100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:03,080Disclaimer200:00:03,400 –> 00:00:07,080The person who knows how to abound does not go through life300:00:07,200 –> 00:00:11,200with a kind of scrupulous conscience, always wondering,400:00:11,240 –> 00:00:16,000is it ok to buy this coat or to drive this car or to go on this vacation500:00:16,120 –> 00:00:17,920or to live in this home.600:00:18,559 –> 00:00:22,240Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Collin Smith. I am David Pick.700:00:22,280 –> 00:00:23,639Glad you could be with us today.800:00:23,719 –> 00:00:27,719Collin, today we’re continuing our message – How to Handle the Blessing of God.900:00:27,799 –> 00:00:29,879And today there’s probably many listening1000:00:29,879 –> 00:00:32,320who have been greatly blessed by God,1100:00:32,480 –> 00:00:34,720but that raises a whole series of questions,1200:00:34,959 –> 00:00:36,840some of which you raised last time.1300:00:37,279 –> 00:00:39,279Yeah, that’s right. We’re really looking at the principle1400:00:39,320 –> 00:00:41,439that the more God trusts to you,1500:00:41,599 –> 00:00:43,759the greater responsibility you have.1600:00:43,799 –> 00:00:44,720Jesus said,1700:00:44,840 –> 00:00:49,279to whom much is given of that person’d much will be expected.1800:00:49,320 –> 00:00:51,799So how do you acquire the wisdom?1900:00:51,880 –> 00:00:55,000How do you acquire the skills that you need2000:00:55,160 –> 00:00:58,880to handle the trust that God has given to you?2100:00:59,000 –> 00:01:00,560And to do it wisely,2200:01:00,599 –> 00:01:04,040in such a way that one day you’re going to hear His voice say to you,2300:01:04,080 –> 00:01:06,480well done good, and faithful servant.2400:01:06,559 –> 00:01:09,720So we’re going to look today at how we do this with freedom,2500:01:09,879 –> 00:01:12,919how we do this with joy, how we do this with generosity.2600:01:13,120 –> 00:01:16,879And there’s a great deal to learn and it’s all here for us in the scriptures.2700:01:17,239 –> 00:01:18,800So join us today, if you can,2800:01:18,879 –> 00:01:21,040in the first book of Timothy, chapter six,2900:01:21,239 –> 00:01:22,559as we continue our message.3000:01:22,720 –> 00:01:24,519How to handle the blessings of God.3100:01:24,720 –> 00:01:25,279Here’s Colin.3200:01:25,720 –> 00:01:28,720There’s something to be learned in relation to contentment,3300:01:28,760 –> 00:01:30,959not only when you have less,3400:01:31,440 –> 00:01:34,000but there’s something also that needs to be learned3500:01:34,239 –> 00:01:35,919in relation to contentment3600:01:36,160 –> 00:01:38,040when you have more.3700:01:38,279 –> 00:01:41,279Now, more obviously, is a relative term.3800:01:41,639 –> 00:01:44,160When we say more, if I say more,3900:01:44,199 –> 00:01:47,239I immediately instinctively think4000:01:47,519 –> 00:01:51,040about wonderful people who have more than I do.4100:01:51,639 –> 00:01:54,000And I’m sure that you do the same.4200:01:54,040 –> 00:01:56,839Let’s not do that today.4300:01:57,040 –> 00:01:58,559Ask the question,4400:01:59,000 –> 00:02:02,199do you have more than you had 10 years ago?4500:02:03,320 –> 00:02:04,959And for many in our congregation,4600:02:05,000 –> 00:02:07,839the answer to that question will be yes.4700:02:08,080 –> 00:02:11,639And if you have more than you had 10 years ago,4800:02:11,639 –> 00:02:14,160then you need by definition to know4900:02:14,240 –> 00:02:17,199how to handle more.5000:02:17,839 –> 00:02:20,039And there will be some who have less5100:02:20,119 –> 00:02:21,800than you had 10 years ago.5200:02:21,919 –> 00:02:25,160But even if you have less than you had 10 years ago,5300:02:25,839 –> 00:02:29,320the vast majority of us have vastly more5400:02:29,360 –> 00:02:32,639than the great majority of people in this world.5500:02:33,360 –> 00:02:36,720Indeed, I would say that anybody who lives in America5600:02:36,720 –> 00:02:42,240needs to know how to handle the blessing of God.5700:02:43,199 –> 00:02:46,119And in the scripture that we looked at last week5800:02:46,119 –> 00:02:47,520from Philippians, Paul says,5900:02:47,520 –> 00:02:50,479now, I have I know how to be brought low.6000:02:50,520 –> 00:02:53,279I know how to be content with less.6100:02:53,839 –> 00:02:59,160But he also says, I know how to abound.6200:02:59,160 –> 00:03:01,880I know how to handle the blessing of God6300:03:01,880 –> 00:03:03,520when God gives me more.6400:03:03,520 –> 00:03:05,080So, here’s the question.6500:03:06,279 –> 00:03:09,240Do you know how