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Your Move with Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley - Your Integrity, Our World (Part 4)

February 28, 2026 | 28:29

Andy Stanley - Your Integrity, Our World (Part 4)
Your Move with Andy Stanley — to help people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
#Integrity #Actions #Attitude #Relationships #Peopleinyourlife #Hypocrisy #God'sWill #WalkwithGod #Faith #TrustGod #Truth #Freedom #AndyStanley

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Your Move with Andy Stanley | Andy Stanley - Your Integrity, Our World (Part 4) | February 28, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.351
  • Andy stanley: hi, everybody.
  • 00:00:00.919 --> 00:00:02.120
  • Welcome to "your move," where we help you make better decisions
  • 00:00:02.220 --> 00:00:03.621
  • And live with fewer regrets.
  • 00:00:03.755 --> 00:00:04.956
  • I'm andy stanley and i'll be your guide.
  • 00:00:05.090 --> 00:00:06.291
  • Did you know it is possible to be good without doing any good,
  • 00:00:06.391 --> 00:00:09.994
  • Without doing anybody any good?
  • 00:00:10.095 --> 00:00:11.429
  • And that's not good because then you'll be good for nothing and
  • 00:00:11.529 --> 00:00:14.399
  • You'll be good for nobody, and you want to be better than that.
  • 00:00:14.499 --> 00:00:17.569
  • Today, i'll tell you how right here on "your move."
  • 00:00:17.702 --> 00:00:20.939
  • Andy stanley: here are a few thoughts or a few questions to
  • 00:00:25.143 --> 00:00:27.612
  • Kinda get our head in the game today as we wrap up our series.
  • 00:00:27.612 --> 00:00:31.649
  • It is possible, and this is kinda strange to even think
  • 00:00:31.649 --> 00:00:34.385
  • About, but it is possible to stay out of trouble and do
  • 00:00:34.385 --> 00:00:39.357
  • Nothing for someone who is having trouble.
  • 00:00:39.357 --> 00:00:43.761
  • It's possible to be financially responsible and selfish.
  • 00:00:43.761 --> 00:00:48.933
  • It's possible to be self-controlled and judgmental.
  • 00:00:48.933 --> 00:00:54.139
  • It's even possible to be careful, personally,
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  • And uncaring.
  • 00:00:57.642 --> 00:00:59.644
  • It's possible to be blameless and unsympathetic.
  • 00:00:59.644 --> 00:01:04.916
  • It's possible to keep your hands clean without offering anyone
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  • Else a hand.
  • 00:01:09.387 --> 00:01:11.956
  • In summary, in summary, it's possible to be good without
  • 00:01:11.956 --> 00:01:16.761
  • Doing any good.
  • 00:01:16.761 --> 00:01:19.564
  • So today, we're wrapping up our series, "your integrity,
  • 00:01:19.564 --> 00:01:22.333
  • Our world."
  • 00:01:22.333 --> 00:01:23.668
  • "your integrity, our world."
  • 00:01:23.668 --> 00:01:25.036
  • And if you've been with us throughout this series, we have
  • 00:01:25.036 --> 00:01:26.538
  • A working definition for the term "integrity."
  • 00:01:26.538 --> 00:01:28.273
  • We've said that integrity is essentially doing what you ought
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  • To do even if it costs you.
  • 00:01:30.842 --> 00:01:32.877
  • Doing what you ought to even if it costs you.
  • 00:01:32.877 --> 00:01:36.181
  • And as we all know, we don't always do what we ought to do,
  • 00:01:36.181 --> 00:01:39.284
  • But we certainly expect others to do what we think they ought
  • 00:01:39.284 --> 00:01:42.153
  • To do.
  • 00:01:42.153 --> 00:01:43.521
  • Again, our actions may not be consistent, but our reactions
  • 00:01:43.521 --> 00:01:46.724
  • Are very consistent, which, in fact, points-- as we've said
  • 00:01:46.724 --> 00:01:50.161
  • Throughout the series, our reactions point to an "ought to"
  • 00:01:50.161 --> 00:01:53.898
  • That we hold others accountable to, an "ought to" that we didn't
  • 00:01:53.898 --> 00:01:57.602
  • Create because we hold them accountable to it, and an "ought
  • 00:01:57.602 --> 00:02:00.471
  • To" that for some reason we can't seem to shake.
  • 00:02:00.471 --> 00:02:03.841
  • And then we've said this, that when you don't do what you ought
  • 00:02:03.841 --> 00:02:07.612
  • To, it always costs somebody around you; that a lack of
  • 00:02:07.612 --> 00:02:11.049
  • Personal integrity always impacts, negatively impacts,
  • 00:02:11.049 --> 00:02:14.552
  • Some other persons; that the consequences, the consequences
  • 00:02:14.552 --> 00:02:18.022
  • Or the tension that's created when you have a breach of
  • 00:02:18.022 --> 00:02:20.258
  • Integrity, the consequences are always passed along to somebody
  • 00:02:20.258 --> 00:02:24.162
  • Else; that the consequences are transferred, so to speak.
  • 00:02:24.162 --> 00:02:27.732
  • And thus, our title, "your integrity, our world."
  • 00:02:27.732 --> 00:02:31.302
  • My integrity, our world.
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  • My integrity impacts our world and your integrity impacts our
  • 00:02:33.104 --> 00:02:36.674
  • World as well.
  • 00:02:36.674 --> 00:02:38.009
  • Then we had an anchor verse from proverbs.
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  • I have encouraged you to memorize proverbs 11:3, "the
  • 00:02:40.278 --> 00:02:43.181
  • Integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness
  • 00:02:43.181 --> 00:02:47.385
  • Or the bentness of the treacherous will ultimately
  • 00:02:47.385 --> 00:02:50.822
  • Destroy them;" that people of integrity are guided by
  • 00:02:50.822 --> 00:02:53.891
  • Their integrity.
  • 00:02:53.891 --> 00:02:55.460
  • And that's where we've kinda left off in this series, but as
  • 00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:57.895
  • We wrap this up, i want to take this one step further because
  • 00:02:57.895 --> 00:03:01.165
  • For jesus's followers in particular, there is much more
  • 00:03:01.165 --> 00:03:04.836
  • To this.
  • 00:03:04.836 --> 00:03:06.371
  • And for those of us who claim to be jesus followers or who are
  • 00:03:06.371 --> 00:03:08.873
  • Seeking to be jesus followers, this is how we should behave.
  • 00:03:08.873 --> 00:03:12.443
  • This is how we should respond.
  • 00:03:12.443 --> 00:03:13.811
  • This is how we should live our lives as well.
  • 00:03:13.811 --> 00:03:16.714
  • A little context, jesus has just taught a series of parables and
  • 00:03:16.714 --> 00:03:21.219
  • The pharisees and the sadducees, teachers of the law, are
  • 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:23.321
  • Listening, and they realize that they are the punchline of just
  • 00:03:23.321 --> 00:03:27.191
  • About every single one of these parables.
