All right, well, greetings and   welcome to Heritage Reform Presbyterian Church on this Lord's Day, July   27th, 2025. It's good to worship the Lord   with you all once again. This will be our last Sunday   in here. Thankfully, we'll be back in   the fellowship hall next Sunday. So after the service today, we   will put all these chairs in the closet in there, is that   correct? Some will go downstairs. Some   will go downstairs, yeah. So basically, it'll just be a   matter of taking these chairs down, and then I guess vacuuming. Leave everything else here. Later   on, I'll get this stuff and take it over to the building. Okay,   I can help with that too, but yeah, that'd be cool. Okay. If they're having their   VDS thing, finale or whatever, in the fellowship hall this afternoon,   Let's see, this Tuesday will be group, is that right? Yeah,   and that will be at our house at 6 and we will have a meal   and then at 7 we'll have the book study continuing through   Sinclair Ferguson's study on the Book of James. So we look   forward to having you all for that as well. If you know anybody   that would like to come to that, feel free to invite them also.   And we did have an elders meeting finally this week, and I sent   a few emails to you all this week as well. Some of that was   kind of just stuff we had talked about from our elders meeting. They also have this bright idea. We're hoping to kind of, probably   starting in August, maybe once a month, do something with the   church on a rotational basis. So like one month we'll do something   with the men, one month with the women, and then the next   month will be something like a church picnic at Qantas Park   or something like that. We'll probably start that in   August and rotate the men, the women, and the churchwide function.   So this could be something like a men's breakfast. The men have   talked about maybe going shooting or something like that as well.   Recreational shooting. And so yeah, we're looking forward   to that. And we'll give more details on   that as we get closer to those things. Are there any other announcements,   elders or anybody? No? Okay. Also, since we only   have one service now, we thought we would ask if there's any prayer   requests before the first service, and then when we get down to   the prayer of requests with Thanksgiving, I could add that specifically   to the prayer time there. Are there any particular prayer   requests anybody has? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'll try to remember that. Um, I don't think I have a pin,   but I should remember that. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Anything? Yeah. Yeah. My wife, Lynn, um,   with his concussion, she got from that accident. She's still   having severe headaches. She started They're working with that gently,   but, um, yeah, it's a lot of sleep for us. Nice. Okay. Okay. Absolutely. I also appreciate   that. Anything else? Oh, thank you.   Very good. This will be helpful. This is your grandmother, correct?   Yes. Her back. All right. Well, if there's nothing   else, then let us begin and prepare for worship with a moment of   silent prayer and meditation. Brothers and sisters, please   stand to receive God's call to worship taken from Psalm 97.   The Lord reigns. Let the earth rejoice. Let the   multitude of isles be glad. Clouds and darkness surround   him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.   The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at   the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare   his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Let's now   confess our need for God's grace together. Our health is in the   name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Beloved, I receive   God's greeting. Grace to you and peace from God   our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. As God has welcomed us   to worship him now, let us do so, remaining standing together   and singing our song of adoration, 379. Come, Christians, join to   sing 379. three verses together. Everybody   ready? Come, Christians, join to sing. Hallelujah. Amen. Loud praise to Christ our   King. Hallelujah. Amen. Let all with heart and   voice Praises His gracious choice,   Alleluia! Amen! Come, lift your hearts on high,   Alleluia! Amen! Let praises fill the sky,   Alleluia, Amen He is our guide and friend To us he'll condescend   His love shall never end Alleluia, Amen Praise yet our Christ again,   Alleluia, Amen! Life shall not end the strain,   Alleluia, Amen! On heaven's blissful shore, Let us come before the Lord in   prayer. Father, once again, we are grateful   and thankful to be able to gather in your name to worship you in   spirit and in truth, Lord. We thank you that you give us   this privilege no matter where we gather or meet. You are with   us as we come to worship you. So Lord, we pray that you would   indeed bless us now in your holy presence as we come together   as your people, as Christians, to sing and praise your holy   name and to be nourished and fed from your holy word. So please   bless us now in your holy presence. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.   Please be seated. Let us now hear from God's Law,   taken from verse Peter chapter 5. We're looking at verses 8   and 9 together of 1 Peter chapter 5. Be sober, be vigilant, because   your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking   whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith,   knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood   in the world. We're to be watchful, to be keeping   watch over our minds and souls for temptation and danger. The world, the flesh, the devil   himself seeks to destroy us, even as God's people, to bring   us away from righteousness and into paths of wickedness and   darkness and so on. We are called to be watchful   against that, to be wary, to be aware, to know God's word,   to stand against wickedness, to be steadfast in the faith,   and to persevere in that. And we also have the, I suppose   you could say comfort, of knowing that other believers are also   having to do that all over the world as well. And so let us,   with that in mind, come to the Lord in prayer. We're going to   begin, as you see there in your bulletin, with a moment of silent   prayer, and then I will come in and lead us in prayer as well. Let us go to the Lord in prayer,   confessing our sins and praising him for his saving grace to us   in Christ. Heavenly Father, as we see here   in your word, you call us to watch over ourselves and to be   sober-minded. Lord, we come confessing as your   people that too often we fail to do this or we do not do this   as strenuously as we ought to do. So Lord, I pray that you   would help us to truly keep watch over our souls, to resist the   devil, to flee from all temptations or suggestions of the evil one,   for us to turn into sin, to be discontent to be bitter or angry   or lustful or anything more that we may do to sin against you.   Rather than following these paths of wickedness, I pray that we   would put on a strong mind and a pure heart. Diligently seek   you to think about your goodness and your purity. Think about   all that you have done for us in Christ. Indeed, as your word   says, Lord, help us to remember the sufferings and the challenges   that are faced among Christians all over the world, knowing the   threats all around them, knowing the temptations that we all have   in our own hearts and minds as well. To be steadfast, to be   faithful, to persevere, to know that the reward in Christ is   sure and it is accomplished in him. What a great comfort that   is to know that our sins, past, present and future are forgiven,   to know that the heavenly inheritance has already been are cured for   us in Jesus, your son. We thank you for that, Lord.   We thank you that you have accomplished and done it all for us and that   you are. ever giving us the supply of your spirit and the light   of your word. Let us lay hold by the spirit   of your word. Let us fellowship together. Let us draw near to you and you   promise to draw near to us so that we would live for you and   follow you and seek first your kingdom and righteousness in   all things. Lord, we ask all this in Jesus   name. Amen. We hear these words of pardon   now taken from verses 10 and 11 of first Peter chapter five.   