July 22, 2024 • 28 mins
Have you ever found yourself fuming over someone else's actions, only to realize it was a lesson in disguise? Join me, Will, as I share a baffling and irritating encounter at a gas station that became a catalyst for a deeper reflection on empathy, self-reflection, and our faith journey.
We will also explore the balance between selflessness and individual accountability, drawing on powerful scriptures like Philippians 2:3-4 and Galatians 6:2-5. Through a personal story, I highlight the necessity of maintaining awareness of those around us and ensuring our actions align with Christian principles. Finally, inspired by a humorous meme and Proverbs 29:25, we look at overcoming fear with faith and the importance of staying true to our mission, even in the face of criticism. This episode aims to inspire you to live boldly in faith, reminding us all of our responsibilities to others while staying true to our God-given purpose.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I say this when do you care too much?
When is it okay to just zoneout and not care about who's
watching, not care about who'saround?
When is it okay to zone out?
Sometimes I just want to like,I want to zone out and not care
(00:22):
about nobody's feelings.
What's happening?
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome toanother episode of the Soul
Fuel Podcast, the pit stop foryour soul to get fueled up for
(00:43):
your journey in life.
And, of course, we do it withChrist.
I am your host, willie RobbinsIII, aka Pastor Will, and I want
to talk about something todaythat really, 1,000 times, really
disturbed me.
I often go into this thoughtprocess and my brain starts to
(01:04):
work whenever I experiencesomething that is really
speaking to me in a deeper waythan I would like it to.
In all actuality, it's probablymade me uncomfortable and so,
therefore, it leads me to whatsome would call overthinking.
However, I believe that thisreally brings attention to my
(01:34):
walk and how I'm advancing in myfaith and what I, what the
things that I'm not doing or thethings that I'm probably
suffering from, like this mighthave something to do with the
last episode.
I did a part two episode.
(01:56):
I did a part one and a part twoabout not wasting time, right?
So I think that what we'regetting ready to talk about
today and what was conjured upfrom this story that I'm about
to tell you, it has a lot to dowith wasted time.
Let's get into it.
(02:17):
So I went to the movies with mywife and my oldest son the other
day and on the way back Ineeded petrol, gas, petroleum Is
that what they call it?
Is it called petroleum?
Okay, it's cool.
I sound like I'm a littleeducated, like I know a little
bit, but anyway, I went to getsome gas at a decent-sized gas
(02:43):
station.
I mean, it had about what, what?
12 pumps.
It was about 15 pumps maybe.
And so I'm, I pull in and I'mlike, all right, first one's
open, I'm going to it.
So I see one that is open and,mind you, it is a gas station.
(03:03):
So as I I pull up, I see Ithink it's I don't know what
pump it is but I see this pump,it's wide open.
It's wide open.
In fact, I think I don't evenremember seeing the car that was
there before driving off, butit was open.
So I get ready to pull in.
You know, you got to make sureyou know where your gas tank is,
(03:24):
which side it's open, so I getready to pull in.
You know, you got to make sureyou know where your gas tank is,
which side it's on.
So it's on the driver's sideand I was getting ready to bust
a right into the pump spot butthen there is a Tesla.
A Tesla pulls into the spot andI'm saying to myself, I'm
trying not to get an attitude,but I'm sitting there and I'm
saying to myself I'm trying notto get an attitude, but I'm
(03:45):
sitting there and I'm like, okay, wait a minute, this is a Tesla
.
This is a scratch your headmoment.
Because I'm like, uh, a Teslais a, an electric vehicle.
So I'm stopping, I'm thinkingmaybe he's getting ready to do
something.
I don't know what I thought,but then it it hit me, it dawned
(04:06):
on me Okay, I know that Tesla,this Tesla is an electric
vehicle.
Right, it's based on you know,I've driven a Tesla before be at
the gas pump.
So I was a little kind ofirritated because it was already
(04:27):
full and everybody's trying toget to a pump, and so there's a
Tesla taking up a spot that Iwas headed to.
But then I realized, okay,maybe he's got.
He had to have a gas can.
But here's the thing that gotme.
Here's the reason why we'rehaving this conversation and the
reason why I'm telling you thestory is because when he got out
(04:48):
he did not have any type ofreaction to the vehicle.
That was feet.
I'm feet so so much, like, sofar away.
I want to say like feet away,so many feet away Let me say it
(05:09):
like that because y'all going tothink I'm ignorant so many feet
away, but anyway, I was so manyfeet away.
He got out and the guy had nolike.
He had no remorse, no regrets.
Remorse, no regrets, no senseof reasoning or or the thought
(05:35):
that somebody is seeing whathe's doing.
He's not gonna like look up towave or anything.
He's unapologetically taking agas pump, wasting time.
And essentially he's notwasting time because he did put
gas in a can.
But still I was thinking thatvehicles that actually took gas
(05:58):
were a little bit more importantin that he could possibly wait
until it was popped to somebodyelse who got gas, or he could
have went to another pump orwaited.
