WEBVTT 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:04.660 Would you like to become a more loving person? 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.619 I don't mean just trying harder to act more loving, 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:12.640 but actually become from the inside out a person 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:16.379 that just flat out loves people better and more 00:00:16.379 --> 00:00:19.160 deeply. Boy, if so, stick around. That's today. 00:00:22.030 --> 00:00:24.210 Thank you for being with us for this edition 00:00:24.210 --> 00:00:27.329 of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip 00:00:27.329 --> 00:00:29.730 serves as our Bible teacher for this global teaching 00:00:29.730 --> 00:00:32.250 and discipleship ministry, helping Christians 00:00:32.250 --> 00:00:35.570 develop an authentic faith. Well, in just a minute, 00:00:35.590 --> 00:00:37.890 Chip will dive back into our impactful series, 00:00:38.130 --> 00:00:41.250 I Choose Love. Today, he'll unveil three essential 00:00:41.250 --> 00:00:44.490 practices to becoming a more loving person, rooted 00:00:44.490 --> 00:00:47.450 in the essence of love itself. But before we 00:00:47.450 --> 00:00:50.030 begin, let me encourage you to use Chip's message 00:00:50.030 --> 00:00:52.299 notes while you listen. They'll help you get 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:54.560 the most out of what you're about to hear. Download 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:57.500 them under the Broadcasts tab at livingontheedge 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:01.460 .org. App listeners, tap Fill in Notes. Well, 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:03.000 with that, let's join Chip for the remainder 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.120 of his talk, Love Gives, from Philippians chapter 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:13.280 2. How to become a more loving person. Choose 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:17.819 to declare war on, write the word, selfishness. 00:01:22.589 --> 00:01:28.269 on selfishness. And as usual, when I go high 00:01:28.269 --> 00:01:31.510 -tech here, my iPad is not working, so I think 00:01:31.510 --> 00:01:34.269 I'll go with a little bit less technical one 00:01:34.269 --> 00:01:37.590 that you all have. Turn to Philippians chapter 00:01:37.590 --> 00:01:40.530 two, if you're not already there, and let me 00:01:40.530 --> 00:01:45.310 read for you this command. Philippians chapter 00:01:45.310 --> 00:01:50.640 two, we've looked at verses one and two. Follow 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.079 along here in chapter 2 as we read verse 3 and 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:59.420 4. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:04.379 but in humility of mind consider others more 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:07.620 important than yourself. Verse 4, let each of 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:10.979 you look not only on your own interest, but also 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:18.939 on the interest of others. You may be looking 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:22.939 at this and saying, declare war? Aren't you getting 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:27.199 a little radical here? No, no. We're born with 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.780 this innate ability to be selfish. In fact, let 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:34.979 me define selfish ambition here. Four words. 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:39.719 I want my way. That's selfish ambition. I want 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:44.139 my way. You might jot down, it's a me first mentality. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.400 I want to be first in line. I want the best spot. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:49.379 I want to get on the plane first. That's one 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:56.099 of mine. I want to get to work first. When I 00:02:56.099 --> 00:02:57.479 go through the buffet, I want the best piece 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:02.639 of meat. I want the best promotion. It's me first. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.460 I want my needs met in this marriage. I want 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:07.819 my mom and dad to come through for me. I want 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:09.960 my professor to give me what I want when I want 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:14.280 it. It's a me first mentality. I want to be number 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:19.689 one. I'm selfish. Now, it's very unpopular to 00:03:19.689 --> 00:03:23.889 admit that. But what is hard to see in ourselves, 00:03:23.969 --> 00:03:26.949 isn't it easy to see in others? I mean, you get 00:03:26.949 --> 00:03:28.810 out on the freeway, are people selfish or what? 00:03:29.469 --> 00:03:33.090 I mean, this isn't like out there somewhere either. 00:03:34.449 --> 00:03:36.930 Anybody here tried to get out of the parking 00:03:36.930 --> 00:03:39.169 lot here? You know, especially 11 o 'clock service? 