WEBVTT 00:00:09.449 --> 00:00:14.289 Welcome to ECB's weekly sermon podcast. ECB is 00:00:14.289 --> 00:00:16.589 an international church in Bangkok, Thailand, 00:00:16.769 --> 00:00:19.789 with dozens of nationalities worshiping together. 00:00:20.129 --> 00:00:22.989 We invite you to connect with us from wherever 00:00:22.989 --> 00:00:27.210 you are through our website ecb .asia or our 00:00:27.210 --> 00:00:31.050 mobile app. And now we pray that you are blessed 00:00:31.050 --> 00:00:36.009 by this week's sermon. We have explained before 00:00:36.009 --> 00:00:40.090 that at ECB, Our mission is to make disciples 00:00:40.090 --> 00:00:43.369 for global impact. People that are following 00:00:43.369 --> 00:00:46.789 the Lord, loving the Lord, living for the Lord. 00:00:47.490 --> 00:00:50.630 And one thing that separates a Christian who 00:00:50.630 --> 00:00:54.289 is not mature, not really committed to Christ, 00:00:54.329 --> 00:00:58.590 is that they compartmentalize their Christianity. 00:00:59.070 --> 00:01:02.229 There are Christians on Sunday here at church, 00:01:02.329 --> 00:01:05.250 but during the week... The relationships, the 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:07.810 way they live, all of these things are different. 00:01:09.170 --> 00:01:13.250 We believe at ECB that something that marks the 00:01:13.250 --> 00:01:16.150 life of a follower of Jesus is that Jesus is 00:01:16.150 --> 00:01:19.310 not compartmentalized. We experience Jesus in 00:01:19.310 --> 00:01:24.590 all of life. And Jesus is the core of who we 00:01:24.590 --> 00:01:27.769 are. And that's why this series has explored 00:01:27.769 --> 00:01:31.329 three different areas in which we want to make 00:01:31.329 --> 00:01:34.370 sure we're not compartmentalizing. Our following 00:01:34.370 --> 00:01:37.930 Jesus. The first one was to understand that God 00:01:37.930 --> 00:01:42.709 wants us to experience this aroma of Christ in 00:01:42.709 --> 00:01:47.209 our careers. And therefore our careers are an 00:01:47.209 --> 00:01:49.849 opportunity for us to be the salt and the light 00:01:49.849 --> 00:01:55.230 of the world. We also learn that we want our 00:01:55.230 --> 00:01:58.090 relationships to be marked by the presence of 00:01:58.090 --> 00:02:02.180 Jesus. Any relationship but in spirit. special 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:04.920 focus, our homes, our marriages, our parenting, 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:09.759 that Jesus is really sitting at the center of 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.419 our homes. We don't want to compartmentalize 00:02:13.419 --> 00:02:17.000 our relationships, but Jesus to define them. 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:20.520 And today we are going to be talking about how 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:23.479 we want Jesus to be the center of our finances, 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:26.099 that we do not compartmentalize our financial 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:29.199 life from our following Jesus, but we realize 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:33.439 that they are one and the same. One time I heard 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:36.699 a friend say that the last part of his life that 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:39.939 converted to Christ was his wallet. And what 00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:43.780 he meant was that the tendency that we have is 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:46.120 to follow Jesus in all of these things, but there's 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:49.319 something about our finances that somehow is 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:52.460 much easier to compartmentalize, to separate, 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:55.919 and to give space to think differently about 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:58.439 that. Well, today we will learn that Jesus... 00:02:58.969 --> 00:03:01.270 Does not want us to have space to think differently 00:03:01.270 --> 00:03:04.889 about it. Because he wants us to follow him with 00:03:04.889 --> 00:03:07.129 not only everything we are but everything we 00:03:07.129 --> 00:03:13.050 have. And that's why in Matthew chapter 6 he 00:03:13.050 --> 00:03:18.330 addresses this at the core. Matthew 6 is part 00:03:18.330 --> 00:03:20.750 of the Sermon on the Mount. And he's addressing 00:03:20.750 --> 00:03:24.129 several things about how the kingdom of God works. 00:03:24.250 --> 00:03:28.939 And how following Jesus works. We will learn 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:31.520 about what Jesus says about these core motives. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:35.680 But then we will also learn from the Apostle 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:39.620 Paul who wrote to 2 Corinthians chapter 9 to 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:43.479 the Christians in Corinth to tell them how they 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:47.280 need to think about finances and generosity because 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.580 these two passages, Matthew 6 and also 2 Corinthians 00:03:51.580 --> 00:03:57.180 chapter 9, form the... of a mature Christian 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:00.539 as this financial aspect of our lives is aligned 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:05.379 with following God. So we start with Matthew 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:10.780 chapter 6. And this is Jesus himself speaking 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:25.410 to us. Pablo, no one can serve two masters. For 00:04:25.410 --> 00:04:30.269 you will hate one and love the other. You will 00:04:30.269 --> 00:04:35.329 be devoted to one and then despise the other. 00:04:36.709 --> 00:04:42.449 Pablo, you cannot serve God and be enslaved to 00:04:42.449 --> 00:04:48.649 money. This is why I tell you not to worry about 00:04:48.649 --> 00:04:53.670 everyday life. Whether you have enough. Food 00:04:53.670 --> 00:04:58.889 and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life 00:04:58.889 --> 00:05:04.029 more than food? And your body more than clothing? 00:05:05.769 --> 00:05:11.629 Pablo, look at the birds. They don't plant or 00:05:11.629 --> 00:05:16.009 harvest or store food in barns. For your heavenly 00:05:16.009 --> 00:05:22.050 father feeds them. Aren't you far more valuable? 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:28.740 To him than they are. Can all your worries. Add 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:33.480 a single moment. To your life. And why worry 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:37.480 about your clothing. Look at the lilies of the 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:42.439 field. How they grow. They don't work or make 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:46.040 their clothing. Yet Solomon in all his glory. 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:50.699 Was not dressed as beautifully. As they are. 00:05:52.009 --> 00:05:56.069 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers 00:05:56.069 --> 00:05:59.170 that are here today and thrown into the fire 00:05:59.170 --> 00:06:06.089 tomorrow, Pablo, he will certainly care for you. 00:06:09.110 --> 00:06:14.550 Why do you have so little faith? Don't worry 00:06:14.550 --> 00:06:19.990 about these things. Saying, why will we eat? 00:06:20.509 --> 00:06:25.329 Why will we drink? Why will we wear? These things 00:06:25.329 --> 00:06:30.209 dominate the thoughts of the unbelievers. But 00:06:30.209 --> 00:06:38.649 you, you know me. You follow me. Your heavenly 00:06:38.649 --> 00:06:45.089 father already knows all your needs. Pablo, seek 00:06:45.089 --> 00:06:50.370 the kingdom of God above all else. And live righteously. 00:06:51.250 --> 00:06:55.949 And he will give you everything you need. So 00:06:55.949 --> 00:06:59.269 don't worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will 00:06:59.269 --> 00:07:04.569 bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough 00:07:04.569 --> 00:07:10.490 for today. And that is the end of this section. 00:07:10.889 --> 00:07:13.529 If you've never read the entire Sermon on the 00:07:13.529 --> 00:07:16.689 Mount. I encourage you to go back home and read 00:07:16.689 --> 00:07:20.089 the entire section. It touches so many aspects 00:07:20.089 --> 00:07:23.629 of our life, but here it reaches the climax to 00:07:23.629 --> 00:07:27.490 tell us that at the core, following Jesus is 00:07:27.490 --> 00:07:32.329 about a pursuit that completely separates us 00:07:32.329 --> 00:07:36.870 from the pursuit of the world. Jesus does not 00:07:36.870 --> 00:07:42.129 say that you do not need resources, that you 00:07:42.129 --> 00:07:45.189 need to be poor, and if you're going to follow 00:07:45.189 --> 00:07:47.889 him, You should not have abundance of any sort. 00:07:48.370 --> 00:07:52.709 It does not tell us that working for a salary 00:07:52.709 --> 00:07:56.589 is not what Christians do, that money somehow 00:07:56.589 --> 00:08:03.449 is evil. However, it does tell us that money 00:08:03.449 --> 00:08:10.689 was never meant to turn into your master. It 00:08:10.689 --> 00:08:17.000 was never to be... The goal of your life. That's 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.199 why he says. I want you to think of finances. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:26.800 And money. As a master. You either have me as 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:29.959 your master. Or you have money as your master. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:33.639 But they cannot be. The purpose of your life 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:35.620 at the same time. Because they are not compatible. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:41.659 And I'm going to tell you why. If money is your 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:48.320 master. Then the goal of your life is going to 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:52.440 be to have more. And to work so that you can 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:55.059 make a living. To work so that you can have a 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:58.360 paycheck. To work so that you can have a secure 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:02.659 future. One time a person asked that question. 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:08.840 How much can a person be satisfied? And as this 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.740 person was thinking of the answer. Suddenly came 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:18.840 to the mind. With a little bit more. That is 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:21.600 how much it takes for a person to be satisfied. 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:24.879 A little bit more. Ah, nice. But if you could 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.259 have a little bit more, that would be great. 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:29.419 Here. Oh, that's great. But if you could have 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:30.919 a little bit more, that would be even better. 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:37.120 And so it goes. The goal of a life that does 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.480 not have Jesus as the master, but money is the 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.830 master. It's going to live always to have more 00:09:44.830 --> 00:09:47.509 and accumulate more. And that is how the world 00:09:47.509 --> 00:09:52.590 works. And especially if you are working as a 00:09:52.590 --> 00:09:55.870 follower of Jesus in a company that is revising 00:09:55.870 --> 00:09:58.529 the numbers every year. We have to do better 00:09:58.529 --> 00:10:01.389 than last year. So now our goal is higher. And 00:10:01.389 --> 00:10:04.929 the goal is to always make more. You are in that 00:10:04.929 --> 00:10:09.870 space. And that's understandable. Because they 00:10:09.870 --> 00:10:12.460 are not functioning. With the mindset of Christ. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:17.399 But you are there. For much more than just making 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:20.899 money. And this is what. Something that Jesus 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:24.799 is going to make very clear. But as I have this 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:29.100 goal. Of making more. Then what happens. Is that. 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:35.940 My deepest motive. Or my driver. Is fear. Because 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:41.590 I'm constantly. Pursuing. Something about the 00:10:41.590 --> 00:10:45.529 future that is not there yet. And if I have come 00:10:45.529 --> 00:10:48.789 from a background in which I lacked financially. 00:10:48.950 --> 00:10:52.669 I was poor. And I had to suffer because of lack 00:10:52.669 --> 00:10:57.289 of financial stability. Then my drive to make 00:10:57.289 --> 00:11:00.809 sure that that never happens again. Is fear. 00:11:02.149 --> 00:11:06.360 And the problem with fear. As a driver. That 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.179 gives me an outcome. And the outcome is that 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:13.700 I have become a controlling person. I have to 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:16.840 control the outcome. Not God. I have to control 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:20.340 it. Because money is my security for my future. 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:24.860 Therefore I'm always stressing out. And I always 00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:27.879 want to make sure. That things are alright. Because 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.740 if they are not. Then my future will not be secure. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:34.779 And the problem is. That to be married to a controlling 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:39.559 person is a pain. Or to be working for a boss 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:44.820 that is controlling. Is a pain. No one wants 00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:47.860 to be married to you. No one wants to work for 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:50.960 your team. Because a person who is fearful and 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:54.120 controlling. And is always looking at the goal 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:56.580 of making more and more and more. As the goal 00:11:56.580 --> 00:12:01.059 of life. Is not a person that is living in peace. 00:12:01.690 --> 00:12:11.690 And joy. Jesus says, Pablo, I know you need money. 00:12:11.990 --> 00:12:14.929 I know you need to acquire things. I know you 00:12:14.929 --> 00:12:22.830 have needs. But that is not the way. For you, 00:12:22.830 --> 00:12:25.049 it's going to be something completely different. 00:12:25.649 --> 00:12:29.629 You have to make sure that I am your master. 00:12:30.830 --> 00:12:34.330 Not money. Because let me tell you how this operates. 00:12:35.110 --> 00:12:40.029 When this is your master. And now fear becomes 00:12:40.029 --> 00:12:44.690 your controlling force. You are living all of 00:12:44.690 --> 00:12:50.370 your life with lack of peace. And you notice 00:12:50.370 --> 00:12:55.730 Jesus asks very pointed questions. And I picture 00:12:55.730 --> 00:12:58.679 myself like you see. Sometimes in the movies, 00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:00.779 you know, the guy goes to the psychiatrist and 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:03.480 he's sitting down in this nice sofa lying down. 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:06.500 And there's the person next to them. I don't 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:08.019 do that in my office. I don't have the space 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:12.200 for that, you know, but. It's like I'm lying 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:15.759 down there and Jesus is sitting there. It's as 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:21.940 probabilistic. Let me ask you a couple of questions. 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:26.700 Isn't life more than food and. Your body more 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:37.700 than clothing? Yes. Yes, Lord. Good. Aren't you 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:43.299 far more valuable to God than the birds? Yeah. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:50.580 I think so. Yes, Lord. Can all your worries add 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:56.700 a single moment to your life? No. They can't. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:06.320 Then why worry about your clothing? I don't know. 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:16.440 I just do. Why do you have so little faith? Is 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:23.519 this session over yet? I don't know. It's just 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:27.480 like I know it here. But it doesn't translate 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:31.519 here. I want to know it here and here, if you 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:42.779 know what I mean. Pablo, look at the birds. End 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:46.899 of the session. Next time we meet, you will bring 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:53.919 me your pictures. Look at the birds. Because 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:57.000 there's something, That you have to understand. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:15:02.240 Every time that you look at those birds. And 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.899 if you know it here but not here. You need to 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:09.379 take more pictures. Because you have to understand. 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:13.960 That God who created that beautiful creature. 