WEBVTT 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:07.200 Welcome to the Awakening Church Podcast. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.439 We exist to awaken this generation to a new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:16.320 Thanks for tuning in to find out more at awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:19.039 Well, good morning, Awakening Church. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:22.000 Great to see ya! Welcome, welcome, welcome. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.760 If you're new, my name's Ryan. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.359 We're absolutely thrilled to have you join us. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:31.600 This morning, we're concluding our series Relational Intelligence. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:32.240 It's been fun. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:36.719 We spent the last six weeks talking about relational intelligence. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:41.920 And the reason is we don't need more relational information in our day. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:42.880 We have lots of it. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.359 What we need is relational intelligence. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.799 And here's the reason why. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:50.960 We have this deep longing. 00:00:51.119 --> 00:01:04.640 Every single person in this room, whether you're an extrovert or you're an introvert, you have this longing to have an intimate, life-giving, character-shaping relationship that has this rugged commitment to one another. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:12.719 You long, I long to know someone deeply and for them to know us significantly and fully. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:22.319 Where this life-giving, like the friends where you're just like, ah, I'm around them and I know them, and they just refresh my soul. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:27.359 And not just that, but you want to be a better person, like they're character shaping. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.079 And you know that they're gonna be with you through thick or thin. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:37.760 It's not a fair weather friend, not a fair weather marriage, but it has this rugged commitment. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:43.599 And so we asked the question how in the world do we have those kinds of relationships? 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:52.079 And so we said relational wisdom is the key, and that relational wisdom or intelligence is the skill of navigating life well. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:10.319 That it's not just the acquisition of knowledge, and we live in the Google age, and so we think if we learned it, we'd know it, and yet wisdom is this skill, just like learning the skill of playing a guitar or shooting a basketball or swimming. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:15.360 It is a skill, and so it's the proper application of the right knowledge. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:18.800 That there is this training and applying for some. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:20.639 This is where the rubber meets the road. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:31.599 And I was talking to a couple afterwards as we talked about the end of the series, and they're like, it's actually not the end of the series, it's the beginning of the series, because now it's time to apply it. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:34.159 And I thought, like, what a great response, and it's true. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:42.560 It's you, you and I, we need to begin to apply the lessons that we've been learning about how to do relationships well. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:49.199 And we started off with week one with this verse that said in Proverbs that there's a way that appears to be right. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.360 But in the end, it leads to death. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:03:05.840 There's this way that appears to be right relationally, that appears to be right in how we go about our friendships, but in the end, it actually leads to death. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.800 It undermines the very relationships that we want. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:21.680 There's a way that seems right, there's a way that sounds right, there's a way that even feels good, but in the end, and you know it, and I know it, we've experienced it ultimately isn't good for us. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:40.879 And so we've been spending the last few weeks looking at popular relational advice that sounds good, that seems good, and even feels good in the moment, but we've experienced so much heartache and so much pain, we know ultimately it's not good for us. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:49.599 We started off with, you know, follow your heart or you do you, it's just physical, or um uh all you need is love. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:04:10.400 This morning we're concluding with what I believe is the advice that has shipwrecked more marriages, destroyed more friendships, and this bit of advice, it actually um has caused people to really um undermine their very future. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:17.519 Because this has uh even more implications, not just relationally, but for decision making in all of life. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:22.160 And the advice is you deserve to be happy. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:24.000 Doesn't that sound good? 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:27.120 And we all go, yeah. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:32.240 And some of you are like, Ryan, don't mess with this one, right? 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:34.639 Please, okay, follow your heart. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:36.319 That was a hard feeling to swallow. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.600 Don't mess with you deserve to be happy because it sounds good. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:45.199 It seems good, but is it really good for us? 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:51.120 Underneath uh that advice is this modern uh relational vision. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:00.959 It's actually a new way of like viewing all of relationships of the outcome or desire of what we want to see happen relationally. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:06.560 And the modern relational vision says this your happiness is most important. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:14.879 This is what we've bought into as a culture that your happiness is most important. 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:17.279 In fact, maybe let's make it theological. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:25.040 Some of us would say it this way: God's will for your life is to be happy. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.040 God wants me to be happy. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.279 In fact, parents do this. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:34.800 If you ask a parent, what do you want for your kid? 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.839 All I want for my kid is to be what? 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:42.800 I know there's not a lot of parents in here. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:45.439 You just knew the answer, the subjects on happiness. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:46.399 Let's try it again. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:49.040 All I want for my kids is to be happiness. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:50.000 Thank you guys. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:50.959 I love that. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:52.000 Why? 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.920 Because your happiness is most important. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.160 Put it in the relational context. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:04.240 The purpose of relationships is personal happiness. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:12.800 The point of the marriage, the point of the friendship, the point of what uh dating is your personal happiness. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:19.199 Now let's define happiness because the way we've defined happiness uh has shifted over the years. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:29.279 Actually, classically, the way you would define happiness, the way the ancients in scripture would define it as well, but also just in classical thought, what had to do with this virtuous life. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:31.279 It's the well-lived life. 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:35.040 It's the one where you look back on life and you're happy with it. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:43.519 Whereas when we define happiness today, it has to do with a deep sense of personal pleasure or satisfaction. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:47.839 It is this, you know, pleasurable satisfaction of the moment. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:52.959 And so the purpose of relationships is this personal happiness. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:57.439 And so you exist for my happiness. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:06.639 I'm dating you, I'm marrying you, I'm friends with you, so that I'll be happy. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:08.879 Well, how do I be happy? 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:12.879 Uh here's our you know, formula, if you will. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:18.639 When I get, and then you fill in the blank, then I'll be happy. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:33.680 When I get, when I finally find the right person, when I finally fall in love, when I marry her or marry him, then I'll be happy. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.399 And for some, you're like, when I'm not married to him and I'm not married to her, then I'll be happy. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:08:03.439 When I get the right job, when I get out of this job, when I'm successful, when I finally own a home, and others are all owning a home, you're like, when I finally sell this home, when we finally move out of the area, this area is crazy and it's so insane. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.040 And so if we moved away, then I'll be happy. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:24.480 When I huh, when I build that lifestyle brand, like when I can travel the world and and live, have people live vicariously through my pictures, and I don't have to live through other people's pictures, then I'll be happy. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:32.000 And so then we give this bit of advice for people do what makes you happy. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:47.519 If the purpose of relationships is personal happiness, if the most important thing is to be happy, then you should do whatever makes you happy, right? 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.720 If it feels good, do it. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:52.960 In fact, we asked this question. 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:59.039 Oh my goodness, and this question has shipwrecked more relationships. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.159 Do they make you happy? 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:09.120 She just doesn't make me happy anymore. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.600 He doesn't make me happy anymore. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:18.720 And if the most important thing is to be happy, well then I need to do what makes me happy. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:20.080 Do they make me happy? 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:24.159 No, the honeymoon stage wore off. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:28.960 And we do this with our friends, right? 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:34.720 I just need to surround myself with people who make me happy. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:39.759 Well, if your friends don't make you happy anymore, then get new friends. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.600 And so we come to this conclusion. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:49.759 If unhappy, something must be wrong. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:55.840 If I am unhappy, something must be wrong. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:07.440 Because happiness is most important, and the purpose of life is to be happy, and so if I'm unhappy, whatever makes me happy is wrong. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.440 Now let me ask you this. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.279 Why is it that happiness is so elusive? 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:16.000 Why is it so fleeting? 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:24.639 Why is it something that we're running after, we're pursuing, but we never quite get, and if we do get it, it just vanishes so quickly. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:30.879 Maybe in the Silicon Valley asked another way, why are our lives so full? 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:36.799 And yet we live such unfulfilled lives. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:42.080 You know, I think there is a problem with happily ever after. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:48.159 You know, we talk about it in the fairy tales in the myths of living happily ever after. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:54.799 And it's not just a fairy tale, it's what we desire, whether it's with in marriage or friendships or in work. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:57.360 We want the happily ever after, don't we? 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:01.600 Like I want the job that I work and it's happily ever after. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.399 You know, do what you love and you never work a day in your life. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:11.440 Well, well, I I guess I don't love this anymore because it feels like work today. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.120 The problem of happily ever after, Dr. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:30.399 Victor Frankel, psychiatrist and neurologist, many of you would know, Holocaust survivor, famous uh writer, he said, it is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness. 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:33.600 He says, pursuing happiness. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:38.879 See, happiness isn't the problem, it's the pursuit of happiness that is the problem. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:43.840 Well, why does making happiness the end goal of your life a problem? 