1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,990 Speaker 3: This is an illustration of Jacob Smith's vision. 2 00:00:04,310 --> 00:00:07,539 He's 15 years old and he is legally blind. 3 00:00:08,064 --> 00:00:13,375 But he's also a free ride skier, which means he finds the steepest, craziest, 4 00:00:13,375 --> 00:00:15,015 most dangerous mountains to go down. 5 00:00:15,245 --> 00:00:17,685 And he goes down them, but he's legally blind. 6 00:00:17,685 --> 00:00:24,204 In fact, his, his, his, uh, his vision is 20 over 800, which is four 7 00:00:24,204 --> 00:00:26,055 times the level of legal blindness. 8 00:00:26,064 --> 00:00:28,834 So this guy would not be able to see really anything. 9 00:00:28,914 --> 00:00:30,314 Again, this is kind of what he's looking at. 10 00:00:30,314 --> 00:00:34,504 So if you can imagine that going down a steep terrain, that's what it looks like. 11 00:00:34,524 --> 00:00:36,444 So the question then becomes, how does he do this? 12 00:00:36,724 --> 00:00:37,374 And it's amazing. 13 00:00:37,925 --> 00:00:39,435 It's really one simple trick. 14 00:00:39,695 --> 00:00:45,465 Matthew, not Matthew, Jacob's dad is guiding him down on a radio. 15 00:00:46,185 --> 00:00:50,955 And so this kid who cannot see is flying down these steep terrains with 16 00:00:50,974 --> 00:00:52,664 other people who are not legally blind. 17 00:00:52,995 --> 00:00:55,694 And all he's doing is following his dad in his ear. 18 00:00:55,994 --> 00:00:58,684 Again, he has, he has enough vision to see something, but he's 19 00:00:58,694 --> 00:01:00,549 following his dad in his ear. 20 00:01:00,940 --> 00:01:04,120 Now, this is so good because if Jacob doesn't follow his 21 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:05,540 dad's voice, he crashes. 22 00:01:05,550 --> 00:01:06,339 That's the alternative. 23 00:01:06,350 --> 00:01:09,089 He either follows dad's voice or he crashes. 24 00:01:09,599 --> 00:01:12,319 You have an opportunity tonight to follow your father's voice. 25 00:01:13,214 --> 00:01:14,815 And the alternative is the same. 26 00:01:14,834 --> 00:01:17,795 If you don't follow your father's voice on this particular topic, you're gonna 27 00:01:17,795 --> 00:01:19,224 crash and it's not gonna be good for you. 28 00:01:19,774 --> 00:01:23,084 In fact, one of the challenges that we're gonna talk about tonight is you're gonna 29 00:01:23,084 --> 00:01:26,305 feel like this sermon doesn't apply to you because, well, Pastor Rod, I don't have 30 00:01:26,305 --> 00:01:27,334 any of the things you're talking about. 31 00:01:27,533 --> 00:01:30,844 But I promise you, you need this sermon now more than ever. 32 00:01:31,644 --> 00:01:35,030 What I want to tell you, In one short message is this. 33 00:01:35,060 --> 00:01:35,620 You ready for it? 34 00:01:36,430 --> 00:01:37,839 Okay, here's what I want you to know. 35 00:01:38,089 --> 00:01:41,459 You should value what's valuable. 36 00:01:41,910 --> 00:01:45,000 Value what's actually, truly valuable. 37 00:01:45,550 --> 00:01:49,158 Otherwise, what you're gonna do with your life is you're gonna value things that 38 00:01:49,289 --> 00:01:51,479 aren't really worth your time or energy. 39 00:01:51,949 --> 00:01:54,399 You should value things that God says are really valuable. 40 00:01:54,628 --> 00:01:56,619 And if you don't, you'll end up crashing. 41 00:01:57,179 --> 00:01:57,989 You'll be like Jacob. 42 00:01:58,039 --> 00:02:00,579 You have to trust your father's voice to guide you So that 43 00:02:00,579 --> 00:02:04,989 you avoid all the hazards of materialism and money in particular. 44 00:02:06,549 --> 00:02:10,189 If you don't, it would be like climbing a tall ladder. 45 00:02:12,105 --> 00:02:15,015 climbing a really tall ladder only to realize that your ladder was 46 00:02:15,015 --> 00:02:16,135 leaned against the wrong building. 47 00:02:16,584 --> 00:02:19,185 Or let's say you're doing homework for six or eight hours. 48 00:02:19,185 --> 00:02:22,665 You're pounding away at the books only to realize you're doing the section 49 00:02:22,735 --> 00:02:24,504 that's not due for four weeks later. 50 00:02:24,594 --> 00:02:25,605 They're doing the wrong section. 51 00:02:25,605 --> 00:02:28,124 Tomorrow's section is due and you haven't even started on that. 52 00:02:28,674 --> 00:02:29,574 That's what's happening here. 53 00:02:29,784 --> 00:02:31,194 I don't want you to make this mistake with your life. 54 00:02:31,194 --> 00:02:33,614 So this Bible verse that we're going to talk about tonight is going to 55 00:02:33,614 --> 00:02:35,064 encourage you to value what's valuable. 56 00:02:35,364 --> 00:02:38,484 Turn with me to Matthew chapter six and Verses 19 through 24. 57 00:02:38,494 --> 00:02:40,664 We're gonna look at those six verses tonight, and I need you to know 58 00:02:40,664 --> 00:02:42,164 a few things as we jump back in. 59 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,609 Matthew 6 19 through 24. 60 00:02:45,129 --> 00:02:48,478 In fact, just to remind you, we've been in the Sermon on the Mount for what feels 61 00:02:48,478 --> 00:02:50,239 like forever, but we're still there. 62 00:02:50,589 --> 00:02:52,499 We're still in Matthew 5 through 7. 63 00:02:52,499 --> 00:02:53,670 This is Jesus teaching. 64 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:55,529 He's teaching, he's teaching his disciples. 65 00:02:55,529 --> 00:02:57,079 He's teaching lots of people who are listening in. 66 00:02:57,469 --> 00:03:00,079 And on this particular teaching, he's going to warn you about 67 00:03:00,089 --> 00:03:02,659 something that a lot of people get wrong, which is their money. 68 00:03:02,860 --> 00:03:05,380 Their possessions, the things that they most value. 69 00:03:05,709 --> 00:03:07,150 Here's what Jesus has to say about it. 70 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:07,959 Really simple. 71 00:03:08,140 --> 00:03:14,030 He says this, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where 72 00:03:14,030 --> 00:03:19,140 moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for 73 00:03:19,140 --> 00:03:23,519 yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and 74 00:03:23,519 --> 00:03:25,260 where thieves do not break in and steal. 75 00:03:25,964 --> 00:03:30,024 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 76 00:03:31,024 --> 00:03:34,204 Jesus is saying, there are two kinds of treasures that you can acquire. 77 00:03:34,394 --> 00:03:37,324 You can acquire treasure here on this planet, on this earth. 