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Dr. Tony Evans

Tony Evan - Rich In Good Works

July 20, 2025 | 28:40

Tony Evan - Rich In Good Works
Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.
#Goodness #RelationshipwithGod #TrustGod #Faith #Righteousness #Work

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Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evan - Rich In Good Works | July 20, 2025
  • ...
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  • Tony evans: when you are in your situation
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  • That your checkbook can't get you out of,
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  • Will there be enough goodness in your life for god to give you
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  • The miracle that you need, which is life indeed?
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  • Raising you up out of your crisis,
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  • Raising you up out of your difficulty.
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  • Don't spend your life climbing the ladder of success
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  • And when you get to the top, find out it was leaning
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  • Against the wrong wall.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Tony evans: paul wrote 1 timothy to timothy.
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  • There were three classes of people, like there are today.
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  • There's the poor, the middle class,
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  • And the upper class.
  • 00:00:43.028 --> 00:00:44.429
  • There are three classes.
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  • The first class, the lowest class,
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  • Was the slave class.
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  • Now, if you were a slave, you owned nothing.
  • 00:00:50.368 --> 00:00:52.871
  • You owned nothing and you eke out a living.
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  • You didn't have many changes of clothes in your lifetime,
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  • No ownership.
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  • You just--you did everything you could just to get by
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  • Because you were a slave.
  • 00:01:05.584 --> 00:01:08.220
  • That was the lowest you could go.
  • 00:01:08.220 --> 00:01:10.489
  • And so, the slaves were always the poor.
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  • The next group up was the middle class.
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  • Back in biblical days, these people
  • 00:01:17.696 --> 00:01:20.398
  • Had their own dwelling.
  • 00:01:20.398 --> 00:01:21.967
  • They could own a place to live and they had some possessions.
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  • They could get a change of clothes here and there
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  • And that would be called middle class: the rich.
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  • The biblical word for rich means to have an abundance.
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  • So, they didn't just eke by like the slave,
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  • Nor were they limited to the basics.
  • 00:01:43.755 --> 00:01:47.492
  • They had extra money or extra clothing
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  • Or larger premises.
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  • They could anticipate eating over an extended period of time
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  • Because they had an abundance.
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  • So, let's review.
  • 00:02:03.675 --> 00:02:05.210
  • If you were a slave, you were trying to make it.
  • 00:02:05.210 --> 00:02:08.146
  • If you were middle class, you had the basics,
  • 00:02:08.146 --> 00:02:11.283
  • But not much more.
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  • If you had more than the basics in biblical days,
  • 00:02:13.852 --> 00:02:18.490
  • You would be in the category of being considered rich.
  • 00:02:18.490 --> 00:02:25.063
  • Now he says to the folks who are middle class,
  • 00:02:25.063 --> 00:02:28.166
  • Who have the basics, in verse 8, "if we have food
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  • And covering with these, we shall be content."
  • 00:02:32.204 --> 00:02:36.908
  • So he says, "before we even talk about rich, let's talk about
  • 00:02:36.908 --> 00:02:40.612
  • The folks who have the basic, food, clothes, and shelter.
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  • If you have food, clothes, and shelter," he says,
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  • "you should not be known for your complaining."
  • 00:02:48.186 --> 00:02:52.657
  • Contentment means to be at ease where you are
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  • Until something changes.
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  • So, if you're known for complaining
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  • And you have food, clothes, and shelter,
  • 00:03:01.833 --> 00:03:03.835
  • That means you're discontent, which means you're ungrateful,
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  • Which means you've ticked god off.
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  • Because that means that gratitude
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  • Is not your normative thing because you have not risen
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  • To this level of rich that you may want to ascend to.
  • 00:03:18.383 --> 00:03:22.554
  • The book of proverbs over and over again says the way
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  • To become rich is to be productive
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  • And to work hard.
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  • So, the bible is not against the fact
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  • That there are many who fit this category
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  • Of abundance, more than enough, called rich.
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  • But he also wants you to know that riches have a side effect.
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  • Verse 17, "instruct those who are rich
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  • In this present world not to be conceited.
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  • The more you get, the greater possibility
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  • Is you begin thinking wrong."
  • 00:04:03.928 --> 00:04:07.432
  • You begin thinking more highly of yourself, myself,
  • 00:04:07.432 --> 00:04:12.537
  • Than we ought to think.
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  • You become self-absorbed, conceited,
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  • Thinking you're better than other people.
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  • You begin to develop this arrogance.
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  • You get stuck up and saditty.
