1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,400 Will you open at 1 Timothy, chapter six, 2 00:00:03,400 –> 00:00:05,980 and I want you to notice that the message here 3 00:00:05,980 –> 00:00:08,720 comes in two parts. 4 00:00:08,720 –> 00:00:15,880 Paul speaks in verse 17 to those who are rich, 5 00:00:15,880 –> 00:00:18,280 and he speaks in verse nine to those 6 00:00:18,280 –> 00:00:19,480 who want to get rich. 7 00:00:19,480 –> 00:00:21,020 So you put these two together, that’s 8 00:00:21,020 –> 00:00:22,340 covering an awful lot of people. 9 00:00:22,340 –> 00:00:23,879 Those who are rich and those who want 10 00:00:23,879 –> 00:00:26,879 to get rich, verse nine in verse 17. 11 00:00:26,879 –> 00:00:28,559 In other words, there is something here 12 00:00:28,600 –> 00:00:31,980 in 1 Timothy, chapter six for those who have less, 13 00:00:31,980 –> 00:00:33,759 and there is something here in 1 Timothy, 14 00:00:33,759 –> 00:00:36,820 chapter six for those who have more. 15 00:00:36,820 –> 00:00:38,480 Now, the problem with this, of course, 16 00:00:38,480 –> 00:00:41,360 is that most of us will instinctively and immediately 17 00:00:41,360 –> 00:00:42,900 decide where we belong. 18 00:00:42,900 –> 00:00:44,439 Do I belong with those who have less, 19 00:00:44,439 –> 00:00:46,400 or do I belong with those who have more? 20 00:00:46,400 –> 00:00:48,840 And if we decide where we belong and we kind of pigeon 21 00:00:48,840 –> 00:00:51,959 ourselves that way, pigeonhole ourselves, what will happen 22 00:00:51,959 –> 00:00:54,320 is that we will only hear half of what 23 00:00:54,320 –> 00:00:57,080 God has to say to us today. 24 00:00:57,119 –> 00:01:00,820 So, I want to remind you that however much you have, 25 00:01:00,820 –> 00:01:02,360 there are others who have more. 26 00:01:03,500 –> 00:01:08,199 And however little you have, there are others who have less. 27 00:01:09,680 –> 00:01:13,559 And however much or little you have, 28 00:01:13,559 –> 00:01:17,279 there will be seasons in your life when you have more, 29 00:01:17,279 –> 00:01:21,540 and there will be seasons in your life when you have less. 30 00:01:21,540 –> 00:01:25,459 So, all of us then need to hear what God has to say to us 31 00:01:25,459 –> 00:01:28,099 when we have more and when we have less. 32 00:01:28,099 –> 00:01:31,419 So, I want to ask you to do something with me today. 33 00:01:31,419 –> 00:01:35,059 Will you make with me a self-conscious effort 34 00:01:35,059 –> 00:01:39,260 to place yourself under the word of God both 35 00:01:39,260 –> 00:01:40,300 to those who have less, 36 00:01:40,300 –> 00:01:42,820 cuz plenty of people have more than you do, 37 00:01:42,820 –> 00:01:44,800 and also to those who have more? 38 00:01:44,800 –> 00:01:46,580 Will you place yourself under the word of God 39 00:01:46,580 –> 00:01:47,500 to those who have more? 40 00:01:47,500 –> 00:01:49,139 Because there are millions of people 41 00:01:49,139 –> 00:01:52,120 who have much, much less than any of us 42 00:01:52,120 –> 00:01:54,580 here in this sanctuary today. 43 00:01:54,660 –> 00:01:58,019 However little we have. 44 00:01:58,019 –> 00:02:00,300 So, let’s try and hear the full word of God today 45 00:02:00,300 –> 00:02:03,000 and not simply a half of it. 46 00:02:03,000 –> 00:02:05,739 And we’re going to begin with situations 47 00:02:05,739 –> 00:02:08,339 where we have less. 48 00:02:08,339 –> 00:02:10,800 When you have less, what is God’s word to us? 49 00:02:10,800 –> 00:02:13,220 when you have less. 50 00:02:13,220 –> 00:02:16,899 Simply this, when you have less, 51 00:02:16,899 –> 00:02:20,899 learn the art of contentment. 52 00:02:20,899 –> 00:02:21,779 I want you to notice 53 00:02:21,779 –> 00:02:24,539 especially verse six and what follows. 54 00:02:25,320 –> 00:02:29,160 Paul says godliness with contentment 55 00:02:29,160 –> 00:02:32,500 is great gain. 56 00:02:32,500 –> 00:02:34,940 Now, we’ve already learned a bit about godliness. 57 00:02:34,940 –> 00:02:37,259 Godliness is a God centered life 58 00:02:37,259 –> 00:02:40,539 and you remember we saw from chapter three in verse 16 59 00:02:40,539 –> 00:02:43,139 that it does not come through the pursuit of a process 60 00:02:43,139 –> 00:02:46,399 but godliness comes through the presence of a person. 61 00:02:46,399 –> 00:02:49,179 Jesus Christ and his life in us, 62 00:02:49,179 –> 00:02:51,460 that is the mystery of godliness 63 00:02:51,520 –> 00:02:54,839 and our hope of living the life that God calls us to lead 64 00:02:54,839 –> 00:02:57,160 comes through the presence of Jesus Christ. 65 00:02:57,160 –> 00:02:59,199 He being the vine, we being the branches 66 00:02:59,199 –> 00:03:02,199 and his life truly flowing in us. 67 00:03:02,199 –> 00:03:04,660 That’s what we learned about godliness. 68 00:03:04,660 –> 00:03:07,320 But now Paul adds something else. 69 00:03:07,320 –> 00:03:12,320 He says there’s great gain in godliness with contentment. 70 00:03:13,279 –> 00:03:16,679 So contentment is the new peace here 71 00:03:16,679 –> 00:03:19,559 and contentment is very simply finding joy 72 00:03:19,639 –> 00:03:22,179 in what God has given to you. 73 00:03:22,179 –> 00:03:24,119 It is the opposite of greed. 74 00:03:24,119 –> 00:03:25,960 Luther points out that the problem 75 00:03:25,960 –> 00:03:29,619 with greed is that it destroys your capacity 76 00:03:29,619 –> 00:03:31,720 to enjoy what God has given because 77 00:03:31,720 –> 00:03:34,539 you’re so concerned with what he has not given. 