Hello and welcome to the John Mark Homer Teachings podcast.

My name is Yinka Dawson and I'm your host.

Each week we feature teachings by John Mark or other voices in the formation space,

and it's great to have you with us.

We're nearing the end of our Garden City series,

exploring God's original vision for work, rest and human flourishing.

In this episode, John Mark impacts Jesus' teaching on money, possessions and trust from Matthew 6,

challenging us to resist the work more, buy more repeat cycle, and instead live with simplicity, generosity,

and a God-centered vision of life. Here's John Mark.

The Gospel of Matthew chapter 6.

Hey, we are nearing the end of the Garden City series, but before we wrap up, there is something

we need to talk about.

There is a danger to this vision of work.

If you embrace this vision of what it means to be human, to be made in the image of God, to rule over the earth.

If you gather up the raw materials of the planet and you work your tail off to reshape it

into a garden-like city, and if you discover your vocation or your God-given identity and calling, and then in the West with social mobility,

if you then build a career around that and you chase after it.

And if you learn the art of saying no, and over time you become really good at whatever it is you do. You become an expert

in your field. You become a master at your craft. And if you do all of that, not for money or fame

or hubris, but as an expression of love and service to the city and the world, and of gratitude and worship and glory to God.

If you embrace this vision, then the odds are that at some point in time you will make money.

Now, a lot of you are young. You're not there yet. Stay with it. Now, not all of you. Some of you are

...