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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Companionship Over Loneliness (Part 1)

January 29, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Companionship Over Loneliness (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Companionship Over Loneliness (Part 1) | January 29, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:00:08.665 --> 00:00:09.532
  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.471 --> 00:00:16.239
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:18.308
  • When tragedy comes our way, there's a natural tendency to
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  • Withdraw from public view, taking time to heal in the
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  • Privacy and comfort of our own space.
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  • But at what point does isolation become unhealthy
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  • And counterproductive?
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  • Today, we're talking about the value of surrounding ourselves
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  • With trusted friends.
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  • My message is titled "choosing companionship over loneliness"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: we all want to live a life of meaning and
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  • Significance, but we often dream too small.
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  • Jeffress: my friends david green, founder and ceo of hobby
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  • Lobby, and bill high, ceo of legacy stone, have written a
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  • Brand new book called "the legacy life."
  • 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:13.663
  • Jeffress: you've said it in this book several times.
  • 00:01:13.663 --> 00:01:16.933
  • Legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you set in
  • 00:01:16.933 --> 00:01:20.470
  • Motion for the future.
  • 00:01:20.470 --> 00:01:22.205
  • Jeffress: this book will challenge you to point your life
  • 00:01:22.205 --> 00:01:24.641
  • Heavenward and set in motion a legacy of eternal significance.
  • 00:01:24.641 --> 00:01:29.913
  • David green: bill, i've found that it's much easier to run a
  • 00:01:29.913 --> 00:01:32.315
  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
  • 00:01:32.315 --> 00:01:35.752
  • Lord is much, much more difficult.
  • 00:01:35.752 --> 00:01:37.787
  • And that's who we are. we're not about hobby lobby.
  • 00:01:37.787 --> 00:01:40.089
  • We're about mission, vision, and values, and it's all based on
  • 00:01:40.089 --> 00:01:43.193
  • God's word, and that's what we're excited about.
  • 00:01:43.193 --> 00:01:45.428
  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:01:45.428 --> 00:01:48.131
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
  • 00:01:48.131 --> 00:01:52.669
  • In motion a great legacy.
  • 00:01:52.669 --> 00:01:55.605
  • Announcer: request "the legacy life" when you give a generous
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  • Gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a pathway
  • 00:01:58.208 --> 00:02:00.910
  • Partner.
  • 00:02:00.910 --> 00:02:02.245
  • You'll also receive the powerful book by dr. jeffress, "choose
  • 00:02:02.245 --> 00:02:05.148
  • Your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:02:05.148 --> 00:02:07.417
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
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  • You the "choose your attitudes, change your life" personal and
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  • Group study guide, plus the complete teaching series on cd
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  • And dvd and a set of attitude booster cards for
  • 00:02:18.127 --> 00:02:22.031
  • Your encouragement.
  • 00:02:22.031 --> 00:02:23.366
  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:02:23.366 --> 00:02:25.868
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: years ago, there was a popular ballad that was played
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  • Endlessly on the radio.
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  • Some of you may remember it.
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  • It was titled "alone again naturally."
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  • In fact, you can still hear it on some of the oldies stations
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  • That play it.
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  • It's a ballad about a young man who over a period of time loses
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  • Those who are closest to him, either through death or a
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  • Defection of affection.
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  • And at the end of every chorus, there is that sad refrain
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  • "alone again naturally."
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  • And it ends with the young man contemplating suicide to deal
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  • With his depression.
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  • You know, unfortunately, loneliness seems to be the norm
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  • For most people today.
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  • The late evangelist billy graham said he believed more people
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  • Suffer from loneliness than any other malady.
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  • Author paul tournay called loneliness "the emotion of
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  • Our age."
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  • Admiral richard byrd who was the first man to ever fly over the
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  • North pole wrote in his diary at one point, "this morning, i had
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  • To admit to myself that i was lonely.
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  • Try as i may, i can't take my loneliness casually.
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  • It is too big.
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  • I must not dwell on it; otherwise, i'm undone."
  • 00:04:01.964 --> 00:04:07.236
  • Psychologists tell us that there are really two kinds
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  • Of loneliness.
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  • There is a loneliness of distance--that is, when we're
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  • Geographically separated from people we love.
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  • We all understand that loneliness of distance.
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  • But psychologists also talk about the loneliness of spirit.
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  • It's that feeling of isolation that we can feel even when we're
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  • In a crowded room or in a marriage or even in a church, a
  • 00:04:32.028 --> 00:04:38.034
  • Loneliness of distance, but also a loneliness of spirit.
  • 00:04:38.034 --> 00:04:43.072
  • Now, when we think of loneliness, we think of one of
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  • Those two things.
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  • We think of loneliness as a state of being.
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  • "i'm lonely because i feel isolated from others or i'm
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  • Separated from others."
  • 00:04:55.084 --> 00:04:57.186
  • But loneliness is not just a state of being.
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  • I wanna suggest to you today that loneliness is a choice of
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  • How we go through life.
