WEBVTT 00:00:01.229 --> 00:00:04.790 There is one practice that is almost built into 00:00:04.790 --> 00:00:09.269 the human psyche that absolutely destroys relationships. 00:00:09.650 --> 00:00:12.890 The moment I compare myself with another person, 00:00:12.970 --> 00:00:16.350 I go one of two directions. I either feel inferior 00:00:16.350 --> 00:00:20.489 or superior, and neither of those responses helps 00:00:20.489 --> 00:00:23.469 me love them. Today we're going to learn how 00:00:23.469 --> 00:00:26.370 to stop comparing and to really love people. 00:00:30.670 --> 00:00:32.950 Thanks for listening to this edition of Living 00:00:32.950 --> 00:00:36.070 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We are an international 00:00:36.070 --> 00:00:39.090 teaching and discipleship ministry that encourages 00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:41.649 and equips Christians to live like Christians. 00:00:42.049 --> 00:00:43.929 Well, in just a minute, we'll dive back into 00:00:43.929 --> 00:00:46.810 Chip's series, Spiritual Simplicity, by sharing 00:00:46.810 --> 00:00:49.030 the second half of his talk, What's Love Got 00:00:49.030 --> 00:00:51.929 to Do With It? Today, Chip reminds us that godly 00:00:51.929 --> 00:00:54.829 love is powerful, but when we compare, whether 00:00:54.829 --> 00:00:58.009 through envy or pride, it can damage and even 00:00:58.009 --> 00:01:00.829 destroy love. So let's learn how to avoid the 00:01:00.829 --> 00:01:03.289 trap of comparison. Go in your Bible again to 00:01:03.289 --> 00:01:06.150 1 Corinthians chapter 13 for the remainder of 00:01:06.150 --> 00:01:09.469 Chip's talk. Here's what I want you, I mean, 00:01:09.469 --> 00:01:12.290 this is what we're going after. This is the jugular. 00:01:12.469 --> 00:01:14.989 You want to become more loving in real time. 00:01:15.129 --> 00:01:19.069 Here's the issue. Comparison always leads to 00:01:19.069 --> 00:01:22.629 carnality. The moment you ever compare yourself 00:01:22.629 --> 00:01:25.290 with another person, it always produces carnality. 00:01:26.129 --> 00:01:27.989 And if you're wondering what carnality is, it's 00:01:27.989 --> 00:01:33.290 just sin. You're not loving. Because the moment 00:01:33.290 --> 00:01:35.109 you compare, there's only two directions to go. 00:01:35.409 --> 00:01:38.969 You start comparing and you go, hmm, I think 00:01:38.969 --> 00:01:41.030 that person's up here and I'm here. That's a 00:01:41.030 --> 00:01:43.290 lot nicer car. They have more visible gifts. 00:01:43.810 --> 00:01:45.670 I'm single and they're married and I wish I was 00:01:45.670 --> 00:01:49.090 married. Or it goes the other way. You know what? 00:01:49.109 --> 00:01:51.230 That person's not very important. That's an old 00:01:51.230 --> 00:01:53.390 dumpy thing. I wonder why they act like that. 00:01:53.530 --> 00:01:55.469 I wonder why they dress like that. And you know 00:01:55.469 --> 00:01:58.489 what? You don't verbalize it, but you feel superior. 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:02.719 You feel better than. And when you envy people, 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:05.540 you don't treat them in loving ways. Or if you 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:07.319 think you're better than them, you don't treat 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:10.379 them in loving ways. And so here's what I want 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:15.060 you to see. We are going to go to war on the 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:18.539 issue of comparison. Arrogance compares downward 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:23.259 and produces pride, boasting, rudeness, and independence. 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:26.659 All of which this passage say is unloving. This 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:32.360 is the eye saying to the hand. I don't need you. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:37.740 I see where we're going. I mean, has anyone ever 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:41.319 heard of a hand to hand conversation? It's eye 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:44.060 to eye. I mean, the eye is the lamp of the body. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:46.900 I mean, the eye is what's important. The eye 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:50.259 is what really matters. The eye is way better 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:54.759 than the hand. You see the comparison? And by 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.439 the way, it can be the exact same. Here's what's 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:59.319 so ironic about this envy and arrogance. You 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:04.039 can be in one room. And the single people see 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:07.280 this couple and they get married. And the single 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.719 people are going, God, I just don't understand. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:11.639 There's envy and resentment in my heart. And 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:13.479 she used to be my best friend. Then she got married. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:14.960 Now they got a little baby. They all seem so 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:17.919 happy and I'm so lonely. And then you have the 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:19.979 married couple with two kids or maybe three. 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:22.280 And they thought they were done. They wanted 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.400 to be done. They planned to be done. They're 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:29.250 not done. And out of the blue comes number three 00:03:29.250 --> 00:03:31.430 or number four. And they're looking at these 00:03:31.430 --> 00:03:32.849 single people. What are you doing this summer? 00:03:32.930 --> 00:03:34.289 Well, I'm going to go on a missions trip. And 00:03:34.289 --> 00:03:35.969 then I thought I'd spend a week in Italy with 00:03:35.969 --> 00:03:38.449 a couple friends. And, you know, so how's your 00:03:38.449 --> 00:03:39.909 week going? It was really good. You know, I had 00:03:39.909 --> 00:03:41.590 coffee over there. I had a latte with my friends, 00:03:41.650 --> 00:03:44.050 a couple from work. And the married couple are 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:49.270 going, we've been in diapers 11 years. And they 00:03:49.270 --> 00:03:53.250 envy their singleness and their mobility. See, 00:03:53.389 --> 00:04:00.620 it's not the what. It's not the what. And we 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:03.580 compare upward or downward. The meaning of the 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:05.599 word arrogance literally means to be puffed up, 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:10.759 inflated, overvalued. If the emotional kind of 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:16.740 color for envy is red, hot, arrogance is cool, 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:26.500 blue, above. It's like the blowfish. And I learned, 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:28.959 a fellow who owns a fish store or used to, he 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:31.040 said, actually, they fill with anything. He says, 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:32.839 if you pull them out of water, they fill with 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:35.519 air. I said, that's a good illustration because 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.500 isn't that what we do? Isn't that what we do? 