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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Productivity Over Laziness (Part 1)

January 21, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Productivity Over Laziness (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Attitude #Work #Laziness #Lifestyle #Choices #FalseDoctrines #Prosperity #Obedience #PromisesofGod #WorkofYourHands #Poverty #Job/Career #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Productivity Over Laziness (Part 1) | January 21, 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 dr.
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  • Robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • We often use words like "diligent" or "driven" to
  • 00:00:18.374 --> 00:00:21.711
  • Describe hardworking people.
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  • But those adjectives are more than just personality traits.
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  • They represent deliberate choices about using our time,
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  • Our finances, and our education to advance our lives.
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  • Today, i'm going to share the personal benefits of leveraging
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  • Whatever god has given us, whether it's a little or a lot.
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  • My message is titled, "choosing productivity over laziness," on
  • 00:00:43.733 --> 00:00:48.471
  • 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."
  • 00:01:12.695 --> 00:01:15.598
  • Jeffress: you've said it in this book several times.
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  • Legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you set in
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  • Motion for the future.
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  • Jeffress: this book will challenge you to point your life
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  • Heavenward and set in motion a legacy of eternal significance.
  • 00:01:26.576 --> 00:01:31.848
  • David green: bill, i've found that it's much easier to run a
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  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
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  • Lord is much, much more difficult.
  • 00:01:37.687 --> 00:01:39.722
  • And that's who we are. we're not about hobby lobby.
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  • We're about mission, vision, and values, and it's all based on
  • 00:01:42.025 --> 00:01:45.128
  • God's word, and that's what we're excited about.
  • 00:01:45.128 --> 00:01:47.363
  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:01:47.363 --> 00:01:50.066
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
  • 00:01:50.066 --> 00:01:54.604
  • In motion a great legacy.
  • 00:01:54.604 --> 00:01:57.540
  • 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
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  • Partner.
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  • You'll also receive the powerful book by dr. jeffress, "choose
  • 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:07.083
  • Your attitudes, change your life."
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  • 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
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  • Your encouragement.
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  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:02:25.301 --> 00:02:27.804
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: in my desk drawer at home, i have an envelope that is
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  • Filled with gift cards to various restaurants that people
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  • Have been kind to give us for birthdays or anniversaries or
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  • Other occasions.
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  • And the other night i decided to retrieve one of those gift cards
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  • When we were going out to eat.
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  • And when the waiter came to present the bill, i was so proud
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  • To be able to flip out that piece of plastic instead of
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  • Having to charge it or give them cash.
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  • So i proudly gave this gift card.
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  • The waiter took it.
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  • A few moments later, he came back and whispered into my ear.
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  • He said, "i'm sorry, but this card has expired."
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  • I was so mad at myself.
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  • I mean, i had surrendered the opportunity to exchange a
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  • Worthless piece of plastic for a nice meal and i had nobody to
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  • Blame but myself.
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  • It was my forgetfulness, my slothfulness, my, yes, laziness
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  • That caused me to pass up that opportunity to exchange
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  • Something of little value for something of great value.
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  • You know, i thought about that later.
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  • In a lot of ways, our life is like a gift card from god.
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  • We can choose to spend it on things infinitely more valuable
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  • Than a meal at a restaurant.
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  • We can choose to spend our life on trivial pursuits or we can
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  • Allow our lives to expire without really exchanging it
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  • For anything.
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  • In our series, "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
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  • We're saying we don't get to choose our circumstances--we
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  • Don't get to change our circumstances, but we can choose
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  • Our response, our attitudes to the circumstances of life.
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  • And one circumstance that we all in this room share together is
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  • This: god has given each one of us a limited amount of time,
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  • Talents, resources, and opportunities.
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  • But we choose how we spend those gifts from god.
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  • One choice of an attitude is an attitude of productivity.
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  • I've defined that on your outline as being an attitude
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  • That maximizes, that chooses to maximize god's gifts to us.
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  • Or we can choose the attitude of laziness.
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  • Laziness. the bible calls it slothfulness.
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  • It is an attitude of indifference toward the time,
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  • The talent, the resources, and the opportunities that god
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  • Gives us.
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  • And today we're going to talk about why the bible says we
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  • Should choose the attitude of productivity over the attitude
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  • Of laziness.
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  • And for the few minutes we have this morning, i want us to do
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  • Three things.
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  • First of all, we're gonna look at the relationship in the bible
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  • Between productivity and prosperity.
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  • Secondly, we're going to define laziness or slothfulness and
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  • Look at four characteristics of it.
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  • And then finally, we're gonna talk about five practical ways
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  • To develop an attitude of productivity in your life.
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  • You know, failing to be productive, choosing laziness
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  • Over productivity, not only profoundly affects the kind of
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  • Life you experience now, but it affects your eternity as well.
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  • Now, first of all, let's look at the relationship between
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  • Productivity and prosperity.