And I can't even tell if he wason the other side because the
gas station was full, so I don'tknow if he was waiting for the
other person to leave.
I really honestly feel like hejust pulled in.
(06:19):
He just saw a free pump and hejust pulled in.
He didn't think about anythingelse.
But the part that bothered meabout him is that he didn't look
up.
He didn't look at anything elseand I'm like, okay, this is an
issue, this is an issue.
And then, as I kept on thinkingabout it, I I I backed up and I
(06:42):
saw there was another free pumpthat came open and I parked at
it.
But I was still stuck on.
This man that got about thisTesla Didn't look around, didn't
, didn't?
I'm not saying he should haveasked if it was okay, but, sir,
care about others who are reallyhere to get gas in their
vehicles.
Now, with you and your Teslathat's already probably charged
(07:04):
up that you get to charge fromthe convenience of your home,
right, I'm thinking, okay, man,have some type of um empathy for
those who actually need to putthe gas in the car, not in a can
.
I know they're both threeletter words in the car, not in
(07:26):
a can.
I know they're boththree-letter words, but the can
is less important than it is fora car, right.
I think a car is more importantthat it gets the gas that it
needs, right?
So I'm thinking about this andthinking about it, and thinking
about it, thinking and thinking,and thinking, and thinking, and
(07:49):
thinking, and thinking andthinking.
I'm like, what did the audacityI had no right to to think the
way that I was thinking,although it, um, I feel like you
know, most people would drive acar who needed gas, who was at
the pump first?
Cause that's what I felt in mymind.
I'm in my heart.
I'm like I was there first.
(08:09):
How could you, how could youjust do this, you know?
So that was that offense.
But as I continue to think aboutit, as I continue to think
about it, I started to questionmyself.
I did, I questioned myself.
The question was why was thatbothering me so much that he
(08:37):
didn't acknowledge the fact thatI was there first or I needed
it more than he did?
Like, what, what like.
Why was I bothered that hedidn't pay attention to me?
Why was I bothered at the factthat he didn't look up?
(09:01):
He didn't acknowledge the man,got out, popped his the back,
the hatch, got that gas can out,started fueling, and he was on
the phone too.
And I remember being at thepump and I was just like he's
(09:21):
just going to take up all thisspace and like I don't know.
In that moment I just felt likehe was using up all the gas.
Look at him taking all the gas,because you start thinking
stupid stuff when you, when youget irritated with some things
you don't even like.
But I I thought about this andI sat with it and I was like,
(09:42):
okay, why am I tripping?
He's just getting gas likeeverybody else, right?
So now I have to have aheart-to-heart in my mind.
So I wrote this little paragraphin my phone in my notes and I'm
(10:08):
going to read it to you.
I literally wrote this while Iwas sitting at the pump.
And while I was at the pump Igot a car wash.
You know how you get a car washwhen you're sitting at the pump
and they be like hey, you'regetting gas, we see you're
getting gas, would you like toget a car wash?
I was like, why not?
Car's dirty.
(10:29):
I hate driving around with adirty car.
So I said, why not?
And again, I've been wastingtime in getting it washed.
I've been wasting time.
I've been wasting time.
I had been saying I need to getthis thing washed.
I need to get this thing washed, but I didn't do it.
I was wasting time.
So while I was there, I said,you know what, let me go ahead
and wash it.
And so, while I get in line towash, again, I'm with my wife
(10:58):
and my son and I get in the lineto waiting for the wash and I
started writing this paragraph.
So so I said being too mindfulof other people.
When can this concept beharmful?
When do you draw the line ofsimply not caring what others
think?
What did I mean by that when Isaid when do you draw the line
of and caring about what othersthink?
I was talking about beingmindful of others.
(11:20):
Like my attitude with that mancame from a place of him, just
like not giving a single careabout somebody else who actually
needed gas.
Right, like the care of it, noteven just the fact that you're
(11:40):
a Tesla and you're about to fillup a gas can, but just the fact
that you didn't acknowledge Idon't know.
Like the fact that he did notacknowledge that there was
somebody that was possibly therefirst and it just seemed that
he was just entitled.
And yeah, you're going to wait.
(12:00):
You know, that's just the auraand again, part of that could
have been from me knowing that,hey, I was next, but he pulls up
anyway.
So this is what I wrote.
I said where do you draw theline of simply not caring what
others think was it?
Is it me that's tripping?
And then I begin to write whatI just told you.
(12:24):
I write the incident down andthen I say this when do you care
too much?
When is it okay to just zoneout and not care about who's
watching, not care about who'saround?
When is it okay to zone out?
(12:45):
Sometimes I just want to like Iwant to zone out and not care
about nobody's feelings, like Idon't care about anybody's
feelings when it comes to thegospel, when it comes to
preaching the gospel, when itcomes to saying what the Bible
says and being right about it.
I don't care about theirfeelings in terms of is it
(13:07):
offensive?