78 00:03:34,539 –> 00:03:36,619 Contentment is the Christian grace 79 00:03:36,619 –> 00:03:38,919 of enjoying what God has given to you 80 00:03:39,839 –> 00:03:42,360 and it is a grace that grows over time. 81 00:03:43,419 –> 00:03:47,880 Contentment does not come quickly, easily or naturally 82 00:03:47,979 –> 00:03:50,500 even to a Christian believer. 83 00:03:50,500 –> 00:03:53,179 We know that because the Apostle Paul says in Philippians, 84 00:03:53,179 –> 00:03:55,320 remember, Philippians four in verse 12, 85 00:03:55,320 –> 00:04:00,320 he says, I have learned in whatever situation 86 00:04:00,500 –> 00:04:02,940 I am to be content. 87 00:04:02,940 –> 00:04:05,220 In other words, even as an Apostle, 88 00:04:05,220 –> 00:04:09,639 Paul recognized that this is a mature grace. 89 00:04:09,639 –> 00:04:13,460 It is a fruit of the spirit that develops over time. 90 00:04:13,460 –> 00:04:15,880 Paul says I had to learn it. 91 00:04:16,859 –> 00:04:18,260 And how did he learn it? 92 00:04:18,260 –> 00:04:19,679 Well, he tells us, he says, 93 00:04:19,679 –> 00:04:21,619 I know what it is to be in need 94 00:04:21,619 –> 00:04:23,359 and I know what it is to have plenty 95 00:04:23,359 –> 00:04:26,799 and I have learned the secret of being content. 96 00:04:26,799 –> 00:04:28,079 In other words, he’s saying, this, look, 97 00:04:28,079 –> 00:04:29,260 there have been times in my life 98 00:04:29,260 –> 00:04:32,440 when I had plenty, but then there were times 99 00:04:32,440 –> 00:04:34,140 when God brought me into a situation 100 00:04:34,140 –> 00:04:36,420 where I really was in need. 101 00:04:36,420 –> 00:04:38,839 And it was through that that God taught me 102 00:04:38,839 –> 00:04:41,880 something I would not otherwise have learned. 103 00:04:41,880 –> 00:04:44,140 It was right there that I learned 104 00:04:44,179 –> 00:04:47,660 what it is to be content. 105 00:04:47,660 –> 00:04:49,500 In other words, God will often use 106 00:04:49,500 –> 00:04:53,059 the experience of loss to cultivate 107 00:04:53,059 –> 00:04:56,760 this rare and valuable gift, 108 00:04:56,760 –> 00:05:00,100 this fruit of the spirit that is not often possessed 109 00:05:00,100 –> 00:05:02,500 and is not quickly or easily developed 110 00:05:02,500 –> 00:05:05,000 in our lives. 111 00:05:05,980 –> 00:05:08,779 A man by the name of Jeremiah Burroughs, 112 00:05:08,779 –> 00:05:12,339 who a long time ago wrote a book on this subject, 113 00:05:12,339 –> 00:05:17,019 described contentment as a rare jewel. 114 00:05:17,019 –> 00:05:19,119 It’s a lovely phrase, that. 115 00:05:19,119 –> 00:05:22,100 His book was the rare jewel 116 00:05:22,100 –> 00:05:25,200 of Christian contentment, 117 00:05:25,200 –> 00:05:27,380 and he has great biblical wisdom 118 00:05:27,380 –> 00:05:31,299 in how we can attain this rare jewel 119 00:05:31,299 –> 00:05:33,079 when we have less. 120 00:05:33,079 –> 00:05:35,720 How do we cultivate contentment? 121 00:05:35,720 –> 00:05:38,640 Well, this is what he says. 122 00:05:38,640 –> 00:05:42,299 A Christian comes to contentment 123 00:05:42,299 –> 00:05:46,019 not so much by way of addition, 124 00:05:46,019 –> 00:05:48,980 but by way of subtraction. 125 00:05:48,980 –> 00:05:51,179 He explains. 126 00:05:51,179 –> 00:05:52,559 The world says that 127 00:05:52,559 –> 00:05:54,239 you will find contentment 128 00:05:54,239 –> 00:05:56,380 when your possessions rise 129 00:05:56,380 –> 00:05:59,459 to the level of your desires. 130 00:05:59,459 –> 00:06:01,600 But the Christian way of contentment, 131 00:06:01,600 –> 00:06:04,019 he says, is when your desires 132 00:06:04,019 –> 00:06:05,779 come down to the level 133 00:06:05,779 –> 00:06:08,019 of your possessions. 134 00:06:08,019 –> 00:06:09,899 That’s beautiful, isn’t it? 135 00:06:09,899 –> 00:06:11,540 The world is always saying to us, 136 00:06:11,619 –> 00:06:14,739 you will be content by addition. 137 00:06:14,739 –> 00:06:15,980 When your possessions come up 138 00:06:15,980 –> 00:06:17,140 to what you desire, 139 00:06:17,140 –> 00:06:18,640 then you’ll be content. 140 00:06:18,640 –> 00:06:19,959 But the Christian message 141 00:06:19,959 –> 00:06:21,779 is entirely different. 142 00:06:21,779 –> 00:06:24,040 It says you will find contentment 143 00:06:24,040 –> 00:06:25,380 when your desires come down 144 00:06:25,380 –> 00:06:27,799 to the level of your possessions. 145 00:06:27,799 –> 00:06:29,179 The way of Christian contentment 146 00:06:29,179 –> 00:06:30,220 is not by addition, 147 00:06:30,220 –> 00:06:31,619 but by subtraction. 148 00:06:31,619 –> 00:06:33,619 Not by addition to what you have, 149 00:06:33,619 –> 00:06:37,059 but by subtraction from what you desire. 150 00:06:37,059 –> 00:06:39,600 Now Paul says here that godliness 151 00:06:39,600 –> 00:06:40,779 with this contentment 152 00:06:40,779 –> 00:06:43,420 is great gain. 153 00:06:43,420 –> 00:06:45,299 It is a wonderful thing 154 00:06:45,299 –> 00:06:46,519 in a season of life 155 00:06:46,519 –> 00:06:49,019 where you have less. 156 00:06:49,019 –> 00:06:53,100 If you can cultivate this rare jewel. 157 00:06:53,100 –> 00:06:55,100 Not by living in the desperation 158 00:06:55,100 –> 00:06:55,820 of how and when 159 00:06:55,820 –> 00:06:57,000 am I going to get my possessions 160 00:06:57,000 –> 00:06:59,100 up to the level of my desires. 161 00:06:59,100 –> 00:07:00,600 But bringing my desires down 162 00:07:00,600 –> 00:07:02,459 to the level of my possessions. 163 00:07:02,459 –> 00:07:04,119 Paul says godliness 164 00:07:04,119 –> 00:07:06,959 with contentment is great gain. 165 00:07:06,959 –> 00:07:08,079 Not just gain, 166 00:07:08,079 –> 00:07:09,380 Great gain. 167 00:07:09,700 –> 00:07:11,059 Great gain. 168 00:07:11,059 –> 00:07:12,239 It will be, he says, 169 00:07:12,239 –> 00:07:14,760 a huge advantage to you 170 00:07:14,760 –> 00:07:16,720 in your life 171 00:07:16,720 –> 00:07:17,739 if you can cultivate 172 00:07:17,739 –> 00:07:19,160 this rare jewel. 