Pathway to Victory

Speaker 1

Hey, podcast listeners, thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word through the most effective media available, like this podcast.

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Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 2

Hi, this is Robert Jeffress and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day.

Speaker 3

This Bible teaching program on today's edition of Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 2

To develop your life statement, your life purpose, you have to have a passion and you have to have a power to fulfill that passion. Develop a life purpose that's bigger than simply feeling a greed in your life.

Speaker 1

Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. You know, throughout the years, self-motivation and determination have helped people achieve their goals.

And while there's nothing inherently wrong with being successful, our personal ambition, when left unchecked, can lead us away from God. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress warns against the danger of ambition.

But first, let's take a minute to hear some important ministry updates.

Speaker 3

Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. I want to begin today with a personal question. What if I told you that the very drive that makes you successful could be the same force leading you away from God? Look, these days we celebrate the athlete who sacrifices everything to win, the executive who works 90-hour weeks, and the politician willing to pay any price for power.

Today we're diving into the prodigal son's story to uncover when healthy goals become dangerous idols and how Satan uses our deepest desires against us. The answer might surprise you and transform how you pursue your dreams. I've also written about this important topic. It's in my book called *Coming Home to the Father Who Loves You*. Using the parable of the prodigal son as a backdrop, my book will offer you and your loved ones step-by-step guidance and encouragement to lead you back to your waiting Heavenly Father.

At the end of the book, you'll find a practical study guide with questions for each chapter. It's perfect for your personal devotions or in your Bible study group as well. I'd be happy to send you my book, *Coming Home to the Father Who Loves You*, when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.

All right, it's time to begin today's study. Our primary Bible passage is James chapter four, beginning at verse 13. I title today's message "Declarations of Independence."

Speaker 2

Our history is filled with examples of ministry men and women who, through dogged determination, achieved great success in life. I'm reminded of the story of a 10-year-old boy and his best friend who one day accidentally poured gasoline instead of kerosene on a stove fire in a country schoolhouse. The resulting explosion killed the friend and severely injured the 10-year-old boy, damaging both of his legs to the point that the doctors told his parents that both legs would have to be amputated. The parents begged the doctor to give them a little bit of time. They were granted a few days, and then they asked for more time, and more time, until finally, the legs healed. When the bandages were removed, one leg was actually 2 1/2 inches shorter than the other leg. The doctor said to the parents, "Your boy will never walk again." But through perseverance, he did begin to walk. Then the doctor said, "Well, he may walk, but he will never walk without crutches." But again, through perseverance, one day he was able to throw away the crutches; he was able to begin to jog and finally to run. Glenn Cunningham eventually went on to become an Olympic star and gained the title of the world's fastest man.

We love stories like that. We love hearing how goals, determination, and perseverance can lead to great success in life. But the truth is, there is a dark side to ambition. The fact is, there are occasions in which our ambition, our thirst for success, can actually lead us away from God. If you don't believe that, consider the story of the prodigal son. If you have your Bibles tonight, turn to Luke, chapter 15. Remember the story that Jesus told. It begins in verse 11. Jesus said, "And a certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' And he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into the distant country. And there he squandered his estate with loose living."

We've been looking at the story of the prodigal son and seeing how the same factors that lured this boy to leave his earthly father are at work in our lives to cause us to leave our heavenly Father. For the boy, it was a desire for money and a thirst for pleasure that led him to the far country. But there's a third factor at work here, a third way that Satan lures us away from God, and that is a drive for success. This prodigal knew that his days of living under his father's rule were leading to a dead end as far as he was concerned. He knew that the clock was ticking and that if he was going to make his mark on the world, he was going to have to get out from underneath his father's authority.

But this act of the son was not just the normal leaving and cleaving process that God talks about in Genesis chapter two. That's natural for a man and a woman to leave their parents and to begin a new life. This leaving wasn't that variety; it was an act of outright rebellion. The son said, "I no longer want to be under my dad's authority. I'm tired of his tyrannical rule over me. I'm gonna leave and go out on my own." Do you know what the essence of all sin is? What the bottom line of sin in your life and my life is? It's choosing my way over God's way. Saying, "God, I want to control my destiny. I want to be free. Free from your authority. I want to be my own boss." That was the first sin committed. It is the essence of every other sin. Ambition, the desire to run our own show, is a desire that can lead us away from our heavenly Father.

