A. WHY PEOPLE MAKE POOR CHOICES
“Don’t ask me to leave you and go back to my old ways. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, there I will be buried” (Ruth 1:16-17).
1. They guess – because they don’t have enough information.
2. They choose – based on bad information.
People make good choices on good information.
They make bad choices on bad information
Without any information, they make lucky choices.
Some have good luck; others have bad luck.
3. They never learned how to make decisions.
4. They developed a pattern of wrong decisions.
5. They follow their heroes who made wrong decisions, i.e., Hitler, Jim Jones.
6. They listen to wrong counselors. “The advice of the wicked is treacherous” (Proverbs 12:5, NLT).
7. They are headed in the wrong direction.
The wrong decision when going the wrong way – disaster
The wrong decision when going the right way – mistake
The right decision at the wrong time – unacceptable
The right decision at the right time – success
8. They don’t know their self limitations. Some want to be President but can’t pass college courses.
9. They don’t know the circumstances. They enroll in a college that is going bankrupt (Wesley Sculpture)?
10. Some Christians are ignorant of their spiritual gift. “Each one has a proper gift of God” (1 Corinthians 7:7, ELT).
11. Some Christians don’t know how to find the will of God for their lives, i.e., “The perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1).
12. In this lesson, a decision is a one-time selection, while choices mean a series of bad options.
B. WHAT INFLUENCE DOES SIN HAVE ON CHOICES?
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16, NKJV).
1. The lust of the flesh is fulfilling bodily desires.
a. This is not basic bodily needs God created in us, i.e., air, exercise, food, etc.
b. This is fleshly desires, i.e., illicit sex, drug addictions, alcohol, gluttony, body worship with exercise, cosmetic surgery, etc.
2. The lust of the eyes wants things we see that we don’t need or shouldn’t have.
a. This is not seeing things we need to live, serve God, and grow to maturity.
b. This is lusting after things to fulfill an evil desire, i.e., money, stuff, things, gadgets, or what our neighbor has. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house” (Exodus 20:17).
3. The pride of life is exalting self beyond what is legal or what God wants for us.
a. Pride is not self respect, or self confidence, or self acceptance which we must have for a healthy personality.
b. Pride is seeking to be something we are not, and something we shouldn’t be, i.e., power, position, control of others, glory, or exaltation.
C. PEOPLE WHO MADE BAD CHOICES
1. Lot chose the “well-watered plains” and lost his family.
2. Samson chose “sex” and lost his life and reputation.
3. Achan chose, “When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them” (Joshua 7:21). (Achan was stoned to death).
4. The rich young ruler chose things. “He had great possessions” (Mark 10:22)
5. Demas chose a worldly lifestyle. “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
D. PEOPLE WHO MADE GOOD CHOICES
1. Joshua. “Choose you this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
a. He had a lifetime of good choices.
b. He was “faithful to death” (Revelation 2:10).
2. Ruth. “Thy God shall be my God” (Ruth 1:16).
a. She chose when no one encouraged or supported her decision.
b. She chose when there was no other option.
3. Esther. “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
a. She chose when there were no other options.
b. She chose knowing she could die for her choice.
4. Solomon chose wisdom.
“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?’ Therefore, give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days’” (1 Kings 3:5, 9-11, 12, NKJV).
a. We don’t know what will happen to the things we turn down.
b. The greatest choice is to be wise.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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