Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Contentment Over Comparison (Part 1)

March 12, 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 #Contentment #Jealousy #Provision #Thankfulness #Gratitude #Covet/Covetousness #Satan #Distractions #Lies #Lust #Greed #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Contentment Over Comparison (Part 1) | March 12, 2026

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[dr. jeffress] let me paint a picture for you.
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You're standing on the deck of a beautiful cruise ship,
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Coffee in hand, watching a glacier
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Cap into the pristine waters,
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While bald eagles circle overhead.
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That's going to be us this coming june.
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You've got to see alaska with your own eyes to believe it.
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[announcer] seven days of pure luxury,
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The world-class service means
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You never have to think about the details.
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Instead, you can focus on casual conversations
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With like-minded christians,
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Laughing, telling stories
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While surrounded by god's breathtaking creation.
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[dr. jeffress] this is purposeful travel at its finest,
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Refreshing your soul in god's stunning cathedral
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Of natural wonders.
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[announcer] call 888-280-6747
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Or visit ptv.org.
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♪ music ♪
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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"
00:01:07.423 --> 00:01:10.860
With dr. robert jeffress.
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♪ music ♪
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[dr. jeffress] hi, i am robert jeffress
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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What do people want more than anything else in the world?
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Money, health, comfort?
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Well, all of those things are just a means
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To achieve happiness, or so we think.
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We've been conditioned to believe
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That contentment comes from our external circumstances,
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But in truth, contentment has nothing to do
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With what you have or you don't have.
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It all comes down to how you think.
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My message is titled "choosing contentment over comparison"
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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[announcer] life doesn't always go the way we plan.
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But here's the good news. we get to choose how we respond.
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In "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
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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,
00:02:12.922 --> 00:02:15.592
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"
00:02:20.430 --> 00:02:22.398
When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
00:02:22.398 --> 00:02:26.669
♪ music ♪
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[dr. jeffress] years ago, i learned about the futility
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Of comparing yourself to other people
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From a most unlikely source.
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It was the summer of 1984,
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And amy and i went with our good friends, the lovvorns,
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On a vacation to california.
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And one evening we heard that the next day
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They were going to be taping the game show
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"let's make a deal" with monty hall.
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How many of you remember "let's make a deal"?
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I know i'm dating myself.
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And we thought, you know, it might be fun
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To try to get on that game show.
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And so the next morning we got up early
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And we drove to a local costume shop in downtown los angeles
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'cause they would only pick people in outlandish costumes.
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And so we each rented a costume.
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Mark and patty had a raggedy ann and andy costume
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With the hair, the wig, all bit.
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Amy got a convict outfit.
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She had stripes on her
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And she had the ball and chain and all of that.
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And i saw the perfect costume, a giant banana.
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And it had a little hole that i could stick my face out of,
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But the rest of it was a full-length banana.
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So we got our costumes, got in the car, i was the driver,
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I was in my full-length banana suit,
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Driving down the freeway of california.
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And we got to the studio in hollywood
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And there were hundreds of people in the parking lot
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Trying to get one of the 50 spots on the trading floor
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To actually be on the show.
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And to our amazement and pleasure,
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We were actually chosen to be on the trading floor.
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Those 50 people
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From whom monty hall would select a few people.
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We thought, "this is great."
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And if that were not enough, finally, the show started
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And monty hall came down the aisle toward me
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And he said,
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"my first deal of the day is for robert jeffress."
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And so we traded and i won $350.
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A little bit later, money went over to mark and patty.
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They won $1,200.
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They always win more than i do in every way.
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But anyway, after the show we went to the little room
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Where we were filling out these release forms,
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And i was seated next to a woman and she had won a piano
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But traded it away for something else.
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And i began to think, you know,
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If only i had been in her seat on the trading floor,
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I could have won that piano.
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We really would've liked a new piano.
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So i'm kind of, you know, lamenting about that.
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Then mark and patty kind of started second-guessing.
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They won $1,200, but they wondered,
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"maybe we should have gone for the big deal of the day."
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And finally, the woman who won the big showcase,
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The big deal of the day, she was complaining
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That the furniture didn't match the decor
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Of her living room.
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(congregation laughing)
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And above all of this moaning and lamenting there,
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One woman said, "you know what?
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I wasn't even expecting to win anything.
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I'm just glad i got on the show."