78 00:03:37,524 --> 00:03:40,244 You can get money, and houses, and cars. 79 00:03:40,454 --> 00:03:42,784 I saw a really nice car drive by the other day and I thought, 80 00:03:42,784 --> 00:03:43,644 man, what do they do here? 81 00:03:43,674 --> 00:03:46,234 Like, what's, what do people in Texas do to make all that money? 82 00:03:46,234 --> 00:03:48,194 They're probably ranchers or farmers or something like that. 83 00:03:48,634 --> 00:03:50,364 But you can accumulate those things. 84 00:03:50,384 --> 00:03:53,384 And Jesus is saying, if you do that, the challenge with the things that you can get 85 00:03:53,384 --> 00:03:55,769 on this planet, they can really go away. 86 00:03:56,010 --> 00:03:59,589 They can be stolen, they can be lost, all the things that you can acquire 87 00:03:59,589 --> 00:04:01,700 here is not going to be easy to keep. 88 00:04:01,709 --> 00:04:03,269 In fact, it can go away really quickly. 89 00:04:03,770 --> 00:04:06,100 Earthly treasure is vulnerable, and easily lost. 90 00:04:06,729 --> 00:04:10,440 Uh, earthly, stockpiling earthly treasure would be like, you know, let's say, 91 00:04:10,470 --> 00:04:12,350 let's say you have a kid, a, a sibling. 92 00:04:12,419 --> 00:04:14,590 A sibling who's kind of, you know, they're, they're young, 93 00:04:14,590 --> 00:04:15,640 so they don't know any better. 94 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:17,720 They stockpile cotton candy. 95 00:04:17,810 --> 00:04:18,970 That's their form of wealth. 96 00:04:19,450 --> 00:04:20,849 And they put it all in the backyard. 97 00:04:20,858 --> 00:04:23,590 They stockpile this huge mountain of cotton candy, and in their minds, 98 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:24,779 they're the wealthiest in the world. 99 00:04:25,290 --> 00:04:29,739 Five year old they ever knew but little did they know that the rain was 100 00:04:29,739 --> 00:04:33,110 coming and after five minutes of rain all of their cotton Candy was gone. 101 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:38,450 That's how fleeting Wealth is on this planet It can be gained quickly. 102 00:04:38,599 --> 00:04:39,860 It can also be lost quickly. 103 00:04:40,070 --> 00:04:44,849 Jesus is saying you should invest but don't invest in this life. 104 00:04:45,149 --> 00:04:47,249 Don't put all of your hope in this planet. 105 00:04:47,260 --> 00:04:50,150 Don't put all of your hope in this life because these things can fail. 106 00:04:50,389 --> 00:04:52,509 Jesus wants you to invest in the right things. 107 00:04:52,820 --> 00:04:56,409 Jesus is deeply concerned for you that you don't waste your life 108 00:04:56,419 --> 00:04:58,750 investing in things that will not last. 109 00:04:59,049 --> 00:05:00,549 Point number one, let's put it like this. 110 00:05:00,609 --> 00:05:02,169 Don't hope in things that can fail. 111 00:05:02,544 --> 00:05:04,765 Don't put your hope in things that ultimately won't 112 00:05:04,775 --> 00:05:06,924 satisfy and cannot last you. 113 00:05:07,715 --> 00:05:09,035 Don't put your hope in these things. 114 00:05:09,965 --> 00:05:12,554 There's a story about a name, uh, but there's a story about 115 00:05:12,554 --> 00:05:14,024 a guy named Henry Gibbom. 116 00:05:14,805 --> 00:05:15,425 Henry Gibbom. 117 00:05:16,104 --> 00:05:21,455 This guy went to his local, uh, his local carnival and he 118 00:05:21,455 --> 00:05:22,614 came across this game here. 119 00:05:22,635 --> 00:05:23,284 Do you know this one here? 120 00:05:23,664 --> 00:05:25,895 This is the game where you throw a ball into a bucket. 121 00:05:26,575 --> 00:05:30,935 The game is called, it's a game, and it's a really fun game. 122 00:05:31,764 --> 00:05:33,455 It's, I don't know what it's called, but it's that game. 123 00:05:34,494 --> 00:05:36,014 This guy, and you know how they get you, right? 124 00:05:36,014 --> 00:05:36,875 Come on over here. 125 00:05:36,875 --> 00:05:38,205 I'll give you the first try free. 126 00:05:38,205 --> 00:05:39,705 And so he gets conned into it. 127 00:05:39,904 --> 00:05:41,514 And then he sees something that he really needs. 128 00:05:41,675 --> 00:05:43,734 He says, Oh, look, there's an X Box connect. 129 00:05:43,784 --> 00:05:44,935 I really want one of those. 130 00:05:44,984 --> 00:05:45,614 I need one of those. 131 00:05:45,835 --> 00:05:47,965 And so he has first try, he loses. 132 00:05:48,044 --> 00:05:54,565 And so he keeps trying and trying again after spending his entire life savings. 133 00:05:55,364 --> 00:05:55,755 Yes. 134 00:05:55,784 --> 00:05:58,284 His entire life savings on a carnival game. 135 00:05:58,674 --> 00:06:03,104 All he had to show for it is a large stuffed banana. 136 00:06:04,164 --> 00:06:08,455 Seriously, he lost everything at a carnival game walking 137 00:06:08,455 --> 00:06:09,825 away with a reggae banana. 138 00:06:10,494 --> 00:06:12,264 You don't want to be Henry Gibbom. 139 00:06:12,344 --> 00:06:14,675 You don't want to walk away with the reggae banana at the end of 140 00:06:14,784 --> 00:06:16,714 your life after spending everything. 141 00:06:17,014 --> 00:06:18,294 But this guy was tricked into it. 142 00:06:18,304 --> 00:06:19,344 He didn't know what he was doing. 143 00:06:19,514 --> 00:06:24,014 You now know that Jesus says there's a kind of life where you can put a 144 00:06:24,014 --> 00:06:28,195 lot of effort into it but really walk away with nothing good because you're 145 00:06:28,195 --> 00:06:30,414 walking away with things that can't last. 146 00:06:31,494 --> 00:06:36,175 Jesus wants you to know That he, that you should not live for this, this life alone. 147 00:06:36,545 --> 00:06:40,495 And in fact, if you're gonna not hope in things that can fail, you really 148 00:06:40,525 --> 00:06:42,295 ought to look at your treasure. 149 00:06:42,295 --> 00:06:43,165 What do you treasure? 150 00:06:43,415 --> 00:06:44,305 What's your treasure? 151 00:06:44,555 --> 00:06:47,725 Jesus is saying there's a kind of treasure that lasts for a long time. 152 00:06:47,734 --> 00:06:50,384 In fact, it can't be taken, but there's treasure on this planet, on, 153 00:06:50,405 --> 00:06:52,395 in this life that can easily go away. 154 00:06:52,395 --> 00:06:55,125 So when I ask you to evaluate your treasure, you should ask yourself, 155 00:06:55,234 --> 00:06:56,575 what do I spend my free time on? 156 00:06:56,999 --> 00:06:59,639 That's likely a good indication of what you really treasure 157 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:01,400 and value or how about this? 158 00:07:01,450 --> 00:07:04,420 Where do you spend your money if you get free time or not free time money if you 159 00:07:04,420 --> 00:07:06,460 get free cash from grandma or grandpa? 160 00:07:06,700 --> 00:07:08,849 You get birthday cash or Christmas cash. 161 00:07:08,999 --> 00:07:11,249 Where do you naturally want to spend your money? 