1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,135 Speaker: Well good morning everybody. 2 00:00:01,444 --> 00:00:01,975 Good morning. 3 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:04,110 So great to be here. 4 00:00:04,410 --> 00:00:10,290 Uh, if you don't know me, my name is Maurice Lee and uh, I've got my 5 00:00:10,290 --> 00:00:12,150 beautiful wife, Monica down there. 6 00:00:12,150 --> 00:00:17,130 I've got Caden, who's my firstborn son, and my youngest is actually 7 00:00:17,130 --> 00:00:21,209 at the Coastline Service where we actually normally are for Sundays. 8 00:00:21,810 --> 00:00:24,150 Uh, I want to do a little introduction because I'm not sure if I know 9 00:00:24,150 --> 00:00:26,759 everybody here, if everyone knows me, but we, uh, my wife and I 10 00:00:26,759 --> 00:00:28,139 actually moved to Orange County. 11 00:00:28,604 --> 00:00:30,435 Back in, uh, 2018. 12 00:00:31,005 --> 00:00:35,714 And, uh, that was, uh, actually my, uh, parents had, uh, become 13 00:00:35,714 --> 00:00:37,214 Christians out in the Korean ministry. 14 00:00:37,214 --> 00:00:40,754 So they got baptized back around 20, I believe, I believe it was 2016. 15 00:00:41,445 --> 00:00:43,305 Uh, really incredible miracle. 16 00:00:44,144 --> 00:00:47,955 And, uh, from there, uh, you know, every time we come back for 17 00:00:47,955 --> 00:00:52,065 vacations and stuff, my, my mom and dad were, they're getting older. 18 00:00:52,425 --> 00:00:56,085 So I would be, uh, coming down and seeing my dad sort of. 19 00:00:57,060 --> 00:01:01,200 On the last, literally last legs, like he would be on the walker and 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:02,880 he'd be sort of scooting along. 21 00:01:03,270 --> 00:01:09,030 And my little four foot 11 mom, uh, so he's, my dad was about my height, 22 00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:10,410 about five foot seven, five foot eight. 23 00:01:10,980 --> 00:01:13,680 She'd be, you know, she'd be sort of like watching over him. 24 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:18,000 And, and we, you know, there was one vacation where I, I was really 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,900 getting nervous because he was really unsteady on that walker. 26 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:26,970 And, uh, from there, uh, I asked my mom, and this was a serious 27 00:01:26,970 --> 00:01:32,160 question, is, mom, uh, what would happen if dad happened to fall? 28 00:01:32,250 --> 00:01:34,350 You know, so that was actually a very real question. 29 00:01:34,380 --> 00:01:35,970 'cause I was like, he's gonna fall. 30 00:01:35,970 --> 00:01:39,390 Like, he could, he could literally just like, totally just fall down any 31 00:01:39,390 --> 00:01:44,610 second, my mind to which, you know, she, she, uh, she, she didn't miss a beat. 32 00:01:44,610 --> 00:01:46,440 She was like, yeah, you know, I'll just leave him on the floor 33 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,390 for like 30 minutes, 45 minutes. 34 00:01:49,860 --> 00:01:51,479 And then, uh, you know, and then. 35 00:01:52,289 --> 00:01:55,170 I mean, seriously, she, she opened up the drawer. 36 00:01:55,530 --> 00:01:59,700 She said, oh, I've got this belt over here, so I'm gonna wrap this belt around 37 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:05,490 his waist, and then I'm gonna actually pull him up after about 30, 45 minutes. 38 00:02:08,009 --> 00:02:10,710 And so you can imagine, like, I'm, I'm horrified. 39 00:02:10,770 --> 00:02:12,600 She is totally serious. 40 00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:17,280 And I'm like, so what would happen if this five eight. 41 00:02:18,390 --> 00:02:20,280 Guy fell on you. 42 00:02:20,310 --> 00:02:20,610 Right. 43 00:02:20,610 --> 00:02:22,260 And I actually, that was in my mind. 44 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:27,329 I didn't ask her that, but I can only imagine two people sitting 45 00:02:27,329 --> 00:02:28,440 there laying on the floor. 46 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:29,040 Okay. 47 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,640 And here we were, we were actually living up in the Bay Area. 48 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:33,990 I've been up there for many years. 49 00:02:33,990 --> 00:02:38,250 I actually, uh, we, I became a Christian in the 19 hundreds. 50 00:02:38,250 --> 00:02:43,410 So I became a Christian in 1989 as a freshman, so 18 years old. 51 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:44,850 So, woo-hoo. 52 00:02:44,910 --> 00:02:46,290 Uh, grateful for that. 53 00:02:46,290 --> 00:02:50,820 But anyway, so we, uh, we prayed a lot, as you can imagine. 54 00:02:51,630 --> 00:02:55,290 And, uh, anyway, long story short, my wife prayed, God, you just gotta 55 00:02:55,290 --> 00:02:56,579 tell us what do we need to do? 56 00:02:56,670 --> 00:02:57,540 And he did. 57 00:02:57,570 --> 00:03:00,959 So anyway, so long story, but, uh, we'll, we'll share it at some point. 58 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,380 And we moved down in 2018 and I'm so grateful to be here. 59 00:03:04,950 --> 00:03:06,630 So grateful to be here in Orange County. 60 00:03:06,660 --> 00:03:11,340 So grateful to be able to see folks like, uh, Twan and Koki out here. 61 00:03:11,429 --> 00:03:14,130 Uh, Kenny and Julie of course got Marcel and Karina. 62 00:03:14,565 --> 00:03:15,555 It's awesome. 63 00:03:15,615 --> 00:03:17,925 Uh, really want to share my heart here. 64 00:03:17,925 --> 00:03:20,925 So hopefully, uh, we'll be able to have some great time. 65 00:03:21,435 --> 00:03:27,795 Uh, and I want to thank a special shout out to Lucia who made some incredibly 66 00:03:27,795 --> 00:03:31,755 delicious burritos and that burrito. 