But may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal   glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,   establish, strengthen, and settle you. To him be the glory and   the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Well, again, just very   briefly, we see there that it is the God of all grace, God   who gives us grace, God who is all sufficient in grace, It is   He, in His grace, who has called us to glory, to His glory, the   glory of heaven, the glory of His very presence and blessedness   forevermore. And He's done that through Christ   Jesus, by Jesus, not by our works, not by our labors, but by Christ   and His sufferings, He has sealed and secured this heavenly blessing   and inheritance for us. And if He has begun that for   us, He will complete that, it says. He will perfect, establish,   strengthen, and settle you. And so often in God's Word, you   see this, where there's these commands to be sober-minded,   to be vigilant, to be steadfast and stand strong, and then that   comfort that is there right alongside that, that Christ has walked   this path already, and it is His very strength from heaven   above that will see to it that we will continue down that path,   so He gives the spirit, he gives his word, he gives the strength   to do what he commands. And that is a great comfort to   us. And it's also a great comfort, of course, to know that as we   walk, as we grow as Christians, we are fully forgiven of our   sins already. And so indeed, to him be the   glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Well, knowing   the goodness and the mercy and the salvation that we have in   Christ, let us praise him in song along those lines, standing   together and singing our song of praise, 278, nothing but the   blood, 278. 278, and we'll sing all five   verses together. Everybody ready? What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is Thou, Lord, That   makes me light as snow, No other fount I know, Nothing but the   blood of Jesus. For my cleansing this I see,   Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my part and this my plea,   nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow that makes   me white as snow, No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood   of Jesus. Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing   but the blood of Jesus. Not a good that I have done,   Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow that   makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my hope and peace,   nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness,   nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow, nothing   but the blood of Jesus I'll reach my nothing but the   blood of Jesus Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white   as snow No other doubt I know together as God's people and   to do so please take your chemicals and we'll turn first to page   973 in the back And as we're on the Eighth Commandment   now, we'll look at that from the Shorter Catechism and then   we'll flip over to page 892 after that in the Heidelberg Catechism.   But I read the question, please respond aloud with the answer. Question 73, on page 973. Question   73, which is the Eighth Commandment? The Eighth Commandment is, Thou   shalt not steal. And then we turn over to page   892. Questions 110 and 111 of the   Heidelberg Catechism on Lord's Day 42. Day 92, question 110. What does   God forbid in the Eighth Commandment? He forbids not only outright   theft and robbery, which governing authorities punish, includes all evil tricks and   schemes designed to get at my neighbor's goods for ourselves,   whether by force or means of a pure legitimate, such as inaccurate   measurements of weight, size, or volume, fraudulent merchandising,   counterfeit money, excessive interest, or any other means   forbidden by God. In addition, God forbids all   greed and pointless swandering 11. What does God require of you   in this commandment? That I do whatever I can and   may it for my neighbor's good, that I treat others as I would   like them to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may   help the needy in their hardship. Very good, and we'll look at   that more together when we come to that for our sermon. But now   let us stand together and respond to what we've just confessed   from God's Word as well. Standing together, as you see   in your bulletin there, and we'll sing the Gloria Patri. Everybody ready? Glory be to   the Father, And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, As it was   in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without   end. Amen. Amen. Father, again you call us to   cast our cares upon you. Lord, you call us to not be anxious   or worry about anything in this life. That is a great challenge   to do and yet it is a great comfort to know that you actually command   us to do that and you give us a good comfort, a good reason   to do that. That you care for us, that you provide for us.   Every need, everything that we face in this life, as your people,   you do not overlook, you do not forget, you do not forsake us.   You call us to draw near to you, to draw strength from you, to   trust in you. And so we come to do that now, Lord, asking   for the things that we indeed need, asking for the very things   that you call us to ask for and that you promise to provide. So, Father, as you call us to   pray for our nation, the land that we live in, our country   and government and its rulers, that we would be able to lead   a godly and peaceable life together, we pray for that. We pray, God,   that you would give us such rulers, not those who are compromised,   not those who are legislating immorality and sin and wickedness,   not those who turn a blind eye to crime and murder and theft   and all the rest, Lord, but that those leaders that you give us   would indeed have it in their hearts to rule righteously and   for the good of the people and according to your word. Father,   we pray for the church here and elsewhere that we would stand   faithful. We know indeed that We live in   the midst of a perverse and crooked generation in many ways. And   we need to be faithful. We need to be a witness to others. We need to avoid sin and temptation   and indeed resist the devil, as we heard earlier. Help us   to do that. Help us to encourage one another.   As we also heard, let us remind ourselves and be reminded that   Christians all over the world today are facing hardship too.   And yet you give an abundance of life, your spirit to be able   to endure and to trust in you through it all. Father, we pray   for the particular evils in our nation and in many cases, even   our community today. Abortion, the murder of the unborn,   the womb of the mother. And God, we pray that such a   ghastly evil would be eradicated, Lord, that you would soften hearts   of fathers and mothers to not do this, that it would not be   permitted, that it would not be allowed to be done by doctors   in our nation. Instead, we would encourage families   to see the good of children, even children that are brought   forth out of broken or even sinful circumstances, not to compound   one evil with another evil, but to see the blessing of children   and the future that is there as we raise up children to honor   and glorify you. Lord, we pray for the sexual   immorality in general that is so rampant today. We have broken   families and homes. We have sin of all stripes. We have fornication and adultery. We also have homosexuality and   transgenderism. God, we pray that, again, we   would be more faithful, as we looked at last week in the Seventh   Commandment, how we possess our bodies as your vessels, as holy   temples, and to serve and honor you, body and soul, in all that   we do. Father, we pray for the blasphemy,   the decrying of your name in all various forms, either directly   or indirectly in our nation today. Lord, I pray that our nation   would have a reverence for you once again, not the gods of other   religions, but the one true God, you Lord, who made heaven and   earth and has sent your son Jesus for the salvation of sinners.   We pray that your name would be held in high regard, even   among those who do not personally believe in you, but that there   would be a recognition of you nonetheless that would restrain   wickedness and that many would indeed come to repent and believe   and follow you in all sincerity. Father, we pray for our church   here at Heritage, for each family and individual. We pray for the   needs. We know that there's particular   needs right now for Lynn McBurnett, for her health and her neck and   her headaches and the difficulties she's had, the complications   from this car accident. Lord, we pray that you would   give her relief of pain and suffering. Help David as he tends to her   needs as well. We pray that the physical therapy   and rehabilitation from that would go well and be successful   and give swift relief. And in the midst of the difficulty   that she, they would continue to look to you and trust in you   as a God who does not forsake us even in the midst of our pain   and suffering. Likewise, you pray for Jude's grandmother and   her back and the pain she's having from that also. Likewise, Lord,   that she would look to you and trust in you in that time that   friends and family can help her as best they can to alleviate   that pain and that you would remove the pain in due time and   give recovery. Lord, we know that in this life   there is suffering of not only the soul, but of the body. And   we wait for and long for that resurrection of the body. Until   that day, help us to be faithful. And again, remember that in you,   Lord, our sufferings are not meaningless, but it will be delivered   from them all on the last day. And it is the means of