162 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:15,089 That's gonna be an indicator of what you really value because 163 00:07:15,089 --> 00:07:15,830 you don't get a lot of it. 164 00:07:15,859 --> 00:07:18,690 You're young You don't have a lot of money to work with in the first place So 165 00:07:18,690 --> 00:07:20,320 where do you spend it when you get it? 166 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,975 And finally What do you spend your time thinking about? 167 00:07:23,165 --> 00:07:25,955 When you can think about whatever you want to think, you're taking a shower, 168 00:07:25,955 --> 00:07:29,305 or you're just doing something else, your mind is occupied with anything, 169 00:07:29,385 --> 00:07:30,755 what do you naturally think about? 170 00:07:30,955 --> 00:07:35,525 Jesus is saying these are good indicators for what really captures 171 00:07:35,525 --> 00:07:36,935 your heart, what you really treasure. 172 00:07:37,545 --> 00:07:40,675 And again, the problem is that for most of us, we treasure 173 00:07:40,675 --> 00:07:42,895 things that are not going to last. 174 00:07:42,895 --> 00:07:46,455 We treasure things that aren't going to serve us for much longer than this 175 00:07:46,455 --> 00:07:48,625 life, even if it does last that long. 176 00:07:50,284 --> 00:07:50,945 Think about this. 177 00:07:52,125 --> 00:07:56,494 You're going to treasure what's, if you're going to value what's valuable, 178 00:07:56,494 --> 00:07:59,894 as I've been saying, you need to examine what am I valuing right now? 179 00:08:00,535 --> 00:08:04,024 This is an important question because you might think, well, I'm young. 180 00:08:04,024 --> 00:08:06,144 I don't really have a lot to think about, or I have a lot of money 181 00:08:06,144 --> 00:08:07,324 to spend or a lot of free time. 182 00:08:07,664 --> 00:08:10,184 You ought to be looking at the patterns of your life because you're developing 183 00:08:10,194 --> 00:08:12,944 patterns now that are going to last all the way through your adulthood. 184 00:08:12,954 --> 00:08:17,034 You're building habits, habits of thoughts, habits of spending, habits 185 00:08:17,034 --> 00:08:19,944 of life that are really hard to break unless you're deliberate about it. 186 00:08:20,585 --> 00:08:23,755 So I want you to think about what am I valuing and then once 187 00:08:23,755 --> 00:08:26,905 you identify that I want you to choose to value what's valuable. 188 00:08:27,215 --> 00:08:29,255 I want you to choose to put your hope in things that are going to 189 00:08:29,255 --> 00:08:31,035 be truly valuable in your life. 190 00:08:33,375 --> 00:08:37,724 Jesus said one of the one of the things that is most valuable is his kingdom. 191 00:08:37,905 --> 00:08:41,703 In fact in Matthew 13 we're gonna get there in a couple weeks or sooner. 192 00:08:42,099 --> 00:08:43,669 We'll see Matthew 13. 193 00:08:43,870 --> 00:08:47,579 Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a valuable treasure a treasure hidden 194 00:08:47,579 --> 00:08:51,599 in a field Which a man found and covered up and then in his joy He goes and 195 00:08:51,599 --> 00:08:53,790 sells all that he has to buy that field. 196 00:08:53,890 --> 00:08:57,875 He gives all his earthly treasure To buy heavenly treasure something that 197 00:08:57,875 --> 00:09:01,714 cannot perish or fade if you're going to value what's valuable You need to 198 00:09:01,714 --> 00:09:04,855 know what valuable was something that some you need to know what actually 199 00:09:04,855 --> 00:09:14,165 is valuable 2005 I think How many guys know what bitcoin is if I say bitcoin? 200 00:09:14,175 --> 00:09:14,935 Do you know what that is? 201 00:09:14,944 --> 00:09:15,774 You guys tracking with that? 202 00:09:16,024 --> 00:09:19,935 Okay bitcoin when it first started how much money was a bitcoin? 203 00:09:20,815 --> 00:09:21,565 Anyone have a guess? 204 00:09:22,715 --> 00:09:23,955 It was, it was less than that. 205 00:09:23,965 --> 00:09:26,055 It was less than pennies to have a Bitcoin. 206 00:09:26,365 --> 00:09:30,255 You could have it for less than, I mean, it was like one, one thousandth of a cent. 207 00:09:30,605 --> 00:09:31,085 You could buy it. 208 00:09:31,115 --> 00:09:32,214 Cause it was just an idea. 209 00:09:32,785 --> 00:09:33,435 It was an idea. 210 00:09:33,615 --> 00:09:36,254 So one guy bought thousands of Bitcoin. 211 00:09:36,624 --> 00:09:40,105 He bought so much Bitcoin and it was so early that he thought, well, 212 00:09:40,105 --> 00:09:42,595 how cool would it be if I could buy some pizza with his Bitcoin? 213 00:09:42,875 --> 00:09:45,525 So he went on to a forum and he asked for takers. 214 00:09:45,525 --> 00:09:48,505 He said, Hey, I've got 10, 000 Bitcoin. 215 00:09:49,390 --> 00:09:51,140 Would someone like to give me a pizza? 216 00:09:51,150 --> 00:09:53,470 Would someone like to trade me this Bitcoin for pizza? 217 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:54,840 And there was a taker. 218 00:09:55,250 --> 00:10:01,719 And so, in May 22, 2010, this guy spent 10, 000 Bitcoin 219 00:10:01,749 --> 00:10:03,820 at, uh, for two large pizzas. 220 00:10:04,470 --> 00:10:07,312 10, 000 Bitcoin was equivalent to 41. 221 00:10:07,312 --> 00:10:10,250 Okay, 10, 000 Bitcoin, 41. 222 00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:13,790 If you were to check the price of Bitcoin today, or somewhere about 223 00:10:13,790 --> 00:10:16,495 today, Bitcoin today is 100, 000. 224 00:10:16,495 --> 00:10:17,709 One of them. 225 00:10:17,709 --> 00:10:20,865 10, 000 times 100, 000. 226 00:10:20,944 --> 00:10:22,904 Anyone have math, a math degree in here? 227 00:10:23,635 --> 00:10:24,015 Yeah? 228 00:10:24,055 --> 00:10:24,585 What is it? 229 00:10:24,585 --> 00:10:27,874 Speaker 2: That's like a 10, 000, 000. 230 00:10:28,755 --> 00:10:30,064 Speaker 3: I think it's actually 1, 000, 000, 000. 231 00:10:30,065 --> 00:10:31,075 If I'm not mistaken. 232 00:10:31,084 --> 00:10:31,705 Someone can check. 233 00:10:31,715 --> 00:10:32,924 But I think it's 1, 000, 000, 000. 234 00:10:32,925 --> 00:10:35,615 This guy spent 1, 000, 000, 000 on two large pizzas. 235 00:10:36,375 --> 00:10:38,614 I mean future 1, 000, 000, 000. 236 00:10:38,994 --> 00:10:42,275 10, 10, 000 times 100, 000. 237 00:10:42,615 --> 00:10:42,915 Okay. 238 00:10:42,975 --> 00:10:43,204 Okay. 239 00:10:43,204 --> 00:10:43,335 Okay. 240 00:10:43,335 --> 00:10:43,505 Okay. 241 00:10:43,525 --> 00:10:43,885 Not important. 242 00:10:45,895 --> 00:10:49,525 Valuing what's valuable is, is like a lot like saying, look, I've got Bitcoin. 