00:03:40.409 --> 00:03:42.610 Now, there are some people, you know, very Christian, 00:03:42.729 --> 00:03:45.960 wave you in. And there's some... Some of you 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:47.560 that are still working on it, let me put it that 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:52.379 way. But we're selfish. But you don't slide out 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:55.060 of being selfish. Even though the living spirit 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:57.620 of Christ lives inside of you and you're born 00:03:57.620 --> 00:03:59.280 again and you're part of the kingdom of God, 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:02.120 there's this battle. Galatians talks about the 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:06.900 spirit wages war against the flesh. This predisposition 00:04:06.900 --> 00:04:11.620 toward my way, my stuff, is rooted in your heart 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:14.039 and you'll have it until the day you die. But 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:18.879 the Spirit of God can give you the ability to, 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:20.879 in humility, look at the second half of that 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:25.680 text. In humility, consider others as more important 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.620 than yourself. Humility can be a very misunderstood 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:33.860 word. So I came across a very, very interesting 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:37.000 article. I think of humility as not thinking 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:39.139 too highly of yourself, not thinking too lowly 00:04:39.139 --> 00:04:43.019 of yourself, but having an accurate, sober self. 00:04:44.570 --> 00:04:49.870 assessment. As one person said, humility is not 00:04:49.870 --> 00:04:55.189 thinking less of yourself. Humility is just thinking 00:04:55.189 --> 00:05:00.350 less about yourself. Beating yourself up, I'm 00:05:00.350 --> 00:05:02.149 a terrible person, that's not humility. That's 00:05:02.149 --> 00:05:05.850 not accurate. It's just not letting you, it's 00:05:05.850 --> 00:05:08.370 me not letting me be the thing and the person 00:05:08.370 --> 00:05:11.620 I think about all the time. They're doing science 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:15.100 now on the benefits of virtues, things like forgiveness. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.939 They've done lots of research on gratitude. You 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:21.660 may have read some of that. This is an article 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:25.160 by a professor at George Fox University. It's 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:27.879 called The Science of Humility. It says, researchers 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.779 have developed scales to measure intellectual 00:05:29.779 --> 00:05:32.300 humility, relational humility, cultural humility, 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:35.180 and some are now working on spiritual humility 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:38.759 as well. As with forgiveness and gratitude, humility 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:41.779 fosters. This is what humility delivers. Are 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:43.939 you ready for this? Humility fosters physical 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:46.519 and mental and relational health. Humble people 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.220 are more grateful and forgiving, so they enjoy 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:51.420 the benefits of those virtues. They're also, 00:05:51.579 --> 00:05:54.279 humble people are more generous and helpful to 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:58.399 others. Hey, this is a good one. They have better 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.620 romantic relationships. For some of you, get 00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:03.259 humble right away, okay? They have better romantic 00:06:03.259 --> 00:06:05.980 relationships, have less anxiety about death, 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.420 and experience less spiritual struggle. Those 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:12.639 parents who are concerned about your kids, people 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.120 that are humble perform better at school, show 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:17.699 more compassion to others, and even have better 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:22.060 self -esteem than less humble people. So in other 00:06:22.060 --> 00:06:24.279 words, they're doing scientific research. And 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:27.600 what God has commanded, what delights our Father, 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:32.199 and what Christ modeled amazingly, is the genuine 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:37.180 humility. Not putting yourself first, but actually 00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:40.379 considering the needs of others. It's what we 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:42.279 call around here, and you'll learn more about 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:45.360 in this series, it's the I am second mentality. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:48.139 I mean, it just goes completely against everything. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:52.569 I am second. As I go through the line, I am second 00:06:52.569 --> 00:06:55.329 as I drive on the freeway. I am second when I 00:06:55.329 --> 00:06:57.629 think about my rights in my marriage. I am second 00:06:57.629 --> 00:06:59.329 when I think about the needs with my roommate. 