Welcome to ECB's weekly sermon podcast. ECB is
an international church in Bangkok, Thailand,
with dozens of nationalities worshiping together.
We invite you to connect with us from wherever
you are through our website ecb .asia or our
mobile app. And now we pray that you are blessed
by this week's sermon. We have explained before
that at ECB, Our mission is to make disciples
for global impact. People that are following
the Lord, loving the Lord, living for the Lord.
And one thing that separates a Christian who
is not mature, not really committed to Christ,
is that they compartmentalize their Christianity.
There are Christians on Sunday here at church,
but during the week... The relationships, the
way they live, all of these things are different.
We believe at ECB that something that marks the
life of a follower of Jesus is that Jesus is
not compartmentalized. We experience Jesus in
all of life. And Jesus is the core of who we
are. And that's why this series has explored
three different areas in which we want to make
sure we're not compartmentalizing. Our following
Jesus. The first one was to understand that God
wants us to experience this aroma of Christ in
our careers. And therefore our careers are an
opportunity for us to be the salt and the light
of the world. We also learn that we want our
relationships to be marked by the presence of
Jesus. Any relationship but in spirit. special
focus, our homes, our marriages, our parenting,
that Jesus is really sitting at the center of
our homes. We don't want to compartmentalize
our relationships, but Jesus to define them.
And today we are going to be talking about how
we want Jesus to be the center of our finances,
that we do not compartmentalize our financial
life from our following Jesus, but we realize
that they are one and the same. One time I heard
a friend say that the last part of his life that
converted to Christ was his wallet. And what
he meant was that the tendency that we have is
to follow Jesus in all of these things, but there's
something about our finances that somehow is
much easier to compartmentalize, to separate,
and to give space to think differently about
that. Well, today we will learn that Jesus...
Does not want us to have space to think differently
about it. Because he wants us to follow him with
not only everything we are but everything we
have. And that's why in Matthew chapter 6 he
addresses this at the core. Matthew 6 is part
of the Sermon on the Mount. And he's addressing
several things about how the kingdom of God works.
And how following Jesus works. We will learn
about what Jesus says about these core motives.
But then we will also learn from the Apostle
Paul who wrote to 2 Corinthians chapter 9 to
the Christians in Corinth to tell them how they
need to think about finances and generosity because
these two passages, Matthew 6 and also 2 Corinthians
chapter 9, form the... of a mature Christian
as this financial aspect of our lives is aligned
with following God. So we start with Matthew
chapter 6. And this is Jesus himself speaking
to us. Pablo, no one can serve two masters. For
you will hate one and love the other. You will
be devoted to one and then despise the other.
Pablo, you cannot serve God and be enslaved to
money. This is why I tell you not to worry about
everyday life. Whether you have enough. Food
and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life
more than food? And your body more than clothing?
Pablo, look at the birds. They don't plant or
harvest or store food in barns. For your heavenly
father feeds them. Aren't you far more valuable?
To him than they are. Can all your worries. Add
a single moment. To your life. And why worry
about your clothing. Look at the lilies of the
field. How they grow. They don't work or make
their clothing. Yet Solomon in all his glory.
Was not dressed as beautifully. As they are.
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers
that are here today and thrown into the fire
tomorrow, Pablo, he will certainly care for you.
Why do you have so little faith? Don't worry
about these things. Saying, why will we eat?
Why will we drink? Why will we wear? These things
dominate the thoughts of the unbelievers. But
you, you know me. You follow me. Your heavenly
father already knows all your needs. Pablo, seek
the kingdom of God above all else. And live righteously.
And he will give you everything you need. So
don't worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will
bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough
for today. And that is the end of this section.
If you've never read the entire Sermon on the
Mount. I encourage you to go back home and read
the entire section. It touches so many aspects
of our life, but here it reaches the climax to
tell us that at the core, following Jesus is
about a pursuit that completely separates us
from the pursuit of the world. Jesus does not
say that you do not need resources, that you
need to be poor, and if you're going to follow
him, You should not have abundance of any sort.
