Back in the Black – Part 3

MESSAGE TRANSCRIPTION: 

How’s Everybody doing? We good. We good. I hope you’re ready to get back in the black. And I want to just start by sharing with you an observation that I’ve made about me. And I know this is true of me, and my guest is right. This is also true of you. Here it is.

 I am satisfied with what I have until you have something I don’t have.

And I know what I’m talking about. This is true of me. And it’s probably true of all of you. It’s true of all of us. I just think it’s in our nature that I’m satisfied with what I have until you have something that I don’t have. You know, recently, I came across this TED talk and it was about this fascinating research that these scientists had conducted. It was really around the idea of inequity and envy, and their test subjects were actually monkeys. And so what they did, they had these two monkeys that were living in a group and kind of grew up, grown up together, and they remove them from the group, and they put them in this these test chambers, one in one cage and the other one in the cage. Right. And they could see each other. And so, to perform this test, the research scientist required the monkey to perform a simple task like giving the research scientists a rock. And if they gave him the rock, they’d receive a reward, like a little piece of food, a cucumber. And so the first monkey figures this out, and he’s totally satisfied with the reward. A little piece of cucumber. He would have done this all day long until he sees his buddy, the other monkey. When he gets his reward. It’s not a cucumber, but it’s a grape, which is a far better source of food, according to monkeys. And, you know, it’s interesting. Let’s just see what happens.

 You see, even a monkey is satisfied with what they have until another monkey has something they don’t have. And it’s really true of all of us. It’s in our nature. Like, I’m satisfied with the car I drive until I see you driving a new car that I don’t have. Then I start throwing cucumbers. You know, I’m satisfied with the clothes that I wear until I see, you know, somebody else wearing new clothes that I don’t have, and what do we do when we start throwing cucumbers. You know, this idea of discontent, it’s so rooted. It’s really when you strip everything away when it comes to our finances; it’s really the root of most of our financial fights and frustrations, even our financial foolishness. Like we end up going into major debt over this idea, don’t we? We end up buying stuff. That we don’t need with money. We don’t even have to impress people we don’t even like because of stuff like this. Isn’t it true? I mean, we think, Oh, well, I got to take this, you know, luxurious vacation because my neighbors went to Tahiti, so I have to go to Tahiti. Well, I have to buy a new car because my neighbor bought a new car. Now I got to buy a new house because my neighbor got a new house. And we end up going into major debt over this idea that I’m satisfied with what I have until you have something that I don’t have.

So today, I want to talk to you about learning the secret to contentment. Learning the secret of contentment. And I’m so proud of so many of you, as my wife Becca just mentioned earlier. Over 300 of you have signed up for the Financial Peace University class that starts tonight, and it’s not too late. If you still want to sign up here, you can’t get in; we’ll make room for you. But over 300 of you said You know what? I just don’t want to be like the average normal American that lives this way that acts this way. You know, for the average, normal American, you know what normal is to them? Broke. What’s normal to the average American is I run out of money before I run out of month. The average normal rate now what’s normal is you’ve had student loans hanging around so long they become like a pet to you. You name them, they have a budget line, right? I mean, that’s what’s normal today in America. But so many of you said, you know what, I don’t want to be normal. I just want to be a little weird. You know, just imagine your life the be able to experience the kind of financial freedom and peace that comes with managing your money God’s way. Imagine the freedom that you have that when you leave the store with a major purchase; you don’t have to worry about the bill that’s going to show up a month later. Wouldn’t that be cool? Can you imagine not having a car payment? Wouldn’t that be cool? Hello? Could you imagine? You know, if you experience some kind of financial emergency, being able just to dip into your emergency fund and pay it off in cash and not have it wreck you or your credit card, you imagine being able to live with that kind of financial freedom and peace.You see, here’s my problem, and here’s your problem. 