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  • I want you to listen to this next few minutes, especially
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  • Carefully, because i don't want to get any emails of people who
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  • Have misunderstood what i'm saying.
  • 00:06:21.971 --> 00:06:25.007
  • There is a strain of teaching in christianity today, it's really
  • 00:06:25.007 --> 00:06:29.645
  • Heresy, called the prosperity gospel.
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  • And the prosperity gospel basically says it's god's will
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  • For every christian to be rich, for every christian to be
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  • Physically well.
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  • And if you're not experiencing health and wealth, it's because
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  • Something is wrong with you: you're sinning, you're not a
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  • Christian, you haven't given enough money.
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  • That's why you're not prosperous.
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  • That is not what the bible teaches.
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  • And yet you hear it all the time, you hear it on television.
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  • Now, the problem with heresy like that is there's just enough
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  • Truth mixed in with a lot of error to make it
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  • Sound plausible.
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  • And here's what i'm saying is: as you look at the bible, there
  • 00:07:09.685 --> 00:07:12.989
  • Does seem to be a relationship between obedience to god
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  • And prosperity.
  • 00:07:17.827 --> 00:07:19.662
  • In fact, john said, in 3 john: "my desire is that you prosper
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  • In all things," in all areas of life.
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  • Let me show you what i'm talking about, that relationship between
  • 00:07:26.936 --> 00:07:29.839
  • Obedience to god and prosperity.
  • 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.608
  • Look at proverbs 3, verses 9 through 10: "honor the lord from
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  • Your wealth, and from the first of all of your produce; so that
  • 00:07:36.746 --> 00:07:39.815
  • Your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will
  • 00:07:39.815 --> 00:07:43.553
  • Overflow with new wine."
  • 00:07:43.553 --> 00:07:45.621
  • Or proverbs 10:4 through 5: "poor is he who works with a
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  • Negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
  • 00:07:49.792 --> 00:07:54.196
  • He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who
  • 00:07:54.196 --> 00:07:58.467
  • Sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully."
  • 00:07:58.467 --> 00:08:02.471
  • Proverbs 10:22: "it is a blessing of the lord that makes
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  • Rich, and he adds no sorrow to it."
  • 00:08:05.541 --> 00:08:08.010
  • Or proverbs 13:21: "adversity pursues sinners, but the
  • 00:08:08.010 --> 00:08:12.148
  • Righteous will be rewarded with prosperity."
  • 00:08:12.148 --> 00:08:16.018
  • Proverbs 15:6: "such wealth is in the house of the righteous,
  • 00:08:16.018 --> 00:08:20.456
  • But trouble is in the income of the wicked."
  • 00:08:20.456 --> 00:08:24.527
  • How are we to understand those verses?
  • 00:08:24.527 --> 00:08:27.463
  • Some people will say, "well, those are in the old testament.
  • 00:08:27.463 --> 00:08:31.901
  • That was god's promise to israel, but we're not israel.
  • 00:08:31.901 --> 00:08:34.937
  • Therefore, none of those promises applies to us today.
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  • It's completely irrelevant."
  • 00:08:38.407 --> 00:08:40.476
  • It is true.
  • 00:08:40.476 --> 00:08:41.811
  • Some of the promises in the bible are specific to israel
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  • Only and we're foolish to try to apply them to ourselves.
  • 00:08:45.181 --> 00:08:48.084
  • But are we gonna say that about all the promises in the
  • 00:08:48.084 --> 00:08:50.319
  • Old testament?
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  • Or we're saying none of them is applicable to us today?
  • 00:08:51.654 --> 00:08:54.890
  • When you look through proverbs, it's clear, proverbs isn't just
  • 00:08:54.890 --> 00:08:58.060
  • Written to the israelites.
  • 00:08:58.060 --> 00:09:00.262
  • It's a universal, not promise but principle, to all people,
  • 00:09:00.262 --> 00:09:05.401
  • Christians and non-christians alike.
  • 00:09:05.401 --> 00:09:08.771
  • The other extreme, some people say, "well, you don't have to
  • 00:09:08.771 --> 00:09:11.540
  • Explain these away.
  • 00:09:11.540 --> 00:09:12.908
  • Just take them at the face value.
  • 00:09:12.908 --> 00:09:14.377
  • If you do what god says, you're gonna be wealthy."
  • 00:09:14.377 --> 00:09:17.780
  • But there's a problem with that too, especially when you
  • 00:09:17.780 --> 00:09:20.349
  • Consider both the new testament and the experience of christians
  • 00:09:20.349 --> 00:09:24.286
  • Around the world.
  • 00:09:24.286 --> 00:09:25.655
  • For example, in hebrews 11:37, it talks about those first
  • 00:09:25.655 --> 00:09:29.392
  • Century christians: "they were stoned, they were sawn in two,
  • 00:09:29.392 --> 00:09:34.096
  • They were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they
  • 00:09:34.096 --> 00:09:37.500
  • Went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute,
  • 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:41.370
  • Ill-afflicted, ill-treated."