Because the truth is alwaysoffensive.
Right Again, as a believer, asa child of God who wants to obey
his word, the two greatestcommandments love the Lord, your
God, with all your heart, mind,soul, strength, and then love
your neighbor as yourself.
So this is a very interestingconversation.
(13:36):
This is a very interesting topicand a very interesting thought
that came from this moment atthis gas station, because I feel
like it just brought out somuch about me and my career and
the things that I have not doneyet and the things that I should
(13:58):
do but haven't done because I'mafraid of what people are going
to say.
Now, mind you, again, I'm notafraid what people are going to
say when it comes to the gospelI'm talking about.
When it comes to the choicesthat you make in business and
(14:19):
doing the next thing.
You know, even when youacknowledge the Lord in it,
right, and you get the okay andit's okay and you're doing this
thing, I realize that a lot ofthings have not been done and
things.
The time has been wastedbecause of the fear of what
(14:42):
people will say, caring too muchabout what people have to say
about it.
So I was searching and I came upwith a couple of scriptures and
I'm going to read this from theNIV.
But I came up with a couple ofscriptures that speak to this
idea.
It speaks to the question,because we never want to just
(15:05):
assume and say, hey, I'm goingto just zone out.
I'm going to just start zoningout, because no, then that would
be me living from my emotionsand walking in my feelings.
And if I walk in my feelingsthen I'm walking in the flesh.
And I never want to be guiltyof walking in the flesh, because
when we walk in the flesh again, we are emotional and we begin
(15:26):
to operate and do things thatend up not being pleasing in the
sight of God.
Philippians, chapter 2, verse 3and 4, says do nothing in
selfish or vain glory.
Do nothing with selfishambition or vain conceit, rather
in humility.
Value others above yourselves,not looking to your own
(15:49):
interests, but each of you tothe interests of others.
So it's not saying don't careabout yourself.
So it's not saying don't careabout yourself, but care about
the interest of others more thanyourself.
And this would be in line withthe second greatest commandment,
(16:12):
which is to love your neighboras yourself.
So this is what I expect fromother people.
This is what I expect fromother people.
Does, did that?
Did that man in the Tesla knowthat?
Um, there was somebody waitingto use use that pump first.
Was he considerate of otherpeople?
(16:34):
I don't think he was.
Does he know the Lord Jesus?
I don't know, um, maybe he does, maybe he doesn't, but this
scripture is emphasizing theimportance of considering others
and valuing their needs, whichsuggests a balance of self, a
(16:59):
selflessness and respect thatmakes a whole lot of sense.
Ladies and gentlemen, you knowthat, really, you know the world
would like to use in thetherapy world.
They would probably use theword.
This triggered you, this was atrigger for you and it was, but
(17:24):
I believe that everythinghappens for a reason.
This conversation would not behappening, this episode would
not be happening, if it had notbeen for that moment at that gas
station, because it really mademe think about this.
It really made me go down thatpath of thinking okay, do I have
(17:49):
a green light to be able to be,you know, zoning out to, to be
able to, to be able to just havetunnel vision on what I need,
or is that, is that not the waythat I should operate?
(18:11):
Should I always be aware ofother people around me?
Now, we should always be awareof people around us, just like
we should always be aware of oursurroundings.
Growing up, when I used to besitting in the back seat, I was
always looking at mysurroundings, I was always
looking out the window and I wastall enough to look out the
(18:31):
window.
I look out the window probablycouldn't tell you a doggone
street, but I could probablytell you how many turns we made.
So, being aware, your awarenesslevel never goes anywhere.
But when it comes to ourawareness of people, we're
(18:55):
always to be on guard.
Galatians, chapter six, versetwo through five, says carry
each other's burdens, and inthis way you will fulfill the
law of Christ.
If anyone thinks they aresomething when they are not,
they deceive themselves.
Each one should test their ownactions.
(19:17):
Then they can take pride inthemselves alone without
comparing themselves to someoneelse, for each one should carry
their own load.
I don't really care for how NIVwords this, but it's still the
word of God, right?
(19:37):
Paul perfectly lays this outagain, answering the question
that we, that we had in thebeginning Is it okay for me to
zone out?
Is it okay for me to havetunnel vision and do what only I
need?
No, clearly, from Philippians 2, it said let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory, butin lowliness of mind, let each
(19:58):
esteem others better thanthemselves.
That's the way I remember theKing James Version, right?
But Galatians goes even further.
He says carry each other'sburdens.
Well, he's talking aboutbelievers.
He's talking about believersthat are in the body of Christ,
and in this way you will fulfillthe law of Christ.
How do you fulfill the law ofChrist?
Well, the second greatestcommandment, the second law, was
(20:21):
to love your neighbor asyourself.
So if I am carrying eachother's burdens or I'm helping
others carry their burdens, I amfulfilling the law of Christ.
And if anyone thinks they aresomething when they are not,
they deceive themselves.