  • 00:05:06.496 --> 00:05:09.132
  • We can say, "i don't need anybody else,
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  • I'm sufficient on my own,"
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  • Or we can come to the conclusion that we do need other people.
  • 00:05:13.269 --> 00:05:18.307
  • You know, in our series, "choose your attitudes, change your
  • 00:05:18.307 --> 00:05:21.144
  • Life," we've said that an attitude is our response to the
  • 00:05:21.144 --> 00:05:24.914
  • Circumstances of life.
  • 00:05:24.914 --> 00:05:27.016
  • You can't choose your circumstances.
  • 00:05:27.016 --> 00:05:28.818
  • You can't always change your circumstances, but you can
  • 00:05:28.818 --> 00:05:31.788
  • Choose your response to those circumstances.
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  • But one of the choices we have to make in life is, how are we
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  • Going to go through the inevitable joys as well as
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  • Sorrows of life?
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  • Are we going to go through those experiences isolated, alone, or
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  • Are we going to choose to have others with us?
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  • Today we're going to talk about the very biblical choice of
  • 00:05:52.775 --> 00:05:56.145
  • Choosing companionship over loneliness.
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  • You know, i think about an elderly man in a previous
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  • Church, he was diagnosed with cancer.
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  • He was told that the best possibility for him to live
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  • Would be to travel to another state, to a well known clinic to
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  • Go through a very dangerous procedure.
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  • He was warned that the procedure might leave him handicapped or
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  • He might take his life.
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  • But he decided not to tell any of his surviving family
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  • Members--he was a widower--what was going on in his life.
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  • He didn't tell his friends.
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  • Instead, one day he just packed his bags, closed down his home
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  • Without telling a soul, not knowing if he would ever
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  • Return again.
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  • This operation was successful and when his friends and family
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  • Members found out what he had done, they said, "why didn't you
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  • Tell us?"
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  • He said, "well, i just didn't wanna be a burden to
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  • Other people."
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  • That sounds heroic, magnanimous.
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  • I doubt that was the real reason.
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  • The fact is, there are reasons that people choose to be lonely.
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  • One reason is a poor self-image.
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  • There are people who think, "well, why should i try to reach
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  • Out to other people?
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  • Why would anybody be interested in me?
  • 00:07:14.390 --> 00:07:16.025
  • I'm not attractive.
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  • I'm not gifted.
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  • I'm not funny. i'm not witty.
  • 00:07:18.861 --> 00:07:21.230
  • Nobody would wanna be around me," and they don't want to
  • 00:07:21.230 --> 00:07:23.933
  • Experience rejection.
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  • I mean, all of us can recall times in our lives when we've
  • 00:07:25.535 --> 00:07:29.438
  • Been rejected by others.
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  • It may be on the playground when you were last
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  • To be chosen for a team.
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  • It might have been in high school when you ask a girl or a
  • 00:07:35.244 --> 00:07:38.314
  • Boy out on a date and they rejected you.
  • 00:07:38.314 --> 00:07:40.950
  • May have been in college when you weren't chosen for a
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  • Fraternity or a social group.
  • 00:07:43.753 --> 00:07:46.122
  • Even as adult, maybe you have felt rejected from being a part
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  • Of a social club or a dinner club.
  • 00:07:49.692 --> 00:07:51.994
  • Nobody likes rejection.
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  • And so we feel like we're not worthy to reach out and we don't
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  • Wanna risk being rejected.
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  • And yet i want you to think about the most meaningful
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  • Relationships in your life.
  • 00:08:02.505 --> 00:08:04.607
  • Whether it's with your mate or friends, that relationship
  • 00:08:04.607 --> 00:08:08.377
  • Probably started with your being willing to take a risk, to reach
  • 00:08:08.377 --> 00:08:13.249
  • Out to that other person.
  • 00:08:13.249 --> 00:08:15.451
  • What's the cure for a poor self-image?
  • 00:08:15.451 --> 00:08:18.354
  • The bible says there are two truths we need to grasp to help
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  • Us see ourselves as god sees us.
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  • Number one, to see ourselves from god's perspective,
  • 00:08:24.727 --> 00:08:28.397
  • Realizing that through christ we are people of value.
  • 00:08:28.397 --> 00:08:33.469
  • In ephesians 2, verse 10, the apostle paul said, "for we are
  • 00:08:33.469 --> 00:08:38.240
  • God's workmanship."
  • 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.143
  • That word is "poiema" in greek, poem.
  • 00:08:41.143 --> 00:08:44.413
  • You are god's poem created in christ jesus for good works.
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  • Everything about you--your personality, your looks, your
  • 00:08:49.585 --> 00:08:53.723
  • Gifts, all are the result of god's work.
  • 00:08:53.723 --> 00:08:57.593
  • Secondly, to cure a poor self-image, understand that we
  • 00:08:57.593 --> 00:09:01.964
  • Are the recipients of god's interest and friendship.
  • 00:09:01.964 --> 00:09:06.535
  • Think about this, the most important person in the
  • 00:09:06.535 --> 00:09:10.706
  • Universe, god himself, wants to be your friend.