173 00:07:19,160 –> 00:07:21,839 This very precious fruit 174 00:07:21,839 –> 00:07:23,779 of Christian contentment. 175 00:07:23,779 –> 00:07:26,660 Now why is it so important? 176 00:07:26,660 –> 00:07:27,859 Why does he place this emphasis? 177 00:07:27,859 –> 00:07:28,660 Why does he say 178 00:07:28,660 –> 00:07:32,260 it’s great gain to have contentment? 179 00:07:32,260 –> 00:07:34,040 Well very simply 180 00:07:34,040 –> 00:07:35,059 because the opposite 181 00:07:35,059 –> 00:07:37,640 is so destructive. 182 00:07:37,640 –> 00:07:39,359 Notice what he says here 183 00:07:39,359 –> 00:07:42,779 about those who want to get rich. 184 00:07:42,779 –> 00:07:44,839 Verse 9. 185 00:07:44,839 –> 00:07:49,500 If getting rich is your goal, 186 00:07:49,500 –> 00:07:51,079 which is the opposite obviously 187 00:07:51,079 –> 00:07:52,000 of contentment, 188 00:07:52,000 –> 00:07:54,619 if you’ve set your heart 189 00:07:54,619 –> 00:07:56,660 on accumulating the things 190 00:07:56,660 –> 00:07:59,279 that this world offers, 191 00:07:59,279 –> 00:08:01,640 here is what is in store for you. 192 00:08:01,640 –> 00:08:02,920 Paul gives us four reasons 193 00:08:02,920 –> 00:08:04,839 not to go this way. 194 00:08:04,839 –> 00:08:05,420 Number one, 195 00:08:05,420 –> 00:08:06,559 if getting rich is your goal 196 00:08:06,799 –> 00:08:08,619 you cannot keep what you gain. 197 00:08:08,619 –> 00:08:09,820 That’s verse 7. 198 00:08:09,820 –> 00:08:13,320 We brought nothing into the world 199 00:08:13,320 –> 00:08:17,519 and we can take nothing out of it. 200 00:08:17,519 –> 00:08:19,500 Nothing in. 201 00:08:19,500 –> 00:08:22,980 Nothing out. 202 00:08:22,980 –> 00:08:26,600 You may be able to get rich. 203 00:08:26,600 –> 00:08:28,200 But what Paul is saying 204 00:08:28,200 –> 00:08:31,899 is you cannot stay rich. 205 00:08:31,899 –> 00:08:33,479 You cannot keep anything 206 00:08:33,479 –> 00:08:35,960 that you gain in this world. 207 00:08:36,000 –> 00:08:37,599 It’s a good thing for every Christian 208 00:08:37,599 –> 00:08:41,020 to go to at least one funeral every year 209 00:08:41,020 –> 00:08:42,359 and to say as you leave, 210 00:08:42,359 –> 00:08:43,840 one day that will be me. 211 00:08:44,900 –> 00:08:47,099 We have to live in the light of this reality. 212 00:08:48,559 –> 00:08:49,400 You may get rich, 213 00:08:49,400 –> 00:08:50,359 but you cannot stay rich. 214 00:08:50,359 –> 00:08:52,820 We brought nothing into the world 215 00:08:52,820 –> 00:08:54,380 and when that service is held for you, 216 00:08:54,380 –> 00:08:55,200 for me, 217 00:08:55,200 –> 00:08:59,179 we will be taking nothing of this world out of it. 218 00:08:59,179 –> 00:09:02,719 Second, if getting rich is your goal, 219 00:09:02,719 –> 00:09:05,760 you will encounter powerful temptations. 220 00:09:05,760 –> 00:09:10,239 Verse nine, people who want to get rich 221 00:09:10,239 –> 00:09:14,039 fall into temptation and a trap 222 00:09:14,039 –> 00:09:17,919 and into many foolish and harmful desires 223 00:09:17,919 –> 00:09:22,679 that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 224 00:09:22,679 –> 00:09:23,840 And then he goes on to say, 225 00:09:23,840 –> 00:09:25,520 the verse that we know well, I think, 226 00:09:25,520 –> 00:09:28,039 that the love of money 227 00:09:28,039 –> 00:09:33,039 is a root of all kinds of evil. 228 00:09:33,299 –> 00:09:34,320 So you see what he’s saying? 229 00:09:34,380 –> 00:09:38,340 If you set your heart on becoming rich, 230 00:09:38,340 –> 00:09:40,979 if that really is the trajectory of your life, 231 00:09:40,979 –> 00:09:45,979 you are opening your soul up to dark spiritual forces. 232 00:09:46,460 –> 00:09:47,960 If that’s your goal, 233 00:09:47,960 –> 00:09:51,039 there are temptations that will flood in upon you 234 00:09:51,039 –> 00:09:52,940 and they are the kind of temptations 235 00:09:52,940 –> 00:09:55,340 that bring other men to destruction. 236 00:09:55,340 –> 00:09:57,500 So you need to know what you’re opening yourself up to 237 00:09:57,500 –> 00:09:59,039 if you go down this path. 238 00:10:00,260 –> 00:10:03,859 Third, if getting rich is your goal, 239 00:10:03,900 –> 00:10:07,260 then you may wander from the faith. 240 00:10:07,260 –> 00:10:10,119 Some people, verse 10, eager for money, 241 00:10:10,119 –> 00:10:13,039 have wandered from the faith. 242 00:10:13,039 –> 00:10:14,960 Now he’s making, simply, the very saying point 243 00:10:14,960 –> 00:10:18,200 that the Lord Jesus made in the parable of the sower. 244 00:10:18,200 –> 00:10:21,299 You remember Jesus said the seed is thrown into the ground 245 00:10:21,299 –> 00:10:24,580 and then he said, in some cases weeds, thorns, thistles, 246 00:10:24,580 –> 00:10:28,580 they grow up and they choke the life of the seed. 247 00:10:28,580 –> 00:10:31,280 And then he explains the seed is the word of God 248 00:10:31,280 –> 00:10:33,599 and what are the thorns and thistles? 249 00:10:33,599 –> 00:10:35,780 Well, they’re the worries of this life 250 00:10:35,780 –> 00:10:37,840 and they’re the deceitfulness of wealth, 251 00:10:37,840 –> 00:10:39,260 that’s what Jesus said. 252 00:10:39,260 –> 00:10:42,280 In other words, either worrying about not having money 253 00:10:42,280 –> 00:10:45,900 or what comes with the relentless pursuit of acquiring it 254 00:10:45,900 –> 00:10:49,400 can choke the fruitfulness of the Word of God 255 00:10:49,400 –> 00:10:52,559 in a person’s life, that’s what the Lord Jesus is saying. 