243 00:10:49,545 --> 00:10:53,714 This is going to be valuable for 100, 000 per Bitcoin, but you have to trust me. 244 00:10:53,815 --> 00:10:58,314 You're buying it today in 2010, but in 10, 2025, man, you're going to be so wealthy. 245 00:10:58,314 --> 00:11:00,154 Just hang on to the Bitcoin today. 246 00:11:00,154 --> 00:11:02,005 A lot of people don't value the kingdom of God. 247 00:11:02,145 --> 00:11:04,345 They're saying, well, is that really that valuable? 248 00:11:04,454 --> 00:11:06,685 Is it really that, is it really going to be that cool? 249 00:11:06,805 --> 00:11:09,655 And the thing is Jesus kingdom is more valuable than any 250 00:11:09,655 --> 00:11:10,905 human institution, period. 251 00:11:11,525 --> 00:11:12,585 It's not value today. 252 00:11:12,585 --> 00:11:13,525 Most people don't like it. 253 00:11:13,525 --> 00:11:14,175 Don't look at it. 254 00:11:14,175 --> 00:11:17,825 Don't want to talk about it But his kingdom is worth more than any human 255 00:11:17,964 --> 00:11:21,734 wealth can ever even fathom jesus kingdom is worth the investment 256 00:11:21,744 --> 00:11:25,774 So the future kingdom you ought to value that it's a lot like bitcoin. 257 00:11:25,805 --> 00:11:29,185 It's going to go through the roof It's going to skyrocket in value, but you 258 00:11:29,185 --> 00:11:31,085 got to trust that jesus knows what he's doing He's going to win this 259 00:11:31,095 --> 00:11:34,795 there's this guy with the 22 dollars or the 41 dollars worth of pizza 260 00:11:35,915 --> 00:11:39,560 10 000 bitcoin Value is valuable. 261 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:41,190 Don't put your hope in things that can fail. 262 00:11:41,319 --> 00:11:42,319 Don't put your hope in pizza. 263 00:11:42,350 --> 00:11:43,290 Don't put your hope in money. 264 00:11:43,589 --> 00:11:44,670 Those things fly away. 265 00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:46,250 Jesus continues on. 266 00:11:46,470 --> 00:11:48,609 Matthew 6, 19 through 24. 267 00:11:48,839 --> 00:11:50,689 Actually, Matthew 6, 22 through 23. 268 00:11:51,579 --> 00:11:52,879 Take a look at what else Jesus says. 269 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:54,899 This is a bit enigmatic. 270 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:56,679 It's going to take a minute to explain this, but follow along. 271 00:11:57,619 --> 00:11:59,170 The eye is the lamp of the body. 272 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,310 Another way to think about the lamp is a window. 273 00:12:02,710 --> 00:12:04,130 A lamp gives light. 274 00:12:04,150 --> 00:12:07,319 The eye, have you ever heard someone say your eye is the window to your soul? 275 00:12:07,935 --> 00:12:09,375 It's kind of like what Jesus is saying here. 276 00:12:09,375 --> 00:12:14,125 Your eye, what you focus on, is what gives light to your person, 277 00:12:14,125 --> 00:12:17,165 what gives light to your thinking, what gives light to your life. 278 00:12:17,324 --> 00:12:21,355 So whatever you're focusing on is influencing the way that you understand 279 00:12:21,385 --> 00:12:22,625 life, the way that you live life. 280 00:12:22,944 --> 00:12:23,944 So here's what he says about that. 281 00:12:24,754 --> 00:12:27,974 So if your eye is healthy, if it's focused on the right thing, if 282 00:12:27,974 --> 00:12:31,325 it's focused on things that are eternal and good and godly, your 283 00:12:31,325 --> 00:12:32,534 whole body will be full of light. 284 00:12:32,565 --> 00:12:36,544 Everything about your life benefits and grows if you're 285 00:12:36,544 --> 00:12:37,615 focused on the right thing. 286 00:12:38,429 --> 00:12:41,680 But if your eye is bad, if your eye is bad, your whole 287 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:43,290 body will be full of darkness. 288 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:47,060 And if that light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness? 289 00:12:47,069 --> 00:12:50,910 In other words, if you're focused, if your eye, and we'll talk about the 290 00:12:50,910 --> 00:12:55,979 meaning of that in a second here, if your eye is focused on evil or greed or on 291 00:12:55,979 --> 00:12:59,655 generosity, not being generous, which is I think the point of this, He's saying 292 00:12:59,835 --> 00:13:03,845 your whole life will be flooded with that darkness and it'll infect everything. 293 00:13:04,625 --> 00:13:08,655 What you focus on is going to have a dominating influence on 294 00:13:08,655 --> 00:13:09,925 the way that you live your life. 295 00:13:10,244 --> 00:13:12,884 And Jesus is saying you should be single minded, singular, singular, 296 00:13:12,885 --> 00:13:16,354 singularly focused on Him. 297 00:13:17,414 --> 00:13:20,224 If it's not, if it's focused on money or greed, it's going to 298 00:13:20,234 --> 00:13:21,484 have an evil effect on your life. 299 00:13:21,484 --> 00:13:24,555 In fact, let me just show you in Proverbs 28, 22, here's what this says. 300 00:13:24,555 --> 00:13:25,115 This is important. 301 00:13:25,595 --> 00:13:27,945 A stingy man hastens after wealth. 302 00:13:28,485 --> 00:13:30,255 A stingy man hastens after wealth. 303 00:13:31,004 --> 00:13:33,155 And does not know that poverty will come upon him. 304 00:13:33,155 --> 00:13:37,234 The reason I bring this up is because the word for stingy man is literally 305 00:13:38,385 --> 00:13:41,624 a man with an evil eye, an evil eye. 306 00:13:42,164 --> 00:13:44,864 The word underneath it is someone with an evil eye, which is what 307 00:13:44,865 --> 00:13:46,664 Jesus is alluding to in this passage. 308 00:13:46,664 --> 00:13:49,845 He's saying if someone has an evil eye, they're stingy, they're greedy. 309 00:13:50,304 --> 00:13:53,994 Someone with the good eye then is someone who, like God, is generous and 310 00:13:54,024 --> 00:13:56,675 understands what money and wealth is for. 311 00:13:57,194 --> 00:13:59,365 So he's saying, don't be someone with an evil eye. 312 00:13:59,375 --> 00:14:00,865 Don't be stingy, be generous. 313 00:14:01,319 --> 00:14:03,819 Going back to this, you see, the eye is the lamp of the body. 314 00:14:03,849 --> 00:14:05,230 If your eye is healthy, it's good. 315 00:14:05,319 --> 00:14:08,669 If it's focused on God's kingdom and generosity, hey, 316 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:09,939 your whole body full of light. 317 00:14:09,939 --> 00:14:13,569 You're not gonna be subjugated or you're not gonna be, uh, you're not 318 00:14:13,569 --> 00:14:15,139 gonna succumb to this bad thinking. 319 00:14:15,349 --> 00:14:18,909 But if your eye is bad, if your eye is evil, if it's stingy, man, 320 00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:20,669 your whole body full of darkness. 