Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Companionship Over Loneliness (Part 1)

March 26, 2026 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

#Choices #Relationships #Loneliness #Peopleinyourlife #Community #Pride #Sin #Selfishness #Bitterness #Forgiveness #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Companionship Over Loneliness (Part 1) | March 26, 2026

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You're standing on the deck
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Of a beautiful cruise ship, coffee in hand,
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Watching a glacier calve into the pristine waters
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While bald eagles circle overhead,
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To think about the details.
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Instead, you can focus on casual conversations
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With like-minded christians, laughing,
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Telling stories while surrounded
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By god's breathtaking creation.
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This is purposeful travel at its finest,
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Call 888-280-6747
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Or visit ptv.org.
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♪ music ♪
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From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
00:01:07.924 --> 00:01:10.793
With dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, i'm robert jeffress
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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When tragedy comes our way, there's a natural tendency
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To withdraw from public view, taking time
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To heal in the 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,
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"choosing companionship over loneliness"
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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Life doesn't always go the way we plan,
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But here's the good news.
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We get to choose how we respond.
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In "choose your attitudes, change your life"
00:02:02.278 --> 00:02:04.414
Dr. robert jeffress shares 11 biblical attitude choices
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That can transform your health, your relationships,
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And even your eternity.
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You may not be able to control what happens to you,
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But you can learn how to make your circumstances
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Strengthen you rather than destroy you.
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Request "choose your attitudes, change your life"
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When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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Years ago, there was a popular ballad
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That was played 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
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Of the oldies stations that play it.
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It's a ballad about a young man who over a period of time
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Loses those who are closest to him, either through death
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Or a defection of affection.
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And at the end of every chorus, there is
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That sad refrain 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
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More people suffer from loneliness than any other malady.
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Author paul tournier called loneliness
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The emotion of our age.
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Admiral richard byrd,
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Who was the first man to ever fly over the north pole,
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Wrote in his diary at one point,
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This morning, i had to admit to myself
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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.
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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.
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That is when we are geographically separated from people
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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
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That we can feel even when we're in a crowded room
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Or in a marriage,
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Or even in a church, a loneliness of distance,
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But also a loneliness of spirit.
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Now, when we think of loneliness,
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We think of one of 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,
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Or i'm separated from others,
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But loneliness is not just a state of being.
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I want to suggest to you today that loneliness is a choice
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Of how we go through life.
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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
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That we do need other people.
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You know in our series,
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"choose your attitudes, change your life"
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We've said that an attitude is our response
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To the circumstances of life.
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You can't choose your circumstances,
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You can't always change your circumstances,
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But you can choose your response to those circumstances.
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But one of the choices we have to make in life is
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How are we going to go through the inevitable joys
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As well as sorrows of life?
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Are we going to go through those experiences
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Isolated, alone,
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Or 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
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Of choosing companionship over loneliness.
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You know, i think about an elderly man in a previous church.
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He was diagnosed with cancer.
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He was told that the best possibility for him
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To live would be to travel to another state,
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To a well-known clinic, to go
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Through a very dangerous procedure.
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He was warned that the procedure might leave him handicapped
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Or he might take his life,
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But he decided not to tell any
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Of his surviving family members.
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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,
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Closed down his home without telling a soul,
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Not knowing if he would ever return again.
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This operation was successful.
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And when his friends
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And family members found out what he had done, they said,
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Why didn't you tell us?
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He said, well, i just didn't want to be a burden
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To 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
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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
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To reach out to other people?
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Why would anybody be interested in me?
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I'm not attractive, i'm not gifted, i'm not funny.
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I'm not witty.
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Nobody would want to be around me,
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And they don't want to experience rejection.
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I mean, all of us can recall times in our lives
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When we've 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
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Or a boy out on a date and they rejected you.
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It may have been in college when you weren't chosen
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For a fraternity or a social group.
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Even as an adult, maybe you have felt rejected
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From being a part of a social club or a dinner club.
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Nobody likes rejection.