256 00:10:54,559 –> 00:10:58,239 And Paul is taking up the very same point here. 257 00:10:58,239 –> 00:11:01,460 He is saying that where people set their hearts 258 00:11:01,719 –> 00:11:04,580 on getting rich, it is sometimes the case 259 00:11:04,580 –> 00:11:06,020 that the effect of that 260 00:11:06,020 –> 00:11:09,700 is that they end up wandering away from the faith. 261 00:11:09,700 –> 00:11:11,419 And if that was not enough, he says, 262 00:11:11,419 –> 00:11:13,380 fourthly, that if getting rich 263 00:11:13,380 –> 00:11:16,700 is your goal, you will experience great sorrow. 264 00:11:16,700 –> 00:11:18,140 Look at verse 10. 265 00:11:18,140 –> 00:11:20,840 He says, some people, eager for money, 266 00:11:20,840 –> 00:11:24,580 have pierced themselves 267 00:11:24,580 –> 00:11:27,299 with many griefs. 268 00:11:27,299 –> 00:11:29,099 In other words, if you set your heart 269 00:11:29,099 –> 00:11:30,820 on the things of this world, 270 00:11:30,820 –> 00:11:34,179 you inflict wounds on yourself. 271 00:11:34,179 –> 00:11:36,599 Look at the word, pierced! 272 00:11:36,599 –> 00:11:39,539 Like driving a nail into your own hand. 273 00:11:39,539 –> 00:11:40,880 That’s what he’s saying. 274 00:11:42,039 –> 00:11:44,260 You inflict sorrow on yourself 275 00:11:44,260 –> 00:11:46,179 if you go down this path. 276 00:11:46,179 –> 00:11:47,940 And so for these four reasons, 277 00:11:47,940 –> 00:11:50,820 the Apostle Paul is saying, 278 00:11:50,820 –> 00:11:53,679 do not set your heart on money. 279 00:11:54,739 –> 00:11:56,979 Remember, Christian brothers and sisters, 280 00:11:56,979 –> 00:11:59,900 money is a great servant, 281 00:11:59,960 –> 00:12:02,239 but a terrible master. 282 00:12:02,239 –> 00:12:04,840 And if you set your heart on money, 283 00:12:04,840 –> 00:12:06,460 money will break your heart. 284 00:12:06,460 –> 00:12:07,919 That is what he is saying here. 285 00:12:07,919 –> 00:12:09,020 It will break your heart 286 00:12:09,020 –> 00:12:11,380 because you cannot keep what you gain. 287 00:12:11,380 –> 00:12:12,419 It will break your heart 288 00:12:12,419 –> 00:12:15,239 because you will fall into powerful temptations 289 00:12:15,239 –> 00:12:17,020 if you set your heart on this. 290 00:12:17,020 –> 00:12:18,140 It will break your heart 291 00:12:18,140 –> 00:12:20,340 because you may well wander from the faith, 292 00:12:20,340 –> 00:12:22,140 and you will pierce yourself 293 00:12:22,140 –> 00:12:25,619 with all kinds of griefs and sorrows. 294 00:12:25,640 –> 00:12:30,619 So, here is why godliness with contentment, 295 00:12:30,619 –> 00:12:35,000 the other path, is going to be great gain for you, 296 00:12:35,000 –> 00:12:38,179 is going to be a marvelous blessing in your life. 297 00:12:38,179 –> 00:12:40,440 For if you go down the other road, 298 00:12:41,520 –> 00:12:45,739 the road of getting rich being your goal, 299 00:12:45,739 –> 00:12:50,359 you will find unsold sorrows on that path. 300 00:12:51,700 –> 00:12:54,119 So, here is simply the message in the first part. 301 00:12:54,119 –> 00:12:58,619 When you have less, some of us have less than a year ago, 302 00:12:58,619 –> 00:13:02,640 two years ago, when you have less, 303 00:13:02,640 –> 00:13:04,960 what is God’s word to us? 304 00:13:05,919 –> 00:13:07,739 God’s word to you when you have less 305 00:13:07,739 –> 00:13:10,880 is learn the art of contentment. 306 00:13:11,799 –> 00:13:16,099 It’s a rare jewel and it’s not found when you have more, 307 00:13:16,099 –> 00:13:18,640 but it can be cultivated when you have less. 308 00:13:19,599 –> 00:13:23,559 Bring your desires down to the level of your possessions. 309 00:13:24,219 –> 00:13:26,179 Understand that Christian contentment 310 00:13:26,179 –> 00:13:28,520 is not by addition but by subtraction. 311 00:13:29,460 –> 00:13:31,539 Learn to enjoy what God has given 312 00:13:31,539 –> 00:13:35,320 more than you grieve what he has taken away. 313 00:13:36,260 –> 00:13:40,059 And practice the art of Godly contentment. 314 00:13:40,059 –> 00:13:45,059 You will find that it is for you great gain. 315 00:13:46,739 –> 00:13:51,400 That’s biblical wisdom for all of us when we have less. 316 00:13:52,020 –> 00:13:55,640 Now, I want us to stand in the second position here 317 00:13:55,640 –> 00:13:56,479 for a few moments. 318 00:13:56,479 –> 00:13:58,520 We’ve all listened to God’s word 319 00:13:58,520 –> 00:14:01,059 that comes to us when we have less. 320 00:14:01,059 –> 00:14:03,760 But what about God’s word to us when we have more? 321 00:14:03,760 –> 00:14:06,539 And again please, will you stand with me together 322 00:14:06,539 –> 00:14:07,719 under the word of God. 323 00:14:07,719 –> 00:14:11,239 There are millions and millions of people in this world 324 00:14:11,239 –> 00:14:14,960 who do have much more than them, we have much more. 325 00:14:14,960 –> 00:14:18,039 And we do have to hear what God has to say to us, 326 00:14:18,039 –> 00:14:20,239 blessed in so many ways who have 327 00:14:20,239 –> 00:14:24,619 so much more than so many others. 328 00:14:26,020 –> 00:14:28,960 When you have more, what is God’s word to us 329 00:14:28,960 –> 00:14:29,799 when we have more? 330 00:14:30,719 –> 00:14:32,679 Simply this, can I describe it this way? 331 00:14:32,679 –> 00:14:36,719 When you have more, learn the art of discontent. 332 00:14:37,599 –> 00:14:39,059 The art of discontent. 333 00:14:41,880 –> 00:14:43,679 The more that God gives you, 334 00:14:44,979 –> 00:14:49,960 the more you need to learn a holy discontent 335 00:14:51,020 –> 00:14:53,179 with the things of this world. 