Hope for All

Oh, good. Good morning. It's great being with you again this morning as we close off our mission month here at St. Paul's.

We have been looking at raising funds for a variety of ministries, but particularly looking at raising the profile for us as a church to seek to share what God has given to us,

but also to seek to shape us as a church of compassion and mercy as we look into the future.

So I'd like to pray before we launch in to this final message and wrapping up this mission month for us.

Gracious God, we thank you that you are the God of radical generosity.

We thank you that in the Lord Jesus, you have taken us from spiritual poverty and bankruptcy,

and you have overwhelmed us in such a way that we are rich in you beyond all measure,

beyond any comparison, we are overwhelmingly wealthy.

We pray that the good news of the gospel will shape our hearts and our lifestyles.

And so use this time now in your word to speak to us and to reform our hearts, we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

A little over three years ago now, Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest gathered the media and politicians together to announce

that he will give away $400 million of his personal fortune.

It is the largest single donation by a living person in Australian history.

Forrest said, and I quote,

All of us who have done well have been blessed by good fortune.

And so the generous person, the loving person gives back.

Now at the time of making that donation,

Andrew Forrest ranked as the sixth wealthiest Australian with a personal fortune of $6.84 billion.

Today he's apparently worth something in the order of $10 billion.

Forrest then said as part of the announcement,

Now that he was in a better financial position, he was able to be generous.

Now that statement, now that he is financially secure, which is probably an understatement in some ways.

Now that he is financially secure, he is able to give back to Australians and to be generous.

The assumption is that I can't afford to be generous.

I can't afford to help is in fact one of the biggest roadblocks that we have to a life of mercy and justice.

So can I just encourage you now to get your Bibles, open them up and also go to the St. Paul's app.

And you've got a bit of an outline of where we're going to head in today's message.

If you have just tuned into this series, we have been using the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 as our foundational text for mission month.

Luke 10 · chapter mention

And the purpose of the parable of the parable of the parable of the parable of the good Samaritan is to answer the question that was posed to Jesus by an expert in the law, Jewish law.

And the question that he posed to Jesus is, who is my neighbor?

And we are told that the man was seeking to justify himself.

He wanted Jesus to reduce the command, to make it manageable so that he could love his neighbor in an attainable kind of way.

Trying to narrow the command so that he could in fact obey the command.

And Jesus' answer is clear.

There is no limits to mercy.

And in fact, Jesus sets a standard for us in the parable of the good Samaritan that is unattainable.

His true goal in the parable of the good Samaritan was to show the law expert and us that he and we are in fact spiritually poor.

We are bankrupt.

And he wants to prepare us to seek the spiritual riches that are the mercy of God.

What is the mercy that Jesus is preparing the law expert for and us for?

Well, here it is.

All of humanity is like that man beaten on the road in the parable of the good Samaritan.

Lying in our own blood, waiting for death.

We are spiritually bankrupt.

We are lost.

Unable to help ourselves.

And yet God has provided spiritual health and wealth and healing and life in the Lord Jesus.

And the way he did that was he impoverished his own son, the Lord Jesus, on a cross so that all of Jesus' riches and his health and his righteousness and his life could be given to those who put their trust in him.

2 Corinthians chapter 5, 21 in the New Testament reveals this merciful transaction so clearly when it says,

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

God made him, this is talking about Jesus, who had no sin to be sin for us so that we in him might become the righteousness of God.

That we might become wealthy beyond our imagination.

So the foundational core element of the Christian faith is that though we are spiritually bankrupt, we have been made rich beyond our comprehension through the mercy of God.

Now one powerful effect that the gospel of grace, the core element of Christianity has on a person is that it creates a life of radical generosity.

We saw it again in the parable of the good Samaritan.

That the aid that the Samaritan rendered to the injured man was expensive.

Luke chapter 10 verse 35 says,

Luke 10:35

The next day he took two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, looked after him, he said,

And when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense that you may have.

So this man, this Samaritan, obviously ignored his schedule when he showed mercy.

Wherever it was that he was heading in that moment, he didn't get there on that particular day.

He also risked his own safety to stop on such a dangerous road to bring aid to an enemy.

He also took the man to a hotel where he got cared for him during the course of the night.

And the next day, he paid the owner of the hotel for the room until the guy recovered whenever that was going to be.