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:45.919 Well, three things I want to highlight for us. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.559 First, it tells us that difficult is bad. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:54.240 As someone once said, no, difficult ain't bad, it's just hard. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:12:03.120 See, we have subtly begun to believe a lie that if anything is difficult, it is bad and to be avoided. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.039 Oh, this is hard. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.519 Well, listen to this. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:14.879 When happiness is our end goal, we'll never sacrifice. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:20.799 And without sacrifice, we'll never do anything of significance. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:33.200 See, we begin to believe that delay, discomfort, risk, inconvenience, obstacles could not be the will of God. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:40.480 Because if God exists to make me happy, and this is hard, it could not be his will. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:40.960 Dr. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:50.080 Timore Elmore talks about this in our current culture, is where because of the technology and the life we're living, we're beginning to believe some things. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:54.639 He says, in an age of speed, we've begun to believe that slow is bad. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.200 In an age of convenience, we've begun to believe that hard is bad. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.200 In an age of entertainment, we've started to believe boring is bad. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:07.759 In an age of nurture, we're believing that risk is bad. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.399 In an age of entitlement, we're believing that labor is bad. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:17.679 The problem of heavily, happily ever after is first, it tells us that difficult is bad. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.200 That if I'm going through something hard, then I must get out of it. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:22.879 It must be wrong. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:32.799 And yet we'll never do anything of significance or that's uh of worth if we don't go through difficult to get there. 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:36.720 Secondly, it leaves us dissatisfied relationally. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:39.519 It leaves us dissatisfied relationally. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:43.759 This whole when-if thing, when I get here, then I'll have this. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:48.080 The problem is when you get that, it doesn't fully satisfy, does it? 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:53.679 In fact, I was talking with some friends that reached all their goals the other day. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.279 You're like, really? 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.200 Yeah. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.960 Mid-40s. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:03.039 This is what happens, especially with the high achievers. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:11.519 Financially, relationally, independent, met all their goals. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.120 And guess what? 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.759 Common thread. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:23.519 Depression, dissatisfied, looking and longing for what's next. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:30.639 See, we think if we just got that job, if we had this, if we were able to finally travel wherever you want, go wherever you want. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.519 News flash. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:37.120 I just sat across from someone who can travel wherever he wants, anytime he wants, and he's dissatisfied. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:41.200 Philip Cushman talks about the empty self. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.639 I think it's an accurate assessment of our culture today. 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:53.679 He says the empty self is filled up with consumer goods, cowries, experiences, politicians, romantic partners, and empathetic therapists. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:12.399 The empty self experiences a significant absence of community, tradition, and shared meaning, a lack of personal conviction and worth, and so it embodies the absences as a chronic, undifferentiated emotional hunger. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.360 Hunger. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:22.159 This absence is just this chronic hunger of the soul, never satisfied. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:34.879 The problem of happily ever after, it tells us difficult, it's bad, it leaves us dissatisfied relationally, and it creates a disillusionment with life, with others, with ourself, and with God. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.360 It creates this disillusionment. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.799 Now think about this. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:47.279 If my purpose is to be happy, and I am not happy, stay with me. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:53.440 Something must be wrong with me. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:59.279 For many, you've believed that happiness is the most important thing. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:02.559 The purpose of life, the purpose of relationships is to be happy. 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:19.039 And I'm not talking, I want to be clear on the clinical side of things, but the the widespread anxiety, the widespread angst that we're seeing amongst this generation, I has to do, has to do, I think, with misplaced end goal of what life is all about. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:30.399 If it's all about being happy and I'm not happy, all of a sudden, this internal angst, something must be wrong with me. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.720 I must be broken. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:46.559 Think about it, parents, as we have said, all I want for my kid is to be happy, and that kid doesn't feel happy, they feel like they've let their parents down. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:52.080 And in this weight that they feel underneath. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:17:00.720 Well, if God exists to make me happy and I'm not happy, then God has let me down. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:10.799 And the problem with happily ever after is it creates a disillusionment because it's the wrong purpose or goal for our life. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.519 J.P. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:16.400 Moreland and Klaus Eisler write in their book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:27.839 If happiness is having an internal feeling of fun or pleasurable satisfaction, and if it is our main goal, where will we place our focus all day long? 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:36.880 The focus will be on us, and the result will be a culture of self-absorbed individuals who can't live for something larger than we are. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:42.240 As parents, we will then view our children as a means to our own happiness. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:48.720 Marriage, work, and even God Himself will exist as a means to make us happy. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:56.480 The entire universe will revolve around our internal pleasure and me. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:02.799 You deserve to be happy. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:10.319 And yet, in a culture of abundance, why is it so few are? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:18.880 Why is there such a restlessness and angst in our souls? 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:25.359 Could it be that we have the wrong end goal? 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.920 No, happiness itself isn't the problem. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.720 In fact, let me ask a better question for us. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.960 Not how do I make sure I'm happy in life? 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.119 I want to make sure I'm happy. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.559 I want to make sure I get mine. 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.920 But listen to this. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:48.960 How do you make sure that you end up happy with your life? 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.039 Have you ever thought about that? 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:55.599 Like when you look back, maybe you're 60 years old. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.000 Some of you are like, Will I ever be 60? 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.960 Yes, you will. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:18.000 When you look back and you look at the decisions you made, you look at the relationship you you had, you look at the life you live, the character you have, and you would go, Wow, I am happy with my life. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:27.839 There is a difference between pursuing happiness in life and looking back and truly being happy with your life. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:31.359 Call this the law of happiness. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:52.319 And Psalm 1 unpacks the law of happiness and how we are to go about our lives in such a way that when we look back, we go, wow, I'm so happy with my life, with the decisions I made, with the relationships I had, with the person I became. 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:55.279 If you got your Bibles, would you open up to Psalm 1? 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.519 We'll pick it up in verse 1. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.799 Begins this way. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:09.599 The author says, Blessed, underline that word blessed, is the one who does not walk and step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:19.519 He begins this psalm, the very first psalm of the Psalms, Psalm 1, it's a wisdom psalm, meaning it's gonna teach us about how to live life well. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:22.640 And he says, You want to know about how to live life well? 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.480 He starts off with happy. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:25.920 Blessed. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.480 Right? 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.839 No, that's the word blessed, Ryan. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:31.599 Actually, in the Hebrew, there's a very specific word for blessed. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.039 This is not it. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:35.039 This word means happy. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.680 In fact, right up above it, happy. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:42.240 The psalm says this, happy. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.880 Happy are those. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:48.480 You want to be happy, you want to look back and be happy with your life. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:58.720 I'm gonna share the law of happiness, how you go about this, so that you can look back 10 years, 20 years, 30 years from now, and go, oh man, I'm so happy. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:06.400 See, that's the type of life, the happy life. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.680 He says, happy. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:12.640 Now notice this, is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.480 And you circle that word wicked. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:18.079 Now, when we think of wicked, we think about the worst people on the planet, right? 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:26.960 You're like the wicked, and and you can just kind of like have a few different people from history maybe show up in your mind that are wicked, and you're like, okay, that's wicked. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:30.880 So, like, I don't really have friends that are wicked. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:33.200 Let me define wicked for you. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:38.960 The wicked are those who live as if there is no God, biblically. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:51.440 The wicked are those that live as they are the very center of the universe, life is all about them, and they live for now. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:59.200 See, I would say there's a lot of people who call themselves Christian. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:13.759 Who live as if there is no God, that they believe they're the center of the universe, at least they act that way, and they live for now, not recognizing that there's eternity. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:21.119 See, what he's saying is happy. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:36.240 A truly deep, resonant, happy people are ones who do not live as if they are the center of the universe, as if there is no God, as if now is all there is. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:43.279 Now I want you to notice there was this progression in here as well. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:50.319 It said, Blessed or happy are the ones who do not walk, stand, and sit. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:56.000 See, I think many of us start out in life with great intentions. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.759 Right? 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:05.200 Maybe you're just getting done with college and you have this vision, and maybe you had a moment with God, and you're like, Man, God, I want to give you my whole life. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.720 I want to run passionately after you. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:10.640 I'm, you know, I'm gonna date someone that I believe we're better together. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:13.119 I'm gonna honor you and my relationships here. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:19.519 I'm man, when I get into the business world, I'm gonna like I know you've made me to make an impact with my life. 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:25.200 And then we just begin to get caught up in the Silicon Valley pace, don't we? 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.039 It's busy here. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:32.240 And I mean, if you don't drive a Tesla, you really haven't arrived yet. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:35.599 So, like, you're like, okay, I gotta drive the right car. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:54.480 And um, I mean, the like it's all about success and being a part of what whatever cool company you're a part of, and and we just simply start to get caught up where we're just not really paying attention, maybe started out with good intentions, but then we're just kind of walking along, going, I never intended to walk this way, but it's just where the crowd was going. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:58.240 And I just began to walk and be carried away. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:06.720 And then I found that I was standing, I was lingering, and then I just found that I just sat down, kind of gave up. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:10.079 And this is just how life is, this is just how the valley is. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:17.119 In fact, I don't know if there's any other way to live. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:22.319 He says, Happy people don't get caught up there. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:32.480 Happy people are the ones who say, No, no, no, I am not the center of the universe, it's not all about me. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.839 Now is not all there is. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:39.119 In fact, I was created for a grander, larger purpose by God Himself. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.920 And so I'm going to orient my life around God. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:43.440 Notice what he says next. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:25:04.720 He says, Blessed are those who do not walk and step with the wicked or stand in the way the sinners take or sit in the company markers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:11.440 He says, Happy people, happy is the person who delights in God. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:18.079 Like you just delight in him, and it makes sense, by the way. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.920 It's so logical. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:34.720 If you believe there is a God who created you, who is good and loves you, then when you delight in your creator, you're gonna be most fulfilled. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.720 It makes sense. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:43.680 Says, who delights in his law, who meditates on his word day and night. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:49.279 Uh, when my wife and I were dating, um, we dated a long distance. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:59.839 I was in Chicago, she was in at Cal Poly Slow, and then eventually um she moved to Sweden for a year with crew to do um a stint with them. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:06.640 And this was before FaceTime and Facebook, and really um I didn't have a cell phone in college. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.319 I know that may shock some of you. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:11.200 Um, and you're like, wow, that's archaic. 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:14.559 Uh and so we had to make phone calls. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:23.039 I'd buy prepaid phone cards and you know, dial up in my dorm room and like go, it was a cord phone, so I'd go out in the hallway and try to have a conversation. 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:35.200 And here's what was amazing is um, because we didn't have all those things, and it's awesome that we have them now, um, we'd write letters and we'd send care packages. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:42.480 I gotta tell you, anytime I went down to our you know, campus post office and got a care package, like my heart leapt. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:45.519 I mean, just like this is insane, this is amazing. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.319 Are you kidding me? 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:55.599 And I'd open it up, and there's a note from Jenny, and I just read it over and over again and just be like, Oh, this is amazing. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:27:01.519 I still have a box from all the things that we sent each other, you know, over that year period. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:06.960 I mean, we've been married 18 years, and it's still precious to me. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:12.799 God wrote you a note. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:17.519 I know we know this or we've heard this before, but would you just sink in? 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:24.160 Like, God loves you, and and he's like, Man, I I want the best life for you possible. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:37.519 And he says, Blessed are those who who, in the same way that a young man is dating this young woman across the globe, you know, just like pours over a love note, would you pour over God's word? 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.880 You just go, man, I'm gonna delight in your word. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.759 Like, I want to get your word in my heart. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.680 We're doing this Bible reading plan. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:49.039 You're going, like, oh, you know, I just threw the card down. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:51.599 That's what I think of it. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:56.880 Where you go, like, I'm gonna get in here and I'm gonna read, and I God, I want to know your heart. 00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:05.599 Like, you really love me and you wanna like make yourself known to me, and you want to know me and like share things with me, and so I'm gonna get into your word. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:08.559 Would you just like pour over his word? 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:11.200 That we'd be a people of his word. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:15.359 Like, happy are the people who delight in God's word. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:21.039 Like, you begin to go, like, okay, as I'm getting in here, God, you're not down on me, you're for me. 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:27.119 You're like, Well, Ingram, I saw that where it said, um, delight in the law of the Lord? 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.559 Are you kidding me? 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:33.440 When has anybody ever delighted in the law of the Lord? 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:40.960 Well, read the Psalms, it's all throughout here, but you're like, yeah, but normal people, like really everyday people. 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:52.319 Um, when my daughter was uh two years old, she came running around the corner of our house with scissors in her hands. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:29:08.960 And the sharpen was facing this way, and so she's running, so it's like coming right past her eye, the sharpen, just like this, the way two-year-olds run, you know, it's just like flailing arms everywhere, and I'm like, stop! And I was like, I probably shouldn't have yelled, it probably shouldn't freak her out, you know. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:20.480 And I grabbed the scissors and she cried because her mean dad took the scissors that she was playing and having so much fun with away. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:22.559 And guess what? 