67 00:03:31,755 --> 00:03:34,905 So if you can give her a hand, not sure if she does that every 68 00:03:34,905 --> 00:03:38,355 week, but my mom owned three RIAs. 69 00:03:38,385 --> 00:03:38,805 Okay. 70 00:03:39,015 --> 00:03:41,685 So just again, long story, not gonna go into it. 71 00:03:42,465 --> 00:03:46,005 And I can definitely appreciate some delicious Mexican food. 72 00:03:46,065 --> 00:03:46,335 Okay. 73 00:03:46,335 --> 00:03:47,565 So, so that was awesome. 74 00:03:47,565 --> 00:03:48,075 Thank you. 75 00:03:48,915 --> 00:03:52,485 And, uh, very, very grateful for the fact that, you know, you're really welcome 76 00:03:52,845 --> 00:03:55,395 us folks in with some delicious food. 77 00:03:55,395 --> 00:03:56,025 So thank you Lucian. 78 00:03:58,005 --> 00:04:03,615 Um, I, uh, uh, you know, when I think about finances, so my topic and let me 79 00:04:03,615 --> 00:04:06,495 see if I can get the presentation up. 80 00:04:08,865 --> 00:04:09,465 Okay, there we go. 81 00:04:10,905 --> 00:04:15,585 My topic is, am I doing this finances thing right? 82 00:04:16,034 --> 00:04:16,245 Okay. 83 00:04:16,245 --> 00:04:18,284 So, so Marcel actually updated it a little bit. 84 00:04:18,673 --> 00:04:20,385 Am I doing this money thing right? 85 00:04:21,103 --> 00:04:23,804 I think I like that better actually, Marcel, so, okay, am 86 00:04:23,804 --> 00:04:24,914 I doing this money thing right? 87 00:04:25,065 --> 00:04:28,005 So I get the special topic of finances and money. 88 00:04:28,185 --> 00:04:28,395 Alright. 89 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,715 And uh, you know, when I think about finances, what am I most humbling? 90 00:04:36,750 --> 00:04:40,860 And keeping it real flat, embarrassing stories comes to mind. 91 00:04:40,950 --> 00:04:44,039 Okay, so please as family at the dinner table. 92 00:04:44,070 --> 00:04:44,460 Okay. 93 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,530 Please keep it to yourselves, right? 94 00:04:47,969 --> 00:04:50,849 I've been a Christian for maybe like five or six years. 95 00:04:50,940 --> 00:04:51,120 Okay. 96 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,480 Disciple of Jesus after a church service. 97 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,500 One day, one of my good friends, Albert, and, uh, maybe he'll 98 00:04:58,500 --> 00:04:59,700 watch the live stream someday. 99 00:04:59,730 --> 00:05:01,650 And he's, uh, he'll be world famous now. 100 00:05:01,650 --> 00:05:03,420 Albert, I won't mention his last name. 101 00:05:04,110 --> 00:05:08,340 He was a financial in administrator for our area, and he came up to me. 102 00:05:08,490 --> 00:05:08,969 Okay. 103 00:05:09,090 --> 00:05:09,990 So I'm like, Hey, Albert. 104 00:05:10,020 --> 00:05:10,680 Hey, what's going on? 105 00:05:11,039 --> 00:05:15,450 He handed me my contribution check, check stapled to a sheet of paper. 106 00:05:16,530 --> 00:05:16,830 Okay? 107 00:05:17,670 --> 00:05:22,620 So you know something bad may be happening if your contribution check 108 00:05:22,650 --> 00:05:24,180 is stapled to a piece of paper. 109 00:05:24,630 --> 00:05:24,750 Okay? 110 00:05:25,740 --> 00:05:31,140 He looked at me, I looked at him, and then he said. 111 00:05:32,789 --> 00:05:35,308 In probably the most official tone that he could muster up. 112 00:05:36,210 --> 00:05:39,239 Maurice, you can't give checks to the church anymore. 113 00:05:41,669 --> 00:05:42,150 Okay. 114 00:05:43,409 --> 00:05:44,129 Wow. 115 00:05:45,599 --> 00:05:49,080 He went on to explain that the church, the church, the Kingdom 116 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:55,049 of God had been charged fees for all the checks that I had written. 117 00:05:55,499 --> 00:05:57,840 That ending up ended up bouncing. 118 00:05:59,624 --> 00:06:04,275 And from that point forward, meaning that talk and with that staple check, 119 00:06:04,905 --> 00:06:07,275 he said, I could only give cash. 120 00:06:09,135 --> 00:06:09,344 Okay. 121 00:06:09,614 --> 00:06:09,974 Lemme let. 122 00:06:09,974 --> 00:06:10,934 Let that just settle in. 123 00:06:13,395 --> 00:06:18,734 Disciple of Jesus who can now only give cash. 124 00:06:20,564 --> 00:06:21,705 Wow. 125 00:06:23,354 --> 00:06:24,254 It's a rough moment. 126 00:06:25,815 --> 00:06:30,495 Now for those of you who didn't grow up using checks, I've got a, I've got a pic 127 00:06:30,734 --> 00:06:32,835 picture representation up there for you. 128 00:06:32,984 --> 00:06:33,255 Okay. 129 00:06:33,255 --> 00:06:36,585 Because again, I was born in the 19 hundreds, okay? 130 00:06:37,905 --> 00:06:39,284 Everything is digital these days. 131 00:06:39,284 --> 00:06:40,905 I know it's not a, not an app. 132 00:06:40,905 --> 00:06:42,554 There's no iPhone behind there. 133 00:06:42,585 --> 00:06:43,784 It's a piece of paper. 134 00:06:43,905 --> 00:06:44,385 Okay? 135 00:06:45,015 --> 00:06:48,224 And there's a pen, so I just wanna make sure I included the pen because that's 136 00:06:48,224 --> 00:06:50,354 something else people don't use anymore. 137 00:06:52,784 --> 00:06:55,005 And you write down how much you're gonna give. 138 00:06:55,365 --> 00:06:58,395 And the pay to the order of line is basically where you 139 00:06:58,395 --> 00:06:59,295 know you want to give it to. 140 00:06:59,295 --> 00:07:03,284 So that was where I would write, you know, at that time, you know, San 141 00:07:03,284 --> 00:07:07,245 Francisco Church of Christ, you know, and I write out in, in letters, you 142 00:07:07,245 --> 00:07:09,705 know, and my contribution in the numbers. 143 00:07:10,335 --> 00:07:15,525 And when a check bounces, just to be clear, it means that piece of 144 00:07:15,525 --> 00:07:18,945 paper cannot be turned into any cash. 145 00:07:19,245 --> 00:07:19,275 Okay. 146 00:07:20,085 --> 00:07:22,815 So again, just just to help, help to clarify. 147 00:07:23,775 --> 00:07:29,085 So the person, or in this case, the church who tries to deposit the bad check. 148 00:07:29,085 --> 00:07:30,705 So I'm writing this check, I'm signing that. 149 00:07:30,705 --> 00:07:35,175 My name Maurice Lee, you know, beautiful cursive right hand corner. 