  • 00:09:41.370 --> 00:09:44.607
  • It hardly sounds like the prosperity gospel, does it?
  • 00:09:44.607 --> 00:09:48.010
  • And that's been the way it's been throughout history, most of
  • 00:09:48.010 --> 00:09:50.980
  • The world, for christians.
  • 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:52.548
  • 1 corinthians 1:26, paul said, "consider your
  • 00:09:52.548 --> 00:09:55.818
  • Calling, brethren.
  • 00:09:55.818 --> 00:09:57.186
  • There are not many wise according to the flesh, not many
  • 00:09:57.186 --> 00:10:00.756
  • Mighty, not many noble."
  • 00:10:00.756 --> 00:10:03.259
  • You know, why isn't it that the majority of celebrities, the
  • 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:07.363
  • Majority of wealthy people, the majority of academic missions,
  • 00:10:07.363 --> 00:10:11.133
  • Around the world don't embrace christianity?
  • 00:10:11.133 --> 00:10:14.403
  • It's because those things, their accomplishments, have become
  • 00:10:14.403 --> 00:10:17.039
  • Stumbling blocks to them.
  • 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:18.541
  • And that's why paul said, "look around you.
  • 00:10:18.541 --> 00:10:20.576
  • There are not a lot of rich people here in church."
  • 00:10:20.576 --> 00:10:23.245
  • There's not a lot of people with phds.
  • 00:10:23.245 --> 00:10:26.916
  • Not--nothing wrong with that, everything right with that.
  • 00:10:26.916 --> 00:10:30.519
  • But the fact is it's usually humble people, people of lower
  • 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:35.224
  • Means, not great income, who come to faith in christ.
  • 00:10:35.224 --> 00:10:39.829
  • So how are we to understand these verses about prosperity,
  • 00:10:39.829 --> 00:10:43.666
  • Especially in the book of proverbs?
  • 00:10:43.666 --> 00:10:46.102
  • Look, there is no guarantee of wealth from becoming
  • 00:10:46.102 --> 00:10:49.672
  • A christian.
  • 00:10:49.672 --> 00:10:51.006
  • God hasn't promised you wealth.
  • 00:10:51.006 --> 00:10:53.476
  • But what he has promised is this: people who follow god's
  • 00:10:53.476 --> 00:10:57.813
  • Principles about work, about productivity, about
  • 00:10:57.813 --> 00:11:02.785
  • Their finances.
  • 00:11:02.785 --> 00:11:04.153
  • People who follow god's principles are generally gonna
  • 00:11:04.153 --> 00:11:07.423
  • Be more prosperous than those who ignore god's principles.
  • 00:11:07.423 --> 00:11:13.195
  • And that's what we're gonna talk about today.
  • 00:11:13.195 --> 00:11:16.332
  • Now, the best way to understand productivity, that is the
  • 00:11:16.332 --> 00:11:20.035
  • Attitude of maximizing your god-given gifts, the best way to
  • 00:11:20.035 --> 00:11:24.874
  • Understand that attitude is to look at its opposite:
  • 00:11:24.874 --> 00:11:27.877
  • Slothfulness, laziness.
  • 00:11:27.877 --> 00:11:30.780
  • And the book of proverbs has a wealth, pardon the pun, of
  • 00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:34.150
  • Information about slothfulness, about laziness.
  • 00:11:34.150 --> 00:11:38.087
  • Turn over to proverbs chapter 24, verses 30 to 34.
  • 00:11:38.087 --> 00:11:44.727
  • The slothful person, the lazy person, in the book of proverbs
  • 00:11:44.727 --> 00:11:48.898
  • Is often referred to as the sluggard or the fool.
  • 00:11:48.898 --> 00:11:54.103
  • There are some people who are just plain foolish and that's
  • 00:11:54.103 --> 00:11:57.840
  • The lazy person and notice what the writer says, beginning in
  • 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:01.110
  • Verse 30: "i passed by the field of the sluggard," the lazy
  • 00:12:01.110 --> 00:12:05.881
  • Person, "and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense; and behold,
  • 00:12:05.881 --> 00:12:10.553
  • It was completely overgrown with thistles.
  • 00:12:10.553 --> 00:12:13.355
  • Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was
  • 00:12:13.355 --> 00:12:17.126
  • Broken down.
  • 00:12:17.126 --> 00:12:18.661
  • And when i saw, i reflected upon it; i looked, and i
  • 00:12:18.661 --> 00:12:22.798
  • Received instruction."
  • 00:12:22.798 --> 00:12:24.800
  • And here's the instruction he received. "'a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the
  • 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:27.336
  • Hands to rest,' then your poverty will come as a robber,
  • 00:12:32.208 --> 00:12:36.278
  • And your want," that is your need, "like an armed man."
  • 00:12:36.278 --> 00:12:41.984
  • As the writer of proverbs was taking his morning walk or jog
  • 00:12:41.984 --> 00:12:46.088
  • Through his neighborhood, he noticed that one of his
  • 00:12:46.088 --> 00:12:49.091
  • Neighbor's house had fallen into disrepair.