to abound?6600:03:10,520 –> 00:03:14,639Do you know how to wisely handle the blessing of God6700:03:14,639 –> 00:03:16,080when he gives you more?6800:03:18,600 –> 00:03:20,559Let me give to you these four pointers6900:03:20,559 –> 00:03:22,960that all come from 1 Timothy and chapter six7000:03:22,960 –> 00:03:25,360that we have read together today.7100:03:25,360 –> 00:03:27,300First, you know how to abound7200:03:27,300 –> 00:03:32,300when you resist the temptations that come with having more.7300:03:33,399 –> 00:03:35,199Now you say, what are these temptations7400:03:35,199 –> 00:03:37,440that come with having more?7500:03:37,440 –> 00:03:39,520And the answer is in verse 17.7600:03:39,520 –> 00:03:42,979As for the rich, in this present age,7700:03:42,979 –> 00:03:47,800so those who have more, charge them not to be haughty7800:03:48,360 –> 00:03:53,360nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches.7900:03:55,220 –> 00:03:58,020So very clearly, the first temptation you will have8000:03:58,020 –> 00:04:01,779when God gives you more is the temptation to pride.8100:04:01,779 –> 00:04:04,100It will be the temptation to credit yourself8200:04:04,100 –> 00:04:05,839with what you have accomplished.8300:04:06,699 –> 00:04:08,839Remember Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament,8400:04:08,839 –> 00:04:09,679he did that.8500:04:09,679 –> 00:04:12,600He walked on the palace in Babylon that he had built8600:04:12,600 –> 00:04:15,000and he said, is this not great Babylon8700:04:15,039 –> 00:04:17,440that I have built by my almighty power8800:04:17,440 –> 00:04:22,000as a royal residence for my glory and for my majesty.8900:04:22,000 –> 00:04:23,559Look at what I’ve done.9000:04:23,559 –> 00:04:25,380And he’s walking on the roof of the palace9100:04:25,380 –> 00:04:28,559and the Bible says the next moment his mind snapped9200:04:30,399 –> 00:04:33,899and he’s out in the grass like an animal.9300:04:35,000 –> 00:04:37,880I have to remind myself9400:04:38,839 –> 00:04:42,799that apart from the grace of God,9500:04:42,839 –> 00:04:47,679I could not string two coherent thoughts together.9600:04:49,279 –> 00:04:51,559When some Christians in Corinth9700:04:51,559 –> 00:04:54,859were getting too big for their boots,9800:04:54,859 –> 00:04:57,640the apostle Paul said to them,9900:04:57,640 –> 00:05:02,640what do you have that you did not receive.10000:05:05,200 –> 00:05:08,140Deuteronomy chapter eight, God says to his people,10100:05:08,140 –> 00:05:10,540but where lest you say in your heart,10200:05:10,540 –> 00:05:14,220my power and my might and my hand have gotten me this wealth10300:05:14,220 –> 00:05:16,059you shall remember the Lord your God10400:05:16,059 –> 00:05:18,859for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.10500:05:18,859 –> 00:05:21,500The first temptation that comes with having more10600:05:21,500 –> 00:05:23,140is the temptation to pride.10700:05:24,019 –> 00:05:27,359The second temptation is the temptation to presumption,10800:05:27,359 –> 00:05:29,540teach them not to be haughty10900:05:29,540 –> 00:05:34,540nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches.11000:05:36,019 –> 00:05:37,700Now, here’s the point11100:05:37,700 –> 00:05:42,059money seems to make things more certain11200:05:42,059 –> 00:05:46,459therefore it gives to us a sense of greater comfort.11300:05:46,459 –> 00:05:49,380It is easy when you have more to have the idea11400:05:49,380 –> 00:05:52,339that it will always be so.11500:05:52,339 –> 00:05:57,339So people say, I will do more for Christ later.11600:05:57,899 –> 00:06:00,700Really, how much more time do you have?11700:06:00,700 –> 00:06:02,600You don’t know how much time you have.11800:06:03,559 –> 00:06:05,760I will give more to the Lord later.11900:06:05,760 –> 00:06:08,640Really, how much will you have to give in the future?12000:06:08,640 –> 00:06:12,100All you know is what you have right now.12100:06:13,220 –> 00:06:14,679The temptation to presumption.12200:06:14,679 –> 00:06:18,119People who know how to abound,12300:06:18,119 –> 00:06:22,760they resist the temptations that come with having more.12400:06:22,760 –> 00:06:25,399So there is a genuine humility about them.12500:06:25,399 –> 00:06:28,320They know that what they have is what God has given.12600:06:28,320 –> 00:06:31,320They don’t take the credit for it themselves.12700:06:31,440 –> 00:06:32,959There’s a shrewdness about them.12800:06:32,959 –> 00:06:35,480They know that money is uncertain12900:06:35,480 –> 00:06:38,200and so they don’t