  • 00:09:10.706 --> 00:09:16.045
  • He wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:09:16.045 --> 00:09:18.514
  • And as a demonstration of his desire for that relationship, he
  • 00:09:18.514 --> 00:09:22.118
  • Was willing to pay the ultimate price.
  • 00:09:22.118 --> 00:09:24.787
  • Jesus said in john 15:13, "greater love has no one than
  • 00:09:24.787 --> 00:09:28.591
  • This, that he would lay down his life for his friends."
  • 00:09:28.591 --> 00:09:32.928
  • Well, guess what?
  • 00:09:32.928 --> 00:09:34.296
  • God was willing to lay down his life for you when in the form of
  • 00:09:34.296 --> 00:09:38.501
  • Jesus christ, he suffered on that cross.
  • 00:09:38.501 --> 00:09:41.771
  • We are the recipients of god's interest and friendship.
  • 00:09:41.771 --> 00:09:46.676
  • Now, a second reason people choose loneliness is, really, on
  • 00:09:46.676 --> 00:09:49.712
  • The opposite end of the spectrum.
  • 00:09:49.712 --> 00:09:51.380
  • It's because of pride.
  • 00:09:51.380 --> 00:09:53.082
  • They don't think they need other people.
  • 00:09:53.082 --> 00:09:55.451
  • We saw last time when we talked about choosing humility over
  • 00:09:55.451 --> 00:09:59.455
  • Pride that one of the by-products of pride
  • 00:09:59.455 --> 00:10:02.124
  • Is independence.
  • 00:10:02.124 --> 00:10:03.993
  • The feeling that we don't need other people.
  • 00:10:03.993 --> 00:10:07.063
  • You know, paul tried to correct that misconception in the
  • 00:10:07.063 --> 00:10:10.933
  • Corinthian christians, some of them felt like they had all the
  • 00:10:10.933 --> 00:10:14.503
  • Spiritual gifts and they didn't need anybody else.
  • 00:10:14.503 --> 00:10:17.606
  • In 1 corinthians 12, beginning with verse 20, paul compared the
  • 00:10:17.606 --> 00:10:21.911
  • Church to the human body.
  • 00:10:21.911 --> 00:10:24.080
  • Many parts to it and all are necessary.
  • 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:26.582
  • He says in verse 20, "but now there are many members," many
  • 00:10:26.582 --> 00:10:29.885
  • Parts, "but one body.
  • 00:10:29.885 --> 00:10:32.054
  • And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'i have no need of you';
  • 00:10:32.054 --> 00:10:34.957
  • Or again the head to the foot, 'i have no need of you.'
  • 00:10:34.957 --> 00:10:38.360
  • On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body
  • 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:41.931
  • Which seem to be weaker are necessary."
  • 00:10:41.931 --> 00:10:46.535
  • The fact is, we all need one another.
  • 00:10:46.535 --> 00:10:49.572
  • None of us is sufficient in and of ourselves.
  • 00:10:49.572 --> 00:10:53.509
  • Remember the story about the two porcupines that were huddling
  • 00:10:53.509 --> 00:10:58.948
  • Together in the frozen tundra region of northern canada?
  • 00:10:58.948 --> 00:11:04.086
  • They were freezing to death.
  • 00:11:04.086 --> 00:11:05.521
  • They were huddled together.
  • 00:11:05.521 --> 00:11:07.089
  • Why?
  • 00:11:07.089 --> 00:11:08.958
  • They needed one another, even though they needled one another.
  • 00:11:08.958 --> 00:11:14.630
  • A third cause that people choose loneliness is an inability to
  • 00:11:14.630 --> 00:11:18.801
  • Accept other people's faults,
  • 00:11:18.801 --> 00:11:21.537
  • An inability to accept other people's faults.
  • 00:11:21.537 --> 00:11:23.839
  • When i was growing up, our family used to go together to
  • 00:11:23.839 --> 00:11:27.243
  • The movies on friday night.
  • 00:11:27.243 --> 00:11:28.611
  • Many friday nights, my mom and dad, my brother and sister and
  • 00:11:28.611 --> 00:11:32.915
  • I, and we would all sit together in the theater,
  • 00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:36.519
  • Except my younger brother, tim.
  • 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:39.255
  • He was so irritated by the munching sound of our popcorn or
  • 00:11:39.255 --> 00:11:44.493
  • The slurping of our drinks or the unwrapping of
  • 00:11:44.493 --> 00:11:47.563
  • Candy wrappers.
  • 00:11:47.563 --> 00:11:48.898
  • It just bothered him.
  • 00:11:48.898 --> 00:11:50.232
  • And so he would go and sit by himself, way down at the front,
  • 00:11:50.232 --> 00:11:54.036
  • Just so he didn't have to go through the irritation.
  • 00:11:54.036 --> 00:11:56.338
  • Now, the upside to that was he didn't have to listen to those
  • 00:11:56.338 --> 00:12:00.276
  • Annoying sounds.
  • 00:12:00.276 --> 00:12:01.777
  • The downside was he prayed--paid the price of isolation.
  • 00:12:01.777 --> 00:12:06.115
  • And many of us are that way.