150 00:07:37,005 --> 00:07:39,135 So the person who tries to deposit that check. 151 00:07:39,135 --> 00:07:41,625 So I'm giving this check and I'm going, oh, you know, thank you 152 00:07:41,625 --> 00:07:43,005 God for all that you've done. 153 00:07:43,005 --> 00:07:45,225 You know, as we're probably praying for the contribution, 154 00:07:45,435 --> 00:07:47,055 I'm like, ah, here it is. 155 00:07:47,955 --> 00:07:48,315 Okay. 156 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,419 That's coming back to me stapled. 157 00:07:52,530 --> 00:07:57,210 And the church has, has paid a fee because there's no cash. 158 00:07:57,990 --> 00:08:02,010 Like maybe, maybe that was like 20 bucks or 30 bucks or whatever. 159 00:08:02,849 --> 00:08:04,169 There's no, no backing. 160 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,260 So basically it came back and basically as they tried to present 161 00:08:07,289 --> 00:08:09,300 to my bank, the bank said, Nope. 162 00:08:10,169 --> 00:08:12,960 I mean, we know Maurice, but there's no money here. 163 00:08:14,310 --> 00:08:16,560 So you get, you get it back. 164 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:17,130 Church. 165 00:08:17,444 --> 00:08:20,864 And by the way, we're gonna charge you a fee because you tried to pass this off. 166 00:08:20,895 --> 00:08:21,704 Who is this? 167 00:08:21,764 --> 00:08:22,664 Who is this guy, Maurice? 168 00:08:22,664 --> 00:08:26,534 Anyway, so I just wanna make sure it's really clear. 169 00:08:27,374 --> 00:08:27,525 There you go. 170 00:08:27,530 --> 00:08:27,739 Thank you. 171 00:08:28,094 --> 00:08:28,754 That was me. 172 00:08:30,314 --> 00:08:34,453 You might be thinking, wait, aren't you the one giving the sermon titled, 173 00:08:34,875 --> 00:08:36,734 am I doing this finances thing right. 174 00:08:37,875 --> 00:08:38,294 Hold on. 175 00:08:39,495 --> 00:08:41,294 Or am I doing this money thing right? 176 00:08:42,135 --> 00:08:44,415 Shouldn't you, Maurice, have it all figured out. 177 00:08:46,290 --> 00:08:53,850 And the answer is kind of, I'm standing here today because I had to learn a lot. 178 00:08:54,690 --> 00:08:58,020 God is the most patient and loving parent. 179 00:08:58,020 --> 00:08:58,140 Amen. 180 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:05,135 And his training has involved some hard discipline, in other words, 181 00:09:05,495 --> 00:09:09,000 allowing me to feel the pain consequences of living the wrong way. 182 00:09:10,140 --> 00:09:12,660 I'm so glad that I can stand here today as somebody. 183 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:15,870 Who's been changed by God? 184 00:09:16,530 --> 00:09:22,470 It's the bottom line over years, decades, so grateful and as someone who 185 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:24,810 wants to share what God has taught me. 186 00:09:24,810 --> 00:09:30,540 So please, if you can get your, uh, your, uh, notes out or if you can get your, 187 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,470 your, your, your mental notes, whatever you you choose to use, if you can really 188 00:09:34,830 --> 00:09:39,480 think through the things, hopefully it'll spare you some of these painful lessons. 189 00:09:41,055 --> 00:09:45,765 There's no better way to glorify God than to show just how far he's brought me. 190 00:09:46,455 --> 00:09:46,545 Yep. 191 00:09:46,545 --> 00:09:47,865 Okay, let's move on. 192 00:09:50,115 --> 00:09:50,955 Luke 1610. 193 00:09:50,955 --> 00:09:56,325 It says, whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with 194 00:09:56,325 --> 00:10:02,175 much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 195 00:10:03,045 --> 00:10:03,345 Okay. 196 00:10:04,905 --> 00:10:09,435 Point number one, if I'm untrustworthy with little. 197 00:10:10,619 --> 00:10:14,339 I'll be untrustworthy with much, right? 198 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:14,939 Yeah. 199 00:10:15,780 --> 00:10:19,709 I'm kind of taking the, the, the negative path here, but of course the 200 00:10:19,709 --> 00:10:21,060 positive one is highlighted there. 201 00:10:21,060 --> 00:10:25,439 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with very much. 202 00:10:25,925 --> 00:10:28,859 I grew up just spending money. 203 00:10:29,609 --> 00:10:32,219 Hey, if I had some cash, I'd do it. 204 00:10:32,249 --> 00:10:37,109 And remember I grew up in 19 hundreds, so I used cash all the time. 205 00:10:37,739 --> 00:10:39,300 It was in my pocket, in my wallet. 206 00:10:40,050 --> 00:10:44,130 Before I went to the at m, we had ATMs back then, that was it. 207 00:10:44,670 --> 00:10:47,310 I didn't really think about saving or budgeting or any 208 00:10:47,310 --> 00:10:48,330 kind of long-term planning. 209 00:10:48,330 --> 00:10:53,490 I just spent what I had and I remember getting a speeding ticket once. 210 00:10:53,910 --> 00:10:54,150 Okay. 211 00:10:55,590 --> 00:10:57,570 I mean, I may have gotten other speeding tickets, but I remember 212 00:10:57,570 --> 00:11:01,320 this one once, right while driving from the Bay Area to la. 213 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,620 When I presented that ticket to my mom, bless her heart. 214 00:11:08,490 --> 00:11:10,770 She gave me $200. 215 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:11,370 Okay. 216 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:17,340 Probably about like $500 now to go back and pay the speeding ticket. 217 00:11:17,430 --> 00:11:17,610 Okay. 218 00:11:17,610 --> 00:11:18,930 She's just like, oh, okay. 219 00:11:18,930 --> 00:11:20,640 Here, here's 200 bucks. 220 00:11:22,020 --> 00:11:22,230 Wow. 221 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:23,790 That was it. 222 00:11:24,270 --> 00:11:24,810 Exactly. 223 00:11:25,470 --> 00:11:25,785 That was it. 224 00:11:26,895 --> 00:11:32,935 There's no lecture, no punishment, no accountability. 225 00:11:33,825 --> 00:11:35,370 There it is. 226 00:11:35,370 --> 00:11:35,550 Speeding. 