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And i immediately thought of that comment
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Of benjamin franklin's.
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He said, "who is it that is truly rich? he who is content.
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And who is that?
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No one."
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Today we're going to talk about the attitude choice
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That perhaps more than any other
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Determines your level of happiness in life.
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It's choosing contentment over comparison.
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Nothing will rob you of joy in life any more
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Than comparing yourself to other people.
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And yet we do it all the time, don't we?
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We compare ourself to other people.
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Now, when i talk about comparing yourself with other people,
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I'm not talking about noticing that people have more
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Or different than you have.
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I mean, obviously, that's true.
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There are people with bigger homes, larger salaries,
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Finer automobiles than we have.
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I'm not talking about noticing that.
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Nor am i talking about trying to quench that desire,
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A god-given desire that we all have to excel in life.
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You know, we're going to talk in future weeks
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About the attitude choice of choosing productivity in life
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Over laziness.
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But here's what i'm talking about
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When i talk about comparison.
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Comparison, write this down,
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Is an attitude of dissatisfaction
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With god's provisions for my life
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That leads to an obsession with having more.
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Let me say it again.
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Comparison is an attitude of dissatisfaction
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With god's provisions for my life
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That leads to an obsession with having more.
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In the old testament, the word for comparison
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Was "covetousness."
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Covetousness.
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And it's interesting that the climactic command
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Of the 10 commandments in exodus 20
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Is not "thou shall not commit murder"
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Or "adultery" or "lie."
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You know what the climax of the 10 commandments is?
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"thou shalt not covet."
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In fact, god said in exodus 20:17,
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"you shall not covet your neighbor's house.
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You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
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Or his male servant, or his female servant,
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Or his ox, or his donkey,
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Or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
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You know why that's the final climactic commandment?
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Because every other sin flows out of that sin.
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Whether you're talking about idolatry that god condemns,
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Or adultery, or murder, or theft,
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Every sin flows out of a dissatisfaction
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With what god has provided for you.
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Micah, the prophet, understood that.
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In micah 2 verses 1 and 2, listen to this.
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"woe to those who scheme iniquity,
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Who work out evil on their beds.
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When morning comes, they do it,
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For it is in the power of their hands."
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Now look at this.
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"they covet fields and then they seize them,
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And houses and take them away.
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They rob a man of his house and a man of his heritage."
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In other words, stealing, murdering other people
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Comes out of covetousness.
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Coveting what somebody else has is the basis of all sin.
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In fact, did you know it was covetousness,
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This dissatisfaction with what god has provided
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That was the very basis
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For the first sin committed in the universe?
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You know what the first sin was
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That was committed in the universe?
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It's recounted in isaiah chapter 14.
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Turn there for just a moment,
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To isaiah 14 verses, 13 and 14.
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It's the story of the fall of lucifer.
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You remember lucifer
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Was a part of god's highest angelic order?
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God had given him vast responsibilities over creation.
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He was god's number two guy in the universe.
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But one day lucifer decided he wasn't content
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With being number two.
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He wanted to be number one.
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He started looking at god, and the respect
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And reverence that he had from the angels.
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He started looking at that throne upon which god sat,
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And he said, "i could do that. i want what he has."
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And because of that, god cast him out of heaven
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And he became satan.
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In fact, in verses 13 and 14,
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You find god's condemnation of lucifer.
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Verse 13, "but you satan said in your heart,
00:10:16.372 --> 00:10:19.208
'i will ascend to heaven.
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I will raise my throne above the stars of god.
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I will sit on the mount of the assembly
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And the recesses of the north.
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I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
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I will make myself like the most high.'"
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After god casts satan down to earth,
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It is no accident that satan chose to use
00:10:38.961 --> 00:10:43.766
As his basis for tempting the first couple
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That dissatisfaction that had formed in his own heart
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With god's provision.
00:10:51.307 --> 00:10:52.608
That's how he lured adam and eve into temptation.
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Remember god said to the first couple,
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"i've created this beautiful garden
00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:59.782
And of any tree you can eat except one"?
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And what did satan do
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When he talked to eve, genesis chapter 3?
00:11:06.322 --> 00:11:08.891
Instead of reminding eve of all of god's provisions,
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He instead pointed her attention
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To one prohibition god said, "do not eat of this tree."
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He does the same thing in our life.