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And so we feel like we're not worthy to reach out
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And we don't want to 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, whether it's
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With your mate or friends.
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That relationship probably started with your being willing
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To take a risk, to reach out to that other person.
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What's the cure for a poor self-image?
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The bible says, there are two truths we need to grasp
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To help us see ourselves as god sees us.
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Number one, to see ourselves from god's perspective,
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Realizing that through christ, we are people of value.
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In ephesians two, verse 10, the apostle paul said,
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For we are god's workmanship,
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A that word is poi in greek, poem,
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You are god's poem created in christ jesus
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For good works.
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Everything about you, your personality, your looks,
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Your gifts, all are the result of god's work.
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Secondly, to cure a poor self-image,
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Understand that we are the recipients
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Of god's interest and friendship.
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Think about this, the most important person in the universe,
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God himself wants to be your friend.
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He wants a relationship with you.
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And as a demonstration of his desire for that relationship,
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He was willing to pay the ultimate price.
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Jesus said in john 15:13, greater love has no one than this,
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That he would lay down his life for his friends.
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Well, guess what?
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God was willing to lay down his life
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For you when in the form of jesus christ,
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He suffered on that cross.
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We are the recipients of god's interest and friendship.
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Now, a second reason people choose loneliness
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Is really on the opposite end of the spectrum.
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It's because of pride.
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They don't think they need other people.
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We saw last time when we talked about choosing humility
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Over pride, that one of the byproducts of pride
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Is independence.
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The feeling that we don't need other people.
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You know, paul tried to correct
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That misconception in the corinthian christians.
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Some of them felt like they had all the spiritual gifts
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And they didn't need anybody else.
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In 1 corinthians 12, beginning with verse 20,
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Paul compared the church to the human body.
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Many parts to it and all are necessary.
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He says in verse 20,
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But now there are many members, many parts, but one body
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And the eye cannot say to the hand, i have no need of you
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Or again, the head to the foot.
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I have no need of you.
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On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts
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Of the body, which seem to be weaker, are necessary.
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The fact is, we all need one another.
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None of us is sufficient in and of ourselves.
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Remember the story about the two porcupines that were
00:10:53.776 --> 00:10:57.680
Huddling together in the frozen tundra region
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Of northern canada.
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They were freezing to death.
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They were huddled together.
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Why?
00:11:06.388 --> 00:11:07.656
They needed one another,
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Even though they needled one another.
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A third cause that people choose loneliness is an inability
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To accept other people's faults, an inability
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To accept other people's faults.
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When i was growing up, our family used to go together
00:11:23.773 --> 00:11:26.976
To the movies on friday night, many friday nights,
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My mom and dad, my brother and sister and i,
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And we would all sit together in the theater
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Except my younger brother, tim.
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He was so irritated by the munching sound of our popcorn
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Or the slurping of our drinks
00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.295
Or the unwrapping of candy wrappers.
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It just bothered him.
00:11:48.864 --> 00:11:50.166
And so he would go and sit by himself
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Way down at the front just so he didn't have
00:11:52.668 --> 00:11:54.837
To go through the irritation.
00:11:54.837 --> 00:11:56.438
Now, the upside to that was he didn't have to listen
00:11:56.438 --> 00:11:59.708
To those annoying sounds.
00:11:59.708 --> 00:12:01.644
The downside was he paid the price of isolation,
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And many of us are that way.
00:12:05.548 --> 00:12:07.016
Other people just bug us to death.
00:12:07.016 --> 00:12:09.251
So we say, i'm not going to get close to anybody.
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Well, we need to remember what paul said in romans 3:23.
00:12:12.388 --> 00:12:16.192
All of us have sinned.
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We've all fallen short of the glory of god,
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And we've fallen short in the expectations
00:12:22.598 --> 00:12:24.700
That other people have of us as well.
00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.937
Fourth reason some people choose
00:12:27.937 --> 00:12:29.672
To be lonely is really selfishness.