set their hope on it.13000:06:38,200 –> 00:06:41,679They know how to honor God and to make the best use13100:06:41,679 –> 00:06:44,980of all that he has entrusted to them.13200:06:46,619 –> 00:06:51,619You know how to abound when you resist the temptations13300:06:52,880 –> 00:06:56,880that inevitably come with having more.13400:06:56,920 –> 00:07:00,100Second, you know how to abound13500:07:00,100 –> 00:07:04,859when you remember that you will give an account.13600:07:06,079 –> 00:07:08,540Now here, Paul speaks about the appearing,13700:07:08,540 –> 00:07:12,859verse 14, of our Lord Jesus Christ.13800:07:13,799 –> 00:07:16,000And everything in fact in these verses13900:07:16,000 –> 00:07:20,440is framed around the appearing of Jesus Christ.14000:07:20,440 –> 00:07:22,679Timothy, here is how you are to live14100:07:22,679 –> 00:07:25,320in the light of the appearing of Jesus.14200:07:25,420 –> 00:07:27,279Here is what you are to avoid14300:07:27,279 –> 00:07:30,640in the light of the appearing of the Lord Jesus.14400:07:30,640 –> 00:07:32,760So this theme is right at the center14500:07:32,760 –> 00:07:34,760of what the Apostle is saying here.14600:07:35,880 –> 00:07:40,880We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.14700:07:40,899 –> 00:07:43,859Every one of us, we will.14800:07:43,859 –> 00:07:45,559And when we’re there, we will give14900:07:45,559 –> 00:07:49,179an account of ourselves to God.15000:07:49,179 –> 00:07:50,720Each of us must do that.15100:07:51,640 –> 00:07:54,239And our Lord has made very clear this principle15200:07:54,239 –> 00:07:57,380that everyone to whom much is given15300:07:57,380 –> 00:08:02,040of him or of her, much will be required.15400:08:02,959 –> 00:08:06,880Now this principle of more given, more required15500:08:06,880 –> 00:08:10,079is made especially clear in Matthew 2515600:08:10,079 –> 00:08:13,079when our Lord gives the parable of the servants15700:08:13,079 –> 00:08:16,339who were trusted with various talents.15800:08:16,339 –> 00:08:17,739One is given five talents,15900:08:17,739 –> 00:08:21,079he brings back five more from his good investment.16000:08:21,079 –> 00:08:22,779Another is given two talents,16100:08:22,779 –> 00:08:25,820he brings back two more in the same way.16200:08:25,820 –> 00:08:27,859And the significant thing about these two16300:08:27,859 –> 00:08:32,400is that they are both commended in exactly the same words.16400:08:32,400 –> 00:08:33,919Well done, good and faithful servant,16500:08:33,919 –> 00:08:37,780enter into your master’s joy.16600:08:37,780 –> 00:08:42,000In other words, the master did not judge them16700:08:42,000 –> 00:08:45,280by the results they achieved,16800:08:45,280 –> 00:08:49,020but rather by the use that they made16900:08:49,020 –> 00:08:51,479of what they were given.17000:08:51,479 –> 00:08:53,200If it was simply results,17100:08:53,200 –> 00:08:56,559then clearly the one who brought back five extra talents17200:08:56,559 –> 00:08:58,299would have been more highly commended17300:08:58,299 –> 00:09:00,859than the one who only brought back two talents.17400:09:00,859 –> 00:09:04,859But it’s not based on results achieved.17500:09:05,799 –> 00:09:10,760The assessment that the master makes in our Lord’s story17600:09:10,760 –> 00:09:15,760is based on what did you do with what you were given?17700:09:16,719 –> 00:09:18,580You were given two and you came back with two more,17800:09:18,580 –> 00:09:21,179you made the best use of what you were given.17900:09:22,260 –> 00:09:24,820You were given five, if you only came back with two more,18000:09:24,820 –> 00:09:27,080that’s not the best use of what you were given,18100:09:27,080 –> 00:09:28,599but you came back with five18200:09:28,599 –> 00:09:32,119and you have made really good use of what you were given.18300:09:32,119 –> 00:09:34,280So that’s the principle.18400:09:34,280 –> 00:09:37,719In other words, the more you are given,18500:09:37,719 –> 00:09:41,820the more the Lord requires of you.18600:09:42,919 –> 00:09:45,039Now, think about this then.18700:09:46,159 –> 00:09:49,659So what will it be for you then18800:09:49,719 –> 00:09:51,780when God says to you,18900:09:51,780 –> 00:09:53,880now, let’s look at everything19000:09:53,880 –> 00:09:55,859that I trusted to you in your life.19100:09:56,880 –> 00:09:57,940Let’s total it all up,19200:09:57,940 –> 00:09:59,559everything that passed through your hands,19300:09:59,559 –> 00:10:01,159all the years that I gave to you,19400:10:01,159 –> 00:10:03,559the gifts and the talents that I