336 00:14:54,039 –> 00:14:56,640 Becomes increasingly important as we have more. 337 00:14:56,640 –> 00:14:59,219 Jesus said, a man’s life does not consist 338 00:14:59,219 –> 00:15:01,299 in the abundance of his possessions, 339 00:15:01,299 –> 00:15:03,460 but of course, the more that God gives to us, 340 00:15:03,460 –> 00:15:05,940 the more easy it is for us to begin to think 341 00:15:05,940 –> 00:15:07,340 that our life does consist 342 00:15:07,340 –> 00:15:09,200 in the abundance of our possessions. 343 00:15:10,659 –> 00:15:14,280 So when you have more, learn the art of discontent. 344 00:15:15,840 –> 00:15:19,840 Notice how in verse 17 here, Paul describes 345 00:15:19,880 –> 00:15:22,400 those who put their hope in wealth, 346 00:15:22,400 –> 00:15:25,940 and then he describes those who put their hope in God. 347 00:15:25,940 –> 00:15:27,539 Some people put their hope in wealth 348 00:15:27,539 –> 00:15:30,299 which is so uncertain verse 17. 349 00:15:30,299 –> 00:15:31,780 Others put their hope in God 350 00:15:31,780 –> 00:15:34,840 who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. 351 00:15:34,840 –> 00:15:38,859 These are two very, very different kinds of hope, 352 00:15:38,859 –> 00:15:43,859 and when God gives you more, here’s what’s so important. 353 00:15:44,059 –> 00:15:46,619 Not to put your hope, not to put your joy 354 00:15:46,619 –> 00:15:49,359 in the abundance that he has given to you, 355 00:15:49,359 –> 00:15:51,599 but rather to put your hope and to put your joy 356 00:15:51,599 –> 00:15:54,840 in God who is the Giver and provides all things 357 00:15:54,840 –> 00:15:57,359 richly for our enjoyment. 358 00:15:57,359 –> 00:15:59,559 In other words, when God gives you more, 359 00:15:59,559 –> 00:16:02,479 develop a holy discontent with 360 00:16:02,479 –> 00:16:05,679 all that this world can give you. 361 00:16:06,520 –> 00:16:07,780 Now, again, Jeremiah Burroughs 362 00:16:07,780 –> 00:16:09,799 makes this point really well. 363 00:16:09,799 –> 00:16:12,320 Let me just quote to you from him. 364 00:16:13,320 –> 00:16:18,320 He says, it may be said of the one who is contented 365 00:16:18,400 –> 00:16:22,419 in a Christian way, that he is both 366 00:16:22,419 –> 00:16:24,820 the most contented man in the world 367 00:16:24,820 –> 00:16:26,840 and yet at the same time, 368 00:16:26,840 –> 00:16:29,219 the most dissatisfied man in the world. 369 00:16:31,159 –> 00:16:32,820 He says, to join these two together 370 00:16:32,820 –> 00:16:35,200 is a great art and a great mystery 371 00:16:36,159 –> 00:16:40,119 because though he is contented with God in a little 372 00:16:40,119 –> 00:16:42,159 yet those things that would content 373 00:16:42,159 –> 00:16:45,179 other men in the world will not content him. 374 00:16:46,159 –> 00:16:48,520 And then he describes how in the world 375 00:16:48,520 –> 00:16:51,619 men seek after wealth and he says 376 00:16:51,619 –> 00:16:53,619 and I’m paraphrasing him now, 377 00:16:53,619 –> 00:16:55,200 he says, a man will say, 378 00:16:55,200 –> 00:17:00,200 if I had a hundred a year, I would be content. 379 00:17:00,960 –> 00:17:03,820 Now that proves to you he was writing in the year 1648 380 00:17:05,079 –> 00:17:06,959 because I don’t hear anybody saying today 381 00:17:06,959 –> 00:17:08,479 if I had a hundred a year 382 00:17:08,479 –> 00:17:10,280 but apparently in 1648, 383 00:17:10,280 –> 00:17:12,000 if guys said I had 100 a year, 384 00:17:12,000 –> 00:17:14,280 they thought they would be content. 385 00:17:14,280 –> 00:17:16,439 Just owns me that probably was pounds, not dollars 386 00:17:16,439 –> 00:17:18,800 but that’s another issue. 387 00:17:18,800 –> 00:17:21,359 I’m going back to Jeremiah Burrows here, okay? 388 00:17:23,199 –> 00:17:25,520 If I had a hundred a year 389 00:17:25,520 –> 00:17:29,040 or another man says if I had a thousand a year, 390 00:17:29,040 –> 00:17:31,180 then I would be satisfied 391 00:17:31,180 –> 00:17:35,560 but the godly heart says 392 00:17:35,560 –> 00:17:40,560 if I had 10,000 times as much a year, 393 00:17:40,920 –> 00:17:42,119 it would not satisfy me. 394 00:17:44,760 –> 00:17:46,000 You see his point? 395 00:17:46,959 –> 00:17:49,260 Because the godly heart has learned 396 00:17:49,260 –> 00:17:53,119 that nothing or even everything in this world 397 00:17:53,119 –> 00:17:55,780 cannot satisfy the heart that is set on God. 398 00:17:58,119 –> 00:18:01,479 So godliness teaches us this extraordinary mystery. 399 00:18:01,479 –> 00:18:04,479 Not to be satisfied even if we had all the world 400 00:18:04,479 –> 00:18:08,319 as our portion for a man’s life 401 00:18:08,319 –> 00:18:12,319 does not lie in the abundance of his possessions. 402 00:18:14,540 –> 00:18:16,420 Now this is of course the complete opposite 403 00:18:16,420 –> 00:18:18,380 of what you would expect. 404 00:18:18,380 –> 00:18:22,000 The world says when you will be discontent 405 00:18:22,000 –> 00:18:25,000 when you have less and when you have more 406 00:18:25,000 –> 00:18:27,339 then you will find contentment. 407 00:18:27,339 –> 00:18:29,800 But god says learn to be content 408 00:18:29,800 –> 00:18:32,319 when you have less and when you have more 409 00:18:32,319 –> 00:18:35,959 develop a holy discontent lest you should slide 410 00:18:35,959 –> 00:18:37,900 into thinking that your life consists 411 00:18:37,900 –> 00:18:40,000 in the abundance of your possessions. 412 00:18:41,000 –> 00:18:43,459 And you remember how our lord Jesus told 413 00:18:43,459 –> 00:18:46,939 a powerful story to illustrate this point. 