our growth   and sanctification in you. Father, we pray for the other   needs of the congregation, of body and soul, whatever they   may be. We pray that we would eat well, exercise well, get   rest, trust in you, not worry and fret. but cast our cares   upon you indeed, that we would lay hold of your word with all   diligence, that we would pray to you and for one another, and   that we would encourage one another and help one another as we're   able to do, Sunday by Sunday and week by week, day by day   in various ways, Lord, that we would truly be the body of Christ,   your heritage, encouraging one another. We pray for our covenant   children as well. that they would honor their parents,   that we'd be diligent as parents to train and teach them. We pray   for husbands and wives to truly love you and love one another   well. In our particular callings as men and women in marriage,   help us in all these ways and capacities. Help us at our job   sites and our workplaces. Help us to do all for your glory   and honor and looking to you. We pray the same for our friends   and family of the congregation, Lord, that Those we love and   care for, especially that you put in our lives, would be growing   in you. If they do not know you, that   through us and the gospel, they would be brought to saving faith   and brought into a faithful church. Even our church, Lord, in your   will, we do pray God for the growth of our congregation spiritually,   as well as more souls, more families, more peoples to come and worship,   to grow together in you, to be a family, a fellowship, in Christ   here at Heritage. Father, we also pray for our   sister churches and our presbytery, for King's Reformed in Florida,   and First Presbyterian Church in Suriname. Lord, we thank you   for Reverend Bacher and the good report he gave, the healing that   he has experienced from the cancer. We pray that that would continue,   that he would alleviate the pain that he's had from that. We do   pray for the ministerial search that they continue to have there   as well. We pray for Reverend Hammond, Also, and we pray that   you would bless him at First Pres and Suriname for the school   and college, the online college and seminary, Reformation Christian   Ministries, the Good News Bible Series, these other evangelistic   tools and teaching tools for the K-12 school as well. We pray   for the teachers there. Many of them we do not know,   but we know that they are serving you diligently. in these capacities. We pray for that, Lord. We pray   and thank you that we have this fellowship of our little denomination   that, though small, takes us all over the world in certain   ways, Lord, and that you build up your church and kingdom through   this. We pray that you continue that and bless that. We pray   also for other local churches in the area to be faithful and   strong. Lord, we pray again for Foundation Baptist here and for   Faith Bible Church. Lord, we pray for other churches   that we have relationships with in various ways, especially here   in North Carolina and beyond. We pray that you'd raise up more   faithful churches as well to serve you, to proclaim your word,   and to build up your church, your kingdom, your people, Lord.   Father, we also pray for the giving of our tithes and offerings.   Lord, we pray that we would give with glad hearts that we give   abundantly according to our means and that we would use what is   given for the good of your church. We continue to pray, God, especially   for the possibility of a church merger. We know there's a need   in a church nearby that some of us have connections to. Lord,   we pray that you'd bring that about if it is your holy will.   We pray that it would be a blessing to everybody, and it would be   glorifying to you above all, and it'd be a means of, again,   building up your church and kingdom. And Father, as we pray for all   these things, let us conclude our prayer to you together, saying   the Lord's Prayer. Our Father, who is in heaven,   hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will   be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our   daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debts. And lead us not into temptation,   but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and   the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Well, let us now come and   worship the Lord in the giving of our tithes and offerings. Well, brothers and sisters, let   us stand once more together to sing the doxology. Everybody   ready? Praise God, from whom all blessings   flow. Praise Him, all creatures dear   below. Praise Him, above the heavenly   host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy   Ghost. Amen. Amen. Please be seated.   And if you have your Bibles, please turn to 1 Timothy chapter   6. 1 Timothy 6. We'll be looking at verses 6-19   as we go through the, essentially, it's structured around the Heidelberg   Catechism, the 8th Commandment, and how we're on. And we're going to especially   look at this text to consider the 8th Commandment, not Steele,   together. And as you turn there, let's   ask God to bless His holy word to us in prayer. Once again,   let's pray. Father, again, we ask for your   blessing upon your word. We pray, God, that you would   give us focus of mind and above all, Lord, that you would convict   us of our sins and draw us closer to you through this to keep your   commandments, especially to not steal. We ask this in Jesus'   name. Amen. 1 Timothy 6, beginning   at verse 6, hear now the word of the Lord. Now godliness with   contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this   world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having   food and clothing, with these we shall be content. For those   who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into   many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction   and perdition. For the love of money is a root   of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith   in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many   sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these   things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,   gentleness. Fight to the good fight of faith.   Lay hold on eternal life. to which you were also called,   and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God,   who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who   witnessed the good confession, before Pontius Pilate, that you   keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord   Jesus Christ's appearing. which he will manifest in his   own time, he who is the blessed and only potentate, the king   of kings and lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling   in an unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to   whom the honor and everlasting power, amen. Command those who   are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust   in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly   all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be   rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing   up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they   may lay hold on eternal life. Thus far the reading of God's   Holy Word, and may He add His blessing to it. Well, our sermon   is again entitled, The Eighth Commandment of the Decalogue.   As we've been seeing and considering, every sin, or another way to   put it, every violation of any of God's commands begins in the   heart. It begins with our desires, with   our affections. And the same is true here, of   course, as well, when it comes to not stealing. It is not the   case that we have never rob the bank or stolen, I don't know,   somebody's gum or something like that, that we somehow therefore   never broke in this commandment. This commandment touches the   heart like every other commandment does as well. And just like every   other commandment, especially when we look at the Ten Commandments,   we know that whatever is commanded or whatever is commands that   we not do, the opposite is commanded that we should do. And so to   not steal also means to look out for the good and the well-being   of others, including their goods and their possessions, and so   on. And so we need to take this into   account in everything that we do. And in fact, the more perhaps   difficult or subtle ways we are required to keep the Ten Commandments. As we saw in the Heidelberg Catechism,   It's echoed also in the shorter catechism, and especially the   larger catechism, which has even more detail. This includes our   business dealings. This includes our labor, how   we work and serve others, and all sorts of things, all sorts   of applications, which we'll look at together some here. But   what is really going to help us to keep this commandment is   having a proper perspective on wealth, on money, on possessions,   and all the things of this life. And we see that here in the very   first verse in 1 Timothy 6, verse 6. Now, godliness with contentment   is great gain. That is the true gain that we   should be