gave to you,19500:10:03,559 –> 00:10:04,760the money that I gave to you,19600:10:04,760 –> 00:10:07,299the opportunities that I held before you.19700:10:08,460 –> 00:10:10,340What did you do with all of this?19800:10:12,080 –> 00:10:14,919How did you deploy everything that I trusted to you19900:10:14,919 –> 00:10:16,219over the course of your life20000:10:16,219 –> 00:10:18,840for the advance of my great purpose and the world?20100:10:20,500 –> 00:10:22,679I sent my son into the world20200:10:22,679 –> 00:10:25,280and he said, I will build my church.20300:10:25,280 –> 00:10:28,340So how did you use all that I gave to you20400:10:28,340 –> 00:10:32,900for this great purpose of gathering together my people?20500:10:34,260 –> 00:10:36,280The more God gives you,20600:10:37,200 –> 00:10:42,200by definition, the more you will have to account for.20700:10:42,200 –> 00:10:45,080Listen to our Jeremiah Burroughs puts this,20800:10:45,080 –> 00:10:50,080he says, if a man who had a wealthy estate20900:10:51,119 –> 00:10:54,960had nothing else to do, but sit by the fire21000:10:54,960 –> 00:10:58,760and have his servants bring him his provisions,21100:10:58,760 –> 00:11:03,059it would be easy for a man to know how to abound.21200:11:04,000 –> 00:11:05,460I mean, if that’s all that’s expected21300:11:05,460 –> 00:11:06,859of someone who’s given much,21400:11:06,859 –> 00:11:09,059that you just sit by the fire and have everything,21500:11:09,059 –> 00:11:10,880everyone do what you need, and so forth,21600:11:10,880 –> 00:11:13,979everything nicely in place, anyone can do that.21700:11:14,919 –> 00:11:17,080And then here’s what Baruch says,21800:11:17,080 –> 00:11:20,719but you must know that there is much more falls21900:11:20,719 –> 00:11:22,619on your shoulders than this,22000:11:23,919 –> 00:11:26,260things for which you must answer22100:11:27,219 –> 00:11:32,119and for which you must give an account before God.22200:11:33,460 –> 00:11:35,020Friends, I say this from the heart,22300:11:35,020 –> 00:11:38,239don’t ever envy the rich.22400:11:39,299 –> 00:11:40,640You may be tempted to do that,22500:11:40,640 –> 00:11:42,539to envy those who have more than you do.22600:11:42,580 –> 00:11:47,239They will have more to give account for than you do.22700:11:48,340 –> 00:11:51,059Never envy the rich,22800:11:51,059 –> 00:11:52,179never envy someone22900:11:52,179 –> 00:11:54,219who has a greater opportunity than you do.23000:11:54,219 –> 00:11:57,380With it comes a greater accountability23100:11:57,380 –> 00:12:00,299with regards to them on that great day23200:12:00,299 –> 00:12:01,500that we will all face.23300:12:01,500 –> 00:12:03,039I try to think how to just press23400:12:03,039 –> 00:12:05,460this home from a different angle.23500:12:06,539 –> 00:12:09,559And so let me translate this out of the world of money23600:12:09,640 –> 00:12:12,940and into the world in which I serve23700:12:12,940 –> 00:12:14,440in terms of pastoral ministry23800:12:14,440 –> 00:12:16,159and give you this parallel23900:12:17,200 –> 00:12:20,419John Brown, to whom I’ve referred a few times,24000:12:20,419 –> 00:12:22,039I’ve been reading his biography.24100:12:23,119 –> 00:12:26,979He was a great encourager of younger pastors24200:12:26,979 –> 00:12:27,979and over the years,24300:12:27,979 –> 00:12:30,059he had cohorts of younger guys24400:12:30,059 –> 00:12:31,840that he encouraged and mentored24500:12:31,840 –> 00:12:33,919and in his later years had great joy24600:12:33,919 –> 00:12:36,359in seeing them thrive in ministry24700:12:36,359 –> 00:12:39,000and all of these good things24800:12:39,000 –> 00:12:40,719and he walked with them very closely24900:12:40,719 –> 00:12:42,020and loved them very deeply25000:12:42,020 –> 00:12:45,900and on one occasion one of the men25100:12:45,900 –> 00:12:48,159that he had mentored in a cohort25200:12:49,039 –> 00:12:52,200was appointed to serve a congregation25300:12:53,080 –> 00:12:57,320that was much smaller than the congregations25400:12:57,320 –> 00:13:01,760that his peers and colleagues in that group25500:13:01,760 –> 00:13:03,479had been called to serve25600:13:04,460 –> 00:13:07,000and Brown wrote to this young pastor25700:13:07,000 –> 00:13:08,479and this is what he said,25800:13:09,979 –> 00:13:13,440I know the vanity of your heart25900:13:13,440 –> 00:13:16,559that you will feel mortified26000:13:16,559 –> 00:13:19,119that your congregation is very small26100:13:19,119 –> 00:13:23,440in comparison to those of your brethren around you.26200:13:23,440 –> 00:13:24,679By