414 00:18:47,979 –> 00:18:50,060 Jesus told the story about a man who made 415 00:18:50,060 –> 00:18:55,060 a lot of money and Jesus said the man stored it up. 416 00:18:56,479 –> 00:18:58,939 And he said to himself you have plenty 417 00:18:58,939 –> 00:19:00,760 of good things laid up for many years 418 00:19:00,760 –> 00:19:03,660 so take life easy, eat, drink and be merry. 419 00:19:04,699 –> 00:19:07,760 Now what was the problem with this man? 420 00:19:07,760 –> 00:19:09,359 What did he do wrong? 421 00:19:10,800 –> 00:19:13,219 Well the answer surely is that the great mistake 422 00:19:13,219 –> 00:19:16,680 this man made was he became comfortable 423 00:19:17,859 –> 00:19:19,859 with the pile of what he had made. 424 00:19:21,619 –> 00:19:23,660 He felt good about sitting on it. 425 00:19:25,939 –> 00:19:27,859 He found comfort in the very thing 426 00:19:27,859 –> 00:19:29,959 that should have made him uncomfortable 427 00:19:29,959 –> 00:19:32,239 thinking about the fact that he’s made for eternity 428 00:19:32,239 –> 00:19:33,739 and he can’t take it with him. 429 00:19:34,400 –> 00:19:39,400 And Jesus said that this man was a… 430 00:19:41,359 –> 00:19:42,959 Okay come on, say it a little more strongly. 431 00:19:42,959 –> 00:19:45,260 Let’s agree with the Lord Jesus. 432 00:19:45,260 –> 00:19:47,920 Jesus said that this man was a who? 433 00:19:47,920 –> 00:19:51,439 Okay, he was a fool, very strong word that Jesus used. 434 00:19:53,439 –> 00:19:55,239 Do you remember what Jesus said afterwards? 435 00:19:55,239 –> 00:19:59,260 He said this is how it will be with anyone 436 00:19:59,560 –> 00:20:03,560 who stores up things for himself 437 00:20:03,560 –> 00:20:06,260 and is not rich towards God. 438 00:20:07,339 –> 00:20:10,339 In other words, Jesus is saying look anyone 439 00:20:10,339 –> 00:20:13,300 who knows that they’re headed for eternity 440 00:20:13,300 –> 00:20:17,000 and who feels comfortable about sitting on a pile 441 00:20:17,000 –> 00:20:20,920 of what’s been acquired, feel comfortable about that 442 00:20:20,920 –> 00:20:23,660 rather than thinking here’s what I have. 443 00:20:23,660 –> 00:20:25,619 How can I be rich towards God? 444 00:20:26,540 –> 00:20:30,199 That’s a path of foolishness that we ought to avoid. 445 00:20:31,140 –> 00:20:35,819 So here is this great irony, to become contented 446 00:20:35,819 –> 00:20:39,180 when we have less and then as God gives us more 447 00:20:39,180 –> 00:20:41,140 to become uncomfortable about it, 448 00:20:41,140 –> 00:20:44,780 not to be happy about simply sitting on that 449 00:20:44,780 –> 00:20:47,660 because we’ve learned that that would be foolishness 450 00:20:48,979 –> 00:20:51,380 and that rather than following the path of this man 451 00:20:51,380 –> 00:20:53,800 we want to be those who would say now Lord 452 00:20:53,800 –> 00:20:55,579 look at what you have given me. 453 00:20:55,579 –> 00:21:00,579 I want now to discover how I can best be rich towards you. 454 00:21:04,000 –> 00:21:08,599 Jesus said, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven 455 00:21:09,640 –> 00:21:12,520 and you’ll notice that the Apostle Paul clearly is quoting 456 00:21:12,520 –> 00:21:16,099 or at least has that word of Jesus in mind in verse 19 457 00:21:16,099 –> 00:21:17,880 because he says almost the same thing. 458 00:21:17,880 –> 00:21:20,400 He speaks of those who are rich in good deeds 459 00:21:20,400 –> 00:21:22,640 and generous and willing to share 460 00:21:22,959 –> 00:21:25,619 and he says they lay up treasure for themselves 461 00:21:25,619 –> 00:21:28,900 as a firm foundation for the coming age 462 00:21:28,900 –> 00:21:31,680 so that they may take hold of the life 463 00:21:31,680 –> 00:21:33,660 that is really life. 464 00:21:35,300 –> 00:21:37,900 John Calvin has a wonderful picture of this 465 00:21:37,900 –> 00:21:39,920 that really resonates with Karna and myself 466 00:21:39,920 –> 00:21:41,319 because we’ve experienced it. 467 00:21:42,900 –> 00:21:44,260 He says that those who know 468 00:21:44,260 –> 00:21:45,979 that their true home is in heaven. 469 00:21:47,199 –> 00:21:52,060 Real Christians ought to live like those 470 00:21:52,060 –> 00:21:54,859 who immigrate to another country, 471 00:21:55,859 –> 00:21:58,380 and he says when folks emigrate to another country 472 00:21:58,380 –> 00:21:59,380 what do they do? 473 00:21:59,380 –> 00:22:02,099 They take all the goods that they want to enjoy 474 00:22:02,099 –> 00:22:03,979 and they send them on ahead of them, 475 00:22:04,859 –> 00:22:07,680 and when I read that, it was so vivid to me 476 00:22:07,680 –> 00:22:09,359 because we’ve had that experience. 477 00:22:09,359 –> 00:22:13,500 Nearly 14 years ago now when we left London 478 00:22:13,500 –> 00:22:17,540 and followed the Lord’s leading to come here 479 00:22:17,540 –> 00:22:22,140 and all of our stuff from our home in London 480 00:22:22,140 –> 00:22:25,020 packed up and in this container 481 00:22:25,020 –> 00:22:26,780 and on the back of a truck. 482 00:22:26,780 –> 00:22:29,900 I can picture it now going down old Park Avenue 483 00:22:29,900 –> 00:22:31,060 where we lived in London 484 00:22:31,060 –> 00:22:32,239 and we’re standing at the edge 485 00:22:32,239 –> 00:22:35,020 of the home where we lived there 486 00:22:35,020 –> 00:22:39,339 and off it goes on the high seas. 487 00:22:39,339 –> 00:22:40,979 Hope we catch up with it one day. 488 00:22:42,719 –> 00:22:47,040 After that Karen and the boys went down to Devon 489 00:22:47,079 –> 00:22:48,699 to spend some time with her folks 490 00:22:48,699 –> 00:22:50,979 and I had some things I still had to do back in London 491 00:22:50,979 –> 00:22:54,140 and so stayed in the house sitting on boxes 492 00:22:54,140 –> 00:22:55,760 and you know and just a couple of suitcases 493 00:22:55,760 –> 00:22:58,180 with hardly anything in the house 494 00:22:58,180 –> 00:23:00,599 and yet having great happiness. 