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:42.139 Whatever our, you know, if it's a ministry setting, 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:44.860 ooh. If it's a financial setting, ooh. If it's 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:46.720 a relational setting, we just, when you're arrogant, 00:04:46.779 --> 00:04:50.759 you just fill up to try and project. You matter 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:52.660 more. You're more important. And there's something 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:54.899 that makes you feel secure by putting people 00:04:54.899 --> 00:04:58.019 down this direction. And we all do it. It's rooted 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:02.339 in comparison. I almost hesitate to share this, 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:05.420 but it's probably beneficial. This is a social 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:07.839 science experiment I'd like you to do. Go to 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:10.819 a coffee shop this week. And you can say this 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:13.980 is your ministry, at least application. Starbucks, 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:16.500 wherever. And then I want you to have a book 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:20.139 that you pretend that you read. and get whatever 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:23.139 your favorite chai or coffee, and just sit there 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:27.240 for 15 or 20 minutes, not purposely to eavesdrop, 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:30.279 but just to hear. Conversation here, conversation 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:34.560 here, conversation here, conversation here. And 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:38.819 I'll make a prediction. Four out of five conversations 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:42.379 are two people sitting there talking about someone 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:45.120 else who's not there. And they're either talking 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:47.259 about what they didn't do, what they should have 00:05:47.259 --> 00:05:49.279 done, and how they don't measure up, and this 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:51.680 group is superior, or they're talking about someone 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:53.379 where this person makes them feel less than. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:58.019 And there's something horrendously, sadistically, 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:01.240 and sinfully satisfying about vetting, talking 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:04.240 about someone else, and how I feel better because 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.420 now we're saying that about her or about him. 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:11.379 Comparison is the arch enemy of love when you 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:14.600 look at differences. The arrogant puffed up person 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:18.560 has a motto or a mindset as well. And basically, 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:23.399 I don't need you. You don't matter. By the way, 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:26.220 the more gift, the more talent, the more blessing, 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:29.360 the more position that for whatever reason God 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:32.079 may give you, the greater the temptation. This 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:34.240 book is filled with people that started out very, 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:36.899 very humble. And God, could you ever use me? 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:39.100 And then they become king and they become famous. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:44.079 And then the hubris kicks in. Because after the 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:46.100 attitude of I don't need you and you don't matter, 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.800 I'm indispensable, comes feelings like I'm superior. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:53.240 I really am more important. I mean, they talk 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:55.860 about other people as though they're less intellectual. 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.519 Their feelings don't matter as much. What they 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.040 do is important, I mean, for those kind of people, 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:03.240 you know, obviously. And then there's this entitlement 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:09.160 mindset. You're special. The action steps of 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:11.819 arrogance is when you're arrogant, you automatically 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:14.459 become independent. You don't need as many people. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:19.079 I mean, you're what matters. You're the go -to 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:21.720 person. You're the center of attention. And so 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:23.800 the more blessing, the more money, the more position, 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.079 the more power, you actually don't need people. 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:28.980 And then the step after independence, arrogant 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:32.319 people are independent. And beyond being independent, 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:34.459 it moves to the next one. Then they're not accountable. 00:07:35.030 --> 00:07:38.089 These rules about money and how to use it, these 00:07:38.089 --> 00:07:40.329 rules about sexual purity and what you can and 00:07:40.329 --> 00:07:41.829 cannot do, well, that's for other people, but 00:07:41.829 --> 00:07:44.990 I mean, my schedule and my demands, there's a 00:07:44.990 --> 00:07:48.730 different set of rules for me. That's usually 00:07:48.730 --> 00:07:53.329 well on the journey to their downfall. And after 00:07:53.329 --> 00:07:55.029 the independence and the lack of accountability, 00:07:55.449 --> 00:07:57.730 then they become indifferent to the needs of 00:07:57.730 --> 00:08:04.639 others. It's not often just from the words. It's 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:07.319 a look, it's a glance, it's a body language. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:12.360 But when you're around them, they almost don't 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:15.480 have to say it. You feel or are attempted to 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:20.100 made to feel less than. Now, I'm going to suggest 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:24.819 that we all struggle with both envy and arrogance, 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.199 but we tend to habitually fall into one camp 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:32.039 more than the other. My personal camp is arrogance. 