the way, I just love the way26300:13:24,679 –> 00:13:27,719that people could speak so directly in those days.26400:13:27,719 –> 00:13:28,760Here’s someone he loves,26500:13:28,760 –> 00:13:30,320you don’t have to have three affirmations26600:13:30,320 –> 00:13:31,400before you get to the point26700:13:31,400 –> 00:13:32,619and all of that kind of thing,26800:13:32,619 –> 00:13:35,799just look, I know the reality.26900:13:35,799 –> 00:13:36,840I know my own heart.27000:13:36,859 –> 00:13:39,299I know something about your heart27100:13:39,299 –> 00:13:41,940and I know this is the most natural reaction in the world27200:13:41,940 –> 00:13:44,919my friend, that you will feel mortified27300:13:44,919 –> 00:13:46,840that your congregation is much smaller27400:13:46,840 –> 00:13:50,080than all the rest of the guys with whom you studied.27500:13:50,080 –> 00:13:55,080But assure yourself on the word of an old man27600:13:56,340 –> 00:14:00,159that when you come to give an account for them,27700:14:00,159 –> 00:14:03,239your church, to the Lord Jesus Christ27800:14:03,260 –> 00:14:05,020at his judgment seat,27900:14:05,880 –> 00:14:09,159you will think that you have had enough.28000:14:10,340 –> 00:14:11,580You see what he’s saying?28100:14:12,479 –> 00:14:15,179You’re tempted to envy your friends28200:14:15,179 –> 00:14:17,559who’ve been given the trust of much larger churches28300:14:17,559 –> 00:14:18,440than you have?28400:14:19,400 –> 00:14:22,119They’re gonna have to give an account28500:14:22,119 –> 00:14:24,900for a whole lot more, even than you will.28600:14:24,900 –> 00:14:26,799And when you give account for the congregation28700:14:26,799 –> 00:14:29,799where God has set you with the charge,28800:14:29,840 –> 00:14:33,840you will think on that day that was quite enough for me.28900:14:35,080 –> 00:14:37,580Now you see, the principle that he’s working with,29000:14:38,619 –> 00:14:41,539the more God gives to you,29100:14:41,539 –> 00:14:44,880the more that is required from you.29200:14:46,119 –> 00:14:47,400You’re listening to Open The Bible29300:14:47,400 –> 00:14:48,679with Pastor Colin Smith29400:14:48,679 –> 00:14:52,039in a message called, How To Handle The Blessing of God.29500:14:52,039 –> 00:14:54,840And it’s part of our series, the Art of Contentment.29600:14:54,840 –> 00:14:57,419And if you’ve missed any of the series so far,29700:14:57,479 –> 00:14:59,380you can go back or listen again29800:14:59,380 –> 00:15:04,099online at our website, www.openthebible.org.uk29900:15:04,099 –> 00:15:06,979or as a podcast on all the main podcast sites,30000:15:06,979 –> 00:15:09,140search for Open The Bible UK30100:15:09,140 –> 00:15:11,619or follow the link from our website.30200:15:11,619 –> 00:15:12,940Back to the message now,30300:15:12,940 –> 00:15:15,059here again is Colin.30400:15:15,059 –> 00:15:16,659You know how to abound30500:15:16,659 –> 00:15:19,619when you resist the temptations that come30600:15:19,619 –> 00:15:22,640with having more, like pride and presumption,30700:15:22,640 –> 00:15:26,380and when you remember that you will have to give an account.30800:15:26,380 –> 00:15:28,359And that is true for every one of us.30900:15:29,599 –> 00:15:31,619Third, you know how to abound,31000:15:31,619 –> 00:15:32,940you know how to handle more31100:15:32,940 –> 00:15:37,719when you can discern how best to use what God has given.31200:15:37,719 –> 00:15:40,239And here I’m looking at verse 18.31300:15:40,239 –> 00:15:42,599They are to do good,31400:15:42,599 –> 00:15:45,159to be rich in good works,31500:15:45,159 –> 00:15:46,799to be generous,31600:15:46,799 –> 00:15:49,460and ready to share.31700:15:49,460 –> 00:15:50,859And notice very clearly here,31800:15:50,859 –> 00:15:53,000when God gives you more,31900:15:53,000 –> 00:15:56,200it is his purpose that you will be generous,32000:15:56,200 –> 00:15:59,039and what he requires of you and requires of me32100:15:59,039 –> 00:16:02,039is that we will make the best use32200:16:02,039 –> 00:16:05,559of all that has been given to us,32300:16:05,559 –> 00:16:09,919that we will learn to abound by wisely discerning32400:16:09,919 –> 00:16:11,960how to make the best use32500:16:11,960 –> 00:16:15,320of what he has trusted into our hands.32600:16:15,320 –> 00:16:16,880So what that means very practically32700:16:16,880 –> 00:16:18,799is that you look at your life32800:16:18,799 –> 00:16:19,640and you say now,32900:16:19,640 –> 00:16:22,919here is what I have.33000:16:22,919 –> 00:16:25,000How can I make the best use33100:16:25,020 –> 00:16:28,000of what Jesus Christ has trusted to me?33200:16:28,000 –> 00:16:30,119Where can I make a difference?33300:16:30,119 –> 00:16:33,380How can that best be done?33400:16:33,380 –> 00:16:36,159Now, what will come of this generosity33500:16:36,159 –> 00:16:38,280that Paul speaks about here?33600:16:38,280 –> 00:16:40,599Notice verse 19,33700:16:40,599 –> 00:16:43,900to be generous and ready to share,33800:16:43,900 –> 00:16:48,479thus storing up treasure for themselves33900:16:48,479 –> 00:16:51,320as a good foundation for the future34000:16:51,320 –> 00:16:53,219so that they may take hold of that34100:16:53,219 –> 00:16:56,479which is truly life.34200:16:57,780 –> 00:17:01,619Let me give you a picture and then I’m gonna turn it34300:17:01,619 –> 00:17:04,619in a direction that perhaps different34400:17:04,619 –> 00:17:07,300from where you may think I’m going with this.34500:17:08,260 –> 00:17:13,020Think about packing luggage when you go for a trip.34600:17:14,140 –> 00:17:17,119It’s all the same for Karin and for me.34700:17:17,119 –> 00:17:22,119Let’s please travel light this time.34800:17:22,520 –> 00:17:25,599We always take too much.34900:17:25,599 –> 00:17:29,040We’re only going for a few days.35000:17:29,040 –> 00:17:33,079And so we set out to pack as little as we possibly can35100:17:33,079 –> 00:17:35,060because we’re gonna have to lug it on one plane35200:17:35,060 –> 00:17:38,219and then off and then onto another and so forth and so on.35300:17:40,040 –> 00:17:42,579Home is where we belong.35400:17:42,579 –> 00:17:46,140So we only pack what we need for the journey.35500:17:48,099 –> 00:17:49,400But here’s the turn.35600:17:50,319 –> 00:17:53,880Suppose for a minute you were going on a trip35700:17:53,880 –> 00:17:55,800from which you would never come back.35800:17:57,260 –> 00:18:02,260Suppose that everything in your house would be left behind.35900:18:04,020 –> 00:18:05,839Well, then you would think about packing36000:18:05,839 –> 00:18:08,099in an entirely different way.36100:18:09,540 –> 00:18:12,800You would say, we must pack as much as we possibly can36200:18:12,800 –> 00:18:15,459because only what we pack is actually gonna go with us.36300:18:15,459 –> 00:18:18,060We’re going on a journey from which we never return.36400:18:19,500 –> 00:18:21,520We’re talking with folks in the foyer in the gap36500:18:21,520 –> 00:18:24,880and several of you will have had this experience.36600:18:24,880 –> 00:18:25,959Brother said to me, yeah,36700:18:25,959 –> 00:18:27,319when we arrived in this country36800:18:27,319 –> 00:18:30,000we had only three suitcases, everything else behind.36900:18:30,000 –> 00:18:32,660You see, when you’re on that kind of journey,37000:18:34,359 –> 00:18:38,400you say what’s in the cases is what’s gonna stay with me37100:18:38,400 –> 00:18:43,400and I wanna be sure that I pack as much as I possibly can.37200:18:44,680 –> 00:18:46,439Now, you see, in a profound sense,37300:18:46,459 –> 00:18:49,660that is what you do when you give.37400:18:49,660 –> 00:18:52,359When you are generous, look at what it says in this verse.37500:18:52,359 –> 00:18:55,959You are storing up treasure for yourself37600:18:55,959 –> 00:18:58,800as a good foundation for the future37700:18:58,800 –> 00:19:02,439so that you may take hold of that which is truly life.37800:19:02,439 –> 00:19:07,239In other words, what is given in some sense goes with you37900:19:08,560 –> 00:19:13,560and everything else is what is ultimately left behind.38000:19:14,160 –> 00:19:18,520So pack in all the generosity you possibly can38100:19:19,719 –> 00:19:24,520in the course of your very short life in this world.38200:19:24,520 –> 00:19:27,020Then you know how to abound, that’s how you do it.38300:19:27,959 –> 00:19:29,839And lastly, and very briefly this,38400:19:29,839 –> 00:19:32,900you know how to abound when you enjoy what you have38500:19:32,900 –> 00:19:35,800but you do not depend on it for your joy.38600:19:35,800 –> 00:19:37,800Look at verse 17 here,38700:19:37,800 –> 00:19:42,800God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy38800:19:43,560 –> 00:19:45,319I love that statement.38900:19:45,319 –> 00:19:48,599God gives us everything to enjoy.39000:19:48,599 –> 00:19:50,680A person who knows how to abound39100:19:50,680 –> 00:19:53,920will have great freedom, great joy.39200:19:53,920 –> 00:19:55,719The person who knows how to abound39300:19:55,719 –> 00:19:57,839does not go through life39400:19:57,839 –> 00:20:00,520with a kind of scrupulous conscience39500:20:00,520 –> 00:20:03,920always wondering, is it okay to buy this coat39600:20:03,920 –> 00:20:06,599or to drive this car or to go on this vacation39700:20:06,599 –> 00:20:08,479or to live in this home?39800:20:08,479 –> 00:20:12,319No, knowing how to abound means enjoying what you have39900:20:12,319 –> 00:20:14,400in a way that glorifies God.40000:20:14,400 –> 00:20:17,439Where the Spirit of God is, there is great happiness40100:20:17,439 –> 00:20:19,439and there is great freedom.40200:20:19,439 –> 00:20:22,160But here’s the deal, knowing how to abound40300:20:22,160 –> 00:20:23,839means that you enjoy what you have40400:20:23,839 –> 00:20:27,219but you don’t depend on what you have for your joy.40500:20:29,239 –> 00:20:30,060And there is, at the end of the day,40600:20:30,060 –> 00:20:32,160only one way in which you can do that40700:20:33,119 –> 00:20:36,439and that is that you have more joy in Jesus Christ40800:20:36,439 –> 00:20:39,400than in everything he has given to you in this world.40900:20:40,359 –> 00:20:42,640And that’s why right in the middle of this scripture,41000:20:42,640 –> 00:20:44,939we have reference to the blessed and only sovereign,41100:20:44,939 –> 00:20:47,420the King of kings and the Lord of lords.41200:20:47,420 –> 00:20:52,420Have you come to a place where truly Jesus Christ41300:20:53,020 –> 00:20:56,339is more than the world to you?41400:20:56,339 –> 00:20:59,459Because if the world is more to you than Jesus,41500:20:59,459 –> 00:21:01,780you will always be chasing the world41600:21:01,780 –> 00:21:03,739and you will never be content,41700:21:03,739 –> 00:21:06,020your joy will depend on what you have41800:21:06,020 –> 00:21:08,199and one day your joy will be taken away.41900:21:09,680 –> 00:21:13,380But if Jesus Christ is more to you than the world,42000:21:13,380 –> 00:21:16,339you can enjoy what he gives to you,42100:21:16,339 –> 00:21:19,339but you will not depend on it for your joy,42200:21:19,339 –> 00:21:22,280your greater joy will be in Jesus Christ.42300:21:22,280 –> 00:21:24,760Therefore you will hold what he gives to you42400:21:24,760 –> 00:21:26,079with an open hand,42500:21:26,079 –> 00:21:28,359you will know that you are a steward42600:21:28,359 –> 00:21:30,959who one day will give an account.42700:21:30,959 –> 00:21:32,400You will constantly be asking,42800:21:32,400 –> 00:21:34,640what is the best use that I can make42900:21:34,640 –> 00:21:37,439of all that Jesus Christ trust to me?43000:21:37,459 –> 00:21:40,959And when your joy is in Jesus,43100:21:41,839 –> 00:21:44,500nobody will ever43200:21:45,400 –> 00:21:48,479be able to take away your joy.43300:21:49,439 –> 00:21:50,699That’s a great thought for us43400:21:50,699 –> 00:21:52,699as we end our broadcast today,43500:21:52,699 –> 00:21:54,819if your joy is in Jesus,43600:21:54,819 –> 00:21:57,800no one will be able to take away your joy.43700:21:57,800 –> 00:21:59,599You’ve been listening to Open The Bible43800:21:59,599 –> 00:22:01,319with Pastor Colin Smith43900:22:01,319 –> 00:22:02,319and a message called,44000:22:02,319 –> 00:22:04,599How To Handle The Blessing Of God44100:22:04,599 –> 00:22:06,040and it’s part of our series,44200:22:06,040 –> 00:22:07,420The Art Of Contentment44300:22:07,420 –> 00:22:09,560which if you’ve missed any of them so far,44400:22:09,560 –> 00:22:11,540you can easily listen back,44500:22:11,540 –> 00:22:13,819catch up or go back and listen again44600:22:13,819 –> 00:22:15,699online at our website,44700:22:15,699 –> 00:22:18,099openthebible.org.uk44800:22:18,099 –> 00:22:20,099or find them as a podcast44900:22:20,099 –> 00:22:22,520and those are on all the main podcast sites,45000:22:22,520 –> 00:22:24,520search for Open The Bible UK45100:22:24,520 –> 00:22:27,760or follow the link from our website.45200:22:28,040 –> 00:22:29,500At Open The Bible we welcome contact45300:22:29,500 –> 00:22:31,000with our listeners.45400:22:31,000 –> 00:22:32,359If you’ve been blessed by45500:22:32,359 –> 00:22:34,339Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching45600:22:34,339 –> 00:22:36,280and you’d like to reach out to us45700:22:36,280 –> 00:22:38,160there are several ways you could do that.45800:22:38,160 –> 00:22:39,680You can write to us at45900:22:39,680 –> 00:22:44,280Open The Bible PO BOX 1420 CHELTNUM46000:22:44,280 –> 00:22:47,839GL50 9PG46100:22:47,839 –> 00:22:49,599or you can phone us on46200:22:49,599 –> 00:22:55,8590330 335 808946300:22:55,859 –> 00:22:57,859If we’re not available when you call,46400:22:57,859 –> 00:22:59,020leave