seeking. And so with that in mind, our   sermon theme is that godliness with contentment is the true   wealth that we should pursue. And then we're going to have   three points from that, looking at the text that we just read   together. The first point, verses 6 through 10, desiring earthly   riches leads to committing all sorts of sin in order to get   riches. So we should not have such a   desire or heart set on these earthly riches. Verses 11 through   16, we must flee love of money in order to pursue love of righteousness,   which God rewards. So don't chase or live for the   love of money, but the love of God, love of righteousness, and   God will richly reward that. And then finally, verses 17 through   19, rich Christians in this life should trust in the Lord and   generously use their riches for God's glory. Even our riches   that the Lord may bless us with are not sinful. And in fact,   they're good. And we'll talk about that so long as they're   used for God and his glory. Okay, we're looking at that together   then. Let's begin at verse six. Now, godliness with contentment   is great gain. We brought nothing into this   world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Well, Paul   here is really in the middle of an argument. Going back to   the first five verses, I thought about reading that. Perhaps I   could have read that in the opening here, but I think it's worth   it. If nothing else, just reading it to you right now. So he begins   chapter six by saying, let as many bond servants as are under   the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor. to the name   of God and his doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who   have believing masters, let them not despise them because they   are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited   are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.   Okay, so there's the backdrop there. of honoring everybody   whom you honor, too. This is even the slave master   relationship, or today we can think of the employer-employee   relationship that we exist in. There, too, we are to have honest   dealings and work hard, employer-employee together, serving one another,   especially if your boss is a Christian, is a fellow believer. All the   more should we be thankful to work for them and serve them   rather than grumble or complain, because the benefit of our labor   goes to the benefit of another believer, who we should be loving   and caring for as well. Well, then down to verse three,   if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome   words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the   doctrine, which of course is godliness, he is proud, knowing   nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words   from which come envy, strife, reviling evil suspicions, useless   wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth,   who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such, withdraw   yourself." Now you see there in verse five, the same word   godliness and means of gain is used in a sort of juxtapose in   verse six. It's really turned around by   Paul. He says, now godliness with contentment   is great gain. That's the true gain. that we   are to have. Godliness, holiness, being rich   toward God in our lives. With contentment, meaning being   content with the lot that God has given us in our life. That   doesn't mean laziness or complacency in that sense. That does not   mean you don't ever seek to improve your station or your lot in life. But even as you seek improvement   and taking further and better and more fruitful dominion, you   know, in your home, in your business, at church, politically, whatever   it may be, you're doing it still from a place of contentment,   of trust in God. You're doing it for His glory.   If you do not succeed, you will not succumb to sin, you will   not turn away from God, you will not grumble and complain, you   will keep on keeping on. We're not living merely for,   you know, you know, making more money or prestige or honor or   being the most successful in terms of worldly prosperity and   things like that. So again, it's not calling us   to laziness, but it is calling us to contentment as we grow,   as we seek the Lord, and as we build things up. And Paul gives   us the reasons for that. Verse seven, for we brought nothing   into this world, and this certainly can carry nothing out. The goods   of this life, of this time, are temporary and fleeting. Riches   grow wings and fly away, as the scriptures say, elsewhere. We came into this world, and   the Lord took care of us, and we had absolutely nothing. naked   come we from our mother's wounds and yet God provides for us through   our mothers and parents and so on. And when we die, we don't   take a U-Haul to heaven. We might think we do, but we   don't. And yet, God's still every step of the way between those   two poles from birth till death. He takes care of us, provides   for us. And in heaven, the riches we   have in this life don't necessarily equate to riches in heaven. Being   wealthy in this life in terms of material good is no sign in   itself, certainly, of spiritual wealth or spiritual prosperity   or the state of your blessedness in the life to come. And so,   that is not the chief aim, that is not the highest goal of our   lives. For any person, and all the more so for Christians who   should know that, as the true gold, the true treasure, that   we should get that pearl of great price, is the kingdom of God,   and seeking first the kingdom and His righteousness. So we   see this set up here, this, again, this contrast, I suppose   we could call it, There's those who are proud and puffed up,   and they think that godliness is a means of gain, and quite   literally, in the Greek, it would be something more like, gain   is godliness. And that actually may indicate   a slightly different meaning there, that some believe that   gain in itself is godly or that gain and growing and gain in   this life is is what we should do or that if you're growing   and gaining in this life in terms of material possessions therefore   that proves that you're godly or something like that remember   the pharisees jesus said they were lovers of money And God   condemned them for that, but they were proud of that. And   they certainly would have believed that God, their wealth and their   success that they had, nevermind how they got it and robbing their   parents to say, I'm giving this to the temple and all those sorts   of things. They still somehow thought God was smiling upon   them even as they did all of that. Well, true godliness again   is a reverent piety toward God, a holy respect for him and Paul   is saying that is the great gain. That is what we're going after.   Gain is not godliness. Godliness with contentment in   this life is great gain. That is a great gain to us in   this life and the life to come. The richest person in a real   sense, even in terms of the blessedness in this life, is the person who   is content. Think about all the people who   have even more than we would have. And we're greatly blessed   in this nation today. And we're greatly blessed compared   to those who have come hundreds and thousands of years before   us in terms of material prosperity. Things are quite good, whether   we're in the lower or higher income bracket here. It is for   us. But even then, we must remember   that God can take all that away, but if we're content in the Lord   and what he has done for us and our salvation and so on, then   the true riches can never be taken away. And yet there's people   who have so much wealth, so much of this world's goods, and yet content in the Lord. That is   a great blessing and true riches indeed to have. Well, we see   in verse eight, it says in having food and clothing with these,   we shall be content. Now let's apply or think about   that in terms of the eighth commandment. As I was looking at that and   reading that, and thinking about all the ways I break the Eighth   Commandment, it became evident as I just look at this text a   little carefully here, really what Paul is saying is whenever   we are discontent And we do have food and clothing, you know,   sufficient to provide for ourself and our family. And we're grumbling   and complaining. That is breaking the eighth commandment.   That is an inordinate lust or desire or pursuit of riches,   even in the disposition of our heart. Now again, that's not   saying that you have to exist at a subsistence level. That's   not the point. The point is, you must be content if you have   these basic necessities. If you have your daily bread,   as it says in the Lord's Prayer, right? Give us this day our daily   bread. If you have that, and that's all you have, you should   be content. You should be grateful and thankful.   Knowing our sin is still even more than what we deserve. Well,   that's challenging, because I think we all know that by and large,   constantly exist in a state even above and beyond having food   and clothing, and yet we also often exist in a state of discontentment.   