teaching about what applied to them. 121 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,640 But here now it's outreach, it's outward focused. 122 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,920 Now it's about what do you need to do for others? 123 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,040 In today's passage, Paul gives the church at Corinth a command 124 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,160 on what he wanted them to do by the way of responding to a food 125 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,120 shortage back in Jerusalem due to a famine. 126 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:23,560 The church in Jerusalem was struggling. 127 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,200 Paul wanted the churches to get together or to stand together 128 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,880 and provide some financial help. So I want to read for us this 129 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:35,120 morning, 1st Corinthians 16, the 1st 4 verses. 1st Corinthians 16 130 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:42,440 the 1st 4 verses Paul writes now concerning the collection for 131 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,320 the Saints. As I have given orders to the 132 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:49,360 churches of Galatians, so you, you must, so you must do also on 133 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,760 the first day of the week. Let each one of you lay 134 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,440 something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no 135 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,320 collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you 136 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,040 approve by your letters, I will send to bear your gift to 137 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,680 Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go 138 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:10,400 also, they will go with me. Historians have written about 139 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,480 this famine at the time, and it was a very difficult famine, 140 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,320 especially for the believers, for the Saints, and especially 141 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,160 Jerusalem. The Christian communities were 142 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,600 not liked, they were not well received. 143 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,600 They were persecuted. Now with a economic problem on 144 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,000 top of all of that, yet that made life hard for the believers 145 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,840 here. In this passage, Paul addresses 146 00:08:32,039 --> 00:08:34,559 that issue. And it was not just a Jerusalem 147 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,600 problem. Paul says this goes further. 148 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,120 We others, the churches in Galatia, we others, we also need 149 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,799 to step up and do something about their need. 150 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,800 And just because the church in Jerusalem is struggling does not 151 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:48,920 mean now, OK, they're struggling. 152 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,720 So doesn't pertain to us. Other people's needs become our 153 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:57,240 responsibility. Doing the right thing is always 154 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:02,560 the right thing to do. We must start to serve as soon 155 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:05,080 as we become a follower and a disciple of Jesus. 156 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,120 And just because we have problems, as the Church of 157 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,680 Corinth had problems, does not mean OK, we can put our giving 158 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:12,160 on hold now, wait till we get all fixed up and then we all 159 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:13,560 straight out. Then we can start giving again. 160 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,600 This giving responsibility continues for our whole life as 161 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,320 long as we're believers. So first of all, we want to look 162 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:29,360 at giving as an opportunity. I think it's not working here, 163 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,400 so let's just let's leave it. It does work. 164 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:39,610 Yes. They were commanded to take up 165 00:09:39,610 --> 00:09:41,090 an offering for the church in Jerusalem. 166 00:09:41,090 --> 00:09:44,570 In other words, he says, you Corinthians, you need to use 167 00:09:44,570 --> 00:09:49,210 this opportunity to give. God has ordained it so that both 168 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:52,090 exists. If he wants us to give, there be 169 00:09:52,090 --> 00:09:53,610 somebody who will need what we have to give. 170 00:09:54,610 --> 00:09:56,410 That's the way God has ordained it. 171 00:09:57,970 --> 00:10:01,450 The need for giving is not a have to, it's an opportunity. 172 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,400 Paul had ordered the churches in Galatia take up a collection, 173 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,320 raise funds for the relief in Jerusalem. 174 00:10:06,560 --> 00:10:08,400 Now he's passing that on to Corinth as well. 175 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,040 And we can look at different translations here and the same 176 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:12,880 meaning comes out in all translations. 177 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,800 This was not. Now would you please give if you 178 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,560 feel so LED? That's not what he says. 179 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,600 Or if you find it in your heart to give, please do so. 180 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,320 Would you please consider he's saying what they're doing? 181 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,520 I'm ordering you or commanding you to do as well. 182 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:35,480 A passage like this makes me wonder sometimes, how seriously 183 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,680 do we take the needs of those around us who need us? 184 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:45,280 Paul ordered them to give to the cause of giving to the poor in 185 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:49,240 Jerusalem, and this was not, oh, do we have to. 186 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,040 It was an opportunity for me personally. 