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June 12, 2019 6:00 am
I got a question for you today. Would you like to become a more loving person. I don't mean just trying harder to pack more loving but actually become from the inside out person the just flat out loves people better voice so stick around, that's today. Thanks for joining us for this Wednesday vision of Living on the Edge with your finger. Chip serves as our Bible teacher of his daily international discipleship program. Monday February teacher continues a series I choose love by revealing three keys to becoming a more loving person tells us that love has an identity and that identity distinct character of love is what you learn to so if you have a Bible open it now to chapter 2.
Let's join Chip for part two of his message. Love gives how to become more loving person choose to declare war on right the word selfishness choose declare war on selfishness and as usual when I when I go high-tech here Maya iPad is not working so I think I'll go with a little bit less technical one that you all have a turn to Philippians chapter 2. If you're not already there and let me let me read for you.
This command Philippians chapter 2 we looked at verses one into follow along here in chapter 2 is read verse three and four do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but in humility of mind, consider others more important than yourself. Verse four let each of you look not only on your own interest, but also on the interest of others you may be looking at this and saying, declare war, aren't you getting a little radical here.
No I were born with this innate ability to be selfish.
In fact, let me define selfish ambition here for words. I want my way. That selfish ambition, I want my way, you might jot down. It's a me first mentality.
I want to be first in line.
I want the best spot. I want to get on the plane first. That's one of mine work first.
When I go to the family the best piece of meat about the best promotion, it's me. First, I want my needs met in this marriage, my mom and dad come through for me, my professor to give me what I want when I want.
It's a me first mentality. I want to be number one I'm selfish now.
It's very unpopular to admit that, but what what is hard to see in ourselves. Isn't it easy to see in others. When you get out on the freeway are people selfish or what. I mean that this is this is it like out there somewhere, either. Anybody here tried to get out of the parking lot here, you know, special 11 o'clock service. There are some people in a very Christian way view in and there's some some of you that are still working on it and he put it that way for selfish, but you don't you don't slide out of being selfish even though the living spirit of Christ lives inside of you and your born again in your part of the kingdom of God. There's this battle. Galatians talks about the spirit wages war against the flesh. This predisposition toward my way my stuff is rooted in your heart and you have until the day you die, but the spirit of God can give you the ability to in humility. Look at the second half of that text in humility consider others as more important than yourself. Humility can be very misunderstanding stood words so I came across a very very interesting article. I think of humility is not thinking too highly of yourself.
Not thinking too low.
Leave yourself, but having an accurate sober self assessment. As one person said humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is just thinking less about yourself. You beating yourself up.
I'm a terrible person.
That's not humility that's not accurate it's just not letting you it's me not letting me be the thing and the person I think about all the time. They're doing science now on that the benefits of virtue things like forgiveness or they done a lot of research on gratitude you may have read some of that. This is an article by a professor at the George Fox University is called the science of humility is his researchers have developed scales to measure intellectual humility relational humility cultural humility and some are now working on spiritual humility as well. As with forgiveness and gratitude. Humility fosters that list. This is what humility delivers you ready for this.
Humility fosters physical and mental, and relational health. Humble people are more grateful and forgiving so they enjoy the benefits of this virtues there also. Humble people are more generous and helpful to others.
This is a good one unit you want. They have better romantic relationships for some of you get humble right away okay to have better romantic relationships have less anxiety about that and experience less spiritual struggle. Those parents who are concerned about your kids.
People that are humble perform better in school. Show more compassion to others and even have better self esteem than less humble people.
In other words they're doing scientific research and what God has commanded.
What delights our father and what Christ modeled amazingly is that genuine humility, not putting yourself first, but actually considering the needs of others. It's what we call around here and you learn more about in the series it's it's the I am second mentality me this just goes completely against everything I am second as I go through the line. I am second as I drive on the freeway. I am second when I think about my rights in my marriage. I am second when I think about the needs with my roommate.