227 00:11:35,550 --> 00:11:35,730 Ticket. 228 00:11:37,380 --> 00:11:41,400 Just money to make the problem disappear. 229 00:11:41,490 --> 00:11:42,600 Poof, right? 230 00:11:42,630 --> 00:11:45,030 I, all I had to do is drive up to where I got the speeding ticket. 231 00:11:46,050 --> 00:11:46,560 Here we go. 232 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:47,280 Here's the cash. 233 00:11:47,550 --> 00:11:48,180 See ya. 234 00:11:49,740 --> 00:11:51,810 Were my actions trustworthy? 235 00:11:54,105 --> 00:11:54,564 Not really 236 00:11:56,875 --> 00:11:57,485 dishonest. 237 00:11:57,875 --> 00:12:01,860 Well, maybe not on the surface, but here's the thing. 238 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:04,710 I broke the law. 239 00:12:04,710 --> 00:12:04,740 I. 240 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:07,470 Never really owned up to it. 241 00:12:08,790 --> 00:12:10,980 I just moved on like it wasn't a big deal. 242 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:12,390 Here's the cash. 243 00:12:14,460 --> 00:12:16,860 And on this point, there's a very practical takeaway here. 244 00:12:17,370 --> 00:12:18,270 Think about this. 245 00:12:19,050 --> 00:12:23,760 How trustworthy have you been with little things, unquote little things because 246 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,840 sometimes we think the little things are not so little, and sometimes we think 247 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:29,910 the big things are very little, right? 248 00:12:31,230 --> 00:12:32,340 It doesn't have to be a lot of money. 249 00:12:33,420 --> 00:12:38,579 God is looking at your character and if the Holy Spirit or your conscience 250 00:12:38,579 --> 00:12:42,540 right now are highlighting areas where you've been sloppy, careless, 251 00:12:42,540 --> 00:12:46,770 or even dishonest, my encouragement to you is please pray about it. 252 00:12:48,060 --> 00:12:52,829 Then bring someone in, not for shame, but for accountability. 253 00:12:53,729 --> 00:12:57,449 Because accountability is how we grow. 254 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,985 And by the way, if you've gotten to a place where you don't even hear the 255 00:13:02,985 --> 00:13:09,705 Holy Spirit anymore about this stuff, that might be the sign you need to slow 256 00:13:09,705 --> 00:13:12,675 down and start listening to him again. 257 00:13:14,445 --> 00:13:15,225 Okay, next point. 258 00:13:17,325 --> 00:13:23,745 Luke 1611, it says, so if you have not been trustworthy in handling 259 00:13:23,745 --> 00:13:27,165 worldly wealth, who will trust you? 260 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,510 With true riches again. 261 00:13:30,510 --> 00:13:35,310 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who 262 00:13:35,310 --> 00:13:39,569 will trust you with true riches? 263 00:13:40,949 --> 00:13:41,790 Point number two. 264 00:13:43,110 --> 00:13:48,660 If I want true riches, I must be trustworthy with worldly wealth. 265 00:13:48,660 --> 00:13:49,620 It's a direct connection. 266 00:13:50,670 --> 00:13:51,270 It's direct. 267 00:13:52,949 --> 00:13:55,650 Now let's go back to that bounce check story. 268 00:13:55,650 --> 00:13:55,680 Okay. 269 00:13:58,185 --> 00:13:59,084 That's what it looks like, by the way. 270 00:14:00,224 --> 00:14:03,074 Returned insufficient funds. 271 00:14:03,074 --> 00:14:03,464 Okay. 272 00:14:04,094 --> 00:14:07,694 So basically you can imagine that thing stapled to a piece of paper, right? 273 00:14:07,694 --> 00:14:10,484 And I'm still standing there looking at Albert. 274 00:14:13,364 --> 00:14:17,775 And at that time it's just so happened that I was leading a singles ministry 275 00:14:19,484 --> 00:14:21,285 studying the Bible with people. 276 00:14:23,084 --> 00:14:26,775 And trying to help others grow in their faith. 277 00:14:27,944 --> 00:14:28,694 Praying for you, brother. 278 00:14:29,025 --> 00:14:29,384 Praying. 279 00:14:29,415 --> 00:14:30,134 Praying for you, sister. 280 00:14:30,854 --> 00:14:33,374 I'm gonna help you to know God. 281 00:14:36,344 --> 00:14:36,884 Sounds good. 282 00:14:36,884 --> 00:14:37,244 Right? 283 00:14:38,954 --> 00:14:46,509 But behind the scenes, that's a junk that was dealing with insufficient funds. 284 00:14:46,619 --> 00:14:48,310 It's called NSF, by the way. 285 00:14:48,310 --> 00:14:49,949 Again, another, another Ackerman. 286 00:14:50,385 --> 00:14:52,035 Hopefully you'll never have to hear. 287 00:14:54,825 --> 00:14:58,035 I was totally untrustworthy when it came to my finances. 288 00:14:59,175 --> 00:15:04,755 I want to experience all the good stuff of ministry, fruit growth, transformation, 289 00:15:04,755 --> 00:15:05,985 all those awesome words, right? 290 00:15:06,015 --> 00:15:07,215 True riches. 291 00:15:07,665 --> 00:15:10,725 But my financial life told a totally different story. 292 00:15:11,895 --> 00:15:14,265 I was saying one thing and living another. 293 00:15:14,715 --> 00:15:16,005 It's called hypocrisy, right? 294 00:15:16,079 --> 00:15:16,170 Yes. 295 00:15:17,790 --> 00:15:21,089 There's that saying, what you do speaks so loudly. 296 00:15:21,629 --> 00:15:24,300 I can't hear what you're saying. 297 00:15:25,139 --> 00:15:25,319 Right. 298 00:15:25,859 --> 00:15:26,670 That was me. 299 00:15:27,359 --> 00:15:31,439 I couldn't see how my personal financial chaos was affecting the 300 00:15:31,439 --> 00:15:33,959 very people I was trying to help. 301 00:15:34,709 --> 00:15:34,949 Yeah. 302 00:15:38,129 --> 00:15:41,819 And then I watched as my ministry began to fall apart. 303 00:15:42,119 --> 00:15:42,509 Interesting. 304 00:15:42,509 --> 00:15:42,660 Right. 305 00:15:43,724 --> 00:15:46,094 People became really discouraged. 306 00:15:47,295 --> 00:15:53,295 Some walked away, some turned to unhealthy habits just to cope. 307 00:15:53,535 --> 00:15:59,805 Interesting, and I was completely blind to how my personal example 308 00:16:00,285 --> 00:16:05,610 or lack of one was part, or should I say the root of the problem. 