00:12:29.672 --> 00:12:32.675
Have you ever heard people say, well,
00:12:32.675 --> 00:12:34.510
I'm just too busy for any relationships right now.
00:12:34.510 --> 00:12:37.947
I've just got so many things going on in my life.
00:12:37.947 --> 00:12:40.182
I really don't have time for friends.
00:12:40.182 --> 00:12:43.152
Busyness is a euphemism for selfish.
00:12:43.152 --> 00:12:47.189
I'm so caught up in my own world
00:12:47.189 --> 00:12:49.291
That i really don't feel like i can
00:12:49.291 --> 00:12:51.193
Spend time with other people.
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You know, selflessness is a price we pay for friendship.
00:12:54.530 --> 00:12:58.968
In their book,"friends and friendship"
00:12:58.968 --> 00:13:00.836
Authors jerry and mary white's state that one test
00:13:00.836 --> 00:13:04.306
Of selflessness is what you would be willing to do
00:13:04.306 --> 00:13:07.476
For a friend.
00:13:07.476 --> 00:13:08.777
Would you be willing to set aside
00:13:08.777 --> 00:13:10.880
A personal interest to help them?
00:13:10.880 --> 00:13:13.549
Would you be willing to cancel a vacation in order
00:13:13.549 --> 00:13:16.552
To meet a need that they had?
00:13:16.552 --> 00:13:19.255
Would you be willing to give money
00:13:19.255 --> 00:13:20.923
To them even if you had little to give?
00:13:20.923 --> 00:13:23.959
Would you be willing to expend a significant amount
00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:27.263
Of time praying for them if they had a crisis?
00:13:27.263 --> 00:13:31.166
Would you be willing to accept their children
00:13:31.166 --> 00:13:34.570
Either temporarily or even permanently
00:13:34.570 --> 00:13:37.339
If there was a need?
00:13:37.339 --> 00:13:39.241
When we think we're too busy
00:13:39.842 --> 00:13:41.577
Or have too much going on in our lives
00:13:41.577 --> 00:13:44.246
To help somebody else and to be a friend,
00:13:44.246 --> 00:13:46.282
We need to remember the ultimate example of selflessness.
00:13:46.282 --> 00:13:50.386
It's found in philippians two verses three and four.
00:13:50.386 --> 00:13:53.622
Paul said, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
00:13:53.622 --> 00:13:58.294
But with humility of mind.
00:13:58.294 --> 00:13:59.929
Let each one of you regard another
00:13:59.929 --> 00:14:02.531
As more important than himself.
00:14:02.531 --> 00:14:04.934
Don't merely look out for your own personal interest,
00:14:04.934 --> 00:14:09.038
But also for the interest of others.
00:14:09.038 --> 00:14:11.874
A fifth reason for loneliness is an unwillingness
00:14:12.908 --> 00:14:16.412
To forgive other people.
00:14:16.412 --> 00:14:19.415
Friendships can be painful at times.
00:14:20.215 --> 00:14:23.152
We can all recall times when a friend disappointed us.
00:14:23.152 --> 00:14:28.490
Unfortunately, some people never recover
00:14:29.358 --> 00:14:30.359
From those disappointments.
00:14:30.359 --> 00:14:32.394
They have this attitude, well, look, i had a friend one time
00:14:32.394 --> 00:14:35.364
And he or she betrayed me.
00:14:35.364 --> 00:14:38.434
They talked behind my back, they divulged a confidence.
00:14:38.434 --> 00:14:43.739
They cheated me out of some money
00:14:44.473 --> 00:14:45.741
And i'm never going to get burned again.
00:14:45.741 --> 00:14:49.011
And so their unwillingness to forgive causes them to go
00:14:49.011 --> 00:14:52.448
Through life alone.
00:14:52.448 --> 00:14:54.516
A number of years ago,
00:14:55.017 --> 00:14:56.752
I received a letter one day from a friend
00:14:56.752 --> 00:15:01.657
And a church member.