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Satan wants to distract us from thinking and thanking god
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For all of the provisions he's given us
00:11:25.808 --> 00:11:28.577
Into the things that are forbidden.
00:11:28.577 --> 00:11:30.312
He did that with eve, and he said in genesis 3:5,
00:11:30.312 --> 00:11:32.915
"the reason god doesn't want you to eat of that tree
00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:34.917
For he knows that in the day you eat of it,
00:11:34.917 --> 00:11:37.653
Your eyes will be opened and you will be like god,
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Knowing good and evil."
00:11:41.490 --> 00:11:45.227
Covetousness, a dissatisfaction
00:11:45.227 --> 00:11:47.663
With what god has already provided us.
00:11:47.663 --> 00:11:51.767
And you look in human history, it is that desire for more
00:11:51.767 --> 00:11:56.539
Or different that leads to all sin and rebellion against god
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And it produces continual chaos in our lives.
00:12:01.143 --> 00:12:04.947
For example, it was lot's desire for a more productive land
00:12:04.947 --> 00:12:10.286
That caused him and his family to settle
00:12:11.153 --> 00:12:12.655
In the city of sodom that brought disaster for his family.
00:12:12.655 --> 00:12:16.425
It was jacob's desire for more inheritance
00:12:16.425 --> 00:12:19.895
That caused him to cheat his brother esau.
00:12:19.895 --> 00:12:22.898
And we see that same scene being played out even today.
00:12:22.898 --> 00:12:27.403
A man earning $150,000 a year embezzles $100 from petty cash
00:12:27.403 --> 00:12:33.475
And ends up losing his job.
00:12:34.076 --> 00:12:36.412
A christian wife begins flirting with a married man
00:12:36.412 --> 00:12:40.449
And it ends up in a full-blown sexual desire,
00:12:40.449 --> 00:12:43.052
And she loses not only her husband
00:12:43.052 --> 00:12:45.387
But eventually her lover as well,
00:12:45.387 --> 00:12:47.756
All because she wanted more.
00:12:47.756 --> 00:12:50.526
A couple with two good-paying jobs give up their jobs
00:12:50.526 --> 00:12:54.296
To start a business to earn more income.
00:12:54.296 --> 00:12:57.299
The business fails, all because of their desire for more.
00:12:57.299 --> 00:13:02.071
And what's interesting and tragic is,
00:13:02.071 --> 00:13:04.874
In each of those cases, the desire for more
00:13:04.874 --> 00:13:09.578
Ends up becoming less.
00:13:09.578 --> 00:13:12.548
Instead of more income, the embezzler has no income.
00:13:12.548 --> 00:13:17.353
Instead of more people to love her,
00:13:17.353 --> 00:13:19.922
The wife now has no one to love her.
00:13:19.922 --> 00:13:23.626
Instead of a better job, the couple now have no jobs.
00:13:23.626 --> 00:13:28.097
You see, that's the lie of satan.
00:13:28.097 --> 00:13:30.299
He baits us
00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:32.034
Into following after that which god has said no to.
00:13:32.034 --> 00:13:37.373
The bible says in john 8:44 satan is a liar.
00:13:38.307 --> 00:13:41.043
He is the father of all lies.
00:13:41.043 --> 00:13:45.814
Let me share with you two myths that we often buy into
00:13:45.814 --> 00:13:50.619
That fuel our desire for more.
00:13:50.619 --> 00:13:54.423
Myth number one, "i can have it all."
00:13:54.423 --> 00:13:58.560
That's particularly popular in our american culture.
00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:01.931
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.
00:14:01.931 --> 00:14:06.368
That is, if you work hard enough,
00:14:06.368 --> 00:14:08.137
There is absolutely no limit to what you can achieve.
00:14:08.137 --> 00:14:12.241
You can have it all.
00:14:12.241 --> 00:14:14.543
No, you really can't.
00:14:14.543 --> 00:14:16.345
The fact is there will always be somebody
00:14:16.345 --> 00:14:19.648
Who has more than you have.
00:14:19.648 --> 00:14:22.551
It just will.
00:14:22.551 --> 00:14:23.752
You know, i remember reading a passage
00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:28.290
From a sermon preached by bill hybels
00:14:28.290 --> 00:14:31.760
Entitled "rare and remarkable virtues."