309 00:16:09,074 --> 00:16:10,844 My life wasn't bearing good fruit. 310 00:16:13,050 --> 00:16:17,160 I was trying to lead spiritually, but my financial unfaithfulness 311 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:18,660 was like rotting fruit. 312 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:21,569 It didn't match the message. 313 00:16:22,829 --> 00:16:28,379 And when our life doesn't line up with our words, people notice, 314 00:16:29,670 --> 00:16:31,859 they may not say it out loud. 315 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:36,270 I mean, I don't think I was waving this, this, this check around that day. 316 00:16:36,420 --> 00:16:39,300 I think I probably put it in my pocket or stuck it in my bag. 317 00:16:41,175 --> 00:16:44,985 They may not say it out loud, but they feel the disconnect 318 00:16:46,035 --> 00:16:47,895 and it impacts their faith too. 319 00:16:49,665 --> 00:16:50,595 Here's a practical takeaway. 320 00:16:51,735 --> 00:16:53,685 Where are your finances right now? 321 00:16:53,715 --> 00:16:55,275 Where's, how's the money thing going? 322 00:16:57,015 --> 00:17:01,755 Do you have any unpaid taxes, old debts, unsettled promises? 323 00:17:02,625 --> 00:17:05,325 It's easy to call that just life and move on. 324 00:17:07,275 --> 00:17:12,075 But what if these things are signals that something deeper needs to be addressed? 325 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:12,550 Right. 326 00:17:12,619 --> 00:17:12,910 Okay. 327 00:17:13,815 --> 00:17:13,875 Yeah. 328 00:17:13,875 --> 00:17:14,685 It's about guilt. 329 00:17:14,775 --> 00:17:16,545 Please don't take it the wrong way. 330 00:17:18,224 --> 00:17:24,825 It's about obtaining that life that's blessed with true riches. 331 00:17:24,825 --> 00:17:24,944 Amen. 332 00:17:26,234 --> 00:17:27,135 That's the promise. 333 00:17:28,905 --> 00:17:31,995 If we keep ignoring these warning signals, they will build up and over 334 00:17:31,995 --> 00:17:33,915 time they are shaping who we are. 335 00:17:34,980 --> 00:17:37,080 Not just financially, but spiritually. 336 00:17:38,310 --> 00:17:42,570 Sometimes we don't change because we feel stuck, ashamed, or think it's too late. 337 00:17:43,230 --> 00:17:46,350 But here's the good news, right? 338 00:17:48,060 --> 00:17:55,620 God's not looking to shame us, not the point he's inviting us, to be honest, 339 00:17:57,150 --> 00:18:03,540 to bring it into the light, to let 'em walk with us through it to help us. 340 00:18:04,530 --> 00:18:08,580 Because every time we push off responsibility, we're not just hurting 341 00:18:08,580 --> 00:18:14,520 ourselves, we're breaking trust with the one who has given us so much. 342 00:18:15,660 --> 00:18:16,560 So talk to somebody. 343 00:18:17,310 --> 00:18:24,150 Get advice, not because you're a failure, but because you are ready to grow. 344 00:18:25,050 --> 00:18:25,740 To grow. 345 00:18:28,740 --> 00:18:31,350 Let this be the moment where you say God. 346 00:18:32,475 --> 00:18:35,025 I don't wanna live this way anymore. 347 00:18:35,805 --> 00:18:40,365 I want my life to reflect your heartened character. 348 00:18:41,355 --> 00:18:42,045 Please help me. 349 00:18:43,605 --> 00:18:44,415 Okay, next point. 350 00:18:46,545 --> 00:18:51,555 Luke 1612, it says, and if you have not been trustworthy with 351 00:18:51,555 --> 00:18:57,530 someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 352 00:18:58,950 --> 00:18:59,160 Yeah. 353 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:05,430 Point number three, how you treat someone else's property shows whether 354 00:19:05,430 --> 00:19:08,610 you can be trusted with your own. 355 00:19:09,180 --> 00:19:11,940 Okay, so this next, uh, slide here, 356 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:19,290 I'm going to, I'm gonna share about a beautiful car. 357 00:19:19,470 --> 00:19:21,690 So this is another cringe-worthy story here, 358 00:19:24,930 --> 00:19:27,030 and as I'm looking at this, I'm going, wow. 359 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,210 What a, what a, an awesome, awesome car. 360 00:19:30,210 --> 00:19:37,230 My parents, as you might have guessed by now, spoiled me like crazy, okay? 361 00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:39,360 They meant well. 362 00:19:39,510 --> 00:19:40,800 I'm so grateful for them. 363 00:19:41,910 --> 00:19:45,630 They had lived through war hardship in Korea and their native 364 00:19:45,630 --> 00:19:49,080 land didn't want their kids to experience the same struggle. 365 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:53,610 So they're like, if you want some money, if you want some things, we got it. 366 00:19:53,940 --> 00:19:54,870 We're giving it to you. 367 00:19:55,410 --> 00:19:56,010 Just ask. 368 00:19:56,955 --> 00:19:58,215 Sometimes I didn't even have to ask. 369 00:19:58,275 --> 00:19:59,115 They're like, here, here it is. 370 00:20:00,825 --> 00:20:05,805 So when I graduated college, they bought me a brand new black Honda Accord. 371 00:20:05,805 --> 00:20:05,835 Okay? 372 00:20:06,585 --> 00:20:07,485 Woo hoo. 373 00:20:07,755 --> 00:20:09,495 What you see is this one's not black. 374 00:20:09,495 --> 00:20:12,405 I couldn't find a nice looking black one, but you can see 375 00:20:12,405 --> 00:20:14,115 the alloy wheels, you know? 376 00:20:14,115 --> 00:20:15,105 Wow. 377 00:20:15,165 --> 00:20:15,435 Right. 378 00:20:15,435 --> 00:20:15,525 Nice. 379 00:20:15,525 --> 00:20:15,675 Woo hoo. 380 00:20:18,105 --> 00:20:22,785 For those who are car buffs, vtech engine, vtech. 381 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:26,370 Yeah, Vicky, you look it up. 382 00:20:26,370 --> 00:20:27,870 For those that don't know what that means, 383 00:20:31,620 --> 00:20:32,640 whole thing. 384 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:33,450 Look at that thing. 