a message for us46500:22:59,020 –> 00:23:00,660and we’ll return your call.46600:23:00,859 –> 00:23:02,579All of these contact details46700:23:02,619 –> 00:23:04,420are available on our website46800:23:04,420 –> 00:23:07,420openthebible.org.uk46900:23:08,339 –> 00:23:09,900Fly through the Bible is available47000:23:09,900 –> 00:23:11,900in a number of different formats47100:23:11,900 –> 00:23:12,900and in the coming days47200:23:12,900 –> 00:23:15,260we’ll bring news of some exciting ways47300:23:15,260 –> 00:23:17,439that you can use this material.47400:23:17,439 –> 00:23:19,219Colin Smith’s original book47500:23:19,219 –> 00:23:20,560Fly through the Bible47600:23:20,560 –> 00:23:22,219is our gift to you this month47700:23:22,219 –> 00:23:23,719if you’re able to begin47800:23:23,719 –> 00:23:24,859a new direct debit47900:23:24,859 –> 00:23:26,520to the work of Open the Bible48000:23:26,520 –> 00:23:29,560in the amount of £5 per month or more48100:23:29,579 –> 00:23:32,579or a one-off gift of £50 or more.48200:23:32,579 –> 00:23:33,900If you’re able to do that48300:23:33,900 –> 00:23:36,260we’d love to send you a copy of the book.48400:23:36,260 –> 00:23:37,979If you want to receive the book48500:23:37,979 –> 00:23:39,619don’t give anonymously48600:23:39,619 –> 00:23:41,780and please remember to leave your address.48700:23:41,780 –> 00:23:44,979Colin, why did you use the flying metaphor48800:23:44,979 –> 00:23:46,300to describe this book?48900:23:46,300 –> 00:23:47,380Suppose you were49000:23:47,380 –> 00:23:49,500making a visit to the Grand Canyon49100:23:49,500 –> 00:23:51,699and exploring it for the first time.49200:23:51,699 –> 00:23:53,520I mean I guess you could hike down49300:23:53,520 –> 00:23:55,219and you’d get a sense of the depth49400:23:55,219 –> 00:23:56,219of the canyon,49500:23:56,219 –> 00:23:57,459you could drive around the rim,49600:23:57,459 –> 00:23:58,599you’d get a sense of49700:23:58,780 –> 00:24:00,140the length of it.49800:24:00,140 –> 00:24:01,739But perhaps the best way49900:24:01,739 –> 00:24:03,619to get an overall sense50000:24:03,619 –> 00:24:04,579of the vastness50100:24:04,579 –> 00:24:06,339and beauty of the Grand Canyon50200:24:06,339 –> 00:24:08,579would be to take a flight over it.50300:24:08,579 –> 00:24:11,060Now, when it comes to the Bible50400:24:11,060 –> 00:24:13,979to get a high altitude overview50500:24:13,979 –> 00:24:16,500of what the Bible’s story is all about50600:24:16,500 –> 00:24:19,420seems to me to be the best place to begin.50700:24:19,420 –> 00:24:21,219The Bible really is one story50800:24:21,219 –> 00:24:22,300it begins in a garden,50900:24:22,300 –> 00:24:23,219it ends in a city51000:24:23,219 –> 00:24:24,300and all the way through51100:24:24,300 –> 00:24:26,339it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ51200:24:26,339 –> 00:24:27,619and flying through the Bible51300:24:27,699 –> 00:24:29,380it’s kind of cookies on the bottom shelf51400:24:29,380 –> 00:24:31,420to change the analogy,51500:24:31,420 –> 00:24:33,699it gives an overall picture51600:24:33,699 –> 00:24:35,660and introduction to the Scripture51700:24:35,660 –> 00:24:38,380that I hope will help and encourage people51800:24:38,380 –> 00:24:40,020to want to explore more51900:24:40,020 –> 00:24:41,739when they get on the ground.52000:24:41,739 –> 00:24:43,060Well, we’d love to send you52100:24:43,060 –> 00:24:44,260a copy of Colin’s book52200:24:44,260 –> 00:24:45,859Flying Through the Bible52300:24:45,859 –> 00:24:47,020to say thank you52400:24:47,020 –> 00:24:48,939for setting up a new direct debit52500:24:48,939 –> 00:24:50,579to the work of Open the Bible52600:24:50,579 –> 00:24:53,099in the amount of £5 per month or more52700:24:53,099 –> 00:24:55,859or a one-off gift of £50 or more52800:24:55,859 –> 00:24:57,180this month.52900:24:57,180 –> 00:25:00,020Full terms and conditions are on our website53000:25:00,020 –> 00:25:03,219at openthebible.org.uk53100:25:03,219 –> 00:25:05,380and you can give online.53200:25:05,380 –> 00:25:07,219Don’t forget to leave your address53300:25:07,219 –> 00:25:09,339so that we can send you the free gift.53400:25:10,060 –> 00:25:12,260For Open the Bible and Dr. Colin Smith,53500:25:12,260 –> 00:25:13,420I’m David Pick53600:25:13,420 –> 00:25:15,459and I hope you’ll join us again next time on53700:25:15,459 –> 00:25:16,660Open the Bible.53800:25:22,380 –> 00:25:25,939You want to be content but where do you start?53900:25:25,939 –> 00:25:29,900Find some practical strategies next time on Open the Bible.