321 00:14:20,899 --> 00:14:25,049 That kind of person is someone who's focused on, on materialism, 322 00:14:25,069 --> 00:14:29,709 greed, more money, more clothes, more cars, more whatever. 323 00:14:30,490 --> 00:14:31,359 More house. 324 00:14:31,369 --> 00:14:33,629 Some people want a lot of house, or I want a boat, or I want 325 00:14:33,629 --> 00:14:36,109 these really cool Draken sliders. 326 00:14:36,180 --> 00:14:36,910 Draco? 327 00:14:36,980 --> 00:14:37,410 Draken. 328 00:14:38,339 --> 00:14:38,810 Draco. 329 00:14:39,459 --> 00:14:40,019 Same difference. 330 00:14:40,020 --> 00:14:40,619 You know what I was talking about. 331 00:14:42,230 --> 00:14:44,520 Point number two, you ought to be aware of these things. 332 00:14:44,540 --> 00:14:48,419 And in fact, you ought to see that wealth tells lies. 333 00:14:48,460 --> 00:14:51,630 Point number two, you ought to see through the lies of materialism. 334 00:14:51,930 --> 00:14:52,640 Materialism. 335 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:54,040 The desire for more stuff. 336 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:55,930 To get more things. 337 00:14:56,419 --> 00:14:57,010 More things. 338 00:14:57,010 --> 00:14:58,350 So money, things, things, things. 339 00:14:58,854 --> 00:15:02,224 Uh, these things are, it's a big deal guys, and it's hard for me to 340 00:15:02,224 --> 00:15:04,994 describe to you because you live in a world where materialism is 341 00:15:04,994 --> 00:15:06,474 the way that everybody operates. 342 00:15:07,185 --> 00:15:07,784 Really cool. 343 00:15:07,784 --> 00:15:09,514 I loved what Payless did the other day. 344 00:15:10,304 --> 00:15:13,135 Payless created a pop up shop, actually not the other day, 345 00:15:13,135 --> 00:15:13,935 this is a couple years now. 346 00:15:14,204 --> 00:15:16,204 They created a pop up shop called Palesi. 347 00:15:17,214 --> 00:15:20,079 They put all of their, you guys know what Payless is? 348 00:15:20,679 --> 00:15:23,560 Payless is a cheap shoe brand. 349 00:15:23,980 --> 00:15:28,550 They make really cheap, very poor quality shoes, but they're good. 350 00:15:28,569 --> 00:15:29,920 They satisfy. 351 00:15:29,930 --> 00:15:32,259 They're not great quality, but they're nice. 352 00:15:33,339 --> 00:15:34,539 I grew up on Payless shoes, man. 353 00:15:34,540 --> 00:15:35,289 They were great shoes. 354 00:15:35,570 --> 00:15:35,940 I'll say that. 355 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,709 But as a trick, as an experiment, Payless created a high end 356 00:15:41,749 --> 00:15:43,720 luxury shop called Pelesi. 357 00:15:44,220 --> 00:15:47,200 And they said that their shoes were designed by this really great 358 00:15:47,210 --> 00:15:51,395 designer named Um, I think Mario or something, this is an Italian guy. 359 00:15:51,605 --> 00:15:56,705 And so they legitimately set up a shop and people were walking by and like, Oh man, 360 00:15:56,705 --> 00:15:58,694 this new shop with these exclusive shoes. 361 00:15:58,935 --> 00:16:03,035 And these guys paid hundreds of dollars for Payless shoes. 362 00:16:03,344 --> 00:16:06,304 They walked out of there thinking that they got the best deal ever. 363 00:16:06,455 --> 00:16:10,825 And they, they, they interviewed them and these people were gushing over the quality 364 00:16:10,835 --> 00:16:13,095 and the design being so forward thinking. 365 00:16:13,095 --> 00:16:14,445 I mean, these guys were so duped. 366 00:16:14,695 --> 00:16:15,775 Go look it up on YouTube. 367 00:16:15,775 --> 00:16:16,735 It's hilarious to watch. 368 00:16:17,665 --> 00:16:20,635 But the truth came out that it was actually Payless behind 369 00:16:20,635 --> 00:16:22,595 it, and people were stunned. 370 00:16:22,685 --> 00:16:26,115 Stunned that what they, what had happened was they were bamboozled. 371 00:16:26,565 --> 00:16:28,605 Payless came out, people were all over this. 372 00:16:28,635 --> 00:16:32,275 It was a wonderful PR campaign, and only to realize, lots of people, that they 373 00:16:32,275 --> 00:16:35,194 were tricked into thinking that what they thought was incredibly valuable was 374 00:16:35,195 --> 00:16:37,925 actually was in fact worthless, valueless. 375 00:16:38,115 --> 00:16:40,974 Again, you ought to learn how to value what's valuable. 376 00:16:41,115 --> 00:16:44,435 And the world loves to trick you and say, look, this is valuable. 377 00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:46,304 Beauty is the most valuable thing. 378 00:16:46,494 --> 00:16:48,345 Masculine strength is the most valuable. 379 00:16:48,554 --> 00:16:50,144 Intellect is the most valuable thing. 380 00:16:50,314 --> 00:16:53,064 Jesus is saying, no, value what's truly valuable. 381 00:16:53,645 --> 00:16:56,354 Learn to value what is truly valuable. 382 00:16:57,395 --> 00:17:01,564 In Mark chapter 4, one of the things that Jesus warns us about is that there 383 00:17:01,564 --> 00:17:07,704 is a kind of person Who, because of their attention to wealth and money, 384 00:17:08,723 --> 00:17:14,634 are deceived by riches and consequently don't follow God, don't follow Christ. 385 00:17:15,154 --> 00:17:17,424 And when that happens, disaster takes place. 386 00:17:17,425 --> 00:17:19,145 Here's what Jesus says about this kind of person. 387 00:17:19,584 --> 00:17:24,124 There are those where their seed, the Word of God, is sown among thorns. 388 00:17:25,054 --> 00:17:29,145 They are those who hear the word but the cares of the world and the 389 00:17:29,145 --> 00:17:33,794 deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things enter in and choke 390 00:17:33,794 --> 00:17:35,744 the word and it proves unfruitful. 391 00:17:36,295 --> 00:17:39,885 There's a kind of person, a kind of danger for someone who loves stuff 392 00:17:40,264 --> 00:17:44,384 where that stuff chokes the ability for God's Word to take root in your life. 393 00:17:44,794 --> 00:17:45,864 It's that dangerous. 394 00:17:46,845 --> 00:17:50,095 The Apostle Paul wrote to his young protege Timothy 395 00:17:50,254 --> 00:17:51,365 about the danger of wealth. 396 00:17:51,375 --> 00:17:54,669 He says this, Godliness with contentment, that's a great game. 397 00:17:54,830 --> 00:17:57,050 To be content and be godly, that's a really good thing. 398 00:17:57,260 --> 00:17:59,180 He says, we brought nothing into the world. 399 00:17:59,180 --> 00:18:00,189 You're a born and naked baby. 400 00:18:00,189 --> 00:18:01,219 You're gonna die naked. 401 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,560 They'll put clothes on you, but you're, you come naked, you leave naked. 