100:00:00,840 –> 00:00:04,560Paul says unqualified,200:00:04,560 –> 00:00:10,120those who desire to be rich fall into temptation.300:00:10,120 –> 00:00:14,620He doesn’t say they might fall into temptation or some of them, he says they will.400:00:14,620 –> 00:00:17,280They do those who desire to be rich, in other words,500:00:17,280 –> 00:00:20,540if the goal of your life600:00:20,540 –> 00:00:23,440revolves around having more,700:00:23,440 –> 00:00:25,740you will fall into temptation.800:00:25,780 –> 00:00:27,900You will fall into temptation.900:00:28,139 –> 00:00:31,000Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:31,000 –> 00:00:33,480I’m David Pick, glad you could be with us today.1100:00:33,480 –> 00:00:36,259Colin, the world is shouting at us constantly,1200:00:36,259 –> 00:00:38,759you need to have more, you deserve more.1300:00:38,759 –> 00:00:40,500More will make you happy.1400:00:40,500 –> 00:00:43,040Well if that’s the message we’re constantly getting,1500:00:43,040 –> 00:00:44,880are we guaranteed temptation?1600:00:44,880 –> 00:00:46,139Yes, that’s absolutely right.1700:00:46,139 –> 00:00:48,740And who’s talking about how to handle more?1800:00:48,740 –> 00:00:51,540Who’s speaking about what wisdom looks like1900:00:51,540 –> 00:00:54,939in stewarding what God has trusted to you?2000:00:55,099 –> 00:00:57,119That’s what we’re gonna look at together.2100:00:57,119 –> 00:00:59,919And particularly as we come to the Scriptures.2200:00:59,919 –> 00:01:03,580I’ve been fascinated by a man by the name of Jeremiah Burroughs2300:01:03,580 –> 00:01:06,040who went through a terribly hard time2400:01:06,040 –> 00:01:08,000in which he had almost nothing in his life.2500:01:08,000 –> 00:01:11,279And then later in his life, God greatly prospered him.2600:01:11,279 –> 00:01:12,320And here’s what he found,2700:01:12,320 –> 00:01:15,080it was harder to be content when he had more2800:01:15,080 –> 00:01:16,860than it was when he had less.2900:01:16,860 –> 00:01:18,760When you have more, you have more to worry about.3000:01:18,760 –> 00:01:19,820Yeah that’s exactly right,3100:01:19,820 –> 00:01:22,459and more responsibility to how to steward it.3200:01:22,459 –> 00:01:24,519So we’re gonna try and learn from the Scriptures3300:01:24,519 –> 00:01:26,160what are the responsibilities3400:01:26,160 –> 00:01:28,620and what are the principles by which3500:01:28,620 –> 00:01:30,620we may be able to wisely navigate3600:01:30,620 –> 00:01:32,660the temptations that come with having more3700:01:32,660 –> 00:01:34,379and be good stewards who one day will3800:01:34,379 –> 00:01:36,860hear the Lord say, well done, good and faithful servant.3900:01:36,860 –> 00:01:38,220Join us if you can in4000:01:38,220 –> 00:01:40,459the first book of Timothy chapter six4100:01:40,459 –> 00:01:41,940as we begin the message,4200:01:41,940 –> 00:01:43,839How to Handle the Blessing of God.4300:01:43,839 –> 00:01:44,860Here’s Colin.4400:01:44,860 –> 00:01:47,480This is week three in our four week series4500:01:47,480 –> 00:01:49,839The Art of Contentment.4600:01:49,839 –> 00:01:53,779We are seeing that contentment is a journey4700:01:53,800 –> 00:01:55,760in which we move from anger to peace,4800:01:55,760 –> 00:01:57,800from frustration to satisfaction4900:01:57,800 –> 00:02:00,120and from anxiety to trust.5000:02:00,120 –> 00:02:02,000It really is an art that is learned5100:02:02,000 –> 00:02:04,139or cultivated or fostered5200:02:04,139 –> 00:02:06,580and therefore we grow in it5300:02:06,580 –> 00:02:08,960in our Christian journey over time.5400:02:08,960 –> 00:02:11,500Last week we looked particularly at how5500:02:11,500 –> 00:02:14,759that growth happens as we savor the blessings5600:02:14,759 –> 00:02:18,059of Christ and we affirm the sufficiency of Christ5700:02:18,059 –> 00:02:21,399and we embrace the supremacy of Jesus Christ.5800:02:21,520 –> 00:02:23,520And it’s for that reason that in the third week5900:02:23,520 –> 00:02:27,440of this series we’re turning to I Timothy in chapter six6000:02:27,440 –> 00:02:28,720which has been read to us.6100:02:28,720 –> 00:02:30,520I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are not one6200:02:30,520 –> 00:02:34,919but two references to contentment in these verses.6300:02:34,919 –> 00:02:36,759The first is in verse six.6400:02:36,759 –> 00:02:40,740Godliness with contentment is great gain.6500:02:40,740 –> 00:02:42,580Then Paul gives the reason6600:02:42,580 –> 00:02:45,779for we brought nothing into the world6700:02:45,779 –> 00:02:49,100and we cannot take anything out of the world.6800:02:49,100 –> 00:02:51,779In other words here’s the reason why godliness6900:02:51,779 –> 00:02:53,500with contentment is great gain7000:02:53,500 –> 00:02:56,300because God made you to live in this world7100:02:56,300 –> 00:02:57,979for a very short time7200:02:57,979 –> 00:03:01,479but then to live with him forever and