Each one should test their ownactions, and so this is why this
(20:44):
conversation came about,because I'm really I had to test
my own actions.
I had to test my own actions, Ihad to test my attitude.
I had to test my offense, orthe offense that was made
towards me, or the offense thatI was in.
Was it sinful?
I don't believe it was sinful.
(21:05):
I didn't say anything wrong,but it was I, it was what I felt
.
So, again, that's where we takethe thought captive and bring
it to the obedience of JesusChrist.
That's why I had to write itdown, and I wanted to talk about
this.
I and I showed my wife theparagraph.
I said hey, what'd you thinkabout this?
She's like oh, that's goodBecause, like for real, you know
(21:25):
what I mean, like I, just there, like for real, you know what I
mean, like I.
Just there are a lot of timeswhere I just want to zone out
and I just want to just like,just have tunnel vision on the
thing that I'm trying to do.
But I've got a wife, I've gotchildren, I've got people who I
(21:47):
pastor, who call me pastor, I'ma father, which that's what I
meant when I said you know, Ihave children, I'm a son.
You know I can't afford to zoneout, and if I can't afford to
zone out, you can't afford tozone out, being a child of God,
(22:10):
you know, and that's why youknow we have to seek God for
that balance, that just balance.
This is talking about thebalance between helping others
and personal responsibility.
It shows the importance ofsupporting one another while
also emphasizing individualaccountability.
(22:31):
This is why he says in theverse each one should test their
own actions.
Again, that's what I did thegas station.
I had to test my own actions.
Why am I offended?
I wasn't so offended that whereI felt the need to say
something to the man, no, I justwent to the next one.
(22:52):
But I was like man that'sjacked up.
Man that's jacked up, that'sjacked up, that you would, that
you would not consider somebodyelse when you know I was right
here, which I don't know if theman knew that, but still he
didn't acknowledge nothing.
He didn't say, oh I'm sorry,I'll just get some, I'll just
get some gas in the can.
You know, I think that'sprobably what I would have done
(23:12):
and what I would have done.
I often expect people to do itwhen I know that that's not the
reality, because I'm alwaysmindful of other people and
we're getting ready to show youhow this can be detrimental, how
we see this, on how we'resupposed to be when it comes to
(23:35):
people.
We're supposed to beconsiderate of others.
1 Thessalonians 2, verse 4 saysOn the contrary, we speak as
those approved by God to beentrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to pleasepeople, but God, who tests our
hearts.
Listen.
Our job already, as believers,is to live out the gospel and to
(23:56):
constantly be reminded of thegospel and to constantly know
what the gospel is, so thatwe're not chasing good
activities, so we can appear tobe made something that we're
really not, because we forgetour purpose, which is to serve
(24:17):
all people, which is to reallybe mindful of all people.
We have to prioritize theLord's approval, which is his
anointing, over seeking theapproval of others, so that we
are mindful of where our truepriorities are.
(24:39):
That's what it is, right,that's what it is, and I'll give
you this last verse.
I'll give you this last verse,proverbs 29 and 25.
It says fear of man will proveto be a snare, but whoever
(25:00):
trusts in the lord is kept safe.
So that's what I wanted tospeak to.
Right, there is that you don'thave to be afraid of what people
are going to say, because onething for sure we know that
people are going to talk, peopleare going to say the things
(25:21):
that they're going to say.
People are going to, they'regoing to strategize you, they're
going to sanitize you.
I was trying to think of thatmeme, of that lady that was
saying all the things thatpeople are going to do to you
(25:42):
and she was just butchering allthe words.
But they're going to scandalizeyour name.
Try to scandalize your name.
Scandalize your name.
Try to scandalize your name.
Scandalize your name.
Listen, she was right in whatshe was trying to say.
But people are going to do whatpeople are going to do, but
we're safe in the arms of theLord, so we don't have to waste
(26:05):
time or let me just say me, Idon't have to waste time being
afraid of what people have tosay.
And so, just like I'm notafraid of what people have to
say, when I minister the gospel,when I go live, when I'm
streaming to whatever platformI'm streaming to and people
comment, I'm still going hard,I'm still going in for the Lord.
(26:29):
Why?
Because I believe in what I'msaying, I believe in what I'm
doing.
So, in the same way as I amacknowledging him in all of my
ways and everything that I putmy hands to, everything that he
has given me the gift to do, Ican do it without fear of people
.
I can do it without fear ofpeople because the fear of man,
(26:52):
as Proverbs 29 and 25 says, fearof man, will prove to be a
snare.
A snare is a trap.
A snare is a trap and fear willcause you to be stuck in a
place of no progression andyou'll continue to keep talking
(27:19):
and never take action, becausefear has paralyzed you from
moving, has paralyzed you frommoving.
This has been another episode ofSoul Fuel Podcast.
I pray that this ministered toyou.
I pray that this filled you up,gave you everything that you
needed for your journey in life,as you do it in Christ.