  • 00:12:49.091 --> 00:12:52.828
  • The paint was peeling from the sides, the grass was overgrown,
  • 00:12:52.828 --> 00:12:58.234
  • The fence around it was falling down.
  • 00:12:58.234 --> 00:13:01.203
  • And at first, he probably grew angry.
  • 00:13:01.203 --> 00:13:02.972
  • He thought, "man, this eyesore, this is hurting my
  • 00:13:02.972 --> 00:13:06.141
  • Property values.
  • 00:13:06.141 --> 00:13:07.710
  • You know, i can't sell my house with a house like this
  • 00:13:07.710 --> 00:13:10.145
  • Next door."
  • 00:13:10.145 --> 00:13:11.714
  • But he turned his irritation into a desire for instruction.
  • 00:13:11.714 --> 00:13:16.819
  • He thought to himself again, "you know, this house didn't get
  • 00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:19.521
  • The way it is by itself.
  • 00:13:19.521 --> 00:13:22.057
  • There is a certain attitude in the owner of this house that
  • 00:13:22.057 --> 00:13:26.262
  • Produced this kind of dilapidated eyesore."
  • 00:13:26.262 --> 00:13:30.132
  • And that's why he says, verse 32: "i decided to learn what
  • 00:13:30.132 --> 00:13:34.436
  • I could.
  • 00:13:34.436 --> 00:13:35.771
  • I applied my heart to what i observed and i learned a lesson
  • 00:13:35.771 --> 00:13:39.074
  • From what i saw."
  • 00:13:39.074 --> 00:13:40.409
  • You know, read through proverbs.
  • 00:13:40.409 --> 00:13:42.044
  • You can learn just as much from an ungodly person as you can a
  • 00:13:42.044 --> 00:13:45.881
  • Godly person.
  • 00:13:45.881 --> 00:13:48.183
  • You can learn a lot of good things from godly people about
  • 00:13:48.183 --> 00:13:50.786
  • What to do.
  • 00:13:50.786 --> 00:13:52.154
  • Look at an ungodly person and what happens to him and you can
  • 00:13:52.154 --> 00:13:55.324
  • Learn what not to do.
  • 00:13:55.324 --> 00:13:57.359
  • That's why you ought to observe and teach your children to
  • 00:13:57.359 --> 00:14:00.029
  • Observe not only the end of the godly, but the end of
  • 00:14:00.029 --> 00:14:02.898
  • The ungodly.
  • 00:14:02.898 --> 00:14:04.233
  • When you see something in the news about the consequences of
  • 00:14:04.233 --> 00:14:08.070
  • An ungodly life, you ought to point that out to your children.
  • 00:14:08.070 --> 00:14:11.206
  • Well, this is what the writer of proverbs says.
  • 00:14:11.206 --> 00:14:13.242
  • Said, "i decided to learn what negative lesson i could learn."
  • 00:14:13.242 --> 00:14:17.413
  • And here's the lesson.
  • 00:14:17.413 --> 00:14:18.781
  • It's actually one that he repeated earlier in proverbs
  • 00:14:18.781 --> 00:14:22.151
  • 6:10-11: "a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding
  • 00:14:22.151 --> 00:14:26.722
  • Of the hands to rest--and poverty will come upon you like
  • 00:14:26.722 --> 00:14:30.326
  • A thief."
  • 00:14:30.326 --> 00:14:31.694
  • Now, he's not saying there's anything wrong with resting
  • 00:14:31.694 --> 00:14:34.029
  • Or sleeping.
  • 00:14:34.029 --> 00:14:35.364
  • But this was the stock answer of the sluggard.
  • 00:14:35.364 --> 00:14:38.167
  • Whenever he faced something that required effort, he's, "oh no,
  • 00:14:38.167 --> 00:14:41.036
  • No, i've got to get my rest.
  • 00:14:41.036 --> 00:14:43.205
  • I've got to get my sleep."
  • 00:14:43.205 --> 00:14:45.240
  • I like what the old testament theologian, derek kidner, says
  • 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:49.411
  • About the sluggard.
  • 00:14:49.411 --> 00:14:50.746
  • He says, quote, "the wise man will learn while there is time.
  • 00:14:50.746 --> 00:14:55.784
  • He knows that the sluggard is no freak, but as often as not an
  • 00:14:55.784 --> 00:15:01.156
  • Ordinary person who has made too many excuses, too many refusals,
  • 00:15:01.156 --> 00:15:07.396
  • And too many postponements.
  • 00:15:07.396 --> 00:15:09.999
  • It has all been as imperceptible and as pleasant as
  • 00:15:09.999 --> 00:15:15.037
  • Falling asleep."
  • 00:15:15.037 --> 00:15:19.274
  • How do you recognize a sluggard and recognize maybe the
  • 00:15:19.274 --> 00:15:23.946
  • Characteristics in you that make you a sluggard?