Is ambition always wrong? Let me mention three instances, I believe the Bible teaches, in which ambition can be wrong. First of all, ambition is wrong whenever it becomes the predominant desire of our lives. But, you know, God sees things differently. He labels as an idol anything that consumes our attention and our affection. And God absolutely hates idols. God hates anything that totally consumes our attention and our affection other than Himself. Just jot down some of these verses in which we get a glimpse of God's attitude about idols. In Exodus 20, verses 3 and 5, God said, "You shall have no other gods before me, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." Or Deuteronomy 6, verse 5: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your might." We sang that song this morning. That's the kind of devotion God wants from us. Whenever a goal takes the place of God, whenever a certain ambition becomes our consuming passion in life, we know that that ambition is wrong.

Second, ambition is wrong when it comes at the expense of other people. Turn over to Mark chapter 10 for just a moment. Mark chapter 10, beginning with verse 37. Remember the story of James and John, two of the disciples? They came to Jesus, and you have to admire them for their long-range planning. They were thinking about heaven while still on earth. They said to the Lord, "Lord, in verse 37, grant that we might sit in your glory, one on the right and one on your left." That is, "Lord, when you come into your kingdom, we'd like to have those two seats up front, one on your left and one on your right." Apparently, they had some training in assertiveness. They knew how to get what they wanted in life. They thought, "Well, if nobody asks for it, we'll ask for it." The only problem is they thought the way to climb to the top was on the back of the other disciples.

So Jesus called a staff meeting real quickly because it caused a problem. The other disciples began to grumble. Look at verse 42, what Jesus said to these disciples; he needed to straighten out their thinking. He called them together and said, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you. But whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant." Now that word "servant" here refers to a house servant who rendered useful service to others in the household. Then he goes on to say, "And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the slave of all." That word "slave," Doulos, is one who has given up. He has forfeited every right he has to be of service to his master. Jesus said, "Ambition is fine unless it comes at the expense of other people. If you really want to be great, you've got to learn to be a servant." That is, to make other people's needs your goal in life. Meeting those needs, you've got to be willing to forfeit your rights for the well-being of other people. Ambition is wrong when it comes at the expense of other people. You don't have to destroy your competition to be great in the world or in the kingdom of God.

Thirdly, ambition is wrong, I believe the Bible teaches, when it fails to allow for God's sovereignty. Turn over to James chapter four for a moment. God never belittles goal setting or perseverance or determination. But God does say you need to submit your plans to God's plans. Remember James' words in James chapter four? He says, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we shall go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' And yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow, for you are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.' But as it is, you boast in your arrogance, and all such boasting is evil." James doesn't say there's anything wrong with saying, "You know what? I think we'll move our business and open another branch in another location and expand." There's nothing wrong with saying that. But you need to preface that plan with the phrase "if God wills."

And by the way, that phrase "if God wills" is not just some stock trite expression you use and then forge ahead with your own plans. It's an expression of an attitude that says, "I can make all my plans in the world, but God has the final say over my plans. He's sovereign, and he's in control." Ambition is wrong when it doesn't allow for the sovereignty of God. God has the final word in all of our plans.

Let me stop here and invite you to take a quiz right now. How would you respond to this sentence? Or how would you fill in this sentence? "My greatest desire in life is to ______." How would you fill in that blank? My greatest desire in life is to ______. How do you know if that goal, that ambition, is wrong or not? Just ask yourself these three questions about that desire, your greatest desire in life. First of all, do I spend most of my free time thinking about that desire? Secondly, have I mistreated other people, especially my family members, in the pursuit of that desire? And third, how would I feel if God said no to that desire? Your answer to those questions will help you determine whether your goal has become a God in your life, an idol.

Maybe as you're honest, you would say, "Well, Robert, you know what? As I think about it, this goal, this desire I have really has become an idol." What can I do about that? Let me share with you from the Bible just three real practical steps to help you keep your goals from becoming your God in life.