We like stuff

 don’t we? We like old stuff. We like vintage stuff. We like new stuff. I like new stuff. I like shiny stuff. I like ripping the cellophane off of stuff, right? I love unpackaging stuff. Oh, it’s so exciting. I like stuff. And I know you like stuff, too, and our hunger for more stuff, it is fueled by marketing and advertising companies in America. Do you know? Would you like to take a guess? For the average American, How many ads are served up to you on a daily basis? How many ads do you see just in your life when you’re driving your car? Billboard or you’re watching TV, whatever news feed you get, and you’re on social media? Do you know what? Just take a guess. Average Americans see 4000 to 10000 ads every single day. They’re all screaming at you, trying to motivate you, that you need this stuff, and you need it now. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Like this week, as I was preparing this message for you, I took a break, and I was on my Instagram feed scrolling through, and then all of a sudden, I saw this ad. It just popped up. And it was a sweatshirt. And on the sweatshirt, it said 1972. I’m like, I was born in 1972. That’s my year. That should be my I’d look good in that. I need that sweatshirt. And you know what I did? I bought it like a total sucker because some marketing company bought my information, and they realized I was born in 1972. So they started feeding me that ad. They knew what colors I like and they knew what style I like, and they just set me up and I took the bait and now I’m 60 bucks poorer for it, and I’m thinking to myself, Crosby, what an idiot. What were you thinking? You don’t need another sweatshirt, by the way. Why do you want to tell? Why do you want to announce to the whole world the year that you were born? I mean, isn’t it bad enough when you have to put your information in some of you north of 50? You understand this. You start to you start scrolling down the little wheel to find your year. I’m like, Holy crap, how old am I? It just keeps going; oh my goodness. But I fell for it. Just like you fall for it. Why? Because we like stuff. Stuff is fun.

Thousands of products are screaming at us every single day. Buy me wear me Drive me. Put me in your hair. You’ll feel better. You’ll look better. I mean, because, you know, if you want to be happy, I mean, you need, like, whiter teeth, fresher breath, abs of iron, and other parts of steel. And then you’ll be happy. Then you’ll be content, and our hunger for more stuff. It’s not only fueled by marketing and advertising companies. But listen to this. It’s driven by comparison. And comparison kills contentment. My joy is dead. The very moment that I compare what I have with what somebody else has. Comparison kills contentment. And, you know, this is the agony and ecstasy of social media. I mean, in some parts, I mean, it’s great. And another part, you know, I’m scrolling through my feed, and I see my buddy, and I was like, oh, man, he looks happier than me. Look at, you know, Oh, look where they were on vacation. Wow. Oh, look how big their church is. Oh, look what God’s doing over there. And then all of a sudden, I’m like, if I don’t get my church, and you know what that starts to kill. What God is doing in my life right here, right now, just because I compared my life, me, what’s happening around me with somebody else. You know, in fact, if I asked you how much money would you have to make to be content, I can almost guarantee your answer would be. Just a little bit more. Right. Like you can remember, when you made $30,000 a year, you were thinking, Oh, and I’d be happy if I just made 50. Then I’d be happy. Some of you that make 50. If I had just made 75, all my problems would fade away. Then I’d be happy. And then you make 75, or you make 75. And I asked you, Oh if I just made six figures, I would never have a care or a worry in the world again. Then I would be content than to those of you that make 100,000. I ask you? Oh if. I just make 200. And those of you that make 200. Oh, if I just made three. Do you see what I’m talking about? We put so much pressure on our resources to make us content and happy. And it fails us every single time.

You know, Dave Ramsey calls this stuffitis. Stuffitis. Here’s how you define stuffitis. It’s a persistent, self-imposed need for stuff that creates sickness in our souls. Stuffitis. You know, the Bible has a word for stuff. It’s called mammon. Mammon. When Jesus was teaching on the sermon on the Mount, the most powerful, best sermon ever taught. He said, this You cannot serve both God and mammon. Now, sometimes mammon is translated as money, but when you really look at it, most biblical scholars will agree with you. The accurate, the most accurate, literal translation of mammon is stuff. And so what Jesus is saying to you and to me today you cannot serve both God and stuff. So what is contentment? Well, let me share with you a definition. You’re taking notes. Want to write this down and maybe just grab your phone and take a picture of the screen. Just pretend like you’re taking notes. It’ll make me feel a whole lot better about what’s happening. Okay. Right now.

Contentment it’s when you are at rest inside right now, as things are.