00:15:01.657 --> 00:15:02.958
It was unusual that he would write me a letter,
00:15:02.958 --> 00:15:04.927
So i was kind of anxious to see what it was.
00:15:04.927 --> 00:15:06.895
And i opened the letter, three pages,
00:15:06.895 --> 00:15:10.799
Typed, single space.
00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:13.869
And in this letter, my friend basically listed everything
00:15:15.037 --> 00:15:19.141
He didn't like about me.
00:15:19.141 --> 00:15:21.377
And i'll never forget the concluding line.
00:15:21.377 --> 00:15:24.113
I hope you won't take this personally.
00:15:24.113 --> 00:15:26.882
(congregation laughing)
00:15:26.882 --> 00:15:30.119
Personally?
00:15:30.119 --> 00:15:31.687
Not only did i take it personally,
00:15:32.421 --> 00:15:34.123
I swore right then i would never talk to that guy again.
00:15:34.123 --> 00:15:38.694
Imagine having the gall to write me, a man of god,
00:15:38.694 --> 00:15:41.764
Such a letter, i couldn't believe it.
00:15:41.764 --> 00:15:44.366
But you know, after a few days, the words
00:15:45.267 --> 00:15:47.970
Of matthew chapter five, verses 23 and 24 came back to me.
00:15:47.970 --> 00:15:51.940
Remember what jesus said?
00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:53.642
If you're presenting your gift at the altar
00:15:53.642 --> 00:15:57.246
And you remember your brother has something against you,
00:15:57.246 --> 00:16:00.916
Leave your sacrifice at the altar
00:16:00.916 --> 00:16:03.218
And go be reconciled to your brother.
00:16:03.218 --> 00:16:05.888
And so i swallowed my pride.
00:16:06.488 --> 00:16:08.924
I went to see this guy, said, what in the world is going on?
00:16:10.125 --> 00:16:15.130
He admitted he was having a bad day,
00:16:15.931 --> 00:16:19.601
Said he was sorry.
00:16:20.035 --> 00:16:22.137
And a choice friendship was salvaged.
00:16:22.137 --> 00:16:25.507
We have to be willing
00:16:26.008 --> 00:16:27.376
To forgive if we're going to maintain friendships.
00:16:27.376 --> 00:16:30.179
You know, proverbs 17:17 says, a friend loves at all times,
00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:35.851
All times includes when your friend is having a bad day.
00:16:36.985 --> 00:16:40.456
We have to be willing to forgive.
00:16:40.456 --> 00:16:42.724
Finally, some people choose loneliness
00:16:42.724 --> 00:16:45.661
Because of a failure to understand the value
00:16:45.661 --> 00:16:48.263
Of companionship.
00:16:48.263 --> 00:16:49.665
They don't understand how valuable it is.
00:16:49.665 --> 00:16:52.301
Years ago, i had one of the longest weeks of my life,
00:16:52.301 --> 00:16:56.071
Literally i was preaching a revival in alaska,
00:16:56.071 --> 00:17:00.109
In anchorage, alaska,
00:17:00.109 --> 00:17:01.376
And it was the time of the year when it
00:17:01.376 --> 00:17:03.178
Seemed like it stayed light for 23 hours
00:17:03.178 --> 00:17:05.547
Of the 24 hours of the day.
00:17:05.547 --> 00:17:07.349
I mean, it was just lied all the time.
00:17:07.349 --> 00:17:08.917
You couldn't go to sleep.
00:17:08.917 --> 00:17:09.952
And if that weren't enough,
00:17:09.952 --> 00:17:11.453
The church i was preaching at had put me up in the home
00:17:11.453 --> 00:17:14.423
Of one of their members.
00:17:14.423 --> 00:17:15.824
Never make that mistake again.
00:17:15.824 --> 00:17:17.659
But i stood there
00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:19.228
And it was really a very nice couple, very elderly couple,
00:17:19.228 --> 00:17:22.131
But they were very, very nice.
00:17:22.131 --> 00:17:24.199
But there was just absolutely nothing to do.