00:14:31.760 --> 00:14:35.097
And he was recounting the tragic story
00:14:35.097 --> 00:14:38.133
Of the late billionaire howard hughes.
00:14:38.133 --> 00:14:41.303
He says,
00:14:41.303 --> 00:14:42.838
"all howard hughes ever really wanted in life was more."
00:14:42.838 --> 00:14:47.443
He wanted more money so he parlayed inherited wealth
00:14:47.443 --> 00:14:50.713
Into a billion-dollar pile of assets.
00:14:50.713 --> 00:14:53.182
He wanted more fame, so he broke into the hollywood scene
00:14:53.182 --> 00:14:57.119
And soon became a filmmaker and a star.
00:14:57.119 --> 00:14:59.421
He wanted more sensual pleasures, so he paid handsome sums
00:14:59.421 --> 00:15:03.859
To indulge his every sexual urge.
00:15:03.859 --> 00:15:07.162
He wanted more thrills, so he designed, built,
00:15:07.162 --> 00:15:09.798
And piloted the fastest aircraft in the world.
00:15:09.798 --> 00:15:14.103
He wanted more power, so he secretly dealt political favors
00:15:14.103 --> 00:15:17.873
So skillfully that two us presidents became his pawns.
00:15:17.873 --> 00:15:23.145
All he ever wanted was more.
00:15:23.746 --> 00:15:26.682
And yet he died emaciated, colorless,
00:15:26.682 --> 00:15:31.320
With his fingernails in grotesque, inches-long corkscrews,
00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:36.658
With rotting black teeth, tumors,
00:15:37.393 --> 00:15:38.827
And innumerable needle marks from his drug addiction.
00:15:38.827 --> 00:15:42.865
Howard hughes died believing the myth of more.
00:15:42.865 --> 00:15:47.936
Myth number two that fuels our dissatisfaction,
00:15:48.904 --> 00:15:53.042
"i could be happy if only i had blank."
00:15:53.042 --> 00:15:59.014
"i could be really happy if only i had blank."
00:15:59.948 --> 00:16:03.485
"there's something out there
00:16:03.485 --> 00:16:06.288
That could fill the hole in my heart."
00:16:06.288 --> 00:16:09.058
Some people fill in that blank with a different job,
00:16:09.058 --> 00:16:13.128
A bigger house, more time off on a vacation,
00:16:13.128 --> 00:16:16.532
Perhaps a different mate.
00:16:16.532 --> 00:16:17.933
We all think there's something out there
00:16:17.933 --> 00:16:20.335
That would really make us happy.
00:16:20.335 --> 00:16:22.271
But you know how most people fill in that blank?
00:16:22.271 --> 00:16:25.374
"i could really be happy if only i had more money."
00:16:25.374 --> 00:16:31.180
For us, money is a passport
00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:35.851
That allows us to experience the things
00:16:35.851 --> 00:16:37.419
We truly think will make us happy.
00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:40.055
And that's why there's so many warnings in scripture
00:16:40.055 --> 00:16:42.858
Against the love of money.
00:16:42.858 --> 00:16:45.060
We read one of them just a few moments ago
00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.662
In 1 timothy 6:10.
00:16:46.662 --> 00:16:48.363
Paul said, "for the love of money
00:16:48.363 --> 00:16:50.165
Is the root of all sorts of evil,
00:16:50.165 --> 00:16:52.134
And some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
00:16:52.134 --> 00:16:57.473
And have pierced themselves with many a pain."
00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:00.843
You know, jesus said,
00:17:00.843 --> 00:17:02.544
"it is impossible to serve god and money."
00:17:02.544 --> 00:17:08.217
It's interesting he didn't say,
00:17:08.851 --> 00:17:10.085
"it's impossible to serve god and sex"
00:17:10.085 --> 00:17:12.588
Or "god and your job"
00:17:12.588 --> 00:17:13.856
Or "god and recreational activities."
00:17:13.856 --> 00:17:18.727
All of those things can become idols, no doubt about it.
00:17:18.727 --> 00:17:22.464
But there's something unique about the allure of money.
00:17:22.464 --> 00:17:25.868
And again, what it is is money is the passport,
00:17:25.868 --> 00:17:28.370
The key to purchasing the things
00:17:28.370 --> 00:17:30.606
We think will make us happy in life.