  • 00:15:23.946 --> 00:15:27.816
  • Proverbs gives us four definite characteristics of a sluggard.
  • 00:15:27.816 --> 00:15:31.820
  • Number one: the sluggard refuses to begin a job.
  • 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:36.425
  • The sluggard's motto is, "never do today what you can postpone
  • 00:15:36.425 --> 00:15:40.129
  • Till tomorrow."
  • 00:15:40.129 --> 00:15:41.697
  • That's his whole life credo.
  • 00:15:41.697 --> 00:15:43.799
  • He's always finding a reason to procrastinate work that needs to
  • 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:48.404
  • Be done today.
  • 00:15:48.404 --> 00:15:49.972
  • Proverbs 26, verse 14, says: "like the door turns on its
  • 00:15:49.972 --> 00:15:54.510
  • Hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed."
  • 00:15:54.510 --> 00:15:58.914
  • Turns back and forth and back and forth.
  • 00:15:58.914 --> 00:16:02.751
  • He can never get himself out of bed.
  • 00:16:02.751 --> 00:16:05.387
  • And in the rare event that he does get out of bed, he'll find
  • 00:16:05.387 --> 00:16:08.857
  • An excuse not to start working.
  • 00:16:08.857 --> 00:16:11.126
  • Proverbs 26:13, he says: "there is a lion in the road!
  • 00:16:11.126 --> 00:16:15.964
  • A lion is in the open square!"
  • 00:16:15.964 --> 00:16:19.001
  • Now, the chances of a lion being in the open square in jerusalem,
  • 00:16:19.001 --> 00:16:24.907
  • Walking down a main street in jerusalem, is about the same
  • 00:16:24.907 --> 00:16:27.876
  • Chance as a zebra walking around your neighborhood.
  • 00:16:27.876 --> 00:16:31.346
  • It just didn't happen.
  • 00:16:31.346 --> 00:16:33.949
  • But he's always finding some preposterous excuse about why
  • 00:16:33.949 --> 00:16:37.719
  • He cannot begin doing something.
  • 00:16:37.719 --> 00:16:40.122
  • Now, before we're too hard on the sluggard, let's admit we all
  • 00:16:40.122 --> 00:16:44.226
  • Have some of the sluggard in us.
  • 00:16:44.226 --> 00:16:46.595
  • Remember back in high school or college, remember when the
  • 00:16:46.595 --> 00:16:50.165
  • Teacher would assign maybe a term project, a term paper, and
  • 00:16:50.165 --> 00:16:54.236
  • Give you 3 months to do it?
  • 00:16:54.236 --> 00:16:58.440
  • How many of you would start on the first day working on
  • 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.343
  • That project?
  • 00:17:01.343 --> 00:17:02.711
  • Now, amy used to do it.
  • 00:17:02.711 --> 00:17:04.046
  • I tell, you she was a much more diligent person than i was.
  • 00:17:04.046 --> 00:17:06.949
  • She actually started on the first day.
  • 00:17:06.949 --> 00:17:09.118
  • But i kept saying to amy, i remember many times, "oh, we've
  • 00:17:09.118 --> 00:17:11.720
  • Got plenty of time to work on this.
  • 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.222
  • We've got plenty of time, you know, 3 months.
  • 00:17:13.222 --> 00:17:15.257
  • Who needs 3 months?"
  • 00:17:15.257 --> 00:17:16.625
  • Well, 3 months, you know, suddenly became one month and
  • 00:17:16.625 --> 00:17:19.795
  • Then you had a few weeks left.
  • 00:17:19.795 --> 00:17:21.697
  • You thought, "well, maybe i ought to think about this, but
  • 00:17:21.697 --> 00:17:23.699
  • I'll think about it," you know?
  • 00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:25.234
  • And then the last week and then the night before.
  • 00:17:25.234 --> 00:17:28.837
  • Remember the night before?
  • 00:17:28.837 --> 00:17:30.672
  • Suddenly you remember, "i've got this thing due tomorrow."
  • 00:17:30.672 --> 00:17:33.375
  • So you stay up all night, you turn in something that's, you
  • 00:17:33.375 --> 00:17:36.378
  • Know, half-baked and you swear to yourself, "i'll never do
  • 00:17:36.378 --> 00:17:41.150
  • That again."
  • 00:17:41.150 --> 00:17:43.218
  • Never say never, 'cause we do do it again and again.
  • 00:17:43.218 --> 00:17:48.323
  • And if you're not careful, you can carry those same bad habits
  • 00:17:48.323 --> 00:17:51.860
  • With you into adulthood.
  • 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:54.429
  • That's what the sluggard does.
  • 00:17:54.429 --> 00:17:56.198
  • He always finds a reason not to begin something.
  • 00:17:56.198 --> 00:17:59.902
  • Secondly, the sluggard does not complete his work.
  • 00:17:59.902 --> 00:18:04.072
  • He doesn't complete his work.