It does not tell us that working for a salary
is not what Christians do, that money somehow
is evil. However, it does tell us that money
was never meant to turn into your master. It
was never to be... The goal of your life. That's
why he says. I want you to think of finances.
And money. As a master. You either have me as
your master. Or you have money as your master.
But they cannot be. The purpose of your life
at the same time. Because they are not compatible.
And I'm going to tell you why. If money is your
master. Then the goal of your life is going to
be to have more. And to work so that you can
make a living. To work so that you can have a
paycheck. To work so that you can have a secure
future. One time a person asked that question.
How much can a person be satisfied? And as this
person was thinking of the answer. Suddenly came
to the mind. With a little bit more. That is
how much it takes for a person to be satisfied.
A little bit more. Ah, nice. But if you could
have a little bit more, that would be great.
Here. Oh, that's great. But if you could have
a little bit more, that would be even better.
And so it goes. The goal of a life that does
not have Jesus as the master, but money is the
master. It's going to live always to have more
and accumulate more. And that is how the world
works. And especially if you are working as a
follower of Jesus in a company that is revising
the numbers every year. We have to do better
than last year. So now our goal is higher. And
the goal is to always make more. You are in that
space. And that's understandable. Because they
are not functioning. With the mindset of Christ.
But you are there. For much more than just making
money. And this is what. Something that Jesus
is going to make very clear. But as I have this
goal. Of making more. Then what happens. Is that.
My deepest motive. Or my driver. Is fear. Because
I'm constantly. Pursuing. Something about the
future that is not there yet. And if I have come
from a background in which I lacked financially.
I was poor. And I had to suffer because of lack
of financial stability. Then my drive to make
sure that that never happens again. Is fear.
And the problem with fear. As a driver. That
gives me an outcome. And the outcome is that
I have become a controlling person. I have to
control the outcome. Not God. I have to control
it. Because money is my security for my future.
Therefore I'm always stressing out. And I always
want to make sure. That things are alright. Because
if they are not. Then my future will not be secure.
And the problem is. That to be married to a controlling
person is a pain. Or to be working for a boss
that is controlling. Is a pain. No one wants
to be married to you. No one wants to work for
your team. Because a person who is fearful and
controlling. And is always looking at the goal
of making more and more and more. As the goal
of life. Is not a person that is living in peace.
And joy. Jesus says, Pablo, I know you need money.
I know you need to acquire things. I know you
have needs. But that is not the way. For you,
it's going to be something completely different.
You have to make sure that I am your master.
Not money. Because let me tell you how this operates.
When this is your master. And now fear becomes
your controlling force. You are living all of
your life with lack of peace. And you notice
Jesus asks very pointed questions. And I picture
myself like you see. Sometimes in the movies,
you know, the guy goes to the psychiatrist and
he's sitting down in this nice sofa lying down.
And there's the person next to them. I don't
do that in my office. I don't have the space
for that, you know, but. It's like I'm lying
down there and Jesus is sitting there. It's as
probabilistic. Let me ask you a couple of questions.
Isn't life more than food and. Your body more
than clothing? Yes. Yes, Lord. Good. Aren't you
far more valuable to God than the birds? Yeah.
I think so. Yes, Lord. Can all your worries add
a single moment to your life? No. They can't.
Then why worry about your clothing? I don't know.
I just do. Why do you have so little faith? Is
this session over yet? I don't know. It's just
like I know it here. But it doesn't translate
here. I want to know it here and here, if you
know what I mean. Pablo, look at the birds. End
of the session. Next time we meet, you will bring
me your pictures. Look at the birds. Because
there's something, That you have to understand.
Every time that you look at those birds. And
if you know it here but not here. You need to
take more pictures. Because you have to understand.
That God who created that beautiful creature.
With intricate details. And takes care of that
bird. Every morning when that bird sings. And
then starts the day. trying to figure out where
the food is going to be, always finds the food,
and always goes back to bed happy. Wakes up the
next morning, singing again, and then the new
day begins. Do you know who takes care of that
bird? And do you know who takes care of you?
