You Can Surrender Old Habits And Still Thrive

“Giving up” usually sounds like defeat, but we’re talking about the kind of surrender that actually makes you win. We start with a blunt spiritual reality: sin separates us from God, and once something is revealed as wrong, we don’t get infinite loopholes. The real battle is often mental. Even after we’re saved, old habits and survival instincts can still tug at us, which is why renewing your mind isn’t a slogan, it’s a daily practice that shapes how you respond under pressure.

Then we go straight into biblical justice and money ethics, because faith has receipts. We read and unpack Deuteronomy, Leviticus 19:13, and James 5:4 on oppressing the poor, withholding wages, and what God says about defrauding people. We talk about why people hold back generosity, how greed and pride kill compassion, and why paying people fairly and on time is a matter of integrity, not convenience. If you’ve ever delayed what you owed, justified harsh opinions about the needy, or let a “broke mindset” harden your heart, this will hit close.

We also challenge the way we “deal hunt” when it crosses into taking advantage, using Proverbs 20:14 to expose the bragging buyer mentality. The call is simple and uncomfortable: don’t withhold good when it’s in your power to do it (Proverbs 3:27). We close with a picture of real-time giving and a reminder of God’s new mercies every morning, because generosity flows best when you trust that God doesn’t run out. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

Transcript

Why Giving Up Still Wins

SPEAKER_00 0:07

All right. Thank you for tuning in to this podcast on today. It is for your life and your legacy. Hey, today we're going to talk about why giving up works. I know it sounds kind of funny, doesn't it? But how to give up and still win. It is a good thing to learn how to give up and still win. And we're going to unlock some things today and we're going to talk to you about that. I think you're going to be surprised that some things just work and there's nothing you can do about it. Because we serve a God who can do anything but fail. So listen, come on. Strip in. Go and get ready. Kick your shoes off. Don't relax, though. Because we're about to make sure you meet life where you need to be living. All right. On top and living it abundantly. All right. You know, I almost forgot to tell you, to ask you, to hit that like and share button. Come on, hit that like and share button. We definitely appreciate it over here. Ah, yes, and here we go. Because life is waiting on you.

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Relationship

Sin, Darkness, And Clear Choices

SPEAKER_03 1:20

separates us.

SPEAKER_05 1:21

Separates us.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Separates us. It separates us. So so so we don't want sin because sin actually separates us from God, right? Would that mean if I'm walking in sin, would I be then still walking in some form of darkness? Right? Somehow or another, I'm I'm still I'm still there. I still have some veil over my eyes because here's what I truly believe. If it's been revealed to you, you have two choices.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

You do or you don't.

SPEAKER_02 1:50

Boom. I love this man. Right? If you know it's wrong, you either do it or you don't do it. Now, we could get into the the triggers and the things in life that may actually mentally, right? Mentally cause you to go do something. I was just something the other day, most of you may not remember these days in your lives, but when things didn't go right, some people just go drinking. Right? You just go drinking. You think you're gonna drink your you're gonna drink the problems away. The problems are still there. Matter of fact, if you if you drink too much, you might have uh extra problem. Extra problem, right? And here's a here's a here's a clarity of thought, though, is that when we get to points in our lives where we get saved, all right, and you still have mentally the way of resolving issues, could it be a pull on you to try to go this way to do to resolve your problem instead of praying?

SPEAKER_06 2:48

Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Yeah, yeah, of course. We'll be right. So don't think it's strange that that happens. It's because just just because you got saved, doesn't mean that physically things have changed for you. Mentally, some things need to change from you. Therefore, the scriptures have said to us, renew your what? Renew your mind. Because that means there's a concept locked in there. So I one of the best things God ever gave me, he said the fact that uh when you were born into this world, really you got into an environment, and an environment, depending on what the environment was, probably poisoned you in some way, shape, or form to make you think a certain way, even about yourself. Here's what baffles me is sometimes some of the most beautiful people in the world are still insecure. They still don't think they're pretty enough, like James Howard.

unknown 3:38

You got a problem with that?