00:06:59.990 --> 00:07:02.829 I am second when we're trying to divide something 00:07:02.829 --> 00:07:07.910 and see who gets the bigger piece. The article 00:07:07.910 --> 00:07:11.509 goes on and says that humility, this is very 00:07:11.509 --> 00:07:15.040 important, does not require self -loathing. or 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.480 self -belittling, but it calls for us to dial 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:19.699 back our normal tendency, are you ready for this, 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:23.779 to overestimate our abilities and behaviors. 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.639 Now, I never do that, and you never do that, 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:28.939 but there's some people out there that overestimate 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:31.199 their abilities and their behaviors, and you 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:34.680 know I'm teasing. I love it. He goes, there's 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:37.160 three characteristics of people that are genuinely 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:41.339 humble. Number one, they have a reasonably accurate 00:07:41.339 --> 00:07:45.180 view of themselves. Neither too high or neither 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:49.720 too low. Pretty biblical. Number two is they 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:55.639 care more deeply or have a concern and notice 00:07:55.639 --> 00:08:00.519 other people. And then number three is humble 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:05.959 people are teachable. So genuine humility is 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:08.379 rooted in some characteristics, and according 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:10.720 to the scientific study, which actually is... 00:08:11.209 --> 00:08:13.050 pretty biblical, whether they know it or not, 00:08:13.209 --> 00:08:16.589 is that they have a pretty accurate view of themselves. 00:08:16.870 --> 00:08:18.589 In other words, I'm not the center of the world. 00:08:19.149 --> 00:08:22.089 Are you ready? I'm not the smartest person in 00:08:22.089 --> 00:08:24.949 the room. My opinions aren't always the best. 00:08:25.110 --> 00:08:28.230 My perspective of what we ought to do or my decision 00:08:28.230 --> 00:08:30.209 isn't necessarily better than others. But it 00:08:30.209 --> 00:08:31.810 doesn't mean that I don't have good thoughts 00:08:31.810 --> 00:08:35.049 and my decisions and my perspective can be very 00:08:35.049 --> 00:08:37.149 valid. So they don't think too high. They don't 00:08:37.149 --> 00:08:40.000 think too low. The second one is they really 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.799 consider the thoughts, the interests, and the 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:45.440 feelings of others. Humble people are sensitive. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:48.299 Humble people notice the person that when everyone 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:50.399 gets out and walks out of here, humble people 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:53.200 see the people that no one said hi to. Humble 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.179 people notice the needs of other people. Genuinely 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:58.460 humble people, I'm always amazed that, you know, 00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:00.700 maybe I'll have a passing conversation with someone 00:09:00.700 --> 00:09:02.960 and like a week later, two weeks later, like 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:06.860 get a note or get something in the mail. I was 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:09.039 meeting with someone a long time ago and they 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:12.080 watched me fiddle with trying to recharge. You 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.240 know, you got all these rechargers and all this 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.720 different stuff. Out of the blue, a week later, 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:20.179 I get a package. There's no name. There's no 00:09:20.179 --> 00:09:22.419 note. There's no anything. I don't know what 00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:24.620 it is. I open the package, and it's one of these 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:28.500 bars that has one, two, three, four, five, where 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:30.480 you can hook in your phone, everything else with 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.879 a plug, and you plug the thing in. I use it every 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:37.600 day. Humility. Someone didn't say a word, saw 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:40.179 I had a need, and addressed the need. And third, 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:44.179 and I think this is big, they're teachable. They 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:51.409 realize that they're on the journey too. How 00:09:51.409 --> 00:09:58.710 humble are you? For some of your personalities, 00:09:58.730 --> 00:10:02.529 I just want to say, please, please don't go to, 00:10:02.690 --> 00:10:06.730 oh, I came to church today. I'm a terrible person. 