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:35.179 I've struggled with arrogance all my life. Part 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:37.519 of it is your personality. Part is your giftedness. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:40.220 Part is your family of origin. I mean, can you 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:41.960 imagine having a dad? When I was three years 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.059 old, before I walked out of the house, there 00:08:44.059 --> 00:08:46.240 was this easel and he was teaching me to read. 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:49.159 And then he was teaching me to spell long words 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:51.139 so he could impress his friends. I'd go to the 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:52.940 swimming pool that he managed in the summer and 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:55.299 he was a teacher and a coach. And Chip, tell 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:58.940 him, intercontinental ballistic missile. A three 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:02.940 -year -old. Boom. And then, you know, he would 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:07.740 say, Chip, this is true. I mean, this country 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:10.320 is going to need a good president someday. Can 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:13.879 you imagine this? And I think, and so, I mean, 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:15.899 the good side, you talk about a kid that grew 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:19.139 up with confidence, but you talk about a guy 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:22.480 that had a warped, arrogant view that God has 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:25.799 been cutting through for years. So we all will 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:27.980 lean one way or another. Often people that have 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:31.399 had difficult paths feel like they never quite 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:35.379 measure up, struggle with envy. You know, why 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:37.960 did God make her so pretty? Why did he get that 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.460 job? You know, I'm tired of, you know, batting 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:42.659 eighth in the lineup. You know, that guy's a 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:45.179 jerk and he bats third and he plays shortstop 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:48.419 and now he just went IPO in his company. That 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:54.179 is so sickening, right? Well, Let me give you 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:57.480 a remedy, a very specific love step to attack 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:01.879 comparison if you compare upwardly. It says, 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:04.639 the envious must believe that God is good and 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:07.460 has sovereignly and wisely given them what is 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:10.539 best for them and best to fulfill his purpose. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:13.919 You might circle that in your notes. Notice it 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.559 doesn't say the envious must try harder not to 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:19.870 envy. Trying hard or not to envy doesn't work. 00:10:19.889 --> 00:10:22.370 You've got to think differently. God is good. 00:10:22.549 --> 00:10:25.429 He's in control. You are who you are. You're 00:10:25.429 --> 00:10:27.929 where you're at. And he wants to work in your 00:10:27.929 --> 00:10:30.169 life. And he's for you. And he's good. And every 00:10:30.169 --> 00:10:31.870 person in every season, everything doesn't look 00:10:31.870 --> 00:10:35.610 great. He cares for you. And who he made you 00:10:35.610 --> 00:10:39.210 is what matters in embracing that. I have really 00:10:39.210 --> 00:10:42.370 honestly not had much struggle with envy in my 00:10:42.370 --> 00:10:45.960 life because of my warped arrogance. There's 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:47.919 a particular friend of mine in another state. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.559 He's a teaching pastor. He's written books. We're 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:54.080 friends. We've had breakfast and coffee and we're 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:56.940 very similar age. And in about a six or eight 00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:59.600 week period, to make the long story short, everywhere 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.500 I went, his books are here. I look at a conference 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:04.600 and he's speaking here. And then a couple of 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:06.200 friends, oh, I got to tell you, this is the most 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:08.440 helpful thing ever and ever. And normally it 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:10.460 was like, great, man, he's my friend. The kingdom's 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:12.539 growing. And then even my son was telling me, 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:14.840 dad, I got to tell you, I just, this guy, this 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:17.500 is... the best thing in the whole world. And 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:23.000 a little something inside went, son, are you 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.960 aware I kind of do some of the same stuff? I 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:28.340 mean, I'm your dad, you know? And then, you know, 00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:29.720 it's like it hit me, hit me, hit me, and then 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:31.899 I walked into a bookstore and his books are face 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:33.799 forward like in a Barnes and Noble or someplace. 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:36.600 And, you know, my normal reacts to me, oh, great, 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:39.379 man, someone's solid. This is really super. Instead, 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:42.080 this is so embarrassing. So instead, it was like, 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:50.460 I wonder, I wonder how my books are doing. Okay, 00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:54.139 Christian Living, let's see, H -H -H -H -H -I. 00:11:56.200 --> 00:12:05.320 J. It must be sold out. No, not there. Don't 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:10.220 even carry it. And I remember then I read something, 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:12.100 and I mean, this guy's really helped me. He's 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:16.580 a friend. I love him. But I felt less than. My 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:19.120 less than was followed by kind of didn't want 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:24.759 to be around that. And I felt resentful. And 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:31.820 it was like, oh, this is so ugly. And so I did 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:38.200 a very specific steps that God led me to that 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:40.139 I want to give you that will help you with your 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:44.899 person. Number one, I faced the desire, my jealousy. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.600 So I called it all kinds of other things, but 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.399 I kept having this uneasiness. It really helped 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:54.080 to say, I'm envious. I'm jealous. The second 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:57.840 thing is I didn't try and squash the desire. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.500 So what do I want to say? God, I never want you 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:02.179 to use my books. God, I never want you to use 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:05.759 my life. No, I redirected and said, God, I really 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:09.080 want you to use my life, but I want to be your 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:12.519 man, your spot, used at whatever level. to promote 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.580 ministry and kingdom, not compared to anything 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:19.639 or anyone else. And so I repent of that, but 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:24.259 I long for you to use my life. Third is I meditated 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:27.120 on God's goodness. See, at the end of the day, 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:29.320 it was like, when you start comparing, it's like, 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:31.779 well, if God was really good, he would have given 00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:33.620 me a mate by now. If God was really good, he 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:35.620 would have kind of healed my body like he did 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:37.460 this other person's body. If God was really good, 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:42.610 he would have. When we compare, We begin to believe 00:13:42.610 --> 00:13:45.429 the lie that God isn't good. The very first sin 00:13:45.429 --> 00:13:48.590 in the Bible, Eve was deceived because she believed 00:13:48.590 --> 00:13:54.049 God was holding out. Eve, I mean, do you understand 00:13:54.049 --> 00:13:56.909 what this will do for you? And she believed that 00:13:56.909 --> 00:13:59.470 God was holding out, that he wasn't good. And 00:13:59.470 --> 00:14:02.389 so you meditate on that. The fourth specific 00:14:02.389 --> 00:14:05.210 thing you need to do to overcome envy is choose 00:14:05.210 --> 00:14:08.980 gratitude and give thanks. So I begin to thank 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:11.840 God and I begin to thank God for this guy. Thank 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.659 God for his books. Thank God my lands, my son 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:17.200 is listening and reading this person and it's 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.340 helping him and encouraging him. Thank you, Lord. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:22.159 And then I begin to thank God. And then I willfully 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.639 decided, I just made a little thing. I said, 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:25.519 you know something? I'm not gonna compare. So 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.639 I just have a new little rule. I'm not gonna 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:31.039 go into bookstores and see where I'm not or where 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:34.279 I am or care either way. And I just decided, 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:36.179 you know what? That little practice just sets 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:40.139 me up. for doing and having bad comparative thoughts. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.500 You can be jealous or you can be grateful, but 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:47.379 those two won't live in the same heart. You start 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:49.740 thanking God for this person, thanking God for 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:51.779 his blessing, thanking for what he's done, and 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:53.779 then start thanking him for what he's done. Either 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:56.360 you will envy what others have or you'll thank 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:59.259 God for what you do have. And you start doing 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:01.460 that, I will tell you what, the envy will dissipate. 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:05.710 And then finally, connect. with that person if 00:15:05.710 --> 00:15:08.070 it's appropriate and serve them. Now, this person 00:15:08.070 --> 00:15:10.350 lives in a whole nother state. So I just, I remember 00:15:10.350 --> 00:15:12.009 as an application, I've been praying for him. 00:15:12.049 --> 00:15:15.190 Hey, his name, I just wanna let you know, everywhere 00:15:15.190 --> 00:15:17.029 I've turned around in the last three or four 00:15:17.029 --> 00:15:21.750 weeks, God is using you in amazing ways. Thank 00:15:21.750 --> 00:15:24.450 you for your impact in my life. And I just wanna 00:15:24.450 --> 00:15:26.970 encourage you, keep pressing ahead and hang in 00:15:26.970 --> 00:15:30.250 there, Chip. You know, a few hours later, thanks, 00:15:30.330 --> 00:15:34.129 Chip. And you know what? I was free. And now 00:15:34.129 --> 00:15:37.190 we're in the kingdom of God boat, and we're both 00:15:37.190 --> 00:15:39.870 rowing together toward what God wants. Aren't 00:15:39.870 --> 00:15:41.929 we going the same direction? And so I want to 00:15:41.929 --> 00:15:45.590 rejoice in that. You're listening to Living on 00:15:45.590 --> 00:15:48.149 the Edge. Before we continue today's program, 00:15:48.370 --> 00:15:51.110 let me ask you, are you in a small group? Well, 00:15:51.129 --> 00:15:53.070 if so, are you looking for a new study to do 00:15:53.070 --> 00:15:55.789 together this year? Join us after Chip's message 00:15:55.789 --> 00:15:58.289 to learn more about our library of study guides, 00:15:58.509 --> 00:16:00.789 which are sure to help you and your group grow 00:16:00.789 --> 00:16:03.580 in your faith. You won't want to miss it. Well, 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.279 with that, let's rejoin Chip for the remainder 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:09.059 of his message. For the arrogant, you must admit 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:12.779 our need and choose to be vulnerable in order 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:15.320 to receive the goodness God in their daily experience. 