187 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,960 As the years go by, for me, I see increasingly giving is an 188 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,520 opportunity to grow. In the book of Acts, in chapter 189 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,560 20, verse 32 to verse 38, we find that after Paul had spent 190 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:07,160 time in Ephesus and he was on his way out of Ephesus and he 191 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,040 was leaving, going toward the ship, he had some last words 192 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,000 with the elders of Ephesus and he reminds them of this 193 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,200 principle of living generously and sacrificially. 194 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,480 I'm going to go through that for a second. 195 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,120 He says, so now brethren, I commend you to God and to the 196 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,040 word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an 197 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,240 inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 198 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,240 I have coveted no one silver or gold or apparel. 199 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,560 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my 200 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:34,360 necessities and for those who are with me. 201 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:37,240 I've shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you 202 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,600 must, you must support the weak. And I remember and remember the 203 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:41,880 words of the Lord Jesus that He said. 204 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,840 It is more blessed to give than to receive. 205 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,200 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed 206 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,160 with them all. Then they all wept freely and 207 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,800 fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, soaring most of all for the 208 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:55,960 words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. 209 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:57,720 They accompanied him to the ship. 210 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:04,240 Let me ask this question. What was it that made Paul and 211 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,280 these elders so closely united and the Church of Ephesus in 212 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,360 total? What was it that bonded them so 213 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:16,200 deeply and so closely together? I would suggest this, and you 214 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,320 can debate this if you like, but I would suggest this. 215 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,240 It was Paul's teaching for sure. That was it. 216 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,840 That was part of but even something deeper. 217 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,640 Paul had physically, financially, economically 218 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,360 sacrificed himself for this church. 219 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,760 His lifestyle was the the generosity was the glue that 220 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:41,000 bonded together. Everything he said and spoke, we 221 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,040 read from other passages. Paul was not that great of a 222 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,280 preacher. Some people didn't think he was 223 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:46,920 that good. In fact, we have the story in 224 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,880 book of Acts one night, one day in one place, he preached all 225 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,800 night and the guy fell asleep and fell out of the window and, 226 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,800 and Paul had to raise him up from the dead or I'm not sure if 227 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,000 he was dead, but he was passed out at least. 228 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,240 And so he's, Paul may have been long winded for all we know. 229 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,120 He was not eloquent. He says that in Second 230 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,720 Corinthians chapter one, verse 5, two verse 1, chapter first 231 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,880 Corinthians 21 to five, he says he's not eloquent. 232 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,520 We find that in chapter second Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 233 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,640 10, some people thought he was not well spoken. 234 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,280 He didn't speak too well. But you know what carried this 235 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,040 man through? You can't deny, you can't argue, 236 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,120 you can't find fault with character. 237 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:32,200 He may not be good speech wise, but his lifestyle spoke volumes. 238 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,440 He lived out what he preached to the NTH degree. 239 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,560 He he spoke, but he lived with such weight and power. 240 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:43,160 No one could argue with him. I want, I want to say this here 241 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,240 this morning, I've thought about this. 242 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:49,000 Of all the New Testament guys we read Jesus, of course, he's the 243 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,800 he's the 1st, but we we don't want to use him in this 244 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,720 comparison of all the New Testament guys that we read 245 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,600 about. Was there anybody who was a 246 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:00,440 greater self sacrificer? If that's a word, I think it is 247 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,960 self sacrificer than Jesus Christ, than Paul. 248 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,400 Was there anybody who did more? I can't think of one. 249 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,920 If you do, please let me know. We find a number of places, a 250 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,920 number of places Paul provided for himself at his own expense 251 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,560 for the benefit of others. He lived what he preached and he 252 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,560 says to Corinth, I want you to do this now. 253 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,440 I want you to give. He was supported. 254 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,520 It's not that Paul didn't get money. 255 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:27,600 He got money from other churches. 