  • 00:18:04.072 --> 00:18:06.141
  • Proverbs 12:27 says: "a slothful man does not even roast his
  • 00:18:06.141 --> 00:18:11.013
  • Prey, but the precious possession of a man
  • 00:18:11.013 --> 00:18:14.049
  • Is diligence."
  • 00:18:14.049 --> 00:18:15.450
  • I mean, this guy is lazy.
  • 00:18:15.450 --> 00:18:17.319
  • He goes to the effort of killing an animal for his meal that
  • 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:20.756
  • Night, but he's too lazy to cook the animal, to cook his meal.
  • 00:18:20.756 --> 00:18:25.561
  • And in the event that he does cook the meal, look at this,
  • 00:18:25.561 --> 00:18:28.297
  • Proverbs 19:24: "the sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and
  • 00:18:28.297 --> 00:18:33.635
  • Will not even bring it back to his mouth."
  • 00:18:33.635 --> 00:18:37.005
  • That's lazy.
  • 00:18:37.005 --> 00:18:39.741
  • I mean, he goes to the effort of preparing the meal.
  • 00:18:39.741 --> 00:18:42.311
  • He sticks his fork in it.
  • 00:18:42.311 --> 00:18:43.645
  • He tries to bring it to his mouth.
  • 00:18:43.645 --> 00:18:45.013
  • He said, "this takes too much effort," to even put a piece of
  • 00:18:45.013 --> 00:18:49.084
  • Food in his mouth.
  • 00:18:49.084 --> 00:18:50.452
  • That is the sluggard.
  • 00:18:50.452 --> 00:18:51.887
  • If he does happen to finish his task, again, it's a mediocre
  • 00:18:51.887 --> 00:18:57.292
  • Project that he completes, mediocre work.
  • 00:18:57.292 --> 00:19:00.696
  • His stock phrase is: "it's good enough."
  • 00:19:00.696 --> 00:19:05.267
  • It's good enough.
  • 00:19:05.267 --> 00:19:08.270
  • It was john f. kennedy who said, "success hinges on a passion
  • 00:19:08.270 --> 00:19:13.342
  • For excellence."
  • 00:19:13.342 --> 00:19:15.811
  • The word "excellence" is not even in the vocabulary of
  • 00:19:15.811 --> 00:19:19.581
  • The sluggard.
  • 00:19:19.581 --> 00:19:21.149
  • As somebody said, "mediocrity is excellent in the eyes of
  • 00:19:21.149 --> 00:19:26.755
  • The mediocre."
  • 00:19:26.755 --> 00:19:28.824
  • The mediocre person is satisfied by just getting by.
  • 00:19:28.824 --> 00:19:34.429
  • I remember my old cigar-chomping accordion teacher named al
  • 00:19:34.429 --> 00:19:39.034
  • Trick, some advice he gave to me one time.
  • 00:19:39.034 --> 00:19:41.670
  • He said, "robert, remember, it only costs a little more to go
  • 00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:46.475
  • First class."
  • 00:19:46.475 --> 00:19:48.443
  • What he was saying was it only takes a few minutes more of
  • 00:19:48.443 --> 00:19:52.981
  • Practicing "lady of spain" to turn a mediocre performance into
  • 00:19:52.981 --> 00:19:58.887
  • An excellent performance.
  • 00:19:58.887 --> 00:20:02.024
  • In fact, somebody has said, really, it's just 5 minutes more
  • 00:20:02.024 --> 00:20:06.595
  • That separates an amateur from a professional, that separates
  • 00:20:06.595 --> 00:20:13.001
  • Mediocrity from excellence.
  • 00:20:13.001 --> 00:20:16.238
  • For example, it just takes 5 minutes more of reading towards
  • 00:20:16.238 --> 00:20:22.944
  • Your goal.
  • 00:20:22.944 --> 00:20:24.279
  • Just 5 minutes more of working out a problem with your mate.
  • 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:29.351
  • Just 5 minutes more, helping a son or daughter with a
  • 00:20:29.351 --> 00:20:32.421
  • Difficulty they're experiencing at school.
  • 00:20:32.421 --> 00:20:35.357
  • Just 5 minutes more of pleading with god for something you
  • 00:20:35.357 --> 00:20:38.960
  • Desperately want him to do in your life.
  • 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.930
  • Five minutes more many times separates mediocrity
  • 00:20:41.930 --> 00:20:46.868
  • From excellence.
  • 00:20:46.868 --> 00:20:49.037
  • The sluggard doesn't understand that.
  • 00:20:49.037 --> 00:20:51.673
  • Third characteristic of the sluggard: the sluggard
  • 00:20:51.673 --> 00:20:54.443
  • Ignores opportunities.
  • 00:20:54.443 --> 00:20:56.945
  • He ignores opportunities.
  • 00:20:56.945 --> 00:20:58.580
  • The problem with the sluggard in proverbs 24 is not that he
  • 00:20:58.580 --> 00:21:01.917
  • Was sleeping.