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:17.679 Arrogant people don't have people close to them. 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:20.600 They keep getting separated, separated, more 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.679 and more independent, and everyone sees them 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:24.299 as powerful. In fact, I worked with one group 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:26.460 of guys recently, and I said, you know why most 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:28.700 of you don't have any close friendships? And 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.159 they all happen to be in a room and they all 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:33.000 own their own business. I said, because you can 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.159 either fire them or disinherit them. And that's 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:38.840 why you get very little truth in your life. Because 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:41.039 they're intimidated by you. And you know what 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:42.419 they don't understand? They don't understand 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:44.559 how lonely it is to be, quote, as influential 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:46.659 and influent as you are. They don't understand 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.740 the issues in your marriage that other people 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:50.460 don't understand. They don't understand that 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:52.379 when you start having a relationship, in the 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:54.220 back of your mind, you're always wondering, is 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:56.039 this person trying to get into my wallet, my 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:59.240 portfolio, or my Rolodex? And so you become an 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:01.299 untrusting person. You become more and more independent. 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:03.980 You will gravitate toward this very dangerous 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:06.119 place of not being accountable. And then you'll 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:09.099 start using people because pretty soon affirmation 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:11.279 is all you get. You don't get a lot of real love. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.640 And so you have to make more and more impact 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:16.720 and do and do more and earn, earn more. And then 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:19.059 so you use people to get things done. And that's 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:23.819 called manipulation. And your soul dries up when 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:28.829 that occurs. Arrogant people need to choose to 00:17:28.829 --> 00:17:30.730 be vulnerable. So you need a safe place to do 00:17:30.730 --> 00:17:33.990 that in order to receive the goodness of God 00:17:33.990 --> 00:17:37.309 in their daily life. And I will tell you that 00:17:37.309 --> 00:17:40.089 there's three or four things you can do that 00:17:40.089 --> 00:17:42.670 will give you some real help here. One is remember 00:17:42.670 --> 00:17:46.650 that everything you have is from God. In chapter 00:17:46.650 --> 00:17:48.630 four of this book, Paul says, what do you have 00:17:48.630 --> 00:17:50.930 that you haven't received? The brains you have, 00:17:50.990 --> 00:17:52.869 the opportunity you have, the family that you 00:17:52.869 --> 00:17:54.650 have, the money that you have, the gifts that 00:17:54.650 --> 00:17:57.029 you have, the talent that you have, they're from 00:17:57.029 --> 00:17:59.230 God. Every good and perfect gift is from above, 00:17:59.329 --> 00:18:01.130 from the father of lights with whom there's no 00:18:01.130 --> 00:18:04.910 variation or shifting shadow. You don't own anything. 00:18:05.230 --> 00:18:07.930 You are not the blowfish. You're just a fish. 00:18:09.509 --> 00:18:11.849 And God can fill you up. And I'll tell you what, 00:18:11.930 --> 00:18:15.079 he can take you down. And you just need to understand 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:18.279 it's a stewardship. God, I'm not sure why you 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:20.099 gave me this position. I don't know why you gave 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.839 me these gifts. I don't know why you've given 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:23.619 me this family. I don't know why you've allowed 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:26.559 me to be single and free. I don't know why you've 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:28.480 given me this money. I don't know why people 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.980 look to me. But what I know is it's a sacred 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:34.000 stewardship. Second thing, remember your roots. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:37.700 Remember your roots. You got to remember where 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:41.180 you came from. You know, I remember Kauffman, 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:47.039 Texas, 35 people. And I have a friend, this is 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.420 the third one, hang out with some people that 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:51.960 know your roots. That no matter what is ever 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:54.160 written about you or what people say about you, 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:56.119 no matter how many zeros get at the end of your 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:58.740 name or how many letters, there's some people 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:02.160 who know you. And you know what? They are totally 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.480 unimpressed. Played golf two weeks ago with a 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.799 guy that I've spent 18, 20 years with as friends 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:12.779 and ministry. And you know what I mean? He just... 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:16.180 He has the gift of bluntness, and I so love him 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:20.079 for it. And I mean, it's just, he loves. Here's 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:25.220 the other thing. He loves me for me. Because 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.960 he loved me when we were in ministry together 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:29.059 with, well, he came on when we were surging. 