I am second when were trying to divide something in right to see who gets the bigger piece. The article goes on and says that humility this is very important does not require self-loathing or self belittling that calls for us to dial back our normal tendency for this to overestimate our abilities and behaviors. Now I never do and you never do that. But there's some people out there that overestimate their abilities in the behaviors and aunties. I love it. He gives there's three characteristics of people that are genuinely humble number one they have a reasonably accurate view of themselves, neither too high or neither too low pretty biblical number two is they care more deeply, or have a concern and notice other people and then number three is humble, people are teachable, so genuine humility is rooted in some characteristics and according to the scientific study, which actually is pretty biblical, whether they know it or not, is it they have a pretty accurate view of themselves. Numbers are not the center of the world are you ready I'm not the smartest person in the room. My opinions aren't always the best. My perspective of what we ought to do or my decision isn't necessarily better than others, but it doesn't mean that I don't have good thoughts and my decisions in my might.
Perspective can be very valid so they don't think too highly. Don't think too low.
Second one is they really consider the thoughts, the interest and feelings of others. Humble people are are sensitive, humble people noticed the person that when everyone gets out and walks out here. Humble people see the people that know no one said hi to humble people notice the needs of other people genuinely humble people. I'm always amazed that you know but maybe I'll have a passing conversation with someone and like a week later two weeks later, like get a no torque or get something in the mail. I was meeting with someone a long time ago and that they watch me fiddle with trying to recharge and he got all these recharger's and all this different stuff out of the blue a week later I get a package there's no name. There's no note there's no anything. I don't know what it is. I open the package and it's one of these bars that has 12345 where you can hook in your phone. Everything else with a plug to plug the thing in and use it every day.
Humility someone didn't say a word, Saul. I had a need and address the need and third. I think this is Victor teachable. They realize that they're on the journey to how humble are you for some of your personalities. I just wanted say please please don't go to church terrible person. Everything is talk about that's arrogant terrible person you know what guess where your focus is at this moment on, you at the heart of not being humble is not thinking lowly of yourself, belittling yourself, condemning yourself in fact, the second way to become more loving his attack the root of the problem and should right in the word pride attack the root of the problem. If you will write receivers three circle the world empty conceit. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, selfish ambition, selfishness is what we do, the root of the problem is why we do it that's empty conceit or I love write this word out and I love this phrase.
It's an old old old version of King James vainglory empty glory disable what what's vainglory what's empty conceit well good street name is pride that that sort. It's kind of a big word limit give you some very specific pictures of empty conceit empty conceit is I'm better I'm more important I'm superior. I'm more intelligent my time matters more than yours. My life matters more than you.
I have greater value. I have greater worth. Now you may not say that outside in your head, but our behavior, our behavior just screams vain glory to likewise of that room already. It's it's this I'm the center of the world, and I can close it with all kind of Bible verses and I can I cannot I can actually in a Christian way, do image management to try and protect them humble, which is that the empty conceit. The ideas I want everyone to have this amazing opinion of me that I either want for myself or actually think I have.
I made a list because it's got very convicting, and I thought, oh boy, I made a list of some some ways that when this happens in me okay since it uses me when these things happen in me. What I know is vainglory empty conceit.
Pride is raising its ugly head.
And I'm gonna talk to about how to go into training and did you notice the violent words I've used for attack as you get to the root of the problem with this is I think I'm going to try and be more loving and I'll tell someone I forget, this is this is this is hard stuff. Root stuff. This is stuff that so deeply in your psyche and in your soul and mind.
You have to declare war. I refuse in light of what God is done for me to be a selfish person.
I'm going to the root problem in the root problem is in my thinking. I become the center of things, even subtly, because in my thinking. I think I'm better or I want to project that I'm better in my thinking. My time and my money and what I do is more important. It's lethal.
