WEBVTT 00:00:12.330 --> 00:00:15.109 Actors, athletes, singers, billionaire business 00:00:15.109 --> 00:00:18.350 owners, the elite of society. We see them on 00:00:18.350 --> 00:00:22.390 TV and secretly we wish we could have that kind 00:00:22.390 --> 00:00:25.550 of success, right? But does the good life really 00:00:25.550 --> 00:00:29.030 deliver? Is the lure of big money, fame, and 00:00:29.030 --> 00:00:32.149 power really a classic bait and switch operation? 00:00:32.570 --> 00:00:35.189 You want to find out what real life is made of? 00:00:35.509 --> 00:00:37.750 Stay with me today. We're going to look at it 00:00:37.750 --> 00:00:41.840 together. What's the difference between a life 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:45.219 of futility and a life of fruitfulness? Today 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:47.659 on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram tackles this 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:50.039 critical question that determines whether we 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:53.179 end up satisfied or empty. Through scripture 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:56.280 and real -life examples, he exposes the subtle 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:59.579 trap that catches so many of us, confusing success 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:03.240 with significance. Jesus warned about this very 00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:05.959 thing. What does it profit if you gain everything 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:08.900 the world offers but lose your very soul in the 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:11.489 process? Well, here's Chip Ingram with a new 00:01:11.489 --> 00:01:14.930 message titled, How to Overcome Feelings of Futility. 00:01:15.370 --> 00:01:17.930 What we're going to talk about today is the difference 00:01:17.930 --> 00:01:23.849 between success and significance. To use an old 00:01:23.849 --> 00:01:26.930 cliche, there's a very subtle thing that can 00:01:26.930 --> 00:01:29.629 happen in every life, and here it is. You can 00:01:29.629 --> 00:01:33.230 climb a ladder and work and be very, very, very 00:01:33.230 --> 00:01:37.469 productive only to find out that the ladder that 00:01:37.469 --> 00:01:42.189 you've climbed is what? Leaning against the wrong 00:01:42.189 --> 00:01:47.609 law. Turn with me if you will. I put some study 00:01:47.609 --> 00:01:50.450 notes together. And I think I'd like to begin 00:01:50.450 --> 00:01:53.450 by asking and answering the question. What's 00:01:53.450 --> 00:01:56.530 the difference between a life of futility and 00:01:56.530 --> 00:01:59.870 a life of fruitfulness? And then I want together 00:01:59.870 --> 00:02:03.609 with you to think through out loud. What kind 00:02:03.609 --> 00:02:06.950 of life are you going to have? What kind of life 00:02:06.950 --> 00:02:10.169 am I going to have? Is it going to be one of 00:02:10.169 --> 00:02:12.349 futility? Are we going to look back in the rear 00:02:12.349 --> 00:02:17.110 view mirror of our lives and say, I worked. I 00:02:17.110 --> 00:02:21.629 prayed even. I thought that once I arrived here, 00:02:21.830 --> 00:02:26.930 it would be full, but instead it's empty. Webster 00:02:26.930 --> 00:02:32.949 defines futility as that which easily pours out, 00:02:32.990 --> 00:02:36.409 hence untrustworthy. It's an interesting thought, 00:02:36.430 --> 00:02:40.259 isn't it? That which fails completely of desired 00:02:40.259 --> 00:02:43.939 end or incapable of producing any result as something 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:47.180 trifling or unimportant. Futility simply means 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:49.280 that you give yourself to it, but then it comes 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:54.280 up empty. Never forget the illustration a guy 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:55.759 shared with me. I was a young Christian, just 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:58.460 a couple years. I can't remember where I was, 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:00.400 but I still have the picture in my mind of the 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:03.360 napkin. And the guy pulls out a napkin and... 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:05.479 You know, my dream then was, you know, I wanted 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:07.259 to be a star basketball player, and then I wanted 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:09.180 to be a famous coach, and then I was going to 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:10.860 teach in grad school, and then I was going to 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:11.939 get married, and then I was going to have some 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:14.780 great kids, and all in the name of God, of course. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:19.740 And I think he saw through all that. And he pulled 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:25.360 out a napkin, and he drew about six different 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:29.620 buckets with the picture from a source, my life, 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:33.199 rainbows. rainbows going into these six different 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.780 buckets. He said, you know, Chip, everyone has 00:03:36.780 --> 00:03:38.659 a dream in their life, whether they verbalize 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:40.840 it or not. And they're following the rainbow 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:45.280 into the pot or the bucket of gold. And he said, 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:47.599 we all believe there's certain buckets that are 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.860 going to come through for us. And he was real 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:52.740 calm and he pulled out that pen and he said, 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:55.080 you know, some people follow the dream. And then 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:57.479 he drew the little bucket and he wrote the word 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:01.229 fame. And see, they believe if they're ever famous, 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:05.169 then someday, someway, they'll be a someone. 