00:17:24.199 --> 00:17:26.435
I mean, i had my one hour of church at night
00:17:26.435 --> 00:17:29.338
And one television, nothing to read,
00:17:29.338 --> 00:17:32.508
And i was just, you know, walking around that house.
00:17:32.508 --> 00:17:35.444
But one day they were gone someplace
00:17:35.444 --> 00:17:37.946
And i was going through their magazines
00:17:37.946 --> 00:17:39.715
And i found a copy of a magazine called modern maturity.
00:17:39.715 --> 00:17:44.653
Anybody ever read modern maturity?
00:17:44.653 --> 00:17:47.289
It is a magazine for old people.
00:17:47.923 --> 00:17:49.925
It's just an old people's magazine.
00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:52.561
So i was flipping the, i knew i'd hit rock bottom when there
00:17:52.561 --> 00:17:55.397
I was in, you know, my 20s reading modern maturity.
00:17:55.397 --> 00:17:58.901
But i found an article in there
00:17:58.901 --> 00:18:01.236
That really did pique my interest.
00:18:01.236 --> 00:18:03.405
I tore it out of the magazine.
00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:04.840
I don't think i ever told them that,
00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:06.642
But i tore it out of the magazine, brought it back with me.
00:18:06.642 --> 00:18:09.845
The title of the magazine article was,
00:18:09.845 --> 00:18:11.780
"you may live longer if you're sociable."
00:18:11.780 --> 00:18:15.851
I thought that's an interesting title.
00:18:15.851 --> 00:18:17.319
I thought i'd read it and listen to what it says.
00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:19.488
In one of the most comprehensive studies
00:18:19.488 --> 00:18:21.390
Of older adults ever taken in the united states,
00:18:21.390 --> 00:18:24.626
More than 1700 couples were followed.
00:18:24.626 --> 00:18:27.462
Researchers have determined
00:18:27.462 --> 00:18:28.897
That participation in formal social networks
00:18:28.897 --> 00:18:33.001
That is church
00:18:33.001 --> 00:18:34.937
Or community groups is even a more important predictor
00:18:34.937 --> 00:18:38.640
Of mortality than one's health.
00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:41.810
Richard hessler, phd said,
00:18:41.810 --> 00:18:44.913
Regardless of health problems,
00:18:44.913 --> 00:18:47.249
People who had formal social networks were more likely
00:18:47.249 --> 00:18:51.386
To remain independent and survive.
00:18:51.386 --> 00:18:54.890
In his landmark study of the physical
00:18:54.890 --> 00:18:56.858
And social changes in the aging process, the professor found
00:18:56.858 --> 00:19:00.862
That the four most important factors
00:19:00.862 --> 00:19:03.799
That determined whether a person lived or died
00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:07.202
Were age, sex, health, and formal social networks.
00:19:08.203 --> 00:19:13.909
With the latter being the foremost.
00:19:14.676 --> 00:19:17.613
Think of that, of the factors that determine
00:19:17.613 --> 00:19:20.115
How long you live, age, sex, health,
00:19:20.115 --> 00:19:24.920
And being a part of a social network.
00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:27.222
The last is the most important,
00:19:27.222 --> 00:19:29.591
And that's what god's word says.
00:19:30.225 --> 00:19:32.461
As we're going to see in just a moment though,
00:19:32.461 --> 00:19:34.963
Longevity of life is not the only benefit of companionship.
00:19:36.131 --> 00:19:40.869
God has designed companionship as a way
00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:44.740
To ensure our emotional and spiritual fulfillment in life.
00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:49.177
What are the advantages of companionship
00:19:49.177 --> 00:19:51.546
That most people miss?
00:19:51.546 --> 00:19:53.115
Turn over to ecclesiastes chapter four.
00:19:53.115 --> 00:19:56.084
Ecclesiastes chapter four.
00:19:56.084 --> 00:19:58.387
You know, solomon had it all, money, wealth, power,
00:19:58.387 --> 00:20:02.024
But one thing he lacked was companionship.