  • 00:21:01.917 --> 00:21:03.251
  • It's that he was sleeping at the wrong time.
  • 00:21:03.251 --> 00:21:05.620
  • He was sleeping when he should have been preparing his vineyard
  • 00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:10.125
  • For the harvest, preparing the ground and planting seeds, so
  • 00:21:10.125 --> 00:21:13.762
  • That when the harvest time came, there was something to harvest.
  • 00:21:13.762 --> 00:21:18.133
  • But the sluggard doesn't do that.
  • 00:21:18.133 --> 00:21:19.568
  • The sluggard--listen to this.
  • 00:21:19.568 --> 00:21:21.136
  • The sluggard views opportunities as a train.
  • 00:21:21.136 --> 00:21:25.841
  • Oh, there'll be another one in 5 minutes from now.
  • 00:21:25.841 --> 00:21:29.544
  • If i miss this train, there'll be another one.
  • 00:21:29.544 --> 00:21:31.580
  • If i miss this opportunity, there'll be another opportunity.
  • 00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:35.083
  • That's what the sluggard did.
  • 00:21:35.083 --> 00:21:36.418
  • He said, "oh, well, i've got plenty of time to plant seed and
  • 00:21:36.418 --> 00:21:39.421
  • Till the land.
  • 00:21:39.421 --> 00:21:40.789
  • And if i miss the planting time this year, there's always
  • 00:21:40.789 --> 00:21:43.458
  • Next year."
  • 00:21:43.458 --> 00:21:45.260
  • But a wise person, a productive person, understands how rare
  • 00:21:45.260 --> 00:21:49.631
  • Opportunities are.
  • 00:21:49.631 --> 00:21:51.199
  • How many times have you heard somebody say, "oh, if only i had
  • 00:21:51.199 --> 00:21:55.270
  • Invested in the xyz company stock 20 years ago, i would have
  • 00:21:55.270 --> 00:22:00.442
  • Been a wealthy person today."
  • 00:22:00.442 --> 00:22:02.911
  • Well, there's a reason that person didn't invest in the xyz
  • 00:22:02.911 --> 00:22:06.047
  • Company 20 years ago.
  • 00:22:06.047 --> 00:22:07.716
  • He was so undisciplined in his finances that he spent
  • 00:22:07.716 --> 00:22:10.819
  • Everything he had and then some.
  • 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:12.621
  • He never had the resources to take advantage of
  • 00:22:12.621 --> 00:22:15.023
  • That opportunity.
  • 00:22:15.023 --> 00:22:16.425
  • Or somebody says, "you know, i actually thought of the iphone
  • 00:22:16.425 --> 00:22:19.761
  • 30 years ago."
  • 00:22:19.761 --> 00:22:21.963
  • Well, that's great.
  • 00:22:21.963 --> 00:22:23.298
  • But why didn't you do something about it?
  • 00:22:23.298 --> 00:22:25.133
  • Because it would have required too much effort, too much
  • 00:22:25.133 --> 00:22:28.170
  • Hard work.
  • 00:22:28.170 --> 00:22:29.771
  • You see, a sluggard understands or thinks that opportunities
  • 00:22:29.771 --> 00:22:34.443
  • Will always be there.
  • 00:22:34.443 --> 00:22:36.445
  • What i'm saying to you is opportunities don't come often.
  • 00:22:36.445 --> 00:22:40.849
  • A wise person, the productive person, is one who will take
  • 00:22:40.849 --> 00:22:44.119
  • Advantage of them.
  • 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:45.454
  • A fourth characteristic of the sluggard is the sluggard
  • 00:22:45.454 --> 00:22:49.257
  • Craves riches.
  • 00:22:49.257 --> 00:22:51.993
  • Now, he doesn't like work, but he likes the rewards of work.
  • 00:22:51.993 --> 00:22:57.199
  • And so he wants wealth in order to buy the things that he craves
  • 00:22:57.199 --> 00:23:03.004
  • And wants.
  • 00:23:03.004 --> 00:23:04.372
  • So since he's not willing to work for them, how does he get
  • 00:23:04.372 --> 00:23:08.076
  • The money?
  • 00:23:08.076 --> 00:23:09.411
  • Well, he short-circuits the work process by looking for a get
  • 00:23:09.411 --> 00:23:14.349
  • Rich quick scheme.
  • 00:23:14.349 --> 00:23:16.117
  • Lazy people are always looking for a get rich quick scheme.
  • 00:23:16.117 --> 00:23:20.388
  • By the way, proverbs has something to say about that.
  • 00:23:20.388 --> 00:23:22.824
  • Proverbs 28, verse 20: "he who makes haste to be rich will not
  • 00:23:22.824 --> 00:23:28.563
  • Go unpunished."
  • 00:23:28.563 --> 00:23:31.099
  • Do you know people like this?
  • 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:33.268
  • They're always looking for the big deal, the big deal.