00:04:07.050 --> 00:04:10.009 And then he told me the story of James Dean, 00:04:10.229 --> 00:04:14.590 Jimi Hendrix. He said, other people, it's not 00:04:14.590 --> 00:04:17.689 fame, it's popularity or looks. And you know, 00:04:17.709 --> 00:04:19.670 they work real hard and they do everything they 00:04:19.670 --> 00:04:22.269 can to look a certain way so people will like 00:04:22.269 --> 00:04:25.250 them. And he wrote the word in that bucket with 00:04:25.250 --> 00:04:28.740 his pen on the napkin. popularity slash looks. 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.259 And then he told me how Marilyn Monroe died. 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:39.879 And I knew how she looked. And then he made another 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:41.920 rainbow and he drew a little bucket and he put 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:43.579 a dollar sign on it. And he said, you know, some 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:45.839 people think if they just get enough money and 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:47.939 can own enough things and impress enough people, 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:51.319 then life will come through for them. And then 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.920 he quickly told me the tragic story of Howard 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:57.420 Hughes. of some of the last words of John Paul 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:02.819 Getty, that it only takes one more million. And 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:05.360 then he drew another rainbow and he put a bucket 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:10.040 and it said success. And he told me about the 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.540 lives of people who were very, very successful 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:16.980 only to come to the end and feel empty. And then 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:20.220 he drew one that surprised me. He said family. 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.120 There's some people that secretly believe that 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:25.139 everything's going to change once they get married. 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:26.939 Or once they get married and that doesn't happen 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:31.519 when they have kids. And then the heartache and 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:35.000 the suffering and the tragedy. And then he drew 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:38.959 two more buckets. He said, Chip, we could draw 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.500 buckets where people follow rainbows and every 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:48.009 bucket in life is empty except two. There's only 00:05:48.009 --> 00:05:51.610 two buckets that if you give your life to these, 00:05:51.829 --> 00:05:55.310 they'll always come through for you. And I'll 00:05:55.310 --> 00:05:58.949 tell you about those a little later. Got you, 00:05:58.990 --> 00:06:01.629 don't I? At least you'll pay attention for the 00:06:01.629 --> 00:06:07.629 next ten minutes. What bucket, if someone asks 00:06:07.629 --> 00:06:12.810 you, are you pouring your life into? decided 00:06:12.810 --> 00:06:15.790 willfully to do it, or just unconsciously drifting 00:06:15.790 --> 00:06:19.730 that direction? What's the rainbow that you're 00:06:19.730 --> 00:06:21.709 following that you think, if I ever get there 00:06:21.709 --> 00:06:25.029 and look down inside of it, it'll be filled with 00:06:25.029 --> 00:06:30.709 what'll satisfy? See, futility is something which 00:06:30.709 --> 00:06:34.589 easily pours out. It's not trustworthy. It won't 00:06:34.589 --> 00:06:39.639 come through. Has the idea of vain, fruitless, 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:42.160 ineffective, or useless. I don't know about you, 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:45.100 I don't want to end my life that way. By contrast, 00:06:45.180 --> 00:06:47.540 notice the word fruitful. Webster's, the Latin 00:06:47.540 --> 00:06:51.879 root. This really surprised me. The Latin root 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:55.079 word is fructus, which means enjoyment. Did you 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:57.040 ever think of that? When you live a fruitful 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:59.899 life, there's enjoyment. It's means of enjoyment. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.800 It means something that's profitable, productive, 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:07.769 producing results, or desired ends. It's that 00:07:07.769 --> 00:07:10.509 sense of whatever, it's giving your life to something 00:07:10.509 --> 00:07:13.529 that when you look at it, it counts. It matters. 00:07:15.470 --> 00:07:18.670 It's not what other people think. It's following 00:07:18.670 --> 00:07:21.470 the rainbow, following the dream, and then looking 00:07:21.470 --> 00:07:23.810 into the bucket, and the mirror in the bucket 00:07:23.810 --> 00:07:27.430 looking back says, you made it. You've done well. 00:07:27.689 --> 00:07:33.110 You matter. Your life counted. You are significant. 