SPEAKER_02 3:39

Right. They still don't think, they still don't think they're that they're there yet. And that there's an insecurities that are born, if you will, bred in them, if you will, as they grow up.

Why Scripture Warns Against Oppression

SPEAKER_02 3:52

So, where are you going with this? Here in Deuteronomy 24, 14, thou shalt not oppress an hide servant that is poor and needy. Why do you even need to say that?

SPEAKER_03 4:06

Because some of the rich do. Uh-huh. Oppressing the poor.

SPEAKER_02 4:12

How does that happen? Do we not all know that this is a wrong thing to do?

SPEAKER_03 4:17

Greed takes over.

SPEAKER_02 4:18

We do. What do you say? Say that loud.

SPEAKER_03 4:20

Sometimes greed takes over.

SPEAKER_02 4:22

Greed takes over.

SPEAKER_03 4:24

And we allow it to take over.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

We allow it to take. So you either do or you don't. But here's the thing: why is it that you do do what you shouldn't be doing?

unknown 4:33

Sin that dwelleth in us.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

Say that aloud. Say it aloud. Don't be ashamed. It's a sin that dwelleth in us. So even in this time, this instruction. Let me give you some history. Deuteronomy is the scripture or the book wherein Moses has an opportunity to give to the new generation the laws again. It's like when we would sit down with people and actually give them instruction. Imagine sitting down with your grandchildren and giving them instruction.

unknown 5:03

Right?

SPEAKER_02 5:03

And you said, all the things I forgot with your mom and dad, I'm going to give it to you. Right? Wouldn't that be a beautiful thing just to sit down with your grandchildren and give them the so you know what? I learned from my mistakes in the past. But I'm going to give this over to you. Would you, would anybody am I missing it? Do you think that's a good thing?

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Y'all look at me strange.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

Not different. All right. So that's the thing in a sense, this is say, listen, I we've already given them the law. What we're going to do is give you this law again so that it can be applicable to what you're doing and how you're living it. So here's the thing. At this moment in time, that means that there's something wrong. Because here's a I want to I want you to turn with me. Somebody get Leviticus 19, 13. Leviticus 19, 13. So we talked about the fact that why would people want to do this to those who are in need, poor and needy? You would not think you would think that people who are poor and needy, you would have a heart for them. So tell me something. What normally keeps us from giving? While somebody's getting Leviticus 19, 13. What keeps us from giving?

unknown 6:13

Growth.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

Growth.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Alright?

SPEAKER_02 6:15

Anyone else? Some people think need better than other people. Some people think they're better than that. So we got two major ones. Now I think you said either, did you say growth or broke?

unknown 6:24

Broke.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Broke. Alright, so right. So lack. Right, alright? So we want to make sure we understand that. So if you're broke, the question is, why are you broke?

SPEAKER_06 6:34

Don't know how to handle money.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

You don't know how to handle money. So would God give us insight on how to handle our money? Yes, say lie, sir. Yes, God will give us insight on how to handle our money. Could we make mistakes with our money? Can we can we recover from these mistakes? So here's a question. If you see somebody who's poor and needy, and you know you've made a mistake, should you, I mean, maybe look introspectively and say, you know, I've made some mistakes.

unknown 7:06

Right.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

Right? But a person who is not uh so inclined and maybe a little bit more proud may find it like you ain't anybody know anybody like that? Anyone know anybody like that? I mean, I mean, I don't know if you saw them on TV or not, but uh there's some people out there like that that say, hey, forget the poor.

SPEAKER_03 7:28

Yeah, all right, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:29

Forget the poor. Yeah, forget the poor. Oh, I'm sorry, forget the poor and those who oh yeah, I'm gonna step on a little toe. And those who really, you know, who just came across the border. Forget them. Forget all of them, forget all of them. Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Did you matter fact, some of your people came across the border? But I guess, you know, we forget that.