  • 00:12:06.115 --> 00:12:07.616
  • Other people just bug us to death.
  • 00:12:07.616 --> 00:12:09.952
  • So we say, "i'm not gonna get close to anybody."
  • 00:12:09.952 --> 00:12:13.022
  • Well, we need to remember what paul said in romans 3:23.
  • 00:12:13.022 --> 00:12:16.759
  • All of us have sinned.
  • 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:19.028
  • We've all fallen short of the glory of god and we've fallen
  • 00:12:19.028 --> 00:12:23.866
  • Short in the expectations that other people have of us as well.
  • 00:12:23.866 --> 00:12:28.270
  • Fourth reason some people choose to be lonely is,
  • 00:12:28.270 --> 00:12:31.507
  • Really, selfishness.
  • 00:12:31.507 --> 00:12:33.242
  • Have you ever ever heard people say, "well, i'm just too busy
  • 00:12:33.242 --> 00:12:36.445
  • For any relationships right now.
  • 00:12:36.445 --> 00:12:38.480
  • I've just got so many things going on in my life.
  • 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.783
  • I really don't have time for friends."
  • 00:12:40.783 --> 00:12:43.719
  • Busyness is a euphemism for selfish.
  • 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:47.656
  • "i'm so caught up in my own world that i really don't feel
  • 00:12:47.656 --> 00:12:51.026
  • Like i can spend time with other people."
  • 00:12:51.026 --> 00:12:54.530
  • You know, selflessness is the price we pay for friendship.
  • 00:12:54.530 --> 00:12:59.468
  • In their book, "friends and friendship" authors jerry and
  • 00:12:59.468 --> 00:13:02.438
  • Mary white state that one test of selflessness is what you
  • 00:13:02.438 --> 00:13:07.109
  • Would be willing to do for a friend.
  • 00:13:07.109 --> 00:13:09.345
  • Would you be willing to set aside a personal interest to
  • 00:13:09.345 --> 00:13:13.048
  • Help them?
  • 00:13:13.048 --> 00:13:14.383
  • Would you be willing to cancel a vacation in order to meet a need
  • 00:13:14.383 --> 00:13:18.454
  • That they had?
  • 00:13:18.454 --> 00:13:19.822
  • Would you be willing to give money to them even if you had
  • 00:13:19.822 --> 00:13:22.791
  • Little to give?
  • 00:13:22.791 --> 00:13:24.426
  • Would you be willing to ex--spend a significant amount
  • 00:13:24.426 --> 00:13:28.030
  • Of time praying for them if they had a crisis?
  • 00:13:28.030 --> 00:13:31.700
  • Would you be willing to accept their children, either
  • 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:35.437
  • Temporarily or even permanently, if there was a need?
  • 00:13:35.437 --> 00:13:40.376
  • When we think we're too busy or have too much going on in our
  • 00:13:40.376 --> 00:13:43.679
  • Lives to help somebody else and to be a friend, we need to
  • 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:47.316
  • Remember the ultimate example of selflessness.
  • 00:13:47.316 --> 00:13:50.953
  • It's found in philippians 2 verses 3 and 4.
  • 00:13:50.953 --> 00:13:54.189
  • Paul said, "do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
  • 00:13:54.189 --> 00:13:58.861
  • But with humility of mind, let each one of you regard another
  • 00:13:58.861 --> 00:14:03.332
  • As more important than himself;
  • 00:14:03.332 --> 00:14:05.601
  • Don't merely look out for your own personal interests, but also
  • 00:14:05.601 --> 00:14:10.372
  • For the interests of others."
  • 00:14:10.372 --> 00:14:13.208
  • A fifth reason for loneliness is an unwillingness to forgive
  • 00:14:13.208 --> 00:14:18.314
  • Other people.
  • 00:14:18.314 --> 00:14:20.549
  • Friendships can be painful at times.
  • 00:14:20.549 --> 00:14:23.719
  • We can all recall times when a friend disappointed us.
  • 00:14:23.719 --> 00:14:28.824
  • Unfortunately, some people never recover from
  • 00:14:28.824 --> 00:14:31.193
  • Those disappointments.
  • 00:14:31.193 --> 00:14:32.995
  • They have this attitude, "well, look, i had a friend one time
  • 00:14:32.995 --> 00:14:36.031
  • And he or she betrayed me.
  • 00:14:36.031 --> 00:14:39.001
  • They talk behind my back.
  • 00:14:39.001 --> 00:14:41.770
  • They divulged a confidence.
  • 00:14:41.770 --> 00:14:44.139
  • They cheated me out of some money, and i'm never gonna get
  • 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:47.810
  • Burned again."
  • 00:14:47.810 --> 00:14:49.578
  • And so their unwillingness to forgive causes them to go
  • 00:14:49.578 --> 00:14:53.082
  • Through life alone.
  • 00:14:53.082 --> 00:14:55.517
  • A number of years ago, i received a letter one day from a
  • 00:14:55.517 --> 00:15:00.756
  • Friend and a church member.