00:07:35.050 --> 00:07:37.110 Now, the reason that these two things are in 00:07:37.110 --> 00:07:40.089 such contention is there is usually a very high 00:07:40.089 --> 00:07:43.850 price tag to be significant and a very high price 00:07:43.850 --> 00:07:48.850 tag to be successful. And the world tells us 00:07:48.850 --> 00:07:52.990 that we need to be successful. And God says you 00:07:52.990 --> 00:07:55.949 may or may not be successful in the world's eyes, 00:07:56.009 --> 00:07:59.470 but significance is what will fill your soul. 00:08:00.009 --> 00:08:05.860 Question, how in the world? Can we avoid futility 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:09.819 in our lives? Now, what I'm going to warn you 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:12.899 is, is that the answer is very simple. I mean, 00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:16.420 simple to understand, but it is pretty tough 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:19.759 to do. Jesus is going to give us a very clear 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:23.579 cut answer. Here's what he says. You want to 00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:28.579 avoid a life of futility? Resolve to refuse to 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:33.019 confuse success with significance. It's basically 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:35.519 what he taught. Refuse. See, that's an act of 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:39.379 the will. It's a choice. Refuse to confuse success 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:43.720 with significance. Luke chapter 9, verses 25 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:47.759 and 26, Jesus is speaking. He says, what good 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:51.120 is it for a man to gain the whole world? That's 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:55.320 success. And yet lose or forfeit his very self. 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.759 Literally, the word in Greek is psyche. It has 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.820 the idea of all your mental capabilities. It's 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:02.860 used in general reference for your spiritual 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:05.759 life for what really matters. What good is it? 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.159 Rhetorical question. What good is it going to 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:10.340 do if you've got the fame, you've got the popularity, 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:12.080 you've got the success, you've got the money? 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:16.320 You've got it all. What good does it do if you 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:20.120 gain the world yet lose? And the word for lose 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:24.179 here is used in this language for a ship full 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:29.389 of precious cargo. that is shipwrecked. That's 00:09:29.389 --> 00:09:33.169 the picture. What good is it if you have all 00:09:33.169 --> 00:09:37.070 that and you lose or you shipwreck your life 00:09:37.070 --> 00:09:41.809 and you lose you? In fact, he pushes it to the 00:09:41.809 --> 00:09:43.830 next level because he understands that to be 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:46.610 successful, you will have to shrink back from 00:09:46.610 --> 00:09:49.009 your relationship. To really be successful in 00:09:49.009 --> 00:09:51.230 the world by their standards, You'll have to 00:09:51.230 --> 00:09:53.129 shrink back from your relationship with Christ. 00:09:53.230 --> 00:09:56.690 Notice verse 26. He says, if anyone is ashamed 00:09:56.690 --> 00:10:01.889 of me and my words, notice his words, his teaching, 00:10:01.990 --> 00:10:06.090 his truth. Notice what he says. The son of man 00:10:06.090 --> 00:10:10.110 will be ashamed or shrink back of him when he 00:10:10.110 --> 00:10:12.929 comes in his glory and in the glory of the father 00:10:12.929 --> 00:10:16.769 and the holy angels. You're listening to Living 00:10:16.769 --> 00:10:19.409 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We'll return to 00:10:19.409 --> 00:10:21.850 our message in just a moment. But first, did 00:10:21.850 --> 00:10:24.289 you know that you can access this entire series 00:10:24.289 --> 00:10:27.289 anytime you want? Head on over to livingontheedge 00:10:27.289 --> 00:10:30.169 .org where you'll discover Chip's full teaching 00:10:30.169 --> 00:10:33.190 library, along with study guides and small group 00:10:33.190 --> 00:10:35.830 materials. Whether you want to replay today's 00:10:35.830 --> 00:10:38.610 message or explore other topics, everything you 00:10:38.610 --> 00:10:41.029 need to grow spiritually is available online 00:10:41.029 --> 00:10:46.200 at livingontheedge .org. Let's get back to Chip's 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:48.440 message. See, what we're talking about is a big 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:52.039 issue, big, big issue. It is not politically 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:56.919 correct to walk with God, to be open about your 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:59.259 faith. And by the way, around here, we know that 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:01.179 doesn't mean, you know, having a seven -inch 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:03.360 black Bible on your desk, hitting people over 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:05.799 the head with it, being, you know, narrow, bigoted. 