  • 00:03:27.191 --> 00:03:30.161
  • And so they decide they are done with him, he has to go, and it's
  • 00:03:30.161 --> 00:03:33.031
  • Time to arrest him and just get him out of the city.
  • 00:03:33.031 --> 00:03:36.734
  • But they have a problem, and here's the problem.
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  • The text says, "but they were afraid of the crowd because the
  • 00:03:39.237 --> 00:03:44.075
  • People," the crowd, "held jesus," or considered jesus,
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  • "a prophet."
  • 00:03:47.512 --> 00:03:48.846
  • So they knew the only way to separate jesus from the crowd
  • 00:03:48.846 --> 00:03:51.716
  • Was to get him to say something that would cause the crowd to
  • 00:03:51.716 --> 00:03:54.919
  • Abandon him once they isolate him from the crowd.
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  • Then they can arrest him.
  • 00:03:56.921 --> 00:03:58.256
  • So three groups get together, they come up with three series
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  • Of questions, and then they decide they're gonna take turns
  • 00:04:01.192 --> 00:04:03.628
  • Trying to trap jesus with his own words, cause him to stumble,
  • 00:04:03.628 --> 00:04:06.597
  • And get the crowd to turn on jesus.
  • 00:04:06.597 --> 00:04:08.966
  • So they draw straws or cast lots, whatever they did, and the
  • 00:04:08.966 --> 00:04:12.070
  • Pharisees are up first.
  • 00:04:12.070 --> 00:04:13.438
  • And instead of the pharisees themselves going in to talk to
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  • Jesus, because he knows who they are and they're well-known in
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  • The community, they get their minions.
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  • They get some underlings to go in and try to trap jesus with
  • 00:04:19.911 --> 00:04:22.947
  • A question.
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  • And it's this group of people who actually make this
  • 00:04:24.282 --> 00:04:26.818
  • Extraordinary statement about jesus.
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  • This is their observation of jesus.
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  • Here's what they say.
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  • They say, "teacher, we know," because we've been watching and
  • 00:04:32.957 --> 00:04:35.526
  • Listening, "we know that you are a man of integrity."
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  • Literally, you are a man who loves the truth.
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  • You are a man who loves what is true and you don't depart from
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  • The truth.
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  • In fact, it was his uncompromising love and
  • 00:04:49.774 --> 00:04:51.876
  • Commitment to truth that exposed their love for the approval of
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  • Other people.
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  • This was the group of people that would do bad in order to
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  • Look good.
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  • This was the group of people that would deceive you so that
  • 00:05:02.954 --> 00:05:04.555
  • You would think or consider them trustworthy.
  • 00:05:04.555 --> 00:05:07.458
  • He continues-- they continue, "'teacher,' they said, 'we know
  • 00:05:07.458 --> 00:05:09.227
  • That you're a man of integrity, that you teach the way--'" i
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  • Love this phrase, "you teach the way of god in accordance with
  • 00:05:12.330 --> 00:05:17.034
  • The truth."
  • 00:05:17.034 --> 00:05:18.569
  • The way of god, the path of god, the road of god.
  • 00:05:18.569 --> 00:05:22.039
  • Specifically, this is the will of god.
  • 00:05:22.039 --> 00:05:24.308
  • And the implication of the statement, which is so powerful,
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  • Is that the way of god is actually the way of integrity;
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  • That the will of god-- we could say it this way, that the will
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  • Of god for us is the way of integrity.
  • 00:05:34.752 --> 00:05:37.422
  • Now, there's a lot packed into this and i don't want to lose
  • 00:05:37.422 --> 00:05:40.224
  • Track of where we're going with a conversation with jesus, but i
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  • Do want to stop and make this point, that for those of you,
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  • For those of us who are interested in god's personal
  • 00:05:45.863 --> 00:05:48.065
  • Will for our lives, personal will-- you know, where do i go
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  • To school?
  • 00:05:50.034 --> 00:05:51.436
  • You know, should i call him?
  • 00:05:51.436 --> 00:05:52.770
  • You know, should i take that job?
  • 00:05:52.770 --> 00:05:54.138
  • Personal will.
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  • For those of us, for those of you who are interested in god's
  • 00:05:55.473 --> 00:05:57.208
  • Personal will, this is important.
  • 00:05:57.208 --> 00:05:58.543
  • God's personal will for you will be most apparent, most obvious,
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  • Most easily discerned when you are living in accordance with
  • 00:06:01.712 --> 00:06:05.716
  • God's general will for your life.
  • 00:06:05.716 --> 00:06:08.619
  • And god's general will for our lives is the way or the path of
  • 00:06:08.619 --> 00:06:12.690
  • Integrity, which means that to the best of our ability, we do
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  • What we ought to do and we trust god with consequences.
  • 00:06:16.127 --> 00:06:19.597
  • As we talked about last time, we do what we know we ought to do,
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  • What we sense we want-- that god wants us to do, and generally
  • 00:06:21.999 --> 00:06:24.902
  • Speaking, as it relates to treating people, and being
  • 00:06:24.902 --> 00:06:26.838
  • Honest, and being people of integrity.
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  • And then instead of tryin' to manipulate outcomes, we trust
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  • God with the outcomes.
  • 00:06:32.143 --> 00:06:33.511
  • Anyway, the conversation continues.
  • 00:06:33.511 --> 00:06:35.480
  • "'teacher,' they said, 'we know that you are a man of integrity,
  • 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:38.349
  • That you teach the way, the path, the road of god in
  • 00:06:38.349 --> 00:06:40.952
  • Accordance with the truth.'"
  • 00:06:40.952 --> 00:06:42.620
  • And jesus--this is the setup.
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  • And jesus, because the way of god is what guides you, because
  • 00:06:44.422 --> 00:06:49.994
  • Integrity guides you, you are-- this is so powerful.
  • 00:06:49.994 --> 00:06:52.830
  • You aren't swayed by other people.
  • 00:06:52.830 --> 00:06:54.966
  • Now, they're setting him up, but this is an amazing statement.
  • 00:06:54.966 --> 00:06:57.268
  • We've watched you.
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  • Clearly you are not easily swayed by other people.
  • 00:06:58.669 --> 00:07:02.507
  • And again, there's application for all of us, that to the
  • 00:07:02.507 --> 00:07:06.777
  • Degree that we are attuned to an "ought to" that is connected to
  • 00:07:06.777 --> 00:07:11.516
  • The divine, to the degree that we're attuned to "ought to"
  • 00:07:11.516 --> 00:07:14.886
  • Rather than what people think of us, when we're more attuned to
  • 00:07:14.886 --> 00:07:17.955
  • What god wants us to do, we automatically become less
  • 00:07:17.955 --> 00:07:20.825
  • Sensitive to and more-- less easily swayed by what other
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  • People want us to do; that when integrity guides us, we're not
  • 00:07:23.861 --> 00:07:27.999
  • Easily swayed by what others think of us.
  • 00:07:27.999 --> 00:07:30.868
  • When integrity guides us, we're free.