385 00:20:33,570 --> 00:20:34,260 Wow. 386 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,020 It's got a little, you know, little faded out there in the middle. 387 00:20:37,020 --> 00:20:38,310 I think it was like from a magazine. 388 00:20:38,340 --> 00:20:39,600 We don't have those anymore either. 389 00:20:42,630 --> 00:20:45,720 You know what I did with that poor, poor car? 390 00:20:49,290 --> 00:20:50,040 Not just physically. 391 00:20:52,395 --> 00:20:54,825 Though, yes, there was a big dent that was rusting. 392 00:20:55,095 --> 00:20:55,845 The back. 393 00:20:55,935 --> 00:20:56,655 The trunk, right? 394 00:20:56,655 --> 00:20:57,795 So you can imagine a big dent. 395 00:21:00,255 --> 00:21:00,795 I wrecked. 396 00:21:00,795 --> 00:21:03,285 It wasn't an accident. 397 00:21:03,405 --> 00:21:04,485 I was the accident. 398 00:21:05,445 --> 00:21:09,105 The poor car happened to get the wrong owner. 399 00:21:10,515 --> 00:21:13,335 That was me, Maurice Lee. 400 00:21:16,050 --> 00:21:19,020 I drove around on a spare, you know, one little, I don't know. 401 00:21:19,020 --> 00:21:21,960 Again, some, some of you made the little spare donut tire. 402 00:21:22,350 --> 00:21:27,870 Actually, it says on the tire you must not drive more than 50 miles on this tire. 403 00:21:29,790 --> 00:21:33,840 I had that thing on the back of my car driving on it probably for 404 00:21:33,990 --> 00:21:36,450 like hundreds of miles, hundreds. 405 00:21:36,540 --> 00:21:37,020 Okay. 406 00:21:37,740 --> 00:21:40,470 I mean, people were probably wondering at that point, what is this guy doing? 407 00:21:40,470 --> 00:21:42,390 What's going, in fact, somebody helped me out. 408 00:21:42,885 --> 00:21:44,565 And bought me a tire to put on that thing. 409 00:21:44,625 --> 00:21:46,605 Okay, so just another, another long story. 410 00:21:48,525 --> 00:21:51,525 I left fast food drinks in the little cup holder in the middle. 411 00:21:51,885 --> 00:21:56,355 So long the plastic cups melted 412 00:21:58,845 --> 00:22:07,215 and there was actual liquid sitting in the holder for who knows how long. 413 00:22:07,755 --> 00:22:08,055 Okay? 414 00:22:08,985 --> 00:22:09,165 Okay. 415 00:22:09,165 --> 00:22:11,265 I want you to picture this guys. 416 00:22:11,895 --> 00:22:14,175 I'm just driving around and you're getting in my car. 417 00:22:14,175 --> 00:22:15,165 Here, I'll give you a ride. 418 00:22:15,165 --> 00:22:20,865 And you look in the middle and you're like, there's liquid in there. 419 00:22:21,885 --> 00:22:25,305 It's like an inch of, I don't know what that stuff was. 420 00:22:25,335 --> 00:22:26,265 Maybe like a Dr. 421 00:22:26,265 --> 00:22:27,555 Pepper at one point. 422 00:22:31,185 --> 00:22:32,025 You know what? 423 00:22:33,135 --> 00:22:41,055 That card became a reflection of my character, how I treated that gift. 424 00:22:41,595 --> 00:22:49,754 Revealed how careless, ungrateful, and self-centered I was at the time. 425 00:22:51,165 --> 00:22:51,885 Still can be. 426 00:22:52,605 --> 00:22:56,745 But the point is, is that that was like a living representation of it and you, 427 00:22:57,014 --> 00:23:00,825 and please don't catch a ride in my car. 428 00:23:00,885 --> 00:23:04,004 'cause it probably smelled as well that I didn't even realize. 429 00:23:05,715 --> 00:23:07,095 I wasn't thinking like a steward. 430 00:23:07,965 --> 00:23:10,245 I was acting like it was mine to waste. 431 00:23:10,935 --> 00:23:12,105 That's the real issue. 432 00:23:12,525 --> 00:23:14,265 It wasn't about the car. 433 00:23:15,705 --> 00:23:18,195 It was about what was going on inside of my heart. 434 00:23:19,035 --> 00:23:20,325 This was a gift. 435 00:23:20,355 --> 00:23:21,225 Look at this thing. 436 00:23:21,615 --> 00:23:22,395 The gift. 437 00:23:22,395 --> 00:23:23,865 What a blessing, right? 438 00:23:24,825 --> 00:23:25,695 I didn't treat it like one. 439 00:23:27,135 --> 00:23:29,685 Instead, I treat it like it didn't matter. 440 00:23:31,305 --> 00:23:32,025 Practical takeaway. 441 00:23:32,895 --> 00:23:34,305 What's God entrusted to you? 442 00:23:35,775 --> 00:23:38,985 Rented apartment, job, car. 443 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,630 Your church, your relationships. 444 00:23:43,290 --> 00:23:47,850 These may not be technically be yours, but how you treat them says 445 00:23:47,850 --> 00:23:49,800 something about your heart, right? 446 00:23:50,820 --> 00:23:55,230 This isn't about being perfect or trying to impress God, okay? 447 00:23:55,230 --> 00:23:56,760 Please don't take it the wrong way. 448 00:23:57,090 --> 00:24:02,190 It's about living it a way that reflects God's heart. 449 00:24:03,570 --> 00:24:08,880 When we take what he's given us and treat with care, respect, and gratitude, 450 00:24:08,970 --> 00:24:18,090 even in the small things we're saying to him, God, I want to honor you. 451 00:24:19,380 --> 00:24:21,630 I want to grow. 452 00:24:23,495 --> 00:24:30,090 I want my life to match what I say I believe. 453 00:24:30,375 --> 00:24:30,435 Yeah. 454 00:24:32,385 --> 00:24:36,405 And if you realize you haven't been doing that, don't run to shame again. 455 00:24:36,705 --> 00:24:37,725 Don't run to shame. 456 00:24:38,265 --> 00:24:38,385 Yep. 457 00:24:39,795 --> 00:24:41,175 Run to grace. 458 00:24:41,535 --> 00:24:44,145 That's called unmerited favor, right? 459 00:24:45,735 --> 00:24:47,145 God isn't condemning you. 460 00:24:47,805 --> 00:24:49,425 He's calling you. 461 00:24:49,725 --> 00:24:51,045 He's calling us. 462 00:24:51,705 --> 00:24:54,105 This is about invitation, not condemnation. 463 00:24:55,020 --> 00:25:00,960 Let it be a moment where you say, God, I don't want to live with a divided heart. 464 00:25:01,890 --> 00:25:04,680 I wanna be someone you can trust. 465 00:25:05,190 --> 00:25:07,080 Help me to grow into that. 466 00:25:07,860 --> 00:25:08,250 Amen. 467 00:25:13,020 --> 00:25:16,950 Okay, finally, it says, Luke 16, 13 to 15. 468 00:25:16,950 --> 00:25:18,720 It says, no one can serve two masters. 