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:10.000 No, we're talking about a winsome, loving, servant, 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:15.070 gracious, relationally open. Radical Christian 00:11:15.070 --> 00:11:19.149 who communicates the love and the power of Christ 00:11:19.149 --> 00:11:22.429 by your words, who's not ashamed of Jesus, not 00:11:22.429 --> 00:11:25.830 ashamed of His Word, openly identifies and understands 00:11:25.830 --> 00:11:28.230 it'll bring flack, understands it might mean 00:11:28.230 --> 00:11:30.409 losing an account, understands there's some people 00:11:30.409 --> 00:11:33.629 that won't understand. See, the price tag of 00:11:33.629 --> 00:11:37.129 being significant is going through life God's 00:11:37.129 --> 00:11:41.399 way. Augustine, the great theologian, And the 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:44.279 early church wrote, God is always trying to give 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:47.559 us good things, but our hands are too full to 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:51.379 receive them. I just sat down, literally put 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.159 my feet up and began to pray. And I said, Lord, 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:56.299 what's the real difference? So I look at your 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:59.000 word. What's the difference between success and 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:01.860 significance? And there's probably many more, 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:04.080 but the random thoughts that came to me as I 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:08.000 prayed, success is about productivity. Significance 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.230 is about satisfaction. A lot of people are productive 00:12:11.230 --> 00:12:14.110 and not satisfied. Success is about climbing 00:12:14.110 --> 00:12:17.809 the ladder. You know, I'm going to make it. Significance 00:12:17.809 --> 00:12:23.289 is about which wall the ladder is on. Success 00:12:23.289 --> 00:12:28.389 is about what you do, your performance. Significance 00:12:28.389 --> 00:12:32.850 is about who you are. Success is about applause, 00:12:33.049 --> 00:12:36.549 what other people think. Significance is about 00:12:36.549 --> 00:12:41.899 peace. Are you even vaguely aware that all these 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:45.919 people that look so good on the outside, that 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:49.600 we pass in the grocery stores, that buy gourmet 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:53.659 coffee like we do, you know, that have nice stuff, 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:55.919 that go on great vacations, that when you walk 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:57.740 in, see them arm in arm, they look like such 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:01.399 happy couples. You are aware that they're desperately 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:04.840 hurting, that there's major strife, that they 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:06.899 don't know how to be a parent. That they have 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:09.720 dysfunctional relationships and people are abusing 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.580 alcohol and there's all kind of hurt and there's 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:13.440 all kind of struggles and they don't relate very 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.940 well to their parents. And a lot of what they 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:18.059 drive banks own and they have incredible pressure 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:20.440 and they're spending about 25 % more a month 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:24.820 than they bring in. And it's a facade. And instead 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:26.759 of being intimidated by them, we need to love 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:31.720 and care and move into their life. Because see, 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:35.379 we can have peace. It's a lot better than applause. 00:13:36.529 --> 00:13:40.269 Success is about stuff. Significance is about 00:13:40.269 --> 00:13:44.549 people. Success is about taking off. Man, I'm 00:13:44.549 --> 00:13:47.990 going to make it. Significance is about landing 00:13:47.990 --> 00:13:53.570 well. Success is about the now. See, all the 00:13:53.570 --> 00:13:56.250 stuff that you can get right now can bring you 00:13:56.250 --> 00:14:01.169 quick, short -term success. But most of us aren't 00:14:01.169 --> 00:14:04.730 willing to pay the price. The kind of stuff that 00:14:04.730 --> 00:14:08.490 it takes day after day after day of discipline, 00:14:08.809 --> 00:14:13.350 of commitment, of writing out the hard times, 00:14:13.549 --> 00:14:16.809 those things produce something called character, 00:14:17.049 --> 00:14:21.570 endurance. And those are the kind of things that 00:14:21.570 --> 00:14:26.450 make you significant. To be significant, there 00:14:26.450 --> 00:14:30.529 is always short -term pain and loss in order 00:14:30.529 --> 00:14:35.899 for long -term gain. significance is about forever. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:42.139 Well, I think we've diagnosed the problem. I 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:44.700 know your heart and I know mine. And I know it's 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:46.879 hard, okay? This is one of those sermons where 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:50.419 we are the salmon of God seeking to swim upstream. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.179 And you know what? The current's coming at us. 