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[1229.12 --> 1230.14] so what are the joys
[1230.14 --> 1231.14] and challenges of your church?
[1231.20 --> 1232.36] And he went on to tell me
[1232.36 --> 1234.10] how deeply
[1234.10 --> 1235.80] his church was challenged
[1235.80 --> 1236.82] with their finances
[1236.82 --> 1237.68] and their resources.
[1237.84 --> 1238.70] And you would never know it
[1238.70 --> 1239.24] because it's this
[1239.24 --> 1240.50] beautiful community.
[1240.60 --> 1241.54] Most people live very close
[1241.54 --> 1242.02] to the church.
[1242.30 --> 1242.56] And he says,
[1242.60 --> 1243.78] but you would not believe
[1243.78 --> 1245.52] how many people in my church
[1245.52 --> 1247.22] live with crushing levels
[1247.22 --> 1247.66] of debt.
[1248.94 --> 1249.74] How many people
[1249.74 --> 1250.58] in my church
[1250.58 --> 1252.14] are living so far
[1252.14 --> 1252.88] beyond their means
[1252.88 --> 1254.18] that all they talk about
[1254.18 --> 1254.58] at home
[1254.58 --> 1255.34] when the kids are in bed
[1255.34 --> 1256.52] is the stress
[1256.52 --> 1257.58] they feel financially?
[1258.20 --> 1259.10] How many families
[1259.10 --> 1259.50] in the church
[1259.50 --> 1261.06] are two paychecks away
[1261.06 --> 1261.88] from bankruptcy
[1261.88 --> 1263.12] and all the stuff
[1263.12 --> 1263.52] they have
[1263.52 --> 1264.34] gets repossessed
[1264.34 --> 1265.50] and taken by the government?
[1266.32 --> 1267.40] And what he was explaining
[1267.40 --> 1267.72] to me
[1267.72 --> 1268.46] was the crushing
[1268.46 --> 1270.42] weight of idolatry.
[1271.12 --> 1272.26] In the church,
[1272.52 --> 1273.32] I should add.
[1273.72 --> 1273.94] Right?
[1274.00 --> 1274.68] These are Christians
[1274.68 --> 1275.98] participating in the life
[1275.98 --> 1276.34] of the church
[1276.34 --> 1277.00] not realizing
[1277.00 --> 1277.86] that this God
[1277.86 --> 1278.88] that is named money
[1278.88 --> 1279.92] was being worshipped
[1279.92 --> 1280.98] and it was failing.
[1281.72 --> 1282.34] And I wonder,
[1282.44 --> 1283.38] is that true for us too?
[1283.38 --> 1285.82] And is the antidote then
[1285.82 --> 1287.64] this radical posture
[1287.64 --> 1288.38] of generosity
[1288.38 --> 1290.74] of parting with our stuff,
[1291.64 --> 1292.60] lending out what needs
[1292.60 --> 1293.24] to be lended out
[1293.24 --> 1293.90] for other people,
[1294.34 --> 1295.30] parting with our money,
[1295.52 --> 1296.46] tithing generously
[1296.46 --> 1297.60] so that we would truly
[1297.60 --> 1298.48] be a blessing
[1298.48 --> 1300.08] to those around us?
[1301.26 --> 1302.32] Can you part with your stuff?
[1303.72 --> 1304.60] Can you tithe?
[1305.18 --> 1306.58] Even when finances feel tight?
[1306.98 --> 1307.80] These are the questions
[1307.80 --> 1309.04] Jesus presses in on us
[1309.04 --> 1309.74] in this passage.
[1309.74 --> 1312.24] The third way
[1312.24 --> 1313.56] in which we store up
[1313.56 --> 1314.04] for ourselves
[1314.04 --> 1315.02] treasures in heaven,
[1315.94 --> 1316.66] and this one I think
[1316.66 --> 1317.18] for many of us
[1317.18 --> 1317.78] will be challenging,
[1318.36 --> 1319.80] is cultivating relationships
[1319.80 --> 1320.38] with people
[1320.38 --> 1321.08] who are vulnerable,
[1322.02 --> 1323.10] who are in need,
[1323.66 --> 1324.68] who are economically
[1324.68 --> 1325.40] struggling.
[1326.66 --> 1327.60] And maybe you've noticed
[1327.60 --> 1328.26] this, maybe you haven't,
[1328.30 --> 1328.74] but I've learned
[1328.74 --> 1329.56] that if your circle
[1329.56 --> 1330.14] of people
[1330.14 --> 1331.62] is mostly people
[1331.62 --> 1332.10] who are middle
[1332.10 --> 1332.90] to upper class,
[1333.10 --> 1334.32] you will start to think
[1334.32 --> 1334.88] like someone
[1334.88 --> 1335.26] who is middle
[1335.26 --> 1335.98] to upper class
[1335.98 --> 1337.12] and you'll normalize
[1337.12 --> 1337.78] conversations,
[1338.20 --> 1338.90] lifestyles,
[1339.26 --> 1340.14] ways you live
[1340.14 --> 1340.92] that are probably
[1340.92 --> 1341.74] not normal