75. Life-Maxing? No, No, No...Try This Instead

We're surrounded by voices telling us to maximize ourselves: our looks, productivity, wealth, health, status, experiences, and potential.But Jesus offers a radically different path to maximum life.In this episode, John Ortberg explores the “self-maximizer” inside us and contrasts it with John the Baptist's famous words: “He must increase; I must decrease.”The paradox of God's kingdom is that abundant life doesn't come from making ourselves bigger. It comes as we loosen our grip on ego, reputation, and self-promotion and give ourselves to love and service.Want to live life to the max?Try a little less of yourself.In this episode: life-maxing • John the Baptist • Philippians 2 • the self-maximizer • Psalm 146 • abundant life#JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #Psalm146 #AbundantLife #Jesus #ChristianFaith🙌 New episodes every weekday.📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT us at 51504EMAIL US at [email protected] OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamDOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/Music Credits:Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKEAlta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF00:00 How to Maximize Your Life 00:29 Welcome to the Age of Life-Maxing 00:50 Looks, Status & Productivity Maxing 01:08 What's Wrong With Self-Maxing? 01:34 God Is Actually Into Abundance 02:04 Biblical Maxers 02:26 Absalom: The Looks-Maxer 02:42 Five Pounds of Hair?! 03:04 He Maxed Himself to Death 03:26 The Wealth-Maxer & Bigger Barns 03:47 Solomon Maxes Pleasure 04:19 The Original God-Maxing Temptation 04:30 The Self-Maximizer Inside You 04:54 “My First Job Is to Realize My Potential” 05:22 Is Commitment Keeping a Sucker's Game? 05:48 The Self-Maximizer vs. Commitment 06:02 What's in It for Me? 06:25 When Self Becomes the Center 06:53 The Ego-Driven Pastor 07:14 The New Org Chart: Bigger Me 07:38 There Is Another Way 08:02 John the Baptist Starts Losing Followers 08:24 You Need to Max! 08:45 The Friend of the Bridegroom 09:04 “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease” 09:33 Jesus Minimizes Himself 10:10 Meaning Is the New Maxing 10:38 How to Min to Max Today 11:05 Give, Encourage, Listen & Serve 11:26 Less Ego, More Life 11:54 Life to the Max 12:03 John Forgot the Psalm 😂 12:22 Psalm 146: God's Kind of Greatness 12:43 Bonus Material