495 00:23:00,599 –> 00:23:03,439 Hey, all the stuff’s gonna be where we can enjoy it 496 00:23:03,439 –> 00:23:04,640 for a longer time. 497 00:23:05,739 –> 00:23:07,900 Now, that’s the way in which we are to think. 498 00:23:07,900 –> 00:23:10,359 When Jesus says lay up treasures in heaven, 499 00:23:10,359 –> 00:23:13,280 what else does he mean but precisely this? 500 00:23:13,280 –> 00:23:15,119 Let me read to you Calvin’s words. 501 00:23:15,140 –> 00:23:17,500 I think he says this so precisely, 502 00:23:17,500 –> 00:23:21,760 if we believe that heaven is our country, 503 00:23:22,979 –> 00:23:24,979 you believe heaven’s your country? 504 00:23:24,979 –> 00:23:29,140 Yeah, if we believe that heaven is our country, 505 00:23:29,140 –> 00:23:32,839 it is better to transmit our possessions there 506 00:23:32,839 –> 00:23:37,839 than to keep them here whereupon our sudden migration, 507 00:23:38,020 –> 00:23:40,400 they would be lost to us. 508 00:23:42,400 –> 00:23:44,140 You know that’s where you’re going? 509 00:23:46,119 –> 00:23:48,699 Why do you wanna leave a pile of it here? 510 00:23:51,260 –> 00:23:54,540 Now you see, well, you’re obviously using an analogy. 511 00:23:55,680 –> 00:23:56,660 How do you do this? 512 00:23:56,660 –> 00:23:59,859 Well, look, that’s what verse 18 absolutely says. 513 00:23:59,859 –> 00:24:00,699 How do you do this? 514 00:24:00,699 –> 00:24:03,859 Two things, be rich in good deeds. 515 00:24:03,859 –> 00:24:05,640 More God is trusted to you, 516 00:24:05,640 –> 00:24:08,339 the more intentional, please become, 517 00:24:08,339 –> 00:24:11,760 about being rich in doing good deeds. 518 00:24:11,760 –> 00:24:14,219 And then he says, verse 18, be generous. 519 00:24:14,219 –> 00:24:17,739 Notice that word, generous and willing to share. 520 00:24:17,739 –> 00:24:20,640 And it’s very clear, he says, in this way, 521 00:24:20,640 –> 00:24:22,319 as you do rich in good deeds 522 00:24:22,319 –> 00:24:24,199 as you are generous and willing to share, 523 00:24:24,199 –> 00:24:25,959 increasingly as God gives you more, 524 00:24:25,959 –> 00:24:27,359 here’s what will happen, 525 00:24:27,359 –> 00:24:29,579 you will lay up treasure for yourself 526 00:24:29,579 –> 00:24:31,780 as a firm foundation for the coming age 527 00:24:31,780 –> 00:24:34,560 and in this way you will take hold of life 528 00:24:34,560 –> 00:24:36,160 that is really life. 529 00:24:37,839 –> 00:24:40,560 So, the scripture here is full of wisdom for us today. 530 00:24:41,280 –> 00:24:45,000 When you have less, cultivate the art of contentment. 531 00:24:45,000 –> 00:24:49,859 When you have more, cultivate the holy art of discontent, 532 00:24:49,859 –> 00:24:54,819 be uncomfortable, with simply sitting on 533 00:24:56,040 –> 00:24:57,959 more that God has given to you 534 00:24:57,959 –> 00:25:00,560 when you know that you cannot take it with you 535 00:25:02,099 –> 00:25:03,439 and you can only really use it 536 00:25:03,439 –> 00:25:04,959 doing your life here in this world. 537 00:25:04,959 –> 00:25:08,359 Set your heart, not on getting rich 538 00:25:08,359 –> 00:25:11,099 but set to your heart on enjoying what God has given 539 00:25:11,099 –> 00:25:13,280 and using what God gives 540 00:25:14,439 –> 00:25:16,160 for his praise and for his glory. 541 00:25:16,160 –> 00:25:19,359 See, instead of saying with his pile, 542 00:25:19,359 –> 00:25:21,520 the man in Jesus’ story, instead of saying, 543 00:25:21,520 –> 00:25:24,439 well you’ve got plenty, now be comfortable 544 00:25:24,439 –> 00:25:27,719 and eat, drink, and be merry and so forth, take your ease, 545 00:25:27,719 –> 00:25:29,040 what should the man have been saying? 546 00:25:29,040 –> 00:25:33,359 He should have said, the lord has given me plenty, 547 00:25:33,359 –> 00:25:35,900 now how can I be rich towards him? 548 00:25:35,900 –> 00:25:37,479 That’s what he should have said, 549 00:25:37,479 –> 00:25:39,760 that would have been the path of wisdom. 550 00:25:41,920 –> 00:25:44,660 Now this leads to one final question. 551 00:25:44,660 –> 00:25:45,900 How can you do this? 552 00:25:46,839 –> 00:25:49,239 How can you change what you love? 553 00:25:50,579 –> 00:25:53,099 How can we wean our hearts away 554 00:25:53,099 –> 00:25:55,140 from the things of this world? 555 00:25:55,140 –> 00:25:58,880 The love of money, the love of comfort, the love of self. 556 00:26:01,219 –> 00:26:02,520 And it’s very important to understand this, 557 00:26:02,520 –> 00:26:06,439 it just doesn’t work to say love money less, 558 00:26:06,520 –> 00:26:10,199 it doesn’t work to say love this world less 559 00:2610,199 –> 00:26:11,739 if that’s all that’s said. 560 00:26:12,920 –> 00:26:14,939 Now a preacher can thump the desk 561 00:26:14,939 –> 00:26:18,099 and preach for an hour and a half for 10 years every Sunday, 562 00:26:18,099 –> 00:26:21,260 but just saying love the world less, love money less 563 00:26:21,260 –> 00:26:24,699 isn’t actually going to change anybody’s heart. 564 00:26:26,880 –> 00:26:31,439 How do we wean the heart to a new affection? 565 00:26:33,540 –> 00:26:35,260 The person who helped me understand this 566 00:26:35,300 –> 00:26:39,640 more than any other was a man by the name of Thomas Chambers 567 00:26:39,640 –> 00:26:43,619 who some years ago wrote a famous sermon 568 00:26:43,619 –> 00:26:48,619 that’s called The Explosive Power of a New Affection. 