forever.7300:03:01,479 –> 00:03:05,740And from that perspective, Paul then says in verse eight,7400:03:05,740 –> 00:03:09,059so if we have food and clothing,7500:03:09,059 –> 00:03:13,020with these, we will be content that it is again.7600:03:13,020 –> 00:03:14,339That really is all that we need7700:03:14,339 –> 00:03:17,660during this short journey through this world.7800:03:17,660 –> 00:03:18,740The challenge of course,7900:03:18,740 –> 00:03:22,199is that all of us want a lot more than that.8000:03:22,199 –> 00:03:27,020And Paul says here’s the problem with wanting more.8100:03:27,020 –> 00:03:30,880Those, verse nine, who desire to be rich8200:03:30,880 –> 00:03:33,740fall into temptation.8300:03:34,779 –> 00:03:36,820Now what has been most striking to me folks8400:03:36,820 –> 00:03:38,220in meditating on this8500:03:38,220 –> 00:03:41,919is that this is an unqualified statement.8600:03:42,899 –> 00:03:45,039Paul says unqualified,8700:03:45,720 –> 00:03:50,720those who desire to be rich fall into temptation.8800:03:51,199 –> 00:03:53,559He doesn’t say they might fall into temptation8900:03:53,559 –> 00:03:54,399or some of them.9000:03:54,399 –> 00:03:55,619He says they will.9100:03:56,720 –> 00:03:58,820They do, those who desire to be rich.9200:03:58,820 –> 00:04:02,440In other words, if the goal of your life9300:04:02,440 –> 00:04:05,199revolves around having more,9400:04:05,199 –> 00:04:07,119you will fall into temptation.9500:04:07,119 –> 00:04:08,759It will be a snare to you.9600:04:08,759 –> 00:04:10,240None of us wants to be there.9700:04:10,240 –> 00:04:14,220We cannot therefore allow ourselves to be in this position.9800:04:14,399 –> 00:04:16,480And so this is why Paul speaks here,9900:04:16,480 –> 00:04:18,859particularly about contentment,10000:04:18,859 –> 00:04:22,540our theme for this month, in relation to money.10100:04:22,540 –> 00:04:26,260When God gives you more, you will have more opportunity.10200:04:26,260 –> 00:04:29,619You will also, as we see today, have more responsibility.10300:04:29,619 –> 00:04:33,420And with it will come particular temptations.10400:04:33,420 –> 00:04:36,179Therefore, we all need to know10500:04:36,179 –> 00:04:39,200how to handle the blessing of God.10600:04:39,200 –> 00:04:40,380And that is the subject10700:04:40,380 –> 00:04:43,260that we are looking at together today.10800:04:43,279 –> 00:04:46,899Now, the person that I have learned most from10900:04:46,899 –> 00:04:50,799in terms of writing about scripture on this subject11000:04:50,799 –> 00:04:53,200is this man Jeremiah Burrows,11100:04:53,200 –> 00:04:56,239whose story I want to tell you today.11200:04:56,239 –> 00:04:57,880I mentioned him a couple of weeks ago.11300:04:57,880 –> 00:04:59,839This is the man who wrote two books11400:04:59,839 –> 00:05:02,420on the subject of Christian contentment,11500:05:02,420 –> 00:05:05,119won the rare jewel of Christian contentment,11600:05:05,119 –> 00:05:08,440which really is the classic work on this subject,11700:05:08,440 –> 00:05:10,720now 400 years since he wrote it.11800:05:10,720 –> 00:05:12,239It has never been bettered.11900:05:12,760 –> 00:05:14,679Then he wrote a second and shorter book12000:05:14,679 –> 00:05:18,559called Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory.12100:05:18,559 –> 00:05:20,079Now, let me tell you the story12200:05:21,000 –> 00:05:22,880of the life of the man who, as it were,12300:05:22,880 –> 00:05:25,839wrote the book on contentment.12400:05:25,839 –> 00:05:30,839Jeremiah Burrows was born in 1599.12500:05:31,100 –> 00:05:33,440Very, very gifted and godly man,12600:05:33,440 –> 00:05:36,339studied at the University of Cambridge.12700:05:36,339 –> 00:05:39,519At the age of 28, began his ministry12800:05:39,519 –> 00:05:41,440serving as a pastor12900:05:41,480 –> 00:05:46,480in the delightful town of Burry St. Edmund’s in England.13000:05:47,600 –> 00:05:49,540Well, it didn’t go well.13100:05:49,540 –> 00:05:51,739Burrows said, after three years, he said,13200:05:51,739 –> 00:05:53,799”I’ve been here nearly three and a half years13300:05:53,799 –> 00:05:57,040”with these people, and with little success.”13400:05:57,040 –> 00:05:58,540He describes how the people13500:05:58,540 –> 00:06:01,119had a strange disposition towards him.13600:06:01,119 –> 00:06:03,760Somehow, the chemistry just didn’t seem to work.13700:06:03,760 –> 00:06:06,359They didn’t seem responsive to him or to like him,13800:06:06,359 –> 00:06:07,799and I think it’s pretty clear13900:06:07,799 –> 00:06:09,119that they wanted him to move on,14000:06:09,160 –> 00:06:12,559because after three years, they cut his salary in half,14100:06:12,559 –> 00:06:14,760which is kind of a way of kind of saying,14200:06:14,760 –> 00:06:17,559three years is enough time for you to move on.14300:06:17,559 –> 00:06:20,679Well, Burrows moved on from this larger town,14400:06:20,679 –> 00:06:23,279Burry