00:17:30.606 --> 00:17:33.108
But it's all an illusion.
00:17:33.108 --> 00:17:35.344
You know, solomon was the wealthiest man of his day
00:17:36.411 --> 00:17:39.948
And he talked about the futility of money.
00:17:39.948 --> 00:17:43.218
It's one thing for people who aren't rich
00:17:43.218 --> 00:17:45.554
To talk about the futility of riches.
00:17:45.554 --> 00:17:48.023
How do they know? they've never had them.
00:17:48.023 --> 00:17:50.325
But what about somebody who's had it all
00:17:50.325 --> 00:17:52.294
And says, "it's not what you think it is."
00:17:52.294 --> 00:17:54.863
That's what solomon did.
00:17:54.863 --> 00:17:56.198
In fact, turn over to ecclesiastes chapter 5
00:17:56.198 --> 00:17:58.634
For just a moment.
00:17:58.634 --> 00:18:00.302
Solomon gives six reasons
00:18:00.302 --> 00:18:02.538
That money will never satisfy our deepest needs.
00:18:02.538 --> 00:18:07.809
Look at what he says in ecclesiastes chapter 5.
00:18:08.744 --> 00:18:10.512
Write this down.
00:18:10.512 --> 00:18:11.480
First of all, solomon observes
00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.115
That no one ever has enough money,
00:18:13.115 --> 00:18:16.552
Or at least thinks they do.
00:18:16.552 --> 00:18:18.253
Look at verse 10.
00:18:18.253 --> 00:18:19.521
"whoever loves money never has money enough.
00:18:19.521 --> 00:18:22.157
Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
00:18:22.157 --> 00:18:25.928
This too is meaningless."
00:18:25.928 --> 00:18:28.197
Have you ever heard of parkinson's law?
00:18:28.197 --> 00:18:31.233
Parkinson's law says,
00:18:31.233 --> 00:18:33.235
"work expands to fill the available time."
00:18:33.235 --> 00:18:38.040
In other words, if you have a job to do
00:18:38.874 --> 00:18:41.510
And you give yourself two hours to do it,
00:18:41.510 --> 00:18:43.879
Guess how long it will take to do it?
00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:45.814
Two hours.
00:18:45.814 --> 00:18:47.216
If you give yourself six weeks to complete a project,
00:18:47.216 --> 00:18:50.018
Guess how long it'll take?
00:18:50.018 --> 00:18:51.186
Six weeks to complete the project.
00:18:51.186 --> 00:18:53.188
"work expands to fill the available time."
00:18:53.188 --> 00:18:56.158
Well, solomon's giving us a law here about money.
00:18:56.158 --> 00:18:59.061
Expenses expand to consume the available income.
00:18:59.061 --> 00:19:04.366
Expenses expand to consume the available income.
00:19:05.367 --> 00:19:08.403
You know, it doesn't matter how much money you're making,
00:19:08.403 --> 00:19:10.639
You'll find a way to spend all of it.
00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:13.508
And i hear people all the time say, "you know,
00:19:13.508 --> 00:19:16.378
We're making more money now than we ever have in our lives
00:19:16.378 --> 00:19:19.181
And we don't have anything to show for it.
00:19:19.181 --> 00:19:20.115
Where does it all go?"
00:19:20.115 --> 00:19:21.617
Well, that's what solomon is talking about.
00:19:21.617 --> 00:19:23.552
Doesn't matter how much money you make,
00:19:23.552 --> 00:19:25.621
There'll always be something to consume it.
00:19:25.621 --> 00:19:29.224
That's the limitation of money.
00:19:29.224 --> 00:19:31.159
Closely related to that, verse 11, he says,
00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:33.895
"money attracts parasites."
00:19:33.895 --> 00:19:38.667
Look at verse 11.
00:19:37.833 --> 00:19:39.935
"as goods increase so do those who consume them,
00:19:39.935 --> 00:19:43.538
And what benefit are they to the owner
00:19:43.538 --> 00:19:45.474
Except to feast his eyes upon them?"
00:19:45.474 --> 00:19:48.644
One day, solomon started looking at the palace payroll.
00:19:48.644 --> 00:19:53.348
He noticed all these people he was paying,
00:19:53.348 --> 00:19:55.584
Butlers, servants, guards, concubines.
00:19:55.584 --> 00:19:59.354
He said, "where did all these people come from?"