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:18.100 With intricate details. And takes care of that 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:22.860 bird. Every morning when that bird sings. And 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:25.929 then starts the day. trying to figure out where 00:15:25.929 --> 00:15:28.990 the food is going to be, always finds the food, 00:15:29.009 --> 00:15:33.750 and always goes back to bed happy. Wakes up the 00:15:33.750 --> 00:15:37.110 next morning, singing again, and then the new 00:15:37.110 --> 00:15:39.789 day begins. Do you know who takes care of that 00:15:39.789 --> 00:15:45.429 bird? And do you know who takes care of you? 00:15:47.210 --> 00:15:49.629 And do you know that you are more valuable than 00:15:49.629 --> 00:15:56.899 that bird? It's interesting that when we talk 00:15:56.899 --> 00:16:00.799 about finances and fear, they often go hand in 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:04.480 hand. I remember that some of the moments in 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.620 which I have wrestled with my following Jesus 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:10.500 the most was not because of the place he was 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:14.580 leading me to. It was because of the financial 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:19.440 implications. And you do the math and you think 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.820 about this and that and the what ifs. And I remember 00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:29.769 particularly. that as we were in Dallas before 00:16:29.769 --> 00:16:32.509 the transition here, it so coincided that my 00:16:32.509 --> 00:16:34.669 oldest son was finishing high school. He was 00:16:34.669 --> 00:16:37.450 turning 18, finishing high school, starting college. 00:16:38.769 --> 00:16:41.330 And it's the same time that God was calling us 00:16:41.330 --> 00:16:44.149 to come to Thailand. So as he moved to college, 00:16:44.169 --> 00:16:48.070 to Oregon at George Fox University, we moved 00:16:48.070 --> 00:16:52.350 to Bangkok at ECB. Like, perfect timing. But 00:16:52.350 --> 00:16:54.490 for those of you that entered that season of 00:16:54.490 --> 00:16:58.820 parenting, You know, what are the fears that 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:05.519 we wrestle with? And in that space, I had to 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:09.079 learn and I have to remember that there's something 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.220 that God has told me. It's actually a command. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:17.720 Look at the birds. So it's something that for 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:20.700 some reason I started looking at more and more 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:24.859 in detail. It's almost like for me, I encountered 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:27.460 God as creator through nature. Since I was a 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:29.680 little kid, I loved watching those nature shows. 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:35.319 So when BBC came with BBC Earth and these shows 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:38.619 on planet Earth, I was the first one to buy the 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:42.400 Blu -rays on high definition, you know. I wanted 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:46.099 to watch all these things. God gave me a passion 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:48.240 for photography since I was young, since I was 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:50.079 little, you know. The first camera was this very 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:52.779 basic one. One moved to the next and then to 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:56.279 the next and to the next until I got to Nike. 00:17:56.599 --> 00:18:03.559 Sorry, no cannon. And I started looking at the 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:07.619 birds. Last time I was in Texas taking a break, 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:10.559 I was visiting my mother -in -law. She lives 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:14.799 in six acres of land in a town called Aledo in 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:18.740 the area of Fort Worth. And it's beautiful because 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:23.539 it's just surrounded by trees and birds and things. 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:25.900 And I remember that last Sunday I was there. 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:29.759 I thought I was by myself at that time. I thought, 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.480 you know, which church do I go to today? And 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:37.339 for some reason, it's like... What I want is 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:40.660 to encounter God, not to go to church per se. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.779 I want to encounter God. And I realized at that 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:45.460 moment, in that morning, that if I went to church, 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:47.880 I could not turn off the pastor brain. The pastor 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.319 brain, when you go to visit a new church, you 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.880 walk on campus and you're like, oh, that's a 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.920 nice idea. Oh, that's good. And the worship begins 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:57.200 like, oh, that's a nice, we should include that 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:00.579 song in our church. And you are always evaluating, 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:03.519 analyzing everything. You cannot turn that off. 00:19:06.569 --> 00:19:08.490 So that day, I thought, you know what? I'm not 00:19:08.490 --> 00:19:11.769 going to go to church. I want to spend time alone 00:19:11.769 --> 00:19:14.950 with the Lord. And I got up, took my camera, 00:19:15.049 --> 00:19:20.009 and started walking. And suddenly, I noticed 00:19:20.009 --> 00:19:25.210 these little birds. It was a nest. And there 00:19:25.210 --> 00:19:28.609 were the father and the mother right there. They 00:19:28.609 --> 00:19:31.829 make this specific noise, specific sound. And 00:19:31.829 --> 00:19:34.670 I noticed it. And they were both very cautious. 00:19:35.630 --> 00:19:39.269 And then I saw the nest. So I spent the next 00:19:39.269 --> 00:19:43.690 couple of days climbing on the ladder, making 00:19:43.690 --> 00:19:47.769 a hole in the tree so I could have direct access 00:19:47.769 --> 00:19:51.670 to the right angle. And I know, for my friends 00:19:51.670 --> 00:19:54.289 who are photographers like me, you have a question 00:19:54.289 --> 00:19:57.269 for me. Where's the camera? Where's the lens? 00:19:57.890 --> 00:20:02.589 So I brought it for you to see. This is my baby. 00:20:03.190 --> 00:20:08.009 Okay. And it's heavy, huh? So that's why I don't 00:20:08.009 --> 00:20:12.809 go to the gym. This is kind of like enough. But 00:20:12.809 --> 00:20:14.690 people love the pictures. They don't love going 00:20:14.690 --> 00:20:16.509 with me to take pictures because it takes forever, 00:20:16.650 --> 00:20:23.710 you know? But so it was. The cardinals, the mother 00:20:23.710 --> 00:20:29.410 coming to feed the babies, the dad coming to 00:20:29.410 --> 00:20:36.059 feed the babies, and God gave me front row. And 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:38.940 for me that means so much, not just a lot of 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:43.940 nature, but as a father. The provision for your 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:48.859 home, for your family, for their future. The 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:51.640 provision for retirement, the provision for the 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:53.559 schooling, the provision for education. All of 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:56.839 these things, as a father, are the things that 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:59.339 go to mind and that you constantly have to bring 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:03.160 to the Lord. And God says, Pablo, look at the 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:07.759 birds. Look at the dad taking care of the babies. 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:11.279 And you know who takes care of the bird? I do. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:15.140 And the cardinal is a beautiful picture because 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:20.839 it's so red. You know, that's the male. But then 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:23.460 I saw a bird that is not a bird you capture here 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:26.319 in Asia because we only have it in the Americas. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:30.720 It's called the hummingbird. It's a beautiful 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:34.380 small bird that flies like... Crazy, so fast 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:36.759 that it's very hard to ever take a picture of 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:40.720 it. So there I was, waiting for it, and there 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:45.519 it came. Feeding. Everything is there at the 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:50.859 right time. And so it was. If you have watched 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:56.460 the cartoons of these beep -beep, the roadrunner, 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:59.579 you know, this is the actual roadrunner. We have 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:04.009 it in Texas, too. Feeding. It's babies, they 00:22:04.009 --> 00:22:06.210 had a nest, and they are very cautious as they 00:22:06.210 --> 00:22:08.829 approach the nest before they go into the tree. 00:22:11.549 --> 00:22:19.809 And the birds kept coming. Pablo, look at the 00:22:19.809 --> 00:22:24.829 birds. Here in Thailand, beautiful, beautiful 00:22:24.829 --> 00:22:30.609 birds. National parks everywhere. And they come. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:36.259 And they feed. And they fly. And they take care 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:39.799 of their babies. I've seen them get the worms. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:43.880 I've seen them get the fish. I've seen them get 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:50.140 the food. There they are. And who made them? 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:55.799 And who takes care of them? When I went to the 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:59.619 pyramids in Mexico City, amazing architecture. 00:23:00.430 --> 00:23:02.849 But there was the bird flying. And my camera 00:23:02.849 --> 00:23:06.750 went to the bird. Because the bird is flying 00:23:06.750 --> 00:23:13.470 to look for the food. This was in Oregon in the 00:23:13.470 --> 00:23:17.569 north of the U .S. 5 .30 in the morning when 00:23:17.569 --> 00:23:20.250 the hummingbird comes to feed. Have breakfast. 00:23:22.690 --> 00:23:28.990 Look at the birds. Because when you look at the 00:23:28.990 --> 00:23:34.130 birds. you will remember that your future is 00:23:34.130 --> 00:23:39.289 secure in the one who cares for you more than 00:23:39.289 --> 00:23:51.049 he cares for the birds. I need that. I need to 00:23:51.049 --> 00:23:55.490 remember. Because God has called me to follow 00:23:55.490 --> 00:23:59.069 him and to follow him means that I have to make 00:23:59.069 --> 00:24:03.069 him my master, not these other things. Because 00:24:03.069 --> 00:24:07.309 he does not call me to live in fear, but to live 00:24:07.309 --> 00:24:09.430 in peace and to let the aroma of Christ flow 00:24:09.430 --> 00:24:15.329 through me, not fear flow through me. Because 00:24:15.329 --> 00:24:17.829 when Jesus is our master, it's a whole different 00:24:17.829 --> 00:24:21.640 picture altogether. The goal is no longer to 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:24.700 have more. The goal is to love more. To love 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:28.440 God more. To love people with His love more. 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:32.259 To reach out more people with the love of Christ. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:37.380 Our goal is to love more. And the drive is not 00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:41.319 fear, but faith. It's trust in knowing that God 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:44.920 knows me. He designed me. He brought me to this 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:48.650 time. To the earth for this very purpose. He 00:24:48.650 --> 00:24:51.130 has purposes for me. And he's going to position 00:24:51.130 --> 00:24:53.910 me. Always at the right time. At the right place. 00:24:54.130 --> 00:24:57.589 Whether for a short term or a long term. I can 00:24:57.589 --> 00:25:00.869 trust him with my needs. And my future. Because 00:25:00.869 --> 00:25:03.789 I know his heart. I may not know the circumstances. 00:25:04.190 --> 00:25:07.849 But I know his heart. And therefore trust drives 00:25:07.849 --> 00:25:12.589 us. And therefore the outcome. Is not controlling. 00:25:13.190 --> 00:25:18.700 I cannot control. Anything. God is the one that 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.960 is sovereign. And he is the one that is in control. 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:26.380 I'm just called to obey. And obey I can. And 00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:29.339 as I obey him. And as I follow him. He takes 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:33.059 care of the future. And he did call me. I realize. 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:37.319 Not to make a living. But to make an impact. 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:42.859 And therefore. As we follow Jesus. And he is 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:46.759 our king. He is our master. And we live to pursue 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:50.259 his kingdom first. Whether he called you to be 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:53.019 a medical doctor. Whether he called you to finance. 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:55.279 Whether he called you to lead a non -profit. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:58.259 It doesn't matter what he had called you for. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:04.329 He positioned you. Not. To make a living there. 00:26:04.450 --> 00:26:07.450 He positioned you to make an impact there. He 00:26:07.450 --> 00:26:10.150 has you there to make a difference in the lives 00:26:10.150 --> 00:26:13.829 of people. And in generating ideas and innovation. 00:26:13.890 --> 00:26:16.009 New things that are going to make a difference 00:26:16.009 --> 00:26:19.509 later. Everything that you are. Every gift that 00:26:19.509 --> 00:26:22.450 you have. No matter the field that God has gifted 00:26:22.450 --> 00:26:24.910 you or called you for. It's something that he 00:26:24.910 --> 00:26:29.289 intends to use. For the impact of his kingdom. 00:26:31.049 --> 00:26:35.289 And that changes everything. Because now I realize 00:26:35.289 --> 00:26:39.069 that any need I have, I have to turn it to Christ 00:26:39.069 --> 00:26:43.970 first. That is where my fear ends. That is where 00:26:43.970 --> 00:26:50.710 my fear dies, at the feet of Jesus. So when you 00:26:50.710 --> 00:26:55.619 go back next day to work, And you look at what's 00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:58.240 happening. And you are in those meetings. Remember 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.599 that the people that you may be working with. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:04.240 They do not know the Lord. Money is their master. 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:08.660 They do not know peace. But you know Jesus. He 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:11.359 is your master. And you have the peace of the 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:14.819 Holy Spirit in you. And you can be assured that 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:17.779 the future is going to be okay. And now you rest 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:23.230 in Him. That's how this differs. Complete different 00:27:23.230 --> 00:27:26.609 ways of experiencing life and going through life 00:27:26.609 --> 00:27:34.230 together. And that's why Jesus takes this time 00:27:34.230 --> 00:27:40.410 to tell us, look, I want you to trust your needs 00:27:40.410 --> 00:27:49.069 to my care. And then live your life simply for 00:27:49.069 --> 00:27:54.390 me. Follow me. And in that space, we can do that. 00:27:55.289 --> 00:27:58.349 The problem is that many of us take these two 00:27:58.349 --> 00:28:01.609 things and we put them in the wrong order. We 00:28:01.609 --> 00:28:04.910 think that money and financial security is the 00:28:04.910 --> 00:28:08.710 means, is the goal. God is just the means for 00:28:08.710 --> 00:28:11.549 it. So God, if I do this for you, you will do 00:28:11.549 --> 00:28:15.150 this for me, right? God, if I go to church and 00:28:15.150 --> 00:28:17.609 I do these things, you will do this for me, right? 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:21.759 And then you listen to a YouTube video or a radio 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:24.180 program where there's this so -called prosperity 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:28.079 theology. Which is a theological cancer that 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:30.799 has permeated many churches around the globe. 