(27:41):
This episode is sponsored byRed Passage Pro.
If you're in the Dallas areaand you need space, you need
space to record your podcast.
I don't care if you're solo orif you're a two-man show.
Whatever it is, hit them up atRed Passage Pro on Instagram.
(28:01):
Share this with everybody youcan auntie, uncle, sister,
brother, cousin, mama, daddy andI pray that it do what it does
peace.
I say this when do you care too much?
When is it okay to just zoneout and not care about who's
watching, not care about who'saround?
When is it okay to zone out?
Sometimes I just want to like,I want to zone out and not care
(00:22):
about nobody's feelings.
What's happening?
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome toanother episode of the Soul
Fuel Podcast, the pit stop foryour soul to get fueled up for
(00:43):
your journey in life.
And, of course, we do it withChrist.
I am your host, willie RobbinsIII, aka Pastor Will, and I want
to talk about something todaythat really, 1,000 times, really
disturbed me.
I often go into this thoughtprocess and my brain starts to
(01:04):
work whenever I experiencesomething that is really
speaking to me in a deeper waythan I would like it to.
In all actuality, it's probablymade me uncomfortable and so,
therefore, it leads me to whatsome would call overthinking.
However, I believe that thisreally brings attention to my
(01:34):
walk and how I'm advancing in myfaith and what I, what the
things that I'm not doing or thethings that I'm probably
suffering from, like this mighthave something to do with the
last episode.
I did a part two episode.
(01:56):
I did a part one and a part twoabout not wasting time, right?
So I think that what we'regetting ready to talk about
today and what was conjured upfrom this story that I'm about
to tell you, it has a lot to dowith wasted time.
Let's get into it.
(02:17):
So I went to the movies with mywife and my oldest son the other
day and on the way back Ineeded petrol, gas, petroleum Is
that what they call it?
Is it called petroleum?
Okay, it's cool.
I sound like I'm a littleeducated, like I know a little
bit, but anyway, I went to getsome gas at a decent-sized gas
(02:43):
station.
I mean, it had about what, what?
12 pumps.
It was about 15 pumps maybe.
And so I'm, I pull in and I'mlike, all right, first one's
open, I'm going to it.
So I see one that is open and,mind you, it is a gas station.
(03:03):
So as I I pull up, I see Ithink it's I don't know what
pump it is but I see this pump,it's wide open.
It's wide open.
In fact, I think I don't evenremember seeing the car that was
there before driving off, butit was open.
So I get ready to pull in.
You know, you got to make sureyou know where your gas tank is,
(03:24):
which side it's open, so I getready to pull in.
You know, you got to make sureyou know where your gas tank is,
which side it's on.
So it's on the driver's sideand I was getting ready to bust
a right into the pump spot butthen there is a Tesla.
A Tesla pulls into the spot andI'm saying to myself, I'm
trying not to get an attitude,but I'm sitting there and I'm
saying to myself I'm trying notto get an attitude, but I'm
(03:45):
sitting there and I'm like, okay, wait a minute, this is a Tesla
.
This is a scratch your headmoment.
Because I'm like, uh, a Teslais a, an electric vehicle.
So I'm stopping, I'm thinkingmaybe he's getting ready to do
something.
I don't know what I thought,but then it it hit me, it dawned
(04:06):
on me Okay, I know that Tesla,this Tesla is an electric
vehicle.
Right, it's based on you know,I've driven a Tesla before be at
the gas pump.
So I was a little kind ofirritated because it was already
(04:27):
full and everybody's trying toget to a pump, and so there's a
Tesla taking up a spot that Iwas headed to.
But then I realized, okay,maybe he's got.
He had to have a gas can.
But here's the thing that gotme.
Here's the reason why we'rehaving this conversation and the
reason why I'm telling you thestory is because when he got out
(04:48):
he did not have any type ofreaction to the vehicle.
That was feet.
I'm feet so so much, like, sofar away.
I want to say like feet away,so many feet away Let me say it
(05:09):
like that because y'all going tothink I'm ignorant so many feet
away, but anyway, I was so manyfeet away.
He got out and the guy had nolike.
He had no remorse, no regrets.
Remorse, no regrets, no senseof reasoning or or the thought
(05:35):
that somebody is seeing whathe's doing.
He's not gonna like look up towave or anything.
He's unapologetically taking agas pump, wasting time.
And essentially he's notwasting time because he did put
gas in a can.
But still I was thinking thatvehicles that actually took gas
(05:58):
were a little bit more importantin that he could possibly wait
until it was popped to somebodyelse who got gas, or he could
have went to another pump orwaited.
And I can't even tell if he wason the other side because the
gas station was full, so I don'tknow if he was waiting for the
other person to leave.
I really honestly feel like hejust pulled in.
(06:19):
He just saw a free pump and hejust pulled in.
He didn't think about anythingelse.
But the part that bothered meabout him is that he didn't look
up.