St. Edmund’s, and took a church14500:06:23,279 –> 00:06:25,239in a smaller village.14600:06:25,239 –> 00:06:28,079It was a place called Tivatshal,14700:06:28,079 –> 00:06:30,399and things didn’t go well there, either,14800:06:30,399 –> 00:06:33,100but for very, very different reasons.14900:06:33,100 –> 00:06:38,100The king, Charles I, was concerned at the time15000:06:38,239 –> 00:06:42,119about the general health of his population,15100:06:42,119 –> 00:06:44,320and he published what was known as15200:06:44,320 –> 00:06:49,320The King’s Book of Sports, which was a royal decree15300:06:49,779 –> 00:06:54,380laying out what citizens were required to do15400:06:54,380 –> 00:06:58,700by way of recreation, for their own general health15500:06:58,700 –> 00:07:01,480on Sunday afternoons.15600:07:01,480 –> 00:07:05,179And The King’s Book of Sports prescribed15700:07:05,200 –> 00:07:10,200leaping, valting, Morris dancing,15800:07:10,899 –> 00:07:14,899and the setting up of maypoles across the country15900:07:14,899 –> 00:07:17,100on Sunday afternoons so that the folks16000:07:17,100 –> 00:07:18,820got some good exercise.16100:07:18,820 –> 00:07:22,859Now, are you not glad that you are not living16200:07:22,859 –> 00:07:26,700in 17th-century England, where the king tells16300:07:26,700 –> 00:07:29,660all of us what to do with our relaxation time16400:07:29,660 –> 00:07:33,019on a Sunday afternoon, but this was the world16500:07:33,079 –> 00:07:36,700in which Jeremiah Burroughs lived and served?16600:07:36,700 –> 00:07:38,839And you see, you’ve got no television,16700:07:38,839 –> 00:07:40,940you’ve got no radio, so how does the king16800:07:40,940 –> 00:07:44,179get a proclamation out to the entire population16900:07:44,179 –> 00:07:46,660and tell the people what they’re supposed to do?17000:07:46,660 –> 00:07:49,880Well, the established church, the state church17100:07:49,880 –> 00:07:52,619of which the king was the head,17200:07:52,619 –> 00:07:57,380it was required of ministers that they should read17300:07:57,380 –> 00:08:01,799the king’s book of sports to the congregations17400:08:01,799 –> 00:08:05,619across the country on a Sunday morning.17500:08:05,619 –> 00:08:08,019Well, you can image that that didn’t go down well17600:08:08,019 –> 00:08:10,799with some, the Puritan ministers were men17700:08:10,799 –> 00:08:14,679of strong convictions and especially with regards17800:08:14,679 –> 00:08:16,660to the holiness of the Lords day17900:08:16,660 –> 00:08:19,940and there was no way in the world that these men,18000:08:19,940 –> 00:08:21,980men like Jeremiah Burroughs, were gonna get up18100:08:21,980 –> 00:08:25,019in their pulpits and read the king’s book of sports18200:08:25,019 –> 00:08:27,820and tell the people they were to do leaping vaulting18300:08:27,820 –> 00:08:30,500and morse dancing on a Sunday afternoon.18400:08:30,540 –> 00:08:32,599I mean we’re here for the Bible,18500:08:32,599 –> 00:08:35,619we’re not here to put out the latest policy document18600:08:35,619 –> 00:08:37,960from the king and so forth and so on18700:08:37,960 –> 00:08:40,179and so Burroughs along with many others18800:08:40,179 –> 00:08:43,039simply ignored the king’s book of sports18900:08:44,099 –> 00:08:46,059and ministers who did this,19000:08:46,059 –> 00:08:48,179and there were a good number of them,19100:08:48,179 –> 00:08:52,679became known as nonconformists19200:08:53,780 –> 00:08:55,340and you should be interested19300:08:55,340 –> 00:08:57,320because this is actually our history,19400:08:57,320 –> 00:09:00,020this is where we come from as free churches19500:09:00,119 –> 00:09:00,960and throughout Europe,19600:09:00,960 –> 00:09:02,119there were different situations19700:09:02,119 –> 00:09:03,799in which this manifested itself19800:09:03,799 –> 00:09:06,280but believers who said,19900:09:06,280 –> 00:09:07,880you know, when we get together,20000:09:07,880 –> 00:09:09,719we meet around the Bible20100:09:09,719 –> 00:09:11,840and we’re not here to hear some proclamation20200:09:11,840 –> 00:09:13,799from government or from the king20300:09:13,799 –> 00:09:15,479and we’re going to conform with that20400:09:15,479 –> 00:09:16,960and it’s an issue of conscience20500:09:16,960 –> 00:09:19,840and we assert the independence of congregations20600:09:19,840 –> 00:09:21,679and the centrality of the Bible,20700:09:21,679 –> 00:09:23,799all of these things are in the DNA20800:09:24,659 –> 00:09:26,640from which free churches20900:09:26,659 –> 00:09:30,619of which we are a part here today, have come.21000:09:30,619 –> 00:09:32,619Well, Burroughs was, in that sense,21100:09:32,619 –> 00:09:34,020one of our forebears21200:09:35,320 –> 00:09:36,159but of course,21300:09:36,159 –> 00:09:38,039you will understand you don’t refuse the king21400:09:38,039 –> 00:09:39,940without consequence21500:09:39,940 –> 00:09:42,020and the Archbishop21600:09:42,020 –> 