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  • He said, "you tell them timothy, you tell them evans,
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  • You tell them just because now they have gone
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  • From the apartment to the house,
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  • From the bus to the car, from the old car to the new car,
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  • From sears and roebuck to neiman marcus,
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  • You let them know to not allow riches
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  • To have a side effect."
  • 00:04:54.112 --> 00:04:56.281
  • Becoming rich has side effects because it can give you
  • 00:04:56.281 --> 00:05:01.853
  • A conceited attitude.
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  • Folks, you used to sit next to, you can't sit next to anymore.
  • 00:05:04.589 --> 00:05:07.659
  • But he says, "you warn them not to get stuck up
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  • Because now they have a little bit more green back
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  • In their pocket than they've had before,
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  • More influence than they've had before,"
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  • Because the worst thing in the world is a stuck-up saint
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  • Who's forgotten that they are who they are and they are
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  • Where they are by the grace of god.
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  • That's a stuck-up christian.
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  • He says, "warn them about the side effects
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  • And to not fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches."
  • 00:05:36.454 --> 00:05:42.093
  • He says riches are uncertain.
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  • They can be here today and gone tomorrow.
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  • You may be doing fine right now, but it can change on the dime.
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  • Have you ever had extra money?
  • 00:05:54.272 --> 00:05:57.041
  • And so, you were feeling good because you got that bonus,
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  • You got that income tax return check,
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  • And you're feeling pretty good about yourself,
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  • And then something breaks down you didn't count on.
  • 00:06:06.317 --> 00:06:09.854
  • Something goes left, a sickness hits,
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  • Something that wasn't part of the plan and what you thought
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  • Was extra has now become not enough because
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  • What you thought was certain when you first saw it,
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  • Something changed in your circumstance
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  • And all of a sudden, you jumped categories.
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  • You went from rich to middle class
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  • Or you may have gone from poor to poor
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  • Because there is an uncertainty.
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  • So, he says, "don't put all of your marbles
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  • In the money basket."
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  • He doesn't complain that you are rich
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  • Because he says, "instruct those who are."
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  • So, for everybody who's in the abundant category,
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  • You have more than enough to meet your needs.
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  • This is not talking about all the illegitimate debt
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  • You have accumulated that makes you think you're poor
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  • When you're actually rich, but you're only actually poor
  • 00:07:06.778 --> 00:07:09.647
  • Because you made yourself that way.
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  • The way psalm 62, verse 10 says, "if you get rich,
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  • Don't set your heart on it."
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  • In other words, don't let the stuff you have
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  • Grab your heart, grab your affections,
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  • Grab your love.
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  • Now this is going somewhere because this
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  • Is really not about--
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  • It's about money, but it's not about money.
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  • It's about something else. you'll see in a moment.
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  • He says, "but set your hope on god who richly supplies us
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  • With all things to enjoy."
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  • Okay, so here's some more good news.
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  • If god gave it, it's okay to enjoy it.
  • 00:07:52.724 --> 00:07:56.294
  • If you got it legitimately and are using it legitimately,
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  • Then you can enjoy it legitimately.
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  • Ecclesiastes makes it clear.
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  • In ecclesiastes chapter 5, verses 18 to 20, it says,
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  • "god gives you the gifts of life," and those gifts
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  • He actually expects you to enjoy.
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  • You don't have to feel guilty about it,
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  • You don't have to apologize about it,
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  • You don't have to let other people
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  • Make you feel bad, that you have legitimately accumulated it.
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  • He says, "god expects you to enjoy
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  • The good things in life."
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  • Lord knows life has got enough bad things,
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  • So if you get to enjoy some good things
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  • Because of god's provision, ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says,
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  • "enjoy yourself."
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  • You got it legitimately, you're using it legitimately,
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  • And you're enjoying it legitimately.
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  • He gives you all things and he gives it to you richly.
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  • He says to enjoy.
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  • So, we set the stage.
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  • All that was the introduction. we set the stage.
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  • We got one of three classes of people here today.
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  • We may have some poor, definitely have
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  • Some middle class, and we got both of those groups
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  • Wanting to be rich.
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  • And many in that category too.
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  • He said, "now i want you to go deeper in your teaching,
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  • Timothy," verse 18, "instruct them.
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  • Teach the saints at ephesus bible fellowship.
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  • Instruct them to do good and be rich in good works,
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  • To be generous and ready to share."
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  • Now our series is called "second,"
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  • Having to do with what you do for others.
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  • We're to love god first, we are to touch others second.
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  • He says, "i want them to do good and i want them to be rich
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  • In good works."
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  • So, here it is.