SPEAKER_06 7:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Right? That's not like it seemed like it, but that's not scripture. It is not I I'm not, I'm I'm joking, but I'm being serious at the same time. This is not scripture. It is not sound thinking, right? It is it is one that is motivated simply by greed, right, and a lack of compassion.

SPEAKER_06 8:10

Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 8:12

It is a lack of compassion. So who's got Leviticus 19, 13?

Pay People Fairly And On Time

SPEAKER_02 8:20

Anybody? 19 and 13. 19 and 13.

SPEAKER_05 8:23

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither wrong him. The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

SPEAKER_02 8:33

All right, so let's talk. Now we're gonna get into some mess right here. In other words, don't hold that person's paycheck. You, you, you, you hire. If you hire somebody, don't sit there and fuddle over whether or not you're gonna pay them today or tomorrow. If you know you're supposed to pay them when you're supposed to pay them, pay them then.

unknown 8:52

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 8:53

That's integrity. Because if you told them you're gonna pay him, then pay them then. If you're having difficulty paying them, tell them that too. Would you agree with me? But at least here's the thing. If we get down to brass tax, where we find out it says somebody go with me to James 5 and 4. James 5 and 4. I'm doing good. We're doing good on time. James 5 and 4. Who's got James 5 and 4 for me? I see there's one James over there. All right. While you while you while you're going through James 5 and 4, here's what we need to understand. It's that at the end of the day, it says that you will even have to deal not with just your brethren, but with strangers as well, at your gates. The gates, if you read through Old Testament, are typical places where there is government sitting. There are people making decisions at the gates of the city. The gates of the city is all is very similar to like going down to uh the hall and actually listening to the Congress or listening to people making decisions on how we will govern the land and how we will govern these things. The gates are the places. So sometimes when we say um get to the point of gates and cities, we just think of them as entry points. But in many instances in the Old Testament, what you'll find is that the gates are where decisions are being made. Are you with me so far? So here we go. Uh within that gates. So here we go. Uh, who's got James 5 and 4? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 10:23

Behold, the hire of the laborer who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crying, and the cries of them which have reaped or entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

Alright, so that's James 5 and 4.

unknown 10:45

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02 10:47

Alright. So here's what we here's what we understand. If um uh I want to make sure that what we under that we're supposed to give due who excuse me, give pay to those who are owed to pay. That we're not supposed to hold back at any point in time. Would you agree with me that that's that's fair? All right, that and now if you give them his higher verse uh uh somewhere with Proverbs 22 and 22. Proverbs 22 and 22. I'm gonna make this thing plain. And then we're gonna end up down here uh in Proverbs 327. Can somebody get Proverbs 327 from me? Somebody gonna y'all might be mad at me with Proverbs 3.27. I'm gonna just tell you with Proverbs 327.

SPEAKER_05 11:33

22 and 22.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

22 and 22.

SPEAKER_05 11:36

Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither press the afflicted in negative. Okay, so we we I think so.

SPEAKER_02 11:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. I get it. I get it. I get it. But okay, get it, we get with me when you get to Proverbs 327.

Do Good When You Can

SPEAKER_02 11:50

Proverbs 327. Who's got 327?

SPEAKER_04 11:57

Do not do not withhold good from those to whom it is due. It is in all your hands to do so.

SPEAKER_02 12:08

Okay, so that means if I have the power to do something good, do it. Do it. You know, so what are you saying? It is generosity, it is the heart of God to be generous, it is the justice of God to be graceful and merciful, it is his desire. If you have the ability to do something good, do it. Don't sit around, well, should I, is it from the Lord?

SPEAKER_01 12:33

You know it is not from the devil. You know the devil don't want you to do any good.

SPEAKER_02 12:41

Come on now. Sit up there and contemplating having a prayer meeting over it. You know, no, this is not necessary. Here's something else. All right, so finally, just in case I ain't bringing home all the way, Proverbs 20 and 14. Who's got Proverbs 20 and 14? I'm gonna really, I'm gonna this one might hurt somebody. Proverbs 20 and 14.