He didn't look at anything elseand I'm like, okay, this is an
issue, this is an issue.
And then, as I kept on thinkingabout it, I I I backed up and I
(06:42):
saw there was another free pumpthat came open and I parked at
it.
But I was still stuck on.
This man that got about thisTesla Didn't look around, didn't
, didn't?
I'm not saying he should haveasked if it was okay, but, sir,
care about others who are reallyhere to get gas in their
vehicles.
Now, with you and your Teslathat's already probably charged
(07:04):
up that you get to charge fromthe convenience of your home,
right, I'm thinking, okay, man,have some type of um empathy for
those who actually need to putthe gas in the car, not in a can
.
I know they're both threeletter words in the car, not in
(07:26):
a can.
I know they're boththree-letter words, but the can
is less important than it is fora car, right.
I think a car is more importantthat it gets the gas that it
needs, right?
So I'm thinking about this andthinking about it, and thinking
about it, thinking and thinking,and thinking, and thinking, and
(07:49):
thinking, and thinking andthinking.
I'm like, what did the audacityI had no right to to think the
way that I was thinking,although it, um, I feel like you
know, most people would drive acar who needed gas, who was at
the pump first?
Cause that's what I felt in mymind.
I'm in my heart.
I'm like I was there first.
(08:09):
How could you, how could youjust do this, you know?
So that was that offense.
But as I continue to think aboutit, as I continue to think
about it, I started to questionmyself.
I did, I questioned myself.
The question was why was thatbothering me so much that he
(08:37):
didn't acknowledge the fact thatI was there first or I needed
it more than he did?
Like, what, what like.
Why was I bothered that hedidn't pay attention to me?
Why was I bothered at the factthat he didn't look up?
(09:01):
He didn't acknowledge the man,got out, popped his the back,
the hatch, got that gas can out,started fueling, and he was on
the phone too.
And I remember being at thepump and I was just like he's
(09:21):
just going to take up all thisspace and like I don't know.
In that moment I just felt likehe was using up all the gas.
Look at him taking all the gas,because you start thinking
stupid stuff when you, when youget irritated with some things
you don't even like.
But I I thought about this andI sat with it and I was like,
(09:42):
okay, why am I tripping?
He's just getting gas likeeverybody else, right?
So now I have to have aheart-to-heart in my mind.
So I wrote this little paragraphin my phone in my notes and I'm
(10:08):
going to read it to you.
I literally wrote this while Iwas sitting at the pump.
And while I was at the pump Igot a car wash.
You know how you get a car washwhen you're sitting at the pump
and they be like hey, you'regetting gas, we see you're
getting gas, would you like toget a car wash?
I was like, why not?
Car's dirty.
(10:29):
I hate driving around with adirty car.
So I said, why not?
And again, I've been wastingtime in getting it washed.
I've been wasting time.
I've been wasting time.
I had been saying I need to getthis thing washed.
I need to get this thing washed, but I didn't do it.
I was wasting time.
So while I was there, I said,you know what, let me go ahead
and wash it.
And so, while I get in line towash, again, I'm with my wife
(10:58):
and my son and I get in the lineto waiting for the wash and I
started writing this paragraph.
So so I said being too mindfulof other people.
When can this concept beharmful?
When do you draw the line ofsimply not caring what others
think?
What did I mean by that when Isaid when do you draw the line
of and caring about what othersthink?
I was talking about beingmindful of others.
(11:20):
Like my attitude with that mancame from a place of him, just
like not giving a single careabout somebody else who actually
needed gas.
Right, like the care of it, noteven just the fact that you're
(11:40):
a Tesla and you're about to fillup a gas can, but just the fact
that you didn't acknowledge Idon't know.
Like the fact that he did notacknowledge that there was
somebody that was possibly therefirst and it just seemed that
he was just entitled.
And yeah, you're going to wait.
(12:00):
You know, that's just the auraand again, part of that could
have been from me knowing that,hey, I was next, but he pulls up
anyway.
So this is what I wrote.
I said where do you draw theline of simply not caring what
others think was it?
Is it me that's tripping?
And then I begin to write whatI just told you.
(12:24):
I write the incident down andthen I say this when do you care
too much?
When is it okay to just zoneout and not care about who's
watching, not care about who'saround?
When is it okay to zone out?
(12:45):
Sometimes I just want to like Iwant to zone out and not care
about nobody's feelings, like Idon't care about anybody's
feelings when it comes to thegospel, when it comes to
preaching the gospel, when itcomes to saying what the Bible
says and being right about it.
I don't care about theirfeelings in terms of is it
(13:07):
offensive?
Because the truth is alwaysoffensive.
Right Again, as a believer, asa child of God who wants to obey
his word, the two greatestcommandments love the Lord, your
God, with all your heart, mind,soul, strength, and then love
your neighbor as yourself.
So this is a very interestingconversation.
