How's your soul? - Greed
Notes
Transcript
GREED
GREED
HOW’S YOUR SOUL?
DIGGING DEEPER WHEN YOU ASK THIS QUESTION
NOT SURFACE
TRULY REFLECTING
I WOKE UP THE OTHER DAY WITH THE WORD MYOPIC ON MY MIND - IT WAS ONE OF THOSE WORDS THAT YOU GO MY WHAT???
MYOPIC
IT WAS A NAGGING WORD THAT WOULD NOT LEAVE ME AND SO I DECIDED TO CHECK WHAT THE DICTIONARY SAYS:
SHORT SIGHTED
WELL IT IS TO DO WITH OUR SIGHT - IN FACT IT IS THE TERM FOR NEARSIGHTEDNESS.
THIS IS NOT A WORD THAT WE WOULD USE UNLESS WE WERE OPTOMETRISTS OR OPTHALMOLOGISTS ETC.
MEDICALLY IT IS THE ABILITY TO NOT SEE OBJECTS THAT ARE FAR AWAY.
NON MEDICALLY:
IF WE WERE AFFECTED BY MYOPIA WE WOULD ONLY BE THINKING OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW. WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US.
LACKING IMAGINATION, FORESIGHT OR INTELLECTUAL INSIGHT
AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE SCRIPTURE FOR THIS MORNINGS SERMON - IT DAWNED ON ME THAT GOD WAS SHOWING ME HOW VERY MYOPIC WE CAN BE WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS LIKE THIS TOPIC.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GREED.
GREED - SLIDE # 1
NOW STAY WITH ME HERE - I KNOW YOU THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE - GIVE ME YOUR MONEY SERMONS. SO BEFORE YOU TURN THE BROADCAST OFF - LISTEN UP.
SLIDE # 2
AS ANDY STANLEY PUT IT WE BEGAN THIS SERIES LOOKING AT:
GUILT SAYS - I OWE YOU
ANGER SAYS - YOU OWE ME
GREED SAYS - I OWE ME
HE FURTHER POINTS OUT THAT GREED IS DRIVEN BY OUR FEARS:
THE FEAR OF NOT ENOUGH AND WHO IS GOING TO LOOK AFTER YOU IF YOU DON’T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
NOW THERE ARE SOME PROVERBS THAT TELL US THAT WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
PERHAPS GREED IS OK.....
HOWEVER AS ANDY SAYS WE ARE ALL AFFECTED BY BBS
SCRIPTURE ALWAYS HAS SOME INCREDIBLE STORIES THAT CAN HELP US.
SCRIPTURE - TELL STORY
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
HOW CAN THIS BE AN ENEMY OF THE HEART?
JESUS IS SAYING CHANGE YOUR FOCUS.
DO NOT ONLY SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT LOOK UP AND LOOK FURTHER.
LETS BEGIN WITH THE BROTHERS:
WELL V13&14 - THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL QUESTION FOR A RABBI TO BE ASKED, THEY OFTEN HAD TO SETTLE FAMILY ISSUES.
JESUS GOES ON TO PUT HIS FINGER ON A DEEPER ISSUE - A SOUL ISSUE.
HE ADDRESSES BOTH OF THESE BROTHERS AT THE SAME TIME
HE SAYS - DO NOT ASK ME TO ARBITRATE FOR YOU BUT RATHER ASK YOURSELF A BIGGER AND DEEPER QUESTION:
BROTHER # 1 - WHY AM I HOLDING ON TO MY FATHERS ESTATE AND NOT SHARING.
BROTHER # 2 - WHY DO I SO DESPERATELY WANT THIS STUFF?
WELL BECAUSE GREED CAN REMAIN UNDETECTED IN OUR HEARTS FOR A VERY LONG TIME IF WE DO NOT GUARD OUR HEARTS AGAINST IT.
GREED IS THE DESIRE FOR WHAT WE DON’T HAVE.
V15 - TAKE CARE - BE ON GUARD
WE ARE ALSO DRIVEN BY CONSUMERISM THAT SAYS WE NEED TO HAVE MORE!
BECAUSE YOUR LIFE WILL NOT BE COMPLETE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS.........(FILL IN THE BLANK)
WHEN WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES - JESUS GIVES US A CLEAR WARNING AND ALSO SOME VISION REGARDING GREED AND HOW ALL CONSUMING IT CAN BECOME IF WE GIVE IT A PLATFORM.
SLIDE -BBS
BBS
THAT STANDS FOR BIGGER BARN SYNDROME
WE BUILD BIG BARNS TO FIT ALL THE STUFF WE NEED. OR DON’T NEED BUT WANT.