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:32.180 We were up to 60 people or 100, you know. And 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:34.079 he just loves me. I have another friend who's 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.980 on our board that I've known for 28 years, and 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:38.980 he'll bring up the past. And I know what he's 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.440 doing, and I so love him for it. You know what 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:43.490 he's saying? Hey, Chip. Remember when you and 00:19:43.490 --> 00:19:45.109 I were painting your bathroom in that very first 00:19:45.109 --> 00:19:46.950 church? Remember the house with all the cracks 00:19:46.950 --> 00:19:48.990 in the foundation? And remember when you did 00:19:48.990 --> 00:19:50.890 that silly, stupid thing? Yeah, remember when 00:19:50.890 --> 00:19:53.509 you, you know, you know what he's doing? He's 00:19:53.509 --> 00:19:57.029 saying, I love you. But I'll tell you what, it's 00:19:57.029 --> 00:20:00.210 God. You're just a steward. You're just a piece 00:20:00.210 --> 00:20:03.430 of flesh. And he's filled you with opportunity 00:20:03.430 --> 00:20:06.029 and some gift. And you'll stand before him on 00:20:06.029 --> 00:20:08.789 it. I just want to remind you. And see, the thing 00:20:08.789 --> 00:20:10.970 about envy and arrogance, remember, they're just 00:20:10.970 --> 00:20:14.069 the hit man. The core is comparison. That's what 00:20:14.069 --> 00:20:15.630 we got to eliminate. I'm giving you specific 00:20:15.630 --> 00:20:18.869 ways for you to say, I either lean toward arrogance 00:20:18.869 --> 00:20:21.609 or lean toward envy. And how do I address it? 00:20:22.549 --> 00:20:25.529 And I want to encourage you here that fourth 00:20:25.529 --> 00:20:28.029 is admit your needs and invite people into your 00:20:28.029 --> 00:20:32.990 life. If you're arrogant, admit your needs. I 00:20:32.990 --> 00:20:36.039 didn't want to do this. In fact, I came to last 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.519 night's service, and I didn't have this. And 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:40.400 as we were singing one of the songs, just the 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:43.539 Spirit of God whispered, you need to share this. 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:46.859 I like to say this was from 10 or 20 years ago 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:49.440 when I used to be an arrogant jerk, but it's 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.160 from August of this year when I acted like an 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:55.240 arrogant jerk. A verse came to my mind at the 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.700 end of the day. I'd traveled, and I had the privilege 00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:00.539 of having dinner with my older sister that I 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:03.319 rarely see. It says, the heart is more deceitful 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:05.099 than all else and is desperately wicked. Who 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:07.440 can understand it? That verse came to my mind 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.740 from Jeremiah. And then this is what I wrote 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:12.079 in my journal. As I finished up my day of travel 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.960 yesterday and enjoyed a rare evening with my 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.900 sister Jeannie, I realized how true that verse 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:20.500 is above. They were all little things throughout 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.599 the day or so I thought. And one by one, the 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:25.180 Holy Spirit brought them to mind as I walked 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:28.440 back to the hotel. I remember ignoring the man 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:31.240 in the wheelchair going through security. caring 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:34.099 more about my place in line than demonstrating 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:37.519 servanthood or concern. I even secretly thought, 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:39.880 he doesn't need that chair. He's just doing this 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:44.059 to dish everybody. Yeah, I'm sure you've never 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:47.740 had those thoughts. Second, being so consumed 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:49.859 with my work on the plane, I ignored the man 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:52.539 next to me named Michael. Then when he asked, 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:55.200 what do you do? I postured something about being 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.759 an author and returning to the local church as 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:01.619 a pastor. But fundamentally, I was just seeking 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:04.240 to please men. I didn't want to be viewed as 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:07.559 just a pastor. I wanted to be important and significant 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:10.480 because of my miles, I got bumped up to first 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:15.180 class and I wanted to impress. God brought Galatians 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:18.940 1 .10 and Luke 16 .15 to mind as I recalled those 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:21.720 events. Later that night, I had dinner with my 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:23.700 sister and realized that I took away one of the 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:26.819 few opportunities my sister could have to be 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:29.259 my big sister and take care of me and give to 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:32.059 me and be blessed. And I insisted I had to pay 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:36.680 for the dinner. Pride in its many insidious forms 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:41.660 is so ugly. All of this insensitivity, self -focus, 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:45.039 self -absorption, all the while, while I was 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:47.680 writing a new introduction for the book, The 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:54.900 Genius of Generosity. How ironic and sad. Father, 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:58.099 where would I be apart from your great mercy 00:22:58.099 --> 00:23:00.519 and steadfast, loyal love and forgiveness? Thank 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:02.900 you for applying the work of your son Jesus to 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:06.240 my sin and forgiving and cleansing me last night 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:09.720 after I became aware of it. Help me today to 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:13.200 please you, not people. Help me today to be a 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:15.539 man whose life and motives are highly esteemed 00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:18.440 in your eyes, not seeking to be highly esteemed 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:21.519 in the eyes of men. Help me today to love people 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:25.539 and not impress them. Help me today to not compare 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:28.819 myself with anyone in any way or judge or evaluate 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:31.940 others based on their outward appearance, wealth, 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:35.559 position, or perceived value to me or our ministry. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:39.779 Help me from any and all false humility or posturing 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:44.460 that communicates that I'm more than I am. Finally, 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:48.240 Lord, help me today to do justice, to love kindness, 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:54.519 and to walk humbly with you. Now, that's ugly. 00:23:55.900 --> 00:24:00.279 But it was in comparing myself with others that 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:05.839 my arrogance. And therefore, I was unloving to 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:09.680 my sister. I was unloving to a man who God may 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:13.059 have wanted to hear the gospel. I was unloving. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:16.859 loving because in my comparison, I compared downward 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:22.099 and me and mine and what I had to do was here 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:24.740 instead of considering others more important 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:29.960 than myself. Where are you on the journey? What 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:34.400 if this week you said, God, I'm going to attack 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:38.900 the hit man of either arrogance or envy. I want 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:44.160 to maximize my love. So I can minimize the urgent 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:47.839 and the demanding that is masquerading and causing 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:53.819 my life to be so complex. You're listening to 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:56.599 Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And the 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:59.039 message you just heard, what's love got to do 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:01.799 with it, is from our series, Spiritual Simplicity. 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.579 Chip will join us in studio to share some insights 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:07.799 from today's talk in just a minute. Most of us 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:11.079 live very hectic lives, moving too fast, demanding 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:14.319 too much, and delivering too little. If you're 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.940 desperate for an alternative that actually works, 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.799 then this study is for you. Chip's teaching will 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:22.319 help you escape this destructive pattern and 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:24.599 reveal how to better prioritize what matters 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:27.279 most and love others in a fresh, revolutionary 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:30.299 way. If you've missed any part of this series, 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:32.640 catch up anytime through the Chip Ingram app. 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:35.019 Well, Chip's back in studio with me now. And 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:37.299 Chip, you wrapped up this message by reminding 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:40.279 us how we can get stuck in an unhealthy cycle 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:43.359 of comparison. And, you know, so often when we 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:45.759 do that, we get so focused on the wrong stuff, 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:48.700 we neglect our relationship with God. So for 00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:51.359 people who feel out of sync in their faith, how 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.019 can they find that healthy spiritual rhythm again? 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:57.099 Well, Dave, I think most people would say start 00:25:57.099 --> 00:26:00.440 reading the Bible, spend quality time with God, 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:03.720 take maybe some passages where you're struggling 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:07.059 and memorize a short chapter. I think all of 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:10.329 those would be great places to start. But most 00:26:10.329 --> 00:26:12.730 of us are struggling with the lack of community. 00:26:14.250 --> 00:26:17.490 Isolation has killed us. The enemy, that's his 00:26:17.490 --> 00:26:20.210 goal, to get us isolated, to get us discouraged, 00:26:20.529 --> 00:26:23.450 to get us looking inward. And the only way to 00:26:23.450 --> 00:26:26.529 experience the life of the Holy Spirit is to 00:26:26.529 --> 00:26:30.660 be with people. We need to get... in a room with 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:33.380 a group of people centered around the Word of 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:36.019 God and say, we're going to meet every week or 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:38.480 every other week. We're going to do life together. 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.480 We're going to be open. We're going to be honest. 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:42.799 We're going to dig in. We're going to apply the 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:45.460 Scripture to our lives, and we're going to encourage 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:48.259 one another. It's been a really, really hard 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:52.690 last 18 to 24 months. We need each other. And 00:26:52.690 --> 00:26:55.470 so let me encourage you to go to our website 00:26:55.470 --> 00:26:59.710 and choose the small group study that best meets 00:26:59.710 --> 00:27:02.950 the needs of your family or a group of men, a 00:27:02.950 --> 00:27:05.650 group of women, or a group of couples. We have 00:27:05.650 --> 00:27:09.309 studies to help you get back in sync, get in 00:27:09.309 --> 00:27:12.670 rhythm, get in community, because there's life 00:27:12.670 --> 00:27:15.890 there. And God longs for us to experience the 00:27:15.890 --> 00:27:18.230 very life of Christ, but we can't do it alone. 00:27:18.990 --> 00:27:21.170 Thanks, Chip. Well, we have a growing library 00:27:21.170 --> 00:27:24.289 of small group resources on a wide range of topics, 00:27:24.390 --> 00:27:27.509 and they're so easy to use. Chip provides the 00:27:27.509 --> 00:27:29.849 teaching. Then you'll have time to discuss what 00:27:29.849 --> 00:27:32.150 you've heard alongside our helpful study guides. 