(13:36):
This is a very interesting topicand a very interesting thought
that came from this moment atthis gas station, because I feel
like it just brought out somuch about me and my career and
the things that I have not doneyet and the things that I should
(13:58):
do but haven't done because I'mafraid of what people are going
to say.
Now, mind you, again, I'm notafraid what people are going to
say when it comes to the gospelI'm talking about.
When it comes to the choicesthat you make in business and
(14:19):
doing the next thing.
You know, even when youacknowledge the Lord in it,
right, and you get the okay andit's okay and you're doing this
thing, I realize that a lot ofthings have not been done and
things.
The time has been wastedbecause of the fear of what
(14:42):
people will say, caring too muchabout what people have to say
about it.
So I was searching and I came upwith a couple of scriptures and
I'm going to read this from theNIV.
But I came up with a couple ofscriptures that speak to this
idea.
It speaks to the question,because we never want to just
(15:05):
assume and say, hey, I'm goingto just zone out.
I'm going to just start zoningout, because no, then that would
be me living from my emotionsand walking in my feelings.
And if I walk in my feelingsthen I'm walking in the flesh.
And I never want to be guiltyof walking in the flesh, because
when we walk in the flesh again, we are emotional and we begin
(15:26):
to operate and do things thatend up not being pleasing in the
sight of God.
Philippians, chapter 2, verse 3and 4, says do nothing in
selfish or vain glory.
Do nothing with selfishambition or vain conceit, rather
in humility.
Value others above yourselves,not looking to your own
(15:49):
interests, but each of you tothe interests of others.
So it's not saying don't careabout yourself.
So it's not saying don't careabout yourself, but care about
the interest of others more thanyourself.
And this would be in line withthe second greatest commandment,
(16:12):
which is to love your neighboras yourself.
So this is what I expect fromother people.
This is what I expect fromother people.
Does, did that?
Did that man in the Tesla knowthat?
Um, there was somebody waitingto use use that pump first.
Was he considerate of otherpeople?
(16:34):
I don't think he was.
Does he know the Lord Jesus?
I don't know, um, maybe he does, maybe he doesn't, but this
scripture is emphasizing theimportance of considering others
and valuing their needs, whichsuggests a balance of self, a
(16:59):
selflessness and respect thatmakes a whole lot of sense.
Ladies and gentlemen, you knowthat, really, you know the world
would like to use in thetherapy world.
They would probably use theword.
This triggered you, this was atrigger for you and it was, but
(17:24):
I believe that everythinghappens for a reason.
This conversation would not behappening, this episode would
not be happening, if it had notbeen for that moment at that gas
station, because it really mademe think about this.
It really made me go down thatpath of thinking okay, do I have
(17:49):
a green light to be able to be,you know, zoning out to, to be
able to, to be able to just havetunnel vision on what I need,
or is that, is that not the waythat I should operate?
(18:11):
Should I always be aware ofother people around me?
Now, we should always be awareof people around us, just like
we should always be aware of oursurroundings.
Growing up, when I used to besitting in the back seat, I was
always looking at mysurroundings, I was always
looking out the window and I wastall enough to look out the
(18:31):
window.
I look out the window probablycouldn't tell you a doggone
street, but I could probablytell you how many turns we made.
So, being aware, your awarenesslevel never goes anywhere.
But when it comes to ourawareness of people, we're
(18:55):
always to be on guard.
Galatians, chapter six, versetwo through five, says carry
each other's burdens, and inthis way you will fulfill the
law of Christ.
If anyone thinks they aresomething when they are not,
they deceive themselves.
Each one should test their ownactions.
(19:17):
Then they can take pride inthemselves alone without
comparing themselves to someoneelse, for each one should carry
their own load.
I don't really care for how NIVwords this, but it's still the
word of God, right?
(19:37):
Paul perfectly lays this outagain, answering the question
that we, that we had in thebeginning Is it okay for me to
zone out?
Is it okay for me to havetunnel vision and do what only I
need?
No, clearly, from Philippians 2, it said let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory, butin lowliness of mind, let each
(19:58):
esteem others better thanthemselves.
That's the way I remember theKing James Version, right?
But Galatians goes even further.
He says carry each other'sburdens.
Well, he's talking aboutbelievers.
He's talking about believersthat are in the body of Christ,
and in this way you will fulfillthe law of Christ.
How do you fulfill the law ofChrist?
Well, the second greatestcommandment, the second law, was
(20:21):
to love your neighbor asyourself.
So if I am carrying eachother's burdens or I'm helping
others carry their burdens, I amfulfilling the law of Christ.
And if anyone thinks they aresomething when they are not,
they deceive themselves.
Each one should test their ownactions, and so this is why this
(20:44):
conversation came about,because I'm really I had to test
my own actions.
I had to test my own actions, Ihad to test my attitude.
I had to test my offense, orthe offense that was made
towards me, or the offense thatI was in.
Was it sinful?
I don't believe it was sinful.
(21:05):
I didn't say anything wrong,but it was I, it was what I felt
.