  • 00:15:00.756 --> 00:15:03.325
  • It was unusual that he would write me a letter, so i was kind
  • 00:15:03.325 --> 00:15:06.095
  • Of anxious to see what it was.
  • 00:15:06.095 --> 00:15:07.596
  • And i opened the letter: three pages, typed, single space.
  • 00:15:07.596 --> 00:15:15.571
  • And in this letter, my friend basically listed everything he
  • 00:15:15.571 --> 00:15:19.942
  • Didn't like about me.
  • 00:15:19.942 --> 00:15:21.977
  • And i'll never forget the concluding line.
  • 00:15:21.977 --> 00:15:24.713
  • "i hope you won't take this personally."
  • 00:15:24.713 --> 00:15:30.552
  • Personally?
  • 00:15:30.552 --> 00:15:32.821
  • Not only did i take it personally, i swore right then i
  • 00:15:32.821 --> 00:15:36.225
  • Would never talk to that guy again.
  • 00:15:36.225 --> 00:15:39.161
  • Imagine having the gall to write me, a man of god, such a letter.
  • 00:15:39.161 --> 00:15:43.232
  • I couldn't believe it.
  • 00:15:43.232 --> 00:15:45.434
  • But you know, after a few days, the words of matthew chapter 5
  • 00:15:45.434 --> 00:15:50.172
  • Verses 23 and 24, came back to me.
  • 00:15:50.172 --> 00:15:52.508
  • Remember what jesus said?
  • 00:15:52.508 --> 00:15:54.143
  • "if you're presenting your gift at the altar and you remember
  • 00:15:54.143 --> 00:15:58.781
  • Your brother has something against you, leave your
  • 00:15:58.781 --> 00:16:02.184
  • Sacrifice at the altar and go be reconciled to your brother."
  • 00:16:02.184 --> 00:16:07.256
  • And so i swallowed my pride.
  • 00:16:07.256 --> 00:16:10.459
  • I went to see this guy, said, "what in the world is going on?"
  • 00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:16.498
  • He admitted he was having a bad day.
  • 00:16:16.498 --> 00:16:20.536
  • Said he was sorry and a choice friendship was salvaged.
  • 00:16:20.536 --> 00:16:26.575
  • We have to be willing to forgive if we're gonna
  • 00:16:26.575 --> 00:16:28.777
  • Maintain friendships.
  • 00:16:28.777 --> 00:16:30.779
  • You know, proverbs 17:17 says, "a friend loves at all times."
  • 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:37.553
  • All times includes when your friend is having a bad day.
  • 00:16:37.553 --> 00:16:41.023
  • We have to be willing to forgive.
  • 00:16:41.023 --> 00:16:43.292
  • Finally, some people choose loneliness because of a failure
  • 00:16:43.292 --> 00:16:47.463
  • To understand the value of companionship.
  • 00:16:47.463 --> 00:16:50.199
  • They don't understand how valuable it is.
  • 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:52.835
  • Years ago, i had one of the longest weeks
  • 00:16:52.835 --> 00:16:55.871
  • Of my life, literally.
  • 00:16:55.871 --> 00:16:57.406
  • I was preaching a revival in alaska--in anchorage, alaska.
  • 00:16:57.406 --> 00:17:02.144
  • And it was the time of the year when it seemed like it stayed
  • 00:17:02.144 --> 00:17:04.713
  • Light for 23 hours of the 24 hours of the day.
  • 00:17:04.713 --> 00:17:08.083
  • I mean, it was just light all the time.
  • 00:17:08.083 --> 00:17:09.551
  • You couldn't go to sleep.
  • 00:17:09.551 --> 00:17:10.886
  • And if that weren't enough, the church i was preaching at had
  • 00:17:10.886 --> 00:17:13.455
  • Put me up in the home of one of their members.
  • 00:17:13.455 --> 00:17:16.458
  • Never make that mistake again.
  • 00:17:16.458 --> 00:17:18.260
  • But i stood there and it was really a very nice couple, very
  • 00:17:18.260 --> 00:17:21.830
  • Elderly couple.
  • 00:17:21.830 --> 00:17:23.165
  • But they were very, very nice but there was just absolutely
  • 00:17:23.165 --> 00:17:26.034
  • Nothing to do.
  • 00:17:26.034 --> 00:17:27.369
  • I mean, i had my one hour of church at night and one
  • 00:17:27.369 --> 00:17:30.606
  • Television, nothing to read and i was just, you know, walking
  • 00:17:30.606 --> 00:17:34.443
  • Around that house, but one day they were gone someplace and i
  • 00:17:34.443 --> 00:17:38.814
  • Was going through their magazines and i found a copy of
  • 00:17:38.814 --> 00:17:41.750
  • A magazine called "modern maturity."
  • 00:17:41.750 --> 00:17:45.187
  • Anybody ever read "modern maturity?"
  • 00:17:45.187 --> 00:17:48.290
  • It's a magazine for old people.
  • 00:17:48.290 --> 00:17:51.193
  • It's just an old people's magazine.