00:20:02.024 --> 00:20:05.827
You say lack companionship?
00:20:05.827 --> 00:20:07.195
What about those 700 wives and 300 concubines?
00:20:07.195 --> 00:20:10.599
Ain't that enough to keep him busy?
00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:12.968
Well, that provided something,
00:20:13.602 --> 00:20:16.138
But not what he needed most, not companionship.
00:20:16.138 --> 00:20:19.875
Listen what he says in ecclesiastes 4:7 and 8.
00:20:19.875 --> 00:20:22.778
Then i looked again at vanity under the sun,
00:20:22.778 --> 00:20:26.048
There was a certain man without a dependent
00:20:26.048 --> 00:20:28.417
Having neither son nor a brother,
00:20:28.417 --> 00:20:30.352
Yet there was no end to all of his labor.
00:20:30.352 --> 00:20:33.255
Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches
00:20:33.255 --> 00:20:36.525
And he never even asked, and for whom am i laboring
00:20:36.525 --> 00:20:39.628
Or depriving myself of pleasure?
00:20:39.628 --> 00:20:41.763
This is vanity.
00:20:41.763 --> 00:20:44.366
To work all your life, to go through life without anybody
00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.869
To share it with, that is meaningless.
00:20:47.869 --> 00:20:51.406
And then in verse nine, he offers that well-known verse,
00:20:51.406 --> 00:20:54.409
Two are better than one
00:20:54.409 --> 00:20:57.045
Because they have a good return for their labor.
00:20:57.045 --> 00:21:00.349
Why are two better than one?
00:21:00.949 --> 00:21:02.517
Why do you need to go through the life
00:21:02.517 --> 00:21:04.886
In companionship rather than alone?
00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:08.423
Solomon illustrates four reasons,
00:21:08.423 --> 00:21:11.493
Four values of companionship.
00:21:11.493 --> 00:21:14.496
First of all, he says,
00:21:14.496 --> 00:21:16.031
Companionship offers us assistance in times of crisis.
00:21:16.031 --> 00:21:21.336
Look at verse 10, for if either of them falls,
00:21:22.270 --> 00:21:24.740
The one will lift up his companion,
00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:27.109
But woe to the one who falls
00:21:27.109 --> 00:21:29.378
When there's not another to lift him up.
00:21:29.378 --> 00:21:32.581
There's an old swedish proverb that says,
00:21:32.581 --> 00:21:35.550
Shared joy is a double joy.
00:21:35.550 --> 00:21:39.588
Shared sorrow is half a sorrow.
00:21:39.588 --> 00:21:44.059
And that's what solomon is saying here.
00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:46.595
Imagine two people walking along together.
00:21:46.595 --> 00:21:49.231
If one stumbles, the other one is there to lift him up,
00:21:49.231 --> 00:21:53.168
To keep him from stumbling.
00:21:53.168 --> 00:21:55.303
Rarely do two people stumble at the same time.
00:21:55.303 --> 00:21:58.874
It's the same way with going through life.
00:21:58.874 --> 00:22:00.442
When you're going through life with a companion
00:22:00.442 --> 00:22:02.778
Or a group of friends, if you fall into
00:22:02.778 --> 00:22:07.015
Temptation, if you fall into despair
00:22:07.015 --> 00:22:10.352
Or to depression, chances are the other person isn't going
00:22:10.352 --> 00:22:13.755
Through that at the same time, they're able to lift you up.
00:22:13.755 --> 00:22:17.959
And that's why we need to go
00:22:17.959 --> 00:22:19.995
Through life in the companionship
00:22:19.995 --> 00:22:22.330
Of other people, not only that.
00:22:22.330 --> 00:22:25.066
Secondly, companionship offers support
00:22:25.066 --> 00:22:28.970
When we feel alone.
00:22:28.970 --> 00:22:31.573
Look at verse 11.
00:22:31.573 --> 00:22:33.074
Furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm.