00:19:59.354 --> 00:20:02.090
Maybe you're wondering the same thing.
00:20:02.090 --> 00:20:04.159
The more money you have, the more people who surround you.
00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:07.829
Friends, family members, the internal revenue service,
00:20:07.829 --> 00:20:11.667
Ready to take your money from you.
00:20:11.667 --> 00:20:13.935
Money attracts parasites.
00:20:13.935 --> 00:20:16.038
Thirdly, he says, a limitation of money,
00:20:16.038 --> 00:20:18.340
"money produces anxiety."
00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:20.375
Look at verse 12.
00:20:20.375 --> 00:20:22.244
"the sleep of a laborer is sweet,
00:20:22.244 --> 00:20:25.447
Whether he eats little or much,
00:20:25.447 --> 00:20:27.449
But the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep."
00:20:27.449 --> 00:20:32.087
Solomon noticed something.
00:20:32.087 --> 00:20:34.122
Those in his kingdom who punched in for work
00:20:34.122 --> 00:20:37.225
At eight o'clock and punched out at five o'clock,
00:20:37.225 --> 00:20:39.761
They were able to go home, eat a little supper,
00:20:39.761 --> 00:20:42.264
Enjoy their family, go to sleep,
00:20:42.264 --> 00:20:44.766
And never wake up till the next morning.
00:20:44.766 --> 00:20:47.936
But people who have a lot of money
00:20:47.936 --> 00:20:50.706
Tend to have sleepless nights.
00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:53.175
They're worrying about
00:20:53.175 --> 00:20:55.010
Somebody trying to take their money from them.
00:20:55.010 --> 00:20:58.013
Or maybe they're worried about
00:20:58.013 --> 00:20:59.014
The responsibilities they have
00:20:59.014 --> 00:21:00.649
That allowed them to become wealthy to begin with.
00:21:00.649 --> 00:21:03.385
They think about a payroll they have to meet
00:21:03.385 --> 00:21:06.421
Or sales figures they have to reach,
00:21:06.421 --> 00:21:08.657
Or they think about government regulations
00:21:08.657 --> 00:21:10.659
They're having to deal with
00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:13.128
And it keeps them from experience restful sleep.
00:21:13.128 --> 00:21:16.331
That's what money does. it produces anxiety.
00:21:16.331 --> 00:21:19.167
Fourthly, money can be harmful.
00:21:19.167 --> 00:21:22.270
Verse 13.
00:21:22.270 --> 00:21:23.538
"i have seen a grievous evil under the sun,
00:21:23.538 --> 00:21:25.907
Wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner."
00:21:25.907 --> 00:21:29.578
You know, the fact is if you try to pile up a lot of money,
00:21:29.578 --> 00:21:32.347
It can actually hurt you?
00:21:32.347 --> 00:21:35.250
You say, "well, how can money actually hurt me?"
00:21:35.250 --> 00:21:36.585
Well, one thing it does is it robs us of joy
00:21:36.585 --> 00:21:39.888
In this present life.
00:21:39.888 --> 00:21:42.057
You know, people who are always saving for a rainy day,
00:21:42.057 --> 00:21:45.026
They're just trying to stockpile all the money they can
00:21:45.026 --> 00:21:48.063
Instead of enjoying the sunshine of the present day.
00:21:48.063 --> 00:21:52.134
I think about the story from our nation's history
00:21:52.134 --> 00:21:54.636
About the world's richest miser, a widow named hetty green.
00:21:54.636 --> 00:21:59.741
When she died in the early 1900s,
00:22:00.409 --> 00:22:02.377
She left an estate of $100 million.
00:22:02.377 --> 00:22:06.014
That's a lot of money today,
00:22:06.615 --> 00:22:08.083
But in the early 1900s it was really a lot of money.
00:22:08.083 --> 00:22:11.386
And yet, even though she had this much money,
00:22:11.386 --> 00:22:13.188
She was so cheap she refused to pay the gas
00:22:13.188 --> 00:22:18.460
To heat her hot water
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:21.062
That she had oatmeal with every morning.
00:22:21.062 --> 00:22:22.931
She ate her oatmeal cold
00:22:22.931 --> 00:22:24.332
'cause she didn't want to pay to heat the water.