469 00:25:19,575 --> 00:25:23,055 Either you'll hate the one and love the other, or you'll be devoted 470 00:25:23,055 --> 00:25:24,945 to the one and despise the other. 471 00:25:25,725 --> 00:25:27,525 You cannot serve both God and money. 472 00:25:28,095 --> 00:25:33,195 The Pharisees who loved money hurt all this and were sneering at Jesus. 473 00:25:34,335 --> 00:25:38,985 He said to them, you're the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of 474 00:25:38,985 --> 00:25:43,125 others, but God knows your hearts. 475 00:25:43,995 --> 00:25:48,615 What people value highly is detestable. 476 00:25:49,050 --> 00:25:50,310 In God's sight. 477 00:25:52,380 --> 00:25:55,380 Final point, can't serve both God and money. 478 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:56,820 Period. 479 00:25:57,540 --> 00:25:57,840 That's it. 480 00:25:59,610 --> 00:26:00,420 Enough said, right? 481 00:26:00,660 --> 00:26:01,470 It's very simple. 482 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:03,570 Let's just be honest here. 483 00:26:04,620 --> 00:26:08,100 I've had to come to terms with the fact that in my sinful nature, 484 00:26:08,220 --> 00:26:11,340 okay, I love money actually. 485 00:26:11,340 --> 00:26:11,700 I love it. 486 00:26:13,635 --> 00:26:17,115 Not just for what it buys, but for the illusion of control, 487 00:26:17,115 --> 00:26:20,745 security, and identity it offers. 488 00:26:22,035 --> 00:26:24,495 I used to tell myself that checking my bank account five 489 00:26:24,495 --> 00:26:26,025 times a day was responsible. 490 00:26:26,055 --> 00:26:27,225 I'm just gonna check it again. 491 00:26:27,435 --> 00:26:27,645 Okay. 492 00:26:27,645 --> 00:26:28,695 Maybe I can check it again. 493 00:26:28,965 --> 00:26:29,805 I'll check it again. 494 00:26:31,395 --> 00:26:35,985 But truthfully, it was probably more greed, 495 00:26:38,385 --> 00:26:39,555 more about fear. 496 00:26:41,460 --> 00:26:42,720 I wanted to feel safe. 497 00:26:43,650 --> 00:26:45,030 I wanted to feel in control. 498 00:26:46,170 --> 00:26:49,980 But Jesus said, God knows your heart. 499 00:26:49,980 --> 00:26:53,730 So you can either take this as a really encouraging statement or 500 00:26:53,730 --> 00:26:55,050 it's gonna be sort of disturbing. 501 00:26:55,050 --> 00:26:57,000 Like, oh, bad God. 502 00:26:57,060 --> 00:26:59,070 Oh God knows my heart. 503 00:26:59,070 --> 00:26:59,071 Whoa. 504 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:00,330 Oh, you can go. 505 00:27:00,390 --> 00:27:01,140 Oh, that's awesome. 506 00:27:01,140 --> 00:27:01,980 Thank you, God. 507 00:27:01,980 --> 00:27:06,570 You know, he sees past excuses and rationalizations and because. 508 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:08,520 He loves us. 509 00:27:08,580 --> 00:27:11,880 He lets us come face to face with those deeper truths. 510 00:27:12,150 --> 00:27:15,330 Not to condemn us, but to free us. 511 00:27:15,450 --> 00:27:19,920 His goal isn't punishment, it's transformation. 512 00:27:20,250 --> 00:27:22,800 He wants our hearts. 513 00:27:23,190 --> 00:27:24,540 That's why we're all here. 514 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:29,550 Not to just sit there and have you feel guilty and shamed and 515 00:27:29,550 --> 00:27:34,530 just end up run to run right now. 516 00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:36,900 Please pray for me. 517 00:27:37,710 --> 00:27:42,450 Actually, I'm done saying like right now, but please pray for me because 518 00:27:42,450 --> 00:27:43,920 my job situation is uncertain. 519 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,400 I'm on a contract, may end soon. 520 00:27:47,460 --> 00:27:51,210 My wife and I recently talked about what will give for our own 521 00:27:51,210 --> 00:27:52,890 special admissions contribution. 522 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:57,570 If you looked at it through a purely practical lens, you'd probably say we 523 00:27:57,570 --> 00:28:00,030 should pull back, say, protect ourselves. 524 00:28:00,030 --> 00:28:00,570 In other words. 525 00:28:00,945 --> 00:28:04,665 I'm sort of going month to month in terms of whether my job is gonna end or not. 526 00:28:04,815 --> 00:28:05,805 I'm not sure. 527 00:28:08,085 --> 00:28:14,745 But we're not living for the practical, we're living for God, and we've come to 528 00:28:14,745 --> 00:28:20,355 realize this isn't just about a number or a contribution, it's about our hearts. 529 00:28:20,865 --> 00:28:25,725 This is a moment where we get to say, God, we trust you. 530 00:28:27,285 --> 00:28:30,345 We want to live in a way that honors you. 531 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,720 Not just with our words, but with our choices. 532 00:28:34,350 --> 00:28:38,430 So if you're feeling that same tension, right, that same conflict between 533 00:28:38,430 --> 00:28:41,160 what makes sense and what fails, call what faith calls you to do. 534 00:28:41,910 --> 00:28:46,590 Don't push it down, please don't push it down, lean into it. 535 00:28:47,010 --> 00:28:52,170 We're having to, we not sure whether I'm gonna have a job necessarily in 536 00:28:52,170 --> 00:28:54,900 another couple months, but guess what? 537 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:56,280 Special missions contribution. 538 00:28:56,310 --> 00:28:59,160 And by the way, our weekly contribution week to week. 539 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,170 They're all happening, right? 540 00:29:05,010 --> 00:29:08,400 The discomfort that we're feeling might be the Holy Spirit 541 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,050 showing you where freedom begins. 542 00:29:10,830 --> 00:29:14,310 Not to guilt you, but to awaken you because money 543 00:29:14,310 --> 00:29:15,900 will never satisfy your soul. 544 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:21,360 But God will, and I know my wife and I, we just had to sort of pray 545 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:26,790 through this and work it out, but we're given and I think the point. 