256 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,480 They supported him. He he got financial support. 257 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,240 Yes, he did. But it was never his, his aim, 258 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,520 his goal to do so. He did get support, but that was 259 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,840 never his focus. I want to ask ourselves this 260 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,800 morning, do we give as easily as we take? 261 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,840 Do we give as easily as we take or do the needs of somebody else 262 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,040 bother us? Uh oh, that's too bad. 263 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:59,800 Now we're going to have to give. He says in Acts 20 verse 35, 264 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:04,240 I've shown you in every way. He says every way by laboring 265 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:05,880 like this that we must support the weak. 266 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:10,040 He's teaching the Corinthians that and remember the words of 267 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,120 the Lord Jesus that he said it's more blessed to give than to 268 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,600 receive. That's part of the DNA of a 269 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,040 disciple of Jesus. Paul lived this in Acts 18 verse 270 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:24,120 one to three we find in the 1st Thessalonians, 2 verse 9, Acts 271 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,880 20 verse 34 in Ephesus. He was truly a giving man, a 272 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,200 self sacrificial man. It was his lifestyle, his work, 273 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:35,800 his actions showed it. Paul was truly a man of 274 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:43,520 integrity in the big picture. Yes, Paul was a giver, he was a 275 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,680 sacrificer, but he didn't view himself as such. 276 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,720 He just wanted to serve Jesus and we know he received the 277 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,160 blessing. He says in 2nd Corinthians 2 278 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,160 verse 14, he says for the third time, I'm ready to come to you 279 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,040 to the Corinthians and I will not be burdensome to you. 280 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,040 He says that at the start, I do not seek for I do not seek 281 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,160 yours, but you for the children ought not to lay up for the 282 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:08,800 parents, but parents for the children. 283 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,640 He says to the Corinthians, don't worry so much about 284 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,360 yourself guys. Look about what the others need. 285 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,280 He had come at his own expense. He didn't, he didn't say pastor 286 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,720 shouldn't get paid. He says this is my motive why 287 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,280 I'm coming. Paul sees the uses the common 288 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,720 understanding to explain the principle of generosity, says 289 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:30,520 children should not have to save up for the parents, but the 290 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,600 parents for the children. With this, I'm not saying that 291 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,600 we shouldn't have retirement plans or shouldn't save up money 292 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:36,920 for retirement. Nothing like that. 293 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,520 At the heart of our life. There should be generous mindset 294 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:41,600 to those who are less well off than we are. 295 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,120 There's another principle that applies right here on the heels 296 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:49,320 of this, and that's this giving should be planned. 297 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,040 How should the Corinthians plan their giving? 298 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,240 Paul gives them a clear road map on how to plan their giving. 299 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:00,120 Their giving was not to be some emotional, haphazard random 300 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,920 deeds of kindness that had no continuity or no stability or 301 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,400 no, no consistency, no stability. 302 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,599 I'm not saying that random deeds of kindness are bad or shouldn't 303 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:09,560 be done. They should. 304 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,359 Oftentimes there is a random deed of kindness that comes our 305 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:13,920 way that we can do, and we should do those. 306 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,440 That's not wrong, but that's not how the life of giving should be 307 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:19,720 lived. Again, let's go back to verse 308 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,160 two. He says on the first day of the 309 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,880 week, time that each of you lay something aside, storing as he 310 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,000 may prosper. That's planned, that there be no 311 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,200 collections when I come. Their giving was to be 312 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,920 structured, planned, and carefully carried out. 313 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,280 It's safe to say Paul wanted this to be a healthy work of 314 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,840 love on the part of the Corinthians for the church in 315 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,840 Jerusalem. And this giving was not intended 316 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,280 to deplete or impoverish, make destitute the Church of Corinth. 317 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,920 It was to be proportionate. It was to be sustained, 318 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,960 sustainable. It was to be organized. 319 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:59,880 It was to be healthy. There's the time factor. 