with our possessions or things breaking down. I can testify   to that just this other week with my van and having it brought   in for its annual inspection and needing new tires and on   top of this, needing other things replaced and all that, and complaining   about that. Oh, this is gonna cost me so   much money, and yet I have money in the bank to cover it. Now   it's not necessarily wrong to be just frustrated with that   per se, but you can also see how this can show discontentment,   a lack of trust in God, complaining that you, you know, you're starting   to save up money and then something else comes up and so on and so   forth. We do not need to grumble against   the Lord in this way, but continue to be content with whatever things   he throws at us in life. Well, verse 9, it says, but those   who desire to be rich, which is really another way of saying   they are not content with where they're at, and so they have   an inordinate pursuit and lust for riches. They fall into temptation   and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown   men in destruction and perdition. So there is, in some ways, you   can talk about the 10th commandment, to not covet, and that beginning   seed, in a way, I suppose we could frame it like that, of   lust for things that we should not have, or we do not have,   but others do have, and we want that. We fall into snares in   that way and sometimes that ripens or goes so far that we are willing   to gratify the lust for the things of this world that we will cut   corners or outright directly just steal and take, you know,   in a more crass way, robbing from others to get things that   we do not have. And of course, now there's of   course details and layers to this, but taking on a lot of   debt can be a form of lusting for things that we do not have.   We don't have the means to acquire it. And so we say, well, I want   it anyways, and I'm going to go into great debt to get it.   And then, well, you have to pay the interest on that debt, and   that gets you into a deeper hole. and it can bring you into all   kinds of harmful lusts that leads you to destruction and perdition   in this life and in the life to come because you're not trusting   in God and so on. Again, it's not to say that every   debt we may have to go into is necessarily sinful, but we know   how people can max out credit cards and do it just for frivolous   things and things like that. So we don't want to pursue a   lust for money, or a lust for possessions, or a lust for ease   in this life, or to try to fool people by living above our actual   standards and say, look at me, this lifestyle, or whatever the   case may be, that is not pursuing godliness, that is pursuing really   our own gratification and image. Now again, you can desire, righteously,   to invest, to make more money, to grow things. We're commanded,   even in Scripture, as we're able to lay up an inheritance for   our children as children. These are not wrong things. And   so planning ahead is not a sinful thing, and saving up money and   storing up is not in itself sinful. That's not the point. But the   point is, we do this with contentment no matter how much or how little   we're able to save. And we don't live for these things. We live   for the Lord. And so even our saving and our   riches and our wealth and the things that we grow in and accumulate   are done for God's glory, are looking to Him, and are not looking   to the things that we have in themselves as almost idols for   our highest love and so on. So that's, again, that's a key   and important distinction that we need to make. And it also   means that there's gonna be a priority, there ought to be a priority,   in what we are investing our time in. and our labors in the   true riches of heaven, cultivating godliness, loving God above all   else, serving your family, serving your church. These should be,   in a real sense, a greater burden to you than being rich. The scriptures   say, we actually looked at this last week, But as we're bringing   up again, the Proverbs 23, 4 through 5, it says, do not overwork to   be rich. Because of your own understanding,   cease. Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches   certainly make themselves wings. They fly away like an eagle toward   heaven. And then Proverbs 17, 1. Better is a dry morsel of   quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. Again,   think about how so many people talk about, you know, they've   pierced themselves through, as Paul says. They've ruined their   family, their household, because, you know, maybe not out of necessity,   but out of just desire for more. Both husband and wife, men and   women, are working full-time outside of the home. The children   aren't being taken care of. The bonds are broken in the family.   The family is destroyed. They're at each other's throats   because they were chasing the almighty daughter, daughter, dollar, rather   than the almighty God. And so we see how that can create   all kinds of problems in our homes, in our souls, and so on   and so forth. All good gifts come from God,   and so when we do receive blessings, financially or otherwise, the   business is going well, you've got a promotion, whatever it   may be, we should receive that with thanksgiving from God. in themselves inordinately. That's what becomes easily a   snare to us, especially when it stifles spiritual growth,   prayer, devotion to God, other duties. You know, we talk about   the workaholic who's working, you know, whatever, 90 hours,   100 hours a week, doesn't see his family, that kind of thing.   That is what is being spoken against, and it's saying that   there's actually an inordinate lust in your heart for riches,   or maybe to avoid other duties, even, because you're always at   the workplace, or whatever the case may be. We're called to   live for God, the giver of the gifts, and to pursue those riches   of the kingdom of heaven. Yes, we're called to rule and   subdue the earth, to take dominion, but taking dominion takes on   many forms, right? a whole host of ways, right? And it doesn't at all exclude,   and it certainly includes taking dominion over our own souls,   fighting the loss of the flesh, putting out sin, putting on righteousness,   so that our earthly labors, we're gonna call them that, our business   labors, the things we do on earth in this life, are an expression   of righteousness and holiness rather than wickedness. And everything's   in the proper proportions. So gaining by stealing, quite   obviously, is not taking dominion, no more so than the very crass   way of stealing. A man who robs a bank cannot   say, look at all this money I've made. He's not made it, he's   stolen it. We would hate it if we bought   something at a high price, thinking the tool, the item, whatever   it was, say it was made out of steel. But we get it and we find   out it's really made out of cheap plastic. We are defrauded by   this. Well, we can apply that to do-under-others   as you have them do-under-you. Do not dilute your product. This   could be in your business dealings. Do not deceive others in order   to gain an edge. Deuteronomy 25, this is one of   the texts from the However, catechism, I believe, it says, you shall   not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light.   You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and   a small. You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and   just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land   which the Lord your God is giving you. So think about that. Actually,   it goes on for 16, for all who do such things, all who behave   unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord your God. So even,   you know, fudging on the details, sort of, an unjust weight is   an abomination to God. But being faithful in that has   the same promise as the fifth commandment to our children,   that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your   God is giving you. That's a serious thing. Again,   we might think if we promise we're selling, I don't know,   100 pieces of bubble gum or gumballs and only put 99 in there, that   it's not a big deal or whatever. I don't know who does that, but   you know, somebody selling, yeah. But it is a big deal. It's still   lying and stealing. Think about that, especially,   I was thinking of an example that might, I don't know, help   make the point here. I had asked my wife about this,   it shows you how much I go shopping. But to my understanding, there's   not too many of those old school hanging scales at the grocery   store anymore. I guess it's all digitized now,   apparently. See, that's how little I know. How little I pay attention. But I remember as a kid, you'd   go to the produce section, you'd get the, whatever, the vegetables   and the fruit, and you're weighing it on the scales. I always thought   that was fun as a kid. you know based on the weight   of it is how much you know the cost per ounce per pound or whatever   you get the checkout line you Check out your pay. Well, imagine   if a big company like Walmart or something is cheating just   a tiny little bit on that, an ounce or so, something that's   basically imperceptible to us, that it would be off. Maybe it's   just costing each customer per transaction a few pennies of   a difference. But think about how that adds   up over time. They have way more customers   already to begin with as a large chain store and so on. Over time,   that is probably millions of dollars of a difference for Walmart. Not only is that defrauding many   people in little ways, but it compounds. It means they get   a greater profit, a greater advantage over the mom and pop store. It   defrauds them. It makes the competition impossible.   