SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

JOSHUA YATES

LIVING WITH
CAPITAL

The American dream - live luxuriously, have 1.5 children, a double income, an extravagant house and a
good-sized nest egg. Americans spend tens of thousands of hours trying to live out this dream of being
rich and well-renowned. The unfortunate fact is that over three fourths of NFL players, who are
supposedly living out that dream, are bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or
divorce within two years of leaving the NFL. If we knew these were our chances, would we still be so
eager to pursue success?
Others may take their dream job across country to get that $10,000 pay increase or promotion.
However, in an effort to discover the passport to the good life, they realize that its a one-way ticket to
nowhere. When you peel back the layers to these decisions they are often grounded in pride,
selfishness, greed, impure motives, or an improper view of success. The truth is, its actually possible to
have it all, but it wont come under these pretenses.
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SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

JOSHUA YATES

The Rich Young Ruler - Mark 10:17-31

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good
Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No
one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery,
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to
him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to
him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions.
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to
enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again,
"Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of
a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." And they were exceedingly astonished,
and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible,
but not with God. For all things are possible with God." Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left
everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or
brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not
receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and
lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the
last first.

What is Worth Giving Everything Up?

Think about the way Jesus operated: What initially felt like sacrifice would payoff in the end. When we
operate in our flesh, the opposite can be true: What looks and feels like it is going to payoff, often
requires us to sacrifice those things that are truly valuable in the end.
Its important to understand that you will only find the life Jesus intended if you genuinely and
wholeheartedly let go of your old life. Do you find joy in sacrifice or do you give begrudgingly?
Jim Elliot said, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
As we invest our life, what type of return can we expect? Our minds typically go to material wealth. If
you were to become a millionaire but lost all of your family and friends in the midst of that pursuit, would
you still consider yourself wealthy? There is a need to think bigger about what it means to be
prosperous and wealthy because there seems to be more than one way to measure prosperity. Lets
take a look at the word Economy.
Economy comes from two greek root words: oikos meaning household or family & nomos meaning
custom, law, or management. To understand Gods economy, we should be asking questions like, How
do I manage our household given the capital that Ive have been entrusted with? Wealth, in the purest
sense of the word, is not just about me and my accomplishments - its about the whole community
flourishing. Economists look at the world through the lens of capital.
In Gods story, heroes like The Good Samaritan are very unlikely, while villains like the wicked/lazy
servant are quite ordinary. Not investing in our capitals makes us villains in Gods eyes. Unlikely heroes
find the right things to invest in. Jesus doesnt settle for playing it safe or taking the middle ground. The
hero is willing to put it all on the line for what really matters.

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

JOSHUA YATES

Eventually the thing we value most will win - God or money. Spiritual capital is far more valuable than
financial capital. The rich young ruler didnt understand this because he though his financial capital was
worth more than the opportunity to follow Jesus. He tried to obtain the kingdom of God as a product
because it was the only point of reference he knew.
When we put spiritual capital before financial capital, it allows our money to serve God.

Here Are Five Capitals in Order of Importance

1) Spiritual Capital - How much spiritual equity do I have to invest? CURRENCY= Wisdom & Power
2) Relational Capital - How much relational equity do we have to invest? CURRENCY=Family &
Friends
3) Physical Capital - How much time and energy do we have to invest? CURRENCY=Hours & Health
4) Intellectual Capital - How much creativity and knowledge do we have to invest?
CURRENCY=Concepts & Ideas
5) Financial Capital - How much treasure do we have to invest? CURRENCY=Dollars & Cents
Financial capital should be the lowest on our hierarchy, yet we sacrifice all of the other capitals to get
it - it never fulfills us. According to Harvard Business School, when invest money in others instead of
ourselves, it actually increases our happiness. 3 John 2 - says that we should prosper in all respects (all
capitals). The problem with prosperity gospel is that it is too narrowly focused and it doesnt aim high
enough. Prosperity gospel follows the way of the world in valuing financial capital above all else.
Intellectual capital requires something more than money can buy. Jesus understood and practiced
this, being called teacher and master. He used this capital to train his disciples and teach the crowds.
Physical capital requires us to honor human limitations. We need proper rest and rhythm to steward
our bodies for the long haul. Studies show that productivity increases when employees stop working
long hours.
Relational capital refers to not only the quantity but also the quality of our relationships. There is a
point in everyones life that our ability to gain financial capital is hindered or cut off. Its in those moments
that relational capital pays off.
Spiritual capital is developed when we learn to hear what God is saying and respond in loving
obedience. There are no social or financial prerequisites to our attainment of spiritual capital. It is
astronomically valuable and radically available. We listen to the words of Jesus and put them into
practice.
A well-lived (wealthy) life means having an abundance in all five capitals. We need to invest in life as if
the most important things are ACTUALLY most important.

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