Latest / Reborn w/ Antonio Boutros / Why Chasing Success Left Me Empty Until Now

Transcript

Why Chasing Success Left Me Empty Until Now · Reborn w/ Antonio Boutros

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back everyone to another episode of the Reborn Podcast, where we dive deep into the personal, spiritual, and entrepreneurial journeys that define us.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Tony Beachers, and today we're tackling a topic that has the power to reshape your entire life.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: Understanding what it truly means to be saved and blessed.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this isn't your typical conversation about salvation.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: We're not going to talk about rituals, rules, or religious practices.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Instead, we're going to explore something deeper.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: How a genuine relationship with Christ transcends religious routines and leads to a life that's truly blessed.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: So whether you're a seasoned believer, new to the faith, or just curious about what this all means, stick around.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: I promise you, this episode is going to challenge and inspire you in ways you might not expect.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Let me start by asking you a question.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: What does salvation mean to you?
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: For many of us, the first thing that comes to mind might be going to church, reading the Bible, or following certain religious practices.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the thing.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: Salvation is so much more than that.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's not about checking off a list of religious duties.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: It's about entering into a relationship, a deep, personal connection with Christ.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Psalm 32 and 1 through 2 says, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered, blessed is the one whose sin and whose sin the Lord does not count against them, and in whose spirit is no deceit.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: This scripture beautifully captures the essence of what it means to be saved.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's not about being perfect, it's about being forgiven.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: Let me repeat that.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Let me repeat that.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's about being forgiven.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: It's about knowing that despite our flaws, Christ has covered our sins and offered us grace.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: You see, religion can often become a set of rituals, a routine we follow without really understanding the heart behind it.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: And that's where so many people get stuck.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: They think that by going through the motions, they'll find salvation.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: But what I've learned on my journey is that true salvation is about knowing Christ on a personal level.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's about inviting him into your life, not just as a figure you hear about on Sundays, but as someone you walk with daily.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: You communicate, you learn about them, and you allow them to influence your life.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: That's exactly what it means to have a relationship with Christ.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's not about being perfect or following every religious rule.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: It's about opening your heart and letting Him transform you from the inside out.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk about blessings.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: In today's world, blessings are often equated with material success.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Money, a nice house, a successful business.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: And while there's nothing wrong with those things, I've come to realize that true blessings go far beyond immaterial.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: One of the most profound lessons I've learned is that being blessed is not about what you have, but about who you are becoming in Christ.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: It's about peace, joy, and purpose that come from knowing him.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: It's about the relationships you build, the lives you impact, and the growth you experience on your spiritual journey.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: I used to chase after the world's definitions of blessings, thinking that the more I had, the more blessed I was.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: But what I found was that no amount of success could fill the void that only a relationship with Christ could satisfy.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: True blessings are those moments of peace in the midst of chaos, the strength to keep going when life gets tough, and the sense of purpose that drives you every day.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: These are the things that no amount of money can buy, and they are the true markers of a blessed life.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: Let me share a personal story to bring this all home.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: A few years ago, I was at a crossroads in my life.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Um actually, I'm sorry, not a few years ago, a few months ago.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Uh a few months ago.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and on the surface, everything seemed perfect.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: I had a growing business, a supportive community, and all the outward signs of success, but deep down I felt empty.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, this was probably February, March of this year, uh, 2024.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: I was doing all the right things on outside, but something was missing on inside.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: It wasn't until I stopped focusing on religion and started focusing on my relationship with Christ that everything changed.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: I began to spend time in prayer, more time, uh, not just reciting words, but really talking to God, listening for his voice, seeking his guidance.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_00: And as I did, I started to experience a peace that I had never known before.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: The pressure to perform, to meet the expectations of others, started to fade away.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: I found that as I drew closer to Christ, the things I used to worry about just didn't seem as important anymore.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: And here's the crazy thing.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: When I stopped chasing up to success and started chasing up to God, that's when the real blessings started to flow.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: My relationships improved, my business grew in ways I couldn't have imagined, and most importantly, I found a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I've been missing for so long.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: No.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: What's funny is when I first came to God, I was religious, more so than I was having a relationship with Christ.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: And they felt like chores.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: Reading the Bible, going to church, praying, going to men's groups, etc., felt like a chore.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: Felt like something I had to do, not something I wanted to, not something I had the opportunity to do.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: But as I flipped a script, as I started developing my relationship with Christ, those are things that I actively seek out, that I'm actively excited about.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: Those are the highlights of my day, my week, my months.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: Like I have this service project I do once a month with a group of like-minded Christian individuals.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: And that's a highlight of my month every month.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: And then I have multiple men's groups, I have multiple uh young adult groups, and it can it can be a lot.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: Don't get me wrong, it can be a lot.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: But I find that as an entrepreneur, I'm pretty exhausted by the end of the day.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_00: But I go to this group anyway, exhausted, and I come out with more energy than I went in.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: Not many things give you more energy by engaging in.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: Most things that you engage in, they take energy because it that's just how how the bot the body's anatomy works.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um most of the time you can use sleep to gain energy, right?
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: But being in the body of Christ, being with him will energize you.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: And it has done for me.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: So what does this mean for you?
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: And how can you apply these lessons to your own life?
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: Here are a few practical tips.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: First, prioritize the relationship with Christ.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: Start by setting aside time each day to connect with him.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: This isn't about quantity, uh, but quality.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: Whether it's five minutes or an hour, make it a point to spend time in prayer, read the Bible, and listen for his voice.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: Personally, I pray several times throughout a day.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: I read at least one chapter of uh a book each day in the Bible.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: I try to do two or three, um, but I'm constantly listening to worship music, I'm engaging different groups.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is a large time commitment, okay?