320 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:03,680 When should they do it? When you get together on the 321 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,960 Sabbath, on this, on the first day of the week, Jews always met 322 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,680 on the Sabbath day, but the early church, they made Sunday 323 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,760 the day of getting together first day of the week. 324 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,600 It's a good time to schedule it. It's a good principle. 325 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,560 I used to. Now we have electronic funds 326 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,840 transfer EF TS and it's OK. I like it. 327 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:24,480 It's kind of convenient and all that. 328 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,440 I don't want to say you shouldn't give that way, but I 329 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,520 kind of liked it back in the day when we didn't have it. 330 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:32,320 And I remember as a years ago, I would just every Sunday morning 331 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,120 write my check and then go to the offering. 332 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:36,600 It was kind of nice. Teach the children that too. 333 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,080 It's not wrong what we do now, but it was structured and for 334 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,680 me, it's not just all automatic, but I like I kind of like that 335 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,640 Friday the paycheck came and then first thing Sunday morning 336 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,560 before the check is spent, a certain amount goes to the 337 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,560 church and then of course, charities that we supported as 338 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,680 well. Paul is saying the same thing 339 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,400 here. He says when you get your pay, 340 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:02,960 you meet on the first day of the week, lay something aside. 341 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,720 So when the gift is supposed to be given to Jerusalem, then, 342 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,800 then it's ready. The other thing here is do it 343 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,160 corporately. Each has to give individually. 344 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:16,560 See, you can't give corporately if individuals haven't given all 345 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,800 the giving that comes into the church is individually given. 346 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:25,280 That means you, me, us. Interestingly, Paul doesn't say 347 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:31,720 how much he just says as he may prosper as you're able and he 348 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,000 says that intentionally. He leaves out the amount because 349 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,560 not everybody is in the is in the same place financially. 350 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,480 Not everybody can give the same. Not everybody is expected is 351 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,200 expected to give the same. He's a storing up as he may 352 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,960 prosper. As followers of Jesus, we need 353 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,160 to be careful in the matter of giving. 354 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:54,080 Jesus knows the hearts. Jesus knows if I'm a generous 355 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,480 person if I give sacrificially. Jesus knows if I'm selfish or 356 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,120 greedy and give only with strings attached, out of duty 357 00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:05,800 and obligation and sparingly. There are stories in the Bible 358 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:10,960 where giving went very wrong. It went horribly wrong. 359 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,160 They gave, but deceitfully and deceptively and with with 360 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,040 strings attached, so to speak. The story of Ananias and the 361 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,040 Fire comes to mind in Acts chapter 5. 362 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,280 There were husband and wife, couple had joined the church 363 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,240 were members donating money as well. 364 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,480 Ananias and the Fire sold a property and wanted to give some 365 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,400 proceeds to the church, but their hearts were not in it. 366 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,560 They decided we're going to make it look like we're generous 367 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,520 people, but in their hearts they wanted to just appear generous 368 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:46,360 without being generous to. Long story short, Peter 369 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:48,440 confronts them. Look, why are you lying to the 370 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:49,840 Holy Spirit? You're not lied to us but to 371 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:51,800 God. And they've 1st And an ass fell 372 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,040 down dead and he was carried out. 373 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,280 And a few hours later his wife comes in the same story. 374 00:20:55,560 --> 00:21:01,040 She she's killed as well. God judged her, and that was 375 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,720 that. We have to conclude it's better 376 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,000 to not give than to give with deception. 377 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,240 Paul, Peter said. Wasn't the money yours? 378 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,920 You could do with it whatever you wanted, but why did you lie 379 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,600 about it? It's not the amount, folks. 380 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,200 It's the heart at which it's given. 381 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,760 There was the Old Testament law that very clearly spelled out in 382 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,160 great detail what percentage should be given. 383 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,640 That's a good starting base. I'm not saying that we have to. 384 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,440 That's the benchmark by which we give. 385 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,120 We it's a good starting point, but we should give far and above 386 00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:35,040 beyond as God enables us, where God enables us. 387 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,720 We're not under that law. We're under grace, but doesn't 388 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,600 exempt us now from not having to give or not giving it all. 389 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:48,080 As followers of Jesus, our generosity, our giving, will 390 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:53,120 come out in what we do with what we're given. 