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:35.799 And the message they tell you is, yeah, give 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:39.640 me your money and God will bless you. Because 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:46.819 God's purpose for you is to be rich. And that 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:50.420 simply reinforces the misconception that the 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:54.819 goal of life is money rather than God. And Jesus 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:58.519 comes and says it's the other way around. My 00:28:58.519 --> 00:29:04.720 kingdom, me, following me is the priority. Money 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:12.039 is just the means. That is how this works. And 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:16.079 to make sure that you do not Twist things around 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:22.220 and become enslaved to money. God has created 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:26.500 something that is very powerful as the antidote 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:29.599 for this. And it's a word called generosity. 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:34.720 Generosity is this idea of a heart that is free 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:41.259 to simply be a channel of God's blessing. I receive 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:44.930 from God. And then when God prompts me to give, 00:29:45.009 --> 00:29:48.690 I give. I am generous with my time. I am generous 00:29:48.690 --> 00:29:51.470 with my giftedness. I am generous with my resources. 00:29:52.130 --> 00:29:55.150 I am a channel. I am not the end of it. I am 00:29:55.150 --> 00:29:58.769 just a channel of it. And therefore, when we 00:29:58.769 --> 00:30:02.250 live freely like that, now God is using us for 00:30:02.250 --> 00:30:08.069 greater kingdom impact altogether. I remember 00:30:08.069 --> 00:30:11.210 one time. I had an experience that wasn't very 00:30:11.210 --> 00:30:14.150 encouraging, but that marked me in this space. 00:30:15.190 --> 00:30:17.630 I was visiting Mexico City during those years 00:30:17.630 --> 00:30:22.329 when I was in college, and I went to the supermarket 00:30:22.329 --> 00:30:26.329 to buy stuff, and I had driven my dad's car at 00:30:26.329 --> 00:30:28.630 that time, so I parked, you know, and in Mexico 00:30:28.630 --> 00:30:31.029 City, what typically they will have in the supermarket, 00:30:31.269 --> 00:30:35.359 it's a guy that is going to direct you. how to 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:37.960 park, you know, and then you park there. And 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:39.680 then after that, they will clean your windows, 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:41.259 everything, while you're at the store, you come 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:45.480 out, and you just give them a tip. And I remember 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:49.359 that that day, I was there, and I thought, oh, 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:51.039 okay, I'm going to give him this coin, you know, 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:54.839 and it was maybe like a dollar or so in American 00:30:54.839 --> 00:31:00.539 currency. And I thought, you know, this is nice. 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:02.259 The guy just cleaned my windows, everything, 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:06.460 just take it, you know. At that moment, there 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:09.059 was a guy, a Christian man sitting next to me, 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:12.359 and he reacted like, of course you're not going 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:15.180 to give him that money. You only have to give 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:18.319 him like 10 cents of a dollar. You don't need 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:21.099 to give him all of that. But his reaction was 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:24.599 something as if I was sinning, as if I was doing 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:28.579 something wrong. Because for him, generosity 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:34.589 was not his way of life. And it felt so cheap. 00:31:35.150 --> 00:31:41.230 It felt so wrong in my spirit that you start 00:31:41.230 --> 00:31:44.809 counting the pennies to bless someone who is 00:31:44.809 --> 00:31:55.170 poor like that. What for? To save 40 cents? The 00:31:55.170 --> 00:31:59.650 Apostle Paul says, look, the way of the kingdom 00:31:59.650 --> 00:32:04.809 is generosity. It's to be free, to bless others 00:32:04.809 --> 00:32:09.309 because God blesses you. And he's going to write 00:32:09.309 --> 00:32:12.769 in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 about it. And he tells 00:32:12.769 --> 00:32:17.049 us here something that's happening because the 00:32:17.049 --> 00:32:19.630 Christians in Jerusalem, they have been persecuted. 00:32:20.109 --> 00:32:22.230 So they spread out throughout the Roman Empire. 00:32:22.529 --> 00:32:25.170 But in the whole region of Judea, there was a 00:32:25.170 --> 00:32:28.759 famine now. So they had a double crisis. They 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:31.180 were being persecuted, but also they had the 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:33.720 famine. So the Apostle Paul started contacting 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:35.660 the churches that they had established throughout 00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:38.640 the years. And they started collecting some resources 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:40.880 from the Christians in those places so that they 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:43.920 could bring money, resources, now to share with 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:47.559 the people in need in Jerusalem. And that's why 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:50.059 when he writes the second letter to the Corinthians 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:53.619 who live in Greece in the city of Corinth. He 00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:55.680 sends a guy called Titus with a couple of other 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:58.799 guys to meet them and collect the resources so 00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:01.220 that they can bring them here to Jerusalem and 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:04.220 share. They had already told the Apostle Paul 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:07.079 before, we want to help. So he writes to them 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:10.640 confirming what they had already talked. And 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:13.480 this is what he says. I'm going to read this 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:16.000 section so you get the feel for the conversation. 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:24.759 I really don't need to write to you about this 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:28.519 ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:33.519 For I know how eager you are to help. And I have 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.940 been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:39.900 you in Greece were ready to send an offering 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:44.259 a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:46.559 stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:49.779 begin giving. But I'm sending these brothers 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:53.980 to be sure. You really are ready, as I have been 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:57.019 telling them, and that your money is all collected. 00:33:57.259 --> 00:34:00.079 I don't want to be wrong in my boasting about 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:03.279 you. It would be embarrassed, not to mention 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:05.819 your own embarrassment, if some Macedonian believers 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:09.300 come with me and found that you weren't ready. 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:14.179 After all, I had told them. So I thought I should 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:16.480 send these brothers ahead of me to make sure 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:21.550 the gift you promised is ready. But I want it 00:34:21.550 --> 00:34:25.750 to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. 00:34:27.730 --> 00:34:32.489 Remember this. A farmer who plants only a few 00:34:32.489 --> 00:34:37.190 seeds will get a small crop. But the one who 00:34:37.190 --> 00:34:42.489 plants generously will get a generous crop. You 00:34:42.489 --> 00:34:45.469 must each decide in your heart how much to give. 00:34:45.550 --> 00:34:47.829 And don't give reluctantly or in response to 00:34:47.829 --> 00:34:51.469 pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 00:34:52.610 --> 00:34:55.590 And God will generously provide all you need. 00:34:55.849 --> 00:34:58.429 Then you will always have everything you need 00:34:58.429 --> 00:35:01.170 and plenty left over to share with others. As 00:35:01.170 --> 00:35:04.369 the scriptures say, they share freely and give 00:35:04.369 --> 00:35:08.070 generously to the poor. Their good deeds will 00:35:08.070 --> 00:35:11.409 be remembered forever. For God is the one who 00:35:11.409 --> 00:35:14.329 provides seed for the farmer and then bread to 00:35:14.329 --> 00:35:17.670 eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase 00:35:17.670 --> 00:35:21.429 your resources and then produce a great harvest 00:35:21.429 --> 00:35:25.250 of generosity in you. And yes, you will be enriched 00:35:25.250 --> 00:35:31.570 in every way so that you can always be generous. 