546 00:29:27,375 --> 00:29:32,535 Really that God is really calling us to is to trust in him more than ever before. 547 00:29:32,925 --> 00:29:36,765 Never been in this position, but thank God that we're able to really 548 00:29:36,765 --> 00:29:39,945 make decisions and have God help us to be able to do the right thing. 549 00:29:42,225 --> 00:29:44,745 Final scripture here in one Timothy six, nine to 10 550 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:50,625 says, those who wanna get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and to 551 00:29:50,625 --> 00:29:53,625 many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 552 00:29:54,525 --> 00:29:56,835 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 553 00:29:56,895 --> 00:29:59,865 Some people eager for money have wonder from the faith and pierced 554 00:29:59,865 --> 00:30:01,425 themselves with many griefs. 555 00:30:03,075 --> 00:30:08,175 So in conclusion, am I doing this finance this thing, right? 556 00:30:08,175 --> 00:30:09,525 Am I doing this money thing right? 557 00:30:09,585 --> 00:30:14,085 Maybe the better question is, does my financial life reflect the heart 558 00:30:14,085 --> 00:30:15,735 of someone who walks with God? 559 00:30:16,905 --> 00:30:20,595 Because this isn't just about tithing or budgeting or generosity, 560 00:30:20,925 --> 00:30:22,935 it's about whether our character. 561 00:30:23,310 --> 00:30:26,310 Lines up with a calling God has placed on our lives. 562 00:30:26,340 --> 00:30:27,030 On my life. 563 00:30:27,750 --> 00:30:30,150 Jesus said that a good tree produces good fruit. 564 00:30:30,150 --> 00:30:34,200 Our financial choices, big or small, are some of that fruit. 565 00:30:34,650 --> 00:30:36,270 They show whether we can be trusted. 566 00:30:37,020 --> 00:30:40,500 They reveal whether we're building on faith or fear, whether we worship 567 00:30:40,500 --> 00:30:45,210 God Almighty or the Almighty dollar in one of the wealthiest and most 568 00:30:45,210 --> 00:30:46,440 religious counties in the country. 569 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:47,160 That's Orange County. 570 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:47,730 The issue is. 571 00:30:48,150 --> 00:30:50,550 Isn't just about doing the right things. 572 00:30:50,790 --> 00:30:56,130 I know that's a topic talking about doing by doing it right, but I want 573 00:30:56,130 --> 00:31:01,620 to extend that further to it's about being the kind of people who want 574 00:31:01,620 --> 00:31:03,780 our God in every part of our lives. 575 00:31:04,260 --> 00:31:04,980 So yes, I. 576 00:31:05,565 --> 00:31:08,505 Let's check our bank accounts and budgets in order to be responsible, but more 577 00:31:08,505 --> 00:31:10,125 importantly, let's check our hearts. 578 00:31:10,425 --> 00:31:12,315 Are we living like stewards or owners? 579 00:31:12,645 --> 00:31:15,525 Are we using money as a tool or serving it as a master? 580 00:31:15,855 --> 00:31:19,065 Are we willing to let God reshape the way we think about giving, 581 00:31:19,215 --> 00:31:20,715 earning, saving, and spending? 582 00:31:20,985 --> 00:31:23,805 This is your invitation, not to shame, but to freedom. 583 00:31:24,135 --> 00:31:25,935 Not to pressure, but to peace. 584 00:31:26,265 --> 00:31:27,915 God doesn't just want your money. 585 00:31:27,915 --> 00:31:31,605 He wants your heart because when he has your heart, 586 00:31:31,725 --> 00:31:33,885 everything else falls into place. 587 00:31:34,095 --> 00:31:38,385 Yeah, that's when your finances start to reflect real faith, and 588 00:31:38,385 --> 00:31:40,665 that's when the deep work begins. 589 00:31:40,665 --> 00:31:44,445 When your heart is shaped, your character is formed and hope begins 590 00:31:44,445 --> 00:31:49,875 to rise because faithfulness in finances isn't just about money or 591 00:31:49,875 --> 00:31:52,815 things, it's about transformation. 592 00:31:53,265 --> 00:31:59,205 It shapes who we are, and in that refining process, we don't just find peace. 593 00:31:59,595 --> 00:32:02,445 We find the kind of hope that sustains us. 594 00:32:02,475 --> 00:32:02,535 Yeah, 595 00:32:07,335 --> 00:32:15,045 and the scripture says, not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we 596 00:32:15,045 --> 00:32:18,585 know that suffering produces perseverance. 597 00:32:19,335 --> 00:32:22,755 Perseverance, character and character. 598 00:32:22,845 --> 00:32:30,135 Hope and hope does not put us shame because God's love has 599 00:32:30,135 --> 00:32:32,025 been poured into our hearts. 600 00:32:32,505 --> 00:32:37,905 Through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 601 00:32:39,195 --> 00:32:39,885 That's the journey. 602 00:32:40,395 --> 00:32:44,385 It's not shame, not guilt, but perseverance, suffering, 603 00:32:44,445 --> 00:32:46,395 perseverance, character hope. 604 00:32:47,085 --> 00:32:49,755 I'm not standing here because I've mastered all these perfectly. 605 00:32:49,755 --> 00:32:52,515 I'm standing here because I've been changed by God. 606 00:32:53,235 --> 00:32:56,955 God has worked through my heart, through the failures, struggles, and fears. 607 00:32:57,495 --> 00:33:00,225 And when I finally started running this area of my life to God, that's 608 00:33:00,225 --> 00:33:01,725 when the real transformation began. 609 00:33:02,505 --> 00:33:06,645 When our hearts are aligned with God in this way, even in something 610 00:33:06,645 --> 00:33:10,995 as everyday and vulnerable as finances, we become living proof 611 00:33:11,445 --> 00:33:13,485 that he really does change people. 612 00:33:14,145 --> 00:33:20,055 That's not just a testimony about money, that's a testimony 613 00:33:20,655 --> 00:33:24,315 about God's unmerited favor. 614 00:33:24,795 --> 00:33:25,575 It's called grace. 615 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:27,210 Thank you.