  • 00:07:30.868 --> 00:07:34.138
  • We're free, not just from what others think.
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  • This is where this whole story's going.
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  • We are actually free to do for others regardless of what
  • 00:07:39.410 --> 00:07:43.648
  • Others think.
  • 00:07:43.648 --> 00:07:45.182
  • We're not just free from what others think, we're actually
  • 00:07:45.182 --> 00:07:48.052
  • More free to do for others regardless of what they think.
  • 00:07:48.052 --> 00:07:53.190
  • If i'm overly concerned, put it this way.
  • 00:07:53.190 --> 00:07:55.893
  • If i'm overly concerned about what you think of me, i may not
  • 00:07:55.893 --> 00:07:59.797
  • Do what's best for thee, right?
  • 00:07:59.797 --> 00:08:02.433
  • Isn't that true?
  • 00:08:02.433 --> 00:08:03.801
  • If i'm so concerned about what you think about me and your
  • 00:08:03.801 --> 00:08:06.270
  • Perspective on me, and you do something that you need to be
  • 00:08:06.270 --> 00:08:08.839
  • Confronted on but i'm overly concerned about what you think
  • 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:10.942
  • Of me, i may not speak up.
  • 00:08:10.942 --> 00:08:13.077
  • I may not step up.
  • 00:08:13.077 --> 00:08:14.412
  • I may not tell you what you need to hear that's best for you
  • 00:08:14.412 --> 00:08:16.614
  • Because i'm so concerned about me.
  • 00:08:16.614 --> 00:08:18.616
  • I'm consumed with me.
  • 00:08:18.616 --> 00:08:20.952
  • And jesus was free of this, so this is why they were constantly
  • 00:08:20.952 --> 00:08:24.922
  • Just-- they were amazed at how honest he was and how
  • 00:08:24.922 --> 00:08:27.592
  • Transparent he would be with the teachers of the law, and the
  • 00:08:27.592 --> 00:08:30.328
  • Elders, and the pharisees, and later on even with the priest
  • 00:08:30.328 --> 00:08:33.264
  • And the high priest.
  • 00:08:33.264 --> 00:08:34.599
  • It's like, don't you realize who these people are?
  • 00:08:34.599 --> 00:08:36.767
  • Don't you realize who you're talking to?
  • 00:08:36.767 --> 00:08:38.269
  • Jesus is like, "of course i do, but you see, my integrity guides
  • 00:08:38.269 --> 00:08:43.140
  • Me and my integrity is anchored in the divine, and so i am free.
  • 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:48.646
  • Not that i don't care what other people think, but i'm free from
  • 00:08:48.646 --> 00:08:52.116
  • Being swayed by what other people think, which means i'm
  • 00:08:52.116 --> 00:08:54.819
  • Free to do for other people."
  • 00:08:54.819 --> 00:08:58.656
  • So back to the conversation.
  • 00:08:58.656 --> 00:09:00.424
  • "teacher," they said, "we know that you're a man of integrity,
  • 00:09:00.424 --> 00:09:03.694
  • That you teach the way of god, the path of god in accordance
  • 00:09:03.694 --> 00:09:06.230
  • With what's true.
  • 00:09:06.230 --> 00:09:07.565
  • And obviously you are not swayed by others because you pay no
  • 00:09:07.565 --> 00:09:12.637
  • Attention to," not what other people say, "you pay no
  • 00:09:12.637 --> 00:09:16.741
  • Attention to who they are."
  • 00:09:16.741 --> 00:09:19.844
  • Again, he just wasn't easily manipulated or swayed by
  • 00:09:19.844 --> 00:09:23.814
  • Powerful people because he did not live as if their favor
  • 00:09:23.814 --> 00:09:30.855
  • Determined his destiny.
  • 00:09:30.855 --> 00:09:33.257
  • Because the moral of this story isn't that the law doesn't
  • 00:09:33.257 --> 00:09:36.227
  • Matter or that being good doesn't matter.
  • 00:09:36.227 --> 00:09:38.229
  • The moral of this story is the why behind the what, and this is
  • 00:09:38.229 --> 00:09:41.632
  • What set jesus apart from the pharisees.
  • 00:09:41.632 --> 00:09:45.102
  • His-- again, his integrity was so anchored to the divine and he
  • 00:09:45.102 --> 00:09:48.572
  • Was so confident that god controlled outcomes that he
  • 00:09:48.572 --> 00:09:53.044
  • Wasn't swayed by their influence.
  • 00:09:53.044 --> 00:09:56.914
  • They were concerned, this group, and if you've read the gospels
  • 00:09:56.914 --> 00:09:59.150
  • You know this.
  • 00:09:59.150 --> 00:10:00.518
  • They were so consumed with position and power.
  • 00:10:00.518 --> 00:10:03.054
  • They were concerned by how many followers they had, how many
  • 00:10:03.054 --> 00:10:05.656
  • Likes that got, and jesus is completely free and they just
  • 00:10:05.656 --> 00:10:09.193
  • Could not get past this.
  • 00:10:09.193 --> 00:10:11.228
  • They couldn't get by the fact that clearly jesus wasn't simply
  • 00:10:11.228 --> 00:10:15.132
  • Good for goodness's sake.
  • 00:10:15.132 --> 00:10:17.268
  • In fact, jesus wasn't even good for his sake.
  • 00:10:17.268 --> 00:10:20.838
  • He wasn't even maintaining his integrity for his personal
  • 00:10:20.838 --> 00:10:24.709
  • Reputation; that as the gospels-- as you move through
  • 00:10:24.709 --> 00:10:27.411
  • The gospels, especially as you get to the end, it becomes so
  • 00:10:27.411 --> 00:10:29.747
  • Apparent that for jesus, his integrity was a means to an end
  • 00:10:29.747 --> 00:10:34.819
  • That wasn't him; that the pharisees, and i think all of us
  • 00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:38.756
  • Are tempted to fall into this trap, they were basically good
  • 00:10:38.756 --> 00:10:40.991
  • For goodness's sake.
  • 00:10:40.991 --> 00:10:42.359
  • They were good for god's blessing's sake.
  • 00:10:42.359 --> 00:10:44.261
  • They were good for keeping the covenant and maintaining the
  • 00:10:44.261 --> 00:10:46.497
  • Blessings of the covenant's sake.
  • 00:10:46.497 --> 00:10:48.866
  • And honestly, and i've told you this before, i can so relate to
  • 00:10:48.866 --> 00:10:52.069
  • This because this is sort of the version of christianity that i
  • 00:10:52.069 --> 00:10:55.973
  • Was raised on.
  • 00:10:55.973 --> 00:10:57.675
  • I was raised on the version, "andy, you do all the right
  • 00:10:57.675 --> 00:10:59.944
  • Things and you'll be blessable.
  • 00:10:59.944 --> 00:11:01.846
  • You do all the right things, you'll be blessable.
  • 00:11:01.846 --> 00:11:03.547
  • Handle your money the right way, your morality the right way.