00:22:33.074 --> 00:22:38.246
But how can one be warm alone?
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:41.817
Now, i admit that sounds a little *****.
00:22:41.817 --> 00:22:44.386
You know, two people lying down
00:22:44.386 --> 00:22:46.688
And huddling together to keep warm.
00:22:46.688 --> 00:22:48.790
He's not talking about body temperature here.
00:22:48.790 --> 00:22:51.893
What he's talking about is those cold times
00:22:51.893 --> 00:22:56.198
Of life that you experience.
00:22:56.198 --> 00:22:59.000
All of us experience them.
00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.802
Maybe the move to a new city or the beginning of a new job
00:23:00.802 --> 00:23:05.140
Or the death of a loved one.
00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.641
During those cold moments of life, you need a companion
00:23:06.641 --> 00:23:10.879
To provide warmth.
00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:12.647
We all need other people for those cold times in life.
00:23:12.647 --> 00:23:15.817
Thirdly, companionship offers us protection
00:23:15.817 --> 00:23:19.421
When we are under siege.
00:23:19.421 --> 00:23:22.390
Look at verse 12.
00:23:22.390 --> 00:23:23.959
And if one can overpower him, one who is alone,
00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:28.063
Two can resist him.
00:23:28.063 --> 00:23:29.865
A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
00:23:29.865 --> 00:23:34.769
You know, you take a rope.
00:23:34.769 --> 00:23:36.071
If it's just one little strand, you can break
00:23:36.071 --> 00:23:37.906
That real easily.
00:23:37.906 --> 00:23:39.875
Two strands, a little harder.
00:23:39.875 --> 00:23:41.676
Three strands, almost impossible.
00:23:41.676 --> 00:23:44.813
It's the same thing with people.
00:23:44.813 --> 00:23:47.716
Have you ever felt like the apostle paul when he said
00:23:47.716 --> 00:23:51.052
We were afflicted on every side.
00:23:51.052 --> 00:23:54.623
♪ music ♪
00:23:54.623 --> 00:23:58.793
God wired us for companionship,
00:23:59.427 --> 00:24:01.997
And next time i'll talk about finding friends
00:24:01.997 --> 00:24:04.232
Who help us keep warm during the cold times in life.
00:24:04.232 --> 00:24:08.570
Well, along those lines, there's never been a better time
00:24:08.570 --> 00:24:11.640
To reach our population with the gospel
00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:14.209
Of jesus christ than right now.
00:24:14.209 --> 00:24:17.045
In the midst of global uncertainty
00:24:17.045 --> 00:24:19.147
And unrest in our own nation, people are searching
00:24:19.147 --> 00:24:22.150
For hope and truth.
00:24:22.150 --> 00:24:23.885
And at "pathway to victory," our goal
00:24:23.885 --> 00:24:25.754
Is to reach even more people with the hope
00:24:25.754 --> 00:24:27.989
And truth of the gospel while they're still time.
00:24:27.989 --> 00:24:31.493
So thank you for partnering with us to pierce the darkness
00:24:31.493 --> 00:24:35.397
With the light of god's word.
00:24:35.397 --> 00:24:37.432
Your partnership has never been more important.
00:24:37.432 --> 00:24:40.969
Now stay right there.
00:24:40.969 --> 00:24:42.270
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:24:42.270 --> 00:24:45.006
In just a moment.
00:24:45.006 --> 00:24:46.474
When unexpected challenges hit, it's easy to feel defeated
00:24:47.609 --> 00:24:50.845
And robbed of joy.
00:24:50.845 --> 00:24:52.480
But while we can't always choose our circumstances,
00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:55.283
We can always choose how we respond to them.
00:24:55.283 --> 00:24:58.186
In "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
00:24:58.186 --> 00:25:00.622
Dr. robert jeffress 11 proven attitude choices
00:25:00.622 --> 00:25:03.992
That will help you experience the abundant life
00:25:03.992 --> 00:25:06.461
God desires for you.