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  • The richer god makes you with money,
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  • The richer you should be with good works.
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  • If your money is going up, but your good works
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  • Are going down, you have now created
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  • A spiritual disconnect with god.
  • 00:10:21.172 --> 00:10:25.009
  • If you're wanting to be blessed, but are unwilling
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  • To be a blessing because you've so focused
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  • On being blessed and not being a blessing.
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  • You have created now a spiritual disconnect
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  • Between first and second.
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  • Because the more generous god is to you,
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  • The more generous he wants to be able
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  • To move through you.
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  • And that expression is called good works.
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  • Notice, he doesn't want you to do good works,
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  • He wants you to be rich in doing good works.
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  • Because why? because you are rich.
  • 00:11:04.916 --> 00:11:08.319
  • He says, "instruct the rich, those who have an abundance,
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  • To have an abundance in good works."
  • 00:11:11.255 --> 00:11:13.491
  • So, now let's define good works.
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  • Good works are not good things.
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  • A sinner can do good things.
  • 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:24.902
  • You don't have to be a christian to do good things.
  • 00:11:24.902 --> 00:11:27.705
  • An atheist can do good things.
  • 00:11:27.705 --> 00:11:30.575
  • You don't have to be a christian to do good things,
  • 00:11:30.575 --> 00:11:34.679
  • But only christians can do good works.
  • 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:38.182
  • So, let me define a good work.
  • 00:11:38.182 --> 00:11:40.251
  • A good work is a divinely authorized activity
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  • That benefits somebody else in need for which
  • 00:11:47.291 --> 00:11:51.963
  • God gets the glory and for which
  • 00:11:51.963 --> 00:11:54.832
  • You do not expect a return.
  • 00:11:54.832 --> 00:11:57.902
  • So, let me define it again.
  • 00:11:57.902 --> 00:12:00.171
  • Good works are divinely authorized actions
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  • That benefit somebody else in need to which
  • 00:12:05.777 --> 00:12:12.216
  • God's name is attached for which you do not expect that person
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  • That you help to return the favor, okay?
  • 00:12:17.655 --> 00:12:23.161
  • A sinner can do good things, but he is not obligated
  • 00:12:23.161 --> 00:12:30.401
  • To attach god to it.
  • 00:12:30.401 --> 00:12:32.937
  • He can do it and tell you, "i don't believe in god,"
  • 00:12:32.937 --> 00:12:35.039
  • Because god is not the motivating factor.
  • 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:38.342
  • Humanitarianism may be, his love for mankind may be,
  • 00:12:38.342 --> 00:12:43.247
  • But the driver--how does matthew put it, matthew 5:13?
  • 00:12:43.247 --> 00:12:48.186
  • He says, "let men see your good works
  • 00:12:48.186 --> 00:12:51.556
  • And glorify your father who is in heaven."
  • 00:12:51.556 --> 00:12:55.359
  • Not glorify their father, glorify your father
  • 00:12:55.359 --> 00:12:59.130
  • Because you're doing it in his name.
  • 00:12:59.130 --> 00:13:01.332
  • Glorify means the advertiser put on display.
  • 00:13:01.332 --> 00:13:04.435
  • So, you're not just supposed to do good things.
  • 00:13:04.435 --> 00:13:08.673
  • In fact, i get--like you get in the mail
  • 00:13:08.673 --> 00:13:11.876
  • Or knocking on our door, even knocking on the door
  • 00:13:11.876 --> 00:13:13.845
  • Of our church, to ask us to do things
  • 00:13:13.845 --> 00:13:17.215
  • That are good things.
  • 00:13:17.215 --> 00:13:20.084
  • But often they will put a proviso,
  • 00:13:20.084 --> 00:13:22.453
  • Don't attach god to it.
  • 00:13:22.453 --> 00:13:25.623
  • Okay, we want you to do this good thing,
  • 00:13:25.623 --> 00:13:27.458
  • But we don't want the divine attachment.
  • 00:13:27.458 --> 00:13:30.161
  • Well that's a good thing, it's not a good work.
  • 00:13:30.161 --> 00:13:33.130
  • God recognizes good works that he is attached to.
  • 00:13:33.130 --> 00:13:37.168
  • So, if i have to leave god out to do it, i've done a good thing
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  • Which any sinner can do.
  • 00:13:41.405 --> 00:13:43.007
  • What i've not done is a good work
  • 00:13:43.007 --> 00:13:44.642
  • Which only god can be attached to.
  • 00:13:44.642 --> 00:13:46.611
  • In addition, it's only a good work
  • 00:13:46.611 --> 00:13:50.314
  • If i'm not demanding a return.