  • 00:23:33.268 --> 00:23:36.538
  • They're always talking, talking, talking about their next big
  • 00:23:36.538 --> 00:23:39.541
  • Deal, their next big deal.
  • 00:23:39.541 --> 00:23:41.543
  • No effort, little money, that's gonna give them all of
  • 00:23:41.543 --> 00:23:44.379
  • These riches.
  • 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.747
  • The key word is they talk about it.
  • 00:23:45.747 --> 00:23:47.516
  • They talk about it, but they never do anything.
  • 00:23:47.516 --> 00:23:50.552
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:50.552 --> 00:23:55.357
  • Jeffress: i have much more i'd like to share with you about
  • 00:23:55.357 --> 00:23:57.726
  • Choosing productivity over laziness.
  • 00:23:57.726 --> 00:24:00.529
  • So let me urge you to join us again next time.
  • 00:24:00.529 --> 00:24:04.165
  • In closing today, i wanna affirm the value of our ministry
  • 00:24:04.165 --> 00:24:07.536
  • Together through "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:07.536 --> 00:24:10.272
  • There's never been a better time to reach our nation and the
  • 00:24:10.272 --> 00:24:13.575
  • World with the truth of god's word and no better way to do so
  • 00:24:13.575 --> 00:24:17.779
  • Than through television, radio, and the internet.
  • 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:20.749
  • And we're making great strides in this endeavor to reach the
  • 00:24:20.749 --> 00:24:23.919
  • World with the gospel, thanks to devoted partners just like you.
  • 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:29.124
  • So thank you for joining with "pathway to victory" as we
  • 00:24:29.124 --> 00:24:32.561
  • Pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:24:32.561 --> 00:24:36.064
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:36.064 --> 00:24:37.399
  • I'll be back with one final word in just a moment.
  • 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:40.235
  • Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
  • 00:24:41.603 --> 00:24:43.905
  • Searching for hope and truth.
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  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
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  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
  • 00:24:48.810 --> 00:24:52.414
  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:52.414 --> 00:24:56.017
  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
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  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:25:08.830 --> 00:25:11.366
  • Jeffress: many people reduce the idea of productivity to a mere
  • 00:25:13.735 --> 00:25:17.305
  • Personality trait.
  • 00:25:17.305 --> 00:25:18.807
  • Either you're born with it or you're not.
  • 00:25:18.807 --> 00:25:21.176
  • But this quality can be grown and developed with
  • 00:25:21.176 --> 00:25:24.379
  • Intentional effort.
  • 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:25.947
  • And if my description of the sluggard is hitting a little too
  • 00:25:25.947 --> 00:25:29.217
  • Close to home, and i think we're all guilty of that to some
  • 00:25:29.217 --> 00:25:32.721
  • Degree, i hope you'll join me again next time because next
  • 00:25:32.721 --> 00:25:36.992
  • Time i'm going to share five practical ways to develop an
  • 00:25:36.992 --> 00:25:40.895
  • Attitude of productivity in your own life.
  • 00:25:40.895 --> 00:25:44.232
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:44.232 --> 00:25:46.868
  • Series, "choose your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:25:46.868 --> 00:25:50.071
  • Jeffress: maybe you have trouble with this whole area of
  • 00:25:51.406 --> 00:25:53.708
  • Self-discipline in your life.
  • 00:25:53.708 --> 00:25:56.444
  • How do you do that?
  • 00:25:56.444 --> 00:25:58.146
  • How do you develop discipline to have a productive life?
  • 00:25:58.146 --> 00:26:02.417
  • How do you get out of a rut of slothfulness?
  • 00:26:02.417 --> 00:26:06.087
  • If you're a lazy, unproductive person, where do you start?
  • 00:26:06.087 --> 00:26:10.892
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
  • 00:26:10.892 --> 00:26:12.327
  • Us next time for part 2 of the
  • 00:26:12.327 --> 00:26:14.029
  • Message, "choosing productivity
  • 00:26:14.029 --> 00:26:16.197
  • Over laziness," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:16.197 --> 00:26:18.566
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:18.566 --> 00:26:20.268
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
  • 00:26:22.637 --> 00:26:25.607
  • And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
  • 00:26:25.607 --> 00:26:28.843
  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:28.843 --> 00:26:32.447
  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
  • 00:26:32.447 --> 00:26:35.583
  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
  • 00:26:35.583 --> 00:26:39.387
  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
  • 00:26:39.387 --> 00:26:42.791
  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:42.791 --> 00:26:47.062
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:47.062 --> 00:26:50.532
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:50.532 --> 00:26:53.168
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:53.168 --> 00:26:55.770
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:26:55.770 --> 00:26:58.606
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:26:58.606 --> 00:27:02.343
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:27:02.343 --> 00:27:05.547
  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:27:05.547 --> 00:27:07.315
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:07.315 --> 00:27:09.451
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:09.451 --> 00:27:12.954
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:12.954 --> 00:27:15.724
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:15.724 --> 00:27:15.724