00:27:32.329 --> 00:27:35.329 We also offer some insights for leaders to effectively 00:27:35.329 --> 00:27:38.410 lead their groups. If you're not in a small group 00:27:38.410 --> 00:27:40.930 yet or looking for your next topic to study, 00:27:41.049 --> 00:27:43.980 check out our resources. And as Chip said, for 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:46.619 a limited time, we've discounted all of our small 00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:49.240 group resources so you can get into community 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:52.980 today. To learn more, go to livingontheedge .org 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:59.180 or call us at 888 -333 -6003. That's 888 -333 00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:04.680 -6003 or livingontheedge .org. App listeners, 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:07.599 tap special offers. We'll hear again as Chip 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:11.579 to share a few final thoughts. As I close today's 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:14.819 program, I want to remind you that comparison 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:18.380 always leads to carnality. And as I shared in 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:21.140 the message, We do this so often. I mean, all 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:24.140 of us do it. We do it multiple times a day, so 00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:26.619 much so that we actually start believing and 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:28.960 thinking that it's normal. And the fact of the 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:31.339 matter is, it's not. It always takes me to a 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:34.480 bad place. And whether you tend to compare, you 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:36.920 know, upwardly and feel like you don't measure 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.460 up and you envy how people look or envy what 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:41.859 they do or envy what they wear or envy what they 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:45.099 drive or envy, you know, the boyfriend or girlfriend 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:48.059 or the maid or the children, all that takes you 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:52.109 to a place It's fine, as we talked about, to 00:28:52.109 --> 00:28:55.130 desire. You know, have desires for a mate or 00:28:55.130 --> 00:28:57.589 have desires maybe for a car that works or for 00:28:57.589 --> 00:29:00.329 a job that's better. That's fine. But you can't 00:29:00.329 --> 00:29:02.970 compare yourself with others. Or some of us go 00:29:02.970 --> 00:29:05.230 the other direction. We compare downward. And 00:29:05.230 --> 00:29:07.549 out of our insecurities and struggles, we feel 00:29:07.549 --> 00:29:10.329 better and superior. And we put people down. 00:29:10.490 --> 00:29:12.910 And even in our minds, you know, we don't even 00:29:12.910 --> 00:29:14.569 say anything. But if we have a little bit of 00:29:14.569 --> 00:29:17.069 disdain, like I'm better than you, it comes out 00:29:17.069 --> 00:29:19.369 in your body language. It comes out in your tone 00:29:19.369 --> 00:29:22.650 of voice. And so I want to encourage you. What's 00:29:22.650 --> 00:29:26.250 love got to do with it? Simplifying your life 00:29:26.250 --> 00:29:30.029 demands that you cut to the heart and ruthlessly 00:29:30.029 --> 00:29:33.009 eliminate comparing. And so in the message today, 00:29:33.069 --> 00:29:35.250 I gave you two or three very practical ways, 00:29:35.369 --> 00:29:37.750 and I want to remind you, and let's just do them 00:29:37.750 --> 00:29:40.769 today. The moment you start to compare, I want 00:29:40.769 --> 00:29:43.250 you to catch yourself. So when you walk in the 00:29:43.250 --> 00:29:45.750 office or go to the construction site or you're 00:29:45.750 --> 00:29:47.730 driving in your car and you look to the right 00:29:47.730 --> 00:29:50.289 or look to the left, and the first thought is, 00:29:50.349 --> 00:29:53.519 hmm, And you start to compare, then I want you 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:56.200 to stop. And then I want you to thank God for 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:58.910 whatever that person has. Lord, thank you for 00:29:58.910 --> 00:30:00.910 that car that they have. I don't know their life. 00:30:01.009 --> 00:30:03.250 Thank you for that child they have. Thank you 00:30:03.250 --> 00:30:05.509 for the job that they do have. And then, God, 00:30:05.609 --> 00:30:08.569 thank you that you made me just the way you made 00:30:08.569 --> 00:30:11.470 me. And then whatever it is that sort of prompts 00:30:11.470 --> 00:30:14.430 a hurt or a need or a desire like, you know, 00:30:14.450 --> 00:30:16.690 I would really like to have a mate or I wish 00:30:16.690 --> 00:30:19.130 we could have children someday or I really need 00:30:19.130 --> 00:30:21.630 a better job or this junker that I'm driving 00:30:21.630 --> 00:30:24.970 really isn't any good. After you thank God for 00:30:24.970 --> 00:30:27.619 what he's given them, With a sincere heart, say, 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:30.619 Heavenly Father, this is just a desire. I don't 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:33.460 want to compare myself with anyone, but I'm asking 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:36.579 you, would you help me? Would you grant this 00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:39.279 desire? And I don't want it to impress people. 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:42.640 I want it so I can serve you better. See if today 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:46.059 you can put a death blow to comparison and see 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:49.380 if God won't allow you to love more deeply and 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:52.500 more authentically and watch what happens. Thanks 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:55.200 for that good challenge, Chip. As we wrap up, 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:57.259 I want to thank those of you who make this program 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:59.660 possible through your generous financial support. 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:02.680 Your gifts help us create programs, purchase 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:05.279 airtime, and develop additional resources to 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:08.099 help Christians live like Christians. If you've 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:10.000 been blessed by the ministry of Living on the 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:12.099 Edge, would you consider sending a gift today? 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:15.759 You can do that by visiting livingontheedge .org 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:21.900 or by calling 888 -333 -6003. That's 888 -333 00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:28.099 -6003 or visit livingontheedge .org. App listeners, 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:30.740 tap Donate. And please know how much we appreciate 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:33.359 your support. Well, thanks for listening to this 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:35.759 edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:38.359 I'm Dave Drury, and I hope you'll join us again 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:38.880 next time.