  • 00:11:03.547 --> 00:11:06.016
  • You know, you just be a really, really good person and then you
  • 00:11:06.016 --> 00:11:09.286
  • Are in the blessable zone.
  • 00:11:09.286 --> 00:11:10.988
  • God can do more for you than he can do for other people because
  • 00:11:10.988 --> 00:11:15.025
  • You are in the blessable zone.
  • 00:11:15.025 --> 00:11:16.594
  • You are staying within the guardrails.
  • 00:11:16.594 --> 00:11:18.062
  • You're doing all the right things.
  • 00:11:18.062 --> 00:11:20.264
  • And ultimately, andy, life will go better for you."
  • 00:11:20.264 --> 00:11:23.467
  • And i wasn't wrong about that part, but i was so judgmental
  • 00:11:23.467 --> 00:11:29.774
  • And i was not a very compassionate person.
  • 00:11:29.774 --> 00:11:32.777
  • I'm gonna be a good person, but i'm being good for
  • 00:11:32.777 --> 00:11:36.547
  • Goodness's sake.
  • 00:11:36.547 --> 00:11:38.415
  • Now, if you want to just be a christian, that's fine.
  • 00:11:38.415 --> 00:11:43.420
  • You can be good for goodness's sake.
  • 00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:46.690
  • But not for jesus's followers.
  • 00:11:46.690 --> 00:11:49.560
  • Not for jesus's followers.
  • 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:51.695
  • And again, jesus makes this very clear as this
  • 00:11:51.695 --> 00:11:53.864
  • Conversation continues.
  • 00:11:53.864 --> 00:11:55.499
  • So here's what happened.
  • 00:11:55.499 --> 00:11:57.067
  • Since-- jesus, since you are not easily swayed by others-- so
  • 00:11:57.067 --> 00:11:59.870
  • This is all a set up.
  • 00:11:59.870 --> 00:12:01.238
  • Remember, they're just testing him.
  • 00:12:01.238 --> 00:12:02.907
  • What they've said about him is absolutely true, but it's all a
  • 00:12:02.907 --> 00:12:04.575
  • Set up.
  • 00:12:04.575 --> 00:12:05.910
  • "since you are not easily swayed by others," wink, wink, here we
  • 00:12:05.910 --> 00:12:08.579
  • Go, "is it right to pay the imperial tax to caesar or not?"
  • 00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:13.717
  • To which jesus could have said, "oh, i thought you guys were
  • 00:12:13.717 --> 00:12:15.586
  • Just complimenting me."
  • 00:12:15.586 --> 00:12:16.954
  • Oh, there's a hook.
  • 00:12:16.954 --> 00:12:18.289
  • You know, there's a catch.
  • 00:12:18.289 --> 00:12:19.657
  • There's a trap.
  • 00:12:19.657 --> 00:12:20.991
  • So jesus smiles because this is so elementary.
  • 00:12:20.991 --> 00:12:22.326
  • So he says, look, he basically calls them out on
  • 00:12:22.326 --> 00:12:25.396
  • Their hypocrisy.
  • 00:12:25.396 --> 00:12:26.764
  • I won't go into the whole thing.
  • 00:12:26.764 --> 00:12:28.098
  • Does a little coin trick, you may be familiar with it, and
  • 00:12:28.098 --> 00:12:29.700
  • Sends them scurrying back to their handlers.
  • 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:32.336
  • Meanwhile, the sadducees are on the edge of the crowd.
  • 00:12:32.336 --> 00:12:34.271
  • They see what happens.
  • 00:12:34.271 --> 00:12:35.606
  • They hear this conversation and they decide, "okay, it's
  • 00:12:35.606 --> 00:12:37.308
  • Our turn."
  • 00:12:37.308 --> 00:12:38.676
  • And as you may know, sadducees of course did not believe in
  • 00:12:38.676 --> 00:12:40.611
  • A resurrection.
  • 00:12:40.611 --> 00:12:42.046
  • Sadducees believe that god created mankind and womankind
  • 00:12:42.046 --> 00:12:45.216
  • For his pleasure, and then when people die it's over.
  • 00:12:45.216 --> 00:12:48.919
  • That's just the end.
  • 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:50.321
  • So they didn't believe in a resurrection, and this divided
  • 00:12:50.321 --> 00:12:52.656
  • Them from the pharisees.
  • 00:12:52.656 --> 00:12:54.024
  • So they knew jesus believed in a resurrection.
  • 00:12:54.024 --> 00:12:55.693
  • One time he even said, "i am the resurrection and the life."
  • 00:12:55.693 --> 00:12:58.963
  • So they send this group in, the sadducees in, to give jesus
  • 00:12:58.963 --> 00:13:03.033
  • Basically a riddle that's sort of a hypothetical story to
  • 00:13:03.033 --> 00:13:06.437
  • Demonstrate in their minds the absurdity of the idea of
  • 00:13:06.437 --> 00:13:11.408
  • A resurrection.
  • 00:13:11.408 --> 00:13:12.776
  • And when they finish, jesus kinda scolds them and he ends
  • 00:13:12.776 --> 00:13:16.914
  • His little lecture to them with this statement, which was such
  • 00:13:16.914 --> 00:13:19.817
  • A dig.
  • 00:13:19.817 --> 00:13:21.185
  • I think honestly the crowd just went wild.
  • 00:13:21.185 --> 00:13:22.753
  • He said, "you are in error because you do not know
  • 00:13:22.753 --> 00:13:26.724
  • The scriptures."
  • 00:13:26.724 --> 00:13:28.859
  • All they did was study the scriptures.
  • 00:13:28.859 --> 00:13:30.227
  • You are in error.
  • 00:13:30.227 --> 00:13:31.562
  • You don't know the scriptures.
  • 00:13:31.562 --> 00:13:32.930
  • Again, the crowd goes wild.
  • 00:13:32.930 --> 00:13:34.765
  • And then the third group comes along.
  • 00:13:34.765 --> 00:13:36.800
  • The pharisees decide to send one of their lawyers in.
  • 00:13:36.800 --> 00:13:39.303
  • "hearing," the text says, "hearing that jesus silenced the
  • 00:13:39.303 --> 00:13:42.806
  • Sadducees, the pharisees got together."
  • 00:13:42.806 --> 00:13:46.243
  • And they thought, "okay, one more shot."
  • 00:13:46.243 --> 00:13:48.946
  • "one of them, an expert in the law," a lawyer, "tested him."
  • 00:13:48.946 --> 00:13:53.083
  • And it's important remember that this was a test.
  • 00:13:53.083 --> 00:13:54.752
  • This was not a sincere question, even though on the surface it
  • 00:13:54.752 --> 00:13:57.221
  • Seemed like a very sincere question.
  • 00:13:57.221 --> 00:13:58.555
  • He tested him with this question, "teacher, which is the
  • 00:13:58.555 --> 00:14:01.592
  • Greatest commandment in the law?"
  • 00:14:01.592 --> 00:14:03.460
  • Now, everybody in the audience knew the answer to
  • 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:05.462
  • This question.