See, contentment is when your soul is. Is that rest. Your soul at rest today? Here’s what I found. After working with thousands of people, and 30 years of ministry, most people’s souls are not at rest. Instead, they are restless. Restless because somebody else has something they don’t have. Restless to buy that next thing. Restless to get that job. That one more thing, that bigger paycheck, that relationship that caresses for that one more thing. That computer, that flat-screen TV, that new gaming system, or even. A grape. So are you content? And you know what’s great about the Bible is it gives us a concrete example of a guy who learned. How to be content. In fact, he said it was a secret. Did you realize that? It’s a secret. So I want to just let you all in on a little secret today. Is that okay? Of how to be content and what he wrote. Most of us are very familiar. We’re going to look at this real quick, this passage from Philippians chapter four. Most of you might even be able to quote it at least a few. You’ll at least recognize it. But I first want to just give you a little context because when you realize who wrote this and where you wrote it from, it makes it even more powerful what he wrote. The guy who wrote it, his name was the Apostle Paul. And when he wrote it, he was sitting in a prison. He was sitting in a prison locked up no guarantee of getting out. Rotting away. No freedom. No privacy at all, but yet, he lets us in on a secret of how he learned to be content. This is what he said. I rejoice greatly in the Lord. At last, you renewed your concern for me, and you were concerned. But you had no opportunity to show it. Let me just pause right there. So here he is, rotting away in this prison. And all of a sudden, there was a church that he planted back in a city called Philippi. They heard that Paul, their pastor, their church planter, was in jail, suffering for the cause of Christ. So they sent a messenger to Paul. When the messenger finally gets around, he’s got this really cool care package. And so Paul, before he can even thank them for the care package, he wants to let them know of a gang. I’m all right. Even though I am where I am, I have everything I need. God has provided everything I need. Look. Look what he says. He says indeed. You were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. So now you showed up. Hey, thanks, gang. Thanks, church, for sending over the care package. But I’m not saying this because I am in need for I have say this with me. 

Learn to be content. 

Say it again. Learn to be. He didn’t say I was born content. He said I’ve learned to be content.And you know what? That gives me hope today. You know why? Because if you can learn to be content, that’s a skill. And you can learn this skill today. I want to teach you. How to do that. I’ve learned to be content, whatever the circumstance is. In other words, yeah, I’m locked up here in this prison. But God’s taking care of me. I got everything I need. He goes on, it’s like, you know, because my joy and my peace, my contentment isn’t tied to isn’t based upon whatever current situation that I’m in. In fact, you can put me wherever you want to put me, and I’ll still be content there because my contentment isn’t connected to my circumstance. Look what else he goes on. Look at this is so good. I mean, you think he was like staying in the Rich Carlton or the Plaza in New York when he writes us, but he’s in a prison. Look what he says. I rejoice greatly. I mean, you think he’s out at the pool kicking his feet up, drinking a fancy drink with a little umbrella in it. He’s in a prison. And he says, I rejoice greatly in the Lord. He goes on to the next one. Is that that you renewed your concern for me? Yes, I know what it is to be a need, he says. I know what it is to have plenty. Here it is again. I’ve learned the secret. Oh, it’s the secret. Of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in one, whether in the plaza or in the prison. Whether I’ve had a lot or had a little because I’ve been up and I’ve been down, I’ve been rich, and I’ve been poor. I’ve seen fire, and I’ve seen rain. I’ve seen sunny days that I thought I just couldn’t resist whenever. This is a guy who’s been through it in life, but yet through that, all he says, I’ve learned the secret of being content. That secret is connected to the fact. But my contentment is not tied or tethered to what’s going on in my life at any given moment. I mean, this is a man that once had everything. He had power, he had money he had influence. And now he’s in prison. For Christ, because he won’t stop telling people about Christ that he’s resurrected, that he was the son of a living God, and he’s said man. But I’ve learned the secret, and that secret is. That what’s going on inside of me? Like my soul’s at rest. I’m at peace. Right here. Right now with my life. As it is. So what is the secret? Well, he tells us. Look what he says next. And this is the verse most of you are familiar with.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

And Paul is saying, And this is what just nails me like a two by four, right between the eyes. He says, Here’s the secret to my contentment. I can do all things through Christ; that gives me strength. That’s Christ. It’s his presence in my life that, by my faith in him, and he fills me with his Holy Spirit. You can put me wherever you want to put me. I can still be content because of Christ and his deep work inside of my heart and in my mind. Oh, what a powerful way to live your life. Could you imagine being able to live this way? What a profound passage that oftentimes we forget who wrote it and when he wrote it and where he was that he wrote it from. And that means to you and I think to me today that no matter what’s going on through the ups and through the downs of life. That we, just like Paul, are able to cope because there is a source of contentment that is more powerful than my present plot in life.