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:55.299 But in your heart of heart, you want to be significant 00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:58.059 and I want to be significant. Now we've identified 00:14:58.059 --> 00:15:03.379 the problem. Final question. Can you move and 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:08.320 how can I move from a success orientation to 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:12.919 significance? How can we line our thinking and 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:15.419 our lives and our priorities and our time and 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:18.179 our resources in such a way that we land well? 00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:25.139 I did a funeral and I buried a significant woman. 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:30.720 She didn't have a lot of money. She didn't win 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:33.879 any beauty contest. She wasn't well -known, wasn't 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:37.539 visible. She came to Christ in this church about 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:41.820 four years ago. And she was a house mother for 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:43.980 abused kids. Kids that are taken out of their 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:46.139 homes because of abuse and tragedy and drugs. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:48.559 I mean, the kind of kids that no one gives a 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.159 rip. I mean, they've had more problems. Some 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.019 of these kids have experienced more in the first 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:54.700 six, eight, ten years of life than any adult 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:59.190 should ever, ever experience, ever. And I heard 00:15:59.190 --> 00:16:02.149 six -year -olds and eight -year -olds and 10 00:16:02.149 --> 00:16:05.590 -year -olds say, Donna made me feel special. 00:16:06.710 --> 00:16:09.389 When I didn't think there was any hope in life, 00:16:09.669 --> 00:16:16.090 she cared about me. She loved me. Donna was always 00:16:16.090 --> 00:16:20.049 there. She has marked. You talk about significance? 00:16:20.629 --> 00:16:22.210 She doesn't have any big retirement program. 00:16:22.629 --> 00:16:27.389 She hasn't written a book. There are lives that 00:16:27.389 --> 00:16:30.809 will be marked with the imprint of Donna Mead 00:16:30.809 --> 00:16:34.549 for all eternity because she took what she had 00:16:34.549 --> 00:16:37.090 and she focused it on the things that matter 00:16:37.090 --> 00:16:40.629 most. Let me give you three clear ways from scripture 00:16:40.629 --> 00:16:45.750 to move from a life of success to a life of significance. 00:16:45.789 --> 00:16:50.870 Number one, clarify your mission. Clarify your 00:16:50.870 --> 00:16:55.879 mission. Answer the basic question, why are you 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.960 here? Have you ever thought of that? Do you realize 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:01.480 how important that is? Why are you here? Until 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:06.180 we start and say, why am I on this planet? You 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:10.339 will never have a significant life. Notice, there's 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:12.819 two things that last forever. I told you, the 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.799 two buckets. There's two things that as you follow 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:18.079 them and you get to the bucket and look down 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.240 inside, instead of it being empty, you can always 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:23.240 know they're full. Number one, it's God's word 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:26.240 because it's eternal. God says his word will 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:30.740 never return void. And he says that it's eternal. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:34.140 Every time you invest in God's word, anytime 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:37.660 you take it in, read it, apply it, pass it on, 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:40.200 share it with anyone else, you're investing in 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:43.789 something that will never, never fail. It counts 00:17:43.789 --> 00:17:47.990 and it lasts. The second bucket that will always 00:17:47.990 --> 00:17:51.609 be full are the souls of men and the souls of 00:17:51.609 --> 00:17:54.589 women. Every human being on the face of this 00:17:54.589 --> 00:17:59.809 planet eternally matters to God. Anytime you 00:17:59.809 --> 00:18:02.470 invest in a relationship, anytime you love a 00:18:02.470 --> 00:18:05.150 person, pray for a person, care for a person, 00:18:05.230 --> 00:18:07.849 provide the needs of a person, encourage a person, 00:18:07.990 --> 00:18:10.890 you're marking into something that's eternal. 