00:10:06.809 --> 00:10:08.750 Everything he's talking about, that's me. I'm 00:10:08.750 --> 00:10:10.710 an arrogant, terrible person. You know what? 00:10:10.730 --> 00:10:14.289 Guess where your focus is at this moment? It's 00:10:14.289 --> 00:10:19.539 on you. At the heart of not being humble, is 00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:22.240 not thinking lowly of yourself, belittling yourself, 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:27.620 condemning yourself. In fact, the second way 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:32.399 to become more loving is attack the root of the 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.940 problem. And then I want you to write in the 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:41.460 word pride. Attack the root of the problem. You're 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:43.980 listening to Living on the Edge. We'll return 00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:46.700 you to Chip's message in just a minute. But first, 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:49.120 let me tell you, God is doing incredible work 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:52.200 through this ministry all around the world. And 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.039 if you'd like to join us, consider partnering 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:57.379 with us during our mid -year match. Every gift 00:10:57.379 --> 00:11:00.100 we receive until midnight on June 30th will be 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:03.279 doubled dollar for dollar. Join us today by going 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:09.559 to livingontheedge .org or call 888 -333 -6003. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:12.899 We appreciate your generosity. Well, with that, 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.419 here again is Chip. If you will, right underneath 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:18.759 where you see verse 3, circle the world empty 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:23.519 conceit. Do nothing from selfish ambition or 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:28.840 empty conceit. Selfish ambition, selfishness 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:31.879 is what we do. The root of the problem is why 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.059 we do it. That's empty conceit. Or I love, write 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:37.659 this word down. I love this phrase. It's an old, 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:41.340 old, old version of King James. Vain glory, empty 00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:45.320 glory. You say, well, what's vain glory? What's 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:50.720 empty conceit? Well, a good street name is pride, 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:54.919 but that's sort of, it's kind of a big word. 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:58.700 Let me give you some very specific pictures of 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:04.250 empty conceit. Empty conceit is I'm better. I'm 00:12:04.250 --> 00:12:08.529 more important. I'm superior. I'm more intelligent. 00:12:09.009 --> 00:12:14.649 My time matters more than yours. My life matters 00:12:14.649 --> 00:12:18.450 more than you. I have greater value. I have greater 00:12:18.450 --> 00:12:20.710 worth. Now, you may not say that outside in your 00:12:20.710 --> 00:12:24.889 head, but our behavior, our behavior just screams 00:12:24.889 --> 00:12:29.610 vain glory. I like the way I said that, glory, 00:12:29.889 --> 00:12:34.610 right? It's this, I'm the center of the world, 00:12:34.649 --> 00:12:36.909 and I can clothe it with all kind of Bible verses, 00:12:36.950 --> 00:12:43.590 and I can actually, in a Christian way, do image 00:12:43.590 --> 00:12:47.470 management to try and project I'm humble, which 00:12:47.470 --> 00:12:50.789 is the empty conceit. The idea is I want everyone 00:12:50.789 --> 00:12:54.210 to have this amazing opinion of me that I either 00:12:54.210 --> 00:12:57.649 want for myself, Or I actually think I have. 00:12:59.110 --> 00:13:03.149 I made a list because this got very convicting 00:13:03.149 --> 00:13:06.350 and I thought, oh boy. I made a list of some 00:13:06.350 --> 00:13:11.250 ways that when this happens in me, okay? This 00:13:11.250 --> 00:13:13.929 isn't you, this is me. When these things happen 00:13:13.929 --> 00:13:18.190 in me, what I know is vain glory, empty conceit, 00:13:18.190 --> 00:13:22.070 pride is raising its ugly head. And then I'm 00:13:22.070 --> 00:13:23.809 gonna talk to you about how to go into training. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:27.039 And did you notice the violent words I've used? 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.679 Declare war. Attack. In other words, you've got 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.539 to get to the root of the problem. This isn't 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:35.759 about... I think I'm going to try and be more 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.299 loving and I'll tell someone I forgive. This 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:42.539 is heart stuff, root stuff. This is stuff that's 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:45.740 so deeply in your psyche and in your soul and 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:49.559 mind that you have to declare war. I refuse in 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:51.440 light of what God's done for me to be a selfish 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:54.340 person. I'm going to attack the root problem. 