Listen. You don’t have to lose your piece. Every time something goes wrong in your life. If your piece comes from God. You see, you can have peace and contentment, joy and satisfaction even when your kids are breaking your heart. Even when your loved one gets sick. Even when your marriage is falling apart. Even when you don’t get the job. Even when it seems like God doesn’t answer your prayer the way that you hoped he would. You see, you can have a peace that has sustained you. Through whatever happens in your life, you can have a peace that the world can’t take away because the world didn’t give it to you in the first place. This is what Paul is saying. I mean, we would all understand if he started venting all of his frustration, and this isn’t fair, and I’m rotting away in this prison. For what? For just doing what God told me to do. Just listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit for being bold and create. No, he didn’t do any of that. He says You know what? It’s all good. God. We’re good. You speak, I follow, you lead, I obey. That lands me in prison. That lands me in court. If that lands me in the morgue, it’s all good because, in the end, I win, for it is Christ who is my life, he says. Christ to live is Christ, to die is gain. It’s all good. My peace isn’t connected to what’s happening around the world. They can’t take it away because it was Christ and his work, but the power of his spirit inside of me.So how in the world do you get to that place in life? What’s the secret? Well, let me close with this three characteristics of contentment. Here’s number one. This is what we can learn from Paul. 

Contentment means trusting Christ, not your credit card.

 So oftentimes in life, if we rely on our current circumstances or that next one thing if we give in to the virus of stuffitis that makes our soul sick. And we think, if I could just have that one more thing, that one more purchase, that one more pair of shoes, that one more trip for that, one more whatever experience, then I’d be happy. And you’re not in a current position to do that. So what do oftentimes we do? We just swipe it, don’t we? Insert it, tap it. We don’t even have to be able to just talk to your phone. Boom, boom. It’s easy, right? Come on. You know how easy it is to just trust your credit card. You can’t afford it. Okay? So what are we going to do? Are we going to? If you really want to learn the secret of contentment, it’s to trust Christ, not the credit card. Here’s what he says. Look at this in verse 19.And my God will supply all of your needs according to his great riches in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

You know what that really means? I dug deep into the Greek on this. You know what that word all means? I mean, if you parse it out, use the lexicon you concordance, and you just really dig into the original language. You know what the word all means? All. That’s what it means. It means all. My God, Paul said, will supply all of your needs. Not all your greets. Not all of your wants. Not everything that’s in your Amazon wish list. Not only wouldn’t it be nice. I can’t afford it now, so I’ll swipe it. But not all those things. All of your needs. So here’s the decision you have to make. Remember, I’m sharing this because I love you and I care about you and your heart and your contentment. I’m trying to teach you a secret. I learned from this guy. And he says this Here’s the decision. Are you going to trust God and take him at his word or not? Are you just going to trust him, or are you going to swipe it? You’re going to trust Christ or your credit card. You want to learn the secret to contentment. Trust Christ. If there’s ever a time to put your trust in Christ, that time is now. If there’s ever a time to invite God into your life, into your heart, into your financial picture, that time is now. With all of the uncertainty. Listen, there’s no guarantees from the government. There’s no guarantees from the economy. I mean, how many of you have Social Security? Yeah. How do we all think that’s going to work out? Right. Come on. I’m not trying to make a political statement. I’m just saying at the end of the day, the only person you can really trust is G od. Put your trust in God. Come on. If you’re going to praise them, give them praise. Today. Put your trust in God. If there was ever a time to apply God’s Word and his truth of his word, especially when it comes to finance, that time is now. Like I said, if you didn’t live on that ten, 1080 plan, every time you get paid, give to God. Pay yourself seconds, save, and then live on the rest. Here’s the second secret to contentment. 

Contentment means being thankful for what you already have.

 Oh, boy. How much better? How much of a better job can we all do on this one? Gang. Can we just learn? To develop an attitude of gratitude. Just be thankful just to thank God for what you’ve already received from him. I mean, you’re going to walk out here in a few minutes and get into your car. It might not be the nicest car. It might be a ten-year-old Honda. You’re not driving a new Range Rover. But it’s your car; you’ve got some rust, it’s got some miles on it, It’s got some things and some dents maybe. But it’s the car God has provided for you right here and right now. And if you can’t, thank God for that. Right here, right now, here’s what you’re ultimately doing. You’re robbing God of his glory. The Bible says in the book of James chapter two that every good and perfect gift flows down from our father up in heaven. And when we can’t just sit back and say, you know what? It might not be the best job. It’s not going to be my last job, but it’s the job that God has given to me now. So I’m going to walk into work tomorrow. I’m going to have a smile on my face. Then I’m going to have a spring in my step. I’m going to have a good heart. I’m going to have a good attitude, and I’m just going to go to work, giving thanks to God for that job that I have right now. You know, you might not say, well, these aren’t the best kids in the world, but they’re the kids I got right now, and I’m just going to love them and I’m just going to pass through it. He might not be the best man in the world. He might not be the best wife in the world. Right? He might not be the best pastor. Just hold on right there. You’ve gone way too far. But you feel me? Come on. Let’s just be grateful for what God has given to us. So let’s not rob him. And block potential future blessings that come from a grateful heart.Look what he says here. First, in 

Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

, He says, Be joyful. Always be joyful when you’re rich when it’s all going right. Be joyful. Always pray, and continually walk in a spirit of prayer. It means that prayer isn’t just words that come out of your mouth. It’s really the posture of your heart. So to pray always means to just walk around with a humble heart, understanding that everything you have, it comes from God. That’s why I can be grateful. I thank you, God. You woke me up this morning. You put air in my lungs; you put blood in my veins. God, You’ve held me together. There’s a lot of people that didn’t wake up today. So God, today, whatever it is that you have for me, I want to walk in. Your goodness. I want to walk in, Your Grace. I want to be kind. I want to be loving. I want to be more like you today. Jesus. That’s what it means to walk in a spirit of praise and to give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will. You want to know what God’s will is right here? This is the secret of contentment. To rejoice. Always be grateful to pray continually. You know, it’s impossible. It’s impossible. To be grateful. And discontent. At the same time. Because when you’re grateful, it’s like, Oh, I’m good. It’s well with my soul right here, right now. I didn’t say everything was well, but God’s with me. And he’s good. Even when bad stuff happens that God is good. And just to be thankful for it. Does anybody have a friend that’s ever like, you know, maybe you comment, and you give a compliment to a friend. You’re like all mean. Those are nice shoes. That’s a beautiful new dress. Where’d you get it? And then all of a sudden, this big smokescreen of false humility comes flying back in your face. Anybody have a friend like this? Right. And it usually stems from usually maybe guilt. From maybe some purchase that they made that was not wise with what God has entrusted them to manage. And you walk up to them and you’re like, Hey, those are really nice kicks. I love those new shoes. That’s a great new, you know, whatever. And they’re like, Oh, you mean these old things? Oh, I got them on the 70% off the rack all the way in the back. I mean, these are these garbage pieces. Like, they don’t even give these to the poor. They’re too ashamed. They just throw them out in the trash. Yeah, they were really cheap. They’re not really that nice. Like what? Dude. Like, all I said was, I like your shoes. What was all of that? And so, can I just recommend something to you next time somebody just walks up. Hey, man, I like that jacket. I really like those shoes. It’s a great outfit. Looks so good on you. Just look him in the eye and just say, Hey, thanks. God’s been good. He’s blessed me. I had a little extra to spend on me, and I did it. I pulled the trigger. Thanks for noticing. Right. Is that all right? I’m a little bit redneck. Pull the trigger to me. Means something different to me. Are you with me? Come on. Here’s number three. Let’s go. Hurry up. Let me get you out of here. Contentment number three Learning the secret to contentment.

Contentment means cultivating a heart of generosity. 

Cultivating a heart of generosity. And this is what God cares most about. For you and your life. This is what I care most about your heart. That when you cultivate a heart, a giving heart, a generous heart. Dude, it’s good for you. It’s good for your emotions. It’s good for your mind. It’s good. Like, literally, endorphins are released in your body that makes you feel better when you are generous. It grows your faith like something happens inside of you. And you say, God, I’m going to trust you. I’m going to step out in faith. I’m going to take you at your word. I’m going to follow you. I’m going to obey you in this area of generosity in my life. Your faith grows. Your heart grows, your soul grows. It makes you better. That’s why. Jesus, Here’s how he put it. He said it’s more blessed to give. Then it is to receive because something happens in a giving heart but doesn’t happen in a stingy heart. That’s why Jesus said it is Jesus lie or no. Is he the great physician? Yes. That’s why he says something happens in the life of a generous person. It makes you better. It makes your life better. So I just want you to remember that this week if you go out to lunch today, I want you to remember this. Cultivate a heart of generosity. So you’ll be content. You sit at the restaurant, you get the bill. I want you to remember this when it comes to how you’re going to tip your server. I don’t care whether he or she did a good job or not. It’s not about them. Gang. It’s about you. Your heart. That you can even be generous when they stink at their job. Wouldn’t that be great? And just to be nice. For you to think, even I wonder if they’re just having a bad day. Let’s give a little extra. What does that say about you? That you’re a lot like Jesus. That’s what it says to me. I want you to remember that. Cultivate a heart of generosity. The next time that you have the opportunity to give to a cause that you really care about. I want you to remember that the next time somebody walks up to you. Who’s legitimately in need and asks for you to help. And if you’re in a position to help them, I want you to remember this.