And do you know that you are more valuable than
that bird? It's interesting that when we talk
about finances and fear, they often go hand in
hand. I remember that some of the moments in
which I have wrestled with my following Jesus
the most was not because of the place he was
leading me to. It was because of the financial
implications. And you do the math and you think
about this and that and the what ifs. And I remember
particularly. that as we were in Dallas before
the transition here, it so coincided that my
oldest son was finishing high school. He was
turning 18, finishing high school, starting college.
And it's the same time that God was calling us
to come to Thailand. So as he moved to college,
to Oregon at George Fox University, we moved
to Bangkok at ECB. Like, perfect timing. But
for those of you that entered that season of
parenting, You know, what are the fears that
we wrestle with? And in that space, I had to
learn and I have to remember that there's something
that God has told me. It's actually a command.
Look at the birds. So it's something that for
some reason I started looking at more and more
in detail. It's almost like for me, I encountered
God as creator through nature. Since I was a
little kid, I loved watching those nature shows.
So when BBC came with BBC Earth and these shows
on planet Earth, I was the first one to buy the
Blu -rays on high definition, you know. I wanted
to watch all these things. God gave me a passion
for photography since I was young, since I was
little, you know. The first camera was this very
basic one. One moved to the next and then to
the next and to the next until I got to Nike.
Sorry, no cannon. And I started looking at the
birds. Last time I was in Texas taking a break,
I was visiting my mother -in -law. She lives
in six acres of land in a town called Aledo in
the area of Fort Worth. And it's beautiful because
it's just surrounded by trees and birds and things.
And I remember that last Sunday I was there.
I thought I was by myself at that time. I thought,
you know, which church do I go to today? And
for some reason, it's like... What I want is
to encounter God, not to go to church per se.
I want to encounter God. And I realized at that
moment, in that morning, that if I went to church,
I could not turn off the pastor brain. The pastor
brain, when you go to visit a new church, you
walk on campus and you're like, oh, that's a
nice idea. Oh, that's good. And the worship begins
like, oh, that's a nice, we should include that
song in our church. And you are always evaluating,
analyzing everything. You cannot turn that off.
So that day, I thought, you know what? I'm not
going to go to church. I want to spend time alone
with the Lord. And I got up, took my camera,
and started walking. And suddenly, I noticed
these little birds. It was a nest. And there
were the father and the mother right there. They
make this specific noise, specific sound. And
I noticed it. And they were both very cautious.
And then I saw the nest. So I spent the next
couple of days climbing on the ladder, making
a hole in the tree so I could have direct access
to the right angle. And I know, for my friends
who are photographers like me, you have a question
for me. Where's the camera? Where's the lens?
So I brought it for you to see. This is my baby.
Okay. And it's heavy, huh? So that's why I don't
go to the gym. This is kind of like enough. But
people love the pictures. They don't love going
with me to take pictures because it takes forever,
you know? But so it was. The cardinals, the mother
coming to feed the babies, the dad coming to
feed the babies, and God gave me front row. And
for me that means so much, not just a lot of
nature, but as a father. The provision for your
home, for your family, for their future. The
provision for retirement, the provision for the
schooling, the provision for education. All of
these things, as a father, are the things that
go to mind and that you constantly have to bring
to the Lord. And God says, Pablo, look at the
birds. Look at the dad taking care of the babies.
And you know who takes care of the bird? I do.
And the cardinal is a beautiful picture because
it's so red. You know, that's the male. But then
I saw a bird that is not a bird you capture here
in Asia because we only have it in the Americas.
It's called the hummingbird. It's a beautiful
small bird that flies like... Crazy, so fast
that it's very hard to ever take a picture of
it. So there I was, waiting for it, and there
it came. Feeding. Everything is there at the
right time. And so it was. If you have watched
the cartoons of these beep -beep, the roadrunner,
you know, this is the actual roadrunner. We have
it in Texas, too. Feeding. It's babies, they
had a nest, and they are very cautious as they
approach the nest before they go into the tree.
And the birds kept coming. Pablo, look at the
birds. Here in Thailand, beautiful, beautiful
birds. National parks everywhere. And they come.