569 00:26:48,900 –> 00:26:50,459 It’s quite a famous piece, 570 00:26:50,459 –> 00:26:52,859 but the title really tells you what he’s saying, 571 00:26:52,859 –> 00:26:55,859 the expulsive power of a new affection. 572 00:26:55,859 –> 00:26:57,939 In other words, if you’re to get rid of an old, 573 00:26:57,939 –> 00:27:01,699 unworthy love like just setting your heart on money, 574 00:27:01,699 –> 00:27:04,619 the way to do it is not just have someone 575 00:27:04,619 –> 00:27:06,479 hammering away at love money less. 576 00:27:06,479 –> 00:27:08,199 You’ve got to have a new affection 577 00:27:08,199 –> 00:27:10,800 that will expel the old one. 578 00:27:10,800 –> 00:27:12,880 Let me just quote what he says. 579 00:27:12,880 –> 00:27:16,459 The heart must have something to cling to, 580 00:27:16,459 –> 00:27:19,540 and the most effective way of withdrawing the heart 581 00:27:19,540 –> 00:27:23,160 from one object is by presenting to it 582 00:27:23,160 –> 00:27:25,920 another object that is more alluring. 583 00:27:28,020 –> 00:27:28,859 In other words, he says, 584 00:27:28,859 –> 00:27:30,540 you can’t change the human heart 585 00:27:30,540 –> 00:27:31,459 by telling people 586 00:27:31,500 –> 00:27:34,099 that the world is vain and worthless. 587 00:27:34,099 –> 00:27:37,900 You have to set before people another object of affection 588 00:27:37,900 –> 00:27:40,459 more worthy of their heart’s attachment 589 00:27:40,459 –> 00:27:42,819 so that the heart shall be prevailed upon 590 00:27:42,819 –> 00:27:47,579 to exchange the old affection for a new one, 591 00:27:47,579 –> 00:27:51,459 the expulsive power of a new affection. 592 00:27:52,319 –> 00:27:54,020 When I first read that years ago, 593 00:27:54,020 –> 00:27:57,140 it was like a light going on in my mind and in my heart 594 00:27:57,140 –> 00:28:00,500 that is exactly what God does in the gospel 595 00:28:00,540 –> 00:28:02,979 because in the gospel God holds out to us 596 00:28:02,979 –> 00:28:07,579 infinite love and eternal life. 597 00:28:07,579 –> 00:28:09,920 Through the cross the Lord Jesus Christ, 598 00:28:09,920 –> 00:28:12,660 dying bearing our sin, 599 00:28:12,660 –> 00:28:17,660 takes into himself all that would separate us from God 600 00:28:17,680 –> 00:28:21,939 and through his death God is breaking down every barrier 601 00:28:21,939 –> 00:28:26,180 that would keep you away from the full knowledge of his love 602 00:28:26,180 –> 00:28:29,500 so that in Jesus Christ with his nail-pierced hands 603 00:28:29,660 –> 00:28:32,660 he comes to embrace you through his death 604 00:28:32,660 –> 00:28:36,079 and then through his resurrection he ascends into heaven 605 00:28:36,079 –> 00:28:37,800 where at the right hand of the father 606 00:28:37,800 –> 00:28:40,359 he’s preparing a place for his own people 607 00:28:40,359 –> 00:28:43,140 so that you may enter not just into life 608 00:28:43,140 –> 00:28:47,579 but the life that is truly life by the knowledge of him 609 00:28:47,579 –> 00:28:50,300 and when you see what he has done for you in his death 610 00:28:50,300 –> 00:28:52,319 and in his resurrection and who he is 611 00:28:52,319 –> 00:28:53,619 and what he offers to you 612 00:28:53,619 –> 00:28:57,400 and the love that streams from Jesus Christ towards you 613 00:28:57,579 –> 00:29:00,380 I’ll tell you a new affection gets birthed 614 00:29:00,380 –> 00:29:02,979 in the human heart of the cross 615 00:29:02,979 –> 00:29:04,739 and when your heart is gripped 616 00:29:04,739 –> 00:29:06,579 by the love of the Lord Jesus Christ 617 00:29:06,579 –> 00:29:10,260 you will discover the expulsive power 618 00:29:10,260 –> 00:29:14,660 of that wonderful new affection. 619 00:29:14,660 –> 00:29:17,180 In other words love Christ more 620 00:29:18,380 –> 00:29:21,540 and you will love money less 621 00:29:22,739 –> 00:29:23,979 and when you have less 622 00:29:24,060 –> 00:29:26,079 you will find yourself increasingly saying 623 00:29:26,079 –> 00:29:29,599 you know what isn’t easy 624 00:29:29,599 –> 00:29:31,839 but I am learning to be content 625 00:29:31,839 –> 00:29:35,180 because Christ is more to me than all the world 626 00:29:37,420 –> 00:29:39,280 and when you have more 627 00:29:40,540 –> 00:29:41,959 you will find yourself saying 628 00:29:41,959 –> 00:29:44,839 how now can I be rich towards God 629 00:29:44,839 –> 00:29:49,479 rather than acting like the man Jesus said was a fool. 630 00:29:50,920 –> 00:29:52,760 How can I be rich towards God 631 00:29:52,760 –> 00:29:57,760 because Christ means more to me than all the world? 632 00:30:00,119 –> 00:30:03,760 So are you laying up treasures in heaven? 633 00:30:06,180 –> 00:30:08,319 Are you laying hold of life 634 00:30:09,520 –> 00:30:14,520 or are you laying hold of the life that is truly life? 635 00:30:16,920 –> 00:30:17,920 Let’s pray together. 636 00:30:18,900 –> 00:30:23,900 Father, cause the flame of love for Christ 637 00:30:28,760 –> 00:30:31,979 that is ignited by his great love for us 638 00:30:33,680 –> 00:30:36,640 to burn with such strength in our hearts 639 00:30:38,000 –> 00:30:41,880 that it expels affections 640 00:30:42,880 –> 00:30:47,380 that are unworthy of the devotion of our lives. 641 00:30:50,319 –> 00:30:56,959 And teach us, we pray, by your grace and your mercy the Christian wisdom of contentment with less and the holy 642 00:30:57,300 –> 00:30:59,459 discontent when there is more 643 00:30:59,560 –> 00:31:02,040 For Christ is more to us 644 00:31:03,640 –> 00:31:08,420 than all the world and these things we ask in Jesus name