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:28.799 She cried and was mad at me, all my kids, because I didn't let them play in the street when they're little kids. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:39.440 See, every time I had one of those moments with my kids, it wasn't because I was trying to keep them from anything or rain on their parade. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:44.480 It's because, as a good father, I love them and want to protect them and I want the very best for them. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:48.799 Would you recognize that the heart of every command of God is an I love you? 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:51.920 He doesn't command anything if it's not for your good. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:55.440 He's not trying to withhold from you, keep you from something that is good. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.279 He's actually trying to keep you from harm. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:07.680 So you'd go, I'm gonna delight in your law because your law is good and it's for my good, and every command you've ever given is an I love you from your heavenly father to you. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:11.119 Doesn't that change the way you think about his law? 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:15.759 Instead of going like, man, God's just holding out on me. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:34.319 No, man, your perfect heavenly father who's wild about you and loves you and wants you to experience the very best life ever, says there's some things that I'm gonna say, and it's for your good, and I'm gonna pull the scissors out of your hand. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:40.799 I'm not gonna let you run in the street and you're gonna be mad a little bit, but I tell you what, it's for your good because I love you. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:50.960 Blessed, happy, is the person who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:31:04.559 Now, notice this that person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither, whether whatever they do, prosper. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:08.480 That person is rooted, established. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:15.759 Not getting thrown by by the winds of the culture, by the circumstances of our political environments. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:20.319 That person is rooted and established and stable. 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.680 Don't you want that? 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:25.680 Notice this fruit. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:28.559 Fruit comes in a particular season. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.200 Did you see this? 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:32.160 It said, which yields its fruit in season. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:36.400 Meaning there are seasons where it's not fruitful, and we know this. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:38.079 We look at nature. 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:42.480 There's times where there's a fruit tree and it's winter. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:49.680 See, there are times where you're experiencing new growth, maybe seasons of pruning or winter dormancy. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:59.519 And what he's saying here, and it's so powerful, he says, that it's yield is fruit and season, and yet whatever they do prospers. 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:04.640 So you can prosper even when life is not fruitful in the moment. 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:08.799 See, much of the way we determine success is by outward. 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.799 What does it look like? 00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:12.160 What is the fruit? 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:22.160 And here's what he's saying: he's saying, fruit takes place in a certain season, yet growth happens year-round. 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:29.440 Some of the greatest uh root growth takes place when there is no fruit on the tree. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:34.079 In the winter season, God is doing root development. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:42.720 On the outside, it looks like nothing is happening, but down below the surface, some of the most important areas are being developed. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:53.200 And for some, you're in a root development season as you're learning to go deep with God, and you're like, well, some of the outward circumstances don't look exactly the way I would like them. 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:55.279 It's not fruitful, and you're like, no, no, no. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:33:02.079 Your roots are going deep into Him, and it's productive and prospering. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:11.599 See, the law of happiness says that there's actually only two paths in life. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:15.680 All right, no, there's so many paths, so many choices. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:22.880 No, they just would say there's one path that says, I'm gonna pursue and delight in God. 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:28.559 There's other psalmists would say, delight in the Lord, and he'll give you the desires of your heart. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:33.920 Like I'm just gonna pursue after you, and the other path is I'm gonna pursue after my own thing. 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:37.440 Every other path is just you being at the center of you. 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:48.960 And so relational intelligence, when it comes to happiness, says this happiness is a byproduct of a well-lived life, not a destination in life. 00:33:49.599 --> 00:34:04.240 See, happiness, when we're talking about it, especially in our modern term, of uh, you know, the whole idea of a sense of pleasural satisfaction, it's a byproduct, it's a path to go down. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:11.360 Happiness is a wonderful traveling companion, it is not a destination or an end goal. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.079 In fact, C.S. 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:17.599 Lewis would say it this way: you cannot get a second thing by putting them first. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:24.159 You can get a second thing only by putting first things first. 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.239 And for some. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.320 This morning. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:35.360 What you're coming to realize is the things that you've been running after aren't bad things. 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.960 But they're second things. 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:45.920 Because they'll never be the thing that makes you happy. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:55.760 In fact, Jesus would say it this way: seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, his way of life, the blessed life of Psalm 1. 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.760 That's his way of life. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:02.719 And all these things will be added unto you. 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:07.679 That wasn't just like a nice idea. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:12.639 It wasn't like Jesus just going, like, hey, you know, take it or leave it. 00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:23.920 You'd say, in your life, you've been pursuing and running after things that you hope will make you happy, and you've made happiness an ultimate thing. 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:28.239 No, no, no, it's a byproduct, by the way, it's not a destination, it's a traveling companion. 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:37.119 But when you seek me, when you put your heart and the soul and say, I'm gonna seek your ways and your heart, by the way, all these things will be added. 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:39.840 You'll get the second things along the way. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:44.960 You just make me the delight of your heart. 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:48.239 Okay, well, what do I do with this? 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:51.440 That's fantastic, but how do I go about doing that? 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:57.519 Let me give you just a couple application points, some decisions this week to make. 00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:08.480 Application in your relationships, whether it's a friendship, maybe it's you're dating or married or work relationships, but in your relationships, would you choose to be a giver, not just a taker? 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:12.159 Would you choose to be a giver, not just a taker? 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:17.679 Jesus would say it this way: it's more blessed to give than receive. 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:20.000 What's fascinating? 00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:26.079 What's fascinating is science and psychology backs it up. 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:28.880 2,000 years later. 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:30.320 Did you know? 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:42.880 Uh, in the Paradox of Generosity research book, uh, those Americans who give away money, and more specifically, those who give away at least 10% of their income are happier than those who do not. 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:45.280 Huh, that's weird. 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:50.320 What Jesus said agrees with our best, you know, research of our day. 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:52.719 We might just want to start taking God at his word. 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:53.840 I'm just saying, come on. 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:55.679 You're like, I don't know. 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:58.079 Like, would you choose to be a giver? 00:36:58.719 --> 00:37:03.039 See, when happiness is your end goal, other people are a commodity that you take. 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:04.719 You live with a scarcity mindset. 00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:07.440 I'm not gonna get mine, and so I gotta make sure I'm gonna get mine. 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:10.480 And no, you have an abundance because of who you you are in Christ. 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:12.000 You're gonna go, no, I'm gonna be a giver. 00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:16.000 And by the way, when I give, actually, I'm gonna be filled up in that moment. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:22.800 The author or Paul in Philippians, and the whole theme of Philippians is choose joy. 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:36.320 That's like the whole book, says, Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, that's a lot of things that you have in Christ. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:42.559 Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and one in mind. 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:46.559 Then notice this: do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:49.280 Do nothing about like how do I get mine. 00:37:49.840 --> 00:38:00.320 Rather, in humility, value others above yourself, not looking to your own interest, but each of you to the interest of others. 00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:06.800 In your relationships, would you choose to be a giver with your time, your energy, resources, money? 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:10.000 This is not to be a doormat to be walked over. 00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:17.519 And some of you wrestle on that side of it, but most of us we want to get and we're afraid to give. 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:21.920 And he says, No, no, no, happy are those who choose to be a giver, not just a taker. 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:25.360 Secondly, would you choose gratefulness instead of griping? 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:28.800 Did you know? 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:35.679 With neuroplasticity, we can actually re uh you know, program our mind a little bit. 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:39.840 Research says 10% of happiness comes from circumstances. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:47.599 50% of our happiness comes from our temperament or genetic, and 40% has to do with how we live our lives. 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:52.559 So 10% is only circumstantial, according to the best research. 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:56.079 50% is part of your genetic temperament. 00:38:56.800 --> 00:39:01.039 Neuroplasticity says you can rewire your brain for happiness. 00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:04.960 40% has to do with how we live our life. 00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:07.920 Gratefulness rewires your brain. 00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:12.559 Griping does as well. 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:17.519 Philippians 4, 4 through 7 says, rejoice, and by the way, that's a command. 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:20.800 Rejoice in the Lord always, in the good times and the bad times. 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:22.480 I'll say it again, rejoice. 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:24.559 Let your gentleness be evident. 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:27.360 Oh, the Lord's near, his presence is close. 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:29.360 That's the reason you can rejoice. 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:31.280 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:36.639 Well, come on, this area is so uh we're living in the most anxious-driven world. 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:37.840 How do I do that? 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:52.800 But in every situation, by prayer and petition, leaning into God with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:57.760 Would you choose gratefulness instead of griping? 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:02.000 Where you become happy for what you have. 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:06.559 You're like, no, no, no, I'm I'll be happy when I have. 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.840 God, I'm happy. 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:16.000 I'm not really happy, but I'm grateful. 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:17.199 Let's start there. 00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:21.280 It has to be a daily discipline, by the way. 