00:35:32.869 --> 00:35:35.789 And when we take your gifts to those who need 00:35:35.789 --> 00:35:40.289 them, they will thank God. So two good things 00:35:40.289 --> 00:35:42.710 will result from the ministry of giving. The 00:35:42.710 --> 00:35:44.989 needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, 00:35:45.190 --> 00:35:49.150 which is great. But then they will joyfully express 00:35:49.150 --> 00:35:53.170 their thanks to God, which is great. Their hearts 00:35:53.170 --> 00:35:58.030 will be pointed to God in gratitude. As a result 00:35:58.030 --> 00:36:01.250 of your ministry, they will give glory to God 00:36:01.250 --> 00:36:04.389 for your generosity to them. And to all believers 00:36:04.389 --> 00:36:08.409 will prove that you are obedient to the good 00:36:08.409 --> 00:36:14.360 news. Of Christ. And that. Is the end. Oh sorry. 00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:20.159 This is the last part. The final outcome. They 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:24.480 will pray for you. With deep affection. Because 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:27.079 of the overflowing grace. God has given to you. 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:31.880 Thank God for his gift. Two wonderful words. 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:37.400 And here with this section. He describes how 00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:40.719 the heart of a follower of Jesus is characterized 00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:45.539 by generosity. It's like you are not attached 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:48.880 to the things. You know that you are simply an 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:52.260 administrator of them. And when God says, I want 00:36:52.260 --> 00:37:00.519 you to bless, then you bless. But generosity 00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:06.139 is a tricky thing. It's not a mathematical formula. 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:10.320 What do I mean? Let me do this test. I called 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:12.900 it the M &M test. I first did it in Dallas a 00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:15.980 few years ago. I did it here at ECB maybe two 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:19.800 years ago. If you've never seen the M &M test, 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:26.780 let's see how it goes. I have 10 M &Ms. And you 00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:28.940 have to tell me if I'm being generous or not, 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:34.630 okay? So, you ask me for M &M? I have 10. I said, 00:37:34.690 --> 00:37:45.170 sure. Here. Am I generous? Hey, that's my M &M. 00:37:45.269 --> 00:37:48.090 At least I'm giving you half of it. You don't 00:37:48.090 --> 00:37:52.570 deserve it. So on top of that, you're entitled, 00:37:52.789 --> 00:37:56.510 huh? Okay. Well, if you don't think that's generous, 00:37:56.809 --> 00:38:02.150 how about this one? Okay, here. But don't ask 00:38:02.150 --> 00:38:05.949 me for more because these are mine. Like precious. 00:38:07.730 --> 00:38:10.110 I've been watching the Lord of the Rings. So, 00:38:10.289 --> 00:38:16.389 is that generous? Wow, you're really entitled. 00:38:16.949 --> 00:38:23.889 Let's try this one. Okay. At least two. Can we 00:38:23.889 --> 00:38:26.090 end it there? Because I really want my M &S. 00:38:27.510 --> 00:38:31.619 Am I being generous? Now you're not sure. Maybe 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:35.940 you're not sure. How about that? I give you three, 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:40.699 I keep seven. Am I being generous? Yeah, maybe 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:46.280 now. A little bit better. You realize how generous 00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:49.659 is not an equation? But you definitely know when 00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:52.119 you're not being generous. You know what not 00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:55.079 generous looks like. You may not know what generous 00:38:55.079 --> 00:38:58.199 looks like, but not generous is really not generous. 00:38:59.690 --> 00:39:02.789 And God says, look, I want you to be generous. 00:39:05.710 --> 00:39:08.829 Generosity is the way of life for us. Because 00:39:08.829 --> 00:39:13.889 everything we have is His. We are administering 00:39:13.889 --> 00:39:21.349 them. By the way, that's why when we talk about 00:39:21.349 --> 00:39:23.610 our Christian walk and as we serve in the church 00:39:23.610 --> 00:39:25.889 ministry, some people talk about, well, tithing. 00:39:26.210 --> 00:39:29.550 Tithing is like, The New Testament goes beyond 00:39:29.550 --> 00:39:33.110 tithing and says be generous. Because tithing 00:39:33.110 --> 00:39:36.130 is one M &M out of the ten. And you told me that's 00:39:36.130 --> 00:39:42.309 not generous. But what happens is that generosity 00:39:42.309 --> 00:39:45.050 therefore is an attitude, it's a way of life. 00:39:45.309 --> 00:39:47.809 And God wants us to experience that because in 00:39:47.809 --> 00:39:52.329 that there's freedom. A couple of years ago I 00:39:52.329 --> 00:39:54.190 had the privilege of going on a morning walk 00:39:54.190 --> 00:39:58.130 with David Eubank who works with... The Free 00:39:58.130 --> 00:40:01.010 Burma Rangers. You know, every time I spent time 00:40:01.010 --> 00:40:03.190 with him, I enjoyed just listening to him because 00:40:03.190 --> 00:40:07.570 he's a man of deep faith. And one of the things 00:40:07.570 --> 00:40:09.429 he told me that morning as we were walking, he 00:40:09.429 --> 00:40:12.090 says, you know, Pablo, you can never out give 00:40:12.090 --> 00:40:17.449 God. And that stuck with me. You can never out 00:40:17.449 --> 00:40:20.670 give God. When you think that you're being generous, 00:40:20.809 --> 00:40:23.849 God is watching. And when you're being generous, 00:40:23.909 --> 00:40:28.739 God is. Being honored by your heart. You are 00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:34.039 not just losing something. If God takes care 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:37.099 of you. And he's calling you to be generous. 00:40:38.460 --> 00:40:43.719 Then you cannot out give him. So what happens 00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:46.219 therefore. Is that in this passage of Corinthians. 00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:49.400 The apostle Paul has basically summarized the 00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:52.840 principles. That shape our mindset as Christians. 00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:55.650 If we're following Jesus. and he's really our 00:40:55.650 --> 00:40:57.889 master, then this is going to be true of us. 00:40:57.989 --> 00:41:01.989 First, conviction, God is our provider. Rather 00:41:01.989 --> 00:41:05.429 than thinking that this is my money, I realize 00:41:05.429 --> 00:41:10.789 this is God's money. I am just someone who is 00:41:10.789 --> 00:41:15.369 managing it. So God is the provider of everything 00:41:15.369 --> 00:41:19.730 I have. Second conviction, God wants us to be 00:41:19.730 --> 00:41:23.139 generous. So if I'm thinking, well, I make more 00:41:23.139 --> 00:41:28.760 to accumulate more. No. You make more so that 00:41:28.760 --> 00:41:31.519 you can be generous and bless others through 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:35.639 the means that God provides for us. God will 00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:40.480 always bless me so I can always have enough to 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:44.860 always be generous. Third one, God will take 00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:48.760 care of us. If I think, well, you know, giving 00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:51.989 money is wasted money. This is what this guy 00:41:51.989 --> 00:41:54.889 in the car with me in Mexico City was feeling 00:41:54.889 --> 00:41:58.110 and thinking. Why are you going to waste all 00:41:58.110 --> 00:42:02.849 the money on that man? No. Giving money in the 00:42:02.849 --> 00:42:07.510 kingdom is never wasting money. God will take 00:42:07.510 --> 00:42:09.210 care of us and we take care of others. That's 00:42:09.210 --> 00:42:12.769 the way it is. That's what Jesus told us. Fourth, 00:42:12.929 --> 00:42:18.769 we give so people will praise God. We no longer 00:42:18.769 --> 00:42:20.829 think like, oh, I'm giving you so that you will 00:42:20.829 --> 00:42:22.989 like me. Or I'm giving you so you will owe me 00:42:22.989 --> 00:42:25.789 a favor. Because in giving you, that's my security 00:42:25.789 --> 00:42:30.329 for the future. That's what pagans do. We give 00:42:30.329 --> 00:42:35.309 without any strings attached. Because we know 00:42:35.309 --> 00:42:40.369 that when people are blessed by God's blessing, 00:42:40.630 --> 00:42:43.989 their hearts will be turned to God. And God is 00:42:43.989 --> 00:42:48.670 the one they need. And the final conviction is 00:42:48.670 --> 00:42:52.530 that God loves a cheerful giver. What counts 00:42:52.530 --> 00:42:56.269 is not the amount. What counts is the attitude 00:42:56.269 --> 00:43:00.829 behind the amount. That's why God says, I love 00:43:00.829 --> 00:43:04.690 a cheerful giver, not a whining one. Really? 