  • 00:13:50.314 --> 00:13:55.286
  • In luke chapter 6, in verse 30, we find these words.
  • 00:13:55.286 --> 00:14:05.263
  • He says, "give to everyone who asks you
  • 00:14:05.263 --> 00:14:07.398
  • And whoever takes away whatever is yours
  • 00:14:07.398 --> 00:14:09.867
  • Do not demand it back.
  • 00:14:09.867 --> 00:14:12.904
  • Treat others in the same way you want them to treat you.
  • 00:14:12.904 --> 00:14:15.539
  • If you love those who love you, what credit is it that to you?
  • 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:20.611
  • For even sinners love those who love them.
  • 00:14:20.611 --> 00:14:23.881
  • If you do good to those who do good to you,
  • 00:14:23.881 --> 00:14:26.951
  • What credit is that to you?
  • 00:14:26.951 --> 00:14:29.287
  • For even sinners do that.
  • 00:14:29.287 --> 00:14:31.656
  • If you lend to those whom you expect to receive,
  • 00:14:31.656 --> 00:14:36.227
  • What credit is that to you?
  • 00:14:36.227 --> 00:14:39.130
  • Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive
  • 00:14:39.130 --> 00:14:42.233
  • Back the same amount.
  • 00:14:42.233 --> 00:14:44.468
  • But love your enemies and do good.
  • 00:14:44.468 --> 00:14:46.704
  • Lend expecting nothing in return and your reward will be great."
  • 00:14:46.704 --> 00:14:52.443
  • So, what he says there is that when you do a good work,
  • 00:14:52.443 --> 00:14:56.580
  • That is, you do something that's divinely authorized
  • 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:59.817
  • That benefits somebody else in need,
  • 00:14:59.817 --> 00:15:02.820
  • In a way that attaches it to god without demanding anything
  • 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:07.391
  • In return, what you have just done
  • 00:15:07.391 --> 00:15:11.095
  • Is gotten god's undivided attention.
  • 00:15:11.095 --> 00:15:15.366
  • Okay, stay with me because we're talking about
  • 00:15:15.366 --> 00:15:19.003
  • How to supersize god in your life.
  • 00:15:19.003 --> 00:15:20.338
  • Hebrews 13:16 says, "do not neglect doing good
  • 00:15:20.338 --> 00:15:24.775
  • And sharing because it pleases god."
  • 00:15:24.775 --> 00:15:28.512
  • You want to make god smile?
  • 00:15:28.512 --> 00:15:30.581
  • Be rich in good works.
  • 00:15:30.581 --> 00:15:33.751
  • Be wealthy in good works.
  • 00:15:33.751 --> 00:15:36.921
  • You have now garrisoned god's attention.
  • 00:15:36.921 --> 00:15:40.491
  • Now to do that, you're going to have to set up margins
  • 00:15:40.491 --> 00:15:44.261
  • In your life where this is possible.
  • 00:15:44.261 --> 00:15:46.497
  • And what he says is, "i want you to be rich
  • 00:15:46.497 --> 00:15:49.767
  • In good works."
  • 00:15:49.767 --> 00:15:51.969
  • He says be generous, write a check,
  • 00:15:51.969 --> 00:15:54.672
  • But don't let the check get you out of the work.
  • 00:15:54.672 --> 00:15:58.042
  • Because what a lot of people do is write a check
  • 00:15:58.042 --> 00:16:01.112
  • So they don't have to work.
  • 00:16:01.112 --> 00:16:03.381
  • They write a check to assuage their guilt
  • 00:16:03.381 --> 00:16:06.283
  • About the need, unwilling to get their hands dirty
  • 00:16:06.283 --> 00:16:10.187
  • With the process.
  • 00:16:10.187 --> 00:16:11.956
  • They don't want to associate with that need.
  • 00:16:11.956 --> 00:16:14.392
  • Now, as i said last week, you can't meet all needs.
  • 00:16:14.392 --> 00:16:17.962
  • The needs you see, the needs that god,
  • 00:16:17.962 --> 00:16:20.031
  • The holy spirit causes you to feel,
  • 00:16:20.031 --> 00:16:22.166
  • And then the needs you have some capacity to meet,
  • 00:16:22.166 --> 00:16:24.602
  • Those are the ones.
  • 00:16:24.602 --> 00:16:25.970
  • But the point is the spirit of being rich.
  • 00:16:25.970 --> 00:16:28.172
  • So, let me ask you a question.