00:22:24.332 --> 00:22:27.202
When her son contracted an infection in his leg,
00:22:27.202 --> 00:22:31.406
She spent so much time taking him around
00:22:31.406 --> 00:22:34.342
To try to find a free clinic to treat him
00:22:34.342 --> 00:22:38.046
That her son contracted gangrene
00:22:38.046 --> 00:22:40.315
And had to have his leg removed.
00:22:40.315 --> 00:22:42.651
Now, that's what you call cheap.
00:22:42.651 --> 00:22:44.753
And that's what solomon is talking about,
00:22:44.753 --> 00:22:46.688
"money that is hoarded to the hurt of its owner."
00:22:46.688 --> 00:22:50.325
But you know what?
00:22:50.325 --> 00:22:51.993
Money can't only rob you of joy in this present life,
00:22:51.993 --> 00:22:55.764
The bible says a love of money, an obsession with money,
00:22:55.764 --> 00:22:59.868
Can rob you of eternal life.
00:22:59.868 --> 00:23:03.538
I mean, just think about this.
00:23:03.538 --> 00:23:05.006
It was the love of money that caused
00:23:05.006 --> 00:23:07.542
That rich farmer to deceive himself
00:23:07.542 --> 00:23:10.879
And to think all was well with his soul,
00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:13.849
When in fact he was about to die.
00:23:13.849 --> 00:23:16.151
It was the love of money that caused the rich young ruler
00:23:16.151 --> 00:23:19.588
To turn away from christ.
00:23:19.588 --> 00:23:21.556
It was the love of money that caused the wealthy man
00:23:21.556 --> 00:23:24.326
To neglect the poor man, lazarus.
00:23:24.326 --> 00:23:27.529
It was the love of money that caused judas
00:23:27.529 --> 00:23:29.798
To betray jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
00:23:29.798 --> 00:23:33.134
And it was the love of money that caused the couple
00:23:33.134 --> 00:23:36.671
Ananias and sapphira to lie to
00:23:36.671 --> 00:23:39.608
And be struck dead by the holy spirit of god.
00:23:39.608 --> 00:23:43.812
♪ music ♪
00:23:43.812 --> 00:23:48.450
Whether you're blessed with a lot of money
00:23:49.351 --> 00:23:51.353
Or you're living off of meager income,
00:23:51.353 --> 00:23:53.755
Your capacity for happiness
00:23:53.755 --> 00:23:55.290
Comes from an entirely different source.
00:23:55.290 --> 00:23:58.593
My prayer is that you'll discover along with me
00:23:58.593 --> 00:24:00.595
The wisdom of choosing contentment over comparison.
00:24:00.595 --> 00:24:05.534
Now, in the time remaining today,
00:24:05.534 --> 00:24:07.002
Let me affirm that god is using "pathway to victory"
00:24:07.002 --> 00:24:09.771
To touch lives as never before.
00:24:09.771 --> 00:24:12.374
Thanks to expanding opportunities on television,
00:24:12.374 --> 00:24:15.310
Radio, and the internet, we are reaching a larger audience
00:24:15.310 --> 00:24:18.880
Right now than ever before,
00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:21.349
And it's made possible through the support
00:24:21.349 --> 00:24:23.885
Of friends like you.
00:24:23.885 --> 00:24:25.554
People across our country and around the world
00:24:25.554 --> 00:24:27.923
Are craving a glimmer of hope,
00:24:27.923 --> 00:24:30.325
And you and i possess the bright light of jesus christ.
00:24:30.325 --> 00:24:34.129
So, thank you for continuing to stand with us in our mission
00:24:34.129 --> 00:24:38.466
To pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
00:24:38.466 --> 00:24:42.137
Now, stay right there.
00:24:42.137 --> 00:24:43.438
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:24:43.438 --> 00:24:45.640
In just a moment.
00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:47.375
♪ music ♪
00:24:47.375 --> 00:24:49.644
[announcer] when unexpected challenges hit,
00:24:49.644 --> 00:24:52.180
It's easy to feel defeated and robbed of joy.
00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:55.183
But while we can't always choose our circumstances,
00:24:55.183 --> 00:24:57.686
We can always choose how we respond to them.
00:24:57.686 --> 00:25:00.822
In "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
00:25:00.822 --> 00:25:02.991
Dr. robert jeffress shares 11 proven attitude choices
00:25:02.991 --> 00:25:06.361
That will help you experience the abundant life
00:25:06.361 --> 00:25:08.830
God desires for you.