  • 00:17:51.193 --> 00:17:53.162
  • So i was flipping--i knew i had hit rock bottom when there i was
  • 00:17:53.162 --> 00:17:56.832
  • In, you know, in my twenties reading "modern maturity."
  • 00:17:56.832 --> 00:17:59.568
  • But i found an article in there that really did pique
  • 00:17:59.568 --> 00:18:02.804
  • My interest.
  • 00:18:02.804 --> 00:18:04.173
  • I tore it out of the magazine.
  • 00:18:04.173 --> 00:18:05.607
  • I don't think i ever told them that.
  • 00:18:05.607 --> 00:18:07.309
  • But i tore it out of the magazine,
  • 00:18:07.309 --> 00:18:09.344
  • Brought it back with me.
  • 00:18:09.344 --> 00:18:10.712
  • The title of the magazine article was, "you may live
  • 00:18:10.712 --> 00:18:13.081
  • Longer if you're sociable."
  • 00:18:13.081 --> 00:18:16.118
  • I thought, "that's an interesting title."
  • 00:18:16.118 --> 00:18:17.653
  • I thought i'd read it.
  • 00:18:17.653 --> 00:18:19.021
  • Now listen to what it says:
  • 00:18:19.021 --> 00:18:20.355
  • "in one of the most comprehensive studies of older
  • 00:18:20.355 --> 00:18:22.157
  • Adults ever taken in the united states, more than 1700 couples
  • 00:18:22.157 --> 00:18:27.396
  • Were followed.
  • 00:18:27.396 --> 00:18:28.764
  • Researchers have determined that participation in formal social
  • 00:18:28.764 --> 00:18:32.868
  • Networks--that is, church or community groups--is even a more
  • 00:18:32.868 --> 00:18:38.540
  • Important predictor of mortality than one's health.
  • 00:18:38.540 --> 00:18:42.744
  • Richard hessler, phd, said, 'regardless of health problems,
  • 00:18:42.744 --> 00:18:48.150
  • People who had formal social networks were more likely to
  • 00:18:48.150 --> 00:18:52.554
  • Remain independent and survive.'
  • 00:18:52.554 --> 00:18:55.724
  • In his landmark study of the physical and social changes in
  • 00:18:55.724 --> 00:18:58.961
  • The aging process, the professor found that the four most
  • 00:18:58.961 --> 00:19:03.398
  • Important factors that determine whether a person lived or died
  • 00:19:03.398 --> 00:19:09.071
  • Were age, sex, health, and formal social networks,
  • 00:19:09.071 --> 00:19:15.077
  • With the latter being the foremost."
  • 00:19:15.077 --> 00:19:17.980
  • Think of that.
  • 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.314
  • Of the factors that determine how long you live--age, sex,
  • 00:19:19.314 --> 00:19:24.086
  • Health, and being a part of a social network--
  • 00:19:24.086 --> 00:19:27.656
  • The last is the most important.
  • 00:19:27.656 --> 00:19:30.592
  • That's what god's word says.
  • 00:19:30.592 --> 00:19:32.761
  • As we're gonna see in just a moment, though, longevity of
  • 00:19:32.761 --> 00:19:37.532
  • Life is not the only benefit of companionship.
  • 00:19:37.532 --> 00:19:41.470
  • God has designed companionship as a way to ensure our emotional
  • 00:19:41.470 --> 00:19:47.042
  • And spiritual fulfillment in life.
  • 00:19:47.042 --> 00:19:49.511
  • What are the advantages of companionship that most
  • 00:19:49.511 --> 00:19:52.514
  • People miss?
  • 00:19:52.514 --> 00:19:53.882
  • Turn over to ecclesiastes chapter 4.
  • 00:19:53.882 --> 00:19:56.551
  • Ecclesiastes chapter 4.
  • 00:19:56.551 --> 00:19:58.787
  • You know, solomon had it all-- money, wealth, power--
  • 00:19:58.787 --> 00:20:02.391
  • But one thing he lacked was companionship.
  • 00:20:02.391 --> 00:20:06.194
  • You say, "lack companionship?
  • 00:20:06.194 --> 00:20:07.529
  • What about those 700 wives and 300 concubines?
  • 00:20:07.529 --> 00:20:10.899
  • Ain't that enough to keep him busy?"
  • 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:13.869
  • Well, that provided something, but not what he needed most,
  • 00:20:13.869 --> 00:20:18.707
  • Not companionship.
  • 00:20:18.707 --> 00:20:20.242
  • Listen what he says in ecclesiastes 4:7 and 8:
  • 00:20:20.242 --> 00:20:23.045
  • "then i looked again at vanity under the sun.
  • 00:20:23.045 --> 00:20:26.381
  • There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither son
  • 00:20:26.381 --> 00:20:29.818
  • Nor a brother, yet there was no end to all of his labor.
  • 00:20:29.818 --> 00:20:33.488
  • Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he
  • 00:20:33.488 --> 00:20:37.159
  • Never even asked.
  • 00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:38.527
  • 'and for whom am i laboring or depriving myself of pleasure?'
  • 00:20:38.527 --> 00:20:41.863
  • This is vanity."