It destroys relationships. It's unloving and so when these things happen in my life. What I know is pride, defensiveness, someone makes a comment to me and Mike immediately could be my wife I can be in a meeting be when my kids can be someone I don't know very much they say something or talk about something and I hear myself I'm defensive why because I got a guard I got approved I can protect whatever they said that sort hit a button inside. Second, making excuses, my pride, I didn't do it wrong, I didn't mess up. It was then it was late. It was the traffic if they would've done this on timeout had on time. It's you name that relate is that one is when I hear myself blaming other people. I know that's pride and others don't look at me and think it's my fault she humility you know what humility does, and it actually gains it actually gains the credibility of people when when you actually make a mistake when you're actually late when you really blow it when you don't come through. It's amazing what happened you say you hate. Hope you all will.
I just apologize that was a deadline. I didn't hit it. I can give you number of reasons, none of them really measure up. Other than I did use my time wisely.
I went down some bad Tas in terms of how to solve this problem like to ask God to forgive me. You know what normally happens everyone in the room knows they do that to but so often we blame, we make excuses in my marriage for many years. I remember my wife saying this, she said in the presence of a counselor's. It was very unpleasant chip. You always have to have the last word that Ringo you always have to have the last word and had to go into training to realize why is down deep.
It's like I could be right. I got I've got a declare and it was all about these insecurities in this pride. I remember evaluating things, and especially some of you that are in business or if you have some leadership or strategic use of things and and and and and the challenges if you're really pretty good at it. I remember a number of years ago is probably a decade ago, I would hope would be little bit more. But, honestly, probably about a decade ago when I realized when I evaluated things I had the subtle view that I looked at all the pieces and I lined all the pieces that, in my view was the truth. My viewing other words, I've looked at this a look at this I prayed about it altogether. My view of the situation is the truth. And what did I find out either. I didn't read the pieces right. I didn't have all the pieces and I had a couple of experiences where I was so wrong and now when I have a conversation that I have to confront someone and it's really difficult.
It's really tender. I I try to always preface it with something like this I want you to know that I need to need to say couple things.
It will be hard to hear. But here's what you need to hear. First, this is my perspective not to be confused with the truth.
I don't know the reality. But what I want you to know and what I'm responsible. This is my perspective. I like I like to take this perspective and would you weigh this before God to see what truth is. You see the difference on my list is actually longer. Well, here's one I was perpetually late for almost everything for years. You know the guy that's dashing onto the plane and before any old years before. You know the result at security or the person who's rushing in and running out the parking lot and coming into minutes later five minutes late.
I was late late late late late and I try hard and really bugged my wife and I had a breakthrough. My problem was not being like my problem wasn't self-willed. My problem wasn't discipline. My problem was grandiosity, and when I saw that it was so ugly I changed some of your sink. So what exactly is grandiosity. Grandiosity is thinking whatever you're doing is so important. If I can say this kindly. We come here on the weekend to a door and give our very best to the creator of the universe and the Savior that died upon the cross to pay for sin and rose from the dead, and is given us eternal life, the grandiosity to come in five, 10, 15, 20 minutes late. The grandiosity of during a song during this time when I'm teaching the very word of God you checking your email and having your phone open his arrogance, just arrogance and you not please you always hear pastor said I don't want you to feel guilty. Actually, I want you to feel guilty if your guilty guilty really good thing if there's genuine sorrow you repent and you realize oh I never thought about that, like I'm not saying you thought of it intentionally.
I'm just telling you what it is.
If this was a U2 concert this place to be packed two hours and people would rush to get in when you buy tickets to a movie, you go a half-hour late. See we have a consumer mindset. There is a grandiosity and arrogance and it needs to be changed in some notice point number three is choose to practice humility daily by putting others needs and interests ahead of your own don't consider just your own interest. Although passages clear take into account the consider the interests of others is more important than your where we go to eat, where would you like to go to eat. Maybe this person has to get to work. It's as important or more important than you. What would happen.
What would happen if we declared war on selfishness.
The root of this problem which is really my own pride. This empty conceit.