SPEAKER_05 13:03

Who's got 20 and 14?

SPEAKER_02 13:05

20 and 14.

SPEAKER_05 13:09

Okay. It is not. It is not said to Bible. But when he is going his way, then he boasts it.

SPEAKER_02 13:21

Alright. So it is not, it is not said to buy. But when he is gone his way, he boasts about it. Now I'm gonna say it because I've been guilty. You look at a piece of something, say, that ain't no good, that ain't no good. That ain't no good. They finally give it to you, and then you walk away and go, yeah, I got that for a steal. Hold on now, wait a minute. Uh, you know, uh, we won't think about that whether or not

Bargaining Versus Cheating The Vulnerable

SPEAKER_02 13:52

we're cheating somebody.

unknown 13:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Am I right, y'all? Do we want to cheat anybody?

unknown 13:58

No, sir.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

We don't want to cheat anybody. It's okay to say, uh, uh, it'd be different if you bought a piece of painting for five dollars from the goodwill. Right? And you find out later it was worth $500. That's different. But when you purposely like, mmm, you must be a fool. You a fool. Yeah, this right here. No, man, that ain't no good. That's no good at all. I apologize for the time of vernacular, but you know exactly what I'm saying. Uh there's there's the question is what are you doing? What are you doing for the person, and what are you doing for yourself? And what are you doing, here we go, for the kingdom. For the kingdom, for the kingdom, for the kingdom. Because remember, you're not representing you. Right? Y'all with me?

unknown 14:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

Because think about it. What happened when the person finds out you took them? Hey, come on, and they ain't thinking now. You represent who? What church you go to? I ain't going there. I I I prefer not to, I prefer not to fellowship with folk who who do these things, right? Because this is now, I just gave you scripture. Am I right, y'all?

unknown 15:09

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 15:10

This is what the script. I tell you what, you read it in NIV, NET, I don't care what you read it, it's gonna tell you this is bad. Bad, bad says the buyer that then goes away and boasts that I got it for a price. This is not the way. So you say what? Because truthfully, the person that you might be getting this from may be poor and needy. And that mindset, they don't know what's going on. And it's good to actually tell them, hey, you know, here's a fair price for this. Here's what I'm willing, or even better yet, here's what I'm willing to pay. Is that all right?

unknown 15:45

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

It's up to them. They say, here's what I'm willing to pay.

SPEAKER_03 15:48

But we go ahead, sir. Well then bargain shop, shop, and is it all right to say, well, can you bring it down a little bit? Absolutely. You're not uh living in the value of it. Right. Just asking, can you make a better deal? Right. Yeah, that's all right. That's different than that.

SPEAKER_02 16:06

That's different. That's different. That's different, especially at the end when you boast about it. Yeah, that's yeah, you you get up there and say, Man, I don't, I don't know. I don't know if he got any clothes left when I'm finished. You know, I mean, it's it's sinful because what you've done is you've taken advantage of someone, and now not only that, you boast about it.

unknown 16:23

That's right.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

Yes, sir, please.

SPEAKER_05 16:28

If if this thing is whatever you, this thing is a dollar. One dollar. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 16:36

You got a hundred dollars in your pocket. Great. You gotta give a few. That's all right. That's true. That you would give a few.