391 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,320 CS Lewis, in this book called Mere Christianity, says the 392 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:59,760 following. He says, I do not believe one 393 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:01,800 can settle how much we ought to give. 394 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:06,560 I'm afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. 395 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,440 In other words, if our expenditure and comforts and 396 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:11,960 luxuries and amusements, etcetera is up to the standard 397 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,120 common among those with the same income as our own, we're 398 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:21,760 probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all 399 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,400 pinch or hamper us, I should say they're too small. 400 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,480 There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do 401 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,120 because our charitable expenditure excludes them. 402 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,960 I'm Speaking of charities in the common way. 403 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:42,880 When a person gives with a focus on self, that person's blessing 404 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,920 is gone. In fact, Jesus talks about that 405 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,080 in Matthew chapter 6. He says, take heed that you do 406 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,680 not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them, 407 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:55,320 otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 408 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,960 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a 409 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,400 trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, 410 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:02,120 in the streets, that they may have glory for men. 411 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:05,200 Assuredly, I say to you, they have their rewards. 412 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,560 When we give because, oh, we want to be noticed, want to be 413 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,560 seen, want to be recognized, that's hypocritical. 414 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,120 He says in verse 3, when you do a charitable deed, do not let 415 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:17,400 your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your 416 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,240 charitable deed may be in secret and your father sees in secret 417 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:25,160 will himself reward you openly. Jesus does not say, I don't want 418 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,160 you to know how much money you took out of your wallet into the 419 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,160 into the offering box. He's not saying that. 420 00:23:30,120 --> 00:23:34,960 He's saying our giving must be detached, disconnected from 421 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,480 myself in the sense that I will put myself 1st and others 422 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,120 second. Our human standards of comfort 423 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,680 cannot be the benchmark by which we give. 424 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,520 We should look after our necessities, yes, but 425 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,280 entertainment, amusement and recreation, all those things are 426 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,800 second. And our giving our in other 427 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,600 words, we should be Christ, focused on our giving through 428 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,840 and through. Is my giving looking like Jesus? 429 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,960 It should be intentional. It should be structured 430 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,880 timewise, should be planned. And then thirdly, it should be 431 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,840 done with discernment. He says in verse 2, When I come, 432 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,840 whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your 433 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,080 gift to Jerusalem. Why is it important to approve 434 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,600 this? Some people cannot be entrusted 435 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,640 with huge responsibilities when it comes to finances. 436 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:28,880 And I'm wondering if sometimes if that's why God doesn't bless 437 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:32,440 some of us as much as others because He's not created us for 438 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,200 that. And if we would strive for it, 439 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,920 it would ruin us. The giving was not the question. 440 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,400 They were to give. The structure of how was also to 441 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,200 do it. See, money is tempting. 442 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:44,680 It can bring out the worst in people. 443 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,240 Often times a person may feel fairly stable until they're 444 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:48,760 tempted with money. And then they would do all kinds 445 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:53,160 of strange things. Not everybody has the same 446 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,400 ability or equal skill to to manage a lot of money. 447 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,120 And he says, whom you approved by your letters, they were to 448 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:02,880 discern who's going to handle it, who's going to manage it, 449 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,520 who's going to do it. Even though it may be a normal 450 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,600 average church, there must be discernment as to who's in 451 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,800 charge of money. Doesn't matter how small the 452 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,800 church is, how big it is. We need to ask ourselves how? 453 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,480 Who do we trust with what we give? 454 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,400 Can you trust everyone who requests or needs support or who 455 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,640 says they need support? There's no shortage of 456 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,680 organizations, emails and phone calls and advertisements. 