And they feed. And they fly. And they take care
of their babies. I've seen them get the worms.
I've seen them get the fish. I've seen them get
the food. There they are. And who made them?
And who takes care of them? When I went to the
pyramids in Mexico City, amazing architecture.
But there was the bird flying. And my camera
went to the bird. Because the bird is flying
to look for the food. This was in Oregon in the
north of the U .S. 5 .30 in the morning when
the hummingbird comes to feed. Have breakfast.
Look at the birds. Because when you look at the
birds. you will remember that your future is
secure in the one who cares for you more than
he cares for the birds. I need that. I need to
remember. Because God has called me to follow
him and to follow him means that I have to make
him my master, not these other things. Because
he does not call me to live in fear, but to live
in peace and to let the aroma of Christ flow
through me, not fear flow through me. Because
when Jesus is our master, it's a whole different
picture altogether. The goal is no longer to
have more. The goal is to love more. To love
God more. To love people with His love more.
To reach out more people with the love of Christ.
Our goal is to love more. And the drive is not
fear, but faith. It's trust in knowing that God
knows me. He designed me. He brought me to this
time. To the earth for this very purpose. He
has purposes for me. And he's going to position
me. Always at the right time. At the right place.
Whether for a short term or a long term. I can
trust him with my needs. And my future. Because
I know his heart. I may not know the circumstances.
But I know his heart. And therefore trust drives
us. And therefore the outcome. Is not controlling.
I cannot control. Anything. God is the one that
is sovereign. And he is the one that is in control.
I'm just called to obey. And obey I can. And
as I obey him. And as I follow him. He takes
care of the future. And he did call me. I realize.
Not to make a living. But to make an impact.
And therefore. As we follow Jesus. And he is
our king. He is our master. And we live to pursue
his kingdom first. Whether he called you to be
a medical doctor. Whether he called you to finance.
Whether he called you to lead a non -profit.
It doesn't matter what he had called you for.
He positioned you. Not. To make a living there.
He positioned you to make an impact there. He
has you there to make a difference in the lives
of people. And in generating ideas and innovation.
New things that are going to make a difference
later. Everything that you are. Every gift that
you have. No matter the field that God has gifted
you or called you for. It's something that he
intends to use. For the impact of his kingdom.
And that changes everything. Because now I realize
that any need I have, I have to turn it to Christ
first. That is where my fear ends. That is where
my fear dies, at the feet of Jesus. So when you
go back next day to work, And you look at what's
happening. And you are in those meetings. Remember
that the people that you may be working with.
They do not know the Lord. Money is their master.
They do not know peace. But you know Jesus. He
is your master. And you have the peace of the
Holy Spirit in you. And you can be assured that
the future is going to be okay. And now you rest
in Him. That's how this differs. Complete different
ways of experiencing life and going through life
together. And that's why Jesus takes this time
to tell us, look, I want you to trust your needs
to my care. And then live your life simply for
me. Follow me. And in that space, we can do that.
The problem is that many of us take these two
things and we put them in the wrong order. We
think that money and financial security is the
means, is the goal. God is just the means for
it. So God, if I do this for you, you will do
this for me, right? God, if I go to church and
I do these things, you will do this for me, right?
And then you listen to a YouTube video or a radio
program where there's this so -called prosperity
theology. Which is a theological cancer that
has permeated many churches around the globe.
And the message they tell you is, yeah, give
me your money and God will bless you. Because
God's purpose for you is to be rich. And that
simply reinforces the misconception that the
goal of life is money rather than God. And Jesus
comes and says it's the other way around. My
kingdom, me, following me is the priority. Money
is just the means. That is how this works. And
to make sure that you do not Twist things around
and become enslaved to money. God has created
something that is very powerful as the antidote
for this. And it's a word called generosity.
Generosity is this idea of a heart that is free
to simply be a channel of God's blessing. I receive
from God. And then when God prompts me to give,
I give. I am generous with my time. I am generous
with my giftedness. I am generous with my resources.
I am a channel. I am not the end of it. I am
just a channel of it. And therefore, when we
live freely like that, now God is using us for
greater kingdom impact altogether. I remember
one time. I had an experience that wasn't very
encouraging, but that marked me in this space.