Now that gets into other things too, like monopolies and all   kinds of stuff like that. But you can see how defrauding   and stealing has multiple dimensions and layers to it. when you really   begin to think about it. James chapter 5 verses 1 through   6, he's pronouncing woe upon the rich whose wealth is gone   at the day of judgment and they in this life held back the wages   from their laborers who mowed their fields. and so on and so   forth. I mean, just failing or delaying   to pay somebody back for services rendered and so on, that is a   form of stealing and robbing. Those who promise you one thing   with your house, you have a build of your house and they don't   lay the foundation properly, maybe it doesn't show up right   away, but 20 years, 30 years down the road, it cracks and   crumbles and it's hundreds of thousands of dollars or whatever   the case may be for this family. Little lies, little sins, little   thefts today build up down the road. And you may not see the   effects of what you do to others in this way right away or at   all, but God sees and God judges. And it comes back to Hontos who   were defrauding their workers in the fields on the Day of Judgment.   He pronounces woe on them. God abominates. God hates. the   unjust scale. God hates stealing, and he will   judge and punish it severely, and we should take that carefully,   soberly, into our minds and hearts. And again, if everybody did that,   it would be better for everybody. You would treat others well in   your dealings, and they would treat you well. There's challenges   to that. We know, for example, whether   you're the boss or the employee, the challenges that come in these   situations. We know that other businesses and companies are   not going to probably be as honest as we are going to be. But just   like in so many things in this life, what do we have to do?   We have to trust the Lord, that He's going to provide regardless.   That, in fact, He's going to bless us for being faithful to   Him, maybe in ways that we cannot even see or comprehend. for our   job, our job security, our business, whatever the case may be. Now   we can also rob in the form of not laboring as we ought to do,   as workers, as employees, and things like that. In fact, we   kind of see that admonition in 1 Timothy 6. The bond servants   there are to work, and we talked about that in the opening, to   hold their bosses in honor, so that in the name of God and His   doctrine they're not blasphemed. That's the same challenge that   comes when the wife in the home does not honor and respect her   husband and when the older women aren't teaching the younger women   to be good homemakers and loving and caring for their family and   children and so on. Again, this is serious stuff. We shouldn't   make light of stealing, whether by robbing others of our good   hard work and labor or whatever the case may be. Now, again,   a few other things to kind of note as we think about the implications   of this. We're called to work. We're called   to work hard. We are called to save up as we're able to for   the good of our family, for our children and children's children,   if we're able to do that. This, of course, is going to   create, that alone is going to create certain inequalities.   Our egalitarian age does not like that. They want everything   to be flattened out and equalized. But this is not God's design.   Now, not every inequality is a righteous one. Again, stealing   and getting ahead in that way is an unrighteous advantage.   But just the same, those who are diligent in doing good ordinarily   God blesses. And you store up, and you save   up, and you get ahead. And so if you come from a long   line of faithful, godly people and families who have been saving   up for their children and their children's children, and you   come into a sizable inheritance, that is a great blessing. That   is not something to be ashamed of or to repent of. That would   be a sin, actually, to repent of the faithfulness of your forefathers.   You can apply that to nations and countries and other things   as well. You should be grateful for that. You should use what   is given and multiply it all the further. All the more for   your children and your grandchildren, don't be the line that ends that   wealth and that inheritance and that blessing. And if you don't   benefit from that, then begin that as you're able with your   family, for your children and grandchildren, and instill that   into them as well. And of course, over generations,   yes, it's gonna mean that those families who did well with that,   and may the Lord bless them greatly in their endeavors and business   and labor and skills and natural abilities and opportunities and   so on, As they lay up over generations, they are going to have a distinct   advantage in the things of this life over others, who were just   dishonorable and asked for their father's inheritance and squandered   it, as it were, and so on. That's going to happen. Those   inequalities are not sin. That is not a sign of the self,   of theft, of stealing. It may be a sign of some are   more diligent than others, and that happens down through the   generations as well. Well, we have to Think about   that. But wherever you are on the totem   pole, wherever you are, if you came into this, you know, birthed   into this world in a broken family with nothing, if you came with   much, either way, whatever you have, you're to use your little   or your much, your lot, for the Lord and His glory. And having   a lot or a little in itself doesn't determine your spiritual well-being   or blessedness either. Consider again the story of the   rich man and Lazarus in Luke chapter 16. Lazarus is in a state   of glory, or the state after death, I should say. You have   Lazarus, he was comforted. He was comforted by the Lord.   He was in a state of blessedness. Even though he was a poor beggar,   on the earth below. The rich man had the good things   of this life, as the story says, but now is in torments because   he didn't help the needy with his riches. And so we see that   many who are least in this life would be greatest in the kingdom   of heaven and vice versa. But if you have a lot and you   do a lot of good with it, the Lord will greatly bless you in   heaven as well. So all that is to say, however much you have,   that is not the focus of our life. That is not determined   in itself, our spiritual vitality or usefulness to God and his   kingdom either. And so, in those terms, put riches   out of your mind. and put on righteousness, put   on personal godliness and trust in the Lord. That is the highest   riches, that is the true riches, that's the everlasting riches   that we should seek out and seek first. Well then, to our second   point more briefly, we must flee, then, love of money, in order   to pursue love of righteousness, which God rewards. Again, that   very language that you see In verse 11 of 1 Timothy 6, but   you, a man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness,   godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. You know, it's similar   to what Jesus says, seek first the kingdom of God as righteousness,   and all these things will be added unto you. And if you remember   the context there, he's talking about the necessities, again,   food, shelter, and clothing, right? Don't worry about this,   right? Remember the birds of the air,   how God clothes them, the lilies, and so on. God takes care of   them. They neither toil nor labor here. God, he takes care of you. Your father knows what you need.   And Jesus goes on in Matthew 6. He goes into the Lord's Prayer   there as well. This is all in the same context. And then he says to lay up treasures   in heaven and out on earth for where your treasure is, there   your heart will be also. So once again, you see that every   commandment is a matter of the heart. What are you treasuring   up? Are you treasuring up and accumulating   and setting your heart and mind every waking hour of the day   on money, money, money, or on the Lord and righteousness. Now,   to set your mind on the Lord and righteousness means, yes,   you have to set your mind to some degree on providing for   your family and work and labor. Again, it's not like if you ever   think about growing your business or growing, you know, getting   a promotion or whatever the case may be, that you've done wrong.   