00:25:08.830 --> 00:25:10.732
[dr. jeffress] the bible tells us
00:25:10.732 --> 00:25:12.000
That as a person thinks within himself so is he.
00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:15.604
Our attitudes impact everything, our health,
00:25:15.604 --> 00:25:18.273
Our relationships, our work, and even our eternity.
00:25:18.273 --> 00:25:22.510
In my book, "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
00:25:22.510 --> 00:25:25.647
I walk you through 11 essential choices,
00:25:25.647 --> 00:25:28.516
Like purpose over aimlessness, perseverance over defeat,
00:25:28.516 --> 00:25:33.154
And faith over worry.
00:25:33.154 --> 00:25:34.789
These biblical principles have transformed countless lives,
00:25:34.789 --> 00:25:38.760
And they can transform yours as well.
00:25:38.760 --> 00:25:41.296
[announcer] request your copy
00:25:41.296 --> 00:25:42.631
Of "choose your attitudes, change your life"
00:25:42.631 --> 00:25:44.633
When you give a generous gift
00:25:44.633 --> 00:25:45.567
To support "pathway to victory."
00:25:45.567 --> 00:25:47.969
And when your ministry gift is $75 or more,
00:25:47.969 --> 00:25:51.106
We'll also send you the companion study guide,
00:25:51.106 --> 00:25:53.408
Along with the complete teaching series on cd and dvd.
00:25:53.408 --> 00:25:57.545
[dr. jeffress] our attitude determines our destiny.
00:25:57.545 --> 00:26:00.115
Attitudes profoundly impact our life,
00:26:00.115 --> 00:26:04.352
Our death, and our eternal destiny.
00:26:04.352 --> 00:26:07.355
[announcer] thank you for your generous support
00:26:07.355 --> 00:26:08.590
Of "pathway to victory."
00:26:08.590 --> 00:26:10.592
Your partnership helps us bring practical,
00:26:10.592 --> 00:26:12.594
Life-changing biblical truth
00:26:12.594 --> 00:26:14.629
Into homes across the nation and around the world.
00:26:14.629 --> 00:26:18.500
♪ music ♪
00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.068
[dr. jeffress] spend a little time
00:26:20.068 --> 00:26:21.002
Watching television commercials
00:26:21.002 --> 00:26:22.337
And before long, we'll find ourselves
00:26:22.337 --> 00:26:24.839
Longing to own things we don't even need.
00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:27.609
That's what advertisers are driven to accomplish.
00:26:27.609 --> 00:26:31.312
But if you're ready to cultivate a deep
00:26:31.312 --> 00:26:33.014
And lasting satisfaction
00:26:33.014 --> 00:26:34.683
That's detached from your possessions,
00:26:34.683 --> 00:26:37.552
Then this is a study for you.
00:26:37.552 --> 00:26:39.888
Please, come back tomorrow
00:26:39.888 --> 00:26:41.589
Because i want to show you more biblical wisdom
00:26:41.589 --> 00:26:44.626
On what it means to choose contentment over comparison.
00:26:44.626 --> 00:26:48.430
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:48.430 --> 00:26:49.664
Of what's coming up next in our series
00:26:49.664 --> 00:26:51.966
"choose your attitudes, change your life."
00:26:51.966 --> 00:26:55.437
If you know where your next meal is coming from,
00:26:56.404 --> 00:26:59.007
If you have a place to sleep tonight
00:26:59.808 --> 00:27:01.242
That's inside instead of outside in the elements,
00:27:01.242 --> 00:27:04.713
You and i should be satisfied.
00:27:04.713 --> 00:27:06.281
Anything we have above that is purely by the grace of god.
00:27:06.281 --> 00:27:10.585
♪ music ♪
00:27:10.585 --> 00:27:12.353
God owes us nothing.
00:27:12.353 --> 00:27:14.556
[announcer] set your dvr
00:27:14.556 --> 00:27:15.924
And join us next time for part two of the message
00:27:15.924 --> 00:27:18.159
"choosing contentment over comparison,"
00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:21.162
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:21.162 --> 00:27:22.697
♪ music ♪
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Robert Jeffress - Choosing Contentment Over Comparison (Part 1)

March 12, 2026 | 27:29

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