I was visiting Mexico City during those years
when I was in college, and I went to the supermarket
to buy stuff, and I had driven my dad's car at
that time, so I parked, you know, and in Mexico
City, what typically they will have in the supermarket,
it's a guy that is going to direct you. how to
park, you know, and then you park there. And
then after that, they will clean your windows,
everything, while you're at the store, you come
out, and you just give them a tip. And I remember
that that day, I was there, and I thought, oh,
okay, I'm going to give him this coin, you know,
and it was maybe like a dollar or so in American
currency. And I thought, you know, this is nice.
The guy just cleaned my windows, everything,
just take it, you know. At that moment, there
was a guy, a Christian man sitting next to me,
and he reacted like, of course you're not going
to give him that money. You only have to give
him like 10 cents of a dollar. You don't need
to give him all of that. But his reaction was
something as if I was sinning, as if I was doing
something wrong. Because for him, generosity
was not his way of life. And it felt so cheap.
It felt so wrong in my spirit that you start
counting the pennies to bless someone who is
poor like that. What for? To save 40 cents? The
Apostle Paul says, look, the way of the kingdom
is generosity. It's to be free, to bless others
because God blesses you. And he's going to write
in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 about it. And he tells
us here something that's happening because the
Christians in Jerusalem, they have been persecuted.
So they spread out throughout the Roman Empire.
But in the whole region of Judea, there was a
famine now. So they had a double crisis. They
were being persecuted, but also they had the
famine. So the Apostle Paul started contacting
the churches that they had established throughout
the years. And they started collecting some resources
from the Christians in those places so that they
could bring money, resources, now to share with
the people in need in Jerusalem. And that's why
when he writes the second letter to the Corinthians
who live in Greece in the city of Corinth. He
sends a guy called Titus with a couple of other
guys to meet them and collect the resources so
that they can bring them here to Jerusalem and
share. They had already told the Apostle Paul
before, we want to help. So he writes to them
confirming what they had already talked. And
this is what he says. I'm going to read this
section so you get the feel for the conversation.
I really don't need to write to you about this
ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.
For I know how eager you are to help. And I have
been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that
you in Greece were ready to send an offering
a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that
stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to
begin giving. But I'm sending these brothers
to be sure. You really are ready, as I have been
telling them, and that your money is all collected.
I don't want to be wrong in my boasting about
you. It would be embarrassed, not to mention
your own embarrassment, if some Macedonian believers
come with me and found that you weren't ready.
After all, I had told them. So I thought I should
send these brothers ahead of me to make sure
the gift you promised is ready. But I want it
to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
Remember this. A farmer who plants only a few
seeds will get a small crop. But the one who
plants generously will get a generous crop. You
must each decide in your heart how much to give.
And don't give reluctantly or in response to
pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
And God will generously provide all you need.
Then you will always have everything you need
and plenty left over to share with others. As
the scriptures say, they share freely and give
generously to the poor. Their good deeds will
be remembered forever. For God is the one who
provides seed for the farmer and then bread to
eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase
your resources and then produce a great harvest
of generosity in you. And yes, you will be enriched
in every way so that you can always be generous.
And when we take your gifts to those who need
them, they will thank God. So two good things
will result from the ministry of giving. The
needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met,
which is great. But then they will joyfully express
their thanks to God, which is great. Their hearts
will be pointed to God in gratitude. As a result
of your ministry, they will give glory to God
for your generosity to them. And to all believers
will prove that you are obedient to the good
news. Of Christ. And that. Is the end. Oh sorry.
This is the last part. The final outcome. They
will pray for you. With deep affection. Because
of the overflowing grace. God has given to you.
Thank God for his gift. Two wonderful words.
And here with this section. He describes how
the heart of a follower of Jesus is characterized
by generosity. It's like you are not attached
to the things. You know that you are simply an
administrator of them. And when God says, I want
you to bless, then you bless. But generosity
is a tricky thing. It's not a mathematical formula.