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:57.629 And the root problem is in my thinking. I become 00:13:57.629 --> 00:14:00.309 the center of things even subtly because in my 00:14:00.309 --> 00:14:02.409 thinking, I think I'm better or I want to project 00:14:02.409 --> 00:14:04.669 that I'm better. In my thinking, my time and 00:14:04.669 --> 00:14:09.429 my money and what I do is more important. It's 00:14:09.429 --> 00:14:14.110 lethal. It destroys relationships. It's unloving. 00:14:15.009 --> 00:14:19.129 And so when these things happen in my life, what 00:14:19.129 --> 00:14:24.350 I know is pride. Defensiveness. Someone makes 00:14:24.350 --> 00:14:27.000 a comment to me immediately. It could be my wife. 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:28.620 It can be in a meeting. It could be one of my 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:30.899 kids. It can be someone I don't know very much. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:33.059 They say something. We're talking about something. 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:36.299 And I hear myself. I'm defensive. Well, why? 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:38.480 Because I've got to guard. I've got to prove. 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:42.360 I've got to protect. Whatever they've said, that 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:45.059 sort of hit a button inside. Second, making excuses. 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:51.080 It's my pride. I didn't do it wrong. I didn't 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:53.379 mess up. It was them. It was late. It was the 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.039 traffic. If they would have done this on time, 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:58.179 I would have had it on time. It's you name it. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:02.279 In fact, related to that one is when I hear myself 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:05.580 blaming other people, I know that's pride. In 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:08.379 other words, don't look at me and think it's 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:11.919 my fault. See, humility, you know what humility 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:15.980 does? And it actually gains. It actually gains. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:19.559 the credibility of people. When you actually 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:21.580 make a mistake, when you're actually late, when 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:23.379 you really blow it, when you don't come through, 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:26.860 it's amazing what happens when you say, you know, 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:31.000 hey, I hope you all will, I just apologize. That 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.600 was a deadline. I didn't hit it. I could give 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.440 you a number of reasons. None of them really 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.159 measure up other than I didn't use my time wisely. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:41.100 I went down some bad paths in terms of how to 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:43.480 solve this problem. I'd like to ask you guys 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:47.120 to forgive me. You know what normally happens? 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:49.100 Everyone in the room knows they do that too. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:55.820 But so often we blame, we make excuses. In my 00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:58.039 marriage for many years, I remember my wife saying 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:00.700 this. She said it in the presence of a counselor, 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:03.779 so it was very unpleasant. Chip, you always have 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:07.100 to have the last word. Does that ring a bell? 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:11.200 You always have to have the last word. And I 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:14.570 had to go into training to realize why. Because 00:16:14.570 --> 00:16:17.690 down deep, I've got to be right. I've got to 00:16:17.690 --> 00:16:21.129 declare. And it was all about these insecurities 00:16:21.129 --> 00:16:24.429 and this pride. I remember evaluating things, 00:16:24.549 --> 00:16:26.669 and especially some of you that are... in business 00:16:26.669 --> 00:16:29.029 or if you have some leadership or strategic views 00:16:29.029 --> 00:16:32.389 of things, and the challenge is if you're really 00:16:32.389 --> 00:16:36.289 pretty good at it. I remember a number of years 00:16:36.289 --> 00:16:38.429 ago, it was probably a decade ago, I would hope 00:16:38.429 --> 00:16:40.009 it'd be a little bit more, but honestly, probably 00:16:40.009 --> 00:16:42.929 about a decade ago, when I realized, when I evaluated 00:16:42.929 --> 00:16:45.409 things, I had this subtle view that when I looked 00:16:45.409 --> 00:16:47.250 at all the pieces and I aligned all the pieces, 00:16:47.409 --> 00:16:52.149 that my view was the truth. My view. In other 00:16:52.149 --> 00:16:53.789 words, I've looked at this, I've looked at this, 00:16:53.809 --> 00:16:55.210 I've prayed about it, I've got it all together. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:00.480 My view of this situation is the truth. And boy, 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.620 did I find out either I didn't read the pieces 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:06.140 right or I didn't have all the pieces. And I 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:08.759 had a couple of experiences where I was so wrong. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:12.960 And now when I have a conversation where I have 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:15.220 to confront someone and it's really difficult 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:19.220 and it's really tender, I try to always preface 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:21.759 it with something like this. Now, I want you 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.359 to know that I need to... I need to say a couple 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:26.880 things that will be hard to hear, but here's 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.299 what you need to hear first. This is my perspective, 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.799 not to be confused with the truth. I don't know 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:35.339 the reality, but what I want you to know and 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:38.279 what I'm responsible, this is my perspective, 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:41.440 and I'd like you to take this perspective, and 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.579 would you weigh this before God to see what truth 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:46.619 is in it? Do you see the difference? My list 00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:53.269 is actually longer. Well, here's one. I was perpetually 00:17:53.269 --> 00:17:57.829 late for almost everything for years. You know, 00:17:57.849 --> 00:18:00.670 the guy that's dashing onto the plane in the 00:18:00.670 --> 00:18:02.630 old years before, you know, there was all that 00:18:02.630 --> 00:18:05.630 security or the person who's rushing in and running 00:18:05.630 --> 00:18:07.829 out of the parking lot and coming in two minutes 00:18:07.829 --> 00:18:10.049 late or five minutes late. I was late, late, 00:18:10.150 --> 00:18:14.369 late, late, late. And I tried hard and it really 00:18:14.369 --> 00:18:17.359 bugged my wife. And then I had a breakthrough. 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.920 My problem was not being late. My problem wasn't 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:22.220 self -will. My problem wasn't discipline. My 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:25.539 problem was grandiosity. And when I saw that 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:30.819 it was so ugly, I changed. Some of you are saying, 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:34.339 so what exactly is grandiosity? Grandiosity is 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.619 thinking whatever you're doing is so important. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:43.059 And if I can say this kindly, we come here on 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:46.789 a weekend. to adore and give our very best to 00:18:46.789 --> 00:18:49.750 the creator of the universe and the savior that 00:18:49.750 --> 00:18:52.250 died upon a cross to pay for our sin and rose 00:18:52.250 --> 00:18:54.069 from the dead and has given us eternal life. 00:18:55.430 --> 00:19:00.970 The grandiosity to come in 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes 00:19:00.970 --> 00:19:06.410 late. The grandiosity of during a song or during 00:19:06.410 --> 00:19:08.490 this time when I'm teaching the very word of 00:19:08.490 --> 00:19:10.930 God, you checking your email and having your 00:19:10.930 --> 00:19:16.049 phone open is arrogance. It's just arrogance. 00:19:17.789 --> 00:19:21.049 And, you know, please, you know, I always hear 00:19:21.049 --> 00:19:22.869 pastors say, I don't want you to feel guilty. 00:19:22.970 --> 00:19:25.609 Actually, I want you to feel guilty. If you're 00:19:25.609 --> 00:19:28.329 guilty, guilt's a really good thing. If there's 00:19:28.329 --> 00:19:31.130 genuine sorrow, you repent and you realize, oh, 00:19:31.289 --> 00:19:33.410 I never thought of it that way. I'm not saying 00:19:33.410 --> 00:19:35.349 you thought of it intentionally. I'm just telling 00:19:35.349 --> 00:19:38.349 you what it is. If this was a U2 concert, this 00:19:38.349 --> 00:19:40.650 place would be packed two hours and people would 00:19:40.650 --> 00:19:42.910 rush to get in. When you buy tickets to a movie, 00:19:43.029 --> 00:19:47.289 you don't go a half hour late. See, we have a 00:19:47.289 --> 00:19:50.170 consumer mindset. There is a grandiosity and 00:19:50.170 --> 00:19:54.289 an arrogance. And it needs to be changed. And 00:19:54.289 --> 00:19:58.769 so notice point number three is choose to practice 00:19:58.769 --> 00:20:02.869 humility daily by putting others' needs and interests 00:20:02.869 --> 00:20:05.529 ahead of your own. Don't consider just your own 00:20:05.529 --> 00:20:09.849 interests, although the passage is clear, take 00:20:09.849 --> 00:20:12.410 them into account, but consider the interests 00:20:12.410 --> 00:20:15.990 of others as more important than your own. Where 00:20:15.990 --> 00:20:17.390 are we going to go to eat? Where would you like 00:20:17.390 --> 00:20:21.670 to go to eat? Maybe this person has to get to 00:20:21.670 --> 00:20:24.109 work. It's as important or more important than 00:20:24.109 --> 00:20:29.789 you. What would happen? What would happen? If 00:20:29.789 --> 00:20:32.369 we declared war on selfishness, if we said, I'm 00:20:32.369 --> 00:20:34.829 going to attack the root of this