So, again, that's where we takethe thought captive and bring
it to the obedience of JesusChrist.
That's why I had to write itdown, and I wanted to talk about
this.
I and I showed my wife theparagraph.
I said hey, what'd you thinkabout this?
She's like oh, that's goodBecause, like for real, you know
(21:25):
what I mean, like I, just there, like for real, you know what I
mean, like I.
Just there are a lot of timeswhere I just want to zone out
and I just want to just like,just have tunnel vision on the
thing that I'm trying to do.
But I've got a wife, I've gotchildren, I've got people who I
(21:47):
pastor, who call me pastor, I'ma father, which that's what I
meant when I said you know, Ihave children, I'm a son.
You know I can't afford to zoneout, and if I can't afford to
zone out, you can't afford tozone out, being a child of God,
(22:10):
you know, and that's why youknow we have to seek God for
that balance, that just balance.
This is talking about thebalance between helping others
and personal responsibility.
It shows the importance ofsupporting one another while
also emphasizing individualaccountability.
(22:31):
This is why he says in theverse each one should test their
own actions.
Again, that's what I did thegas station.
I had to test my own actions.
Why am I offended?
I wasn't so offended that whereI felt the need to say
something to the man, no, I justwent to the next one.
(22:52):
But I was like man that'sjacked up.
Man that's jacked up, that'sjacked up, that you would, that
you would not consider somebodyelse when you know I was right
here, which I don't know if theman knew that, but still he
didn't acknowledge nothing.
He didn't say, oh I'm sorry,I'll just get some, I'll just
get some gas in the can.
You know, I think that'sprobably what I would have done
(23:12):
and what I would have done.
I often expect people to do itwhen I know that that's not the
reality, because I'm alwaysmindful of other people and
we're getting ready to show youhow this can be detrimental, how
we see this, on how we'resupposed to be when it comes to
(23:35):
people.
We're supposed to beconsiderate of others.
1 Thessalonians 2, verse 4 saysOn the contrary, we speak as
those approved by God to beentrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to pleasepeople, but God, who tests our
hearts.
Listen.
Our job already, as believers,is to live out the gospel and to
(23:56):
constantly be reminded of thegospel and to constantly know
what the gospel is, so thatwe're not chasing good
activities, so we can appear tobe made something that we're
really not, because we forgetour purpose, which is to serve
(24:17):
all people, which is to reallybe mindful of all people.
We have to prioritize theLord's approval, which is his
anointing, over seeking theapproval of others, so that we
are mindful of where our truepriorities are.
(24:39):
That's what it is, right,that's what it is, and I'll give
you this last verse.
I'll give you this last verse,proverbs 29 and 25.
It says fear of man will proveto be a snare, but whoever
(25:00):
trusts in the lord is kept safe.
So that's what I wanted tospeak to.
Right, there is that you don'thave to be afraid of what people
are going to say, because onething for sure we know that
people are going to talk, peopleare going to say the things
(25:21):
that they're going to say.
People are going to, they'regoing to strategize you, they're
going to sanitize you.
I was trying to think of thatmeme, of that lady that was
saying all the things thatpeople are going to do to you
(25:42):
and she was just butchering allthe words.
But they're going to scandalizeyour name.
Try to scandalize your name.
Scandalize your name.
Try to scandalize your name.
Scandalize your name.
Listen, she was right in whatshe was trying to say.
But people are going to do whatpeople are going to do, but
we're safe in the arms of theLord, so we don't have to waste
(26:05):
time or let me just say me, Idon't have to waste time being
afraid of what people have tosay.
And so, just like I'm notafraid of what people have to
say, when I minister the gospel,when I go live, when I'm
streaming to whatever platformI'm streaming to and people
comment, I'm still going hard,I'm still going in for the Lord.
(26:29):
Why?
Because I believe in what I'msaying, I believe in what I'm
doing.
So, in the same way as I amacknowledging him in all of my
ways and everything that I putmy hands to, everything that he
has given me the gift to do, Ican do it without fear of people
.
I can do it without fear ofpeople because the fear of man,
(26:52):
as Proverbs 29 and 25 says, fearof man, will prove to be a
snare.
A snare is a trap.
A snare is a trap and fear willcause you to be stuck in a
place of no progression andyou'll continue to keep talking
(27:19):
and never take action, becausefear has paralyzed you from
moving, has paralyzed you frommoving.
This has been another episode ofSoul Fuel Podcast.
I pray that this ministered toyou.
I pray that this filled you up,gave you everything that you
needed for your journey in life,as you do it in Christ.
(27:41):
This episode is sponsored byRed Passage Pro.
If you're in the Dallas areaand you need space, you need
space to record your podcast.
I don't care if you're solo orif you're a two-man show.
Whatever it is, hit them up atRed Passage Pro on Instagram.
(28:01):
Share this with everybody youcan auntie, uncle, sister,
brother, cousin, mama, daddy andI pray that it do what it does
peace.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.