What do I mean? Let me do this test. I called
it the M &M test. I first did it in Dallas a
few years ago. I did it here at ECB maybe two
years ago. If you've never seen the M &M test,
let's see how it goes. I have 10 M &Ms. And you
have to tell me if I'm being generous or not,
okay? So, you ask me for M &M? I have 10. I said,
sure. Here. Am I generous? Hey, that's my M &M.
At least I'm giving you half of it. You don't
deserve it. So on top of that, you're entitled,
huh? Okay. Well, if you don't think that's generous,
how about this one? Okay, here. But don't ask
me for more because these are mine. Like precious.
I've been watching the Lord of the Rings. So,
is that generous? Wow, you're really entitled.
Let's try this one. Okay. At least two. Can we
end it there? Because I really want my M &S.
Am I being generous? Now you're not sure. Maybe
you're not sure. How about that? I give you three,
I keep seven. Am I being generous? Yeah, maybe
now. A little bit better. You realize how generous
is not an equation? But you definitely know when
you're not being generous. You know what not
generous looks like. You may not know what generous
looks like, but not generous is really not generous.
And God says, look, I want you to be generous.
Generosity is the way of life for us. Because
everything we have is His. We are administering
them. By the way, that's why when we talk about
our Christian walk and as we serve in the church
ministry, some people talk about, well, tithing.
Tithing is like, The New Testament goes beyond
tithing and says be generous. Because tithing
is one M &M out of the ten. And you told me that's
not generous. But what happens is that generosity
therefore is an attitude, it's a way of life.
And God wants us to experience that because in
that there's freedom. A couple of years ago I
had the privilege of going on a morning walk
with David Eubank who works with... The Free
Burma Rangers. You know, every time I spent time
with him, I enjoyed just listening to him because
he's a man of deep faith. And one of the things
he told me that morning as we were walking, he
says, you know, Pablo, you can never out give
God. And that stuck with me. You can never out
give God. When you think that you're being generous,
God is watching. And when you're being generous,
God is. Being honored by your heart. You are
not just losing something. If God takes care
of you. And he's calling you to be generous.
Then you cannot out give him. So what happens
therefore. Is that in this passage of Corinthians.
The apostle Paul has basically summarized the
principles. That shape our mindset as Christians.
If we're following Jesus. and he's really our
master, then this is going to be true of us.
First, conviction, God is our provider. Rather
than thinking that this is my money, I realize
this is God's money. I am just someone who is
managing it. So God is the provider of everything
I have. Second conviction, God wants us to be
generous. So if I'm thinking, well, I make more
to accumulate more. No. You make more so that
you can be generous and bless others through
the means that God provides for us. God will
always bless me so I can always have enough to
always be generous. Third one, God will take
care of us. If I think, well, you know, giving
money is wasted money. This is what this guy
in the car with me in Mexico City was feeling
and thinking. Why are you going to waste all
the money on that man? No. Giving money in the
kingdom is never wasting money. God will take
care of us and we take care of others. That's
the way it is. That's what Jesus told us. Fourth,
we give so people will praise God. We no longer
think like, oh, I'm giving you so that you will
like me. Or I'm giving you so you will owe me
a favor. Because in giving you, that's my security
for the future. That's what pagans do. We give
without any strings attached. Because we know
that when people are blessed by God's blessing,
their hearts will be turned to God. And God is
the one they need. And the final conviction is
that God loves a cheerful giver. What counts
is not the amount. What counts is the attitude
behind the amount. That's why God says, I love
a cheerful giver, not a whining one. Really?
You want two M &Ms? Okay, here, you know. It's
like, you can keep your M &Ms to yourself. I
don't want any. With that attitude, I'll go abide
myself my own M &Ms. You see, God loves a cheerful
giver. That's a mature Christian. That's a mature
follower of Jesus. These five convictions are
the ones that characterize how we follow the
Lord. Do we have fears? Yes. Do we worry about
the future? Yes. But when we face that, we bring
it at the feet of Christ. Who is our true master.
And then we remember. The birds. And we look
at Pastor Pablo's pictures again. And we say.