  • 00:20:41.863 --> 00:20:45.167
  • To work all your life, to go through life without anybody to
  • 00:20:45.167 --> 00:20:48.203
  • Share it with, that is meaningless.
  • 00:20:48.203 --> 00:20:51.606
  • And then in verse 9, he offers that well-known verse.
  • 00:20:51.606 --> 00:20:54.609
  • "two are better than one because they have a good return for
  • 00:20:54.609 --> 00:20:59.381
  • Their labor."
  • 00:20:59.381 --> 00:21:01.249
  • Why are two better than one?
  • 00:21:01.249 --> 00:21:02.851
  • Why do you need to go through the life and companionship
  • 00:21:02.851 --> 00:21:07.155
  • Rather than alone?
  • 00:21:07.155 --> 00:21:08.757
  • Solomon illustrates four reasons, four values
  • 00:21:08.757 --> 00:21:13.161
  • Of companionship.
  • 00:21:13.161 --> 00:21:14.730
  • First of all, he says, companionship offers us
  • 00:21:14.730 --> 00:21:18.166
  • Assistance in times of crisis.
  • 00:21:18.166 --> 00:21:21.370
  • Look at verse 10, "for if either of them falls, the one will lift
  • 00:21:21.370 --> 00:21:25.941
  • Up his companion.
  • 00:21:25.941 --> 00:21:27.409
  • But woe to the one who falls when there's not another to lift
  • 00:21:27.409 --> 00:21:31.380
  • Him up."
  • 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:32.848
  • There's an old swedish proverb that says, "shared joy is a
  • 00:21:32.848 --> 00:21:38.186
  • Double joy.
  • 00:21:38.186 --> 00:21:39.821
  • Shared sorrow is half a sorrow."
  • 00:21:39.821 --> 00:21:44.226
  • And that's what solomon is saying here.
  • 00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:46.795
  • Imagine two people walking along together.
  • 00:21:46.795 --> 00:21:49.364
  • If one stumbles, the other one is there to lift him up to
  • 00:21:49.364 --> 00:21:53.435
  • Keep him from stumbling.
  • 00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:55.404
  • Rarely do two people stumble at the same time.
  • 00:21:55.404 --> 00:21:59.007
  • And it's the same way with going through life.
  • 00:21:59.007 --> 00:22:00.809
  • When you're going through life with a companion or a group of
  • 00:22:00.809 --> 00:22:03.779
  • Friends, if you fall into temptation, if you fall into
  • 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:09.918
  • Despair or to depression, chances are the other person
  • 00:22:09.918 --> 00:22:13.522
  • Isn't going through that at the same time,
  • 00:22:13.522 --> 00:22:16.024
  • They're able to lift you up.
  • 00:22:16.024 --> 00:22:18.493
  • And that's why we need to go through life in the
  • 00:22:18.493 --> 00:22:21.463
  • Companionship of other people.
  • 00:22:21.463 --> 00:22:24.599
  • Not only that, secondly, companionship offers support
  • 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:29.404
  • When we feel alone.
  • 00:22:29.404 --> 00:22:31.907
  • Look at verse 11.
  • 00:22:31.907 --> 00:22:33.241
  • "furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm, but
  • 00:22:33.241 --> 00:22:38.780
  • How can one be warm alone?"
  • 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:42.050
  • I admit that sounds a little kinky.
  • 00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:44.786
  • You know, two people lying down and huddling together to
  • 00:22:44.786 --> 00:22:48.056
  • Keep warm.
  • 00:22:48.056 --> 00:22:49.391
  • He's not talking about body temperature here.
  • 00:22:49.391 --> 00:22:52.060
  • What he's talking about is those cold times of life that
  • 00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:58.300
  • You experience.
  • 00:22:58.300 --> 00:22:59.634
  • All of us experience them--
  • 00:22:59.634 --> 00:23:01.069
  • Maybe the move to a new city or the beginning of a new job or
  • 00:23:01.069 --> 00:23:05.707
  • The death of a loved one.
  • 00:23:05.707 --> 00:23:07.042
  • During those cold moments of life, you need a companion to
  • 00:23:07.042 --> 00:23:11.413
  • Provide warmth.
  • 00:23:11.413 --> 00:23:12.981
  • We all need other people for those cold times in life.
  • 00:23:12.981 --> 00:23:16.251
  • Thirdly, companionship offers us protection when we are
  • 00:23:16.251 --> 00:23:20.755
  • Under siege.
  • 00:23:20.755 --> 00:23:22.657
  • Look at verse 12.
  • 00:23:22.657 --> 00:23:24.259
  • "and if one can overpower him, one who is alone, two can
  • 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:28.897
  • Resist him.
  • 00:23:28.897 --> 00:23:30.232
  • A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
  • 00:23:30.232 --> 00:23:35.103
  • You know, you take a rope,
  • 00:23:35.103 --> 00:23:36.438
  • If it's just one little strand, you can break that real easily;
  • 00:23:36.438 --> 00:23:40.108
  • Two strands, a little harder;
  • 00:23:40.108 --> 00:23:42.177
  • Three strands, almost impossible.
