Choice(S)

INTRODUCTION

1. The Old Testament provides valuable lessons for the Christian - 1Co

10:11

2. One such lesson is the importance of "Making Wise Choices" in our

lives...

a. Lot made a choice as to where to live, and as a result he

experienced:

1) War and kidnapping - Gen 14

2) Oppression and torment by the ungodly citizens of Sodom - 2 Pe

2:7-8

3) Loss of all his possessions, death of his wife, and incest with

his daughters - Gen 19

b. David chose to commit adultery with Bathsheba, and as a

consequence he suffered:

1) The death of his infant son - 2Sa 12

2) A daughter molested by her half-brother - 2Sa 13

3) That son killed by her vengeful brother - 2Sa 13

4) A rebellion led by that son, who shamed him publicly, and whose

death brought even more grief to David - 2Sa 15-18

3. With Lot and David illustrating the need for "Making Wise Choices",

let's consider...

a. Some choices that greatly affect our lives

b. Suggestions for making wise choices

c. What to do when we have made the wrong choice

[We begin with a review of...]

I. CHOICES WHICH GREATLY AFFECT OUR LIVES

A. CHOOSING JESUS...

1. Will you follow Jesus or not?

a. Will you become His disciple?

b. Or will you refuse to accept His gracious offer of salvation

- Mt 11:28-30

2. This one decision will affect your life more than any other!

a. It will determine your place in eternity

b. It will have a bearing on every other decision you make

1) As a disciple, you will be concerned with doing His will

2) As a disciple, you will not simply "do your own thing"

- Mt 28:18-20

B. CHOOSING A CAREER...

1. Even from a worldly viewpoint, your choice is important

a. The job market is always changing

b. The wrong choice could lead to financial ruin or fiscal

hardship

2. More importantly, the choice can have a lasting effect on:

a. Your marriage and family

b. Your service to God

3. Make the choice to honor God first, and you will be blessed

- Mt 6:33

4. Make money the primary factor in your decision, and destruction

will follow - 1Ti 6:6-10

C. CHOOSING A MATE...

1. This choice will determine to a great extent your degree of

happiness - Pr 12:4

2. It will have a permanent bearing on your children and their

emotional well-being

a. You may think you can simply divorce a person if they turn

out to be a bad choice

b. But once you have children, there is no way to reverse the

choice you made as to who is the mother or father of your

children!

c. The children are not unaffected by the violence of divorce

- cf. Mal 2:16

D. CHOOSING YOUR FRIENDS...

1. Having close friends can be a wonderful blessing - cf. Pro

17:17

2. But the wrong friends can be a curse - cf. Pr 12:26; 1Co

15:33

E. CHOOSING WHERE TO LIVE...

1. It was this choice where Lot made his mistake

a. It appeared to be a sound business decision - Gen 13:10-11

b. But it was a poor moral decision - Gen 13:13

2. Upon what basis do we choose where to live?

a. Is it based solely on how much of house we can afford?

b. Is it based upon the location to work, school, etc.?

c. Do we consider whether it will help or hinder our service to

God and His church?

-- There may be some modern-day "Sodoms" and "Gommorahs" to avoid!

[For every action there is a reaction, and for every choice there is a

consequence. To increase the likelihood that our choices will have good

consequences, here are a few...]

II. SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING WISE CHOICES

A. ASK GOD FOR WISDOM...

1. He promises to give wisdom to those who ask in faith - Jm 1:5-8

2. Asking for wisdom requires diligence - Pr 2:1-9

-- Fill your prayers with requests for wisdom to make wise

choices!

B. ASK OTHERS FOR ADVICE...

1. There is safety in having many counselors - Pr 11:14

2. There is wisdom in heeding the counsel of others - Pr 12:15

3. Two great sources for counsel:

a. The Bible itself, especially a book like Proverbs

b. Older, mature Christians

-- Don't hesitate to ask others what they would do!

C. COMMIT YOUR CHOICES TO THE LORD...

1. Trusting that you have made choices pleasing to Him, put them

in His hands - Ps 37:5-6, 23-26

2. Make your choices with the understanding, "if the Lord wills"

- Jm 4:13-15

3. One might even ask the Lord that if a choice is not according

to His will...

a. He might frustrate the carrying out of the choice