00:18:11.369 --> 00:18:13.829 And by the way, remember, there is a resurrection 00:18:13.829 --> 00:18:16.650 coming and everyone gets resurrected. You're 00:18:16.650 --> 00:18:20.589 aware of that. Scripture says some to be with 00:18:20.589 --> 00:18:24.349 the Lord forever, some to be separated for all 00:18:24.349 --> 00:18:30.650 eternity. You need to know your mission. Jesus 00:18:30.650 --> 00:18:34.509 made it very clear in Matthew 28. As you go or 00:18:34.509 --> 00:18:40.119 go, therefore, make disciples. Of all ethnos, 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:43.180 all people, all people groups, all nations, make 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:48.279 disciples, make followers of me. Baptize them, 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:50.079 identification in the name of the Father and 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:52.160 the Son and the Holy Spirit and all the things 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.039 that I've taught you, pass on to them in order 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.980 that they could not just learn them, but obey 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.740 them, put them into practice. And by the way, 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:00.140 I'll be with you. I know you can't do it on your 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:03.539 own. I'll be with you always. See, in a nutshell, 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:06.920 here's your mission in life. If you're a housewife, 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.460 this is your mission. If you're a carpenter, 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.059 this is your mission. If you're a businessman, 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:12.180 this is your mission. If you're a musician, this 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:14.519 is your mission. If you're a student, it's your 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.900 mission. If you're a woman, it's your mission. 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:18.000 If you're a man, it's your mission. Your mission 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:21.559 is to know Christ and to make him known. That's 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:25.799 why you were placed on this planet. Period. That 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:28.000 will come through your personality, your desires, 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:30.599 your backgrounds. And you can do it in San Jose. 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:33.930 Or you can do it in San Juan. And you can do 00:19:33.930 --> 00:19:36.069 it in Brazil or you can do it in New York. And 00:19:36.069 --> 00:19:37.670 you can do it by working with your hands and 00:19:37.670 --> 00:19:39.650 you can do it by working with your head. Your 00:19:39.650 --> 00:19:43.130 mission, your reason for existence is to know 00:19:43.130 --> 00:19:47.150 him. And then out of the overflow of your relationship 00:19:47.150 --> 00:19:51.029 to make him known. Your mission is not to own 00:19:51.029 --> 00:19:54.230 a home. Your mission is not to be comfortable. 00:19:55.490 --> 00:19:57.609 Your mission is not as important as all your 00:19:57.609 --> 00:20:01.109 kids turn out right. Your mission is not you 00:20:01.109 --> 00:20:04.819 being happy. Your mission is not to save up enough 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:07.559 money as though you know the future so that your 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:10.160 retirement years will be secure. That's not your 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:15.099 mission. That's a dead end. Your mission is to 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:21.160 know Christ and to make him known. This is Living 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:24.460 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. What a sobering 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:26.940 reminder. We can climb the ladder of success 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:29.960 only to discover it's leaning against the wrong 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:32.730 wall. Chip has more to share in just a moment. 00:20:32.869 --> 00:20:36.089 If today's message resonated with you and you'd 00:20:36.089 --> 00:20:38.069 like to share it with someone, you'll find it 00:20:38.069 --> 00:20:42.690 online at livingontheedge .org. Now, as you think 00:20:42.690 --> 00:20:45.269 about redirecting your life toward true significance, 00:20:45.569 --> 00:20:48.190 let me tell you about a resource that can anchor 00:20:48.190 --> 00:20:51.150 your daily walk with God. It's called Psalms 00:20:51.150 --> 00:20:54.349 of Hope, a free 10 -day devotional series created 00:20:54.349 --> 00:20:57.519 by Chip. Here's the simple format. Chip provides 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.579 10 minutes of biblical teaching each day, exploring 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:04.799 Psalm 1, Psalm 15, or Psalm 23. Then you take 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.140 10 minutes for quiet reflection and prayer. 20 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:11.920 minutes total, 10 transformative days. These 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:14.279 ancient psalms address the very questions we're 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:17.000 wrestling with today. Where to find true fulfillment, 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:19.920 how to align your life with what matters eternally, 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.700 and how to avoid the trap of chasing things that 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:25.980 won't satisfy your soul. Start your journey today 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:30.019 completely free at livingontheedge .org. Just 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:33.500 search for Psalms of Hope. This ministry depends 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.980 on friends who believe in the mission of helping 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:39.339 people move from success to significance. Your 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:41.920 financial partnership enables us to keep delivering 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:45.420 biblical teaching that transforms lives. Would 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:47.339 you prayerfully consider supporting this work? 