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:
20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
The scriptures clearly show how God reacts when we repent. However, in our culture we often get confused between repentance and remorse. Remorse is the knowledge and feeling we have done wrong. God could care less if you feel bad because of what you did.
Repentance in the original language means to turn around. Repentance has two parts that have nothing to do with your feelings. First, repentance means we take responsibility for our actions without blaming others. You can’t be a victim and repent. You confess. You acknowledge the sin and its destruction. The second portion of repentance you turn away, stop the action, renounce it and strive to mend the harms done. This leads us to a fourth Scriptural truth about our bad choices. Let’s go back to the scriptures in Luke 15
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
The fourth truth of the scripture is there will always be those people who aren’t as quick to grant you grace as quickly as God does. Oftentimes, humanity is not as quick to forgive and restore as our God. We see that in our “cancel” culture as well as in the church. Those closest people to the situation are oftentimes the ones unable or unwilling to forgive because it would mean letting go of their right to be hurt, exact revenge or feel a little superior. Fortunately, there is no other opinion in this world that matters in relation to your eternal life or your relationship to Jesus. Which leads us to our final scripture for this morning and our fifth point.
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Jesus is literally waiting for all to return. 2 Peter 3:9-10 are clear. Jesus hasn’t returned because his hope is, that ALL who are created will get a chance to be a part of the family. Repenting of our sin and believing with one’s own heart that Jesus is Lord is all that is required for salvation. Our role is to be servants in the meantime. We are NOT the judge/jury for the rest of the world. Just servants of his love for those we encounter. We are to be living examples of our Lord. We are to give in the same way Jesus did. We are sent into the world to do justice, love giving mercy and walking humbly doing as we are led by God.
Creative: Prodigal Son painting by Rembrandt
References:
Unstuck Book, Quest Bible commentary Luke 15,
https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/parable-of-the-prodigal-son-luke-1511-32/