I want you to remember this. When you sit in a church like this, and it’s time to practice generosity. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than it is to receive because when we cultivate a heart of generosity, that’s one of the secrets to learning. How to be content. You know where to find the happiest people on earth? I’ll tell you where. I’ll tell you where to find. And it’s not a Disney. Spoiler alert. You’re not going to find the happiest people on earth at Disney. I’ll tell you where you find them. When they’re helping. The homeless with some food and some blankets. I’ll tell you where you’ll find the happiest people when they give up their day off to go help. Maybe a single mom or a senior citizen gets something done that they just can’t do on their own. You’ll find the happiest people on earth when they when they partner like we do with organizations like 821 that are rescuing women and children, the most at-risk and vulnerable among us, and human trafficking. And we help rescue them and give them shelter and clothing and education, and a safe place to get their life and a semblance back together and then introduce them in a practical way. Come on to the love of Jesus Christ. I’ll tell you where to find the happiest people. There are those that, you know, support an orphan overseas every month through people like Compassion International, like our church partners with. The happiest people on earth are our people who invest in a local church like this. That is legitimately presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ, where souls are being saved, where lives are being changed, where hope is being found. That is where you will find. The happiest people on earth. It’s more blessed to give. Then to receive changes your heart. Jesus knows this. That’s why he said it again. You know, just so we’re clear, you know, that’s what like legacy builders are all about. It’s not just about. Yes, we use it to cast vision. Yes. We feel God has given us a divine assignment to plant a church in Lehigh Valley to continue to invest in the next generation here but continue to partner with our local and global partners where we can unleash compassion to a broken and hurting world. It’s all of that. But really, it’s about you. It’s about your heart. And that’s why we said this is an all scale that my prayer wasn’t raising a specific dollar amount. My prayer is 100% participation because of what happens to you and to the legacy that you’re building. To your heart and your faith growing. Can I get an amen? All right.So Paul says I’ll close it with this. Paul says this. I have learned.

 The secret to contentment. 

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. I guess if Paul sums it all up, if I could sum it all up, I think he’d say it this way. You see 

My contentment it’s not based on what you live on but what you live for,

 and if you are living for anything less than Jesus Christ and His kingdom agenda, then the high that you receive from anything else. Will only be temporary. Shiny stuff aids. Memories of great vacations wane. The luster wears off. But when you live your life for Jesus. For his purpose, for his plan. For his eternal home of heaven. It’s a game-changer. You’ll never be the same. You will never find contentment in anything else or in anyone else. That if your faith is in Jesus Christ. And in him alone, you don’t need all kinds of other stuff. To prove how valuable you are. That’s already been done by Jesus himself. Do you want to know how valuable you are? God said I’ve sent my one and only son who would give his life for you. Do you want to know how valuable you are to God? You have been bought with a price. The precious blood of Jesus Christ. He said, Man, I love you so much. It hurts. You don’t need another status symbol. You don’t need a car in your driveway to prove that you don’t need a certain square footage of house to live, and you don’t need a certain label on your clothes to demonstrate your value. Your value is in Jesus Christ that he gave his life for you, that he loves you, that he died, and he rose again. That’s how valuable you are to God and friends. If we can just get this straight in our hearts. What could God do in and through us? As a church. What revival might break out in the Poconos if we could get this straight? It’s not what we live on. It’s who we live for that our whole life is centered. It’s set in motion. It hinges, it hangs upon Jesus Christ. His love for a lost and a hurting world. If we can get that straight, then I’m not going to look to my stuff to be content, but I’m going to find my contentment in Jesus Christ and in Him alone that. My joy will never be found in my stuff but only in Jesus. So maybe it’s time for you. To give your heart to Jesus. To find true joy today. Maybe it’s time if you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus to make Him the Lord and the Savior of your life, to invite Him into your heart and into your story today. Put your faith in Jesus gang. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you so much. Let’s pray.