WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.080 Hey, how we doing today, United City? 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:03.120 All right. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.160 Hey, do better than that. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:05.120 How we doing today? 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:06.160 Let's go. 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:07.040 Thank you. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:07.839 Appreciate that. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:08.480 Appreciate that. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:09.679 My name is Dave Kinney. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:13.599 I have the privilege of being the executive pastor here at United City. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.839 And we do this every single week. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.000 Every week we do what I'm about to do. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:21.760 But I want to help you understand why for just a moment. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:28.480 We celebrate the fact that we get to stream our services within local correctional facilities all the time. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:45.359 But based on the generosity and because of the generosity of our vision team, we now have partnered with the Pando app, and our services are being streamed in correctional facilities and prisons throughout the state of Texas, which is just an awesome, awesome thing. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:52.079 And so PC always looks into the cameras and welcomes all of those who are joining with us. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:58.880 But y'all need to know that we are talking about thousands and thousands of people that are joining with us online. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:07.280 We are to the point now where it's uh approaching tens of thousands of people who are watching United City Church's services every single week. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:13.200 So, unlike you ever have before, church, can we welcome all of those who are joining with us today? 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:16.799 We are so thankful for you. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.480 So thankful to be able to have you a part of this church. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:24.400 If you have a Bible, I'm gonna ask you to open it up to 1 John chapter 2. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:28.000 1 John chapter 2 is where we're gonna be today. 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:34.640 My family and I, we went out on Tuesday night with a bunch of friends to go trick-or-treating. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:44.000 Alright, so we got the kids, they were all in their costumes and looking good, and we went out and we were gonna go trick-or-treating throughout the neighborhood with uh a bunch of friends. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:52.959 You guys can see there, there's my uh eight-year-old son, David Watts, and then my five-year-old Walker Levi, and then look at that sweet little nugget down there. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:54.000 She's so cute. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:02:00.079 That is my uh nine-month-old daughter, Everett Marie, and she's uh she's my favorite one. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:08.319 So uh we went out on Tuesday night with a bunch of friends, and we went trick-or-treating, and trick-or-treating is a very weird thing to do. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:08.879 All right? 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:12.319 Any good parent tells their kids some things as they grow up. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:14.560 The first thing is don't talk to strangers. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:19.120 And the second thing is, even if they offer you candy, don't talk to strangers, right? 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.919 Well, Halloween is the one day of year where that just goes totally out the window. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:31.919 And as parents, we tell our kids, hey, go up to that stranger's home, knock on their door, talk to them, and then ask them for candy. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:35.199 Like it's just a it's a totally backwards, bizarre thing. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:40.719 But we had a good time, we did have some rules in place, but we had a great time going out with our friends. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:46.080 And after that, uh the kids got back to the house and they did what all kids do. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:52.080 They they poured out all of their candy and they started sorting it into a couple different piles. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.560 Uh, one pile was for the good candy, all right? 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:59.280 We're talking like the Snickers, the Reese's, the Sour Patch Kids, all that kind of stuff. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:01.680 And then the other pile was for the not so good candy. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:07.680 This is like the Smarties, the Paydays, the individual wrapped bags of check snips. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:11.520 Which, if you do that, you're the worst and no one likes you. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:16.879 And what you need to know is that this past Halloween is the last Halloween you're allowed to do that ever. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:17.280 All right? 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.719 It's going straight in the garbage because it might be poisonous, alright? 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:27.439 So uh they've got these piles going on, and my kids, then they start trading their candy. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:35.759 And as they're trading, I hear them talking, and they're saying, Man, can you imagine how much candy we would have gotten if we would have gone down into that neighborhood or down that street? 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:39.520 Or I heard that house was giving away full-size candy bars. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:52.319 And they're talking about this and and they're trading their candy, and then a couple days later, their pile of good candy is has really dwindled down. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.000 Like it's it's almost gone. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:55.439 It's it's almost just disappeared. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:57.599 And my kids are like, what in the world is going on? 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.680 They're they're a little bit disappointed, kind of upset, because their good candy is almost gone. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.039 Uh, my kids learned two very valuable lessons this past week. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:09.280 The first is that the dad tax is very real in the Kenny household. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:13.199 And dad's favorite candy are Snickers and Reese's and Sour Patch kids. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:18.399 And then the second thing that they learned is that what they have will never be enough. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:21.360 What they have will never be enough. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.879 First John chapter two, starting in verse 15, says this. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.240 Do not love the world or the things in the world. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.920 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:40.319 For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:44.160 And the world is passing away along with its desires. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.319 But whoever does the will of God abides forever. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:52.639 Today we're concluding the series that we've been in called The Things We Hide. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:05:00.720 Week one, we talked about how we tend to hide our ambitions for our ambitions for God in order to pursue our ambitions for the world. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:15.680 We we talked about uh how the world has things to offer, and you can spend so much of your life and so much of your time climbing the ladder of what the world has to offer, but you can't do that and pursue God the same way that you were meant to do it at the same time. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:19.360 At some point, you have to make a choice based on what you're gonna be about. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:23.759 Are you gonna be about the things of the world or are you gonna be about the things of God? 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:30.240 The second week we talked last week really about the desires of the eyes, specifically the sin of the flesh. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:35.040 And we talked about how you have to be killing sin or it will be killing you. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:43.839 Today we're gonna talk about a sin that tends to sneak in and sneak up on us, a reality that is true for every last person here today. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:47.199 The fact that enough is never enough. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:49.600 Enough is never enough. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:58.959 Verse 16 refers to this as the pride of life, or another translation says pride in possessions, which is defined as covetousness. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:06.959 Covetousness is the desire for something that someone else has, and it's closely related to and associated with greed. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:13.199 Now, you've probably uh have heard very few sermons about covetousness, and there's a few reasons for that. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:16.319 One, it's a really hard word for a preacher to say, all right? 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:21.519 Covetousness, and I'm gonna say it about a hundred times today, so y'all just give me a little bit of grace, all right? 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:23.040 It's just a doozy of a word. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:29.360 Uh, you haven't heard sermons about this though, because we have allowed the sin of covetousness to be a clean sin. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.600 We we've allowed it to be a sin that's not that big of a deal. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:38.879 A sin that you can so easily sweep under the rug because it's not hurting anybody else. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:42.560 And like I just mentioned, it's something that every single person deals with. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:50.160 So the fact that everyone deals with it makes me feel like, well, that kind of levels the playing field, and I don't really have to pay that sin that much attention. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:55.199 But what if the sin of covetousness is actually destroying you from the inside out? 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:01.199 What if this clean sin of enough not being enough is unraveling a work of God in your life? 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:06.879 What if the sin of covetousness that you are hiding behind is actually hiding you from something so much better? 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:08.480 It is. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:11.519 It will destroy your life. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:21.759 And the word of God says that it is one of Satan's strategies to allow this to work in you for the sole purpose of offending God. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:27.360 I believe that there are three primary things that lead to covetousness. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.279 The first is this a lack of contentment. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:32.800 A lack of contentment. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.480 Enough is never enough. 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.839 This isn't just about my kids and their candy from this past week. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:44.639 The truth is that their desire for more candy is just a really real and honest representation of all of our hearts. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:46.480 That we all want more. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:52.959 We may want uh more time with friends, more freedom from your parents, more lights, more followers uh to you. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:01.920 It may be more stuff, it may be uh more trips, more money, more acknowledgement, more house, more clothes, more shoes, more hobbies, more success. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:05.759 We have this innate feeling of enough never being enough. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:15.439 See, at its very core, covetousness is a lack of contentment in God that causes an increasing desire for things other than God. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.120 Let's say that again. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:23.199 Covetousness is a lack of contentment in God that causes an increasing desire for things other than God. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.920 Can I be honest with you today? 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:28.959 Doesn't matter what you say, I'm the one with the microphone. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:30.079 I'm gonna be honest. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:36.559 Um this idea of lack of contentment, contentment itself is something that I really struggle with personally. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.600 This is a very real thing for me. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:45.600 I feel like there is something within me that finds uh contentment to be one of the most difficult things to have. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.080 I'm always looking toward what's next. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:49.840 What's the next hill to climb? 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:50.879 What's the next challenge? 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:52.480 What's the next win? 00:08:52.879 --> 00:09:00.159 And so I want you to know that I'm preaching this message to you from a very real place of God preaching it to me almost every day for the last 10 years. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:03.840 This is difficult for me. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:10.399 One of the things I've learned is this contentment isn't a knock on being ambitious. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:14.480 Contentment is not against ambition. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:17.919 The Bible actually reinforces that we should be ambitious. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:22.480 You should be ambitious in your career, but be more ambitious about your pursuit of Jesus. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:27.600 That you should be ambitious in your social life, but you should be more ambitious in your walk with the Lord. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:36.080 You should be ambitious with your financial goals, but you should be more ambitious to be seen by God as a faithful steward of what he has given to you. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:43.440 You should be ambitious in your life, but be more ambitious for the creator of life and knowing him more fully. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:47.120 Here's what I've learned: He alone can satisfy your ambition. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:50.320 God alone can satisfy your ambition. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:56.320 We have to be able to focus our ambition in a way that honors God by practicing contentment. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:02.480 There is a razor-thin line between contentment and covetousness. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:04.879 And that line is called greed. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.799 The line is called greed. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:13.200 Greed is a selfish and excessive desire for more of something like money or success. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.240 And I've got two promises for you about greed. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:21.519 The first is this greed will always take more from you than it gives to you. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:26.480 Greed will always take more from you than it gives to you. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:28.799 Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 12, 15. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.080 He says, Watch out. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.480 Be on guard against all kinds of greed. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:35.919 Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:38.240 1 Timothy chapter 6, 6 through 10. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.440 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:44.399 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:48.320 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:56.879 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.799 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:07.120 Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:10.879 Ecclesiastes 5, whoever loves money never has enough. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:15.200 Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:18.000 This too is meaningless. 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:21.279 Greed will always take more from you than it gives to you. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:26.799 The second promise about greed is that gratitude is the only way that you can kill greed. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:30.399 Gratitude is the only way to kill greed. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.720 And it can't be any kind of gratitude. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:37.279 It can't be the kind of gratitude that just says, man, I have a lot to be thankful for. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:42.480 See, that kind of gratitude, that is, that's cheap when it comes to fighting against greed. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:47.279 It has to be the kind of gratitude that drives you to surrender to the will of God. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:55.120 It's the kind of gratitude that humbles you before the Father, humbles you enough to understand James chapter 1, verse 17 is true. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:58.159 Every good and perfect gift comes from God in heaven. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:04.639 1 Thessalonians 5.18, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.120 Psalm 136, give thanks to the Lord. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.240 He is good, his love endures forever. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.000 Psalm 103, 2 through 5. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.600 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not his benefits. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.399 Don't forget these benefits. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:23.039 He forgives your iniquity, heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.279 He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:29.120 He satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.159 Contentment is something that you will always have to fight for. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.000 It will never come naturally to you. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:35.360 Ever. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:40.080 Gratitude is the only way to kill greed. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:45.279 In your fight for contentment, gratitude is both your shield and your sword. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:47.519 I want you to think about that. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:58.799 As you try and live a biblically correct, content life, you have to understand that gratitude is your shield and it's your sword. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.559 Pursue godly contentment. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:04.559 Realize and rest in who God is and what he has done for you. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:07.840 Fight against greed by fighting for gratitude. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.600 I want you to think about it like this. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:15.279 You're only as grateful as you are convinced that God actually is who he says that he is. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.879 That's true for every last one of us. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:26.480 That you are only as grateful as you are convinced that God is who he says that he is. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:33.279 Are you placing your contentment, your joy, your satisfaction in something other than God? 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:45.919 Are you expecting the things of the world to satisfy you, your job, a spouse, a car, a bank account, recognition, those things according to the word of God, which by the way has never been wrong. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.559 They will always leave you wanting more. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.799 Every single time. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:58.399 And when you realize that God has given you everything in your life, it really helps in your battle for gratitude. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:04.720 You never will have a problem fighting against greed if you realize that God has given you by His grace everything that you have. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.240 Every last thing. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:12.639 The tension that says, I don't know, Dave, I work pretty hard. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.480 I do a lot. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:15.679 No one helped me out. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.039 I never took any handouts. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:24.480 I did this and I studied this and I got the benefits of it because of my work and my due diligence and my abilities. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:28.799 And I would just, with every pastoral fiber in my body, just caution you. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:32.559 God allows you to play a role. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.639 But He's the one that makes things happen. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:43.360 The truth for every last one of us is that we are not capable of taking our next breath unless God allows it. 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.440 Fight for gratitude. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.960 A lack of contentment will lead you to covetousness. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.320 The second thing that leads to covetousness is uh comparison. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:57.360 Comparison will lead you to covet. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:00.080 Uh Halloween is fun and the costumes are great. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:08.320 Uh, as we were out, I saw a lot of Spider-Man's and superheroes and a lot of Taylor Swifts out there in the streets, uh, a lot of Travis Kelsey's. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:18.399 And what people are doing when they get into a costume or when they dress up, uh they are trying to uh draw lines of familiarity between them and the person that they're dressing up as. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:23.679 They are trying to do everything that they can to look comparable to whatever that thing is. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.679 They are the ones bringing that comparison into the picture. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.759 And our staff did this on Tuesday. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:34.159 Uh a message went out that said, uh, in one hour we'll have our staff meeting. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.279 You have 60 minutes, and we're doing a costume contest. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:42.879 And you can only use the things in your office to dress up in this costume contest. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:56.960 And my personal favorite and the winner of this costume contest was our kids' pastor, John Shepard, and he decided to dress up like Amos Rivera, our worship pastor, and he nailed it. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:59.200 It was it was spot on. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:05.919 And here's the best part about this uh Amos isn't even here today to defend himself, so we can all just laugh at him, which is awesome. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:07.840 So John won the competition. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.600 He he mean it was it was the most hilarious thing ever. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:18.080 And then they stood next to each other, and John is very tall, and Amos is very not, and they were almost the same. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.159 It was it was really, really good. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:23.519 Uh, there's so much that I could say about comparison. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:32.720 I could talk to you about the millions and even billions of dollars a year that are spent in marketing and advertising to make you feel like you need something that someone else has. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:38.320 To make you feel like if you don't have that thing, then you're the one missing out and everyone else is in on it but you. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:45.600 I could talk about the social media effect and how social media is just a breeding ground for comparison. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.840 You want to know how I know that? 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:56.879 Uh no one's posting uh about the fight that they got into with their spouse last night where they said something that they really shouldn't have said that they regret today. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:08.880 No one is posting a video of their kids uh having a public meltdown in a public place while they as the parent are trying to cling to their last thread of sanity that they feel like they have. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:13.279 No one is posting about the loneliness that they're feeling, the isolation that they have. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:18.799 No one's posting about how they feel like their family is probably worse off now than it ever has been. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.920 It's only the good stuff, it's the highlights. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:26.640 They post the parts of their lives that they want you to compare your life with. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:29.119 This is the nature of social media. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.799 Right, wrong, or indifferent. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.519 That is true. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:36.799 People post the parts of their lives that they want you to compare your life with. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:44.880 Comparing your life with others, whether it's realistic or not, causes us to desire things and experiences that we don't have. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.039 This is covetousness. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:50.480 We're not alone in this struggle, though. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:58.000 Even even the disciples of Jesus, the the people who followed Jesus most closely, dealt with this a lot. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:06.559 Luke chapter 9, Luke 22, Matthew 18, and Mark 9, we read about how the disciples were arguing about which one of them is best. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:13.920 Who among them was the greatest, comparing everything that they had done and everything that they had gotten to see God do. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.559 They were saying, How do we stack up against each other? 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.559 Because we need to have one that's just the best. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.440 And they got caught up in comparison. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:26.240 So one of the reasons that I I love the Bible is how relatable that it is. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:33.599 And this sermon today is not about the power of God's word, but let me just like sidebar note. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:41.119 Um if you're not reading the word of God every single day, then you're missing out. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:46.559 God can meet you right here, and he so often does. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:52.160 I would encourage you, if that's you, your next step is to invest your life into God's word. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:55.200 It can change your life. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.480 I love how relatable that the Bible is. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:04.640 The people in the Bible, I also love how timely uh God can give messages. 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:11.200 This week, as I was in my normal, regular Bible reading plan, I didn't go searching for something. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:14.400 I didn't ask Google what the Bible says about comparison. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:19.440 I was in my normal Bible reading plan and I found myself in John chapter 21. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:27.440 And this interaction between Peter and Jesus takes place where Jesus asks Peter three times the same question. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:29.519 He says, Peter, do you love me? 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:32.000 And Peter answers it the same way all three times. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.680 Yes, Lord, I love you. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:36.559 And then Jesus says, Then feed my sheep. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:49.119 And then in a way that almost just seems totally out of the blue and completely random, after that interaction happens, Jesus looks at Peter and he says, Hey, you've had some areas in your life that you are clinging to control over. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.640 Um, your death is not gonna be one of those things that you can control. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:57.440 In fact, I'm telling you right now, it's gonna be pretty brutal and pretty gruesome. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.440 It seemed random. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.119 It seemed out of left field. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:01.920 Do you love me? 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.880 Yes, then feed my sheep. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.240 You're gonna die a horrible death. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.920 That's how it is in the Bible. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:10.160 And you know what Peter's response was after Jesus told him that? 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:15.599 He turned around to one of the other disciples and he said, What about him though? 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.799 What kind of death is he gonna have? 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:25.359 And Jesus said, It is not your concern, his life or his death. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:28.160 Your job is to follow me. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:33.519 The Bible actually says, Peter, your job is you follow me. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:40.960 But we compare our lives constantly, the good, the bad, our lives, even our deaths. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:44.880 So how are you and your life getting caught up in comparison? 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:48.079 Is it comparing your spouse to somebody else's? 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:51.119 Is it comparing your schedule with somebody else's? 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:53.200 They have so much more freedom than I do. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.160 Is it comparing your paycheck to somebody else's? 00:20:56.319 --> 00:21:02.559 Because even though you wouldn't want to say it, so much of your identity is built on keeping up with that person's lifestyle? 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:06.079 Is it the job that you would love to have, but they have? 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:09.440 Is it the house in the perfect neighborhood that you wish you had? 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.839 The kids that act the way that theirs do. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.000 Why can't my kids be more like that? 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:19.440 Their family looks so much better than mine, and I think it's just because their kids are better, their behavior is better. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:22.799 Why do my kids have to have the struggles and trials that they have to have? 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.200 Why can't they be like those kids? 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:28.400 It may be uh things that are just tangible things. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:31.920 His truck, his boat, her wardrobe, her vacations. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:37.920 It may be something about physical appearance, the way they look, the way they act, the talents that they have. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:40.480 I wish I could just be more like that person. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.640 I'll tell you, I'll struggle with this at some time, too. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:46.559 Like I've asked God, why can't I grow a mustache like Pat Weichel? 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.079 I just want to know. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:53.039 Like I just I just wish that I knew so that I could understand more the sovereignty of God. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:58.480 Now, my wife is very glad that I can't grow a mustache like Pat Weichel, but I just want to know. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:07.359 Or this actually Happened Thursday night, I was at a uh Walker's baseball game and I'm talking to uh someone who goes to our church. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:12.480 In fact, this person is in this room right now, um, and she's the best, she's so sweet. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:18.880 But she looks over at me as we're talking about church and she goes, Hey, you and uh PC are the same age, right? 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.079 And I was like, You back off. 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:27.440 Slow down a little bit, like not even, not even at all close. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.039 He's so much older than I. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.640 Oh, I thought you guys met at Baylor. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.960 Yeah, when I went to Baylor, we had like computers. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.960 I don't think that he went to the same version of Baylor that I went to. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.880 He's so much older than I am. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:43.359 And then it got me thinking, like, he does look pretty, pretty young though. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:47.119 And maybe I'm just at that point where it's like I'm just not looking as young as I used to. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:53.119 And then I saw a picture of him and I was like, man, I would do anything to have his hairline whenever I'm in my 40s, mid-40s. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.319 I would love to have it. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:57.680 I would love to have his hairline in my mid-30s right now, today. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:06.400 And I was just comparing myself to him, and that person is in this room right now, and you just you ruined my weekend, and I want you to know that. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:11.599 Um this is what the word of God says about comparison. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.440 2 Corinthians chapter 10. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:21.119 It says, but when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are lacking understanding. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:26.480 Another translation says, How ignorant is this, or this is foolish and unwise. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.599 See, comparison is a wisdom issue. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:38.160 It's ignorant, it's lacking, it's unwise in the sight of God, but how often do we look at comparison for our counterfeit version of wisdom here on this earth? 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.319 I'm gonna ask it again because it needs to be asked. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:48.480 How often do we look toward comparison for a counterfeit version of wisdom here on this earth? 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:52.640 Have you ever noticed that there are only two results to comparison? 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:56.799 The first is pride, which makes you feel good about you. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:00.799 And the second is insecurity, which makes you feel bad about you. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:04.720 Neither one of those glorify God the Father at all. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.839 Comparison is cheap. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:17.920 It's a meaningless pursuit of earthly wisdom, and the world is waging a war on your understanding of wisdom, whether you would like to believe that or not. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:21.519 James chapter 3, verses 14 and 15 say this. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:45.519 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, which by the way, those are the two primary causes of comparison bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don't boast and be false to the truth. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:52.240 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it's earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:57.279 For where these things are, there will be disorder and evil of every kind. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:07.279 Comparison is unwise, and it will lead you to a selfish, a selfishness, a deceit, and what James calls it is demonic in nature. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:10.880 If you want proof, go all the way back to Genesis chapter 3. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.000 And what happens? 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:18.400 The enemy of God approaches Eve and says, Did God really tell you you can't eat that fruit? 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:23.119 And Eve says, Yes, he said that if we ate it, then we would surely die. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:26.880 And then verse 5, what does the snake, the devil, say to Eve and Adam? 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.799 She says, You're not gonna die. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:37.440 In fact, if you eat it, then you will become wise like God, that your eyes will be open, and that you will become like God. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:44.559 See, Satan used comparison to bring sin into the world by forcing Adam and Eve to compare themselves to God. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:51.599 And then verse 6, what happens is Adam and Eve, they look at the tree and they saw that it looked good. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:55.920 It looked promising, it looked like something that they wanted. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:26:01.759 It looked like the wisdom that they were chasing after was right there in the grasp of their hands. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:06.079 Satan got Adam and Eve to compare themselves to God and it looked good. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:10.720 It looked like something that was missing from their lives finally being fulfilled. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:14.079 It looked like it would make their lives so much better, but it didn't. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:18.559 Because, church, comparison always over promises and under-delivers. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.000 Every single time. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.319 Their life may look good. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.640 It may look like the things that you want. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:31.200 Their job, their family situation, their house, their giftings, their marriage, their income, their post, their whatever. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:40.480 Adam, Eve, James, the Corinthian church, the arguing disciples, and Jesus would all tell you the same thing that Jesus tells Peter in John chapter 21. 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:43.039 He says, Don't worry about them. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.799 You follow me. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.960 Don't compare yourself to them. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.400 You follow after me. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.480 Stay focused on me. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:52.880 You don't have to look to the left or to the right. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:55.279 You don't have to look at what they do or what they have. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:59.200 Your job is to focus on me because I am God. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:04.559 I have a plan for your life, and it is better than whatever plan you think that your life should have. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:10.319 That is what the word of God says, and I believe that he would speak that to us even today. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:13.440 Comparison masquerades as wisdom. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.599 So much so that we don't always notice it. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:23.839 It's a hidden thing, but it will always, every single time, 10 out of 10, lead you and push you toward covetousness. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:28.480 A lack of contentment will lead you to covetousness. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:31.680 Comparison will lead you to covetousness. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:36.960 And third, unbelief will lead you to covetousness. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:40.720 And this is really where the rubber meets the road. 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:46.000 This is where the depth of the sin of covetousness is revealed to us. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:50.559 Because covetousness is ultimately it is unbelief. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.000 That's what it is. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:58.640 Philippians 4 19, and my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:00.160 Hebrews 13 5. 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:02.240 Keep your life free from the love of money. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:07.200 Be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you and I will never forsake you. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:18.480 2 Peter 1 3, his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:26.559 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17, Psalm 23, 1 through 6, Psalm 145, 16, Luke 12, 24, all of them say the same thing. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:51.839 That when we don't believe that God is truly good, or he can't provide for us in the very best way, when we don't believe him more uh in our lives than we used to, when we have a limited view, a limited belief, a limited faith, a limited trust in him, our hearts start to desire and crave things outside of him, and that shows it reveals our lack of belief in him and who he says that he is. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:55.359 And the world will tell you that covetousness is passive. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.240 But covetousness is not passive. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:06.240 It is a choice that you make by placing your trust, your faith, and your belief in something other than God. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.720 It's exactly what happened to Adam and Eve. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:12.880 They were drawn in by the comparison of wanting to be like God. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:16.160 But in reality, they just believed in something other than God. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.799 They believed that what God said wasn't right. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.599 They believed in the opposite of what God had told them. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:25.119 They believed that God was holding out on them for some reason. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:27.759 Colossians 3 5 makes it very clear for us. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.960 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you. 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:37.119 Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:40.880 Idolatry is putting anything in the place of God in your life. 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:44.960 And the scary thing about idols is you can't halfway have an idol. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.359 You can't halfway believe in something. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:49.519 You either do or you don't. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:56.240 And the Christian life is built on you placing your faith, your trust, and your belief in God. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.920 God alone. 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:00.240 Nothing other than God. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:03.839 Not God plus something, not anything above God. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.200 It is God alone. 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:08.559 Have you ever noticed that the Ten Commandments start and end the same way? 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:12.240 Commandment number one, thou shalt have no other gods before me. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:15.200