His mercy in reality to his enemy is open-handed because he says,

When I return, I'll reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.

Now in the past number of weeks, we have been looking at this issue in the Bible.

And it raises a big question for us.

One that I want to unpack for the rest of our time today.

Is it possible for us to share hope, which is what this whole series is about.

Is it possible to share hope without radically altering our lifestyle?

Now over the years, there have been many proponents of Christians adopting what could be called a simple lifestyle.

Possibly the most famous historical model was John Wesley.

When Wesley died, his estate consisted of a coat and two silver spoons.

When I've mentioned this to people recently, they go, what did he have two spoons for?

I mean, I don't know why he had two spoons.

But it's not much.

A coat and two silver spoons.

And that was despite the fact that the sale of his sermons and his books meant that in the latter stages of his life,

he earned as much as 1400 pounds a year.

Which is equivalent nowadays of $331,000 a year in Australian dollars.

When his income increased 40-fold over the years, his lifestyle never did.

He was able to maintain the cost of his living to 40 pounds a year all of his life.

That's basically $10,000 a year in today's money.

Wesley once wrote,

If I leave behind 10 pounds, you and all of humanity can bear witness against me that I lived and died a thief and a robber.

In a sermon on Matthew chapter 6 verses 19 to 23,

Matthew 6:19–23

and the exhortation for us not to store up our treasures in heaven,

sorry, not to store up our treasures on earth,

he stated that any Christian who has more than the plain necessities of life lives in open, habitual denial of Christ,

and they gain both riches and hell.

So the idea of a simple lifestyle wasn't just confined to Wesley, though.

This is not just one guy out there on the periphery.

It was very common teaching in the evangelical churches of the 18th and 19th centuries.

John Newton was another one.

The Bible says two things very clearly about our lifestyle.

Is Wesley right?

Is the question.

Well, let's have a look at what the Bible says about two things.

And I'll give you the answers now, and then I'll unpack a bit more.

First of all, it says moderate lifestyle.

And secondly, it says be content with your lifestyle.

Now, there are no lack of passages which urge Christians to live a moderate lifestyle.

Hebrews 13 verse 5, let me just read that to you.

Hebrews 13:5

That is, we cannot be happy if we are not free from the love of money and covetedness,

which is defined as a continual drive to increase the standard of our living.

Hebrews 13 is not particularly specific in terms of understanding what that sort of standard of living might be.

But 1 Timothy 6 verses 6 to 10 is much more specific.

1 Timothy 6:6–10

Let me read it to you.

Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap,

and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

So up there earlier in that passage, talked about food and clothing.

Some suggest that food and shelter, instead of food and clothing, is in fact a better translation.

Either way, Paul seems to be saying here that we need a lifestyle that is sufficient enough to preserve our health.

A lifestyle where we live below our means.

Let me just clarify, below our means, not a lifestyle within our means, and certainly not above our means.

Listen, what Paul is saying here is, with that you can be satisfied, you can be content.

The word content occurs in both Hebrews 13 and in 1 Timothy 6.

And it's a word that means genuine soul satisfaction.

I'm filled up on the inside by Jesus.

there is no anxiety there's no gnawing regret or resentment towards people who have what i don't

have the difference between the christian and the non-christian is a trust in god for material

provision now that doesn't mean that the christian has no motivation for making money or increasing

their income there are i think at least two motivations in the bible to do that firstly

there is the pursuit of excellence in our work the bible calls us to be skillful to work hard

as a way of glorifying god and loving our neighbor making a contribution to shape the good of society

hard work often increases income although it's a consequence rather than the motive

it's the consequence not the motive proverbs 23 4 says do not wear yourself out to get rich

the second motive to increase income is to be fruitful in good works

paul was referring to thieves who had become christians when he wrote in ephesians chapter 4

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

anyone who's been stealing must steal no longer but must work doing something useful with their own hands

that they may have something to share with those in need

so wealth is to be accumulated strictly for doing good works of mercy and spreading the gospel of the lord

the lord jesus christ so matthew 6 makes it clear that wealth is not to be stored up for ourselves

and this is my second point what where does wealth fit then wealth and god's calling on our life should we

just therefore give all of our money away is substantial wealth if you see of someone who's

substantially wealthy uh is that a sign that they are wicked that they lack love and they lack mercy

well i don't think the bible supports either of those ideas the bible tells us several things about wealth

firstly 1 timothy 6 verse 9 says that those who want to get rich fall into a trap and yet later in the same chapter