00:25:06.461 --> 00:25:08.029
The bible tells us that
00:25:08.029 --> 00:25:09.464
As a person thinks within himself, so is he.
00:25:09.464 --> 00:25:13.234
Our attitudes impact everything, our health,
00:25:13.234 --> 00:25:16.004
Our relationships, our work, and even our eternity.
00:25:16.004 --> 00:25:19.808
In my book, "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
00:25:19.808 --> 00:25:22.944
I walk you through 11 essential choices,
00:25:22.944 --> 00:25:26.114
Like purpose over aimlessness, perseverance over defeat
00:25:26.114 --> 00:25:30.452
And faith over worry.
00:25:30.452 --> 00:25:32.454
These biblical principles have transformed countless lives
00:25:32.454 --> 00:25:36.057
And they can transform yours as well.
00:25:36.057 --> 00:25:38.593
Request your copy of
00:25:38.593 --> 00:25:39.828
"choose your attitudes, change your life"
00:25:39.828 --> 00:25:41.896
When you give a generous gift to support
00:25:41.896 --> 00:25:43.665
"pathway to victory."
00:25:43.665 --> 00:25:45.266
And when your ministry gift is $75 or more,
00:25:45.266 --> 00:25:48.403
We'll also send you the companion study guide
00:25:48.403 --> 00:25:51.006
Along with the complete teaching series on cd and dvd.
00:25:51.006 --> 00:25:54.876
Our attitude determines our destiny.
00:25:54.876 --> 00:25:57.846
Attitudes profoundly impact our life, our death,
00:25:57.846 --> 00:26:02.717
And our eternal destiny.
00:26:02.717 --> 00:26:04.653
Thank you for your generous support
00:26:04.653 --> 00:26:06.354
Of "pathway to victory."
00:26:06.354 --> 00:26:07.889
Your partnership helps us bring practical life-changing
00:26:07.889 --> 00:26:11.026
Biblical truth into homes across the nation
00:26:11.026 --> 00:26:13.928
And around the world.
00:26:13.928 --> 00:26:17.098
There are times when a life of solitude provides us
00:26:18.133 --> 00:26:21.236
With a measure of relief.
00:26:21.236 --> 00:26:23.004
Sometimes it's good to be alone and quiet,
00:26:23.004 --> 00:26:26.041
But god has wired his children to live
00:26:26.041 --> 00:26:28.309
And thrive in a community of supportive friends.
00:26:28.309 --> 00:26:31.813
Left to our own thoughts,
00:26:31.813 --> 00:26:33.214
Satan creeps into our minds with destructive ideas.
00:26:33.214 --> 00:26:36.918
Listen, you don't have to become spiritual roadkill.
00:26:36.918 --> 00:26:40.555
And next time we're going explore the value
00:26:40.555 --> 00:26:43.491
Of godly companionship.
00:26:43.491 --> 00:26:45.660
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.895
Of what's coming up next in our series
00:26:46.895 --> 00:26:49.030
"choose your attitudes, change your life."
00:26:49.030 --> 00:26:52.367
Coming together as a church is absolutely vital
00:26:53.334 --> 00:26:56.671
To our own spiritual health.
00:26:56.671 --> 00:26:58.940
It's not optional.
00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.241
The reason we come to church is not
00:27:00.241 --> 00:27:02.010
To satisfy some legalistic, cold, sterile requirement.
00:27:02.010 --> 00:27:06.948
It's to meet the need we have to encourage one another
00:27:06.948 --> 00:27:10.719
And motivate one another to faith and to good deeds.
00:27:10.719 --> 00:27:14.989
Set your dvr
00:27:14.989 --> 00:27:16.357
And join us next time for part two of the message
00:27:16.357 --> 00:27:18.727
"choosing companionship over loneliness
00:27:18.727 --> 00:27:21.830
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:21.830 --> 00:27:24.099
♪ music ♪
00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.099

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Companionship Over Loneliness (Part 1)

March 26, 2026 | 27:29

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