  • 00:14:05.462 --> 00:14:06.830
  • They learned this in sunday school.
  • 00:14:06.830 --> 00:14:08.165
  • This was just basic, you know, judaism 101, 1st century
  • 00:14:08.165 --> 00:14:10.701
  • Judaism 101.
  • 00:14:10.701 --> 00:14:12.536
  • Everybody knew the answer to this question.
  • 00:14:12.536 --> 00:14:14.138
  • And finally, jesus may have thought, "oh good, now at least
  • 00:14:14.138 --> 00:14:16.106
  • We have something important to talk about."
  • 00:14:16.106 --> 00:14:17.775
  • And so jesus recites the standard answer, and they
  • 00:14:17.775 --> 00:14:20.878
  • Probably all said it along with him or maybe mouthed it along
  • 00:14:20.878 --> 00:14:23.314
  • With him, "love the lord your god.
  • 00:14:23.314 --> 00:14:25.316
  • Love the lord your god with all your heart, with all your soul,
  • 00:14:25.316 --> 00:14:28.886
  • And with all your mind.
  • 00:14:28.886 --> 00:14:30.254
  • This is the first and this is the greatest commandment."
  • 00:14:30.254 --> 00:14:32.790
  • Now, 1st century judaism, when they thought about this and when
  • 00:14:32.790 --> 00:14:36.160
  • They quoted this, here's what they thought.
  • 00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:37.494
  • They thought, keep the law.
  • 00:14:37.494 --> 00:14:38.862
  • Keep the law.
  • 00:14:38.862 --> 00:14:40.197
  • The way you love god is by obeying his law.
  • 00:14:40.197 --> 00:14:41.565
  • He gave us a law to obey.
  • 00:14:41.565 --> 00:14:42.900
  • We obey the law.
  • 00:14:42.900 --> 00:14:44.268
  • That shows that we love god.
  • 00:14:44.268 --> 00:14:45.602
  • So be good and stay out of trouble.
  • 00:14:45.602 --> 00:14:46.971
  • This was a lot about being good just for goodness's sake, for
  • 00:14:46.971 --> 00:14:49.740
  • Blessing's sake.
  • 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:51.108
  • In their context, it was about being, you know, blessable
  • 00:14:51.108 --> 00:14:53.744
  • Within the covenant that god had given israel.
  • 00:14:53.744 --> 00:14:56.313
  • Now, before the lawyer then can ask his second question, which
  • 00:14:56.313 --> 00:15:00.017
  • Was probably the zinger question, jesus holds up his
  • 00:15:00.017 --> 00:15:03.988
  • Hand to stop him and says, "and," we're not done yet, "and
  • 00:15:03.988 --> 00:15:07.925
  • The second is like it."
  • 00:15:07.925 --> 00:15:10.027
  • The second in sequence, but not second importance.
  • 00:15:10.027 --> 00:15:13.664
  • In fact, these two commands are equal and they are inseparable.
  • 00:15:13.664 --> 00:15:17.668
  • Now, the lawyer may have said, "wait, wait, i just asked for
  • 00:15:17.668 --> 00:15:20.037
  • One 'cause i've got a script i'm following here and you're
  • 00:15:20.037 --> 00:15:21.972
  • Getting me off my script.
  • 00:15:21.972 --> 00:15:23.440
  • I just wanted one."
  • 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.808
  • To which jesus would have said, "of course you just want one.
  • 00:15:24.808 --> 00:15:27.277
  • You want to know what to do because this is all about you.
  • 00:15:27.277 --> 00:15:30.280
  • You want to justify yourself and you wanna isolate yourself.
  • 00:15:30.280 --> 00:15:33.350
  • You want to keep your hands clean."
  • 00:15:33.350 --> 00:15:35.619
  • Jesus says, "and the second one is like it: love your neighbor
  • 00:15:35.619 --> 00:15:39.857
  • As yourself."
  • 00:15:39.857 --> 00:15:41.191
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • 00:15:41.191 --> 00:15:42.559
  • To which perhaps he responded-- i know i respond sometimes, you
  • 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:45.796
  • Know, as, "i think i would just rather just love god and stay
  • 00:15:45.796 --> 00:15:48.399
  • Out of trouble.
  • 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.767
  • Just, you know, me and god, we gotta thing goin' on.
  • 00:15:49.767 --> 00:15:51.268
  • I read my bible and i'm a good person.
  • 00:15:51.268 --> 00:15:52.603
  • I'm just gonna stay out of trouble, just good for
  • 00:15:52.603 --> 00:15:55.172
  • Goodness's sake."
  • 00:15:55.172 --> 00:15:57.574
  • It's easier to be good than available.
  • 00:15:57.574 --> 00:16:02.946
  • And you can be good and unavailable.
  • 00:16:02.946 --> 00:16:07.317
  • But here was the point jesus was making.
  • 00:16:07.317 --> 00:16:09.620
  • Here is the point jesus made throughout his ministry.
  • 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:13.490
  • This is the point he calls us to as his followers.
  • 00:16:13.490 --> 00:16:18.429
  • "ought to" isn't just about you, it's about the folks around you.
  • 00:16:18.429 --> 00:16:26.236
  • "ought to" isn't just about me, it's about the folks around me.
  • 00:16:26.236 --> 00:16:30.908
  • Again, it's my integrity, but it's my integrity for my world.
  • 00:16:30.908 --> 00:16:35.646
  • It's your integrity, but it's your integrity for your world.
  • 00:16:35.646 --> 00:16:41.085
  • The religious leaders who were confronting and trying to trap
  • 00:16:41.085 --> 00:16:43.420
  • Jesus, they were technically blameless, but they were
  • 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:47.491
  • Practically worthless.
  • 00:16:47.491 --> 00:16:49.693
  • In fact, in one other passage, jesus says, "you hypocrites, you
  • 00:16:49.693 --> 00:16:54.198
  • Load people up."
  • 00:16:54.198 --> 00:16:55.666
  • Here's what he said, "you load people up with all your rules.
  • 00:16:55.666 --> 00:16:58.836
  • In fact, you made up rules to keep people from breaking
  • 00:16:58.836 --> 00:17:00.871
  • The rules."
  • 00:17:00.871 --> 00:17:02.239
  • It was like the fence around the torah.
  • 00:17:02.239 --> 00:17:03.574
  • Like, here's the torah and then we put some more rules around
  • 00:17:03.574 --> 00:17:05.209
  • And just so you won't break the torah.
  • 00:17:05.209 --> 00:17:06.543
  • He says, "you load people up with the burden of all your
  • 00:17:06.543 --> 00:17:09.446
  • Rules and you don't lift a finger to help them, and yet you
  • 00:17:09.446 --> 00:17:14.485
  • Feel like you stand justified before god."
  • 00:17:14.485 --> 00:17:19.623
  • It's possible to be good without doing any good.