God thank you that you care for me more. Than
you care for that bird. And we constantly realign
our hearts. With the Lord. All the time. Generosity.
If you are a person. Who is following Jesus.
But you don't have deep understanding. Of how
to have. a healthy financial life. If finances
are a mess in your life and they are stealing
peace from your heart, I want to encourage you
to have access to any of these studies that we
have in Right Now Media. Right Now Media is a
service of videos and movies and documentaries
and Bible studies that we make available for
free for you. If you already have the account
of Right Now Media, there are all these amazing
studies from very reputable organizations about
financial health from a biblical worldview so
that you can be free to live for the Lord with
finances that are spiritually mature in your
life. So this is something for you to be aware
of that you may build on this study. But before
I conclude this study, Two things. First, as
a way of summary, Jesus tells us you need to
think of finances from the perspective of master.
I'm your master. Finances are not. And if you're
going to seek my kingdom first, then Paul tells
us learn generosity as a way of life because
that is going to keep you healthy. That will
keep money from attaching to you. These two things
shape. how we engage. Second thing, internally,
as a ministry, generosity is the only way that
we have been able to do things for this almost
60 years. Next year will be the 60th anniversary
of ECB. And throughout the generations, God has
used the generosity of people to build the place
we're in here today. The generosity of their
time investing to serve God together. The generosity
of their giftedness to invest their areas of
expertise to serve God together. And the generosity
of their resources and money to be able to afford
things as we serve God together. Generosity has
been the mark of ACB. And I want to formally,
first of all, thank you. For walking in obedience
to God and being generous with these things.
For those of you who work as part of the staff
of ECB. I want to thank you for your generosity.
In fulfilling God's calling and being with us.
Because we know that you could be making a higher
salary somewhere else. But you have chosen to
work here at ECB instead. Thank you for your
generosity. Also. I want to clarify a couple
of things because the ministry that we do that
requires resources is well invested in making
disciples for global impact. And we have a vision
that we are pursuing and we're building this
together as we follow the Lord. And it is true
that this vision requires resources. And every
Sunday, we display something that looks like
this. It's just... For the sake of transparency
that is part of our values as ECB, financial
transparency, this is simply a way of saying,
look, this is how much we thought we were planning
to get this year. This is how much we've gotten.
And those two numbers don't interpret themselves.
So some of you have been concerned, have asked
that, is everything okay? You know, do I need
to know anything? So I want to clarify this.
First of all, We're not bankrupt, so don't worry
about that part. We're not on the red. Don't
worry about that part. What does this mean? Well,
let me explain a couple of thoughts. First, every
year, the leadership team with the elders and
the financial team, they have to make a projection
for the following year based on our vision and
the strategies that we are pursuing. What are
our ministry priorities? So from last year to
this year, there was a budget. We said this is
how much we expect that we will spend. It's so
hot that the budget from the previous year to
this one was about 13 % higher. Because of all
the ecosystems, all the things that we were going
to be doing. There were pastoral transitions.
Pastor Rene was going to leave. So we knew it
was going to be some extra cost. But it was a
calculated risk. What the eldership thought.
Was we know 13 % increase is high. But if for
some reason God doesn't provide all those resources.
Then we will go through our reserves to cover
the difference. And God will use that as his
provision. That was the way of calculating the
potential change in budget. So that's what we
budgeted. And that's what then we thought we
were going to spend this year. Pretty much the
same, of course, right? The budget. But then
comes the reality. How much money did come in?
This is from the third quarter, meaning the end
of September. So October, November has not been
included in this space. So compared to what we
thought we were going to get, this is how much
we got instead. Now, that would be a problem
if we decide to anyway spend all the money anyway.
Well, that's not how we operate. There's an amazing
financial team. an amazing financial committee
of people that are very well versed on finances.