problem, which 00:20:34.829 --> 00:20:37.490 is really my own pride, this empty conceit, this 00:20:37.490 --> 00:20:39.750 vainglory, and then this week I'm going to go 00:20:39.750 --> 00:20:42.769 into training. And I'm going to choose very specifically 00:20:42.769 --> 00:20:44.950 in little, little things that will grow into 00:20:44.950 --> 00:20:48.089 bigger and bigger things. I'm going to choose 00:20:48.089 --> 00:20:50.329 in my money to be generous. I'm going to choose 00:20:50.329 --> 00:20:54.450 in my time to be generous. And we'll talk about 00:20:54.450 --> 00:20:57.890 exactly how very specifically to put that in 00:20:57.890 --> 00:21:03.390 practice. Ask yourself, where does my money go? 00:21:04.630 --> 00:21:08.309 Loving toward God and others or me? Where does 00:21:08.309 --> 00:21:13.500 my time go? Toward God and others or me? Where 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:21.279 does my energy go? Father, I pray now as there 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.960 are many, many, many relationships that are fractured 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.319 and it will require only one person to admit 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:30.640 at the heart of it, regardless of the other person, 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:33.900 that pride and selfishness and arrogance is at 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:37.339 the core and a repentance before you and then 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:41.680 the next steps. of asking forgiveness and restitution 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:45.460 and even reconciliation in some cases where it's 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:49.460 possible. So Lord, would you bring to mind in 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:54.539 this room the people that need to get a call, 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:59.119 a lunch, a coffee, a text, a letter, a note of 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:03.160 apology so that we could love others the way 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:09.339 you've loved us. Before we do anything else in 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:12.960 this broadcast, I want to pause. I just prayed, 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:17.539 and now I want to talk to you very honestly and 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:20.839 sincerely about your life. You know, the fact 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.779 of the matter is, is that you need to ask and 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:28.339 I need to ask, so where does your money go? And 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:32.200 what actions really indicate that you love God 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:35.019 and you love other people? I mean, where does 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:37.920 your time go? And this is not about me in any 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:41.299 way seeking to poke around or make you feel guilty. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:45.180 This is about you and me as brother and sisters 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:48.900 in Christ coming before the throne of God and 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:53.730 saying, love isn't just a feeling. Love chooses 00:22:53.730 --> 00:22:58.549 to serve. It chooses to give. It chooses to get 00:22:58.549 --> 00:23:01.089 out of our comfort zone. It's the platinum rule. 00:23:01.210 --> 00:23:05.430 Love says, this is what God has done in us. And 00:23:05.430 --> 00:23:08.569 something inside of us, the spirit of a living 00:23:08.569 --> 00:23:12.630 God, compels us to release our time and our money 00:23:12.630 --> 00:23:15.809 and our energy to meet the needs of other people. 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:18.440 And so I'd like you, you know, if you're driving, 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.119 don't do this. But if you're not driving, would 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:23.599 you just open your palms upward and say, Lord, 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:27.079 it's your money. It's your time. It's your gifts. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:30.099 It's your talents. Would you bring to my mind 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:34.259 just today, who could I extend money and time 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:37.500 and energy and love to? And Lord, would you help 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:40.450 me see first and foremost? Under the roof where 00:23:40.450 --> 00:23:43.130 I live, my roommate or my husband, my wife, my 00:23:43.130 --> 00:23:45.970 kids, would you help me to be an other -centered 00:23:45.970 --> 00:23:49.630 follower of Jesus? And then watch how the Spirit 00:23:49.630 --> 00:23:52.700 of God will work in you and through you. Great 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:55.119 word, Chip. Well, if you've been inspired to 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:57.500 deepen your relationship with God, we'd love 00:23:57.500 --> 00:24:01.140 to support you. Go to truespiritualityonline 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:04.640 .org and check out our resources. You can order 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.700 Chip's popular book, True Spirituality, get the 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:10.059 small group, or watch countless helpful videos. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:13.099 All these tools were designed to show you the 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:15.759 clear path to becoming a genuine follower of 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.490 Christ. So check them out today. That website 00:24:18.490 --> 00:24:25.490 again is truespiritualityonline .org. Well, before 00:24:25.490 --> 00:24:27.710 we go, Chip's still with me in studio to pass 00:24:27.710 --> 00:24:30.670 along a really encouraging testimony. Thanks 00:24:30.670 --> 00:24:34.130 so much, Dave. I'd like to share a story of a 00:24:34.130 --> 00:24:37.509 fellow pastor in India. His name is Pastor Mustafa. 00:24:38.049 --> 00:24:41.519 And I have to say it is the... absolute saddest 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:44.680 story I think I've ever heard. He lives in a 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:47.339 very rural area. He has the disability of one 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:50.440 leg, so he walks with a limp and a cane. He has 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:53.299 a family and a couple kids. And he went through, 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:56.960 I mean, a dark, dark, dark time. He came to the 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:59.500 point where he was so desperate, the persecution 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:02.539 was so bad, that he and his wife and his kids 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:05.440 literally were planning and making a pact that 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.180 said, we're going to do a mass suicide. I mean, 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:10.420 that sounds terrible, but I can tell you I've 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:13.039 pastored for 40 years some of the most godly 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:16.099 people I've ever met. If things get so bad and 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:18.339 they lose perspective, you can do things that 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:21.220 you think would be unimaginable. In the midst 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:23.839 of that time, a fellow pastor said, you need 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:26.079 to read this and come to this event. It's called 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:29.400 The Art of Survival. He went to that, and God 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:32.400 spoke to him. He said, I'm going to consider 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:35.750 it all joy. I'm going to— hang on to God's wisdom, 00:25:35.829 --> 00:25:39.130 and I refused to give up, and God infused him, 00:25:39.250 --> 00:25:41.869 and as a result, he shared that with his church, 00:25:41.950 --> 00:25:46.349 and the ripples go on and on and on. When you 00:25:46.349 --> 00:25:49.529 support Living on the Edge, and when you pray, 00:25:49.769 --> 00:25:53.009 you're helping us help under -resourced pastors, 00:25:53.190 --> 00:25:57.369 often in rural areas, all throughout India, Nepal, 00:25:57.809 --> 00:26:02.509 places in China, Africa, Latin America. We have 00:26:02.509 --> 00:26:05.569 teams in these places around the world, and pastors 00:26:05.569 --> 00:26:08.869 like Mustafa, unfortunately, are not the exception. 00:26:09.650 --> 00:26:12.650 Pastors are hurting. God is allowing us at Living 00:26:12.650 --> 00:26:15.529 on the Edge to stand in the gap, to meet them 00:26:15.529 --> 00:26:18.569 where they're at, and see God give them life. 00:26:19.049 --> 00:26:22.539 Here's my question. Would you join us? Incredible 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:25.579 story, Chip. So if God is nudging you to encourage 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:28.259 and support pastors with us, now's a great time 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:30.660 to become a financial partner. From now until 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:34.039 June 30th, every gift we receive will be matched 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.880 dollar for dollar. So to be part of our mid -year 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:42.599 match, call us at 888 -333 -6003 or go to Living 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:48.019 on the Edge. That's livingontheedge .org or call 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:54.119 888 -333 -6003. App listeners, tap donate. As 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:56.200 we close, you know a great way to get plugged 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:58.500 in with our resources here at Living on the Edge 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:01.099 is through the Chip Ingram app. You can listen 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:04.180 to past series, sign up for daily discipleship 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:06.980 and more. Let us help you experience God in a 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:09.519 new personal way starting today with the Chip 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:12.599 Ingram app. For Chip and the entire team here, 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:14.720 this is Dave Drewy, thanking you for listening 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.500 to this edition of Living on the Edge, and I 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:19.160 hope you'll join us again next time.