  • 00:16:28.172 --> 00:16:30.274
  • Based on your status, how much wealth
  • 00:16:30.274 --> 00:16:34.545
  • Is in your good works.
  • 00:16:34.545 --> 00:16:36.947
  • In other words, based on your status,
  • 00:16:36.947 --> 00:16:39.016
  • Because see, in a lot of places, they have to depend
  • 00:16:39.016 --> 00:16:42.219
  • On the poor to do the work because the rich
  • 00:16:42.219 --> 00:16:45.523
  • Don't have time.
  • 00:16:45.523 --> 00:16:47.158
  • They've got to depend on the poor or the middle
  • 00:16:47.158 --> 00:16:49.693
  • To do the work because the rich are too sophisticated.
  • 00:16:49.693 --> 00:16:54.965
  • And so, rather than being rich in works,
  • 00:16:54.965 --> 00:16:58.469
  • They're just rich in money while poor in work,
  • 00:16:58.469 --> 00:17:02.173
  • Which has created a gap with god.
  • 00:17:02.173 --> 00:17:06.210
  • Now stay with me because we haven't got
  • 00:17:06.210 --> 00:17:09.213
  • To the sermon yet.
  • 00:17:09.213 --> 00:17:14.452
  • So, good works includes your involvement,
  • 00:17:14.452 --> 00:17:17.655
  • Your engagement.
  • 00:17:17.655 --> 00:17:19.957
  • Yes it involves the check but it involves also
  • 00:17:19.957 --> 00:17:24.595
  • The service.
  • 00:17:24.595 --> 00:17:28.065
  • He says, "i want you to be ready to share.
  • 00:17:28.065 --> 00:17:30.534
  • I want you to set your life up in such a way
  • 00:17:30.534 --> 00:17:33.971
  • Where you're ready."
  • 00:17:33.971 --> 00:17:35.339
  • When the holy spirit brings it to you, you're able
  • 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:37.475
  • To respond because you've got some leftover for it.
  • 00:17:37.475 --> 00:17:40.644
  • You've got some time set aside.
  • 00:17:40.644 --> 00:17:42.513
  • You've decided, "two hours once a month,
  • 00:17:42.513 --> 00:17:44.815
  • I'm gonna give to serving this."
  • 00:17:44.815 --> 00:17:46.417
  • You've created a readiness to share.
  • 00:17:46.417 --> 00:17:49.653
  • Or as ephesians 4:28 says that, "you work hard with your hands
  • 00:17:49.653 --> 00:17:54.592
  • Not only to take care of your family,
  • 00:17:54.592 --> 00:17:56.660
  • But so that you have something with which to share."
  • 00:17:56.660 --> 00:18:00.131
  • So, you have created this margin over here
  • 00:18:00.131 --> 00:18:04.268
  • For sharing purposes.
  • 00:18:04.268 --> 00:18:06.270
  • Now the only reason he's writing verse 17 and 18
  • 00:18:06.270 --> 00:18:10.708
  • Is to teach you verse 19.
  • 00:18:10.708 --> 00:18:13.811
  • Because this is all about verse 19.
  • 00:18:13.811 --> 00:18:16.413
  • He says, "if you explain this to the rich and you get them
  • 00:18:16.413 --> 00:18:21.652
  • Doing being rich and wealthy and good works,
  • 00:18:21.652 --> 00:18:24.955
  • Here's what i want you to tell them.
  • 00:18:24.955 --> 00:18:26.891
  • Storing up for themselves the treasure
  • 00:18:26.891 --> 00:18:31.462
  • Of a good foundation for the future so that
  • 00:18:31.462 --> 00:18:35.266
  • They may take hold of that which is life indeed."
  • 00:18:35.266 --> 00:18:40.504
  • Okay, now we're into supersizing.
  • 00:18:40.504 --> 00:18:45.276
  • He says, "when they are rich in good works,
  • 00:18:45.276 --> 00:18:50.281
  • They have created their own storage."
  • 00:18:50.281 --> 00:18:54.552
  • He says, "you tell the rich to be rich in good works
  • 00:18:54.552 --> 00:18:59.523
  • Because when they are storing it up, they are actually,
  • 00:18:59.523 --> 00:19:03.727
  • In doing good works, building a storage for themselves."
  • 00:19:03.727 --> 00:19:09.500
  • Okay, he says that what god wants to do
  • 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:13.337
  • Is give you back what you've stored up.
  • 00:19:13.337 --> 00:19:16.774
  • But if you haven't stored anything up,
  • 00:19:16.774 --> 00:19:18.876
  • Then when you have a need, you have nothing to withdraw
  • 00:19:18.876 --> 00:19:21.845
  • To come back your way.
