Overflowing Joy

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Tim Keller

Religion, Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.9 • 16.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 January 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Money is not a silly or superfluous thing. Money was designed to be our dignity. It answers to something God put down deep in us: that we all need to have part of the world to care for, and without any part of the world to care for, we have no dignity. But what has happened in most of our lives is instead of being our dignity, money has become our definition. Money is power. It can act destructively or constructively in your life. How can you be sure it’s acting constructively? You know the answer: it’s in the Bible many places. It’s not how much money you have or how little money you have, it all depends on your heart attitude. You have to be freed from money as your definition so that it can become your dignity and you can release its power where it will do the most good. There are three principles that need to be worked down into your heart, and we see them in what Paul says in 2 Corinthians: 1) God owns everything you have, so you have to act like a trustee, 2) Jesus gave everything for you, so you’re freed for radical generosity, and 3) you can take it with you if you invest it in eternal things. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 7, 1990. Series: Ten Commandments 1989. Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to Gospel and Life. During January, we're inviting our listeners to consider becoming a Gospel and Life monthly partner. If you'd like to learn more, keep listening at the end of today's podcast for details.
0:17.2	Do you ever wish life came with an owner's manual? A guide to follow when you're facing difficult decisions or just trying to live with integrity
0:24.6	in the small, everyday moments?
0:26.6	Today on Gospel in Life, Tim Keller shows us how the Ten Commandments help us align our lives
0:31.6	with God's will, not by restricting us with outdated rules, but by laying the foundation
0:36.6	from which we can live a life of true freedom and flourishing.
0:44.3	Corinthians chapter 8, and we'll read verses 1 through 15.
0:55.1	And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given to the Macedonian
1:00.5	churches.
1:02.1	Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up
1:06.9	in rich generosity, for I testified that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond
1:13.4	their ability, entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing
1:18.1	in this service to the saints, and they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves
1:24.1	first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus,
1:29.8	since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
1:34.8	But just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness,
1:39.9	and in your love for us, see that you excel in this grace of giving.
1:51.1	I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
1:58.2	For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes, he became poor,
2:03.2	so that through his poverty you might become rich. And here's my advice about what's best for you in this matter last year you were the first not only to give but also to have
2:08.2	a desire to do so so now finish the work so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched
2:13.3	by your completion of it according to your means for if the willingness willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Tim Keller, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Tim Keller and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.