457 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,320 Give here, give there, give to this, give to that. 458 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,120 As a church, we have a responsibility making sure the 459 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:33,440 money that we give is well done, well managed, it's well 460 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,200 stewarded and so on. It's done in a trustworthy 461 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:39,800 manner and considering our own selves, and we receive a request 462 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,280 to give. Do we have a right to know what 463 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:44,680 happens with that money? Yes. 464 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:47,840 Not only do we have a right to know what happens with it, we're 465 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,400 we're duty bound to find out. We have an obligation to know. 466 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,160 We have a responsibility what happens with what we give 467 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:55,920 because what we give is actually God's money. 468 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,280 In my own personal life, I've had individuals ask me for money 469 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:03,840 numerous times or I'm asked to donate to a 'cause I generally, 470 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,720 not always equally thoroughly, but generally try to find a is 471 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,560 this organization trustworthy? What's the reputation? 472 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:14,520 What are they doing with it? Then I've also had in my own 473 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,160 personal life, people asking me for money because I'm a pastor, 474 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,800 not so much anymore, but early on in my pastoral life, it was, 475 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,760 it was interesting how many people came, can you give me 476 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:24,440 this? Can I have a, can I have a loan? 477 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:25,920 They would say, actually, people want to make loans. 478 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,440 I didn't like to give loans and I would give money here and 479 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,720 there, but I would also make it a point, Can I visit with you? 480 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:34,400 Can I have a conversation with you? 481 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,360 And there were times I just said, I'm sorry, but for what 482 00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:39,360 you're going to do with it, I don't trust you and I'm not 483 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:41,560 going to give you anything. But I helped you manage the 484 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,840 money that you do have. That's happened to me even where 485 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,640 I said to a guy, listen, what you just told me you have, you 486 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:49,920 have a good income. Your problem is not the money, 487 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,040 it's just what you're doing with it. 488 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,040 Can I help you help you organize? 489 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:54,400 How can I help you spend it wisely? 490 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,800 We're not helping people by just putting a pillow under bad 491 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:05,440 habits, bad money management. The money that God gives us, 492 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,600 we're responsible to steward it well to to give it wisely. 493 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,600 Then the church corporately has to be wise in its giving as 494 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,160 well. We have to keep pay careful 495 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,120 attention to this. And he says in verse 4, But if 496 00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:21,120 it's fitting, I will also go that I go also they will go with 497 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:22,000 me. And that's literally what 498 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,320 happened. You read the book of Acts. 499 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:29,320 Paul did go to Jerusalem at all times, in every situation. 500 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,920 It begins with us individually and then it flows into US 501 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,080 corporately. How are we doing as individuals 502 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,080 and how are we doing as the body? 503 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:38,480 So what's the lesson for us today? 504 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:43,040 As God's people, we are responsible to help the less 505 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,600 fortunate. They are opportunities for us to 506 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,440 serve. Do it carefully. 507 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:54,280 Plan it wisely with discernment. There's a story in the Bible of 508 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:58,200 a man who had a lot of money. We were not given his name, but 509 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,640 it's Luke chapter 16, story of a man who had a lot of money, 510 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,280 lived sumptuously every day. And for all he we know, he was a 511 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:07,320 good citizen, law abiding, perhaps good man in his 512 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,160 community. But he did not pay attention to 513 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:11,920 the poor beggar Lazarus at his doorstep. 514 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:14,280 And in time the beggar died, was carried to Abraham's bosom, and 515 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:15,400 the rich man died and was buried. 516 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,800 And it says in hell, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far 517 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:23,160 off with Lazarus. And he wanted Abraham to send 518 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,440 Lazarus to him, to cool his tongue. 519 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,040 He was being tormented in the flame. 520 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,440 But Abraham says, no, we can't bridge this gap. 521 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,120 It's it's not possible. You had your good things in life 522 00:28:32,120 --> 00:28:34,600 and Nazareth had his hard times. And now he's comforted. 