  • 00:19:21.845 --> 00:19:23.948
  • So, one of the reasons a lot of people
  • 00:19:23.948 --> 00:19:26.784
  • Are not experiencing more of god is their storage
  • 00:19:26.784 --> 00:19:29.887
  • Is empty because they've only been concerned
  • 00:19:29.887 --> 00:19:34.858
  • About what they have done for them, accumulated for them,
  • 00:19:34.858 --> 00:19:39.830
  • And not good works transferred from them.
  • 00:19:39.830 --> 00:19:42.733
  • And therefore their storage is empty.
  • 00:19:42.733 --> 00:19:48.205
  • You see, he says, "in order for this to work
  • 00:19:48.205 --> 00:19:51.075
  • You must be future-oriented.
  • 00:19:51.075 --> 00:19:53.877
  • If you are spiritually future-oriented,
  • 00:19:53.877 --> 00:19:57.781
  • You are setting yourself up for," watch this, "life indeed."
  • 00:19:57.781 --> 00:20:05.322
  • Now what does that mean? let me define life.
  • 00:20:05.322 --> 00:20:09.026
  • When the moment you accepted christ,
  • 00:20:09.026 --> 00:20:11.095
  • You received eternal life.
  • 00:20:11.095 --> 00:20:13.163
  • That is, the life of god.
  • 00:20:13.163 --> 00:20:14.898
  • Now, if you've accepted christ, he's taken residence in you.
  • 00:20:14.898 --> 00:20:19.403
  • But life indeed is not merely the residence of god in you,
  • 00:20:19.403 --> 00:20:24.575
  • But the experience of the god who is in you operating
  • 00:20:24.575 --> 00:20:28.679
  • Through you.
  • 00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:30.414
  • So, life is indeed is a deeper experience
  • 00:20:30.414 --> 00:20:34.351
  • Of god's reality at work in you.
  • 00:20:34.351 --> 00:20:37.688
  • It is prayers being answered. it is miracles being done.
  • 00:20:37.688 --> 00:20:41.859
  • It is solutions being made.
  • 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:44.061
  • It's god letting you know, "i'm right here with you.
  • 00:20:44.061 --> 00:20:46.764
  • I'm operating in you. i'm doing stuff for you."
  • 00:20:46.764 --> 00:20:50.301
  • It is life indeed.
  • 00:20:50.301 --> 00:20:54.672
  • One day you're gonna need to withdraw from your storage.
  • 00:20:54.672 --> 00:20:59.977
  • When you need to withdraw from your storage,
  • 00:20:59.977 --> 00:21:02.479
  • God's gonna open up your storage and check out your good works.
  • 00:21:02.479 --> 00:21:07.584
  • If he opens up that storage and see
  • 00:21:07.584 --> 00:21:10.321
  • You've only been concerned with me, myself, and i,
  • 00:21:10.321 --> 00:21:13.424
  • Accumulating for yourself without being a beneficiary
  • 00:21:13.424 --> 00:21:17.094
  • To others, then what you have is nothing in there for him
  • 00:21:17.094 --> 00:21:21.165
  • To bring back to you for when you need life indeed.
  • 00:21:21.165 --> 00:21:26.170
  • And i can guarantee you there is going to come a time
  • 00:21:26.170 --> 00:21:29.340
  • In all of our lives when we're going
  • 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:31.575
  • To need life indeed.
  • 00:21:31.575 --> 00:21:34.044
  • When just being saved won't be enough.
  • 00:21:34.044 --> 00:21:36.680
  • We're gonna need divine intervention.
  • 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:38.949
  • We're gonna need divine solutions.
  • 00:21:38.949 --> 00:21:41.018
  • We're gonna need-- because we will face times
  • 00:21:41.018 --> 00:21:43.320
  • In our lives when our riches can't buy us out of it,
  • 00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:46.890
  • Our friends can't deliver us from it, our contacts
  • 00:21:46.890 --> 00:21:50.561
  • Can't change it.
  • 00:21:50.561 --> 00:21:52.496
  • We're gonna have a time when only god has to get in here
  • 00:21:52.496 --> 00:21:55.799
  • And turn this thing around.
  • 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.668
  • And when that time comes, he's gonna open up your storage
  • 00:21:57.668 --> 00:22:02.706
  • To see what your good works are for the benefit of others
  • 00:22:02.706 --> 00:22:07.144
  • So that he can bring it back to you.
  • 00:22:07.144 --> 00:22:10.447
  • You remember the saying, "what goes around comes around."