SPEAKER_02 16:51

That's all right. That's just no, that's essentially

Stewardship, Sacrifice, And Abundant Living

SPEAKER_02 16:55

I'm sorry, you have more. So that's essentially what it is. When it when it comes time, uh that's the reason I started off with you being a peculiar people. That you're not peculiar means different, not strange. Understand what I mean? You're different, means you're set apart. There is a different standard for you, but if you live like you lived when you were in darkness, then you're gonna always have a lack mindset. And you will never know what it's like to live free because you want to hold on to 50 cents instead of the you, I mean, you give up 50 cents instead of a dollar, not understanding that God really would like for you to make a sacrifice in this particular example. Uh, and you say, Well, I can't afford to give a dollar. Have you looked? I'm gonna walk the dog. Have you looked at your finances to realize whether or not it's a sacrifice or not? Have you have you done have you fully like when you go to the table? Have you examined yourself? Because the truth of the matter is you're supposed to be a what? Steward. A good steward. So I'm gonna tell you I'm gonna because some look, this being being a real Christian is not for the faint of heart. There's responsibility here. There's responsibility. I'm talking to everybody. There's responsibility here. There's responsibility. If you're really going to be a good Christian, there's a responsibility to achieve greater, to do better, and to live abundantly. But you can't do that with the same mindset you had when you were in darkness. You can't. You gotta give more, you gotta love more, you gotta cherish more. Am I making sense to anybody? That's why he's talking about the poor and needy. Go ahead, sir. Right thing to do.

SPEAKER_06 19:36

I didn't give them that. The Holy Spirit teaching him how to whom much is healing.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Much is required. That's right.

SPEAKER_06 19:53

That didn't seem like that was much, but at that time, that was much. That's right. That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 20:01

That's right. So I know y'all think it's in Spider-Man, but it started in the scripture first. To whom much is given, much is required, right? This is a true statement. If God has given you now, here's the thing, here's the thing, here's the thing, here's the thing, here's the thing, here's what happens.

Meeting Needs And Trusting God’s Supply

SPEAKER_02 20:15

Within time, within a moment in time, he's already he's he actually set the scene. He got off, you got off work, right? Got off work, he's hungry. He's getting something to feed his hunger. What does he decide to do when he sees someone else who's more hungry than he?

SPEAKER_03 20:33

Meet their need.

SPEAKER_02 20:34

He's got to meet the need. Now he had a choice. Now here's the thing. I ain't trying to put you out there, but I'm sure he had enough money to go get some more.

unknown 20:43

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 20:44

Am I right? He had a little bit more to go get some more. But that's not what's in your mind at the time.

unknown 20:49

Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 20:51

But you have to be mindful, and you as a kingdom citizen, you have to think, God has blessed me to live abundantly. Right? He's blessed me, and you have to go through that challenge, like, okay, I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do this, and you know, in your heart, in your mind. It's a part of where you actually give out of your heart, really from your from your soul to someone who's in need. Y'all, y'all see, y'all, that's that's a perfect picture. That's right. Being able to do that. Is it hard sometimes? Sometimes it is. Yeah, sometimes it is. Now, here's a challenge, y'all. Can we continue to have a mind like that to make sure we bless other people, even when it may seemingly be difficult?

SPEAKER_03 21:35

Yes, yes, we can work towards that.

SPEAKER_02 21:37

We can work towards that. We can work towards that. Is that a good good aim, good goal? All right. Can can can can then I tell can I tell you something why you should do it? Because your daddy does. Right? Your father does it for you. Your father, your heavenly father does it for you. Every morning you wake up. He says he gives you new mercies. Every day. Anybody glad about those new mercies? Every day. Every day. He gives you new every day. Like he don't run out. Can somebody say they say he doesn't run out? Can you understand this in your life? If you give, you will never run.

SPEAKER_00 22:18

All right. Well, we thank you for tuning

Closing Encouragement And Like Share

SPEAKER_00 22:20

in again. We know that uh we know that God's blessed you and we believe in God for more and more and more. Amen of that. Because he's a blessing. He's a God who loves to bless, who loves to continue to make us more and to reveal himself to us that we might become more. So listen, uh, once again, I look forward to another opportunity for us to break bread, for us to uh speak to those things that are needful for transformation. And we believe in God on today for greater things, because greater things are coming. Listen, you have yourself a good day and continue to do great things, continue to do great things, continue to do great things, because great things are coming looking for you. Alrighty, till next time. We love you. There's nothing you can do about it. Almost forgot to ask you, hit that like and share button. Come on, hit that like and share button before we go. Ah, that'd be great, that'd be great. It helps make things happen around here. Alrighty.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Hey