This vainglory and then this week I'm going to training shoes very specifically in the little little things that will grow into bigger bigger things. I'm I'm choosing my money to be generous under the cheeselike time to be generous. We'll talk about exactly how very specifically to put that in practice, ask yourself where is my money go loving toward God and others. For me, where does my time go toward God and others or me word is my energy go father I pray now is there are many many many relationships that are fractured and it will require only one person to admit at the heart of it, regardless of the other person that pride and selfishness and arrogance is at the core and of repentance before you, and then the next steps of asking forgiveness and restitution and even reconciliation. In some cases where it's possible so Lord, would you bring to mind in this room. The people that need to get a call for lunch, coffee, text letter unknown so that we could love others before we do anything else broadcast. I want to pause. I just prayed and I want to talk to you very honestly and sincerely about your life into the fact of the matter is, is that you need to ask if I need to ask so where does your money go and what actions really indicate that you love God in you.
Love other people coming where it is your time go and this is not about me in any way seeking to poke around or make you feel guilty. This is about you and me is brother and sisters in Christ coming before the throne of God and saying love isn't just a feeling. Love chooses to serve it chooses to give it chooses to get out of our comfort zone.
It's the platinum rule love says this is what God has done in us and something inside of us the spirit of the living God compels us to release our time and our money and our energy to meet the needs of other people and so I like you, you know, if you're driving, don't to this but if you're not driving, would you just open your palms upward, and say Lord it's your money at your time at your gifts that your talents would you bring to my mind.
Just today, who could I extend money and time and energy and love to.
And Lord, would you help me see first and foremost under the roof where I live, my roommate or my husband, my wife, my kids would you help me to be in other centered follower of Jesus and then watch how the spirit of God working in you and through you chip will be right back.
Let me take just a second to say that it Living on the Edge. We pray for you. We ask the Lord to help the teaching strengthen your faith and we ask them to help you confidently take whatever your next freight step is will chips message today. Love gives is from his series, I choose love. If your heart's desire is to love more, or love better this series I choose love will help you do that to help you take advantage of the resources for I choose love. We've temporarily discounted the CDs and the MP3s are absolutely free with her there for you or a friend ordering is easy when you go to LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 will trip you talk so often about how God changes our world one person at a time. Would you share the story were just telling me about what happened when you were in China. Oh I love. Today I was traveling by bullet train back to Shanghai.
I been doing some teaching in China and had an amazing time. It was about a two hour train ride.
I was sitting next to a young man and I turned to him and said hi how are you doing and you speak English and to my surprise he looked over at me and said well I don't speak that good English and then we had a 25 minute conversation to start often talking about the warriors in the MBA, and he knew as much or more that I did and we had a great conversation. He was a sophomore in high school, some sitting next to him and he begins to ask me a number of questions about my life than my faith and we have a very, let me just call it penetrating conversation that really surprised me and he just had this real appetite to want to learn and so wanted to help him so I open my phone and a and I pointed to our app and NSI did. I mean, I looked over his phone. Before I knew it was a lot faster than me he already downloaded it, you know, we had all these series on it and you know he understood English and he could read English and there he turned to me as he got ready to get off any kind of smiled. He said one day, I want to become a wise man like you and help younger people the way you help me by giving me wise counsel on this train and he smiled and he got off and then he looked at his phone and smiled as he had that app and I thought to myself while who would have ever dreamed.
And I think about some of the you know mid year or year and matches we've done maybe two or three years ago. And yes, these matches are so important because, I mean all of our general funding and they take care of you know our every day things that are so important and broadcast all the rest, but they also allow us to do really special projects and I member the app was one of the special projects and so those who gave in the past are a part of things happening in China with a young man today. It's an amazing world out there and I want you to know that you are making a real difference in it. Thank you for those who gave to matches in the past and I want to invite all of you to join me as we make a huge difference in the future, pray, ask God what he might want you to do and then just respond and let's ask God to do great things here in America, China and around the world. Thanks so much like strip. Would you like to join the team. There's no better time than today.
During this midyear marriage makes to the generosity of a handful of friends of the ministry. A gift of any amount will be doubled dollar for dollar sending a gift to Living on the Edge is easy just go to LivingontheEdge.org and click on the donate button there on the homepage or if you prefer, you can always reach us by phone at 1-888-333-6003 until tomorrow for Steve Drewry saying thanks for listening.
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