  • 00:23:42.177 --> 00:23:45.180
  • It's the same thing with people.
  • 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:47.949
  • Have you ever felt like the apostle paul when he said, "we
  • 00:23:47.949 --> 00:23:51.786
  • Were afflicted on every side"?
  • 00:23:51.786 --> 00:23:54.623
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:54.623 --> 00:24:00.028
  • Jeffress: god wired us for companionship.
  • 00:24:00.028 --> 00:24:02.697
  • And next time, i'll talk about finding friends who help us keep
  • 00:24:02.697 --> 00:24:05.901
  • Warm during the cold times in life.
  • 00:24:05.901 --> 00:24:09.237
  • Well, along those lines, there's never been a better time to
  • 00:24:09.237 --> 00:24:12.541
  • Reach our population with the gospel of jesus christ than
  • 00:24:12.541 --> 00:24:16.611
  • Right now.
  • 00:24:16.611 --> 00:24:17.946
  • In the midst of global uncertainty and unrest in our
  • 00:24:17.946 --> 00:24:20.815
  • Own nation, people were searching for hope and truth and
  • 00:24:20.815 --> 00:24:24.819
  • At "pathway to victory," our goal is to reach even more
  • 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:27.689
  • People with the hope and truth of the gospel while there's
  • 00:24:27.689 --> 00:24:31.026
  • Still time.
  • 00:24:31.026 --> 00:24:32.360
  • So thank you for partnering with us to pierce the darkness with
  • 00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:36.298
  • The light of god's word.
  • 00:24:36.298 --> 00:24:38.066
  • Your partnership has never been more important.
  • 00:24:38.066 --> 00:24:41.570
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:41.570 --> 00:24:43.038
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:43.038 --> 00:24:48.343
  • Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
  • 00:24:48.410 --> 00:24:50.712
  • Searching for hope and truth.
  • 00:24:50.712 --> 00:24:52.747
  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
  • 00:24:52.747 --> 00:24:55.617
  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
  • 00:24:55.617 --> 00:24:59.220
  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:02.824
  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
  • 00:25:02.824 --> 00:25:06.094
  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
  • 00:25:06.094 --> 00:25:09.264
  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
  • 00:25:09.264 --> 00:25:11.967
  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
  • 00:25:11.967 --> 00:25:15.637
  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:25:15.637 --> 00:25:18.173
  • Jeffress: there are times when a life of solitude provides us
  • 00:25:20.208 --> 00:25:23.378
  • With a measure of relief.
  • 00:25:23.378 --> 00:25:25.113
  • Sometimes it's good to be alone and quiet.
  • 00:25:25.113 --> 00:25:28.149
  • But god has wired his children to live and thrive in a
  • 00:25:28.149 --> 00:25:31.486
  • Community of supportive friends.
  • 00:25:31.486 --> 00:25:33.888
  • Left to our own thoughts, satan creeps into our minds with
  • 00:25:33.888 --> 00:25:37.092
  • Destructive ideas.
  • 00:25:37.092 --> 00:25:38.994
  • Listen, you don't have to become spiritual roadkill.
  • 00:25:38.994 --> 00:25:42.664
  • And next time, we're going to explore the value of
  • 00:25:42.664 --> 00:25:45.867
  • Godly companionship.
  • 00:25:45.867 --> 00:25:47.669
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:47.669 --> 00:25:50.338
  • Series "choose your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:25:50.338 --> 00:25:55.076
  • Jeffress: coming together as a church is absolutely vital to
  • 00:25:55.143 --> 00:25:59.047
  • Our own spiritual health.
  • 00:25:59.047 --> 00:26:01.016
  • It's not optional.
  • 00:26:01.016 --> 00:26:02.417
  • The reason we come to church is not to satisfy some legalistic,
  • 00:26:02.417 --> 00:26:06.688
  • Cold, sterile requirement.
  • 00:26:06.688 --> 00:26:09.090
  • It's to meet the need we have to encourage one another and
  • 00:26:09.090 --> 00:26:13.128
  • Motivate one another to faith and to good deeds.
  • 00:26:13.128 --> 00:26:16.998
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:17.065 --> 00:26:20.268
  • Message "choosing companionship over loneliness" here on
  • 00:26:20.268 --> 00:26:24.372
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:24.372 --> 00:26:28.043
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
  • 00:26:28.109 --> 00:26:31.079
  • And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
  • 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:34.315
  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:34.315 --> 00:26:37.919
  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
  • 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:41.056
  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
  • 00:26:41.056 --> 00:26:44.859
  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
  • 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:48.263
  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:48.263 --> 00:26:52.534
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:52.534 --> 00:26:56.004
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:56.004 --> 00:26:58.640
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:01.242
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:27:01.242 --> 00:27:04.079
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:07.816
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:27:07.816 --> 00:27:11.019
  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.787
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:12.787 --> 00:27:14.923
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:14.923 --> 00:27:18.426
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:18.426 --> 00:27:21.196
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:21.196 --> 00:27:21.196