That's not the case. purpose of serving God and glorifying   God and being able to do good and be generous to others and   so on, but certainly not at the expense of your personal spiritual   growth and well-being, the duties to your family, you know, to   your church and so on. So search deeply in your heart.   We all must do this. We can do this even in the church   and even as a minister. You can set your heart so much   on trying to build or grow the church I don't think you can fleece   the sheep in various ways. You can do lots of things to   try to grow, but it's not a true growth, and the Lord will not   bless that. So we should all search our hearts   in all these capacities to see, are we serving God faithfully   and honorably? Repent where we're not, return   to God where we need to, and keep going in that path of righteousness. Every true Christian, we desire   that in our heart of hearts. Yes, we go astray at times, but   the regenerate heart at root does want to follow the Lord   and seek him first. So be sure, then, the Lord indeed   is your north star in your life. Your goal, your aim, your focus,   not ease, not comfort and riches, maybe not, you know, for some   people it's trying to hide. There's a pride of trying to   hide, perhaps, your need, your lack of enough funds to take   care of your house or whatever the case may be. You know, even   the poor can be covetous and greedy, certainly, and be discontent   and envious of those who have more than them. All those things   we need to avoid. Flee love of money, as Paul says. And that too, as we saw in the   7th commandment, was a similar command. Flee youthful lust.   Flee the immoral woman. Flee love of money. It is a similar   temptress. You go too much near that and   flirting with that, and you're going to fall in love with it,   and that's going to lead into a lot of pain and heartache.   The Greek word, actually, there is sometimes translated as persecute,   and that may seem strange, right? Well, I'm sorry, the word pursue,   let me clarify that, the word pursue in the New King James   there is often translated to persecute. We're told in verse 11 to flee   these things, these sinful things that we talked about, and then   to pursue righteousness. Well, think about how the Jews   were persecuting Paul from one city to the next. They were chasing   after him. The same idea is there, to pursue, to chase after righteousness,   godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Now again, those   are not physical things. You don't go to the righteousness   store to chase after it, right? That's a matter of the heart.   That's a matter of the mind. That's a matter of studying God's   Word in church and worship and fellowship and meditating on   God's Word day and night. Pursue that. That's what every   Christian is called to do. Whether you're a minister or   not, whether you're an officer or not, whether you're a man, woman,   or child or not, you're called to do that. So you look differently. for us in various ways, in our   different capacities and callings. So that is what we're called   to go after and to pursue. Fight, verse 12, fight the good   fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life. That's what we   should be going after, not this life. This life is passing away,   as it were. It's a foretaste of heaven, but   it isn't the reality of it. Fight the good fight of faith,   lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and   have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. That is what we're going after,   a good confession, a good standing, a clear conscience before God,   confessing the faith and living that out in our lives and words   and actions and deeds and so on. That is what we're to pursue. That is what we're to chase after   with the same zeal as those who persecute. So you must truly   love God and His glory, not your personal growth in Him. Sorry,   and your personal growth in Him more than all else. So if you're   not a godly man or woman, think about it. And for children, the   same thing. If you're not growing in the Lord, it doesn't matter   what else you may be growing or prospering in. It will not   please the Lord. He will not be happy with you.   And ultimately, you will not really be content with yourself   either. You will loathe and hate yourself because of your sin   and your temptations. So again, the first thing we   must take dominion over is our own hearts, minds, tongues, and   actions. If we don't do that, we'll squander our wealth. Again,   we can talk about the movie stars, the sports stars. A lot of them,   very immoral, they gain a lot of wealth and they blow it so   quickly. Think about this, Proverbs 16, 32, it says, he who is slow   to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than   he who takes a city. Think about the priorities of   that, to have the fruit of the spirit of self-control, of being   slow to anger. That is of a greater advantage   than a mighty warrior conquering the enemy in battle. has a greater   advantage than one who conquers and takes a city. Not to say   that these things aren't good, but to be able to control yourself   is a more challenging foe, a greater enemy to overcome. And so we're   called to be able to do that. And if we're able to do that,   it's actually going to help us to do other things like, you   know, conquer cities and be bold and courageous when we need to   be for truth and righteousness sake. So we need to pursue those   things again. Reform begins and must continue   within our own hearts. So men, if you work hard, but   with a bitter heart, what good will that be to you and your   family? You may have a lot of money,   but if you're coming home as a bad temper all the time and   a short fuse, What blessing does that really bring? What honor   to God does that really provide? Women, if you are taking care   of the home and the children, but with bitterness and jealousy   and constant complaints about your husband, what good is that   to you? What good is that to your husband   and your children? Even if the house is clean and   you're doing, you're checking all the boxes and so on. We have   to have a righteous heart in all of this. And children, if   you give external obedience to your parents but despise them   in your heart, if your heart is really set on other things,   when you're memorizing the Bible verses and the catechism questions,   you may fool your parents for a time, but you will not fool   God. Think about where your heart is and pursue Him and do not   pursue the lust of the flesh of any form. Well, we know the   challenges in that. We know the challenges in doing   that consistently and persistently. Now, Paul's writing this to Timothy,   and he's urging him. This man of God is Timothy that   Paul's referring to here, but it applies to all of us, men,   women, and children alike. The duty to persevere is challenging.   So he says in verse 13, I urge you in the sight of God, who   gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who witnessed   the good confession before Pontius Pilate. He's saying God has made   all, he sees all, he rewards all faithfulness. He's urging   him to remember Christ Jesus himself, who gave that good confession   under the threat of death, a certain death of the cross before Pontius   Pilate. He's saying, remember these things, be motivated by   these things. Verse 14, that you keep this   commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's   appearing. And that's how we should pursue,   not stealing, seeking the good of others, all commandments,   which he, God, will manifest in his own time. Verse 15 here,   he who is the blessed and only potentate, the all powerful one,   the king of kings and lord of lords. He will reveal the hearts   of man on the last day. He will reward man according   to the desires of his heart on the last day. He will own his   immortality, dwelling in inapproachable light, whom no man has seen or   can see. to whom the honor and everlasting   power. Amen, right? That almighty, glorious God is   whom we should serve. He is the one who has all goodness   in life and himself, and he rewards those who diligently seek him. So seek after him, follow after   him. You'll be delighted in him, and   he will be delighted with you. The Lord will come back, whether   it's two years or 2,000 years from now, it doesn't really matter.   We're to serve God in our callings and our occupations with a good   stewardship of what we have and with our hearts set upon him.   That leads us into our third and final point. Rich Christians   in this life should trust in the Lord and generously use their   riches for God's glory. Now, riches, whether you have   them by inheritance, whether you have directly labored hard   and earned them, and business and labor and work or whatever   the case may be, again, Paul does not say, he does not despise   the wealthy and say, what are you doing being wealthy? He doesn't   say that. It's not a sin to be wealthy.   