523 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,080 You're tormented. You see, there was no escape. 524 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:42,280 The rich man's fate was sealed. Lazarus bliss had begun. 525 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:46,360 He would say, well, we're not judged on that. 526 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:50,800 Of course we're not. But the commands of Scripture 527 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:52,760 are clear. There's a reason why those 528 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:59,520 parables exist. There's a reason why those 529 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,720 parables exist. You see, it's like this, folks. 530 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,760 God is a God of giving. He blesses us for the purpose of 531 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:10,600 giving. Do we meet our needs? 532 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,920 Of course we do. God is a generous, gracious God, 533 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:24,480 and He expects the same of us. And in Matthew 25, we have the 534 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:25,960 story of the sheep and the goats. 535 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:32,360 And I know, I know, our works are not what save us, but they 536 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:36,320 do reveal where we're based. The sheep and the goats both get 537 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,040 a talking to. The sheep are welcomed and the 538 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,800 goats are denied. And Jesus, what you ever did not 539 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,400 do for the least of these, you did not do for me. 540 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:45,160 And those were acts of generosity. 541 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:51,840 They reveal where the heart is. It's the fruit and fruits don't 542 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:55,640 lie. I don't know where your heart is 543 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,200 this morning. Maybe this is this is far away 544 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:00,840 from you. Maybe maybe you're not here. 545 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:06,000 Maybe this is not you, but trust Christ, repent and put your 546 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,400 trust and hope Indiana Christ trust him and then as he 547 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,200 enables, start giving. Maybe you can't give money right 548 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,160 now then So what can you give? Can you give encouragement? 549 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,760 Can you give up your time? Can you give up yourself? 550 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,360 Then with joy, give us. God prospers as He gives 551 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,840 opportunity. Plan it, structure it how you 552 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:24,560 visit. Give with discernment. 553 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:29,120 You see, one day we'll all leave this earth and go to our eternal 554 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,400 destiny. We can't control the timing. 555 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:33,800 Most of the circumstances we can't control either. 556 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:38,280 But we have a choice how we want to leave when we do. 557 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,280 Read a quote this last week and I want to share with you this 558 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,360 morning. And I modified the end of it a 559 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,240 little bit. This guy wrote you're born 560 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:52,000 looking like your parents, but you die looking like your 561 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,600 decisions. I pondered this for some time, 562 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,840 and a big part of this is about the giving as well. 563 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,280 And I added something to it. And basically it's this. 564 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:02,480 When it comes to my time to die, don't really care about looking 565 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:07,240 at mom and dad and not even maybe so much about my 566 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,240 decisions, although that does weigh in a little bit. 567 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:14,080 But when I die, I want to look like Jesus. 568 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:19,920 I want to look like Jesus. He gave so much. 569 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,520 Then the Saints, they gave so much. 570 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:27,000 And again in Matthew 25, the benchmark that Jesus uses to 571 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,680 reveal and indicate where their hearts are, He says, look here, 572 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,000 this is who you are. This is what you've done. 573 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,640 May God bless his church as we together surrender humbly to 574 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,040 Christ. Give first of ourselves to His 575 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:44,320 cause, then what He has blessed us with, to those in our circle 576 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:47,840 of influence who need our help, and may that be our heart and 577 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:52,600 our mind as we go through the Advent season and anticipate the 578 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:54,800 birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 579 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,520 Let us pray. Lord Jesus, you've given so 580 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:02,480 much. We've been so blessed. 581 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,680 You have so many opportunities among so much need. 582 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:13,920 May this holiday season be a holiday season where our hearts 583 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:17,680 are filled with gratitude, with Thanksgiving seeking 584 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:22,480 opportunities to share, to bless, to encourage, and to give 585 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,640 whoever may come into our path and our sphere of influence. 586 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:30,200 May our lifestyles reflect a heart of sacrificial generosity. 587 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:33,320 May your Spirit direct ourselves our steps as we seek to live 588 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:34,840 this out faithfully in your Kingdom. 589 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:35,560 Amen.