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:51.299 Visit livingontheedge .org to give or write to 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:55.509 livingontheedge .org. Post Office Box 3007, Atlanta, 00:21:55.849 --> 00:22:03.109 Georgia, 30024. You can also call 888 -333 -6003. 00:22:03.490 --> 00:22:05.670 And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe 00:22:05.670 --> 00:22:08.710 to the Living on the Edge podcast, now featuring 00:22:08.710 --> 00:22:11.710 uncut original sermons through the Chip Ingram 00:22:11.710 --> 00:22:15.049 Sermon Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, 00:22:15.049 --> 00:22:18.730 Spotify, and wherever you listen. Well, now here's 00:22:18.730 --> 00:22:21.460 Chip with more on today's lesson. When I began 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.880 the message today talking about empty buckets, 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:26.720 talking about the empty buckets that we tend 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.700 to put our hope for real fulfillment in, fame, 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:32.779 money, sex, the list goes on. Accomplishment, 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:35.259 children coming out right, great home, great 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:38.859 marriage. What did you think? What was going 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.680 through your mind? I'd like to take you back 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:43.920 to those empty buckets. And when I was talking 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:46.839 about those empty buckets, what was going through 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:50.349 your mind? Where are you? Where is your life 00:22:50.349 --> 00:22:54.450 being invested? Is it for things that last? Things 00:22:54.450 --> 00:22:57.369 that will bring success? Or is it for things 00:22:57.369 --> 00:23:00.750 that will really bring significance? You know, 00:23:00.789 --> 00:23:02.730 I walked through a list here and we said today, 00:23:02.849 --> 00:23:05.750 just right out of the Bible, that we can't confuse 00:23:05.750 --> 00:23:08.690 success with significance. If you do, you'll 00:23:08.690 --> 00:23:10.690 find that you can work, work, work, work, work. 00:23:11.429 --> 00:23:13.630 Only to discover, and I know it's a cliche, but 00:23:13.630 --> 00:23:16.329 it's one that is so true, that your ladder really 00:23:16.329 --> 00:23:20.930 is leaning against the wrong wall. And so let 00:23:20.930 --> 00:23:23.869 me go through that difference between success 00:23:23.869 --> 00:23:26.710 and significance. And I want to do it just as 00:23:26.710 --> 00:23:29.630 a pastor. I want to just talk through it slowly. 00:23:29.809 --> 00:23:32.529 And I'd like you to ask the Holy Spirit to say, 00:23:32.589 --> 00:23:34.630 Lord, will you reveal yourself to me in this? 00:23:34.730 --> 00:23:37.329 Will you help me? I know you want me to be significant. 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:41.039 So as Chip goes through these, will you show 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:44.680 me where I'm at with you? Is your life and your 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:48.240 mindset characterized more by productivity or 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:52.039 satisfaction? Is your life all about what you 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:56.420 do or is it about who you are? Is your life motivated 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:59.400 primarily by the applause of people or is it 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:02.240 motivated by a sense of inner peace that the 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:05.019 Lord Jesus gives? As you put your head on the 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:07.920 pillow and go to bed, well done. Yeah, of course, 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:09.839 you confess the sins and you have your ups and 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.759 downs and your struggles, but there's a sense 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.039 of calm and peace that says, you're on the right 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:17.019 track. You're growing. I'm proud of you. Good 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:19.779 and faithful servant. Is your life, if you were 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:22.519 very honest, is it more about stuff or is it 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:25.619 more about people? Let me ask you just before 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:30.759 God, in the words of Augustine, is God constantly 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:34.099 trying to give you good things, but are your 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:37.720 hands just so full with so much stuff? you can't 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:41.160 receive him. Let's go for significance. Success 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:44.099 simply isn't what it's cracked up to be. Your 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:46.400 mission in life may not be what you think it 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:49.380 is. I'm Dave Drewy. Discover the truth about 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:55.579 purpose tomorrow on Living on the Edge. Today's 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:58.119 program is produced and sponsored by Living on 00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.619 the Edge.