ONE OF MY PREVIOUS BOSSES IN THE BANK HER AND HER FAMILY WENT INTO THE STORAGE BUSINESS AND YES THEY MAKE A VERY COMFORTABLE LIVING OUT OF ALL THE BBS PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE RICH MANS THOUGHTS ARE NOT OF WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY EXCESS TO HELP THOSE AROUND ME - BUT THAT I CAN TAKE WHAT I HAVE AND RELAX AND RETIRE.
THE RICH MAN IN THE STORY - SADLY DIES BEFORE HE CAN ENJOY ALL THAT HE HAS ACCUMULATED. AS THE SCRIPTURE REMINDS US - WE CANNOT TAKE IT WITH US. SOMEONE ELSE GETS IT.
HIS GREED WAS IN HIS MYOPIC THINKING -
HE WAS NOT LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE BUT RATHER AT THE BOUNTY HE HAD IN FRONT OF HIM.
THEN BBS KICKED IN.......
NOW LET ME JUST TELL YOU WORKING AND PLANNING RESPONSIBLY ARE GOOD; DWELLING ON ALL THE WAYS OUR PLANNING COULD GO WRONG IS BAD.
THE BIGGER DEEPER QUESTION IS
WHY DO YOU SAVE MONEY?
TO RETIRE - RELAX, EAT, DRINK, BE MERRY.
TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE STUFF?
TO BE SECURE?
SO IF THE ANSWER TO:
THE ANSWER TO:
GUILT CONQUERED WITH REPENTANCE
ANGER - FORGIVNESS
GREED - GENEROSITY
IF YOU ACCUMULATE WEALTH ONLY TO ENRICH YOURSELF WITH NO CONCERN FOR HELPING OTHERS, YOU WILL ENTER ETERNITY EMPTY HANDED.
LET US UNDERSTAND GENEROSITY.
WHEN I HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO MEET MY NEEDS - I NEED TO BE SAYING, GOD HOW CAN I BLESS SOMEONE WHO REALLY NEEDS IT THIS MONTH.
CAUTION - GOD IS NOT ASKING YOU TO TAKE YOUR RENT MONEY TO GIVE IT AWAY - YOUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO MEET YOUR OWN FAMILIES NEEDS.
THEN OUT OF YOUR ABUNDANCE BLESS THOSE AROUND YOU.
NOW I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GREED AND GENEROSITY
THIS FILTERS DOWN INTO EVERY SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE AND POSSESION WE HAVE.
WE HAVE SO MUCH IN OUR HOUSES AND GARAGES AND STORAGE AREAS.
WE CANNOT IGNORE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND SAY OH WELL GOD WILL PROVIDE - WE NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF ALL WE HAVE.
THIS IS WHY IT IS AN ENEMY OF OUR HEART.
BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE GREEDY WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE OTHERS HAVE MORE THAN US.
AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT IT IS WE BECOME SELFISH AND SELF CENTRED IN OUR THINKING AND ALSO MYOPIC;
LACKING IMAGINATION, FORESIGHT OR INTELLECTUAL INSIGHT
JUST LIKE THE RICH MAN, WE TOO CAN GET INTO THAT THINKING OF THE BBS AND THINK THAT WE HAVE MANY DAYS AHEAD OF US TO ENJOY THE FRUIT OF OUR LABOUR.
FOR TODAY YOUR SOUL WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU!!
NOW WHAT?
YOU CANNOT TAKE ANY OF IT WITH YOU
GENEROSITY WILL BREAK THE GRIP OF GREED ON YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO THE POINT THAT IT FORCES YOU TO ADJUST YOUR LIFESTYLE.
PERHAPS YOU ARE FINANCIALLY SECURE - YES RETIRE BUT THEN SPEND YOUR TIME HELPING TO BUILD THE KINGDOM.
USE YOUR BUSINESS ACCUME TO BE RICH TOWARDS GOD.
DONT BUILD BIGGER BARNS
SLIDE:
HERE IS TWO HARD SAYINGS THAT ANDY MENTIONS:
IF YOU’RE CONSUMING TO THE POINT OF HAVING LITTLE OR NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE, YOUR GREEDY.
IF YOU’RE CONSUMING AND SAVING TO THE POINT THAT THERE’S LITTLE OR NOTHING TO GIVE YOUR GREEDY.
YOU SEE GREED IS NOT A FEELING IT IS A REFUSAL TO ACT.
HOW CAN WE BREAK THIS POWER OF GREED IN OUR LIVES?
BECOME A GIVER
GOD GIVES US CLUES THROUGOUT THE SCRIPTURES ON HOW TO BECOME A GIVER:
TAKE THE ACACIA TREE:
READING THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND MORE PARTICULAR I TEND TO GO DOWN RABBIT TRAILS BUT LAST MONTH AS I WAS READING,
IT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY USED ACACIA WOOD TO BUILD THE TABERNACLE AND THE SUPPORT BEAMS ETC.
SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS SO GREAT ABOUT ACACIA WOOD THAT THEY HAD TO USE IT.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ACACIA TREE IS NOT A GREEDY TREE AT ALL.
IN FACT LISTEN TO THIS:
PROVIDES SHADE FOR THE FARMERS & ANIMALS
THE ROOTS ARE ABLE TO REACH UNREACHABLE WATER TABLES - SO PROVIDE WATER FOR THE ANIMALS
THEY ALSO PROMOTE GROWTH AROUND THEM THROUGH THE NUTRIENTS THEIR ROOTS SUPPLY TO THE SURROUNDING VEGITATION
THE GUM FROM THE ACACIA TREE
100% NON GMO AND VEGETARIAN
IT HAS MANY USES AND IS FOUND IN A LOT OF FOOD AND PRODUCTS WE USE EVEN TODAY
IT PROVIDES A COATING
SUSTAINS
PROTECTS
NOT ABLE TO BE REPLICATED
NUTRITIONAL
BINDING
TO TOP IT ALL, ONE OF THE MOST INTERSTING FACTS ABOUT THE ACACIA TREE IS THAT THE WORSE SHAPE IT IS IN, IS WHEN IT GIVES THE MOST GUM.
YOU SEE ANIMALS AND INSECTS BURROW INTO THE BARK OR AS THEY EATING FROM THE BRANCHES THEY CREATE CUTS AND THAT IS HOW THE GUM FORMS - THROUGH EACH CUT.
BRINGS NEW MEANING TO THE WORDS
GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS
AS PETE GRIEG WOULD SAY - GOOD JOB ON THE ACACIA TREE LORD.
START SMALL AND WORK YOUR WAY UP.
DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE ENOUGH - DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN GIVE AND START TRUSTING GOD TO HELP YOU.
I ALWAYS SAY YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD - I KNOW IT IS NOT MY ORIGINAL SAYING BUT IT IS A GOOD ONE THAT I HAVE AND CONTINUE TO USE.
GENEROSITY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT MONEY AND FINANCES. IT IS A LIFESTYLE.
IN THE SAME WAY THE GUM POPS OUT OF THE CRACKED BARK OF THE ACACIA TREE - SO MUST OUR GENEROSITY POP OUT OF US.
I JUST WANT TO STOP HERE FOR A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE BCCN & PATHWAY
GENEROSITY IS WHAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
GENEROSITY IS WHAT CONTINUES TO SUSTAIN US
GENEROSITY BEYOND WHAT WE COULD IMAGINE
YOU SEE BRIDLEWOOD HAS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY AND WE COULD EASILY HAVE A BBS MENTALITY HERE
BUT WE DO NOT
THIS BIGGER BARN WAS BUILT TO BLESS THE COMMUNITY
AND I AM ALWAYS AMAZED AT THE GENEROSITY OF THE LEADERSHIP
IN TIME
MONEY
TALENT
IT IS NOT A POWER STRUGGLE IT IS A PARTNERSHIP
RICH TOWARDS GOD- FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE KINGDOM
WE USE THIS FACILITY AND ITS PROXIMITY IN THE COMMUNITY TO BLESS THOSE AROUND US
NOW OUR RENTALS ARE A SOURCE OF INCOME TO THE CHURCH TO HELP US KEEP THE LIGHTS ON BUT WE NOT OUT TO RIP PEOPLE OFF.
WE LOOK AT EACH SITUATION AND ASSIST WHERE WE CAN.
WE HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GODS PROVIDENCE RIGHT HERE.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE LOST OUR RENTAL INCOME IN THIS PANDEMIC AND WE CONTINUED TO BE GENROUS TO OUR COMMUNITY - GOD HAS BEEN GENEROUS TOWARDS US AND HE DOES THAT THROUGH YOU WHO ARE FAITHFUL IN YOUR GIVING OF YOUR MONEY GIFTS AND TALENTS.
THAT MY FRIENDS IS WHAT GENEROSITY DOES IT KEEPS GIVING.
WE ARE REMINDED TODAY THAT WE ARE NOT OWNERS WE ARE MANAGERS AND WE MUST MANAGE ALL THAT WE HAVE IN A WAY THAT IS GENEROUS TOWARDS GOD AND LIFE ETERNAL.
READ SCRIPTURE FROM MSG BIBLE
LUKE 12:13-21
LET US BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND MANAGE IT IN AWAY THAT HONOURS GOD AND THOSE AROUND US.
- LET US PRAY
ST IGNARIUS OF LOYOLA PRAYED THIS PRAYER OF GENEROSITY:
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.