00:09:45,000who was the agent of the king21700:09:45,000 –> 00:09:47,219went after the nonconformists21800:09:47,219 –> 00:09:49,960and there was a bit of a purge that went on21900:09:50,859 –> 00:09:53,659and at the age of 36,22000:09:53,659 –> 00:09:55,659Burroughs was therefore suspended22100:09:55,719 –> 00:09:58,200from his ministry in Tivitas22200:09:58,200 –> 00:09:59,080and a year later,22300:09:59,080 –> 00:10:00,599because he still would not conform22400:10:00,599 –> 00:10:02,679to reading king’s proclamations22500:10:02,679 –> 00:10:04,599instead of the bible from the pulpit,22600:10:04,599 –> 00:10:06,200he was fired22700:10:06,200 –> 00:10:07,200which meant that he lost22800:10:07,200 –> 00:10:08,400not only his income22900:10:08,400 –> 00:10:09,799but also, of course, his home23000:10:09,799 –> 00:10:11,799which was tied to the parish23100:10:11,799 –> 00:10:13,880that he had been serving.23200:10:13,880 –> 00:10:16,280Now, at that point in his life23300:10:16,280 –> 00:10:19,039a man by the name of the Earl of Warwick23400:10:19,039 –> 00:10:21,099landed family,23500:10:21,099 –> 00:10:23,020man of some means,23600:10:23,020 –> 00:10:24,739took Jeremiah Burroughs in23700:10:24,780 –> 00:10:25,619and said to him,23800:10:25,619 –> 00:10:26,500look, why don’t you come,23900:10:26,500 –> 00:10:28,559why don’t you come into our home.24000:10:28,559 –> 00:10:29,900Why don’t you become basically24100:10:29,900 –> 00:10:32,799the pastor to our extended family24200:10:32,799 –> 00:10:34,400and our servants24300:10:34,400 –> 00:10:36,020and so forth and so on.24400:10:36,020 –> 00:10:37,260It was a great kindness24500:10:37,260 –> 00:10:38,760and it was the Lord’s provision.24600:10:38,760 –> 00:10:39,739But you see the pattern24700:10:39,739 –> 00:10:41,719of this man’s life.24800:10:41,719 –> 00:10:43,619Here is a gifted and godly man24900:10:43,619 –> 00:10:44,820who commits his life25000:10:44,820 –> 00:10:46,940to serve the Lord as a pastor25100:10:46,940 –> 00:10:48,900and every step of his life25200:10:48,900 –> 00:10:50,580is a step downwards.25300:10:51,500 –> 00:10:53,880He begins in a town,25400:10:53,880 –> 00:10:56,340he then ends up in a village25500:10:56,340 –> 00:10:58,619and because of his own conscience25600:10:58,619 –> 00:11:00,940he ends up having a congregation25700:11:00,940 –> 00:11:02,960that is only one family,25800:11:02,960 –> 00:11:06,159the family of the Earl of Warwick.25900:11:06,159 –> 00:11:08,179And then it got worse.26000:11:08,179 –> 00:11:09,859After all of these discouragements26100:11:09,859 –> 00:11:11,780in the years of his ministry26200:11:11,780 –> 00:11:12,619in 1638,26300:11:14,659 –> 00:11:17,659there was a false accusation26400:11:17,659 –> 00:11:19,780that was made against Jeremiah Burroughs26500:11:19,780 –> 00:11:21,280to the effect that,26600:11:21,280 –> 00:11:22,580and here I’ve got to confess26700:11:22,679 –> 00:11:24,599my personal interest,26800:11:24,599 –> 00:11:27,760that he had supported the Scots26900:11:28,820 –> 00:11:32,640who were up to their old trickery,27000:11:32,640 –> 00:11:34,299rebelling yet again against the king.27100:11:34,299 –> 00:11:35,260If you know anything about27200:11:35,260 –> 00:11:37,320the history of the country from which I come,27300:11:37,320 –> 00:11:39,599you know that that’s a long-running saga27400:11:39,599 –> 00:11:41,059and for me to be married to27500:11:41,059 –> 00:11:42,380a wonderful English woman,27600:11:42,380 –> 00:11:43,780well, that is not only a privilege,27700:11:43,780 –> 00:11:45,500but it’s also a kind of miracle27800:11:45,500 –> 00:11:48,719of reconciliation.27900:11:48,719 –> 00:11:50,299The Scots were rebelling28000:11:50,299 –> 00:11:51,559as they always seem to be28100:11:51,739 –> 00:11:52,400and someone said,28200:11:52,400 –> 00:11:53,380that man Jeremiah Burroughs,28300:11:53,380 –> 00:11:54,539he’s supporting them.28400:11:54,539 –> 00:11:55,619Well that was a,28500:11:55,619 –> 00:11:56,599if true,28600:11:56,599 –> 00:11:58,539that was a capital offence,28700:11:59,340 –> 00:12:00,479sedition.28800:12:01,479 –> 00:12:02,960So a warrant was issued28900:12:02,960 –> 00:12:04,859on the basis of this false accusation29000:12:04,859 –> 00:12:06,119for Burroughs’ arrest.29100:12:06,119 –> 00:12:07,539He had no alternative29200:12:07,539 –> 00:12:09,219under these circumstances29300:12:09,219 –> 00:12:11,859but to flee the country29400:12:11,859 –> 00:12:13,840and he went to Holland,29500:12:13,840 –> 00:12:15,340which on pain of his life29600:12:15,340 –> 00:12:17,340was clearly the right thing to do,29700:12:17,340 –> 00:12:18,900though clearly very costly.29800:12:18,900 –> 00:12:19,659Phil Simpson,29900:12:19,659 –> 00:12:21,539who wrote a biography of Burroughs,30000:12:21,539 –> 00:12:23,520describes these years of his life30100:12:23,520 –> 00:12:26,080as a downward spiral30200:12:26,080 –> 00:12:28,599of