402 00:18:05,090 --> 00:18:06,550 You can't take anything with you. 403 00:18:07,810 --> 00:18:11,610 Verse 8, But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 404 00:18:11,810 --> 00:18:13,600 Notice what Paul says you really need. 405 00:18:14,340 --> 00:18:15,570 Food and clothing. 406 00:18:16,429 --> 00:18:17,780 He didn't even talk about a house. 407 00:18:18,445 --> 00:18:20,414 Things that we would say, well, we need a house, Paul. 408 00:18:20,594 --> 00:18:21,864 Well, we need warm water, Paul. 409 00:18:21,864 --> 00:18:22,914 Well, we need internet, Paul. 410 00:18:22,914 --> 00:18:25,215 But Paul saying, if we have food and clothing, we ought to be 411 00:18:25,215 --> 00:18:26,705 content with just those things. 412 00:18:26,804 --> 00:18:29,044 You want to know, and I said this to you before, but let me tell you again, 413 00:18:29,495 --> 00:18:31,824 you and I are incredibly wealthy. 414 00:18:32,834 --> 00:18:34,414 I know I'm not just talking about relationships. 415 00:18:34,414 --> 00:18:35,224 I'm talking about money. 416 00:18:35,234 --> 00:18:38,034 Like we are, we're, we're a really wealthy culture. 417 00:18:38,684 --> 00:18:39,454 We live in it. 418 00:18:39,485 --> 00:18:40,224 We swim in it. 419 00:18:40,304 --> 00:18:42,615 So we don't recognize it, but we are the 1%. 420 00:18:44,114 --> 00:18:46,955 We're not the 1 percent in America, but we're the 1 percent globally. 421 00:18:47,024 --> 00:18:48,064 We make a lot of money here. 422 00:18:48,354 --> 00:18:49,134 We're very wealthy. 423 00:18:49,550 --> 00:18:51,929 Paul is saying for those of us who are wealthy, there are special 424 00:18:51,939 --> 00:18:53,830 dangers that we need to be aware of. 425 00:18:53,830 --> 00:18:56,370 He says one of those things is that we may not be content with our needs. 426 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,580 We want more than what our needs, what our needs are. 427 00:18:59,699 --> 00:19:02,080 So he says, look, if we have food and clothing, we should be content with those. 428 00:19:02,090 --> 00:19:02,639 Verse 9. 429 00:19:03,090 --> 00:19:05,599 But those who desire to be rich, now pause for a second. 430 00:19:07,450 --> 00:19:08,489 Let's be honest with ourselves. 431 00:19:08,510 --> 00:19:09,760 Is there anyone in the room here? 432 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:10,409 Don't raise your hand. 433 00:19:10,409 --> 00:19:12,760 But is there anyone in the room that has a desire to be rich? 434 00:19:13,750 --> 00:19:15,429 And if you want to, if you want to just have what your 435 00:19:15,429 --> 00:19:18,240 mom and dad have, that's rich. 436 00:19:18,889 --> 00:19:20,960 It may not be rich in your mind, because you're thinking rich like, 437 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,770 oh, Bezos or Gates or Zuckerberg. 438 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:26,570 That's like uber, super ridiculous rich. 439 00:19:26,590 --> 00:19:28,719 But if you're thinking about your mom and dad rich, that's a lot 440 00:19:28,719 --> 00:19:30,509 of money, it's a lot of money. 441 00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:31,900 It's, it's, it's rich. 442 00:19:32,739 --> 00:19:34,500 So he says here, if you desire to be rich, 443 00:19:36,559 --> 00:19:38,820 you can fall into temptation, into a snare. 444 00:19:38,820 --> 00:19:39,710 A snare is a trap. 445 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:40,190 Think about it. 446 00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:44,629 A bunny rabbit getting caught in, you know, there's, there's a carrot in a cage, 447 00:19:44,810 --> 00:19:49,080 the bunny rabbit jumps in, the cage clamps on the rabbit, rabbit strangles and dies. 448 00:19:49,949 --> 00:19:50,520 That's a snare. 449 00:19:51,695 --> 00:19:55,185 They get tempt temptation into a snare into many senseless and harmful 450 00:19:55,185 --> 00:19:59,735 desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction for the love of money. 451 00:20:00,105 --> 00:20:01,615 Money is a root of all kinds of evil. 452 00:20:01,965 --> 00:20:05,675 It is through this craving, this craving, this craving for money that some have 453 00:20:05,675 --> 00:20:09,094 wandered away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pangs. 454 00:20:09,104 --> 00:20:13,384 Think about, man, I'm hurting myself when I love money so much that I'm willing 455 00:20:13,384 --> 00:20:14,714 to do whatever I need to do for it. 456 00:20:16,064 --> 00:20:17,544 Think about what money represents in our culture. 457 00:20:17,734 --> 00:20:19,514 Money represents power. 458 00:20:19,824 --> 00:20:21,424 It represents prestige. 459 00:20:21,624 --> 00:20:24,304 It represents often beauty, because if I, if I can get, if I have 460 00:20:24,304 --> 00:20:25,149 enough money, I could get the power. 461 00:20:25,310 --> 00:20:25,800 Cosmetics. 462 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,439 I want, I can get the clothes that I want. 463 00:20:27,870 --> 00:20:29,729 I can get the swag or the drip that I need. 464 00:20:29,919 --> 00:20:31,019 I can get the right shoes. 465 00:20:31,159 --> 00:20:33,229 I can get the right, I can go to the right school. 466 00:20:33,229 --> 00:20:34,499 I can drive the right car. 467 00:20:34,689 --> 00:20:38,539 Money represents a lot of things that a lot of people are saying. 468 00:20:38,629 --> 00:20:39,339 I want that. 469 00:20:39,369 --> 00:20:40,110 I need that. 470 00:20:40,860 --> 00:20:44,690 Paul is saying, you got to be very careful because some people are just 471 00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:46,670 hurting themselves saying, I want money. 472 00:20:46,690 --> 00:20:47,540 I love money. 473 00:20:48,139 --> 00:20:51,800 And he's saying people destroy themselves over the love of this thing. 474 00:20:52,730 --> 00:20:54,250 He continues on to his protege. 475 00:20:54,779 --> 00:20:58,399 Pastor Timothy, and he says, Pastor Timothy, as for the rich of this present 476 00:20:58,399 --> 00:21:03,170 age, Tell them, charge them, command them not to be proud, nor to set their 477 00:21:03,180 --> 00:21:05,070 hopes on the uncertainty of riches. 478 00:21:05,110 --> 00:21:05,730 Uncertainty. 479 00:21:05,730 --> 00:21:06,629 Riches aren't certain. 480 00:21:07,169 --> 00:21:08,459 The stock market is good one day. 481 00:21:08,479 --> 00:21:08,959 Great. 482 00:21:09,199 --> 00:21:10,550 Stock market is bad the next day. 483 00:21:10,699 --> 00:21:11,229 Awful. 484 00:21:12,620 --> 00:21:13,439 That happens all the time. 485 00:21:14,199 --> 00:21:17,489 Don't set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God. 486 00:21:18,010 --> 00:21:19,490 And that's the problem with wealth. 