1 Timothy 6:9

it says command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth

which is so uncertain but to put their hope in god who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment

command them to do good to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share

in this way they will lay up they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age

so that they may take hold of the life which is truly life

notice what paul doesn't say there he doesn't say you wealthy stop being wealthy

that's not what he says he does however want them to think biblically about their wealth he wants them to

have a gospel orientation towards their wealth he tells them that god gives the wealth so the rich

person should not become arrogant and that's difficult for us to believe we often consciously or

unconsciously subconsciously subconsciously put our hard our wealth down to our hard work and our abilities

the the biblical perspective is that every ability that we have every effort every opportunity we have

all of our efforts have been provided to us by god himself and they are god's gifts to us

and the means by which wealth is accumulated then in verse 18 paul says he tells the rich to use their

money so as to be rich in good deeds now this is not mere tokenism this directly echoes what jesus says

in luke chapter 12 verse 33 sell your possessions give to the poor provide purses for yourselves that will

Luke 12:33

not wear out a treasure in heaven that will never fail when no thief comes near and no moth destroys

and then in matthew 13 22 jesus offers a strong warning the seed falling among the thorn refers to someone

who hears the word but the worries of this life the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word making it

unfruitful so i think what jesus and paul are both saying here is that disposable wealth

not put to use in god's work will threaten the very roots of your spiritual life

what we must conclude from both jesus and paul is that while there might be rich christians

there should not be rich living christians

middle and upper income christians are not required to give away all of their money and their assets

but they must invest in good deeds rather than in their own comfort a good steward for the lord knows that wealth

if held and managed properly will produce more good deeds over a longer period of time than if it was just

given away for good deeds all at once wealth is wrong and it is destructive if we build it up

so that we can say the words of luke 19 sorry 12 verse 19 you have plenty of grain laid up for many years

take life easy eat drink and be merry god calls such a person a fool

notice though that the call to be content and to live a moderate lifestyle

is written both to the affluent and those who have little

in 1 timothy 6 verses 6 to 8

1 Timothy 6:6–8

it instructs the poor not to resent their lack of riches

but to be satisfied with their modest economic state

and his appeal instructs the rich not to be proud

but to voluntarily be satisfied with a more modest standard of living also

so how do we get the balance in our lifestyle

let's bring some of these principles to bear on our lifestyle

firstly first point we need to give we need to be radically generous to give

until we feel the burden of the needy ourselves on our lifestyle

the 17th century american pastor and theologian jonathan edwards gave a very vivid illustration of this