narrowing influence30300:12:28,599 –> 00:12:30,460and opportunity.30400:12:31,400 –> 00:12:32,440Gifted and godly man30500:12:32,440 –> 00:12:33,900and his life is just30600:12:33,900 –> 00:12:36,659a downward spiral30700:12:36,659 –> 00:12:39,659of narrowing influence30800:12:39,659 –> 00:12:40,940and opportunity.30900:12:42,059 –> 00:12:42,559Now,31000:12:42,559 –> 00:12:43,539there were clearly31100:12:43,539 –> 00:12:44,960many many things,31200:12:44,960 –> 00:12:48,239injustices of all sorts,31300:12:48,239 –> 00:12:49,479that could have led31400:12:49,479 –> 00:12:50,599Jeremiah Burroughs31500:12:50,599 –> 00:12:54,099to be bitter and complaining31600:12:54,099 –> 00:12:55,419but this is the guy31700:12:55,419 –> 00:12:58,580who wrote what is widely recognized31800:12:58,580 –> 00:13:00,260as the Christian classic31900:13:00,260 –> 00:13:02,239on contentment.32000:13:02,239 –> 00:13:04,539I have learned what it is32100:13:04,539 –> 00:13:06,900to be content32200:13:06,900 –> 00:13:08,780and knowing a little bit of his32300:13:08,780 –> 00:13:09,859life story,32400:13:09,859 –> 00:13:11,400I think gives an insight32500:13:11,400 –> 00:13:12,760into how God taught him32600:13:12,760 –> 00:13:14,059some of the precious things32700:13:14,059 –> 00:13:15,340that he learned32800:13:15,340 –> 00:13:17,780and applied from the scripture.32900:13:17,780 –> 00:13:19,280Now,33000:13:19,280 –> 00:13:20,179here’s where this story33100:13:20,239 –> 00:13:21,880takes a surprising turn33200:13:21,880 –> 00:13:23,840and why I tell it to you today.33300:13:25,020 –> 00:13:26,500After three years33400:13:26,500 –> 00:13:27,320in which Burroughs33500:13:27,320 –> 00:13:29,219was in exile in Holland,33600:13:30,280 –> 00:13:33,859the parliament passed legislation33700:13:33,859 –> 00:13:35,400allowing ministers33800:13:35,400 –> 00:13:37,539who had stood on the grounds of conscience33900:13:37,539 –> 00:13:38,599or had been ejected34000:13:38,599 –> 00:13:40,340from their churches34100:13:40,340 –> 00:13:42,479to return to their churches34200:13:42,479 –> 00:13:44,039and to resume their ministries.34300:13:44,039 –> 00:13:46,599There was always a kind of push-pull34400:13:46,599 –> 00:13:47,760between the king34500:13:47,760 –> 00:13:48,739and the parliament34600:13:48,739 –> 00:13:49,580and Charles more34700:13:49,599 –> 00:13:50,880than anyone else34800:13:50,880 –> 00:13:52,440exceeded his authority.34900:13:52,440 –> 00:13:53,280And so eventually,35000:13:53,280 –> 00:13:54,580you know how these things are,35100:13:54,580 –> 00:13:55,539there was a pushback35200:13:55,539 –> 00:13:56,760from parliament,35300:13:56,760 –> 00:13:57,780in the end,35400:13:57,780 –> 00:14:00,679Charles ended up being beheaded himself.35500:14:00,679 –> 00:14:02,919So there was a change35600:14:02,919 –> 00:14:03,919that took place35700:14:03,919 –> 00:14:05,400at this time in history.35800:14:05,400 –> 00:14:07,359And for that reason,35900:14:07,359 –> 00:14:08,440Jeremiah Burroughs36000:14:08,440 –> 00:14:11,239was able to return to England.36100:14:11,239 –> 00:14:12,880And when he came back36200:14:12,880 –> 00:14:15,320after these three years in exile,36300:14:16,280 –> 00:14:17,820this gifted and godly man36400:14:17,820 –> 00:14:18,760for whom his whole life36500:14:18,780 –> 00:14:20,099had been a downward spiral36600:14:20,099 –> 00:14:21,580of narrowing influence36700:14:22,820 –> 00:14:24,020was appointed36800:14:24,859 –> 00:14:27,000as the pastor36900:14:27,000 –> 00:14:30,219of one of the wealthiest37000:14:30,219 –> 00:14:32,859and most prestigious churches37100:14:32,859 –> 00:14:37,200in the city of London itself.37200:14:37,200 –> 00:14:39,239He was preaching every Sunday37300:14:39,239 –> 00:14:40,739to some of the wealthiest people37400:14:40,739 –> 00:14:41,580in the city.37500:14:42,780 –> 00:14:43,739And with it,37600:14:43,739 –> 00:14:46,979he received a large stipend37700:14:46,979 –> 00:14:48,219that was quite different37800:14:48,219 –> 00:14:50,179from anything else that he had known37900:14:50,179 –> 00:14:51,940or experienced before.38000:14:52,940 –> 00:14:55,599And here’s what he discovered.38100:14:55,599 –> 00:14:58,900That it is easier to be content38200:14:58,900 –> 00:15:01,219when we have less.38300:15:01,219 –> 00:15:04,340It is harder to be content38400:15:04,340 –> 00:15:05,320when you have more.38500:15:06,440 –> 00:15:07,739You’re listening to Open the Bible38600:15:07,739 –> 00:15:08,940with Pastor Colin Smyth38700:15:08,940 –> 00:15:09,840and a message called38800:15:09,840 –> 00:15:12,159How To Handle the Blessing of God,38900:15:12,159 –> 00:15:13,359part of our series,39000:15:13,359 –> 00:15:15,020The Art of Contentment.39100:15:15,020 –> 00:15:16,419And if you’ve tuned in late39200:15:16,419 –> 00:15:17,619or if you have to go early39300:15:17,960 –> 00:15:19,739or if you’ve missed any of the messages39400:15:19,739 –> 00:15:20,659in the series,39500:15:20,659 –> 00:15:22,619you can always go back and listen again39600:15:22,619 –> 00:15:25,179or catch up by coming to our website.39700:15:25,179 –> 00:15:28,359That’s at OpentheBible.org.uk39800:15:28,359 –> 00:15:30,179or find us as a podcast.39900:15:30,179 –> 00:15:32,059Those are on all the main podcast sites.40000:15:32,059 –> 00:15:34,179Search for OpenTheBibleUK.40100:15:35,000 –> 00:15:36,140Back to the message now,40200:15:36,140 –> 00:15:38,599we’re in 1 Timothy chapter six,40300:15:38,599 –> 00:15:40,020here again is Colin.40400:15:40,020 –> 00:15:43,039It is easier to be content40500:15:43,039 –> 00:15:45,380when we have less.40600:15:45,419 –> 00:15:48,520It is harder to be content40700:15:48,520 –> 00:15:50,359when you have more.40800:15:50,359 –> 00:15:52,080And so when he came to London,40900:15:52,080 –> 00:15:53,219the second little book41000:15:53,219 –> 00:15:54,299that’s called Contentment,41100:15:54,299 –> 00:15:56,020Prosperity and the Glory of God,41200:15:56,020 –> 00:15:59,239this came out of his ministry in London41300:15:59,239 –> 00:16:01,340to a very wealthy congregation.41400:16:01,340 –> 00:16:03,460He said, I thought I knew all about contentment.41500:16:03,460 –> 00:16:05,159I’ve written everything that was to be said,41600:16:05,159 –> 00:16:07,840but actually there’s more to be said41700:16:07,840 –> 00:16:09,799because there’s something to be learned41800:16:09,799 –> 00:16:11,179in relation to contentment,41900:16:11,179 –> 00:16:13,900not only when you have less,42000:16:14,000 –> 00:16:16,880but there’s something also that needs to be learned42100:16:16,880 –> 00:16:18,859in relation to contentment42200:16:18,859 –> 00:16:20,940when you have more.42300:16:20,940 –> 00:16:24,380Now, more obviously is a relative term.42400:16:24,380 –> 00:16:26,919When we say more, if I say more,42500:16:26,919 –> 00:16:30,219I immediately instinctively think42600:16:30,219 –> 00:16:34,280about wonderful people who have more than I do.42700:16:34,280 –> 00:16:36,739And I’m sure that you do the same.42800:16:36,739 –> 00:16:38,739Let’s not do that today.42900:16:39,900 –> 00:16:41,760Ask the question,43000:16:41,940 –> 00:16:45,840do you have more than you had 10 years ago?43100:16:45,840 –> 00:16:47,520And for many in our congregation43200:16:47,520 –> 00:16:50,619the answer to that question will be yes.43300:16:50,619 –> 00:16:54,159And if you have more than you had 10 years ago,43400:16:54,159 –> 00:16:58,700then you need by definition to know how to handle more.43500:17:00,359 –> 00:17:02,640And there will be some who have less43600:17:02,640 –> 00:17:04,500than you had 10 years ago.43700:17:04,500 –> 00:17:08,339But even if you have less than you had 10 years ago,43800:17:08,339 –> 00:17:11,859the vast majority of us have vastly more43900:17:11,859 –> 00:17:15,880than the great majority of people in this world.44000:17:15,880 –> 00:17:19,219Indeed, I would say that anybody who lives in America44100:17:19,219 –> 00:17:24,219needs to know how to handle the blessing of God.44200:17:25,699 –> 00:17:28,640And in the scripture that we looked at last week44300:17:28,640 –> 00:17:29,959from Philippians, Paul says,44400:17:29,959 –> 00:17:33,000now I know how to be brought low.44500:17:33,000 –> 00:17:36,579I know how to be content with less.44600:17:36,579 –> 00:17:41,540But he also says, I know how to abound.44700:17:41,540 –> 00:17:44,300I know how to handle the blessing of God44800:17:44,300 –> 00:17:45,900when God gives me more.44900:17:45,900 –> 00:17:47,439So here’s the question.45000:17:48,660 –> 00:17:51,099Do you know how to abound?45100:17:52,900 –> 00:17:57,020Do you know how to wisely handle the blessing of God45200:17:57,020 –> 00:17:58,680when he gives you more?45300:18:00,359 –> 00:18:02,959Jeremiah says, I thought I knew all about contentment.45400:18:02,959 –> 00:18:05,719I learned it all when I was getting less.45500:18:05,719 –> 00:18:07,459What I discovered was that there were45600:18:07,459 –> 00:18:09,180a whole other bunch of things that I needed45700:18:09,180 –> 00:18:11,660to learn about contentment when God gave me more.45800:18:13,319 –> 00:18:16,640I know how to abound, says the apostle Paul.45900:18:17,939 –> 00:18:18,819Now can you say that?46000:18:18,819 –> 00:18:21,020I know how to abound.46100:18:21,020 –> 00:18:23,260I know how to handle the blessing of God.46200:18:23,260 –> 00:18:24,560How are you gonna do that?46300:18:26,339 –> 00:18:28,300Let me give to you these four pointers46400:18:28,300 –> 00:18:30,719that all come from 1 Timothy in chapter six46500:18:30,719 –> 00:18:33,180that we have read together today.46600:18:33,180 –> 00:18:35,079First, you know how to abound46700:18:35,079 –> 00:18:40,079when you resist the temptations that come with having more.46800:18:41,199 –> 00:18:43,020Now you say, what are these temptations46900:18:43,020 –> 00:18:45,239that come with having more?47000:18:45,239 –> 00:18:47,280And the answer is in verse 17,47100:18:47,280 –> 00:18:50,760as for the rich in this present age,47200:18:50,760 –> 00:18:55,640so those who have more, charge them not to be haughty47300:18:56,719 –> 00:19:01,719nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches.47400:19:02,339 –> 00:19:05,839So very clearly the first temptation you will have47500:19:05,839 –> 00:19:08,900when God gives you more is the temptation to pride.47600:19:08,900 –> 00:19:11,880It will be the temptation to credit yourself47700:19:11,880 –> 00:19:14,079with what you have accomplished.47800:19:14,079 –> 00:19:16,619Remember, Nebuchadnezzar, in the Old Testament,47900:19:16,619 –> 00:19:17,459he did that.48000:19:17,459 –> 00:19:20,380He walked on the palace in Babylon that he had built48100:19:20,380 –> 00:19:22,780and he said, is this not great Babylon48200:19:22,780 –> 00:19:25,199that I have built by my own mighty power48300:19:25,199 –> 00:19:29,760as a royal residence for my glory and for my majesty.48400:19:29,780 –> 00:19:31,359Look at what I’ve done.48500:19:31,359 –> 00:19:33,339And he’s walking on the roof of the palace48600:19:33,339 –> 00:19:36,380and the Bible says the next moment his mind snapped48700:19:38,180 –> 00:19:41,920and he’s out in the grass like an animal.48800:19:42,800 –> 00:19:47,800I have to remind myself that apart from the grace of God,48900:19:50,599 –> 00:19:55,459I could not string two coherent thoughts together.49000:19:56,239 –> 00:19:57,859I had to remind myself of that.49100:19:59,099 –> 00:20:00,699Apart from the grace of God,49200:20:00,699 –> 00:20:05,699could not string two coherent thoughts together.49300:20:07,239 –> 00:20:09,619When some Christians in Corinth49400:20:09,619 –> 00:20:12,660were getting too big for their boots49500:20:12,660 –> 00:20:15,579the Apostle Paul said to them,49600:20:15,579 –> 00:20:20,599what do you have that you did not receive?49700:20:21,280 –> 00:20:22,900what do you have that you did not receive?49800:20:24,599 –> 00:20:26,199Deuteronomy chapter 8,49900:20:26,199 –> 00:20:28,079God says to his people beware,50000:20:28,079 –> 00:20:29,979lest you say in your heart,50100:20:29,979 –> 00:20:32,239my power and my might and my hand50200:20:32,239 –> 00:20:33,619have gotten me this wealth.50300:20:33,619 –> 00:20:35,040You shall remember the Lord,50400:20:35,040 –> 00:20:37,560your God for it is he who gives you power50500:20:37,560 –> 00:20:38,260to get wealth.50600:20:38,260 –> 00:20:40,819The first temptation that comes with having more50700:20:40,819 –> 00:20:43,359is the temptation to pride.50800:20:43,359 –> 00:20:46,719The second temptation is the temptation to presumption.50900:20:46,800 –> 00:20:48,959Teach them not to be haughty.51000:20:48,959 –> 00:20:53,859Nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches.51100:20:55,420 –> 00:20:57,119Now, here’s the point,51200:20:57,119 –> 00:21:01,459money seems to make things more certain.51300:21:01,459 –> 00:21:05,900Therefore it gives to us a sense of greater comfort.51400:21:05,900 –> 00:21:07,699It is easy when you have more51500:21:07,699 –> 00:21:11,780to have the idea that it will always be so.51600:21:11,800 –> 00:21:16,800So people say, I will do more for Christ later.51700:21:17,319 –> 00:21:18,160Really?51800:21:18,160 –> 00:21:20,160How much more time do you have?51900:21:20,160 –> 00:21:22,119You don’t know how much time you have.52000:21:23,160 –> 00:21:25,239I will give more to the Lord later.52100:21:25,239 –> 00:21:26,380Really?52200:21:26,380 –> 00:21:28,140How much will you have to give in the future?52300:21:28,140 –> 00:21:31,719All you know is what you have right now.52400:21:32,719 –> 00:21:34,199The temptation to presumption.52500:21:34,199 –> 00:21:37,599People who know how to abound,52600:21:37,660 –> 00:21:42,339they resist the temptations that come with having more.52700:21:42,339 –> 00:21:44,920So there is a genuine humility about them.52800:21:44,920 –> 00:21:47,859They know that what they have is what God has given.52900:21:47,859 –> 00:21:50,859They don’t take the credit for it themselves.53000:21:50,859 –> 00:21:52,479There’s a shrewdness about them.53100:21:52,479 –> 00:21:55,020They know that money is uncertain53200:21:55,020 –> 00:21:57,760and so they don’t set their hope on it.53300:21:57,760 –> 00:22:01,219They know how to honor God and to make the best use53400:22:01,219 –> 00:22:04,400of all that He has entrusted to them.53500:22:06,160 –> 00:22:07,579You know how to abound,53600:22:08,579 –> 00:22:12,099when you resist the temptations53700:22:12,099 –> 00:22:17,040that inevitably come with having more.53800:22:17,040 –> 00:22:19,079You’ve been listening to Open the Bible53900:22:19,079 –> 00:22:20,280with Pastor Colin Smith,54000:22:20,280 –> 00:22:24,239in a message called How to Handle the