  • 00:17:19.623 --> 00:17:25.529
  • The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the
  • 00:17:25.529 --> 00:17:29.233
  • Integrity of the upright that our savior has called us to will
  • 00:17:29.233 --> 00:17:32.002
  • Guide us beyond them, will guide us to them, will guide us to the
  • 00:17:32.002 --> 00:17:38.976
  • People around them, which again brings us back to where we
  • 00:17:38.976 --> 00:17:41.245
  • Always seem to end up, to where you will always end up if you
  • 00:17:41.245 --> 00:17:44.515
  • Decide to follow jesus.
  • 00:17:44.515 --> 00:17:47.050
  • It brings us back to where the apostle paul ended up
  • 00:17:47.050 --> 00:17:50.053
  • Once he became a jesus follower.
  • 00:17:50.053 --> 00:17:51.889
  • Because once upon a time, paul who said he was the greatest
  • 00:17:51.889 --> 00:17:54.158
  • Pharisee who ever lived, self-esteem was not an issue for
  • 00:17:54.158 --> 00:17:57.261
  • Paul, but you know, by his own words, he was like, "i'm like--
  • 00:17:57.261 --> 00:18:00.164
  • I'm the hebrew of hebrews.
  • 00:18:00.164 --> 00:18:02.132
  • According to the law, i am blameless.
  • 00:18:02.132 --> 00:18:03.834
  • I am faultless."
  • 00:18:03.834 --> 00:18:05.802
  • And then when he began following jesus, there was a transition.
  • 00:18:05.802 --> 00:18:10.174
  • There was a turn.
  • 00:18:10.174 --> 00:18:11.542
  • There was a heart change and there was a behavior change.
  • 00:18:11.542 --> 00:18:14.278
  • And here's what he said.
  • 00:18:14.278 --> 00:18:15.779
  • He said, "christians, jesus followers, serve one another
  • 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:19.783
  • Humbly in love."
  • 00:18:19.783 --> 00:18:22.219
  • And then here was the kicker, here was the offensive part for
  • 00:18:22.219 --> 00:18:25.055
  • 1st century judeans, "for the entire law, all of torah, is
  • 00:18:25.055 --> 00:18:29.359
  • Fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'love your neighbor
  • 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:32.663
  • As yourself.'"
  • 00:18:32.663 --> 00:18:33.997
  • To which the-- you know, the lawyer, if he had read this, the
  • 00:18:33.997 --> 00:18:36.033
  • Lawyer that confronted jesus and some of the people who had heard
  • 00:18:36.033 --> 00:18:38.335
  • Jesus teach that day said, "wait, wait, wait, wait.
  • 00:18:38.335 --> 00:18:39.870
  • Paul, you left out a part.
  • 00:18:39.870 --> 00:18:41.405
  • You're supposed to say, 'no, the one commandment is, "love the
  • 00:18:41.405 --> 00:18:43.674
  • Lord your god with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,
  • 00:18:43.674 --> 00:18:45.842
  • And your neighbor as yourself."'
  • 00:18:45.842 --> 00:18:47.211
  • You left out the first part."
  • 00:18:47.211 --> 00:18:48.879
  • To which paul would say, "no, i didn't, because this is how you
  • 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:53.417
  • Know you love the lord your god with all your heart, soul,
  • 00:18:53.417 --> 00:18:56.887
  • And mind."
  • 00:18:56.887 --> 00:18:58.255
  • It's not second in sequence.
  • 00:18:58.255 --> 00:18:59.890
  • It is not second in importance.
  • 00:18:59.890 --> 00:19:01.558
  • This is how you know if you are loving god.
  • 00:19:01.558 --> 00:19:04.995
  • It is not enough to keep the law.
  • 00:19:04.995 --> 00:19:06.930
  • It is not enough to keep the commandments.
  • 00:19:06.930 --> 00:19:08.765
  • It is not enough to simply be a good person or to be blameless
  • 00:19:08.765 --> 00:19:11.902
  • In your own sight.
  • 00:19:11.902 --> 00:19:13.470
  • Paul would say, and he said it over and over, you're not
  • 00:19:13.470 --> 00:19:16.340
  • Actually actively loving god if you are not leveraging your
  • 00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:21.278
  • Integrity beyond you.
  • 00:19:21.278 --> 00:19:25.382
  • In fact, he said this.
  • 00:19:25.382 --> 00:19:27.217
  • Some of us had this read at our wedding, or at least the part
  • 00:19:27.217 --> 00:19:30.020
  • That came before this.
  • 00:19:30.020 --> 00:19:31.355
  • He would go as far as to say this, "if you-- if you're not
  • 00:19:31.355 --> 00:19:35.292
  • Good for somebody, if your goodness just ends with you, if
  • 00:19:35.292 --> 00:19:38.895
  • You're not good for somebody, you are a sounding,
  • 00:19:38.895 --> 00:19:41.331
  • Clanging gong."
  • 00:19:41.331 --> 00:19:43.033
  • You are a clanging cymbal.
  • 00:19:43.033 --> 00:19:45.202
  • You're basically a nuisance.
  • 00:19:45.202 --> 00:19:47.271
  • You're just noise.
  • 00:19:47.271 --> 00:19:50.374
  • If you grew up in church, you may remember this little piece
  • 00:19:50.374 --> 00:19:52.476
  • Of narrative with jesus as well.
  • 00:19:52.476 --> 00:19:54.611
  • In the english bible, sometimes the heading is, "the rich
  • 00:19:54.611 --> 00:19:57.047
  • Young ruler."
  • 00:19:57.047 --> 00:19:58.482
  • And he was young and he was rich, and we're not sure what
  • 00:19:58.482 --> 00:20:01.485
  • Kinda ruler he was, but basically he was a really good
  • 00:20:01.485 --> 00:20:05.656
  • Rich boy is what he was.
  • 00:20:05.656 --> 00:20:06.990
  • He was a really, really good rich boy.
  • 00:20:06.990 --> 00:20:08.358
  • And he comes to jesus and kinda interrupts everybody, and he
  • 00:20:08.358 --> 00:20:10.594
  • Says, "jesus, what must i do," and there's the key word, "what
  • 00:20:10.594 --> 00:20:14.131
  • Must i do in order to gain and maintain god's favor?"
  • 00:20:14.131 --> 00:20:18.735
  • The english text says, "what must i do to gain eternal life?"
  • 00:20:18.735 --> 00:20:21.038
  • When we hear eternal life, we think die and go to heaven.
  • 00:20:21.038 --> 00:20:22.839
  • That's not what they thought.
  • 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.207
  • He wanted to know, "how can i be sure that i have god's favor?
  • 00:20:24.207 --> 00:20:27.577
  • Tell me what i can do to gain and maintain god's favor."
  • 00:20:27.577 --> 00:20:31.348
  • And if you remember this piece of narrative, jesus smiles, you
  • 00:20:31.348 --> 00:20:34.418
  • Know, and goes along with the kid.
  • 00:20:34.418 --> 00:20:35.786
  • Jesus rattles off of a bunch of torah.
  • 00:20:35.786 --> 00:20:37.921
  • He rattles off some of the most commonly known laws.