First of all, develop a life purpose that is bigger than yourself. I have a friend who says every life exists for one of two purposes: either to meet a need or to fill a greed. Every life exists either to meet a need or to fill a greed. In other words, your life is either self-focused, filling a greed, or your life is others-focused to meet a genuine need. Your life is focused on yourself or it's focused on others. But it can't be both. The Bible says one key to keeping your ambition from becoming a God is to have a life purpose that is bigger than yourself. Do you have a life purpose? Could you state in a single sentence why it is you're here on Earth, taking up space, sucking that oxygen out of the atmosphere? If you don't have a life purpose, ask yourself as you look around, what needs do you see in the world that you feel passionately about that need to be met? And what unique gifts has God given you to meet those genuine needs in the world?

To develop your life statement, your life purpose, you have to have a passion and you have to have a power to fulfill that passion. God has given that to every person. God has given every one of us a unique passion, some need we see that needs to be filled in this world. And he's given us a unique power, a spiritual gift to fulfill that need that we see in the world. That's where true joy comes in life. George Bernard Shaw, the renowned playwright, wrote one time, "This is the true joy in life: being used for a purpose, recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." I love that quote. Isn't that how most people are? They just go around complaining when things don't go their way. They don't have a purpose bigger than themselves.

Develop a life purpose that's bigger than simply filling a greed in your life. By the way, for a Christian, that life purpose has already been given to us by God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks the question, "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is "to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." As I said this morning, the one reason you and I are here is to glorify God, to make him look bigger and better to unbelievers, to cause people to want to bow down and worship Him. One way to keep ambition from becoming your God in life is to develop a life purpose that is bigger than yourself.

Secondly, maintain balance in your life. Maintaining balance in your life will keep your goals from becoming out of control and turning into a God in your life. Let's say, for example, you look at your finances and you say, "One thing I want to do in my finances is to start tithing. I want to start giving 10% of my income to God's work." We've been talking about that on Sunday mornings, 3-10 living. You say, "I'm gonna take that challenge. Starting this Sunday, I'm gonna give 10% of my income to God." Now, that's gonna help you be successful in life in and of itself. God promised that in Malachi 3:10. But there's a secondary benefit to that. Perhaps starting to tithe is gonna keep you from spending your money on something else. Perhaps you had been dreaming of that vacation home someplace else. You had been dreaming about it. You had been consumed by it. And just perhaps that vacation home would keep you from serving God like you ought to.

By maintaining this balance in your life and taking money you would have spent there and being obedient in this area of your life, it will keep that vacation home pleasure from dominating your life. What I'm saying to you is whenever you maintain balance in your life, it will keep one area of your life from getting out of control.

Third, if you want to keep your goals from becoming your God in life, entrust your plans to God's sovereignty. Honestly, we can't know for sure whether or not a goal, an ambition we have is really God's will or not. Only time will tell us whether this was God's will for our life. But until that time, we need to trust those plans and trust them to God. Listen to Proverbs 16, verse 1: "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." Or Proverbs 16:3: "Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established." Or Proverbs 16:9: "The mind of man plans his way." Nothing wrong with that, but "the Lord directs his steps."

Do you feel comfortable entrusting your goals to God? Do you trust God's plan for your life? You see, the problem with the prodigal son was he really didn't trust his father. When it came down to it, he believed what most children believe about their parents. Most children believe that their parents' number one goal in life is to make them as miserable as possible. The prodigal believed that about his dad. He believed that his dad enjoyed making him miserable, and he longed for the day he could get out from under his dad's authority. Not only did he misunderstand his dad's motives, he misunderstood his dad's plan for his life as well.

You see, what the prodigal didn't understand is that most parents, their greatest delight is seeing their children succeed in life. And usually, if they're a good parent, they have a plan to make sure that happens. The prodigal's father had a plan for his son. The plan was that as his son matured, gradually, the dad would turn over more and more of the family business to the son. The son would learn to work with his older brother, and eventually, dad would leave the family business to them. That was the plan. But the son didn't understand the plan because he didn't trust his father. And so he left home and went to that far country, far away from the Father who truly loved him.

There are some of you here tonight who are living in the far country or you're separated from your heavenly Father because, frankly, you don't trust his plan for your life. Maybe a long time ago you had a burning ambition, a goal in your life, this desire, something you wanted more than anything else. Somewhere along the way, somebody told you that goals and godliness can't exist in the same life, that you were gonna have to choose between ambition and obedience to God. Ambition won out, and you've ended up in the far country, separated from God. What a clever ploy of Satan to cause you to make a choice you really never had to make in the first place.