And therefore we serve together, which by the
way, as a pastor, we separate finances here at
ECB. We want to protect the integrity of the
ministry. So pastors have nothing to do with
finances. We don't manage any money. We do not
who gives what. That's not for them. By the financial
team and the elders, yes. So therefore, We have
spent controlled spending, which means that if
you look at it this way, we receive this much,
we spend this much, we have this little that
we have not yet spent. And what typically happens
in the U .S., it was like that, ECB historically
has been the same, is that the budgets tend to
balance themselves by the end of the year. November,
December tend to be strong months, and then it
goes like that. Leading from this place, there's
a couple of things that are very clear. We have
to be financially responsible so we cannot spend
more than what we have. But at the same time,
we are vision driven. And because there's a vision
that God has given us that we are pursuing, we
believe in order to accomplish it, we need so
many resources. And we trust that if this vision
is from God, he will provide what we need. So
there's trust in that space. There's peace in
that space. And it's important for you to hear
that from us. There's another question that people
have asked us as they understand how these things
are working. And that is, well, Pastor Pablo,
how can I support? How can I give? You can find
all this information on our website. But if you
want to partake with what God is doing here at
ECB, if you want to participate in our mission
of making global disciples, disciples for global
impact, then the system is built for being smooth.
First, it doesn't matter where in the world you
are, you can make a direct transfer to our bank
account at ECB, no matter what currency you are
sending it from. If you are in that position
that you want to transfer from an account in
another country directly into our account, this
is what you do. This is the bank information
for ECB. Secondly, if you are locally here in
Thailand, you say, you know, I have Thai bank
accounts, everything, that's even easier. Get
your phone, scan the QR code, just like you do
when you go to the restaurant, you know, I'm
paying with the QR code. Same thing, just scan
that QR code, and you can give directly to the
Ministry of ECB. Thirdly, if you are in the U
.S. or you are from the U .S. and you say, Pastor
Pablo, I would love to support, but can I get
the tax exemption? Yes, you can. Because ECB
is part of the CMA ministry in the U .S. CMA,
the Christian Missionary Alliance, is an international
organization. It's a non -profit organization.
And you can give directly through them to ECB.
And for that, you simply follow that link in
the CMA website and gives you direct access to
be able to donate to us. And therefore, then
you get the tax deductible receipt from CMA directly.
These are ways that have been created for you
to be able to participate in this space with
us. If God has blessed you this year. If you
are one of our ACBers who lives in other countries
and you follow us and God has used the word to
bless you, would you bless this ministry by participating
with us financially as well? But there's something
that was my conviction all of these years and
has never ceased to be true. When God is leading
us, he will always provide what we need by the
time we need it. That's the way it works. So
in our hearts, there's zero concerns. And I want
to make sure that in your heart, there's also
zero concern. Just faithfulness will continue
to be generous and continue building to the next
and the next and the next generation. So God
can use CCB for his purposes. So with that clarification,
now we have understood what Jesus said, what
the Apostle Paul said. How our finances were
never meant to be compartmentalized. They were
meant to be part of our Christian experience.
And therefore, I want to conclude this study
with simply asking you, who is your master? If
you are experiencing anxiety and fear and you're
being controlling, maybe we know the answer.
But if what you want is the peace and assurance
from the Lord, May you bring your fears and concerns
to the Lord today in his presence. I want to
invite you to close your eyes where you are.
Close your eyes. If you've been functioning thinking
that you are here to make a living rather than
to make an impact, ask the Lord to reframe your
heart. Invite him to use you beyond what you
could ever understand or imagine. And if fear
has been crippling you this week, has robbed
you from peace, confess it before the Lord today
in his presence. Leave it at his feet. You are
more valuable than the birds. Lord, Thank you
for taking the time to say these words to us.
We needed to hear so badly. We love you, Lord.
And we want to learn what it's like to see your
kingdom first and to experience your peace and
assurance where fear cannot sneak in. because
our relationship with you is so tight. But I
ask you, Lord, in Jesus' name, let the fears
that have crippled in, that have brought lack
of peace in the heart, be brought to the light
today and be broken in your presence so your
peace is what governs our hearts in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for tuning in to the ECB Sermon Podcast.
Whether near or far, if you are looking for community
or are in need of prayer, we welcome you to engage
by sending us an email to If God is calling you
to support our ministries, you will find giving
options on our website. And remember to join
us next week. God bless you.