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: And you may not in your current season be able to do this.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: Because I am an entrepreneur, because I work for myself, because I make my own schedule, etc., I am able to have the abundance of being able to spend more time with Christ.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: And that's been a blessing.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then second, focus on being, not just doing.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: I have a friend who's always talking about I'm a human being, I'm not a human uh doing, I'm not a human uh you know, working, human whatever, right?
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a human being.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: So instead of getting caught up in religious activities, focus on who you are becoming in Christ.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: Ask yourself, am I growing in love, patience, kindness, and humility?
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: These are the true markers of spiritual growth.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Remember to live in Christ's light.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: Seek his approval versus the world versus man.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: Third, redefine blessings in your life.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: Take a step back and redefine what it means to be blessed.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: Look beyond the mere material and start appreciating the spiritual blessings, peace, joy, purpose that come from a deep relationship with Christ.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: And fourth, share your journey.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Don't keep your experiences to yourself.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, share your journey with others, whether it's through conversation, writing, or even starting your own podcast.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: Let others know how your relationship with Christ has transformed your life.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_00: Before we wrap up, I want to address a few common questions that come up when we talk about salvation and blessings.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: One, can you be saved without going to church?
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: Church is a great place for fellowship and growth, but salvation is about your personal relationship with Christ, not where you spend your Sundays.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_00: That said, being part of a church community can provide support and encouragement on your journey.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: I personally am in part of multiple church communities and I love it and I find fulfillment, I find joy, peace.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, uh, you know, it's energizing to me.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: But do you need to go to church in order to be saved?
• 11:26
  unknown: No.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: Period, no.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: Do I suggest going to church?
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: Do you need to go to church to be saved?
• 11:33
  unknown: No.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_00: Second question is how do I know if I'm truly saved?
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: Look for evidence of transformation in your life.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: Are you growing in your relationship with Christ?
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_00: Do you feel his presence gotten you?
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: Salvation isn't just a one-time event, it's an ongoing process of becoming more like him.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: I think one of the biggest things that primarily men deal with is lust and porn addiction.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: And I was no different.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: For years I had tried to quit.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: I had taken, you know, a few months off and a couple weeks off.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, ultimately I'd always relapse.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_00: And so I went to this Christian uh group that's been phenomenally transformational for me, that I go to every Tuesday.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: And I prayed over it, I brought it to that.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: I'm saying I said, God, replace this lust.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_00: Man, I don't even want it anymore.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_00: Like, don't make it something that I have to fight through, make it just non-existent.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: And to me, I believe that it's easier to replace than it is to remove.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: And so I said, God, okay, replace this with the yearning for a wife, or yearning for children.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: And seemingly immediately, this is now also around the same time that I got baptized, seemingly immediately, he did he give me that yearning.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now, that brought me to another problem.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's in the beginning of my yearning for a wife, I feel that I was seeking what I was not finding in Christ in a wife.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: I was seeking peace and rest from the battles of entrepreneurship and leadership, which I now find in Christ.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: Similarly, I was seeking self-worth in entrepreneurship, which I also now find in Christ.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I say this because I just really want to emphasize the importance of community and especially those who have walked the path that you want to walk, those who have paved that path for you.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: Alex Ramosy said a very smart man learns multiple lessons from his own mistakes, a wise man learns from others' failures, and the wisest man learns from their successes too.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_00: Because I'm in community, because I'm walking behind those who've already paved a path, who've already walked a path, I'm walking alongside those who are walking the path with me in the same season, and I'm also paving the path for those behind me.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: I'm able to grow and be more grounded in my faith and live life for what is truly important.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_00: So, one last question for you guys.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_00: Can you be blessed?
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: Oh man, this is a good one.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: This is a good one.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: This is a good one.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: I love this one.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, can you be blessed even when life is tough?
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: And in fact, some of the greatest blessings come during difficult times.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: It's in those moments that you can experience God's peace, strength, and comforts in ways you never have before.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I personally am going through a slow season with my both my health and uh my business.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: We have several big deals or waiting on closing, and man, we're just running after issue after issue after issue, and it's it's humbling.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: And similarly, in my health, I'm a big gym guy, work out six times a week pretty vigorously.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: I lift, but the last few weeks or so I haven't been able to do that because I've been super weak in a gym.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: I've been working out maybe two or three times a week, and I just am not recovering right recently.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: And it's funny because I had prayed for humility, and God provided humility, uh a season of humility.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: So now I'm praying for power, peace, and abundance, but um he provides.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: So uh one other thing that I wanted to touch on is the story of Job.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh if you don't know the story of Job, Job was a very wealthy man, uh, but the devil wanted to test his faith, and so he took away his wealth, he took away his health, and he took away his family.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_00: And Job was faithful, and ultimately he was rewarded by God with twice as much as he had originally.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_00: And so you may go through a season and you may remain faithful, and you may not get twice as much.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's the most important part.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: You may not be like Job.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: You may re you may get it taken away and never receive it again.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: And will you still be faithful?
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: Will your faith be shaken?
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: So, with all that said, thank you so much for joining me on this episode of the Reborn Podcast.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_00: I hope today's discussion has given you a new perspective on what it means to be saved and truly blessed.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, as Psalm 32 and 1 through 2 reminds us, blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered, blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_00: It's not about rituals or rules.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's about relationship with Christ that changes everything.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_00: If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: Feel free to reach out, share your thoughts, or ask any questions you might have.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_00: And if you know someone who can benefit from this message, don't forget to share this episode with them.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_00: Till next time, keep growing, keep seeking, keep living a life that's reborn in Christ.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Tony Greaters, and I'll see you in the next episode.