  • 00:20:37.921 --> 00:20:41.091
  • And the boy's listening and he responds to jesus, he said,
  • 00:20:41.091 --> 00:20:43.393
  • "okay, gotcha."
  • 00:20:43.393 --> 00:20:44.728
  • He said, "all these, all these things you've just mentioned,
  • 00:20:44.728 --> 00:20:46.096
  • All these laws, all these i've kept since i was a boy.
  • 00:20:46.096 --> 00:20:50.467
  • I am a good boy.
  • 00:20:50.467 --> 00:20:52.436
  • I am a good person.
  • 00:20:52.436 --> 00:20:53.970
  • So are we done here?"
  • 00:20:53.970 --> 00:20:56.640
  • And jesus says, "well, you still lack one thing."
  • 00:20:56.640 --> 00:21:01.845
  • So he turns to his servant rufus, "rufus, write this down.
  • 00:21:01.845 --> 00:21:04.247
  • I'm about to get the one thing, and once i get this one thing,
  • 00:21:04.247 --> 00:21:06.416
  • I'll go do the one thing and then, you know, i'll have god's
  • 00:21:06.416 --> 00:21:08.952
  • Favor according to this rabbi anyway.
  • 00:21:08.952 --> 00:21:12.022
  • So get your pen out."
  • 00:21:12.022 --> 00:21:13.490
  • Jesus smiles and says, "here's the one thing you lack.
  • 00:21:13.490 --> 00:21:16.026
  • I want you to sell everything you have and i want you to give
  • 00:21:16.026 --> 00:21:21.631
  • It to the poor."
  • 00:21:21.631 --> 00:21:24.634
  • Now, it's important when you read this conversation to
  • 00:21:24.634 --> 00:21:27.371
  • Understand jesus is not talking to you, okay?
  • 00:21:27.371 --> 00:21:30.374
  • Jesus was not talking to lazarus or his sisters because they did
  • 00:21:30.374 --> 00:21:33.276
  • Not sell everything and give it to the poor.
  • 00:21:33.276 --> 00:21:35.345
  • They supported jesus financially.
  • 00:21:35.345 --> 00:21:37.047
  • Jesus is making a specific point to a specific person, but the
  • 00:21:37.047 --> 00:21:40.984
  • Point applies and the principle applies to all of us.
  • 00:21:40.984 --> 00:21:44.454
  • I want you to sell everything you have and i want you to give
  • 00:21:44.454 --> 00:21:47.791
  • Everything you have to the poor.
  • 00:21:47.791 --> 00:21:49.960
  • This was his sort of hyperbolic way of saying, "you are good,
  • 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:53.964
  • But your goodness is all about you.
  • 00:21:53.964 --> 00:21:55.532
  • You are good all about you.
  • 00:21:55.532 --> 00:21:56.900
  • You are good for nobody.
  • 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:58.668
  • You are good for nothing.
  • 00:21:58.668 --> 00:22:00.103
  • And i want you to understand just how ungood you are within
  • 00:22:00.103 --> 00:22:03.807
  • The context of god's value system and the kingdom of god.
  • 00:22:03.807 --> 00:22:06.910
  • So to demonstrate it for you, i'm going to lead you--" this is
  • 00:22:06.910 --> 00:22:10.580
  • What jesus was doing.
  • 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:11.948
  • It's so brilliant.
  • 00:22:11.948 --> 00:22:13.283
  • "i'm going to lead you to your selfishness.
  • 00:22:13.283 --> 00:22:15.352
  • I'm gonna lead you-- i'm going to confront you with the heart
  • 00:22:15.352 --> 00:22:19.923
  • That's driving your behavior, that makes you look good on the
  • 00:22:19.923 --> 00:22:23.059
  • Outside just like the pharisees, but filthy on the inside because
  • 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:29.566
  • It's all about you.
  • 00:22:29.566 --> 00:22:31.468
  • So i want you to sell everything you have and i want you to give
  • 00:22:31.468 --> 00:22:35.572
  • It to the poor."
  • 00:22:35.572 --> 00:22:37.507
  • And of course this kid's like, "wait, what?
  • 00:22:37.507 --> 00:22:39.443
  • Sell my stuff?
  • 00:22:39.443 --> 00:22:40.944
  • Hey, sell my stuff and give it to the poor?
  • 00:22:40.944 --> 00:22:42.546
  • Why are we talking about the poor?
  • 00:22:42.546 --> 00:22:44.581
  • I mean, i wanna know how i can know where i stand with god, and
  • 00:22:44.581 --> 00:22:47.818
  • Now we're talking about the poor?
  • 00:22:47.818 --> 00:22:49.219
  • I think you changed the subject.
  • 00:22:49.219 --> 00:22:50.554
  • Besides that, jesus, if i sell everything i have and give it to
  • 00:22:50.554 --> 00:22:54.991
  • The poor, i won't lack one thing, i will lack everything."
  • 00:22:54.991 --> 00:23:01.298
  • To which jesus, i think, would pause and smile, and think, "now
  • 00:23:01.298 --> 00:23:04.701
  • We're getting somewhere.
  • 00:23:04.701 --> 00:23:06.036
  • Oh, and there's one other thing i want you to do.
  • 00:23:06.036 --> 00:23:08.638
  • I want you to come and i want you to follow me."
  • 00:23:08.638 --> 00:23:14.744
  • And the text says that this young boy went away very sad,
  • 00:23:14.744 --> 00:23:19.816
  • But not as sad as he was on the day that he discovered or heard
  • 00:23:19.816 --> 00:23:25.689
  • Who jesus was, not as sad as he was on the day when he realized
  • 00:23:25.689 --> 00:23:30.994
  • He traded his temporary wealth for an opportunity to be one of
  • 00:23:30.994 --> 00:23:36.132
  • Jesus's original 1st century followers.
  • 00:23:36.132 --> 00:23:41.738
  • He was good, but he was good for nothing.
  • 00:23:41.738 --> 00:23:44.774
  • And jesus led him to that tension and left him there, and
  • 00:23:44.774 --> 00:23:48.879
  • He walked away sad.
  • 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:52.616
  • I think all of us have that point.
  • 00:23:52.616 --> 00:23:55.318
  • I think the teaching of jesus, if we take it seriously, if you
  • 00:23:55.318 --> 00:23:58.054
  • Follow him through the gospels, brings us to that point, that
  • 00:23:58.054 --> 00:24:00.390
  • Point of conflict where we realize, "oh, my selfishness is
  • 00:24:00.390 --> 00:24:04.160
  • Being confronted by jesus's invitation to be generous; that
  • 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:08.265
  • My self-centeredness that i mask with my goodness-- i'm a
  • 00:24:08.265 --> 00:24:11.635
  • Good parent.
  • 00:24:11.635 --> 00:24:12.969
  • I'm a good father.
  • 00:24:12.969 --> 00:24:14.337
  • I pay my taxes.
  • 00:24:14.337 --> 00:24:15.672
  • You know, i drive the speed limit.