  • 00:22:10.447 --> 00:22:13.617
  • What he's saying is, "if i have been able
  • 00:22:13.617 --> 00:22:16.153
  • To work through you, then when you need me
  • 00:22:16.153 --> 00:22:18.589
  • To work to you, you have given me
  • 00:22:18.589 --> 00:22:20.758
  • The raw materials to work with because you're future-oriented.
  • 00:22:20.758 --> 00:22:25.863
  • You're future-oriented."
  • 00:22:25.863 --> 00:22:27.564
  • So, what he's talking about is a new vibrant experience
  • 00:22:27.564 --> 00:22:31.602
  • With god or eternal life being made manifest
  • 00:22:31.602 --> 00:22:35.038
  • In your circumstances.
  • 00:22:35.038 --> 00:22:37.274
  • When you are in your situation that your tune-ups can't fix,
  • 00:22:37.274 --> 00:22:41.745
  • When you're in your situation that your check book
  • 00:22:41.745 --> 00:22:44.581
  • Can't get you out of, will there be enough goodness
  • 00:22:44.581 --> 00:22:48.519
  • In your life for god to give you the miracle that you need,
  • 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:53.290
  • Which is life indeed
  • 00:22:53.290 --> 00:22:55.959
  • Raising you up out of your situation,
  • 00:22:55.959 --> 00:22:58.562
  • Raising you up out of your crisis,
  • 00:22:58.562 --> 00:23:00.664
  • Raising you up out of your difficulty.
  • 00:23:00.664 --> 00:23:04.034
  • I want all of you to go as high as you can legitimately go
  • 00:23:04.034 --> 00:23:07.971
  • With your spiritual priorities intact in this present world.
  • 00:23:07.971 --> 00:23:12.042
  • He's talking about this present world.
  • 00:23:12.042 --> 00:23:14.211
  • If you're able to maximize your potential
  • 00:23:14.211 --> 00:23:16.814
  • With spiritual priorities intact, then do that.
  • 00:23:16.814 --> 00:23:20.017
  • Do all you can.
  • 00:23:20.017 --> 00:23:21.518
  • But as your income rises, make sure your good works
  • 00:23:21.518 --> 00:23:24.755
  • Are rising right with it.
  • 00:23:24.755 --> 00:23:26.924
  • As your resources rise, make sure your sensitivity
  • 00:23:26.924 --> 00:23:30.360
  • Rises with it.
  • 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:32.029
  • While you're writing out your check to the church
  • 00:23:32.029 --> 00:23:34.765
  • Or writing out your check to whatever
  • 00:23:34.765 --> 00:23:36.300
  • You write out your check to, make sure that you're getting
  • 00:23:36.300 --> 00:23:38.869
  • And taking advantages of opportunities to serve
  • 00:23:38.869 --> 00:23:42.239
  • To use some of your time and some of your talent.
  • 00:23:42.239 --> 00:23:45.108
  • Don't say, "god, well i wrote a check."
  • 00:23:45.108 --> 00:23:47.010
  • God says, "i'm looking for the work."
  • 00:23:47.010 --> 00:23:50.547
  • Listen, don't spend your life climbing the ladder of success
  • 00:23:50.547 --> 00:23:56.687
  • And when you get to the top find out it was leaning
  • 00:23:56.687 --> 00:23:58.522
  • Against the wrong wall.
  • 00:23:58.522 --> 00:24:01.558
  • I'm gonna show you a person who did that.
  • 00:24:01.558 --> 00:24:04.228
  • Our closing verse, luke chapter 12.
  • 00:24:04.228 --> 00:24:09.099
  • Let's look at my boy in luke chapter 12, verse 13,
  • 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:15.038
  • "someone in the crowd came to jesus, 'teacher
  • 00:24:15.038 --> 00:24:18.041
  • Tell my brother to divide the family inheritance
  • 00:24:18.041 --> 00:24:20.177
  • With me.'
  • 00:24:20.177 --> 00:24:22.045
  • But he said, 'man, who appointed me as a judge
  • 00:24:22.045 --> 00:24:24.047
  • And an operative over you?'
  • 00:24:24.047 --> 00:24:26.049
  • He said, 'beware and be on guard against every form of greed,
  • 00:24:26.049 --> 00:24:31.054
  • For not even when one has an abundance
  • 00:24:31.054 --> 00:24:33.624
  • Does his life consist in his possessions.'"
  • 00:24:33.624 --> 00:24:37.060
  • So, your life and your stuff aren't the same thing.
  • 00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:39.663
  • And he says, "in the land there was a rich man,
  • 00:24:39.663 --> 00:24:42.599
  • Very productive.
