Bad Decision #2 Series

What to eat, what to wear, who to respond to first, what to prioritize at work — each of us makes hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions each day.

Some of these choices have larger consequences than others. For starters, who we choose to surround ourselves with, where we live, who we worship, what we fear, what we regret doing, or not doing. All of which can have a huge impact on our health and happiness.

Nobody is perfect. Just think of that email/text/phone call/letter you wish you’d never sent. Seriously, we all make bad choices. Though there’s no surefire way to never make a mistake, paying attention to signs that we’re en route to bad decisions can help us change course before it’s too late.

Last week, I shared the “build out” decision. It was by far my biggest financial mistake. This week let me share with you a confession you will never forget. I am a sinner. I am a selfish, self centered human. I sinned before knowing Jesus. I sinned after starting my relationship with Jesus. I have sinned throughout my relationship with Jesus. I am not proud of it. I just need to be honest. However, I have also continued to strive to be more like Jesus everyday, in every way with everyone I meet. Any good I have done in this life is because of what God has done in me through the grace given to me by Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The bible is filled with people like me, and you, who have ventured down roads that are not wise by any stretch of the imagination. Last week, we reviewed the Abraham, Sarah and Hagar baby mama drama to learn six aspects of making or leading to bad decisions:

Unmet Expectations

Hurry - assuming any action is better than no action

Not aching enough questions

Responding Emotions

Lack of communication

Listening to your gut

Every instance where I have gone off course in a monumental way, God has interceded in due time to redeem my faulty decision. It doesn’t happen immediately. In reality, he often allows the consequence of my poor choice to linger so I become aware of the error, the pain caused and the lesson that needs to be learned. While as a conflict avoidant person, the pain of my actions becomes my motivator to lean into God for the wisdom to understand what needs to be changed and the strength to follow through. God has never failed to redeem those items I have become aware of, repented and begun to change.

This week we move to the story of The Prodigal Son to find the answer to escaping bad decisions.

<insert picture of rembrandt’s prodigal son painting>

The Prodigal Son is a famous parable about a wayward son who returns home. The son had demanded his inheritance, left home, and lost everything. When he was destitute and hungry, he decided to return home. His loving, compassionate father receives his son back with a celebration, but his angry, resentful brother complains about his father’s extravagant welcome of his estranged younger brother. The parable is the longest and most loved of Jesus’. Its power comes from how it invites readers to identify with its memorable characters.

Today, I’d like to highlight five important lessons the scriptures teach us when we are in the middle of the consequences of our bad decisions.

The first is what we unpacked last week: There are no messes that are too big for a miracle or as we declared last week - God can and does redeem our messes and that’s why Jesus came.

The second lesson the scriptures teach us is God doesn’t always respond when we cry out. No place is this more evident than Psalm 81:11-12.

But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

If you want a life without God, he will let you. Need more proof? Take a look at Proverbs 1:24-31 and find four different statements by God. The most direct is from verse 28-29;

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,

since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.

Now in telling you the truth, the third lesson we learn is the good news. God always responds when we repent. I believe the story of the prodigal is most appealing to us for this reason. The boy, who was sure he had all the answers, hits a bottom. He begins to realize His plan was faulty. In so doing, he begins to become the man God had created him to be when he returns. Luke 15:20 says: