1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,600 Welcome back ASU. It's good to have you guys Sun 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,200 Devils, we're glad you guys are here today. 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,880 Welcome back from your Christmas break. 4 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,800 I hope there was copious amounts of resting for you. 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,720 Some of you might have taken AJ term class and for you, good 6 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:17,320 job, overachiever. I love you. 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:19,520 I never did that, but I respect you. 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,880 I really do turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6. 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:24,320 I'll meet you there in just a second. 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,240 Hey, I I don't know if you've ever had this experience where 11 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,320 you just know it was time for a change in your life. 12 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,480 Like it was time. There was a, a moment not too 13 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,360 long ago where I was experiencing a, a, a, a 14 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,120 condition affecting men all over the world. 15 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,160 Male pattern bombed this. Yeah, that happened last summer. 16 00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:48,600 I was like, oh, I'm losing it up top. 17 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,600 So what I do, I committed to it. I shaved my head. 18 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,440 That was the greatest intervention of my life so far. 19 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,560 I've never actually experienced an intervention before, like a 20 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,320 real 1. You know, the kind that you like 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,400 see on TV or you hear about if you have. 22 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,960 I'm so glad that you're here, but I've never been in the room 23 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,640 for this very, very awkward scenario. 24 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,360 You see, an intervention, if you're unfamiliar, is a party 25 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,600 where everybody knows it's not a party except you. 26 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,840 You're the one who shows up and every single person in that room 27 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:20,560 is like, yo, bro, it is a time for a change in your life. 28 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,640 I was listening to a comedian talk about his intervention 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,920 recently, and he was depicting how basically every SNL writer 30 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,200 was there with him. And so I'm trying to picture the 31 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,920 seriousness of his intervention coupled with the most unserious 32 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,600 people in America, Right? And it's over Zoom because it's 33 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,160 during COVID and people are trying not to crack jokes or 34 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,960 making a bit of it. But the thing that emerged from 35 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:46,920 talking about his own intervention, that was like 36 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,640 really interesting to me, that was only found in the 37 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,120 perspective of him having been the one experienced 38 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:59,400 intervention, is his denial that a change needed to take place. 39 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,280 That the interesting thing about an intervention is everybody in 40 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,480 the room except one knows it is time for a change. 41 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,280 And the person who's being intervened, they're in utter 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,920 denial that something has to shift. 43 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,680 What's about to happen in Matthew chapter 6 for all of us? 44 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,840 Is Jesus about to confront us about our relationship with 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:23,640 money? He's about to have an 46 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:26,800 intervention with your heart and with your mind on your 47 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:33,120 relationship to money. He's going to pull us out of our 48 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,280 denial, out of our divided hearts, and into the life that 49 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,480 he wants for you. The best life, the flourishing 50 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:44,080 life, the undivided life. You see, many of us experience 51 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:49,160 anxiety here on Earth and in America because of the division 52 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,240 in our hearts. We live fragmented and broken 53 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,000 lives without integrity, without connection. 54 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,400 We try to separate different parts of our life rather than 55 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:04,440 having an undivided whole mind, whole body, whole heart, whole 56 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:11,800 soul together. That you were made to live an 57 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:17,080 undivided life and one of the greatest threats to division in 58 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,880 your heart. A problematic perspective that 59 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:25,400 you need to change out this morning to trade out is your 60 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,480 perspective on money. We're going to find ourselves 61 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,320 exchanging our worry and the lies of this world about money 62 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:41,320 for the promises of the God who cannot lie and the reason why 63 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,640 money. Talking about it like this from 64 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,720 a pulpit can be interesting for you guys. 65 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,200 You're like, man, there's another preacher talking about 66 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,040 money. Did you know that Jesus talked 67 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:50,480 more about money than heaven and hell combined? 68 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,960 That there are over 2000 verses in the Bible talking about 69 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,760 money? It's not that God necessarily 70 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,520 wants your money. He doesn't need your money. 71 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,200 He wants your heart. And the thing that's standing in 72 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,200 the way of your heart, the thing that's standing in the way of 73 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,120 you changing your relationship with money, is because likely 74 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:14,920 you don't like loss. Loss of your things, loss of 75 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:21,680 your plans, loss of your status, loss of your comfort. 76 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,400 Ultimately, the thing you don't want to lose most is your 77 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,200 control over your money. I think we're going to discover 78 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:35,160 together in Matthew 6 something better for us, something that's 79 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,560 going to settle our anxious hearts in a divided world. 80 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,520 This big idea. Write this down if you like to 81 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,920 take notes. An undivided life changes how we 82 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:49,040 handle our money. An undivided life changes how we 83 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,920 handle money, because a divided heart brings an anxious life, 84 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,960 and an undivided life brings a peaceful heart. 85 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,880 To live undivided, we have to offer our whole selves to God, 86 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,120 holding no parts of ourselves back. 87 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:04,680 There's nothing off the table with God. 88 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,400 He is the Lord of every arena of our heart, mind, and soul. 89 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,760 And so he gets to have a say in how we handle ourselves, 90 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,720 particularly our money. So I want to read for you 91 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,320 Matthew 619 through 34. I want to show you what it means 92 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,480 for your life. If you're if you got God's word 93 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,200 in front of you, go ahead and open it up there. 94 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,920 If not, we have it on the screens beside. 95 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,240 But follow along as I read. Matthew 6 says this. 96 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,680 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth 97 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,640 and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 98 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:42,280 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where 99 00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:45,120 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in 100 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,880 and steal. For where your treasure is, 101 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:54,200 there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. 102 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,840 So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of 103 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:59,560 light. But if your eye is bad, your 104 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,520 whole body will be full of darkness. 105 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,600 If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the 106 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,920 darkness? No one can serve 2 masters. 107 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,560 For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he'll be 108 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,760 devoted to the one and despise the other. 109 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:20,640 You cannot serve God and money. Therefore, I tell you, do not be 110 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,960 anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will 111 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,520 drink, nor about your body what you'll put on. 112 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:31,600 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 113 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:38,920 Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap, nor 114 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,800 gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 115 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,760 Are you not of more value than they? 116 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,280 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour 117 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:54,320 to his span of life? And why are you anxious about 118 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,480 clothing? Consider the lilies of the 119 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,680 field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. 120 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,040 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 121 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,600 like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass 122 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,680 of the field which today is alive, and tomorrow is thrown 123 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:15,240 into the oven, will He not much clothe more Clothe you, O you of 124 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,360 little faith. Therefore do not be anxious 125 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,360 saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what 126 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,560 shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all 127 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,720 these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them 128 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,760 all. But seek first the Kingdom of 129 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:34,160 God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added 130 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,200 to you. Therefore do not be anxious 131 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,880 about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 132 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,360 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 133 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:44,960 These are God's words for us today. 134 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,240 I want to help you understand what they mean for your life and 135 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,840 how an undivided life changes how we handle money. 136 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,360 So what needs to change and how you handle your money? 137 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:54,880 Well, three things. The first is this 3 areas of 138 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,680 change. The 1st is my loyalty, who I 139 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,760 serve, what needs to change, what needs to shift, what needs 140 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,360 to be different in 2026 is how you handle your money. 141 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,960 So if the anxiety doesn't swell up in your life related to money 142 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:13,680 so the worry goes down, first you need to change your loyalty. 143 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,360 Who you serve. Look back at verse 24 with me. 144 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,160 Nobody can serve 2 masters. For either he will hate the one 145 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,640 and love the other or he will be devoted to the one who despise 146 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:26,520 the other. You cannot serve God and money. 147 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:34,200 Money is a crummy God. It will not save your soul. 148 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,440 It might have a temporary fix of buying a jet ski and getting a 149 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,760 big smile on your face, but it does not hold the keys to 150 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,480 eternity. And to serve it with your life 151 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,920 is to, as the Bible just said, hate the other master or to 152 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:56,440 despise if money is your God. Guess what that's basically 153 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,240 saying God hey I despise what you have to say about my life. 154 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,000 It's a lesser love is what hate is. 155 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:10,360 It's disordered. God is worthy of having the 156 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:15,360 first place in your life, not just a place in your life. 157 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,800 Jesus is the greatest treasure of your life, and money is a 158 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,800 great rival to that affection. That's why Jesus opened in verse 159 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,160 19 with do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 160 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:31,280 but in heaven. We need to be loyal to treasures 161 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,120 in heaven, not loyal to treasures on earth. 162 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,120 There's two reasons why Jesus gives on. 163 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,640 Hey, don't look at the security that money gives you. 164 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,320 Don't look to it for meaning and for purpose and for your 165 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,120 loyalty. Because guess what? 166 00:09:43,560 --> 00:09:45,880 Moths can get to it and thieves can get to it. 167 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,600 Now, I am not a zoologist by any means. 168 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,960 In fact, when it came time to learn about the animal Kingdom 169 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,960 in high school, I would play my Game Boy instead regularly. 170 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,360 OK, confession hour at church. I just did not pay attention. 171 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,120 But I did learn something this week about moths, that the moth 172 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,160 itself isn't actually what eats clothes. 173 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,240 What happens is a moth will get into a closet and it will lay 174 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,040 eggs called larvae. And the larvae to escape what 175 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,560 they do is they eat through your clothes. 176 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,120 And that's a moth of itty bitty insect flying about. 177 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,480 And in the ancient world, they were incredibly great destroyers 178 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,840 because a person's wealth was often attached to their clothes. 179 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,440 Back then, there was no central banking system. 180 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:32,280 Their wealth was in their closet. 181 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,440 And so for a moth to destroy it was significant. 182 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,160 And Jesus is saying, hey, don't put your money into your closet. 183 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,520 Don't lay up treasures on earth. Don't be loyal to that. 184 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,880 It can fade. It can be destroyed by a itty 185 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:55,240 bitty insect that lays larva on your closet. 186 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,360 But not only Moss can destroy the treasures on Earth, he also 187 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,320 says thieves can get to it. I don't know if you like heist 188 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,160 movies, but they're some of my favorite to watch, particularly 189 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,320 Ocean's 11. I love that movie. 190 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,960 I love the idea of them coming up with a plan and getting into 191 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:10,840 it. Listen to me though. 192 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:18,800 The treasures you have on Earth, the things you hold close. 193 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,160 Many of us are settling for the trash and trinkets of this earth 194 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,080 instead of the treasures of heaven where thieves can get to 195 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:32,560 our trash and our trinkets. We've decided that, hey, you 196 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:35,040 know what, this thing, it's going to go away in just like 10 197 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,880 years. And we're so worried about 198 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,440 getting the new shoe or the new piece of clothing with the brand 199 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,440 on it. We're so worried about our car 200 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,960 looking like this or our fashion looking like this, but Jesus is 201 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,760 saying to us, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth 202 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,600 where moths can get to it and where thieves can break in and 203 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,080 steal. His point is it's going to fade. 204 00:11:55,080 --> 00:12:01,160 It does not last. It won't last. 205 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,000 You can't take it with you when you die. 206 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,560 Likely it won't even make it until your deathbed. 207 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:15,200 The thing you're most worried about, we have to be a people 208 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,840 who are loyal to treasures in heaven, because if you're loyal 209 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,760 to the treasures of earth, you're going to be worried and 210 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,920 competitive with other people about the treasures on earth 211 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,720 that you have. We have expression for that 212 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,000 called keeping up with the Joneses, right? 213 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,440 If you're a Jones family here in the house, we love you. 214 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,760 OK, that's just an expression, right? 215 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,680 We are loyal, though, to the treasures in heaven, not earth. 216 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:41,800 But not only that. Look at the next section, that 217 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:46,040 part of the lamp and the body. We are not only loyal to God, 218 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,480 not money, not only loyal to treasures in heaven, not earth, 219 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:51,280 but we're loyal to generosity, not covetousness. 220 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,000 That's what that verse 22 and 23 is getting at. 221 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,840 Light is a metaphor for generosity and darkness is a 222 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,400 metaphor for greed or covetousness. 223 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,000 That the person who follows Jesus, the person who wants to 224 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,520 live inside of God's Kingdom, the person who's listening to 225 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,960 the Sermon on the Mount right now, what you are intended to 226 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,120 live your life as is a person who is marked by generosity, not 227 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,680 greed. The eye is the lamp of the body, 228 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,120 and so if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of 229 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:24,720 light. If you are a generous person, 230 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,320 your whole. If your eye can see generously, 231 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,280 guess what? Your life fills with generosity. 232 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:34,320 If your eye is greedy, your whole body will be full of 233 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:35,520 greed. That's another way to read that. 234 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,480 And back then, loyalty. What's interesting back in the 235 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,760 medieval times is loyalty wasn't actually measured by how much 236 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,880 affection you had. It wasn't whether or not you 237 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:51,120 sang the loudest songs or you did the best in listen to him 238 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:56,000 right away, but rather this whether or not you betrayed the 239 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:57,200 person you say you were loyal to. 240 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:06,600 Loyalty was defined against and in contrast to treason and greed 241 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,000 is spiritual high treason against a good and generous God. 242 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:20,360 That's why God talks about money so much is greed is high treason 243 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:27,920 against a good and generous God. There's an intimate correlation 244 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,120 in scripture between a man's character and how he handles 245 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:34,520 money. In Luke 19 you get a guy named 246 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:39,320 Zacchaeus who upon meeting Jesus released funds that reflected a 247 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,600 heart change in him paying everybody back that he 248 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,440 manipulated and stole from. Not only Zacchaeus, but in Acts 249 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,280 chapter 2 we have the early church releasing funds to 250 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,360 another church that needs it as a heart change, selling all they 251 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,320 possess so that others in their church would have what they did 252 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:57,800 not that they could give to them. 253 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,640 Not only that, in Matthew 19 you have a rich young ruler who's 254 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:03,440 unwilling to depart with his possessions. 255 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,960 And interestingly that one of the disciples, Judas, the one 256 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,440 who is known and synonymous with treason, what did he betray 257 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,600 Jesus for? 30 pieces of silver AKA money. 258 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:22,760 There is a serious and intimate correlation between someone's 259 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,360 character and how they handle money. 260 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,880 That's why Jesus says for where your treasure is, there your 261 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:33,240 heart will be also. What is it you actually treasure 262 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,800 is not what you say you treasure, but it's where you put 263 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,480 your money. I can tell a lot about a 264 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,240 person's life if they show me their budget, what they actually 265 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,800 value now, what they say they value. 266 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,480 But where their dollars go, so goes their heart. 267 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,080 So put your treasure where you want your heart to be. 268 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,320 In fact, as a point of application, would you just do 269 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,040 this, that if you were to look at your budget this week and 270 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,080 say, ask yourself this question, based off my budget, who do I 271 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:04,160 serve with my money? Do I serve my appetite in my 272 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:10,760 belly with how much I eat out? Do I serve my future with how 273 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:15,440 much I'm investing in it? Do I serve the church? 274 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,080 Do I serve God and His Kingdom advancing on earth? 275 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,000 Do I serve my hobbies? Do I serve my family? 276 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,120 The point is, if money is going to be right, if we're going to 277 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,560 have a right relationship with this year, we have to recognize 278 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,640 that our allegiance to Jesus is first and foremost, therefore, 279 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,040 He is worthy of our worship with our money. 280 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,400 We have the undivided in it. Based off your budget, who do 281 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,240 you serve with your money? Here's the next level question 282 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:41,880 for those you've been walking to Jesus for a while. 283 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,000 Has your generosity grown alongside your relationship with 284 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,880 Christ? Is it the exact same it was when 285 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,240 you met him when you were 20 and you're 40 now? 286 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:57,600 Or have you grown in it? I just think when you read this 287 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,320 that it's just so obvious that Jesus is intending for us to be 288 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,200 a generous people. Christians are supposed to be 289 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,240 known as the most generous people on planet earth because 290 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:06,720 we've received the greatest gift. 291 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:12,359 We've received Christ himself. So our loyalty, who we serve 292 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,560 with our money has to change. That's our first thing. 293 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,319 The second area that needs to change is my security where I 294 00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:26,160 rest, my security where I rest. Verses 25 through 31 295 00:17:26,839 --> 00:17:30,120 consistently say this phrase, do not be anxious. 296 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,800 Do not be anxious. Your Bible might translate that 297 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:38,720 word as worry. We as human beings were made to 298 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:44,760 rest in, to be secure in God's care and control for us, not our 299 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:46,520 own. That's why the Bible calls a 300 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,920 sheep all the time, and that's why he called it calls Jesus our 301 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:50,560 shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. 302 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:56,000 I shall not want, says Psalm 23, one that the person who trusts 303 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,680 that is the sheep who goes. I have a Good Shepherd who is 304 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,680 leading for me, caring for me, providing for me and in control 305 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:03,200 of my life. And that's a good thing. 306 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,520 I trust Him Worry. That word there, anxiety or 307 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,480 worry means this. It literally means to divide the 308 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,120 mind with concern, being preoccupied. 309 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,760 Think of it like mental real estate. 310 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:24,520 That worry is a bad residence for you to rest in, to feel safe 311 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:29,080 in. And when we worry, our security 312 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,120 and rest is not in God's care and control, but our very own. 313 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,960 And that is what worry is and does. 314 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:39,920 Worry is believing the lie that you consider and care for your 315 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:44,160 life more than the all knowing, all powerful God. 316 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,560 I'll say that again. Worry is believing the lie that 317 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,320 you consider and care for your life and your needs more than 318 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,240 the all knowing, all powerful, compassionate Father who loves 319 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,040 you. That's what worry actually is. 320 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,840 And here you'll see in this section, 25 through 31, it 321 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,840 occurs 6 times. That's nearly 1/3 by the way of 322 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,760 that, of how that word is used in the whole New Testament. 323 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:14,360 It's right here, right here in Matthew 625 through 31, it says 324 00:19:14,360 --> 00:19:18,840 do not be anxious about your life in verse 25, Verse 27, 325 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,040 which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to this 326 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,440 man of life? Verse 28, why are you anxious 327 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,760 about clothing? Verse 31. 328 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:35,920 Therefore, do not be anxious. Who is Jesus talking to on the 329 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,640 Sermon on the Mount? Primarily a bunch of peasant 330 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,920 farmers. This primary audience, which 331 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,920 means these people had a lot that was outside of their 332 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,480 control that they worried about regularly, the weather, whether 333 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,720 it was going to rain or not. They worried about feeding their 334 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,200 family and the livestock around them. 335 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,600 They worried about thieves getting in and stealing their 336 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,520 food and their crop. They worried about Roman 337 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,040 occupation. They worried about heavy taxes. 338 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,480 They worried about how to pay for weddings. 339 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:11,000 They worried about war. My point is, they're not all 340 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,120 that different from us. Worried about their four walls, 341 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:19,640 worried about their future, worried about their families. 342 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,960 And Jesus looked them in the eye and said, do not worry. 343 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:28,600 Do not be anxious because worry is stealing. 344 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:37,320 Your joy, Mark Twain said it this way, that I have known a 345 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,240 great many troubles but most of them never happened. 346 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:46,920 What a horrible place to live in. 347 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,520 Your brain is worry, Paul told the Corinthians. 348 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:55,080 I want you to be free from anxieties and that's how Jesus 349 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,120 makes his argument. He just asked 7 questions. 350 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,760 Is not life more than food? Verse 25 In the body more than 351 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,280 clothing? Verse 26 Are you not of more 352 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,960 value than they? Verse 27 Which of you by being 353 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,560 anxious can add a single hour to your life? 354 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:14,000 Verse 28, Why are you anxious about clothing? 355 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,120 Verse 30, Will he not much more clothe you, O you a little 356 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:19,920 faith. Now look at verse 31. 357 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,480 What shall we eat? What shall we drink? 358 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,480 What shall we wear? What's Jesus saying? 359 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,840 Hey, if you're anxious about food, if you're anxious about 360 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,160 fashion, God cares and considers your needs. 361 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:37,280 The Father knows them. He cares about them, actually 362 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,360 cares. Not like feigning consideration, 363 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:45,840 no, He considers you. He cares about you. 364 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:54,120 He cares for your actual needs, not your wants, but what you 365 00:21:54,120 --> 00:21:59,760 need. And to be anxious about them is 366 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:06,160 to not trust in God's security, His provision, His power. 367 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,320 There's something interesting about that word worry that I 368 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,000 learned this week, that that word we get in English worry 369 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,480 comes from an old English word that I'm not going to tempt a 370 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,040 British accent on, but it's pronounced weary on. 371 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,560 OK, the British got that word actually from the old High 372 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:29,560 German word vergen. That word vergen in German means 373 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:34,800 this. To choke or to strangle, That's 374 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,040 where we get our word worry from. 375 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:41,760 Which would mean then that worry is like letting your mind be 376 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:50,200 choked, That you're letting the world suffocate your ability to 377 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:55,520 think, that you're letting the world choke out the hope in your 378 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,720 life. It's strangling the joy from 379 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,400 your mind every time an anxious thought is running rampant in 380 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:08,320 your brain. And Jesus is lovingly telling 381 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,040 you today, don't let your mind be choked by anxiety. 382 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:19,240 Settle it in the person and promises of God. 383 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:27,880 Your Father who dresses the fields of lilies and who feeds 384 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:36,080 the birds of the air, who provides in his powerful, He's 385 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:45,800 with you and he's ahead of you. You have God bankrolling your 386 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:50,840 life. Don't let the worries of this 387 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:55,760 world suffocate you any longer. That's what Jesus is saying. 388 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:59,880 So I think this is just a moment where we can just confess 389 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:01,920 together in church. Like, what is it that you're 390 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:03,440 actually worrying about financially? 391 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,560 I think that's a good thing to label and to recognize and to 392 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,080 define this week. What are you worried about? 393 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:15,320 What are you so worked up about? What is strangling your heart? 394 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:17,840 What bad outcome are you imagining? 395 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:20,160 And here's what I want you to do. 396 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,680 I want you to take a moment with the Lord this week and confess 397 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:29,280 your lack of trust in Him. God, I gave a small thing a big 398 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:33,600 shadow in my life. My problem was big because you 399 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:39,280 were small. Confess that and then give that 400 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,840 thing to God. Hey, Lord, I don't know how to 401 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,520 make this bill payment work for school. 402 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,880 Hey, I don't know how we're going to catch up with the 403 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,240 amount of credit card debt we have. 404 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,640 Hey, Lord, I don't know how we're going to make this happen 405 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,440 when we have kids. Hey, Lord, I don't know how 406 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:54,160 we're going to get this house. Do you see? 407 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,480 Don't you see? Don't you see that is worrisome. 408 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,280 That is anxiety. You can give that to God and 409 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,640 say, God, I don't know how that's all going to work, but I 410 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,440 know you are there and you're going to meet my needs. 411 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,520 And I'm giving that to you. And I'm saying, God, you can 412 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:07,280 provide because you have provided. 413 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,600 I trust you, God. Lord, I'm giving this to you. 414 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,280 I am just a steward of the life you've given me. 415 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,360 I am just a manager of it. And so, Lord, here I am with the 416 00:25:17,360 --> 00:25:19,720 things that I have. I'm saying, Lord, this is what I 417 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:24,880 need all. Would you provide and then ask 418 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:26,160 for the faith to keep believing it? 419 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:31,440 Because you might start that prayer for a week or for a 420 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,440 month. But here at Saint City, we're 421 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:38,640 persistent with our prayer. We keep praying again and again 422 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:40,520 and again and again. Why? 423 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,440 Because God is working in the waiting. 424 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,560 He is teaching you and shaping you and forming you, even if you 425 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,160 continue to pray that He has become helping you become a 426 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,600 person of greater faith and the thing you can't see by trusting 427 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,360 in God. Faith is the assurance of things 428 00:25:54,360 --> 00:25:56,040 hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. 429 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,600 And you have a substance to your faith, a real hope and trust you 430 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:04,560 can have because of who God is and His inability to lie to you. 431 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:10,000 He keeps His promises. The first part of the text was a 432 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,320 command to obey. This part is a promise to 433 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,080 believe. God will provide for you. 434 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:19,200 I'm going to say it again, God will provide for you. 435 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:27,760 God will provide for you. Believe it, seek it, ask it, and 436 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,680 let him be your security. Let him be the place where your 437 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,600 heart and your mind and your soul rest from the worries of 438 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,360 this world. Third and finally, another area 439 00:26:36,360 --> 00:26:38,880 we need to change is our priority. 440 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:47,120 What we seek first, what we seek first, but seek first. 441 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:54,040 Verse 33, the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these 442 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,920 things will be added to you. What do we seek first? 443 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,880 You have to be a preacher to know what we seek first. 444 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:01,840 It's right there in your Bible, right? 445 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,320 Seek first what? The Kingdom of God and his 446 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:08,040 righteousness. I think that's interesting. 447 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,520 It's his Kingdom, his righteousness. 448 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:15,920 Jesus is like, hey, put the First things first. 449 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:20,000 Put me in the 1st order of priority, worthy in every arena 450 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,480 of your life, of complete and total allegiance, of complete 451 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:27,560 and total trust, of complete and total priority. 452 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:32,720 Jesus gets the 1st place. He's the thing our whole life 453 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:39,440 orients around. He's the 1st place and that's 454 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:46,400 important as a father. I have 4 kids and I I wouldn't 455 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,520 say I'm like a kid person per SE. 456 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:56,880 I do love my kids though. Right now it's not wrong for me 457 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:58,800 to love my kids more than other kids. 458 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:01,240 That's part of the nature of the relationship. 459 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,200 To prioritize my kids is actually a good thing because 460 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,360 it'd be pretty obvious I was a bad dad if I took care of other 461 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:11,520 kids before I took care of my own. 462 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,320 If I made sure their snack stock was always supplied and my kids 463 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:18,160 were like hey dad, where the heck are the fruit snacks? 464 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:22,640 Dude? If I prioritize other kids 465 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,480 sporting events instead of my own, hey dad, why are you going 466 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:27,360 to that other kids sporting event and you never come to 467 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:30,320 mind? Isn't that so obviously broken? 468 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:34,760 Don't miss the brokenness. I'm not putting Jesus in the 469 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:39,160 first place in your life. He's meant to be first. 470 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:42,480 He's meant to hold that high value. 471 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:51,320 He's meant to be adored and loved and followed, but he's not 472 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:52,760 the exclusive priority in your life. 473 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:55,440 That's what makes him so great. He is first, but he's not 474 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:59,120 exclusive. Seek first the Kingdom of God 475 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:01,680 and His righteousness. So seek first the Kingdom. 476 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,600 It means give your offerings, give your money first to his 477 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,120 Kingdom, to his righteousness advancing in the world so the 478 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,360 gospel can go out and go for, so people can experience the 479 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,960 righteousness that is not of their own, but is Jesus Christ 480 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:15,640 alone. That they could experience the 481 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:20,040 good news that guess what, you are a Sinner in need of a Savior 482 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,760 and one has come that you are in need of righteousness, A 483 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,840 righteousness that you could never earn or deserve. 484 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,000 But guess what? Jesus Christ generously has 485 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,680 arrived on planet earth and He's given His life and His blood and 486 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:35,040 His body. So you could have eternal life 487 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,600 with Christ through God's righteousness in Christ. 488 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:40,720 That's the gospel. That's the good news. 489 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,040 You're never going to be perfect in doing this. 490 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:45,360 You're never be perfect and laying up treasures for yourself 491 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:46,760 in heaven. You're never going to be perfect 492 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:48,080 and trusting God as your security. 493 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,880 But guess what? You have a righteousness that is 494 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:56,160 Christ, and he's imported it to you, imputed it to you so you 495 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:58,000 can have it. When God sees you, he doesn't 496 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,360 see your sin or your unrighteousness, but he sees 497 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,760 Christ. And what's true of Jesus now, 498 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:06,040 true of you, That is the mystery and wonder of what it means to 499 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,720 be a Christian. You can be saved from your 500 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,400 unrighteousness because of Him. And that's where your dollars go 501 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,720 first is advancing that message, the Kingdom of God and his 502 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:20,840 righteousness. That's the first thing, the most 503 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,640 important thing for your money. And dare I say even like the 504 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:27,000 automated thing you don't like when the budget numbers are 505 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,160 coming back, you're like, hey, let me just cut back here. 506 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:31,880 And the first thing to go is always your giving. 507 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:34,920 That's a telltale sign off so that you serve something else 508 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:38,520 with your money rather than God. The thing you're willing to cut 509 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,040 is the thing you're willing to sacrifice on an altar for 510 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:46,960 something else. I'll say it this way, if money 511 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,600 to the church is the first thing you're willing to cut, it is not 512 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:50,720 God. You are worshiping with your 513 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:51,720 money. You're worshiping something 514 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,400 else. It's the thing that has to stay 515 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,800 strong. And this isn't just evidenced 516 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:57,720 here. It's all across the New 517 00:30:57,720 --> 00:30:59,760 Testament, Second Corinthians 8 and 9 and the rest of the New 518 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,400 Testament makes it clear the spot to do that is your local 519 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,400 church. That's the first place your 520 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,280 money goes. And I, I recognize you're like, 521 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,240 wow, that's pretty advantageous of you to say pastor. 522 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:12,280 Like you're up there, like you're the one who manages all 523 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:13,160 that. Hey, guess what? 524 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:14,680 I actually don't oversee our budget. 525 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,600 Somebody else does. And what I want is not something 526 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,400 from you. I want something for you truly, 527 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,400 genuinely. I want you to experience what 528 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:26,200 it's like to prioritize God with your money. 529 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,720 It is the best way to live. Seek first the Kingdom of God 530 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:33,600 and His righteousness. That's what we call it, St. 531 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:39,720 City cross shaped generosity. And generosity is an integral 532 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:41,440 attribute of God's righteousness. 533 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,560 That's why we're cheerful and that's why we're generous. 534 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:47,160 That's why we're sacrificial, because God Himself has done 535 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,920 that for us. The God who you can't out give 536 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:56,800 has given it all. What little do you have that you 537 00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:59,320 could bring to Him? He's want your money. 538 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:02,400 He wants your heart. And so in seeking first the 539 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,920 Kingdom of God and His righteousness with your money, 540 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:08,120 you're becoming more like Jesus and building His Kingdom. 541 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,880 Don't let worry grip your generosity any longer. 542 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,240 Worry. The first thing to go with 543 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:20,200 worry, the first thing it chokes out and strangles, is generosity 544 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,480 in your heart. You get stingy. 545 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:27,680 But we have a God who is lavish and his giving toward us. 546 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,520 That's why in verse 34, Jesus says it this way. 547 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,200 Therefore, don't be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow 548 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,400 will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its 549 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:39,960 own trouble. Each day is going to have its 550 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:41,760 own money problems. They're not going to go away. 551 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,160 You have things you're planning for things you're unexpected 552 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:47,320 bills like the AC going out. You're going to have that hit 553 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:50,640 your life and it's good stewardship to save for sure. 554 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,280 Be good steward, be wise with your money, but wisdom is also 555 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:58,040 going first to the Lord with it. Take me take it one day at a 556 00:32:58,040 --> 00:32:59,760 time. Jesus is saying here, trust me 557 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,600 one day at a time. Each day has its own troubles. 558 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:07,160 Walk with me day by day. In fact, if you could invert 559 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,560 this verse 34 and say it in its opposite. 560 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,560 Here's what would be true. He's like, hey, breathe today 561 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:15,360 instead of being choked by worry and anxiety. 562 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:20,440 Breathe, for today is the only day in troubles that you 563 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:23,880 actually have. That's what he's saying. 564 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:28,840 Seek first a cross shaped life and let it hit the church. 565 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,400 Let it hit others. Let your generosity hit waiters 566 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:37,440 and fundraisers and family members at Christmas giving them 567 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,160 gifts. Be the most generous person 568 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,680 somebody knows. It's a great way to tell others 569 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:46,200 about Jesus. It's a great way to reflect that 570 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,360 an undivided life changes how you handle money. 571 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:56,200 I remember when I was 20 years old, I was in college and I was 572 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:58,960 just being confronted with my greed for the first time. 573 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:00,800 Greed is a besetting area of sin in my life. 574 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,160 Just so you know. It's an area where I think often 575 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,120 confess to God, like, hey, I am greedy. 576 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,679 I am in need of your help. I'm in need of you transforming 577 00:34:08,679 --> 00:34:13,920 my heart. And I remember this moment as a 578 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,560 sophomore in college, not wanting to do ministry because I 579 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:22,920 was afraid of being broke. My whole life I'd seen friends 580 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:25,000 who had pastors for dads and I just saw their life. 581 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:26,239 And I was like, I don't want that. 582 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:31,360 I don't want that for my family. I was letting worry choke out my 583 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:36,360 trust that God would provide. And I had to confess my greed. 584 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,800 And I started marching towards ministry full time. 585 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:42,679 But let me just tell you, this is an area of our lives, Maddie 586 00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:44,719 and I, that we constantly have to go back to Lord and say Lord, 587 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,600 don't let us be consumed by worry, but let us be trustful in 588 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:51,320 worship that we're, we're in the same economy y'all are in, 589 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,880 right? We're figuring it out week by 590 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,440 week, month by month. But I'm committed to you. 591 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:02,520 I'm committed to living an undivided life with money that I 592 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:04,480 won't let worry choke me out anymore. 593 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:08,440 That's not the life God purchased for me with Jesus. 594 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:12,600 It's good to live an undivided life. 595 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:14,280 It's good to have God change your relationship with money 596 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:16,960 because guess what? It will settle anxiety in your 597 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:19,360 life. Let's live that way this week in 598 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:20,160 Jesus name. Let me pray. 599 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:22,360 Lord, thank you for the opportunity to worship you and 600 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:24,120 to get to know your heart for us. 601 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,160 Thank you for your gospel which purchased for us the hope of 602 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:31,040 heaven. God, we can actually hope for 603 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:33,960 treasures. We can actually believe and 604 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:36,720 trust that treasures await us on the other side of this life, 605 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,840 that this life ain't it. And so if we look out and see 606 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:43,080 our lack of treasures here on earth, God, we don't have to 607 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,920 grow discouraged because we don't live for here and now. 608 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:49,480 We live for then. That day when you will return, 609 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,160 that day when we can worship you. 610 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:53,880 That day where the greatest treasure we have ever known, 611 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:56,720 Jesus, we get to see him and be with him face to face. 612 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,600 And God, I cannot wait for the treasures of heaven. 613 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,440 I cannot wait to be with you every single day. 614 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:06,680 God. What's great about knowing you 615 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:12,240 is that's also true now. That your Spirit lives in me and 616 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:16,360 I can walk with you day by day. That the greatest department 617 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:20,680 bank account is the treasure of the Holy Spirit living inside of 618 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:22,840 me. That I don't have to make my 619 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,280 home in worry. I can make my home in trust 620 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:28,200 because You are with me wherever I go. 621 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:31,920 And so, Lord, help us to live an undivided life. 622 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,120 Help us to not be concerned and gripped by the cares of this 623 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:37,320 world. Help the seed of that to not be 624 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:39,120 choked out by the worries of this world. 625 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:42,440 But God, would you bear fruit? Would you bear fruit in being a 626 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:45,280 generous church? God, will we be shaped by 627 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,760 Matthew 6 so deeply and so formatively God that when people 628 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:52,000 meet people from Saint City, they'd be like, Oh my gosh, 629 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,920 y'all are some of those crazy generous people in Tempe. 630 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,840 God, I can't create that. I can't even lead that. 631 00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:01,560 What I can do is I can pray for you to do that in our hearts 632 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:04,680 because God, I believe that Christians are intended to be 633 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:08,360 this way and a watching world is seeing how we handle our 634 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:09,840 finances. And if we are just like the 635 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:14,280 world, then maybe we're just of the world, but would we be in it 636 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:16,080 and not of it? Would we be different? 637 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:19,480 Would we be Kingdom people who are seeking first the Kingdom of 638 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:22,800 God and his righteousness and trusting that You will Add all 639 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:27,240 that we need in the midst? And so, Lord, we ask Jesus for 640 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:30,640 your name to be big and bright as we chase down generosity, as 641 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:33,600 we chase down obedience, as we chase down trusting in you for 642 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,200 security, for loyalty, and for priority. 643 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:40,520 God with the name of Jesus be shouted from our hearts and 644 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,080 lips. Jesus name, Amen.