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:32.000 Advertisement in our day is built around you looking at what you do not have and creating the need that if you have it, then you'll be happy. 00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:37.679 To create a deep dissonance in our soul with where we're at. 00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:42.719 And so we have to constantly go, I'm grateful for, I'm thankful for. 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:52.159 Part of my practice in doing this is I journal, and it's just the way I pray because I'm distractable and I can't keep my thoughts clear, and so I write them down. 00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:53.679 It's just helpful for me. 00:40:53.920 --> 00:41:00.159 And when I start, you know, I begin with, you know, uh, good morning, my heavenly father. 00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:02.400 I want to remind that he's my heavenly father. 00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:04.719 And then I start with just with thank yous. 00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:16.960 Thank you, God, for because it reorients my mind, redirects my mind from the things that I'm frustrated on and from all the like pressures in the man to like, God, look at what all you've provided for me. 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:23.280 See, my circumstances don't change, but my perspective did, and it's powerful. 00:41:23.599 --> 00:41:27.760 I love to gripe, by the way, and we all love a good gripe. 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:30.559 Don't we love it when someone will gripe with us? 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:35.199 And it's like, yeah, man, this person, and when someone doesn't do it, isn't it frustrating? 00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:51.280 Like, come on, and yet, and yet it causes us to look at the world with that scarcity, with not enough. 00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:54.480 Would you choose gratefulness? 00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:58.719 Thank you, God, for what you've given me. 00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:04.000 And then finally, would you choose contentment over comparison? 00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:07.119 Would you choose contentment? 00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:09.360 Would you make these decisions in your relationships? 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:20.159 Would you today go, okay, this is gonna be hard, but when when you know I want to be a taker, God, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, by the power of your spirit, would you empower me to be a giver in this moment? 00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:21.679 I'm gonna choose gratefulness. 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:24.719 I'm not very grateful right now, but uh, but God, would you help me? 00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:28.800 I'm just gonna thank you for the man, thank you for this house I'm renting. 00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:30.639 I could be not having a house to rent. 00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:33.679 I would love to own one day, but I'm thankful for what you provided. 00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:38.880 Choose contentments, happy with what you have over comparison. 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:48.320 Social media, we compare other people's filtered highlight reel to our unfiltered reality, don't we? 00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:53.199 And nowadays, it used to be where it was just like pictures of what really happened. 00:42:53.519 --> 00:43:02.800 Now it's people taking five billion pictures and professional cameras and staging stuff to prove that this is they're having the best life. 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:04.800 Isn't that funny? 00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:16.719 Um okay, maybe it's just funny for me and other people that aren't millennials, like you go to like Santana Roe or go to the beach and you see them like I clearly do not know how to hold my head for the perfect picture. 00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:17.440 I get that. 00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:20.480 And some of you, you're awesome at it, teach me later. 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:34.239 But we compare, and what research has shown over and over again, the more we're on social media, the more depressed, discouraged, and anxious we are as a people. 00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:37.280 That's just research. 00:43:38.159 --> 00:43:38.800 Why? 00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:48.239 Because you're constantly comparing, and constantly getting fed with you're not good enough, you're not pretty enough, you're just not enough. 00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:51.920 Choose contentment. 00:43:52.559 --> 00:44:04.079 I am saying this, the Apostle Paul, Philippians 4 11, because not not because I'm in need, for I've learned to be content whatever the circumstance. 00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:04.880 Whoa. 00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:09.840 I know what it is to be in need, I know what it is to have plenty. 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:24.000 I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in one, I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 00:44:24.159 --> 00:44:27.679 That's the context of the verse that we quote all the time. 00:44:27.840 --> 00:44:32.000 I can do all this or some all things through Christ who gives me strength. 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:34.480 The all this is contentment. 00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:41.360 It's what he does and his strength, whether you have a lot or don't. 00:44:41.599 --> 00:44:45.280 The issue isn't what you have, it's whether he's got all of you. 00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:52.480 Whether you go, okay, I'm gonna choose to be a giver, not just a taker. 00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:55.039 I'm gonna choose gratefulness instead of griping. 00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:59.119 I'm gonna choose contentment over comparison. 00:44:59.280 --> 00:44:59.840 Why? 00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:09.599 Because happiness is a byproduct of a well-lived life, not a destination today. 00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:25.440 You get to choose, you can make happiness the destination and get to be running after the elusiveness, or you can go okay. 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:30.400 Happy is the one that delights in the Lord. 00:45:30.639 --> 00:45:31.519 Would you stand with me? 00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:36.559 We're gonna worship, and would you delight in him this morning? 00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:44.880 Jesus, we invite you here to speak and have your way after the message, like you're not done speaking right now. 00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:55.360 So don't run from this moment, linger and let the Spirit of God meet you because He's wanting to cement some things in your heart in this moment. 00:45:55.519 --> 00:45:58.159 And so, God, we ask that you would have your way. 00:45:58.320 --> 00:46:00.400 We'll respond to what you show. 00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:02.079 In Jesus' name. 00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:03.039 Amen.