487 00:21:19,649 --> 00:21:22,560 It tempts us to trust it instead of to trust God. 488 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:24,500 And that's the biggest problem that we suffer with here. 489 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:28,280 Trust God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 490 00:21:29,999 --> 00:21:31,079 And then look at verse 19. 491 00:21:31,089 --> 00:21:32,289 Who does this sound, who does it sound like? 492 00:21:32,794 --> 00:21:37,145 He says if they do good, they'll thus store up treasure for themselves. 493 00:21:37,225 --> 00:21:38,235 Storing up treasure. 494 00:21:38,235 --> 00:21:40,445 It sounds a lot like Jesus in Matthew chapter 6, doesn't it? 495 00:21:40,484 --> 00:21:41,674 That's exactly what Paul is doing here. 496 00:21:41,935 --> 00:21:43,794 He's alluding to what Jesus says about this. 497 00:21:44,495 --> 00:21:47,104 He says if, if they do that, they'll store up treasure for themselves as 498 00:21:47,104 --> 00:21:51,365 a good foundation for the future so that they may be able to take hold 499 00:21:51,405 --> 00:21:56,495 of that, which is truly life, so they can, they can enjoy life as God 500 00:21:56,495 --> 00:21:58,545 intended, to value what's valuable. 501 00:22:01,485 --> 00:22:04,905 Solomon, the richest man ever, pursued wealth, pleasure, happiness. 502 00:22:05,145 --> 00:22:06,054 Here's what his verdict. 503 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:07,460 Here's, here's what he said. 504 00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:11,129 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who 505 00:22:11,129 --> 00:22:12,580 loves wealth with his income. 506 00:22:12,939 --> 00:22:13,919 This is also vanity. 507 00:22:14,370 --> 00:22:14,980 It's a waste of time. 508 00:22:14,990 --> 00:22:15,499 Don't try. 509 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,009 God allowed a man to become super wealthy, and he was very successful, 510 00:22:20,070 --> 00:22:23,539 and his, his conclusion was, it's never going to be enough. 511 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:25,150 You will not be satisfied. 512 00:22:25,159 --> 00:22:26,020 It's never going to work. 513 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:31,280 That's why you have to value what's valuable, and not value the things 514 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:32,580 that the world says are valuable. 515 00:22:32,590 --> 00:22:33,749 Value what God says is valuable. 516 00:22:34,759 --> 00:22:37,819 Last verse here, Matthew 6 24. 517 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:39,999 Here's Jesus conclusion on the matter. 518 00:22:40,470 --> 00:22:43,149 He says this, No one can serve two masters. 519 00:22:43,610 --> 00:22:47,690 You can't say God is my master and also something else. 520 00:22:47,809 --> 00:22:51,379 He said no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and 521 00:22:51,379 --> 00:22:55,350 love the other or he'll be devoted to the one and despise the other. 522 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,110 You cannot serve God and money. 523 00:22:58,889 --> 00:23:02,860 You can't allow yourself to look at two masters and say well this 524 00:23:02,860 --> 00:23:06,320 master demands me of this and this master demands that of me. 525 00:23:06,570 --> 00:23:07,470 You can't have two. 526 00:23:07,500 --> 00:23:08,570 You have to have only one. 527 00:23:08,570 --> 00:23:10,879 I was telling your parents about this this weekend, and you guys 528 00:23:10,879 --> 00:23:11,870 were there too, most of you. 529 00:23:12,310 --> 00:23:13,519 I was telling your parents about this. 530 00:23:13,719 --> 00:23:15,790 We must put Jesus in first place. 531 00:23:15,969 --> 00:23:17,719 He must have our first and our best. 532 00:23:17,719 --> 00:23:19,399 He will tolerate no rivals. 533 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,970 He will not tolerate you saying, well, I, I really, I like what Jesus offers, 534 00:23:23,970 --> 00:23:27,649 but I also really want to be rich or beautiful and powerful or whatever else. 535 00:23:27,930 --> 00:23:31,919 Point number three, you need to decide to treasure Jesus over everything else. 536 00:23:32,249 --> 00:23:32,909 Decide. 537 00:23:33,070 --> 00:23:34,159 You must do this. 538 00:23:34,329 --> 00:23:35,449 You're old enough for it. 539 00:23:35,639 --> 00:23:36,979 You're wise enough for it. 540 00:23:37,679 --> 00:23:38,820 You must decide to do it. 541 00:23:39,540 --> 00:23:43,789 You must say to yourself, Jesus is worth all that my life is and 542 00:23:43,799 --> 00:23:45,050 all that my life ever will be. 543 00:23:45,419 --> 00:23:46,379 You're old enough for this. 544 00:23:46,389 --> 00:23:47,610 This is why I give you the message. 545 00:23:48,104 --> 00:23:49,695 Jesus doesn't want you to be half hearted. 546 00:23:49,955 --> 00:23:51,135 He doesn't want your halvesies. 547 00:23:51,135 --> 00:23:52,185 He doesn't want your leftovers. 548 00:23:52,185 --> 00:23:53,604 Jesus wants your first and your best. 549 00:23:53,824 --> 00:23:57,324 And your job is to say, I'm not going to, I'm not going to pursue money. 550 00:23:57,395 --> 00:23:58,324 I'm going to pursue God. 551 00:23:58,635 --> 00:24:00,915 And if God gives me money, great, I'll be generous with that. 552 00:24:01,305 --> 00:24:02,055 But he may not. 553 00:24:02,634 --> 00:24:03,235 He may not. 554 00:24:03,314 --> 00:24:04,455 And you need to be okay with that. 555 00:24:05,254 --> 00:24:06,154 God wants her all. 556 00:24:07,685 --> 00:24:10,715 One great example of this is a guy by the name of AJ Griffin. 557 00:24:11,534 --> 00:24:13,514 AJ Griffin was in the NBA. 558 00:24:14,115 --> 00:24:17,224 He made headlines though this last year because here's what he says, I 559 00:24:17,245 --> 00:24:18,685 give up basketball to follow Jesus. 560 00:24:19,300 --> 00:24:20,189 This guy made it. 561 00:24:20,199 --> 00:24:21,820 He was making millions of dollars a year. 562 00:24:22,419 --> 00:24:24,389 He had recently been traded to another team. 563 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:26,550 But this guy is at the top of his game. 564 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,340 He's 21 years old, if I remember right. 565 00:24:28,340 --> 00:24:29,249 He's 21 years old. 566 00:24:30,260 --> 00:24:32,380 And then he says I'm giving up the NBA. 567 00:24:32,420 --> 00:24:32,630 Why? 568 00:24:32,660 --> 00:24:33,720 Because I want to follow Jesus. 