he says a poor man is walking along with a burden

a burden of discomfort and inconvenience

when a christian comes along and says

i can't afford to help the poor

he says when a person comes along and says

i can't afford to help the poor

they're actually saying

if i help you in this moment with your burden

i will have to carry some of the burden

it will cut into my lifestyle

some of the poor man's burden

would slide over onto me

the helper and i will have to carry it

edward responds

that's the point

that's the point

that's what the bible is calling us to live out

if our giving to the needy

to poor

to ministry

to compassion

means that we do not feel the burden

it doesn't cut into our lifestyle at all

edward says

and i think the apostle paul says

and jesus says

give more

it's possible to give

400 million dollars away

and it will

don't get me wrong

it will do an enormous amount of good

but if it hasn't put a dent in your lifestyle

in such a way that you feel the burden

of the recipients

then you can't call it radical generosity

you can call it kind

but you can't call it radical generosity

now this is a biblical principle

that has ramifications for all of us

edwards would say

if he was standing here right now

edwards would say

that the family that can give away

10% of their income

without any dent on their lifestyle

he says

you've got to give more

this is a word to those

who suggest

that all they need to do

is give 10%

of their income

no more

of course

bearing in mind

that

research

in the western world

indicates that

only 5%

of Christians

actually give

10%

or more

of their income away

and so frankly

this word

is to

potentially

95% of us

listening to it

right now

American author

and pastor

John Piper

argues this point

very strongly

on the back of

edwards comment

he says

it is a biblical truth

beyond all dispute

all of your money

is God's

Psalm 24

Psalms 24:1

verse 1

and has been loaned

to you

as a steward

to use

in ways

that maximize

the glorification

of God's mercy

in the world

Matthew 25

Matthew 25:14–30

verses 14

to 30

and it is irrational

to think

this is Piper still

it is irrational

to think

that giving

10%

of that money

to church

settles the issue

of good stewardship

in a world

of such immense need

and in a country

of such immense luxury

and under the commission

of such a powerful Lord

the issue

of stewardship

is not

should I tithe

but rather

how much

of God's

trust fund

dare I

surround

dare I use

to surround

myself

in comforts

that's the issue

so that's the first thing

we need to give

until we feel

the burden

of the needy

second

this is the other

side of the equation

we must

not be

so unwise

in our giving

that we

and our family

become liabilities

to others

this is one of the most

difficult balances

to strike

I think

on the one hand

you hear the likes

of Wesley

John Wesley

John Piper

Jonathan Edwards

they're all John

we hear them

to say things like

you shouldn't save

lots of money

and you should be

radically generous

and on the other hand

1 Timothy 5 verse 8

1 Timothy 5:8

says anyone

who does not

provide for their

relatives

and especially

for their own

household

has denied the

faith

and is worse

than any

unbeliever

now wisdom

tells us

that we must

not give away

our income

and all of our

possessions

in such a way

that our children

our elderly

parents

or whoever it is

become financial

burdens

for others

to feed

to house

to clothe

in future years

now I think

we have a tendency

to rationalise

too much

investment

into our

family

rather than

in the poor

our children

are well

provided for

if they are

clothed

if they are

schooled

if they are

fed

and they have

a roof over

their head

and they have

access to

medical attention

they are well

provided for

and we teach

our children

a great lesson

when with

them

as a family

we work

together

to surrender

our convenience

and our comfort

for the sake

of the needy

so perhaps

it's best

not to call

us into

simple living

but to call

us into

justice

living

a justice

lifestyle

simple living

is a

helpful term

but it

carries the

idea that

it's an

option for

me

what the

Bible

is calling

us to

is not

an abstract

exercise

in self

denial

but rather

as a means

to an end

in direct

ministry

to the

needy

how then

do we

determine

do we

determine

how much

to give

away

radical

generosity

cuts into

our lifestyle

in such

a way

that we

feel the

burden

of the

needy

so this

is a

calling

here for

every person

and family

every church

in Christ

to live

below

their means

below

their means

in order

to share

hope

with

others

so let

me

point

you

to

four

things

that we

have an

opportunity

to address

right now

today

by the end

of today

number one

since

COVID-19

has hit

us

our own

parish

offertory

has been

down by

$10,000

a month

that's the

first thing

where people

were giving

we're now

pulling back

number two

we have

raised

from when

I wrote

this early

this morning

$10,944

of our

targeted

$20,000

towards

Lowe's

ministry

of planting

the church

in the

Gold Coast

that is

we have

so far

in the

last five

weeks

got

54%

of our

target

we have

raised

$4,376

of our

target

$10,000

for Narrabri

Drought Appeal

that's

43%

of that

target

in the

last five

weeks

and as

you would

also be

aware

we now

have a

St Paul's

Hope Fund

that is

operating

and we

could do

I think

with at

least

$2,000

in it

to be

ready

to meet

needs

ready

to meet

needs

as they

arise

let me

just say

that we

have been

in stronger

positions

than this

in previous

mission

months

it is

possible

that some

of us

right now

are being

cautious

because of

recent

announcements

of our

country

being

in a

recession

I

understand

that

let me

just say

though

if you're

sitting here

and you're

listening to

this

right now

and you're

a member

of St Paul's

if the

income

is still

coming

in

today

is the

day to

serve

the Lord

let him

worry about

tomorrow

let him

worry about

a month

and a year's

time

today

is the

day

to

serve

him

and

trust

him

with

the

future

heed

this

warning

Jesus

and the

apostles

considered

money

hazardous

and

helpful

it's

hazardous

and

therefore

I

encourage

you

to put

limits

on how

much

you

keep

for

yourself

don't

put

limits

on how

much

you

make

but

how

much

you

keep

secondly

it's

helpful

which

means

you

get

and

you

get

this

incredible

joy

of

giving

more

and

more

and

sharing

the

radical

generosity

of the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

to

us

to

others

Amen