00:43:04.789 --> 00:43:11.210 You want two M &Ms? Okay, here, you know. It's 00:43:11.210 --> 00:43:15.469 like, you can keep your M &Ms to yourself. I 00:43:15.469 --> 00:43:19.690 don't want any. With that attitude, I'll go abide 00:43:19.690 --> 00:43:24.789 myself my own M &Ms. You see, God loves a cheerful 00:43:24.789 --> 00:43:29.409 giver. That's a mature Christian. That's a mature 00:43:29.409 --> 00:43:32.550 follower of Jesus. These five convictions are 00:43:32.550 --> 00:43:35.590 the ones that characterize how we follow the 00:43:35.590 --> 00:43:40.110 Lord. Do we have fears? Yes. Do we worry about 00:43:40.110 --> 00:43:44.309 the future? Yes. But when we face that, we bring 00:43:44.309 --> 00:43:47.019 it at the feet of Christ. Who is our true master. 00:43:48.179 --> 00:43:52.219 And then we remember. The birds. And we look 00:43:52.219 --> 00:43:55.179 at Pastor Pablo's pictures again. And we say. 00:43:55.480 --> 00:43:57.900 God thank you that you care for me more. Than 00:43:57.900 --> 00:44:01.940 you care for that bird. And we constantly realign 00:44:01.940 --> 00:44:06.380 our hearts. With the Lord. All the time. Generosity. 00:44:08.219 --> 00:44:11.659 If you are a person. Who is following Jesus. 00:44:11.940 --> 00:44:14.519 But you don't have deep understanding. Of how 00:44:14.519 --> 00:44:19.480 to have. a healthy financial life. If finances 00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:24.139 are a mess in your life and they are stealing 00:44:24.139 --> 00:44:27.260 peace from your heart, I want to encourage you 00:44:27.260 --> 00:44:31.739 to have access to any of these studies that we 00:44:31.739 --> 00:44:34.559 have in Right Now Media. Right Now Media is a 00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:38.280 service of videos and movies and documentaries 00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:40.780 and Bible studies that we make available for 00:44:40.780 --> 00:44:44.559 free for you. If you already have the account 00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:47.019 of Right Now Media, there are all these amazing 00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:51.579 studies from very reputable organizations about 00:44:51.579 --> 00:44:54.780 financial health from a biblical worldview so 00:44:54.780 --> 00:44:59.280 that you can be free to live for the Lord with 00:44:59.280 --> 00:45:01.860 finances that are spiritually mature in your 00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:06.260 life. So this is something for you to be aware 00:45:06.260 --> 00:45:10.719 of that you may build on this study. But before 00:45:10.719 --> 00:45:16.059 I conclude this study, Two things. First, as 00:45:16.059 --> 00:45:20.659 a way of summary, Jesus tells us you need to 00:45:20.659 --> 00:45:23.460 think of finances from the perspective of master. 00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:28.619 I'm your master. Finances are not. And if you're 00:45:28.619 --> 00:45:31.079 going to seek my kingdom first, then Paul tells 00:45:31.079 --> 00:45:34.780 us learn generosity as a way of life because 00:45:34.780 --> 00:45:37.579 that is going to keep you healthy. That will 00:45:37.579 --> 00:45:42.539 keep money from attaching to you. These two things 00:45:42.539 --> 00:45:49.099 shape. how we engage. Second thing, internally, 00:45:49.139 --> 00:45:55.139 as a ministry, generosity is the only way that 00:45:55.139 --> 00:45:57.659 we have been able to do things for this almost 00:45:57.659 --> 00:46:00.340 60 years. Next year will be the 60th anniversary 00:46:00.340 --> 00:46:04.380 of ECB. And throughout the generations, God has 00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:07.579 used the generosity of people to build the place 00:46:07.579 --> 00:46:10.489 we're in here today. The generosity of their 00:46:10.489 --> 00:46:13.610 time investing to serve God together. The generosity 00:46:13.610 --> 00:46:16.409 of their giftedness to invest their areas of 00:46:16.409 --> 00:46:18.889 expertise to serve God together. And the generosity 00:46:18.889 --> 00:46:23.750 of their resources and money to be able to afford 00:46:23.750 --> 00:46:27.329 things as we serve God together. Generosity has 00:46:27.329 --> 00:46:31.409 been the mark of ACB. And I want to formally, 00:46:31.670 --> 00:46:36.179 first of all, thank you. For walking in obedience 00:46:36.179 --> 00:46:39.019 to God and being generous with these things. 00:46:40.099 --> 00:46:43.019 For those of you who work as part of the staff 00:46:43.019 --> 00:46:46.940 of ECB. I want to thank you for your generosity. 00:46:47.500 --> 00:46:50.059 In fulfilling God's calling and being with us. 00:46:50.099 --> 00:46:53.539 Because we know that you could be making a higher 00:46:53.539 --> 00:46:56.539 salary somewhere else. But you have chosen to 00:46:56.539 --> 00:47:00.079 work here at ECB instead. Thank you for your 00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:05.570 generosity. Also. I want to clarify a couple 00:47:05.570 --> 00:47:09.349 of things because the ministry that we do that 00:47:09.349 --> 00:47:13.510 requires resources is well invested in making 00:47:13.510 --> 00:47:16.289 disciples for global impact. And we have a vision 00:47:16.289 --> 00:47:18.369 that we are pursuing and we're building this 00:47:18.369 --> 00:47:22.570 together as we follow the Lord. And it is true 00:47:22.570 --> 00:47:27.449 that this vision requires resources. And every 00:47:27.449 --> 00:47:30.230 Sunday, we display something that looks like 00:47:30.230 --> 00:47:34.119 this. It's just... For the sake of transparency 00:47:34.119 --> 00:47:36.760 that is part of our values as ECB, financial 00:47:36.760 --> 00:47:39.860 transparency, this is simply a way of saying, 00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:42.920 look, this is how much we thought we were planning 00:47:42.920 --> 00:47:45.199 to get this year. This is how much we've gotten. 00:47:45.880 --> 00:47:48.420 And those two numbers don't interpret themselves. 00:47:48.940 --> 00:47:51.659 So some of you have been concerned, have asked 00:47:51.659 --> 00:47:54.000 that, is everything okay? You know, do I need 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:58.440 to know anything? So I want to clarify this. 00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:03.039 First of all, We're not bankrupt, so don't worry 00:48:03.039 --> 00:48:07.360 about that part. We're not on the red. Don't 00:48:07.360 --> 00:48:11.119 worry about that part. What does this mean? Well, 00:48:11.159 --> 00:48:15.340 let me explain a couple of thoughts. First, every 00:48:15.340 --> 00:48:17.960 year, the leadership team with the elders and 00:48:17.960 --> 00:48:20.619 the financial team, they have to make a projection 00:48:20.619 --> 00:48:23.699 for the following year based on our vision and 00:48:23.699 --> 00:48:25.760 the strategies that we are pursuing. What are 00:48:25.760 --> 00:48:29.500 our ministry priorities? So from last year to 00:48:29.500 --> 00:48:31.440 this year, there was a budget. We said this is 00:48:31.440 --> 00:48:35.980 how much we expect that we will spend. It's so 00:48:35.980 --> 00:48:38.239 hot that the budget from the previous year to 00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:42.519 this one was about 13 % higher. Because of all 00:48:42.519 --> 00:48:44.340 the ecosystems, all the things that we were going 00:48:44.340 --> 00:48:46.380 to be doing. There were pastoral transitions. 00:48:46.760 --> 00:48:49.639 Pastor Rene was going to leave. So we knew it 00:48:49.639 --> 00:48:52.079 was going to be some extra cost. But it was a 00:48:52.079 --> 00:48:55.659 calculated risk. What the eldership thought. 00:48:56.139 --> 00:49:01.099 Was we know 13 % increase is high. But if for 00:49:01.099 --> 00:49:03.440 some reason God doesn't provide all those resources. 00:49:04.199 --> 00:49:09.980 Then we will go through our reserves to cover 00:49:09.980 --> 00:49:12.539 the difference. And God will use that as his 00:49:12.539 --> 00:49:16.280 provision. That was the way of calculating the 00:49:16.280 --> 00:49:19.960 potential change in budget. So that's what we 00:49:19.960 --> 00:49:22.400 budgeted. And that's what then we thought we 00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:25.219 were going to spend this year. Pretty much the 00:49:25.219 --> 00:49:27.719 same, of course, right? The budget. But then 00:49:27.719 --> 00:49:30.139 comes the reality. How much money did come in? 00:49:30.880 --> 00:49:33.099 This is from the third quarter, meaning the end 00:49:33.099 --> 00:49:36.280 of September. So October, November has not been 00:49:36.280 --> 00:49:39.119 included in this space. So compared to what we 00:49:39.119 --> 00:49:40.800 thought we were going to get, this is how much 00:49:40.800 --> 00:49:43.699 we got instead. Now, that would be a problem 00:49:43.699 --> 00:49:47.179 if we decide to anyway spend all the money anyway. 