569 00:24:34,020 --> 00:24:36,090 Instagram post talks about this to quote him. 570 00:24:36,090 --> 00:24:39,280 He says I know that in a lot of people's eyes that seems like it 571 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:40,520 seems like a loss in the world's eyes. 572 00:24:40,580 --> 00:24:41,330 It's a loss. 573 00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:42,800 You're giving up all this money, AJ. 574 00:24:43,449 --> 00:24:47,229 But I just want to let you guys know that I'm super excited because I truly get 575 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:51,780 to serve God, you know with my full yes, and I feel like letting go of basketball 576 00:24:51,990 --> 00:24:55,310 is allowing me to go into full time ministry and truly serve the Lord with 577 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,629 all my heart with all my time too as well. 578 00:24:57,900 --> 00:24:59,630 So I'm just excited to see where that leads me. 579 00:25:00,294 --> 00:25:01,294 You know what that, that is? 580 00:25:01,355 --> 00:25:02,034 No regrets. 581 00:25:02,595 --> 00:25:05,445 Yeah, I'm giving up a paycheck of millions of dollars a year, but no regrets. 582 00:25:05,945 --> 00:25:08,754 Jesus is more valuable than millions of dollars a year is what 583 00:25:08,774 --> 00:25:09,995 AJ is saying, and I applaud that. 584 00:25:09,995 --> 00:25:10,544 I don't know the guy. 585 00:25:10,884 --> 00:25:13,374 I don't know what kind of Christian he is, but I think that's the right mindset. 586 00:25:13,794 --> 00:25:17,414 Deciding to say, I'm gonna, I'm gonna put Jesus over everything else is saying, I'll 587 00:25:17,414 --> 00:25:18,855 take Jesus over the million dollar check. 588 00:25:20,955 --> 00:25:23,554 I really want you to get this, because if you can get this, 589 00:25:23,575 --> 00:25:24,875 everything else is gonna make sense. 590 00:25:25,195 --> 00:25:28,385 Jesus is more valuable than anything else your life can offer, which is 591 00:25:28,395 --> 00:25:31,415 why it makes so much sense for you to say, Jesus, you get everything. 592 00:25:32,475 --> 00:25:35,504 And you can, as a young woman or a young man tonight, you could 593 00:25:35,504 --> 00:25:36,975 say, I'm gonna follow Jesus. 594 00:25:37,504 --> 00:25:41,984 I'm gonna trust that He's doing something, that He's real, that He really did 595 00:25:41,984 --> 00:25:46,054 live in my place, that He really did die on the cross and then rise again 596 00:25:46,074 --> 00:25:49,564 on the third day, and that He really said, I'm coming back, and that He 597 00:25:49,564 --> 00:25:52,084 really will reward those who follow Him. 598 00:25:53,164 --> 00:25:56,334 If Christianity's true, guys, this is radically life changing. 599 00:25:57,064 --> 00:25:59,465 I challenge you tonight to decide to treasure Jesus over everything. 600 00:26:00,465 --> 00:26:02,005 Value what's really valuable. 601 00:26:04,895 --> 00:26:10,495 Before Joshua died, he said to the people of Israel, he said this, Now 602 00:26:10,495 --> 00:26:15,774 therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. 603 00:26:16,504 --> 00:26:19,244 Put away the gods that your father served beyond the river 604 00:26:19,245 --> 00:26:20,725 and in Egypt and serve the Lord. 605 00:26:21,004 --> 00:26:24,705 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom 606 00:26:24,705 --> 00:26:29,495 you will serve, whether the gods of your fathers or the gods of the 607 00:26:29,504 --> 00:26:30,915 Amorites and whose land you dwell. 608 00:26:30,915 --> 00:26:32,095 But ask for me in my house. 609 00:26:32,695 --> 00:26:33,765 We will serve the Lord. 610 00:26:34,325 --> 00:26:36,975 Those are some of the last words that Joshua gave to the people of Israel 611 00:26:36,975 --> 00:26:41,445 before they entered into the promised land, before they continued to take 612 00:26:41,445 --> 00:26:42,635 the land that God had promised them. 613 00:26:43,125 --> 00:26:43,935 But I love what he says. 614 00:26:44,095 --> 00:26:45,175 You choose this day. 615 00:26:46,215 --> 00:26:46,925 You choose. 616 00:26:47,295 --> 00:26:49,425 He didn't say, hey, have your parents choose for you. 617 00:26:49,955 --> 00:26:50,815 He says, no, you choose. 618 00:26:50,815 --> 00:26:52,345 Choose this day who you will serve. 619 00:26:53,075 --> 00:26:54,255 The fingers in your chest. 620 00:26:54,945 --> 00:26:57,825 As I told your parents this weekend, I want them to choose, but you choose now. 621 00:26:58,315 --> 00:26:59,715 What are you gonna do with this message? 622 00:26:59,985 --> 00:27:01,615 You can choose a value that's valuable, and now you know. 623 00:27:02,325 --> 00:27:06,285 Now, you know, you can say I, I, Pastor Rod said the Bible, more importantly, 624 00:27:06,665 --> 00:27:10,135 according to the Bible, there's a kind of wealth that you can have 625 00:27:10,135 --> 00:27:14,235 that, that is fleeting, fading, or you can have wealth that is lasting, 626 00:27:14,235 --> 00:27:19,825 unending, untouchable, imperishable, that God wants to give to you. 627 00:27:19,825 --> 00:27:20,685 That's real wealth. 628 00:27:21,325 --> 00:27:22,565 You get to choose which one you want. 629 00:27:22,620 --> 00:27:24,810 Are you going to choose the wealth that the world offers 630 00:27:24,810 --> 00:27:26,000 or the wealth that God offers? 631 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:28,020 You ought to value what's valuable. 632 00:27:28,140 --> 00:27:29,020 I hope you choose wisely. 633 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:29,490 Let's pray. 634 00:27:29,890 --> 00:27:32,250 God, give us the wisdom to choose rightly tonight. 635 00:27:32,620 --> 00:27:36,560 As we go to our small groups, help us not to skirt good questions or 636 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,590 to not have good conversations. 637 00:27:38,590 --> 00:27:41,830 Help us to have valuable conversations in the way that we interact tonight. 638 00:27:42,250 --> 00:27:44,110 Let us be honest about where our hearts are. 639 00:27:44,710 --> 00:27:47,500 Some of us really want money and money's attractive for a lot of 640 00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:51,690 reasons and materialism has a lot of benefits, but we don't want to be. 641 00:27:51,955 --> 00:27:55,045 Distracted by those things help us to know and to believe that the real wealth 642 00:27:55,055 --> 00:28:00,815 that is out there is found in Christ He is all the wealth that we need and his 643 00:28:00,815 --> 00:28:04,325 wealth will never fail We ask for your blessing as we now go to our small groups. 644 00:28:04,325 --> 00:28:06,085 Help us have a great time in Jesus name. 645 00:28:06,165 --> 00:28:06,665 Amen