Blessing of God,54100:22:24,239 –> 00:22:26,760part of our series The Art of Contentment.54200:22:26,760 –> 00:22:28,339And if you’ve missed any of the series54300:22:28,339 –> 00:22:31,219you can easily catch up by coming online to our website,54400:22:31,219 –> 00:22:34,339openthebible.org.uk.54500:22:35,339 –> 00:22:38,040Open the Bible is able to stay on the radio54600:22:38,040 –> 00:22:39,319and on the internet54700:22:39,319 –> 00:22:43,140because of the very generous donations made by our listeners.54800:22:43,140 –> 00:22:46,040So if you already give to support Open the Bible,54900:22:46,040 –> 00:22:47,520thank you so much.55000:22:47,520 –> 00:22:49,760If that’s something that you’ve been considering doing55100:22:49,760 –> 00:22:50,660in the future,55200:22:50,660 –> 00:22:53,800each month, we aim to offer a special gift55300:22:53,800 –> 00:22:56,699in return for setting up a new support payment55400:22:56,699 –> 00:22:58,160for Open The Bible.55500:22:58,160 –> 00:23:00,920If you’re able to set up a new monthly direct debit55600:23:01,619 –> 00:23:03,400of £5 per month or more,55700:23:03,400 –> 00:23:06,160or a one-off gift of £50 or more,55800:23:06,160 –> 00:23:07,939we love to say thank you55900:23:07,939 –> 00:23:10,479by sending you a copy of Colin Smith’s book,56000:23:10,479 –> 00:23:12,079Fly Through The Bible.56100:23:12,079 –> 00:23:14,780Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham56200:23:14,780 –> 00:23:16,160to talk about the book56300:23:16,160 –> 00:23:18,699and also about some other exciting resources56400:23:18,699 –> 00:23:21,000which are free for everyone to receive.56500:23:21,000 –> 00:23:22,160Thanks, David.56600:23:22,160 –> 00:23:23,900Well, if you’ve been listening for a while,56700:23:23,900 –> 00:23:27,000you’ll know that we love to give away a free book56800:23:27,000 –> 00:23:28,739each month when you donate.56900:23:28,739 –> 00:23:31,199Either a one-off gift of £50 or more,57000:23:31,199 –> 00:23:35,239or setting up a new direct debit of at least £5,57100:23:35,239 –> 00:23:36,800But this July and August,57200:23:36,800 –> 00:23:39,260we’re doing something extra special.57300:23:39,260 –> 00:23:42,319We’ve launched a campaign full of free resources57400:23:42,319 –> 00:23:45,119to help you open the Bible with others57500:23:45,119 –> 00:23:47,280because we know that can be hard57600:23:47,280 –> 00:23:49,199and we want to equip you!57700:23:49,199 –> 00:23:51,459So yes, you’ll still get a free copy57800:23:51,459 –> 00:23:53,780of Fly Through The Bible when you donate,57900:23:53,859 –> 00:23:59,099But anyone can now access a whole set of all free tools.58000:23:59,099 –> 00:24:01,760We’ve got a video series where Colin Smith58100:24:01,760 –> 00:24:03,439walks through each session58200:24:03,439 –> 00:24:06,699of the Fly Through The Bible course on our website.58300:24:06,699 –> 00:24:07,819There’s a free app!58400:24:07,819 –> 00:24:11,400Just search Fly Through The Bible in your App store.58500:24:11,400 –> 00:24:12,660And if you’re a church leader58600:24:12,660 –> 00:24:14,359thinking ahead to September,58700:24:14,359 –> 00:24:17,800head to openthebible.org.uk58800:24:17,800 –> 00:24:19,380forward slash Fly58900:24:19,380 –> 00:24:23,020and download our free Small Group Discussion Guide.59000:24:23,020 –> 00:24:25,760We really pray that these resources bless you59100:24:25,760 –> 00:24:29,180and those around you as you open the Bible together.59200:24:29,180 –> 00:24:31,040And what better place to start59300:24:31,040 –> 00:24:33,699than a journey through the Bible story.59400:24:33,699 –> 00:24:35,160Thanks, Amanda!59500:24:35,160 –> 00:24:38,500You can access these free resources at our website59600:24:38,500 –> 00:24:41,140openthebible.org.uk59700:24:41,140 –> 00:24:43,760and you can download the Fly app59800:24:43,760 –> 00:24:46,819at the Apple App Store or Google Play.59900:24:46,819 –> 00:24:49,280Our offer to send you a copy of Colin’s book60000:24:49,280 –> 00:24:52,459Fly through the bible is available all this month.60100:24:52,459 –> 00:24:54,739If you would like to receive this free gift60200:24:54,739 –> 00:24:58,439select the monthly giveaway under project fund60300:24:58,439 –> 00:25:01,060and please do not give anonymously60400:25:01,060 –> 00:25:02,540as we can only send a book60500:25:02,540 –> 00:25:04,680if we have your address details.60600:25:04,680 –> 00:25:06,780Full details, terms and conditions60700:25:06,780 –> 00:25:10,640are on our website openthebible.org.uk60800:25:10,640 –> 00:25:12,540and you can give online.60900:25:12,540 –> 00:25:15,020For open the Bible, Pastor Colin Smith,61000:25:15,020 –> 00:25:16,260I’m David Pick61100:25:16,260 –> 00:25:19,239and I hope you’ll join us again next time.61200:25:19,239 –> 00:25:24,239Do you know how to handle the blessing of God?61300:25:27,619 –> 00:25:30,040Find out next time on Open the Bible