  • 00:24:15.672 --> 00:24:17.040
  • All the good things i do.
  • 00:24:17.040 --> 00:24:18.375
  • I'm a fine, upstanding citizen."
  • 00:24:18.375 --> 00:24:19.743
  • And then you follow jesus through the gospels and he leads
  • 00:24:19.743 --> 00:24:21.244
  • Us to that point of tension where he confronts us, as i know
  • 00:24:21.244 --> 00:24:22.979
  • He has confronted me so many times, and one major, major time
  • 00:24:22.979 --> 00:24:26.116
  • So many years ago when i realized i'm good for my sake.
  • 00:24:26.116 --> 00:24:29.319
  • I'm good for goodness's sake.
  • 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.654
  • It's all about me.
  • 00:24:30.654 --> 00:24:31.988
  • I am blameless, i am faultless, but when it comes to my benefit
  • 00:24:31.988 --> 00:24:35.959
  • Or my help in terms of what's going on in the world, i'm
  • 00:24:35.959 --> 00:24:39.796
  • Pretty much worthless because somehow my christianity is all
  • 00:24:39.796 --> 00:24:44.634
  • About me.
  • 00:24:44.634 --> 00:24:46.069
  • And then at the end, jesus gathers his apostles for that
  • 00:24:46.069 --> 00:24:49.940
  • Final passover and he takes it up a notch.
  • 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:53.677
  • He says, "a new command i'm giving you.
  • 00:24:53.677 --> 00:24:55.979
  • A new command i'm giving you.
  • 00:24:55.979 --> 00:24:58.148
  • You heard me talk about what's the greatest commandment.
  • 00:24:58.148 --> 00:24:59.549
  • You know, i was just telling everybody what they already
  • 00:24:59.549 --> 00:25:00.917
  • Knew, then i added the neighbor part.
  • 00:25:00.917 --> 00:25:02.786
  • So now i'm going to take that, and i'm gonna combine those two
  • 00:25:02.786 --> 00:25:06.256
  • Ideas, and i'm gonna add another element, and this is what i want
  • 00:25:06.256 --> 00:25:08.959
  • You to remember.
  • 00:25:08.959 --> 00:25:10.293
  • A new command i give you.
  • 00:25:10.293 --> 00:25:11.661
  • A new command to replace all the other commands."
  • 00:25:11.661 --> 00:25:14.931
  • The apostle paul would come around later, as we talked
  • 00:25:14.931 --> 00:25:16.733
  • About, and call it the law of christ.
  • 00:25:16.733 --> 00:25:19.836
  • And the law of christ was to give, to serve, and to love
  • 00:25:19.836 --> 00:25:24.174
  • Others and each other as he gave, served, and loved us; that
  • 00:25:24.174 --> 00:25:32.649
  • Jesus was not satisfied with being good for goodness's sake
  • 00:25:32.649 --> 00:25:36.987
  • Or good for his sake.
  • 00:25:36.987 --> 00:25:38.588
  • Jesus came to be good for your sake, and for my sake, and for
  • 00:25:38.588 --> 00:25:43.460
  • The sake of the world, for the sake of those who, well, in my
  • 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:49.633
  • Case, maybe your case, for the sake of those who are just
  • 00:25:49.633 --> 00:25:52.535
  • Aren't all that good.
  • 00:25:52.535 --> 00:25:54.671
  • This was his endgame.
  • 00:25:54.671 --> 00:25:57.207
  • His endgame wasn't simply to keep the law of god.
  • 00:25:57.207 --> 00:26:02.112
  • His endgame wasn't to simply keep the law of god.
  • 00:26:02.112 --> 00:26:04.514
  • His endgame was to demonstrate the love of god, and to
  • 00:26:04.514 --> 00:26:09.586
  • Demonstrate it in such a way that we would embrace that way
  • 00:26:09.586 --> 00:26:11.988
  • Of living, that that would become our end game as well.
  • 00:26:11.988 --> 00:26:16.593
  • So, full circle, it's possible.
  • 00:26:16.593 --> 00:26:20.997
  • It's possible to be good without doing any good, but that is not
  • 00:26:20.997 --> 00:26:26.269
  • A good idea.
  • 00:26:26.269 --> 00:26:29.205
  • So if you're a jesus follower, if you're a jesus follower, let
  • 00:26:29.205 --> 00:26:32.308
  • It be said of us what was said of our savior, that we would be
  • 00:26:32.308 --> 00:26:35.912
  • Known for our integrity, that we would be known for our love of
  • 00:26:35.912 --> 00:26:39.683
  • What's true, that we would walk in the way of god, and that we
  • 00:26:39.683 --> 00:26:44.888
  • As a consequence of that would not be easily swayed by others,
  • 00:26:44.888 --> 00:26:48.758
  • But instead, we, like jesus, would be free to love others.
  • 00:26:48.758 --> 00:26:54.931
  • Because at the end of the day, when you follow jesus, your
  • 00:26:54.931 --> 00:26:58.201
  • Integrity will guide you, but it will guide you beyond you.
  • 00:26:58.201 --> 00:27:03.273
  • Your integrity will guide you to the you beside you, to the yous
  • 00:27:03.273 --> 00:27:07.711
  • Who are nothing like you, to the yous that may not even like you.
  • 00:27:07.711 --> 00:27:12.649
  • And if we get this right, if we get this right, it won't be how
  • 00:27:12.649 --> 00:27:17.587
  • Well we behave that gets people's attention.
  • 00:27:17.587 --> 00:27:21.624
  • It will be how well we love, because our integrity will guide
  • 00:27:21.624 --> 00:27:27.230
  • Us beyond us into the lives of the people around us.
  • 00:27:27.230 --> 00:27:31.868
  • And then, just as happened in the 1st century, that could
  • 00:27:31.868 --> 00:27:35.338
  • Perhaps happen in the 21st century, then our integrity will
  • 00:27:35.338 --> 00:27:38.641
  • Most certainly shape our world.
  • 00:27:38.641 --> 00:27:42.412
  • Andy: hey everybody, thank you so much for tuning in.
  • 00:27:43.847 --> 00:27:45.882
  • If you'd like to watch this episode again or share it with a
  • 00:27:45.882 --> 00:27:48.718
  • Friend, head on over to the website at the bottom of
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  • The screen.
  • 00:27:50.820 --> 00:27:52.188
  • The website is the best place for you to find other "your
  • 00:27:52.188 --> 00:27:54.791
  • Move" episodes, access additional resources, and learn
  • 00:27:54.791 --> 00:27:57.560
  • More about our mission to engage culture with the teaching of
  • 00:27:57.560 --> 00:28:00.864
  • Jesus because we're convinced following jesus will make your
  • 00:28:00.864 --> 00:28:03.833
  • Life better and make the world a better place,
  • 00:28:03.833 --> 00:28:06.669
  • And now it's your move.
  • 00:28:06.669 --> 00:28:21.584
  • ...
  • 00:28:24.821 --> 00:28:24.821