You see, the Bible doesn't always ask you to sacrifice your dreams, your desires, your goals, and ambitions. Philippians 2:13 says, "It is God who is at work within you, giving you the desire and the power to fulfill his will." One of the primary ways God fulfills His plan in your life is by planting that goal and a desire in your heart. God doesn't call upon you to sacrifice, to give up that ambition. He simply asks you to submit that desire to his timetable and to his plan. And what you're gonna find is whenever you take that ambition, that desire, that goal that is burning in your heart and you entrust it to the sovereignty, the rule of God over your life, you'll be surprised. You will be surprised at how closely your desires and God's desires resemble one another. God's plan for you is a good plan. You really can trust it, as he said through the prophet Jeremiah: "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for your welfare, not for calamity. A plan to give you a future and hope."

Speaker 3

Personal ambition can become a powerful virtue. Drive, vision, and passion can be used for God's glory, to accomplish great things. But when ambition becomes self-centered, it leads to pride, independence, and ultimately isolation.

Maybe you're listening to Pathway to Victory right now and you're thinking about the prayer prodigal in your life who's far from home. He struck out on his own, determined to pursue his personal ambitions apart from God's plan. Isn't it time to take action? I've written a book to help you. It's called *Coming Home to the Father Who Loves You*. This book is written for the prodigal and those who love them.

When you get in touch with us today and give a generous gift, we will make sure you receive a copy. In fact, I'm going to include a prayer card I've designed for you. It's called *A Prayer for Your Prodigal*.

As we conclude another week of Bible teaching, allow me to call upon your generosity to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory. If it's been a long time since you've given a contribution, or maybe you've never done so, today's the day to reach out. Pathway to Victory offers these programs to anyone and, in fact, everyone, without cost. But behind the scenes, we bear the expense of broadcasting Pathway to Victory far and wide. Your partnership is critical.

When you give to Pathway to Victory, you're the one who's guiding the prodigal back home. Your gift assures a listener that no matter how far he's strayed, he has a loving father who watches and waits for his return. So thanks for responding today. Here's David with all the details.

Speaker 1

When you give a generous gift to support the ministry, A Pathway to Victory, we'll say thanks by sending you a copy of the book by Dr. Robert Jeffress, *Coming Home to the Father Who Loves You*. To request your copy, call 866-999-2965 or visit online at ptv.org.

You know, listeners frequently tell us that Pathway to Victory has earned their trust through its commitment to clear, powerful biblical teaching week after week. As you give today, you'll also receive a prayer for your prodigal. It's a prayer card that will encourage you as you bring your loved one before the throne of grace each day.

One more time, call 866-999-2965 or go online to ptv.org. You could also mail your gift to P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. That's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.

I'm David J. Mullins inviting you to join us again next time when Dr. Jeffress shares what life apart from God is really like. Hear a message called *Life in the Far Country*. That's Monday on Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas. Join us for the breathtaking majesty of America's last frontier on the 2026 Pathway to Victory cruise to Alaska.

Speaker 2

This seven day journey combines spiritual growth with unforgettable adventures aboard a five star luxury cruise ship. It's a vacation you won't soon forget.

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Space is limited, so reserve your cabin today. Call 888-280-6747 or go to ptv.org.

Speaker 3

You.

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Made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory and we're so glad you're here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. One of the most impactful ways you can give is by becoming a Pathway Partner. Your monthly gift will empower Pathway to Victory to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help others become rooted more firmly in His Word. To become a Pathway partner, go to ptv.org donate or you can follow the link in our show notes.

We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Oh, and one last thing before we go. Have you reserved your spot yet for the 2026 Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska? You've been hearing me and Dr. Jeffress mention it, so what are you waiting for? Just picture yourself on the deck of Holland America's elegant Konings Dam and stepping out on deck to witness nature's grandeur. It's beautiful. These moments in God's creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways. It really will.

Experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms, and visiting iconic ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. We're also bringing along our own Christian entertainment. You'll love it. Seats are filling up, so book your spot today at ptv.org.