00:49:47.539 --> 00:49:50.840 Well, that's not how we operate. There's an amazing 00:49:50.840 --> 00:49:53.619 financial team. an amazing financial committee 00:49:53.619 --> 00:49:57.539 of people that are very well versed on finances. 00:49:58.260 --> 00:50:00.460 And therefore we serve together, which by the 00:50:00.460 --> 00:50:04.039 way, as a pastor, we separate finances here at 00:50:04.039 --> 00:50:06.179 ECB. We want to protect the integrity of the 00:50:06.179 --> 00:50:08.719 ministry. So pastors have nothing to do with 00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:11.340 finances. We don't manage any money. We do not 00:50:11.340 --> 00:50:15.320 who gives what. That's not for them. By the financial 00:50:15.320 --> 00:50:22.619 team and the elders, yes. So therefore, We have 00:50:22.619 --> 00:50:26.119 spent controlled spending, which means that if 00:50:26.119 --> 00:50:29.739 you look at it this way, we receive this much, 00:50:29.860 --> 00:50:32.659 we spend this much, we have this little that 00:50:32.659 --> 00:50:36.260 we have not yet spent. And what typically happens 00:50:36.260 --> 00:50:38.679 in the U .S., it was like that, ECB historically 00:50:38.679 --> 00:50:42.039 has been the same, is that the budgets tend to 00:50:42.039 --> 00:50:44.860 balance themselves by the end of the year. November, 00:50:44.860 --> 00:50:47.920 December tend to be strong months, and then it 00:50:47.920 --> 00:50:52.489 goes like that. Leading from this place, there's 00:50:52.489 --> 00:50:56.389 a couple of things that are very clear. We have 00:50:56.389 --> 00:50:59.429 to be financially responsible so we cannot spend 00:50:59.429 --> 00:51:03.469 more than what we have. But at the same time, 00:51:03.469 --> 00:51:06.389 we are vision driven. And because there's a vision 00:51:06.389 --> 00:51:09.150 that God has given us that we are pursuing, we 00:51:09.150 --> 00:51:11.429 believe in order to accomplish it, we need so 00:51:11.429 --> 00:51:14.590 many resources. And we trust that if this vision 00:51:14.590 --> 00:51:18.329 is from God, he will provide what we need. So 00:51:18.329 --> 00:51:21.090 there's trust in that space. There's peace in 00:51:21.090 --> 00:51:24.070 that space. And it's important for you to hear 00:51:24.070 --> 00:51:27.889 that from us. There's another question that people 00:51:27.889 --> 00:51:30.489 have asked us as they understand how these things 00:51:30.489 --> 00:51:34.429 are working. And that is, well, Pastor Pablo, 00:51:34.510 --> 00:51:38.650 how can I support? How can I give? You can find 00:51:38.650 --> 00:51:42.230 all this information on our website. But if you 00:51:42.230 --> 00:51:44.869 want to partake with what God is doing here at 00:51:44.869 --> 00:51:48.300 ECB, if you want to participate in our mission 00:51:48.300 --> 00:51:51.320 of making global disciples, disciples for global 00:51:51.320 --> 00:51:58.780 impact, then the system is built for being smooth. 00:51:59.400 --> 00:52:03.820 First, it doesn't matter where in the world you 00:52:03.820 --> 00:52:08.000 are, you can make a direct transfer to our bank 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:11.699 account at ECB, no matter what currency you are 00:52:11.699 --> 00:52:15.380 sending it from. If you are in that position 00:52:15.380 --> 00:52:17.619 that you want to transfer from an account in 00:52:17.619 --> 00:52:20.119 another country directly into our account, this 00:52:20.119 --> 00:52:21.739 is what you do. This is the bank information 00:52:21.739 --> 00:52:27.239 for ECB. Secondly, if you are locally here in 00:52:27.239 --> 00:52:29.639 Thailand, you say, you know, I have Thai bank 00:52:29.639 --> 00:52:32.019 accounts, everything, that's even easier. Get 00:52:32.019 --> 00:52:35.099 your phone, scan the QR code, just like you do 00:52:35.099 --> 00:52:36.840 when you go to the restaurant, you know, I'm 00:52:36.840 --> 00:52:39.639 paying with the QR code. Same thing, just scan 00:52:39.639 --> 00:52:42.320 that QR code, and you can give directly to the 00:52:42.320 --> 00:52:47.380 Ministry of ECB. Thirdly, if you are in the U 00:52:47.380 --> 00:52:50.760 .S. or you are from the U .S. and you say, Pastor 00:52:50.760 --> 00:52:54.059 Pablo, I would love to support, but can I get 00:52:54.059 --> 00:52:59.579 the tax exemption? Yes, you can. Because ECB 00:52:59.579 --> 00:53:02.679 is part of the CMA ministry in the U .S. CMA, 00:53:02.860 --> 00:53:04.860 the Christian Missionary Alliance, is an international 00:53:04.860 --> 00:53:06.619 organization. It's a non -profit organization. 00:53:07.500 --> 00:53:10.320 And you can give directly through them to ECB. 00:53:11.070 --> 00:53:13.789 And for that, you simply follow that link in 00:53:13.789 --> 00:53:16.710 the CMA website and gives you direct access to 00:53:16.710 --> 00:53:19.170 be able to donate to us. And therefore, then 00:53:19.170 --> 00:53:23.469 you get the tax deductible receipt from CMA directly. 00:53:24.510 --> 00:53:27.690 These are ways that have been created for you 00:53:27.690 --> 00:53:30.130 to be able to participate in this space with 00:53:30.130 --> 00:53:35.440 us. If God has blessed you this year. If you 00:53:35.440 --> 00:53:38.280 are one of our ACBers who lives in other countries 00:53:38.280 --> 00:53:41.019 and you follow us and God has used the word to 00:53:41.019 --> 00:53:45.239 bless you, would you bless this ministry by participating 00:53:45.239 --> 00:53:49.059 with us financially as well? But there's something 00:53:49.059 --> 00:53:51.739 that was my conviction all of these years and 00:53:51.739 --> 00:53:55.960 has never ceased to be true. When God is leading 00:53:55.960 --> 00:53:59.219 us, he will always provide what we need by the 00:53:59.219 --> 00:54:03.579 time we need it. That's the way it works. So 00:54:03.579 --> 00:54:06.179 in our hearts, there's zero concerns. And I want 00:54:06.179 --> 00:54:08.039 to make sure that in your heart, there's also 00:54:08.039 --> 00:54:11.340 zero concern. Just faithfulness will continue 00:54:11.340 --> 00:54:14.400 to be generous and continue building to the next 00:54:14.400 --> 00:54:17.320 and the next and the next generation. So God 00:54:17.320 --> 00:54:21.800 can use CCB for his purposes. So with that clarification, 00:54:22.340 --> 00:54:26.820 now we have understood what Jesus said, what 00:54:26.820 --> 00:54:29.550 the Apostle Paul said. How our finances were 00:54:29.550 --> 00:54:32.070 never meant to be compartmentalized. They were 00:54:32.070 --> 00:54:35.150 meant to be part of our Christian experience. 00:54:35.289 --> 00:54:38.269 And therefore, I want to conclude this study 00:54:38.269 --> 00:54:44.030 with simply asking you, who is your master? If 00:54:44.030 --> 00:54:46.849 you are experiencing anxiety and fear and you're 00:54:46.849 --> 00:54:50.170 being controlling, maybe we know the answer. 00:54:51.329 --> 00:54:54.349 But if what you want is the peace and assurance 00:54:54.349 --> 00:54:57.650 from the Lord, May you bring your fears and concerns 00:54:57.650 --> 00:55:01.670 to the Lord today in his presence. I want to 00:55:01.670 --> 00:55:03.550 invite you to close your eyes where you are. 00:55:04.670 --> 00:55:10.510 Close your eyes. If you've been functioning thinking 00:55:10.510 --> 00:55:15.590 that you are here to make a living rather than 00:55:15.590 --> 00:55:19.230 to make an impact, ask the Lord to reframe your 00:55:19.230 --> 00:55:24.199 heart. Invite him to use you beyond what you 00:55:24.199 --> 00:55:30.980 could ever understand or imagine. And if fear 00:55:30.980 --> 00:55:34.679 has been crippling you this week, has robbed 00:55:34.679 --> 00:55:39.079 you from peace, confess it before the Lord today 00:55:39.079 --> 00:55:43.539 in his presence. Leave it at his feet. You are 00:55:43.539 --> 00:55:49.980 more valuable than the birds. Lord, Thank you 00:55:49.980 --> 00:55:52.539 for taking the time to say these words to us. 00:55:54.760 --> 00:56:02.539 We needed to hear so badly. We love you, Lord. 00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:08.719 And we want to learn what it's like to see your 00:56:08.719 --> 00:56:11.059 kingdom first and to experience your peace and 00:56:11.059 --> 00:56:16.809 assurance where fear cannot sneak in. because 00:56:16.809 --> 00:56:21.130 our relationship with you is so tight. But I 00:56:21.130 --> 00:56:23.590 ask you, Lord, in Jesus' name, let the fears 00:56:23.590 --> 00:56:27.250 that have crippled in, that have brought lack 00:56:27.250 --> 00:56:30.530 of peace in the heart, be brought to the light 00:56:30.530 --> 00:56:33.829 today and be broken in your presence so your 00:56:33.829 --> 00:56:37.650 peace is what governs our hearts in Christ Jesus. 00:56:43.789 --> 00:56:47.150 Thank you for tuning in to the ECB Sermon Podcast. 00:56:47.869 --> 00:56:51.570 Whether near or far, if you are looking for community 00:56:51.570 --> 00:56:55.409 or are in need of prayer, we welcome you to engage 00:56:55.409 --> 00:57:02.469 by sending us an email to If God is calling you 00:57:02.469 --> 00:57:05.190 to support our ministries, you will find giving 00:57:05.190 --> 00:57:08.989 options on our website. And remember to join 00:57:08.989 --> 00:57:11.070 us next week. God bless you.