  • 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:44.368
  • And he began reasoning to himself," watch it
  • 00:24:44.368 --> 00:24:46.470
  • When you start reasoning to yourself, "saying,
  • 00:24:46.470 --> 00:24:48.839
  • 'what shall i do since i have no place
  • 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:51.542
  • To store my crops?'
  • 00:24:51.542 --> 00:24:53.377
  • Then he said, 'this is what i will do.
  • 00:24:53.377 --> 00:24:55.846
  • I will tear down my barns and build large ones.
  • 00:24:55.846 --> 00:24:59.716
  • And there i will store all my grain and my goods.
  • 00:24:59.716 --> 00:25:03.520
  • And i said to my soul,'" watch it
  • 00:25:03.520 --> 00:25:06.523
  • When your soul start talking, "i said to my soul, 'so,
  • 00:25:06.523 --> 00:25:11.895
  • You have many good things laid up for many years to come.
  • 00:25:11.895 --> 00:25:14.932
  • Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry,' but god."
  • 00:25:14.932 --> 00:25:19.236
  • Next verse says, but god.
  • 00:25:19.236 --> 00:25:21.238
  • "but god said to him, 'you fool.
  • 00:25:21.238 --> 00:25:25.108
  • This very night your soul is required of you,
  • 00:25:25.108 --> 00:25:28.979
  • And now who will own what you have prepared?'"
  • 00:25:28.979 --> 00:25:32.649
  • So, is the man who stores up treasure
  • 00:25:32.649 --> 00:25:35.252
  • For himself and is not rich toward god.
  • 00:25:35.252 --> 00:25:39.256
  • The problem was not that this guy was rich,
  • 00:25:39.256 --> 00:25:41.658
  • It was he was only rich for him.
  • 00:25:41.658 --> 00:25:44.094
  • It was all about, "it's my goods and my crop, it's my retirement
  • 00:25:44.094 --> 00:25:47.831
  • And my ease, it's my pleasure, it's my--
  • 00:25:47.831 --> 00:25:50.167
  • It's me, me, me, me, me."
  • 00:25:50.167 --> 00:25:53.570
  • But he had nothing to show for god
  • 00:25:53.570 --> 00:25:55.839
  • And he became a fool because he spent his life.
  • 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.309
  • It is more important that your ladder
  • 00:25:59.309 --> 00:26:01.578
  • Is against the right wall.
  • 00:26:01.578 --> 00:26:03.447
  • It's not as important how many rungs
  • 00:26:03.447 --> 00:26:05.983
  • Are in that ladder.
  • 00:26:05.983 --> 00:26:07.517
  • It is absolutely critical that as god blesses your crops,
  • 00:26:07.517 --> 00:26:11.588
  • As we trust he will, that you bless others
  • 00:26:11.588 --> 00:26:15.192
  • Because he's blessed you so that when god looks
  • 00:26:15.192 --> 00:26:18.495
  • And calls your number, you have been rich toward god.
  • 00:26:18.495 --> 00:26:23.900
  • One day i'm gonna be up here and you're gonna be up here
  • 00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:25.869
  • In a box.
  • 00:26:25.869 --> 00:26:31.208
  • And the attendants are gonna close the box.
  • 00:26:31.208 --> 00:26:36.813
  • On that day, it will not matter to you what you left behind.
  • 00:26:36.813 --> 00:26:43.720
  • That's irrelevant to you. it won't matter to you.
  • 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:47.290
  • On that day when they close the box,
  • 00:26:47.290 --> 00:26:49.593
  • It will not matter what was left behind.
  • 00:26:49.593 --> 00:26:52.462
  • The only thing that will matter on that day
  • 00:26:52.462 --> 00:26:54.765
  • Is what you forwarded ahead.
  • 00:26:54.765 --> 00:27:00.237
  • And if you didn't forward it ahead,
  • 00:27:00.237 --> 00:27:03.273
  • It was a waste while you had it down here.
  • 00:27:03.273 --> 00:27:07.711
  • Woe is the man who is rich, but not rich toward god.
  • 00:27:07.711 --> 00:27:12.983
  • Get as rich as you can legitimately get,
  • 00:27:12.983 --> 00:27:16.053
  • But also while you're getting up
  • 00:27:16.053 --> 00:27:18.755
  • To that next level, make sure you're dragging your good works
  • 00:27:18.755 --> 00:27:22.592
  • With you so you have a storage on that day.
  • 00:27:22.592 --> 00:27:26.296
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:26.296 --> 00:27:30.001