He does not rebuke rich Christians for their riches. He does command   them and urge them to use their riches for God's glory. Verse   17, command those who are rich in this present age not to be   haughty, to be of self-importance. You're in a higher social income,   a social class. Do not be puffed up because of   that, even if it is that you and those who have come before   you have done quite well. Trust the Lord, be humble, be   generous with what you have. And because you have these riches,   the danger, the threat, the lust, the temptation will be to trust   in the riches. He says, do not trust in uncertain riches, but   in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. So yes, whatever blessings we   have in this life, let's be honest, many of us are rich even in this   life. We have many things that our ancestors didn't have, that   other people in the world today do not have. In many ways, we   are full of possessions in this life. Be thankful for them and   enjoy them as good gifts from God. Again, our riches are to   be submitted to service to God in this way, by giving Thanksgiving   from the heart for it truly. by not grumbling, by not being   discontent, and then by using the excess, the surplus that   we have for good. Good of our family, good of our   church, good of our community, and so on. So it says, verse   18, let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready   to give, willing to share. Not tight-fisted. When you have   the substance of this world and can help those in need, do so. You've heard of families who,   the husbands and wives, they don't even share their possessions   together. They don't give to their children.   They squander it all away. That's stealing. That's stealing. Not everything   that we have earned by our own sweat and toil is meant to be   kept by us. I know that might sound anti-capitalist   or something like that, but it's true. We're called to store up   and save up and to give to others. And when we do that, and especially   here when the rich do that, it says, when they're ready to give,   willing to share, it says, storing up for themselves a good foundation   for the time to come. That heavenly bank account, that   spiritual investment that we should be looking at, that storing   up, storing up for heaven will require at times depleting some   of your bank account on earth. It says that they may lay hold   on eternal life, right. the fruit of faith, good works   done. Again, we're going to be judged   according to our works. That is not to say that we are   earning our salvation, but the Bible plainly and clearly teaches   that we are going to be judged based on how we have lived in   this life. Is our faith a genuine profession?   Well, let's see, God says, in the day of judgment. How did   you live? Did you walk by faith or did you walk in the lust of   the flesh? Well, that's going to be determined in part by Especially   if you're wealthy, here, did you give to others when you could   have and should have or not? It takes faith to do that, even   for the rich, right? Hey, I've earned these riches   and so on. Now again, we've talked about before, we don't just willy-nilly   throw money at the drug addict so he can get more drugs. There   may be better ways to help him and rehabilitate him. I know   some people will say, look, if you're hungry, I will go and   buy you some food, and a lot of times they say, I don't want   that, I just want money. It tells you to come here and do something   else with that money. So we're still using discretion with how   we're giving to others and who we're giving to family and church   first and foremost and then out from there but we are called   to do that with discernment when we have a surplus when we have   riches and means to do so and God says that stores up something   you know an investment that lasts forever a heavenly investment   a good foundation for the time to come a clear conscious and   assurance of salvation because of God's moving in your heart   to give to others, even as He gave Himself the full price of   the blood of His Son to take away our sin. Well, that should   be a great comfort, I trust, to us. We're not gonna do this   perfectly. We're going to sin. We're gonna   have to repent of every commandment because we break it, and in many   ways, in the heart at least, we break it day by day. But if   you see that fruit of your life, if you see generosity in your   heart, if you see sorrow when you fail, to be this way, that's   a sure sign that you've been born again of the Spirit. So   don't quench that, grow in that, and be thankful for God as he   works in your heart day by day. Even if we're not wealthy, like   the poor widow that gave her two mites, we can be generous   and prosperous and store up a good foundation in heaven by keeping   the Eighth Commandment, even by giving generously, even giving   in a sense when it hurts, so to speak, and trusting God that   he will provide. Those who give the most generously   aren't always gonna be the most wealthy. Some of those who don't   have as much are more willing to give a lot, and the Lord will   bless them a lot, if not in this life, certainly in that life   to come, as we just read about. And so as we come to a conclusion   here, Generously as we're able let   us set our hearts on holiness The heavenly treasure and not   the earthly treasure, but that be our great pursuit But that   be what we desire above all else and let earthly riches fall into   place Underneath that highest and supreme desire for God that   we should have and so there's two verses in its proper place and balance.   Ephesians 4, 28, let him who stole steal no longer, but rather   let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may   have something to give him who has need. We're not to be lazy. We're not to be robbing from   others out of poverty. We are to labor and work hard   diligently, so much so, if it is the Lord's will, that we acquire   a measure of wealth. And we so, therefore, have something   to give to those who have need, who have a lack. That is how   we are to labor and to use our labor for God and His glory.   And then Luke 6.13. This is especially for our hearts. No servant can   serve two masters, for he either will hate the one and love the   other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.   You cannot serve God and mammon money. So think about that. Weigh that seriously. Serve the   Lord, even if it costs you money, to some degree, and riches. Why? For it will enrich your soul.   and please God, and nothing is more blessed than to enrich your   soul and to please God himself. So let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you   again for your word. It's the true riches that we   have in this life. Through your word, we know our   purpose, our meaning, our value in you and your son. Now we've   been redeemed with the very blood of your son. To bear your image   well again, to take dominion, to rule us through the earth,   for your name and your glory. Lord, help us to seek first your   kingdom and righteousness, and know as we do that, you will   provide our daily bread, our daily necessities. Let us learn   to be content with that, even as we pursue more to serve you   and to serve others better with the wealth that we may accumulate.   Lord, let us not overwork to be rich, as your word says. Let   us not be discontent, but To remember, Lord, that life is   more than food and clothing. It is glory and honor in your   Son, Jesus. And it is a kingdom of grace, a kingdom   that no riches could acquire except what you have done for   us in your Son, Jesus. Lord, we thank you for that.   Help us to live for that. Help us to know that we have   the highest riches of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. With that,   how could we not be content? And let us follow you and seek   you and grow in you all the more, day by day, until the end of   our days, until the life to come is seen in its fullness in heaven   above. We ask all this in Jesus' name, amen. Let us respond to   what we have heard from God's holy word and song. We will stand   together and sing 181, Now Thank We All Our God. 181. 181, and we'll sing all three verses together. Let's stand and sing. Everybody   ready? Now thank we all our God, with   heart and hands and voice wondrous things has done, in   whom his world rejoices. Thrown from our mother's arms,   has blessed us on our way, with countless gifts of love. and still is ours today. O may this bounteous God through   all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed   peace to cheer us, and keep us in His grace, and guide us when   perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next. All praise and thanks to God,   The Father now be given The Son and Him who reigns With them   in highest heaven The one eternal God Whom earth and heaven adore   For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. Beloved congregation, look up   your hearts unto the Lord and receive his parting word of blessing.   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the   fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.